Setting Objectives For Weight Loss

I am sure that when I mention setting objectives for weight loss, the majority of people will be thinking in terms of how many pounds in weight that they, or someone else, should lose. That is similar, in a way, to those who consider setting financial objectives, and then state money as an objective.

Really, if they think about it more closely, money is not an objective; the real objective is what you are going to do with that money. If it is to buy a new house, then the objective is that new house; if it is to retire to Mexico by the sea, then the objective is that new home in a new location, Mexico; if it is to help poor children in Africa, then the objective is helping children in Africa. The objective in those cases is not the money itself; money is worthless if it sits there doing nothing. It just happens to be that many objectives require money to achieve them.

In a way, there is a similarity with weight loss; should weight loss be classed as an objective in itself? Perhaps not, but that does not really matter; what matters is finding the best way for you to lose weight. If you think about it, your decision to lose weight is as a result of other factors. Weight loss is not something you have suddenly considered in isolation; a number of other things have probably caused you to think of weight loss as being necessary. It is those “other things” that should be the subject of your objective setting.

Why You Need To Broaden Your Weight Loss Objectives

Weight loss is a very narrow objective. You may think, “why not, what else is there to say?” Losing weight is not an easy task. That extra weight has probably been the result of many years of bad eating and exercise habits. So, you decide to lose weight. Well, you won’t lose weight, and keep it off, without the full co-operation of your subconscious. For years, your subconscious has been your chief assistant in making you fat. Now you are suddenly going to say that the new name of the game is weight loss.

With that narrow objective of weight loss, you have done nothing to convince your subconscious this is a good idea. You have given no reason or reasons, so why should your subconscious co-operate with this meaningless weight loss exercise?

In your attempts to have a narrow body, you need to have a broader mind and set of objectives. Carefully chosen objectives will broaden your argument with your inner self, and are likely to be far more motivational. You will be choosing a sensible diet and exercise regimes to assist in reaching those objectives; weight loss will be incidental, just as money was in those earlier examples.

How To Set Weight Loss Objectives

You need to sit down quietly, and try to think as clearly as possible of the reasons why you have decided you want to lose weight. The true reasons, that is, not something like “cos I’m too fat.”
Once you have isolated the reasons, whether there’s one, two or many, then write them down. Those are the reasons you have suddenly decided to lose weight. Those should be the subjects of your objectives. I will give a few examples to help you to understand the concept:

1. Reason to consider weight loss: You’re embarrassed going into a boutique and trying on size 18 dresses.

Objective: To be able to go into boutiques and try on size 12 dresses…..successfully.

2. Reason to consider weight loss: You’ve read a lot about the association of being overweight and hypertension, and your blood pressure is high at 150/90.

Objective: To achieve a stable blood pressure of 120/70. (NB such blood pressure targets need to be discussed with your doctor, and will vary according to age and other factors. This is purely for example purposes.)

3. Reason to consider weight loss: You’re sick of being introduced to women, and sensing them looking you up and down with disgust.

Objective: To have women look at you admiringly again.

Those are just three examples; you may have more or less, but you could find it an interesting exercise analyzing yourself to see why you really want to lose weight.

How To Achieve Weight Loss Objectives

Consider those three example objectives above, and you will see that none mention losing weight. However, all are based on convincing reasons, that are more likely to get full co-operation from your subconscious. With those three objectives, losing weight can play an important part in achieving them, without being the main objective itself. So what you have done is to bring a broader front (if you’ll pardon the expression) to your weight loss objective setting.

There’s no reason to stop going to Weight Watchers or other weight loss group; there’s no reason not to have a target weight. After all, they are now in harmony with the three objectives you have already used to seduce your subconscious into co-operation.

How, then, can you set about achieving those objectives? A combination of meditation and visualization each day should help you convince your subconscious you are serious about these objectives. Here are a few tips:

1. Write the objectives down and keep them handy.
2. Read the objectives and repeat them, orally if possible, morning, lunch time and evening.
3. Morning and evening, in a quiet time lying down, relax your body, and focus on your breathing. Gradually dismiss all distraction around you, and then start to focus on each objective in turn. Repeat the objective in your mind, and visualize your successful achievement of it. See yourself proudly trying on that size 12 dress in front of admiring assistants; or walking into a party of strangers and the women looking admiringly at your new physique.

Give no dates for your objectives, let that come naturally. Repeat the process as long as necessary; weeks, months, years. Each time you visualize the achievement of your weight related objectives, your subconscious becomes more in tune with what you, consciously, want. Together, you will become a powerful team in the weight loss game.

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By Roy Thomsitt

This setting weight loss objectives article is by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of routes-to-self-improvement.com

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Meet the New Look Ronald McDonald

In a global television commercial just launched (10 June 2005), Ronald McDonald energetically rides a bike. He deftly shoots hoops with basketball megastar Yao Ming. He even snowboards like a pro.
It's enough to make you choke on your super-sized Big Mac meal. Yes, McDonald's "Chief Happiness Officer" now has a new title: "Amabassador of Balanced Lifestyles".
But he won't be giving up his old job.
The McDonald's-owned website, GoActive.com, explains how Ronald juggles the two titles. "As McDonald's Chief Happiness Officer, Ronald McDonald is involved with anything and everything that makes people happy. He wants the best for everyone."
And it seems that when it comes to what's best for everyone, fatty junk fare (described by GoActive as "tasty, wholesome food") is just not enough any more. In a stunning revelation, the site tells us that we now also need "physical activity that seems like play" and "robust good health".
Enter Ronald in his new, ambassadorial role ... "Ronald believes in an active, balanced lifestyle. He lives one himeself. And he is the ambassador of active, blanced lifestyles for everyone."
So just what does this new diplomatic status entail? GoActive,com explains that Ronald considers physical activity a "critical component of the energy balance equation".
Wow, Ronald's starting to speak like an ambassador already! We ordinary folk would have said something low-brow like, "If you're going to eat fattening, junk food, you'd better try to burn it off with some exercise".
Like any good diplomat, Ronald's pretty vague about how he's going to achieve this goal, promising to work "with the people of McDonald's in various ways to help parents and children identify realistic, fun ways to incorporate fitness and exercise into their daily lives."
If Ronald's sounding ambassadorial, his boss, McDonald's Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner, sounded positively Presidential when he announced his company's "It's what I eat and what I do ... I'm lovin' it" campaign.
"We will use our size and strength to set an example," he told the media. The campaign includes television adverts, new packaging, an updated Web site and a fresh series a videos featuring Ambassador Ronald teaching children how to eat well and stay active.
And like a true diplomat, Ronald will soon get to demostrate just how multi-lingual he is. The new commercial airs first in the United States and will soon be broadcast in Canada, Germany, Italy, Portugal, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina.
And that's only the beginning. The TV spots will be followed later this year with a series of "Go Active with Ronald McDonald" interactive community shows accross the US and in other countries.
Active he may be, but it's obvious even Ronald will need some help in this historic mission. Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, hockey player Wayne Gretzky and speed skater Bonnie Blair are among the sporting luminaries McDonald's has pressed into service.
CEO Skinner has declined to put a price tag on the mission, but perhaps the TV networks and sports stars will get with the public-spiritedness of the campaign and donate their services gratis.
Of course, the company is adamant that none of this has anything to do with all those unfairly-critical articles in the media, alarmist books like Fast Food Nation, and muck-raking documetaries like Super Size Me. Nor, its insists, has it anything to do with recent court actions in which money-grabbing litigants have won millions of dollars in settlements.
On the contrary, we're told, the latest campaign is just a natural evolution of previous efforts on Ronald's part to teach children how to keep safe, like fastening seat belts and wearing bicycle helmets - both very important things for kids to know, so we'll understand if Ronald forgot to warn them not to eat unhealthy food like burgers and fries.
"This is just another way we're communicating with our customers on the importance of energy balance," company spokesperson Lisa Howard said.
Hey, there's that "energy balance" term again.
Sounds like Lisa's been getting some lessons in diplomat-speak from Uncle Ronald!

_________________________

By Alan Cooper

Alan Cooper is a journalist with 20 year's experience and the publisher of http://www.ObesityCures.com, a site with the ambitious aim of being a "one-stop-shop" for impartial information on obesity and weight loss solutions - including fad diets, prescription weightloss pills and natural weightloss aids.
ObesityCures also has pages devoted to Ronald McDonald and other developments on the obesity and fast foods front.

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Free Tips on Losing Weight

Here are a few free tips on losing weight that really work. Starting with your behavior, you need to start thinking thin and realizing that weight loss begins in your mind. Keep a positive attitude, set realistic weight loss goals, keep a food journal and begin an exercise routine you can live with.
To lose weight you have to cut your calorie intake by 500 calories a day. A little secret weight loss tip is you don't have to cut them all from your food. If you eat 250 calories less food you can burn the other 250 calories by walking for 30 to 45 minutes a day. In a week, you will have lost about 1 pound. Over time, these small changes will add up to a healthier, happier and lighter you.

Below are some of the best healthy weight loss tips to keep you moving toward your weight loss goals:

· Eat breakfast every day. Eat whole grains with at least 2 grams of fiber.
· Eat some dairy like yogurt or milk, it can help rev up your metabolism.
· Drink water and keep hydrated, add a twist of lime to zest up the flavor.
· Be aware of white foods, choose fruits and vegetables with bright colors.
· Be cautious about bread, choose high fiber, whole grain loaves.
· Have an apple before dinner, it fills you up and provides lots of fiber.
· Keep moving, dance around the house while making the bed and doing chores.
· Brush your teeth after meals or have a breath mint, it helps to stop the urge to eat.

Losing weight is not something that happens overnight just like gaining weight is not an overnight occurrence. Developing the right mind set and determination to achieving your weight loss goal along with a few sensible behavior changes will send you well on your way to achieving success.

Understand how your thoughts, life experiences and attitudes about food and exercise influence your mind into making lasting lifestyle changes for long term success. I hope these free tips on losing weight will start you on your way.

______________________

By Gary Gresham

This article is supplied by http://www.treadmill-info.com where you will find valuable information, ratings, reviews, articles and buying tips before you make the investment in quality fitness equipment. For more fitness related articles go to: http://www.treadmill-info.com/articles_1.html

Copyright © 2005 Treadmill Info.com All Rights Reserved.

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Ultimate Weight Loss: Fight Fat and Win

As if you needed another reason to hit the snooze button, recent study concluded that your odds of being overweight are 24% lower for each additional hour you sleep. That's great and all, but what are those of us who work 50 hours a week on top of training and watching reruns on TV supposed to do with such findings?

Now there are different ways you can lose weight while you sleep. Some of us are spending the big bucks and taking products like 5-hydroxytryptophan, Conjugated Linoleic Acid, Gymnema Sylvestre, Glucomannan, Guggulsterone, fish oil and Gamma-Aminobutryic.

Guggu what? Yeah these products all help. But this can be complicated trying to work in all these pills. And some of us cant afford $400 a month in products.

So how do we cut the cost and lose weight while getting the limited amount of sleep that we get? Well try getting some natural and easy to find supplements such as Apple Cider Vinegar, Ginger Root, Garcinia Cambogia, Cayenne, Bladderwack and Bromelain.

All of these will help speed up your motabolism without getting your heart going like a lab rat and they will work for you while you sleep. Not only will they help with weight loss, but they will help your body in general.

Also Green Tea and Black Coffee can boost your metabolism without adding significant calories to your diet. Its the little things or changes that will help you keep your weight down where you like it.

___________________

By Michel Landry

Michel Landry lives in beautiful Kamloops, BC in Canada. He has a huge interest in health, fitness, and business.

Copyright protected 2005 by M.Landry

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Running from the Fat Monster after Gastric Bypass

Many patients of gastric bypass report feeling fearful of succeeding at weight loss after a lifetime of failed diet attempts. In most cases, the fear of success subsides as a patient reaches goal weight and becomes comfortable in their new body. About that time the Fat Monster shows up to scare the hell out of patients.
I thought the fear of success was scary – that is until I met the Fat Monster. The Fat Monster came into my life one night shortly after I achieved my weight loss goal. The Fat Monster terrified me with illusion – in the darkness of night he convinced me that the weight loss was just a dream, that by morning the Little Fat Girl would be back. He convinced me that being thin was too good to be true. I was terrified.
The Fat Monster scared the hell out of me and I believed his frightening stories. Even on days when my behavior was stellar – I followed the four rules – I was convinced he could catch me. Many restless nights I woke frequently to run my hands over my body confirming he hadn’t caught me that night. I needed to know that I was still thin. Many patients are acquainted with the Fat Monster – after years of dieting failure it is common to believe this weight loss is too good to be true.
To this day the Fat Monster keeps me honest. Aloud I can say that looking and feeling great is my motivation to follow the rules, to exercise and maintain my weight. But deep down inside I’m on a dead run trying to get away from the Fat Monster. I don’t ever want to return to being morbidly obese, I hated that life. So when I get on the treadmill I am literally running from the Fat Monster. When I eat my protein and take my supplements I’m building my strength to battle the Fat Monster. I am at war with the Fat Monster and I will never surrender; I am winning!
Other patients are battling their own Fat Monster. One woman believed the Fat Monster had occupied her bathroom scale – she began weighing compulsively around the clock. She had a before work weight, an after work weight, before work-out weight, after work-out weight and on and on. Any fluctuation from normal caused immediate panic and self-loathing. Her husband locked away the scale and she nearly lost her mind! So, they came to a compromise. He would keep the scale - and the Fat Monster - locked away except for the once a week weigh-in. The physical act of locking-up the Fat Monster worked for her. She no longer weighed herself compulsively and her weekly weigh-ins showed she could very successfully maintain a healthy weight without round-the-clock vigilance to the bathroom scale.
Patients do best when they identify their own Fat Monster and learn what behaviors – good or bad – the monster is affecting in your life. Do not surrender control to the Fat Monster but use terror as a source of motivation in your healthy life.

___________________________

By Kaye Bailey

Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com
Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.
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Kaye Bailey © 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved

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A Soda a Day: How is it Affecting Your Weight?

Many people limit themselves to one soda a day especially those looking for a quick sugar or caffeine boost. However, new research shows that daily soda may be affecting your weight more than you think. A recent study in the Journal of American Medical Association showed that women who drink soda or fruit punch every day gain weight quickly and face a significant risk of type II diabetes.

The study which analyzed more than 50,000 American nurses found that those who drank just one serving of soda or fruit punch a day tended to gain more weight than those who drank less than one a month. One serving is equivalent to one 12-ounce can of soda or one 8-ounce cup of fruit punch. The bottles of soda and fruit punches you find most often in vending machines are often 2-3 servings, which make these findings even more important since many people may be taking in more than one serving a day.

Over an average of four years, researchers found that the women who gained the most weight were those who increased their intake of regular sodas or fruit punch from one or fewer per week to one or more per day. Such women gained an average of 10.3 pounds, compared with an average of slightly less than three pounds for those who consumed one drink or less per week.

In addition, those who had one or more drinks containing sugar or corn syrup per day were 83 percent more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those who drank less than one such drink per month. It is also interesting to note that Type 2 Diabetes rose by 60% between 1990-2001.

The findings in this study suggest that there is something especially unhealthy about calories consumed in liquid form, said Caroline M. Apovian of the Boston University School of Medicine, who wrote an editorial accompanying the findings.

"It seems that when you drink your calories as opposed to eating them, your body may not sense that you've just taken in those calories and your appetite doesn't seem to compensate," Apovian said. "The appetite circuit might not be programmed to register liquid calories."

The take home lesson is use soda as a once in awhile treat but avoid drinking them every day for your health's sake.

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By Meri Raffetto
Meri Raffetto is a Registered Dietitian and a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She is the owner of Real Living Nutrition Services providing online weight loss programs. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter to receive nutrition tips, healthy recipes, and more at http://www.reallivingnutrition.com

© Meri Raffetto, 2005

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Rating The Diets: A Mindless Exercise?

There has been a recent surge in the experts weighing in (pun intended) on popular and celebrity diets to rate them in terms of effectiveness, nutritional adequacy, and balance. Look at the latest crop of magazines, Internet news reports, and television specials.

What is a semi-motivated would-be dieter to do?

Every diet listed seems to give rise to a chorus of criticism. Either it contains too few fruits and vegetables, not enough fiber, not enough fat, or too few calories. The glycemic index is too high or too low, the nutritional content of its staples are not good enough, there is too much or too little of something.

Who rates what we are eating now? We simply pig out on everything from pizza, to fast food, to snacks (did you know that potato chips are the most popular snack food in America - accompanying 32% of our lunches?), desserts, ice cream and beer.

While it would be nice, I suppose, to have a population who ate only healthy foods, in moderation, exercised daily, and took care to ingest at least the minimum requirement of vitamins and minerals, that is not reality, my friend. We overeat on all the wrong foods, we avoid regular exercise like the plague, and huff and puff our way into enlarged bodies that are twenty to fifty pounds heavier than our frames deserve.

Any way that we can take off some or all of that weight is worthwhile. No one is going to stay on any of the popular diets for a lifetime, let's face it. We look at them as temporary (which is part of the problem, but I digress) fixes. The last thing we need are experts who make us afraid to start because we might not be obtaining the right nutrition. Or do we take a certain degree of self-satisfaction in telling ourselves that we can't start until the "perfect diet" is identified?

Are we eating the right way without a diet? No, our nutrition is still deplorable, it's just that we are eating a lot of everything. Let's have at least one expert come out and truthfully report that no matter the deficiencies of any specific diet - going on it is absolutely better than eating the way we are now!

Let's get our collective weight down, and then start worrying about nutrition and health. Diabetes, heart attacks, and gall bladders care a lot less about what we eat than how much.

Start a diet, ANY diet, and follow through for a few weeks and I guarantee you'll be in a much better place, physically and mentally, to start looking after your health and long term fitness than when hemmed in by too much blubber, reading scare stories from the media about how your intended diet is somehow unbalanced.

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By Virginia Bola, PsyD
Virginia Bola is a licensed psychologist and an admitted diet fanatic. She specializes in therapeutic reframing and the effects of attitudes and motivation on individual goals. The author of The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, and a free ezine, The Worker's Edge, she is currently working on a psychologically-based weight control book: Diet with an Attitude. She can be reached at http://dietwithanattitude.blogspot.com

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