GetSlimZone.com

by Tabitha Stuart

Getting started on your weight loss journey can be difficult. The only thing that is more difficult is sticking to it. Some diet and fitness programs are so complicated and time consuming they are impossible to stick to. No matter what your weight loss goals are these 6 simple tips will help you reach your weight loss goals and stick to your program.

1. Water Water Water! People just don’t seem to understand how essential it is to stay hydrated. Approximately 80% of Americans live in a constant state of dehydration. Not only can this cause medical problems, but your body will hold every ounce of fluid it can get. So I recommend 64 ounces or more of plain ice water everyday. Adding a lemon wedge is fine and lemon is a natural diuretic, BUT NOTHING ELSE!

2. Portion Control is key. Even if you are eating valuable foods you can still consume excess calories. My rule of thumb is use a 9 inch dinner plate and imagine it is divided into 4 equal sections. One section would be your lean protein like fish or chicken, one would be your whole grain such as brown rice, and the other two would be produce such as steamed veggies. This works well for most dishes and makes it simple to visualize proper portions.

3. Don’t try to completely give up your favorite foods. Many people have trouble sticking to a program because they convince themselves that they can never have pizza or cake again. You should think of losing weight not as a diet but as a life style change. Therefor, it must be livable and realistic. If you go to a party, have a piece of cake. If you are really craving pizza, have a slice or two and a salad with lite dressing. If you go into knowing that you can enjoy your favorite foods from time to time you will have much more success and prevent binge eating.

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We are suckers for commercial machine makers going into the home market. The Precor 9.23 low-impact treadmill is just $2499 – yes, a PRECOR. Our favorite commercial and health club machine maker now makes a home treadmill that’s affordable and will last for years, even if you are a casual walker or running 100 miles a week training for a marathon.

Feast on these specs:

Multi-zone deck suspension system absorbs shock and minimizes impact

Phenolic laminated deck bonded to 3/4 medium density fiberboard. Deck can be flipped to double life

Dry silicone belt lubrication system requires no maintenance

Precision machined steel drive and take up rollers keep belt running smoothly to reduce noise and wear

The running belt is 20 wide, multi-ply, polyester satin weave with a PVC non slip surface

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High-Intensity Interval Training is a short, very intense workout that requires the body to get into oxygen deficiency so that it shifts to anaerobic energy production. Without getting too technical, this anaerobic glycolysis is where the body breaks down carbohydrates without using oxygen.

HIIT exercises (also called Short Sprint Interval Training) can be done in many of your favorite activities including skating, jumping rope, calisthenics, spinning, biking and so on. After a few weeks, this program can be increased to 30-second bursts as your fitness improves. (It goes without saying that you should not try this unless you are already in good physical condition.)
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When you want to take off a few pounds or slim down your waist, you should be aware that losing fat and losing weight are not the same thing.  Low carb diets provide some initial weight loss zap, but the loss will be in muscle — not fat — and these diets tend to lower the metabolism as well.

Your goal then, should be to gain muscle, increase the metabolism, and lose the subcutaneous fat through a combination of proper diet and specific exercises.

To understand the fat burning process, it’s necessary to first have a look at the differences between aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Aerobic generally refers to types of exercises necessary for cardio-vascular fitness, weight loss, and toning the body. Fat is a slow burning fuel that requires oxygen to stoke it, and aerobics (“with oxygen”) is the perfect solution. Walking is the most popular type of aerobic activity but you can also achieve results from dancing, swimming, cycling, etc.

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