10 Tips to Motivate Yourself to Exercise at 40+

Motivating yourself is an Art Form- so treat it like Art - Personalize it.
Be gentle & careful with yourself. 
At 40+, its more important to NOT do anything you may regret later (includes exercise).

Here are 10 ways to Motivate yourself when you are 40+ and don't want to Exercise.

1. Only Stretch. (Warm up and Stretch is better for Muscles)- maybe only one part- your Fingers, Hands, Toes, Back, Arms.

2. Only Warm up your Joints. you can sit and gently rotate Your Neck, Wrist, Elbows, Shoulder, Feet

3.Have a medicine ball, or weights & equipment in a visible place, so that you can see it many times a day and your mind stays in gear.

4. Buy a Swiss Ball- its great for the back, makes exercise easy, and there's no way you can not look at it. 

5. Look at that slinky  curve-fitting, reinforced Dress you bought.

6. If you don't have that dress in your closet, Shop. Now. Exercise later. First get motivated.

7. Get off Pinterest and just walk around for 10 minutes (with a watch) .

8. Buy Slimming Jewelry. Stuff that is so gorgeous, you can't look at what you don't have.  

9. Have a playlist of workout video - blogilates is one of my faves - Find the one with your problem spot and watch it to the end. or atleast half-way. She's easy on the eyes and her exercises gives inch loss- a great motivator in itself..

10. Have a playlist of music video that is workout related..
(like Geri's Its Raining Men)
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 I was motivated by below post to write an age-relevant, mind-related post- read that too- who knows what works for you?
 40 ways to motivate yourself -   Nicole Nichols, SparkPeople Blogger

See More: fitness, excuse busters, motivation,

We all have the days where we plan to work out and know that we should, but when it's time to lace up your shoes and go…You. Just. Don't. Wanna.

I have those days, too, but when I remind myself how GOOD exercise makes me feel, and how it will help me reach my goals, I generally suck it up and do it anyway. Getting started really is the hardest part. Once you get going, you're generally glad you did. And when it's over, you feel even better.

But some people have less willpower or dedication. Some give in to the temptation to skip exercise too easily. While that's fine once in a while, it can become a hard habit to break if you skip out on your workouts too often.

So recently, I polled members of SparkPeople.com, America's No. 1 fitness and healthy living community, asking what THEY do to motivate themselves when they don't feel like exercising. Let me tell you: These people are a creative bunch. The next time you feel less-than-enthusiastic about your upcoming exercise session, take their advice. Here are 40 things you can do (or think about) to get your workout motivation back—and get moving.

SparkPeople members answer: "When I don't feel like working out, I ___."

1. Do it anyway. (This was the most popular answer!)
2. Tell myself to go for 15 minutes. If I still feel bad or unmotivated, I can quit. I have yet to quit.
3. Look on Pinterest for motivation! (Check out Pinterest's Fitness section and followSparkPeople's Pinterest boards.)
4. Ask a friend along to the workout it helps us both with accountability.
5. Do a heavy house cleaning (vacuuming, moving furniture, scrubbing) so I have a reason to work out.
6. Watch a Crossfit video on YouTube. It always inspires me. Then I get it done.
7. Take a 10-minute brisk walk.
8. Take the dog for a long walk.
   
   
    
9. Force myself anyway and feel better for it.
10. Go to a yoga class. It gets me moving, and I always have fun!
11. I sit by myself for a few minutes and think about all the things I can't enjoy because of my poor health.
12. Sometimes I find myself doing it just to get my fitness minutes for the month. Proof that SparkPeople works!
13. Work out anyway…then bask in the awesomeness!
14. Find something new to do! If you run then go for a swim or a bike ride. Maybe you are getting bored with the same routine.
15. Complain about not feeling motivated, then go do it, since I don't like hearing myself complain.
    
    
     
16. I drag myself to the gym anyway. Before I realize it, an hour is passed and I'm glad I went.
17. Post about your lack of motivation on Facebook, and get chewed out.
18. Do it anyway because this is for me.
19. Try to force myself to just do something for 1 minute (jumping jacks, squats, etc.). But usually I tell myself I will be happier that I did it instead of mad at myself for not doing anything.
20. Put on my work out clothes, lace up my shoes and go for a walk. Once I'm out and moving I find my motivation.
21. Do a SparkPeople workout video! They are always great workouts and I love that they are not super hard and complicated!
22. Remember a time when I couldn't work out, and how sad I was when I was heavier, and how I don't want to feel sad again!
23. Listen to some music—something with energy that I like. It's funny how the right music can make you move even when you think you don't want to, and it usually provides a mood boost, too (which is probably why I didn't want to workout in the first place).
    
    
     
24. Put my feelings aside and use logic and reasoning. My feelings then change after a good workout.
25. Follow an "easy" DVD and tell myself I'll do just one part of it. I end up doing it all usually.
26. Put on my workout clothes!
27. Do a workout at home instead of going to the gym.
28. Remind myself why I started working out and how much better I feel and feel about myself when I am done!
    
    
     
29. Do it anyway, just not as long.
30. Remember how easy it is to loss fitness even after missing a few sessions.
31. Put on my workout clothes first thing in the morning. Once I'm in them there's no reason to not work out!
32. Remind myself of one of Gods promises in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
33. Think how good I feel after a workout! Nothing else gives me that same feeling!
34. Go bowling.
35. I go get my small weights and start toning up.
36. Do something light and slow, like yoga.
    
    
     
37. Start working out anyway, and then, I figure I've already started, so I may as well finish STRONG!
38. Put on dance music and move!
39. Call a friend to encourage me.
40. Think of all the people who can't and I go do it and am grateful that I CAN.

There are a lot of things in life that we should do but don't always feel like doing. 

All Weight loss Posts: Natural Foods, Tips, Protein Powders, Supplements

All my posts on
Natural Foods, Coconut Natural Cleanse , Health Supplements, Diet, Exercise, Firming Products,
and the reasoning behind how to have a streamlined bod.

Most Popular Post

Losing Tummy Fat with a Mini Coconut Cleanse

 Skinny on the Tummy: An Understanding on Exercises, Diet and SkinCare

Role of Massage & Firming Products to Streamline

Understanding what needs to be done to shrink stomach inside-out - 

Foods, Supplements

Flax Seeds

What is Bullet Proof Coffee

Using Raspberry Ketones

 Feel free to mail me qs.
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See Body Products on our website. 

Golden Flax Seeds for Weightloss- how to eat a handful- Two types of Flax-seed.

So the weight-loss advisor says to me-
'eat a handful of seeds early in the morning- see how light birds are, all they eat are seeds.' 

I dont really recall the rest - it just struck me like a Sledge Hammer.

Pretty soon, I was eating, just before breakfast,
2 tbsp sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds -  roasted/sundried-
and every once a while struggling to eat flax seeds..

By far, the highest nutritive value is in Flax Seeds- great for the Heart, Cholesterol - being on the other side of 40, all this matters more than weight ..

But oh the smelly things- I could barely eat them. Tried drinking Flax seed oil- haha-
considering making myself a body cream- but the smell hmmm..no.. I would end up wasting everything.

I tried them in snack bars in natural foods stores and pretty much gave up on eating them- but then I found something a few days ago -

Roasted to perfection, crunchy and really yummy, and barely giving that oily after-taste 
which it is so infamous for..
Now this one-  Eating a handful became no great shakes.

and I wasn't sure what makes it yellow - mustard- turmeric-what?
so I found out-

and guess what- there are 2 'types' of Flax seed-
Brown- the garden variety, difficult to eat and 
Golden, exotic in terms of flax seed.
What can I say, my tastes are just exotic :)

My Jar of Golden Roasted Flax Seeds.

Both Brown and Golden Flax seeds have similar nutritive value, except for one subtype.

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Nutritive facts
100g ground flax seed = about 450 calories, 41g fat, 28g fiber, and 20g protein.

^{Both the fiber and protein are whopping}

Flax seed sprouts are edible with a slightly spicy flavor. 

Warning
Excessive consumption with inadequate water can cause bowel obstruction

 Called tisi or alsi in North India, traditionally roasted, powdered, and eaten with boiled rice, a little water & salt.

Whole flax seeds are chemically stable, but ground flaxseed can go rancid at room temperature in as little as one week

---------------------------------
My packet of Flax seeds, I found at Spencers, Hyderabad- sold loose along with a wide variety of spices, nuts, seeds, dried pieces of mango, papaya, pineapple, etc..
I end up splurging at that "Seeds Bar"

Read here about Flax seeds today..
thing1
https://www.facebook.com/Flaxseeds 

thing2
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flaxseeds

Planning on incorporating Flax-seeds regularly? and thats what needs to be done-
Go down to the Flaxseeds side-effects on this page and just be aware.
http://www.healthbeckon.com/flax-seeds-benefits/

Using Flaxseed

2 tbsp went into Oatmeal today.

Uses:

• Use as Egg substitute while baking. The soluble fiber adds structure to the cake and muffins.
• Sprinkle ground flaxseeds over oats, cereals, yoghurt and smoothies.
• You can cook flaxseeds in casseroles, meatball and curries. Use 4 to 8 tablespoons of flaxseeds in a dish serving 6 to 8 people.
• It also goes well with dosa, chapatti dough, buttermilk, chutney and upma.
• The seeds from the flax plant can also be pressed to make vegetable oil, commonly known as linseed oil.
• Add a teaspoon of ground flaxseed to your cheese spread or mayonnaise when making a sandwich.

Weightloss question- Have I benefited using seeds in the morning?

Yes. the days I eat in the morning,

I am more fuller and energetic.
I eat them when I crave chocolate or chips - so I use them  for snacking- along with  Almonds, Figs, Peanuts, Raisins, and other dried fruit.

Some days I also drink a very high protein shake - 23g to the serving- but since I like to augment with natural protein- this looks like an excellent substitute.

search on blog label: weightloss- it has the good, bad and ugly.
I have to go back and edit those pages.. someday... 

BulletProof Coffee to Lose Weight.

http://www.mallenbaker.net/

Another Chapter to Add to my Weightloss Tale:  BulletProof Coffee

Over the last 10 years, I've tried plenty of weightloss cheats. And this seems to be the latest to check on.

Bullet Proof Coffee is Coffee with butter and 18 times concentrated coconut oil extract  By providing your body with satiating fat(butter), and a special kind of energy from fat ( called Brain Octane) instead of sugar and carbs, your body uses ketones for energy throughout the day.”

Which we know means BURN, baby!

Each of the ingredients- Coffee, Butter, Coconut Oil have rigorous specifications.

Personally, I can vouch for Butter.
I allocate a few days of a month (or 3) as "watch my figure" days.
These are the days when I'm in touch with myself, watching what I eat, do the weights, exercise more, eat greens n fruits.
High fat products like Butter, and Clarified Butter (Ghee) figure prominently in those days- otherwise with the exercise, I will end up eating larger quantities. The butters satiate and are filling.

And Coffee- yep, days with headaches are Tea/ Coffee Days in copious quantities. And yep, less carbs.

Does few days a month work for getting slimmer? yes.

It seems the body doesn't get used to the exercise (for a regular workout person) since you stop- and it tends to lose more inches when you do it in fits and cycles. But you have to figure out the cycle best for you, somehow. But, be rigid in those days. No cupcakes and chocolates.

See my Most-Popular Post - Esther's Mini Coconut Cleanse to lose weight

Post on Fatburning Raspberry Ketones

The thing to remember about starting anything New is to
1,research well before use,
2.be very healthy when you start,
3.do it in small doses, till you build capacity to do it regularly, and
4. stop early. You can always start it again.

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Bulletproof Coffee History
 “Putting butter in hot drinks is a several thousand-year-old practice I learned while traveling at 16,000-foot elevation in Tibet,” explains Dave Asprey, credited with popularizing Bulletproof coffee and recently authored the bookThe Bulletproof Diet.

So this guy, put 2 and 2 together. I think I'll be trying it out one of these days!

THIS IS HIS RECIPE

Recipe: How To Make Bulletproof Coffee In 5 Simple Steps

https://www.bulletproofexec.com/bulletproof-coffee-recipe/  

You have to go there.

The man makes very compelling points - its as if he's drunk on it while he writes.

Have you tried Bulletproof Coffee?

Raspberry Ketones for weightloss: Miracle Fatburner: How it worked for me

Regular Exercise, Healthy Diet, Toning Massage and I am still looking to cheat Nature. I find one on The Dr Oz Show. Raspberry Ketone.
At first glance I think, hmmm, is that true?
But Raspberry Seed Oil is one of the natural ingredients I have worked with, making it somewhat familiar.
Also Dr.Oz has been giving away useful info from Alternative Therapies for a long time, however, I believe this particular item caused quite a stir, because of which hes been fined, but, well, different story.
Ok, Here's the video which is convincing enough to make me go try it.
I'm gonna post right here what it did for me.

Dr.Oz recommends 100mg/day and results within 5 days.

Whats it
"Raspberry ketones is a natural phenolic compound, aroma compound of raspberries, often found in perfumery, cosmetics and food to achieve a nice sweet smell, one of the most expensive flavor additive- approximately $20,000 per kilogram. Synthetic formula is $2-8/ lb."

The Raspberry Ketones I got was from British Nutrition, potency of 500mg with recommended thrice-daily dosage (1500mg!) for a month.
Being 150 times what Dr.Oz recommended kind of scares me. I am extremely unfriendly to weight-loss pills ever since a lady in Singapore died because of liver damage due to weight loss pills. I was living there at that time, and it made the news and headlines for a really long time.

But Dr.Oz has been quite trust-worthy, and after a few weeks on the shelf, I finally pick it up.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Well anyhow, for 3 days I try 3 capsules a day and check the results.
For one thing 3 days was enough to see results, and it isn't just water loss, I can tell. There was a softening of hard-fat areas and a slight change in silhouette.
But there was enough amount of fatigue to stop using it till I figured out how to deal with it.

Well, I did realize that this type of woozy feeling also occurs with our own Trimming Mask (product to quickly tone body by scrunching loose body fat due to weightloss). And I know it is because of suddenly losing large amounts of water, minerals and fat drained out along with it.
(Btw, Dr.Oz was called out coz the product caused palpitations in some people.)

I figured my body wasn't used to losing fat so soon, so reduced intake.
1. A week later, I do 1 capsule a day every 3-4 days.
2. Week after, 1 capsule daily for 3 days. Then stop a week.
3. Next week I did 2 capsules a day for 3 days.
4. 3 capsules a day for 3 days. Stop a week.
Even though, I figured out how to deal with it, I'm still slightly wary of taking it every day. No doubt at all, that the product is extremely helpful, the Pilates show better results, etc.
Review is excellent for softening Hard Fat areas.

If you are thinking about it, and we all need a little help sometimes, this is what I suggest:

DIET
1. Lots of electrolytes at hand. Feel even slightly dry, take a few sips.
2. Lots of juices around. Make sure I'm getting my Vitamins.
3. Nibble on nuts, fruits, chocolate, Just nibbles, coz appetite seems to have reduced considerably. Break between food becomes larger than normal.
Just eat and drink healthy things very frequently to offset.

 Exercise.
Exercise brought a lot more results when I was using the product than without.
If you are familiar with protein powder helping get better results, think of this as a super-protein (for results).

Alright, that's all I have to say.
If you tried the product and have any questions, lets try to figure it together.

How to become Slimmer: Massage & Firming Products for the Body

This is Part of 5 Answers to Shrink the Stomach post
Even after losing fat & toning muscle, results are still invisible in various areas because of loss in firmness of skin. Anyone who has lost weight knows about Face sagging and looking aged. Similar with Body.

I have an ongoing battle of the bulge- kind of everywhere.

When I started with "only-exercise and eat sensibly" routine and that's enough concept, I saw little improvement. Later, I added a hi-protein diet and after a few month lost quite a few inches.
And then came the STRUGGLE with Body firming.
Into my routine, I included regular massages with firming/ slimming oils, the Indian market is full of them- VLCC, Shahnaz, Jovees- Being Ayurvedic products, they did give good results, but they were not geared for after weight-loss tightening even at 5-6 monthly massages.
Then came Firming Lotions, St.Ives and quite a few others.

I did not find what I was looking for, but I found some cheats. Instead of Substance I found Style. They were good.

 

By far the best was

 L'occitane en Provence Almond Milk Concentrate - Firming and Smoothing Concentrate de Lait.
It was a De light to use and smoothed and firmed amazingly quickly, used for 3-4 weeks twice daily. But when not applied for about 5 days,  my arms looked disappointingly same before use. However, seems to be a useful thing.

Then there's Essence Sublime Serum with Angelica oil (the white one to left). Products with essential oils simply beckon to me... it was Sensational - and mattifying. I put it on my arms just to see and they looked instantly smoother and firmer more than with the Milk Concentrate - like putting make-up on.

Several times better than the Vichy Perfect Serum (next to it).
Then I tried the free samples - Precious Serum, Precious Cream with Immortelle EO, both good. Divine Lotion (golden) gave a luminous movie-star effect. So Very Good. Effects lasted at least 2 days.

The Hand Cream with 20% Shea Butter is another thing. The tips of my hard-working fingers are always chipped (and I try lots of things) but it smoothed them down. Seems one is sold every 5 minutes. A huge thumbs up. I would guess this to be their backbone. Read more here.

SO Now, back to my Original Post.

List of Slimming and firming products that DO work.

Firming Products are not the complete answer to becoming slimmer, but they are an essential part of having a visibly slimmer body and to shrinking the stomach.

For skin tightening, these are some of our products we have developed and have been helpful to me and others.

Our products, Holistic Serums, are not made for temporary effects. 
While some like Orchid Face Lift Serum give quicker results- like above serums, their effects are long-lasting. I would not say permanent, because as the body changes again, it will be necessary to reuse. Say initially if you use them thrice weekly, you could use them once a week, and later to once in 2 weeks.
These are not "Constant Use" Products.  

Skin-tightening For the Face due to weightloss
1. Orchid Facelift Serum lifts, firms and clarifies.
Actually tightens and lifts. "The flowers of the White Orchid are processed in an oxygen- rich environment to produce this rare & highly valued ingredient, a super potent plant lipid." One of the best natural serums. I do believe there are no other serums that use the high concentration of natural ingredients we do.
2. Beauty Secret Masque. Filled with ayurvedic ingredients, this is an absolute must where skin needs to be firmed or shrunk. Look immediately firmer. See before-after pics here. Results last days/ weeks depending on skin condition.

Body Tightening, Slimming Products due to weight-loss
These products greatly help to give a slimmer, firmer silhouette. However, every body is different, and the results will vary according to skin.
A simplified explanation is this: If your body can quickly respond, products will show excellent results quickly. As age increases, recovery process is slower, so results may vary. What I can say is that would most likely be better than other products.

1. Ayurvedic Body Trimming Mask is excellent to aid lymphatic drainage and gives a great jump-start for slimming.
A body-wrap type of mask. Tightens skin, reduces toxins, and flushes the system for upto 3 days. You feel more energized, lighter and firmer. A little difficult to use, but great for firming a lot, reducing silhouette. Read Product Details here.
Buy Body Trimming Mask Here.

2. The Beauty Secret Masque gives tighter firmed texture to skin, lasting for days depending on skin condition. See Pics for face application. Good for tightening sagging skin and firming texture
Buy Beauty Secret Masque here.

3. Tummy Tucker Xtra Serum aids to firm and lift sagging skin only. One of our top-sellers. Even if you take only a sample size, you can see the difference. Can be used during nursing. Read more about Tummy Tucker Xtra or
Buy Tummy Tucker Xtra here.

4. Body Firming Massage Oil. This item will be updated on site shortly.
A professional body massage is an essential part of the Slim-Down Regime. Take about 1/2 oz of this oil, mix with a body oil of choice and use for massage.
Filled with natural nourishing oils to relieve congestion in tissues and soften hard fatty areas, a massage with this oil greatly aids the ability of fats to be broken down quickly. You may notice that exercise in the few days following this massage will show very fast results. This is helpful to nourish stretchy skin areas as well as soften hard fatty areas like calves.

Related products.
5. Stretchmark areas.
When skin has become delicate and crepey, it is deep tissue damage, not just sagging skin. Since elastin bands are damaged, it needs extra care nourishment and essential oils which work at a deeper level.

Use Rose Cream to work at a deeper level, which will fade stretchmarks (to an extent) but importantly, will help regain elasticity of stretched out skin. This itself may firm up more than any other product for these areas.
Buy Rose Anti-Wrinkle Cream here.

Small amounts of the Body Firming Massage Oil may also be applied over these areas. Do remember it takes 1 week to feel the difference, even if you can't see the marks fade.

6. Cellulite areas do not respond to exercise and weightloss, but essential oils, which aid lymphatic drainage give positive benefits. Cellulite Serum uses specific essential oils which are said to aid in tissue repair and therefore results are from inside out. Good results may be seen in about 2 weeks.

If you have any questions contact care121@gmail.com

How-to-Shrink-the-Stomach: 5 Answers Diet+Tone+Firm+Cleanse+Rejuvenate. Products to Firm

Only if you are very very serious about shrinking your stomach, go on and read this.
If you have ever tried to tone your stomach, After being a Mom, you'll understand that awful pit-of-the-stomach feeling, after 4 months of crunches with lousy results.

I give you several ways, all of which put together will give excellent results.

First, understand what is happening inside a flabby, swollen stomach.

Part 1
Problem 1. multiple layers of fat that may cover well developed muscles but which wont be shown until fat is lost.
Answer 1 a fat-burning, high-protein diet. The higher the amount of protein eaten - which the body can tolerate- the greater the fat burnt off. In order to understand the great importance of Hi-Protein diet for fat burning, go here

Problem 2 Muscle which has lost its tone 
Answer 2- a muscle- toning routine.pilates work best as they isolate the core. There are some excellent ones for lower stomach on Blogilates on Youtube Do invest in a back support belt to do ab exercises for max efficiency.
 If possible, do a short course on Pilates. Exercises that work the sides of the stomach, like those you do lying down on the side are beneficial.

Problem 3 A tendency for the stomach to swell to accomodate food, so skin around stomach also tends to be loose and saggy
Answer 3- firming, tightening and lifting massages & masks
Tightening skin on a regular basis is a very important part of the process. Since these deal with our own products, I'm putting it in a different post where I can handle it in detail. Go here

Now, these 3 steps, will probably be enough if you are already in a weight loss regimen, or you don't have a lot to lose.
But if you have had to deal with this problem for a long time, taking care of the stomach internally is absolutely essential.

Problem 4: Toxins in the Stomach
A long-term diet of processed foods and lots of meats deposit toxins into fat layers near stomach making it nearly impossible to reduce it. This toxic fat layers is supposed to aggravate the body to cause several diseases like diabetes, etc
 Answer 4: Cleanse the Stomach.
There are several cleanses on the market. I have my own modified Ayurvedic mini-cleanse. At a certain point of time, after living several years in the US, where my diet contained a majority of processed & frozen foods, this cleanse caused a lot of weight loss. It is also the most read page on the blog.  See Esther's Coconut Mini-Cleanse

Problem 5: Stomach-unfriendly food
Answer 5: ReStart Body Healing by adding foods to help the stomach
After cleansing, or even before, start adding foods that aid the stomach, not burden it further. Remember you are in it for the long haul. Use fibre-rich foods, Eat fresh food, dry fruits and nuts- Eat raisins instead of cookies. Start reducing wheat and baked goods.
Have regular does of probiotics, enzyme- rich foods like papaya. Add vegetable juices to your diet. See benefits of juicing
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And thats it!
You're on your way to get back your firm stomach and keep it. For years to come. Go, conquer your stomach, Mom!
Oh, and that confidence you get back, just for a tighter few inches- Immense!

Lemme know questions, suggestions, loopholes.

Veggie Drinks Juicing- weightloss- Why, Recipes, Tips to Taste better, Recommended Veggies

Info on Veggie Juicing & Weight Loss, Recipes of green and red juices , Tips to make these juices taste better
Stumbled on this neat info on veggie juicing, while on the theme of weightloss at 30+:
http://activenaturals.blogspot.com/2012/10/women-30-how-to-lose-inches-in-india.html

Also check out our website with products made from 100% natural ingredients for Hair & Skin Health

A list of great natural weight loss drinks.

Remember to also take vitamins to supplement your Weight Loss program.

HOW To use
Drink one 8 oz glass in the morning, as a morning snack, at noon, in the mid afternoon, and more if you feel hungry throughout your day… and then have a salad at night.
Remember to experiment and change these juices to fit your exact needs.

Weight Loss Juice 1
— Juice  equal amounts of celery, cucumber, broccoli, bitter melon, and sweetener of your choice to the juice… stevia or honey works well.
This is a great cleansing agent that if you drink one glass in the morning, noon, and at night… seems to take away your hunger and also clears your mind and melts away your aches and pains… plus you feel great again. This is also good for lowering blood sugar.

Weight Loss Juice 2
–  Juice equal amounts of apples, celery, carrots, teaspoon of spirulina, and cabbage. This juice is great for helping any one lose weight and feel good again.

Weight Loss Juice 3
— Juice equal amounts of celery, garlic, potatoes, leeks or onions, tomatoes, and onions, this is a great juice, add just a little bit of sea salt for flavor and pepper if you like… also makes a really great soup!

Weight Loss Juice 4
— Juice equal parts of romaine lettuce or kale, watercress, green pepper, escarole, swiss chard, beet tops, teaspoon of spirulina, and apple — this is a really great detoxing juice that will change your body completely.

Weight Loss Juice 5
— Juice equal parts spinach or kale, cucumber, celery, ginger, apples, lime, lemon, parsley, and you can add some water to this too… and even banana.

Weight Loss Juice 6
— Juice equal parts romaine lettuce or kale or swiss chard, apple, pear, banana, lemon, celery, spinach, pear, add one teaspoon of spirulina… and you can also add parsley if you like.
If you don’t like the flavor of one of these juices add ginger or cucumber, either one will mask the flavor of the greens.
Also in the evening have a nice salad with a light home made dressing without cheese of any kind

Tips to Make Your Juice Taste Better

If you would like to make your juice taste a bit more palatable, especially in the beginning, you can add these elements:

• Coconut:  This is one of my favorites!  You can purchase the whole coconut or use unsweetened shredded coconut.  It adds a delightful flavor and is an excellent source of fat to balance your meal.  Coconut has medium chain triglycerides, which have many health benefits.
• Cranberries:  Researches have discovered that cranberries have five times the antioxidant content of broccoli, which means they may help protect against cancer, stroke and heart disease.  Limit the cranberries to about 4 ounces per pint of juice.
• 
  Lemons and Limes:  You can also add half a lemon or lime (leaving much of the white rind on).
• Fresh ginger:  This is an excellent addition if you can tolerate it.  It gives your juice a little "kick"! And, as an added boon, researchers have found that ginger can have dramatic effects on cardiovascular health, including preventing atherosclerosis, lowering cholesterol levels, and preventing the oxication of low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

-Posted from website of Dr. Mercola

To De-tox the body and achieve your weight goals…Green and red drinks are great.
They also boost energy, get rid of aches and pains by getting rid of inflammation, boost your immune system, lower your chances of coming down with heart disease and strokes, lower your cholesterol and triglycerides, and help you feel great once again. Plus cravings for sweets and carbs seem to disappear!


Chlorophyll will oxygenate your blood giving you more energy and allowing your body to help build more red blood cells. Greens like spirulina are mostly protein (up to 70% protein) so they are great for muscle building too! And you also have better joint health, your mind seems very clear, and you sooth away any problems with your GI tract at the same time. Plus these drinks are popular with hard working athletes for faster recovery times.


This is from:
http://paulhaider.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/six-great-weight-loss-green-and-red-veggie-drinks/

 three main reasons why you will want to consider incorporating organic vegetable juicing into your optimal health program:

• Juicing helps you absorb more nutrients from the vegetables.
• Juicing allows you to efficiently consume more vegetables.
• Juicing can add a wider variety of vegetables into your diet.

However, you should only start by juicing vegetables that you enjoy eating non-juiced.  The juice should taste pleasant - not make you feel nauseous.  It is very important to listen to your body when juicing.  Your stomach should feel good all morning long.  If it is churning or growling or generally making its presence known, you probably juiced something you should not be eating.


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What are the Best Vegetables for Good Health?
Whether you're munching them raw or juicing, some vegetables contain more health building nutrients than others.  This list details some of the best and worst vegetables for your health.

Also check out our website with products made from 100% natural ingredients for Hair & Skin Health 

Highly Recommended Vegetables:

• Asparagus
• Avocado (actually a fruit)

• 

  I can't see why you cant just drink V8 instead...

  
  

  Beet greens
• Bok Choy
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chicory
• Chinese cabbage
• Chives
• Collard greens
• Cucumbers
• Dandelion greens
• Endive
• Escarole
• Fennel
• Green and red cabbage
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Lettuce: romaine, red leaf, green leaf
• Mustard greens
• Onions
• Parsley
• Peppers: red, green, yellow and hot
• Tomatoes
• Turnips
• Spinach
• Zucchini

Use sparingly due to high carbohydrate levels:

• Beets
• Carrots
• Eggplant
• Jicima
• Winter Squashes

Vegetables to Avoid:

• Potatoes

How-to on Serious Fat-burning- Part 2-Adding Protein to Diet. All about Shakes. Amway Herbalife

yetTherea  br

Part 2 of How to Maximise Results & Drop Dress Sizes in India: on Changing Diet with Protein Shakes: Why Change, How to Change, What to Change, and What it will cost. - - economic alternatives, ingredients, My current Fat-burning Optimized Daily Meal.

As a 30+ Mom living in India, these posts are part of my ongoing journey in weightloss.

I believe that to truly get a handle on weightloss is very challenging physically and psychologically, and  you have to empower yourself.
Weightloss is only a physical manifestation of how we change what we are.
Connect to me for more on empowerment, physically, mentally and spiritually on my facebook biz page.
This Post is Part 2 on this list:

1. See Post on Motivation & demotivating factors in India
2. Changing Diet : All about Protein Shakes - ingredients
3. Optimum Exercise
4. Flattering Clothes ( = motivation. close the cycle)

This post is targeted to the 75kg+ or 160lb+ person who wants to burn fat, healthily, with dietary changes and exercise. I meant to title it as weightloss, but the truth of it is I weigh more now, because of higher muscle mass, even though I look thinner.

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Pre-Protein. 1 year ago.

Post-Protein, Now -
almost similar exercise routine.

Why Change Diet?.

Why can’t I portion control and lose it? Maybe, you can- after a real long time, (I think) but this is serious, constant, weight loss we're talking about, faster than normal, but healthy, not crash dieting.

sicall

For 15+ years, I've been active physically, in any of the following activities, hitting the gym, swimming, aerobics, heavy hands, etc. I shifted to Core exercises, Pilates about 4-5 years ago, and found strengthening of the body core muscles.

But I realized that there was hardly any change in terms of inch loss, or change in the body structure.

See, I was toning muscle, but not burning enough fat to show. all the carbs would still add on everyday, coz exercise makes you hungry.

Then I found that to lose inches, you need to change DIET

Now, What to change to?
Here’s the math on diet.

Filling Food (FF) = Carbs, Protein, Fat, (+Enzymes, Vitamins )
This is very simplified info

 

Higher the amount of protein consumed, more the fat the body burns.

Bodybuilders consume 1.5-2g of Protein per kg of body weight. meaning,- A body builder, with very low body-fat content,  weighing 80kg (or 180lbs) consumes upto 160g protein

The regular southIndian meal gives 60-70% Carbs, 20-30%Protein, and about 10%Fat (Oils)

Generally not more than 5-10g protein per meal,  – so about 15-30g in a day. Atleast, this was what I was getting.
Check for protein content on Meat, eggs, Dal, Soy, etc and see how much you get per meal per day. Here’s a link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_foods_by_protein_content

So..
I added on extra Protein, about 15g in the morning and the inches started to move a bit. Over a few weeks, I pushed it to twice a day, 25g each –so that’s 50g protein + normal middday meal, and it really began to shake.

Remember, a body used to 20 g protein per day cannot digest 20g in one meal suddenly. So you need to add this on gently. First one meal, then the second. Add more fruit/ vegetable/ + fiber  + water to ease the transition.
Then add on the protein in small increments.

So- my current fat burning Diet Plan in a Day , I upped it last week- consists of

1. Whole Milk (8-10g protein) + 30g Protein (shake+ isolate) in the morning
2. Midday meal, heavy on the rice, coz I love my starch (maybe 5-6g protein, meat optional).
3. Whole Milk (8-10g protein) + 30g Protein (shake+ isolate) in the evening
   So about 90g in a day,slightly higher than 1g protein/kg body weight.
   A tad high, yes, -but bear in mind, I'm trying to lose this year, what hasn't dented in 15-odd years.
   Now can I cut this protein down? Welll, I'll be sure to post here. But as I was explaining to my friend, I'd need to fill my stomach with other things, that'd have more fat, and therefore, this is not a smart move.

4. Snacks, mid-morning, mid-evening, and if I'm up later in the night, working, one more time- heavier on protein, lighter on carbs- Fruits, nuts preferred. Of course, I eat other things too, but not too much.
5. add in extra fiber (VERY IMPORTANT), Metamucil or  Isabgol-
Down at the bottom, I've added info on Metamucil plant- Plantago ovata
 6. 2-4 servings of healthy fats – ghee, cheese, butter, whole milk (goes into shake)
1 day in a week to splurge! low-protein, more chocolate, etc.

If you have the chance to drink (shake) in the first half hour of waking up, you get even better results. This may mean waking up a half hour earlier, just for yourself.
Now I make really yummy breakfasts for my kids, Idlis, Dosas, pesarattu, chutney and more... And it is difficult to not eat all this stuff, so I sample them midway between breakfast and lunch. So there's a 11'0 clock snack- right after my exercise.

Can you just take protein?
No. You'd have to add in all the nutrients,  enzymes, that regular whole food and vegetables will give you. Most of the Protein Shakes/ Meal replacements are formulated to give you necessary nutrition.

Ok, Now how do I get all this protein.

I take regular protein shakes, and add protein isolates to up it to my current level.

Amway 's Positrim gives 15g protein in measured sachets. with amino acids,etc. Convenient, no-measure option, comes in Vanilla and Chocolate. Amway's ingredients are supposed to be made in their own farms. Expensive at 1900 INR for 15 sachets of 15g
Milk protein, soy protein, whey

Herbalife's Protein Shakes - gives  9g for 20servings, about 1500 INR  approx same as above

e;

Herbalife's Protein Isolate abt 900INR for 33 servings of 5g. This is non-vitaminized. This is how I add up the higher protein requirement. Amway's protein Isolate, around the same price.

British Nutrition's Whey Protein, 20g , 33 servings, abt 2000 INR - so this is better bang. There's also a 25g option for 2400, I havent tried that
Right now trying the Slow-Release Protein Version 23g Protein, 25 servings at 2000 INR


Oops! Forgot Lindbergh's Whey! If you're in the US, this is, IMO, the perfect option, not too expensive, and good quality ingredients. 25g protein, all the vitamins, easy to mix! and I got a free shaker. Taste... well... not as sweet as the others, but you can always add extra Stevia, right

The most economic option for taking Protein, if slightly inconvenient, is a combo of Protein Isolate + Ensure, a meal replacement, 7 servings for 400 INR, 7g protein.

.

let me add just a line here-
All protein is not equal.
By all means, steer away from Soy Products which is being touted as excellent protein, most of them are GMO (genetically modified) and soy has been studied to raise oestrogen levels, which gives an excitable state, instead of a calming state of mind (+ other things)

In India, where ingredients listing is not mandatory, it gets to be a dumping ground for what the US no longer consumes- you need to be careful with soy. The only Non-GMO Soy milk I've seen here is Silk .

Also, people using protein need to check on other supplements that would get depleted. I have a post on Potassium here related to muscle loss.

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------------------------------

See Our Handmade Products

We make Hair & Skin care products, with 100% natural plant oils and extracts, creating them from ingredients from Ayurveda, Aromatherapy, TCM & Unani.
See our website www.HolisticSerums.com and See Pictures, reviews and testimonials

Take the time and effort to use natural healing products and your Skin & Hair will thank you for it.

-----------------------

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Here's the info on Metamucil from the Coconut Cleanse page
"Some unusual facts on Psyllium Husk (Metamucil) / Isabgol/ plantago ovata

Its Fiber is soluble & insoluble.

Soluble fiber has better benefits in certain ways by binding to fat, heart healthy etc (need to update this) whereas insoluble main benefit is to add bulk & clear the intestine.

Effect of soluble fiber in 1 TPSP psyllium = 14 TBSP oat bran.

Approximately 71 grams of fiber for 1/3 cup.

Some studies suggested that regular use of psyllium husk may help pass more fat as waste matter, translating to weight loss.
Some suggest psyllium husk may be helpful in lowering blood sugar counts.

An article in Pediatrics (1995) stated that consuming a high fiber diet, ( i.e., psyllium,) from a young age may even decrease the future risk of cardiovascular disease, colon cancers (especially colon types), and onset of diabetes.

It is important to take it with care, apart from complaints of bloating or gas when first using the product. Most doctors suggest taking several weeks to work up to a full dose of this dietary fiber. Early reactions might include diarrhea and flatulence.

The most important thing to remember when taking psyllium husk is to take it with lots of water. Drinking a full glass with the supplement, and six or seven more glasses a day is recommended."
You are drinking Water, loads of it, right?

And thats it. Now go over to the exercise page. Link when I finish writing it.

Is it worth it?

You betcha