Keeping a Weight Loss Diary

Having run a slimming club for 2 years - I became very aware of the number of people who were constantly surprised that they had failed to lose weight. When I questioned them about what they had eaten over a 2/3 day period I began to realise that most people have very short memories and can easily and conveniently forget about the odd biscuit here and there and the mug of hot chocolate they had before they went to bed. It is these snacks and occasional drinks that make it very difficult to successfully lose weight.
When I eventually trained as a nutritionist and started to help people on an individual basis to lose weight I would always insist that part of the weight loss program should be to keep a diary of all the food and drink consumed each day. As a weight loss coach this was valuable information. If a client had failed to lose weight, I was able to see immediately what the problem was.
The reasons for lack of weight loss are not always about the odd biscuit or hot chocolate. Sometimes it can be due to insufficient protein at each of the meals or maybe even not eating often enough or not eating enough at each meal. All of this things are important for a healthy and successful weight loss.
If you are just thinking about starting a weight loss regime it is also a good idea to start your food diary now. Very often this can be the spur that is needed. Once you see how bad your diet is you will soon start to make the necessary changes to help you to lose weight

Some Weight Loss Programs Just Don't Work

The majority of highly promoted weight loss programs just don’t work. Many of these programs are at best disappointing and at worst making fraudulent claims. The side effects of some of these programs can cause untold damage to your health.

There are several “weight loss pills” available over the counter that promise miraculous results. However it is important to be wary of the side effects of these pills.

• Appetite Suppressants are intended to reduce your hunger and make you eat less. However it is important to be aware of the effects this might have on your body. Reducing your appetite means you will inevitably be cutting back on your calorific intake. This can actually slow down the fat burning process, as the body goes into starvation mode and slows the metabolism in response. When you start to eat normally again your body will forget to readjust the metabolism and you end up gaining more weight than you originally lost.

• Starch, fat or carbohydrate blockers. Taking these types of weight loss pills serves only to lie to your body, as they send the message that it is ok to eat all sorts of fattening foods like pastries and pizzas. The pills are intended to block the absorption of any fat, which does little to encourage the dieter to find a healthy diet for the future. These pills are also known to cause unpleasant side effects such as diarrhea and headaches. Weight loss is only likely to be sustained if good eating habits are established

• The metabolism booster sometimes called a thermogenic pill can be extremely dangerous. It is a very strong stimulant that can put undue pressure on the heart as well causing energy swings and possible insomnia.

At the end of the day it is important to remember that healthy weight loss is about finding a diet for life. If you have put on weight in the past then it is highly likely that you have been eating foods that are not providing you with a healthy well balanced diet that suits your body type. Once you find a diet that is right for you weight loss will be a thing of the past