It has often been suggested that men don’t need to work as hard as women do to lose weight. If it wasn’t bad enough to wonder why men seem to lose inches and pounds more quickly, it’s almost worse to have it confirmed!

Leslie Beck has written an article that has caused a stir between the sexes again. The Toronto-based dietitian has explained in an article printed today in the Globe and Mail, why it is that men really do lose weight more efficiently on average than women.

The sad truth is that the key points she makes about a man’s general approach to body image, working out and eating are not crazy or unfounded.

It’s hard to convince some women that:

a) their worth is not equal to their weight;

b) building muscle mass will not make them look masculine;

c) we need to be at a healthy weight for our long term health more than for beauty or vanity.

Health IS beautiful!

Take the time to read this article and let us know your thoughts! THE FULL ARTICLE

I find that sometimes when I plan to do something I often get off track and end up in a totally different direction. Life always seems to send many different twists and turns my way and I seem to easily lose focus of what I aimed to do, sometimes a bit to easily if you ask me.

So after checking out many different websites of how I can become more organized, I realized it’s not about being organized but it’s about staying motivated. No matter how organized you are, life will still throw you a curve ball and expect you to work with it. So here are the 3 easy steps I have taken to help me follow through with my goals:

1. I list my specific goal(s). I don’t know about you, but when I say list, I mean actually write it down somewhere that you are going to see and will be reminded of it hopefully on a daily basis. I don’t recommend just thinking of it, because well, I am still trying to remember goals I set in the past that have not had any follow through because I forgot about them. I now post mine on the refrigerator, so post it where you think will best fit your lifestyle. Some suggestions are on the calendar, in your planner, or maybe on your computer desktop.

2. Remember to set realistic goals and realistic timelines. Don’t make it too short of a period that you will be regretting it in a few days and don’t set a long period that you can keep telling yourself, “Oh I will start tomorrow.” Remember, each day counts and you are no expected to see the same results each day. So if your goal is to cut out junk food, take each day as it comes, at first you will eat more and gradually decrease the amount you are eating.

3. I think the most important of all is to have a motivational reward. But remember, if you choose to cut out a bad habit or indulgence, your reward can’t be that same vice. Choose something that you have wanted to do for awhile like go on a shopping spree, go to the spa, go to a sports game or buying that new gadget that you have been eyeing for awhile.

Oh and one more step that I forgot to mention is, STAYING POSITIVE!!!!!

Hanna

Is it possible to lose weight by just keeping a food diary? Sounds too good to be true, however according to a study done by Kaiser Permanente’s Center for Health Research, keeping a food diary can help you double your weight loss.

How you ask? By keeping a record of what you are eating, it helps you take responsibility and identify your food choices. You have a clear view of what, when and why you are eating. It allows you to learn about your eating habits and the amount of calories you are consuming.

According to the study, “Those who kept daily food records lost twice as much weight as those who kept no records. It seems that the simple act of writing down what you eat encourages people to consume fewer calories.” After six months of following a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat or non-fat dairy, moderately exercising and the encouragement of a support group, the average weight loss was approximately 13 pounds.

Now doesn’t that get you motivated to pick up a piece of paper and jot down what you ate? Remember not to omit any information and do it right after eating; don’t depend on your memory. Most importantly, stay POSITIVE!

You can find more information about this study in the following article:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080708080738.htm

Check out this link for ideas on how to keep a food journal:

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/food/general-nutrition/299.html