Natural Weight Loss, by Maoshing Ni

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Add on years by shedding some extra pounds! These days, upwards of 60 percent of Americans are obese or overweight. Correspondingly, the rates of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes are skyrocketing. Here are some ways to cut your risk of being counted among the statistics and lose the weight. These simple tips will have you losing weight in a balanced and healthy way.

Lose weight with water. Water is essential for everybody; it is also the key to losing weight. If you haven't been drinking enough water, your body has developed a pattern of storing water. This water retention equals extra unwanted weight. By drinking more water, you are not only flushing out toxins, you are also teaching your body that it no longer needs to store water. Drink at least 60 ounces of water (about 8 glasses) a day. Boil water and sliced lemons, and drink this throughout the day to help with fluid retention. One more thing to keep in mind: water is a natural appetite suppressant!

• 1. Focus on being fit rather than being thin. Aiming to be thin often means restricted eating, over-exercising, and anxious obsessing about weight-there is nothing healthy about this mindset.

• 2. Keep weight off by eating early. The human body follows a circadian rhythm, which means that the same foods eaten at breakfast and lunch are processed differently than when eaten at dinner. Studies show that when you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast you tend to lose weight and have more energy; conversely, eating the same things at dinner tend to increase tendencies toward weight gain. Try to eat your last meal of the day by 7 PM.

• 3. Eat a bowl of soup at least once a day! This one simple dietary change will have you shedding pounds. Nutritious low-salt soups will nourish you as they flush waste from your body. People who eat a serving of soup daily lose more weight than those who eat the same amount of calories but don't eat soup. Go for homemade soup whenever possible, as canned soups are loaded with salt and chemicals.

• Eat smaller meals, more frequently. Follow an eating schedule with five little meals every day. Eating steadily through the day keeps you from becoming famished and overeating at your next meal. Find a small bowl the size of your two palms when they are placed next to each other-this should be the size of each meal.

• Work off the weight. The number one cause of weight gain is inactivity. Physical activity is the key to speeding up your metabolism and burning excess calories. A great way to be physically active is to use your legs! Walk as often and as long as you can. Step outside during your break at work and take a walk around your building. Always take the stairs instead of the elevator. Consider joining a local hiking club. Try taking a walk 30 minutes in the morning or 30 minutes in the early evening. For toning you might replace one of the walks with some stretching activities such as tai chi or a mild form of yoga.

I hope these suggestions have you feeling fit and healthy!

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Maoshing Ni, Secrets of Self-Healing, medicine, alternative, Chinese medicine, acupressure, feng shui, natural remedies, healing, health, balance, stress, meditation, Penguin Books, books