Weight Loss Info Center

Researchers at the University of Georgia in Athens have found that DHA (one of the main omega-3s in fish fat) blocks the development of human fat cells. 

Although more research will need to be done in this area, those trying to lose weight may find fish oils as a natural supplement to help with their weight loss efforts instead of turning to diet pills or unhealthy eating patterns.  There are other health benefits in regards to fish oil, but from a weight loss standpoint alone, this is good news!

So how much should you add to your diet?  Experts suggest adding 6 to 12 oz. of foods like salmon to your weekly diet.  There’s also flax seed, walnuts, certain cooking oils, dark green vegetables, grass-fed beef, and then there’s always fish oil supplements.

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Many years ago, I thought that the basics of weight loss were the same for everyone.  That if anyone who wanted to lose weight would all follow the same plan, they would all lose weight.  I’m finding out as I get older, that’s just not the case.  Two people can both be on Weight Watchers and adhere to the plan with 100% compliance and only one will lose weight or one loses more than the other.

The same with exercise…I know women who workout doing exclusively cardio and lose weight.  If I only do cardio exercise, I lose nothing.  No inches, no pounds, and that’s with eating clean 100% all the time.  I have to incorporate weight training (or even do more weight training than cardio) for my body to respond.

So it makes perfect sense to me that a new study finds that…Not One Size Fits All when it comes to weight loss.  It’s not surprising that this study found there are those of us who are considered “compensators;” folks who either eat more because of exercise or eat more because we reward ourselves for exercising.  Raising hand - I’m guilty of both.  I have rewarded myself with food in the past, but not that often.  What I do find happening often is the fact that when I stick to my normal workout routine I usually do eat more because I’m starving after a workout. 

I think the best approach for women to take in regards to losing weight is finding both an eating plan and an exercise plan that works for them.  I mean our bodies are all built differently and when we choose our clothing, we try it on to make sure it fits.  Why not do the same when it comes to weight loss?

Here are some tips to find the right weight loss plan for you.

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I know, I know, it sounds nuts, doesn’t it?  I’m sure some folks will wonder if I have really lost it this time by saying that “I miss my workouts.”  But…it’s true.  Something has just been off kilter with me lately, more than just being sick or the occasional blues I go through every once in a while.  I’m unable to focus, my mind is going a million miles a minute, I’ve been suffering on and off with insomnia, and I’m just, well, “off.”  I couldn’t really put my finger on it until tonight.

While I was sitting on the couch a while ago, eating a late night snack and relaxing, it hit me, what exactly is “off.”  I haven’t really put in a good work out in over a month!  WHAT?  It’s true.  I’ve been keeping track of my steps with my handy dandy pedometer, but to be honest, I need more.  Another mom and I had been walking together, which I guess satiated my desire for some type of workout, but she quit on me a couple of weeks ago when the weather started to get a little cooler (not cold, just cool).  So basically I’ve been getting my steps in by doing housework, which is great because I get a lot done (hey, it takes a lot of walking to get in 10,000 steps in a day!).  But it’s not enough.  Crazy thought, isn’t it?

You have to understand that I was a hardcore and faithful exerciser (is that even a word?).  I worked out 6 days a week, sometimes 7, putting in a grueling workout with P90X or some sort of cardio/weight training program that I put together on my own.  Every single day without fail (unless too sick).  So it’s no wonder my mind has been fuzzy, I’ve been unable to stay focused, and I feel like I’m missing something.  I am missing something - my beloved workouts!!

Since my surgery is less than a month away and I know I won’t be able to workout for a bit after, and definitely no weight training for a while either, I am going to just do 6 days of cardio for now and stretch on the 7th day.  I’ve decided to just do Slim in 6 because it’s an awesome cardio workout with some resistance training and it makes me sweat and I really like it.

I’m downright giddy with the thought of actually getting up early in the a.m. and getting in a kickbutt workout.  I really think this will do the trick.

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My husband and I were talking the other day about my recent, and really unintended, weight loss.  I stated again how surprised I was since I didn’t have the “best” eating habits last month and actually ate/drank some things I normally stay completely away from (i.e., soda).  He jokingly says, “See there, you could create the Junk Food Diet.”  Hmmm…

Coincidentally, I ran into a post at Diet Blog about a man who has lost 40 lbs. over the past 3 months eating a Chipolte burrito every day.  There’s a little more to his story, but basically, the Chipolte burrito (which I have never heard of, btw) has approximately 1300 calories.  This man has not yet added exercise to his “program,” but did cut out soda, and while he does eat a burrito every day, he eats well the rest of the day by eating salads and fruit.  He’s also drinking more water and taking a multivitamin.  I have to say that I am impressed.  I mean 40 lbs. is nothing to sneeze at AND he’s eating something he obviously loves to eat. 

So this brings up some questions for me.  One question would be isn’t this junk food he’s eating?  Would these burritos fall under what the experts deem to be “bad for you” food?  More than likely since foods high in calories and fat normally fall under what is considered to be junk.  But this man’s story goes against most of what I have read about food and weight loss, which is basically that you can’t lose weight eating junk.

My other question is would it be possible for someone to eat nothing but ”junk” food but also add exercise into the mix and still lose weight?  I’ll be on the lookout for more stories along those lines and post about them here if I find any.  

I guess at this point I am just happy to know that there is someone else out there that can eat junk and still lose weight.  Now I don’t feel quite so much like a “freak of nature.”

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