3 Simple and Easy Weight Loss Tips

Weight loss doesn’t have to be a troubling ordeal. Whether you’re looking to drop five pounds or 15 pounds, simple lifestyle changes can increase the rate at which you burn fat and calories. Dieting is highly effective but when you deprive yourself of food or consume foods that you don’t like, you’re not likely to stick with a diet. Remember, it’s all about lifestyle. Weight loss should not be thought of as a quick fix. It’s a commitment to better health and wellness forever. If you’re having a hard time figuring out where to start, there are simple and easy steps to take that won't require a lot of work or effort. Weight loss or a new healthy lifestyle shouldn't be thought of as a complete change overnight. Take time and gradually work your way into better health and wellness.

If weight loss is your priority, here are three simple and effortless ways to lose the pounds.

1. Find ways to stay active: Activity shouldn’t be limited to only exercise. Throughout your day, find different ways to keep your body moving. Take the stairs at work, stand up at your computer instead of sitting, pace the floor as you talk on the phone, go for a walk on your lunch break, park away from stores and buildings or jog in place for one or two minutes at a time. Stop going to drive through eateries where you can remain in the car. Park the car and walk into the restaurant. Get up from your desk and take a walk around the floor or building every 15 - 20 minutes. All of these small ways to burn more calories add up throughout the day.

2. Replace unhealthy snacks with fruits and veggies. Some people significantly decrease their food intake while dieting. While it’s good to eat less, your body needs calories and food for energy. Rather than starve yourself, stock up on some of your favorite fruits, such as grapes, apples, kiwi, peaches, carrots, celery and any other veggie sticks. These items contain natural sugar and very few calories. In addition, they contain nutrients such as vitamins and minerals that your body needs instead of empty calories from candy bars, chips and cookies.

3. Discover fun workouts. If you find the gym boring, think of other ways to exercise. There are plenty of weight loss options in the form of exercise that will get your heart pumping and keep the calories burning. You can go swimming, ride your bike, hike, take a Zumba class, kayak, learn to surf and much more. If you learn to love exercise, you’re more likely to stick with a routine. It's important to gravitate toward the activities you love to do. Your chances of continuing to be active are much greater if the activities you choose are activities you love to do. You’ll lose weight plus maintain a healthy lifestyle.

These three tips are a great way to get on the right track to weight loss. Take small steps in achieving weight loss. No need to change everything overnight. It's important to gradually change your lifestyle so that you can easily adapt to these new changes. Don't forget to reward yourself from time to time for your hard work. Weight loss doesn't have to be all work and no play.

Visit us at our weight loss camp for more information on weight loss, creating a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating.

Healthy Lifestyle: Nutrition, Exercise + Positive Thinking

Everyone wants a healthier lifestyle and be able to live a long life. Most folks know they need to eat less and exercise more, but to live a truly Healthy Lifestyle means so much more. Creating a healthy lifestyle means adopting a healthy nutrition regimen, moving your body and reducing stress.
1. Create a healthy nutrition regimen. One of the biggest factors to living a healthy lifestyle is to adopt a healthy eating plan. Make sure to get in a good balance of protein, healthy fats and healthy carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables each day. Reduce or eliminate the amount of processed foods, fast food and soda you consume in a day. The amount of “empty food” being consumed by people each day is staggering and should be reduced drastically or elimintated completely. Eliminating these alone and committing to eating more fresh, whole foods would easily help to increase health and induce weight loss. It’s also important to make sure your body is fully hydrated. Water will not only support your metabolism in weight loss but will also aid in your body’s absorption of essential nutrients.
2. Moving daily has to also be a commitment in a healthy lifestyle or Weight Loss plan. This doesn’t mean everyone has to run out and join a gym, it simply means people need to move more – whether it’s walking, hiking or swimming. Getting out and moving not only helps improve your body it also helps improve your mind and this is the key piece to a successful Weight Loss plan. We are living in a time starved world and most people have very busy lifestyles which means we are moving less. Moving your body not only helps you burn calories but also helps lubricate the joints and challenges your balance.
3. Think positive and reduce stress. Creating a Healthy Lifestyle is about focusing on gratitude and being committed to positive thinking. This has long been associated with folks who live a healthy life. Stress and negative thinking leads to the production of cortisol which leads to weight gain. In addition, having a more positive attitude leads to a healthier immune system. Your body responds to what your brain tells it, so it is important to constantly feed your body the message that it is healthy and happy. Pretty soon you start to believe it as your mind and your body become more fit. You will soon notice that everything starts to fall into place. You begin to sleep better because you are exercising more and you are eating better because you feel better.
Exercise, eating right and a positive attitude are what is needed to live that Healthy Lifestyle you always wanted. Start taking steps toward your healthy lifestyle today. Visit us at our fitness camp for more ideas on how to adopt a nutrition plan, exercise regimen and positive thinking for a healthy lifestyle.

6 Tips for a Healthy Cookout

I love a good hotdog, burger and even some chips. That being said, I figured there were more people out there like me who love the bad stuff but need/like to stick to the good stuff (for one reason or another). I decided to come up with some ways to keep your cookouts healthy.
Fall is on its way here (September 22 to be exact). It’s that time of year where we celebrate not only the season but also get together for sporting events. Grilling, cookouts and tailgating are a big part of this time of year for a lot people. Many people have a hard time sticking to weight loss plans, typical healthy regimens and portion control when going to a cookout or social event. Typical food for these types of cookouts includes burgers, hot dogs, chips and other food that may or may not be the healthiest for you. There’s no reason why you can’t have a healthy, yet tasty Fall cookout and still enjoy the same flavors that you’ve always loved during these festivities. Here are 6 tips for a healthy cookout.
1. Hot Dogs – First of all, make sure you are purchasing high quality, all beef or turkey hot dogs. Second, forego the bun to save calories or make sure to pick up a good quality whole wheat bun for your dog. (Applegate Farms has a great selection of all beef, turkey and organic beef and turkey dogs! Sold in your grocers cold cut section or Whole Foods.)
2. Burgers – Yum! Who doesn’t love a burger, right? I will suggest the same thing for burgers as I do for hot dogs. Make sure to get quality beef or try a veggie burger and leave out the bun. You’ll be able to taste your grilled burger better without all of the bread. Load your burger up with fresh or grilled veggies and a little bit of cheese for taste and crunch! If you must have a bun, get a true whole wheat bun.
3. Condiments, condiments, condiments! – Instead of loading up your grilled dog or burger with ketchup, just add a few slices of fresh tomato. Slice pickles instead of loading on store bought relish and forego the mayo completely. Try a little mustard, shredded cabbage, sliced or cut jalapeno, fresh cut onion, or grilled onions to spice up your meal. That being said, if you truly want to use traditional condiments, go organic, watch the sugar amounts and always use portion control. Less is more in the condiment department!
4. Potato Salad, Pasta Salad and Cole Slaw – Don’t touch these dishes if they’re smothered in creamy mayonnaise based sauces. Yogurt based would be a better alternative with fewer calories. Other alternatives are sliced, seasoned potatoes that have been grilled or broiled instead of potato salad, whole wheat pasta with fresh veggies with a touch of olive oil for pasta salad and fresh shredded cabbage mixed with shredded carrot and onion with a bit of vinegar and oil as an alternative for cole slaw. You’ll save a ton of calories and if you season right, you will not be lacking in taste one bit (or bite!).
5. Dessert – Fresh fruit with a little bit of whipped cream is your best bet! Not only is fresh fruit much better for you than a sugar loaded dessert but with the colors of fruit, you can whip up a seasonal inspired goodie. Fruit can be cut and packaged and carried or set out in a bowl. You can still have the sweet without all of the added junk and calories.
6. Chips and Dips – Ditch the chips for fresh cut veggies such as celery, cucumber, carrot and zucchini sticks. Whip up a Greek yogurt or yogurt based dip with spices and garlic versus a store bought dip loaded with sugars and added ingredients you don’t want or need! Homemade sweet potato chips, kale chips and whole wheat pita chips are also a great alternative if you’re really looking for crunch from something other than a vegetable.
Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring! It can be fun and really tasty if you get a little creative with it. There are ways to “healthify” almost any dish for any occasion. Enjoy a healthy cookout or tailgate with these tips.
Visit us at our weight loss camp to learn more healthy living tips!