Weight loss - Alternatives to Junk Foods

Weight Loss diets often fail because of the cravings we get for the junk food. There are how ever alternatives to junk foods that are not only healthier options, but will also help you with your weight loss.

So what are the alternatives to eating junk foods for weight loss?

Ice Cream Cravings
Ice Cream is among one of the worst foods for weight loss. A healthier alternative is to put opt for frozen yogurt, or frozen fruit juice.
Crisp Cravings
Crisps, even low fat ones, are extremely fattening. A healthier alternative is to buy wholemeal dried pita breads.
Chocolate cravings
If you get cravings for chocolates then this is often because your body is craving for sugar. Unfortunately, artificial sugars such as sweets and chocolates do not satisfy your body's craving for sugar and only end up providing you with hollow calories. However, a much healthier alternative is to drink a glass of freshly juiced vegetables (carrots, cabbages, cucumber and tomato). This cocktail of vegetable juice will provide your body with natural sugar it needs and suppress any craving you have for artificial sugar, such as chocolate.
Sandwiches and burger cravings
Quite often people forget that the small sandwiches and burgers sold in shops contain more calorie than a large home made meal. This is more often because of the sauce used in the sandwiches and the burgers. A far healthier option would be to go for either Tuna or Ham sandwiches. These not only tend to be cheaper, but contain far less calories. So not only will you lose weight, you also save money doing it!
Pizza Cravings
Few people realize that a single slice of pizza with full toppings has on average 700 calories! A much healthier option is to make your own. Start by using thin crust base, topped with home made tomato puree and low fat cheese. As for toppings, ideally, you should use freshly chopped vegetables.

Children & Obesity

In simple terms, obesity is caused when the body stores excessive calories. Obesity in civilized countries is reaching epidemic proportions. What is worrying is that the children too are now more obese than ever before in the history of man kind!

Child Obesity and Weight Loss

Calories and Weight Loss

Weight loss depends on the amount of calorie intake. Calories are used by the body to perform its day-to-day functions. However, when the calories taken in is greater than the energy burnt, then the excess calories are stored as fat. The most common reasons for excessive consumption of calories are:

Psychological
Emotional
Lack of knowledge
Habit

calories and weight loss

Weight loss plans

There are a number of VERY dangerous diet plans used to target weight loss. A dangerous, or misleading, diet is one which provides "rapid" result. Remember, in order for a diet to be effective and safe, your body needs time to adjust to the change in your lifestyle. This is because rapid dieting will almost always have health consequences, and in fact research has also shown that as soon as your body adjusts to the diet, you will start to put on weight at even a higher rate than before.

Weight loss diet

Weight Loss plans to be avoided

For legal reasons we are unable to actually name dangerous or misleading weight loss diets, however, the following is a list which should help you identify these diets for yourself.

Any diet that cuts out any essential food groups (Specially carbohydrates!)
Any diet that promises or guarantees fast result
Any diet that involves you drinking only liquid food.
Any diet that involves you buying processed and ready made "food substitutes".

Weight loss diets

Diet

The food you eat is the single most important factor to the weight loss programs as a whole. Weight loss is only achieved through a healthy diet.

Weight loss diet and health

Exercise

Exercise is vital not only to a safe weight loss plan, but, is also crucial to the general operation and well being of the human body.

Weight loss exercise

Measuring Body Fat

Measuring the Body Fat is a much more accurate way of measuring how your weight loss program is going than using a bathroom scale. The bathroom scales are highly misleading!

Measure Body Fat

Swimming

Swimming is a VERY effective and safe way of burning calories. Its one of the safest ways of exercising as you do not put any excessive force on the joints.

Swimming

Walking

Walking is one of the safest form of exercise as you burn those calories without excessive wear and tear on the joints.

Walking

Pilates and Yoga

Pilates and Yoga are important to any weight loss program as they both encourage good body posture and alignment.

Pilates