The necessary first step for your weight-loss journey is to set goals that will effectively move you through the process. Essentially, there are two kinds of goals to consider: outcome goals and process goals. Outcome goals look to the end, or outcome, of your journey. What do you hope to achieve with your weight-loss? Is there a target weight you have in mind? A special dress or pants size you want to fit into? Process goals work differently. They walk you through the journey, step-by-step toward your outcome goal. A process goal might be the choice to workout three times a week or to drink 64oz. of water every day. The key here is to set goals that offer challenge but are not too unrealistic. When you focus on moving through your process goals one day at a time, before you know it, you will have achieved your outcome goal as well! Those small daily victories amount to a huge and gratifying overall success!

Learn more about how you can lose weight from home, starting today: Download our free audio by signing up at the top right of this page.

There are many ways to reduce stress in your life. Here are some suggestions if you find your tendency to worry if affecting the quality of your life mentally, emotionally and physically.

If you have a problem that needs to be taken care of, stop procrastinating and just do what needs to be done. It may be hard to face, but once it’s dealt with the stress in your life will go way down.

If you have toxic people in your life, that is, people who make you feel uncomfortable, bad about yourself, lacking in some way, jumpy, sad, essentially too much negative emotion, limit the amount of time you spend with those people, or cut them out of your life. It’s impossible to cut out certain people like beloved family members and co-workers, but you can in these cases, organize your life in such a way that you spend less time with them than you ordinarily would. And when you do have to spend time with a toxic person, schedule some time with a person whom you find uplifting afterward. It will be a positive antitode.

Try positive visualization and affirmations. There are loads of books on the market with instructions on how to use these powerful tools. Many of us run negative stress-producing thoughts without even realizing we’re doing it 24/7. It is possible to replace these with positive thoughts and mental pictures. In fact, it is imperative to do so to reduce stress and living a more rewarding life.

Stay away from caffeine. The temporary boost it gives you isn’t worth its cost in added jumpiness and roller coaster energy swings.

Start writing down your thoughts in a journal, both everything that worries you and everything you love about your life (that you can think of in one sitting). Then be done with it for the day, and go about living.

Get plenty of exercise. Exercise releases endorphins which make you feel good. It’s also very good for your overall health and can often pop you out of a worried state of mind. It’s also very beneficial for people who have depressive tendencies.

Try seeing a counselor or hypnotherapist. There’s nothing quite like having the attention of a trained professional, someone who listens well and has some insights and ideas for you to try. Each of us is unique, and good therapists realize this, knowing that what works to reduce stress for one person isn’t going to work for another person. It’s always good to get a helping hand.

Allow yourself a few minutes each day, a very limited time, to worry to the hilt. Exaggerate your fears and negative mental images. Then when your time’s up. Let is go until your next scheduled worry session.

Take a break from the media for a while-TV, radio, newspaper, magazines. Read a good, uplifting book instead, and go for long walks. It’s amazing what even just a few days of this can do to improve your frame of mind. You might want to make it permanent.

Do you feel stressed out about how you look? Want to improve your appearance, confidence, and how you feel? Download our free audio recording to learn more about how you can lose weight from home. (Sign up at the top right of this page)

Blood pressure is the force of movement of blood throughout the arterial and vascular circulatory systems. Oxygenated blood sent rushing into the arteries after the left ventricle in the heart contracts. The blood vessels accommodate blood flow to maintain normal blood pressure values. When the vessels become narrow, the amount of blood flow is restricted causing a rise in blood pressure.

Blood pressure readings are measured by two different values, the systolic and diastolic pressures. After the heart contracts, it has forced blood into the arteries at its greatest strength. This is the systolic pressure. As the pressure in the arteries relaxes, the pressure decreases. This is called the resting, or diastolic pressure. When represented in written form, such as 120/80, the top number is the systolic reading, and the lower number is the diastolic. This blood pressure reading, 120/80, is the average measurement of a wide range of readings, representing normal blood pressure values. The value that concerns most is the diastolic reading. When it is consistently higher than 80, hypertension is present. Pressure fluctuates naturally throughout the day with activity, rest, excitement, emotions, stress, etc., this is normal and does not necessarily indicate that anything is wrong.

When blood pressure readings are consistently 140/90 or higher, even at periods of rest, hypertension is present. Readings over 160/95 are of concern, because this is considered the danger zone. Hypertension is called the silent killer because it has no symptoms until the pressure is extremely high. According to the American Heart Association, 68 million Americans have one or more forms of heart or blood vessel disease. There is no cure for hypertension; it must be medically managed with prescribed antihypertensive agents, combined with diet and exercise.

There are quite a few factors that contribute to altering normal blood pressure values creating hypertension. As we age, the arteries are not as elastic and restrict blood flow, also known as “hardening of the arteries” or arteriosclerosis. Other factors are family history of hypertension and heart disease, use of oral contraceptives, alcohol, illegal substances, weight gain, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, stress-related issues, and a high fat, high sodium diet. This list of course, is not all inclusive.

Have no fear; it is possible to maintain normal blood pressure values if you have hypertension. Regular visits with your physician are of great importance, as well as complying with prescribed medication regimens, regular aerobic exercise, and maintaining a healthier diet. By engaging in regular physical activity, we feel better, because our bodies are more efficient. Aerobic activities such as walking, running, swimming, and dancing, will not only allow you to be more fit physically, mentally, and spiritually, but your blood pressure will be lower as well. Diets low in sodium and fat also work to lower blood pressure. Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are very helpful in reducing high blood pressure.

Learn more about you can lose weight from home, starting today: Download our free audio by signing up at the top right of this page.

Staying hydrated is perhaps the single greatest struggle many have as a part of the weight-loss process. If you are feeling thirsty then you are already dehydrated. Symptoms of dehydration include headaches, fatigue, and irritability…sound familiar? Ideally, you want to take in a minimum of 64 ounces of water per day, not including caffeinated drinks. Caffeine can actually cause you to dehydrate more quickly!

The best hydration goal is to drink half your body weight in ounces of fluids. That means if you weigh 200 pounds, you would drink 100 ounces of fluids each day.

If drinking water isn’t already a part of your normal daily routine, try this…start drinking two glasses of water each day this week, three glasses of water each day next week, etc., until you are drink a full 64 ounces per day. Bottled water makes the process an easy one. Drinking just four 16oz. bottles of water per day gets you to your goal! You can do that!

Download the audio now by entering your details in the form on the upper right of this page. Take this one small action today, and get a headstart on changing your life.

Gastric bypass surgeries are procedures that limit the amount of food that can enter the stomach.  These procedures also reduce the amount of small intestine that food will pass through, lowering the quantity of food absorbed by the body.  The idea behind a gastric bypass surgery is to promote rapid and sustainable weight loss in people that are morbidly obese. 

Gastric bypass surgeries fall under two basic categories.  The more common variety is called a Roux-en Y gastric bypass surgery (RGB surgery).  This form of the procedure involves stapling a portion of the stomach to form a smaller overall pouch, limiting the amount of food the stomach can hold.  A portion of the small intestine is then reconnected to this pouch to bypass the upper parts of the small intestine.  A much more serious and permanent procedure is the biliopancreatic diversion, or ‘extensive’ gastric bypass surgery.  In this procedure, the whole lower part of the stomach is physically removed.

Regardless of the type, gastric bypass surgeries are very serious procedures with potentially damaging consequences.  While it can be certain that you’ll lose a lot of weight after having one done, you are also at risk for some serious and harmful side effects.  First of all, the reduced amount of contact between your food and small intestine can lead to serious nutrient deficiencies.  A lack of vitamin B 12 can lead to serious anemic conditions, and a lack of calcium can lead to a number of serious bone diseases, including osteoporosis. 

After having a gastric bypass surgery, you’re also at risk for stomach leakage.  This is extremely dangerous, as the highly acidic nature of your stomach contents can damage and even dissolve organs and tissues surrounding your stomach.  There is also a condition called ‘dumping syndrome’ that occurs in some people who’ve had a gastric bypass surgery.  Dumping syndrome occurs when food moves too fast through your intestines, and causes weakness, sweating, fatigue, nausea, and sometimes diarrhea. 

Because of the serious side effects, gastric bypass surgeries should be reserved for people who are both morbidly obese and have repeatedly failed all other weight loss attempts.  Even though they are likewise risky, the use of serious weight loss medication should be attempted prior to a gastric bypass surgery.  Unfortunately, there is a sort of rising trend in people who are turning to gastric bypass surgeries as a solution to there weight problems before seriously attempting less drastic measures. 

Consider our program as a better option than gastric bypass surgery. You can lose 2-5lbs. per week, without surgery or medication. Download and listen to the free audio (sign up on the upper right of this page) to get more information about how our program works and what makes it better than other fast weight loss programs.

As young schoolchildren, our physical education classes made sure that we had exercise at least three days a week. Now, as adults, we find it excruciatingly difficult to haul ourselves to the gym once a week, or get up and go for a run before work. Our body’s physical fitness greatly depends on the mind’s fitness, and whether it feels committed to having a long and healthy life.

Some ways that people can improve their physical fitness begin at home. Watching what we eat, spending less time sitting in our living room’s and watching television are important steps we can take at home. At work, we can take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk or ride a bike to work instead of drive, and try to set some time aside during lunch to workout or go for a walk. This can do absolute wonders for our physical fitness.

Outside of work and home, we are in the best position to exercise and care for our bodies. Using our free time to exercise and get our bodies in shape can help to improve our energy levels and increase our metabolism. Some of the most popular sporting activities are often the most effective, such as biking, running and swimming. If people commit to doing one of these things a few times a week for thirty minutes a day, they will see a substantial rise in their physical fitness levels almost immediately.

Lifting weights, walking the dog, playing Frisbee with friends or jogging on the beach can all be things that we can incorporate into our lifestyle with little pain or hassle. Americans are notoriously bad in being out of shape, unfit, and generally obsessive/compulsive eaters and dieters. Rather than continuing an unhealthy way of doing and thinking, they should look to Europeans, especially the Mediterranean countries, who have a healthy work outlook balanced with natural foods in their diet.

Unlike their American counterparts who spend thousands of dollars each year on diet pills, weight-loss plans and faddish foods, Europeans have taken physical fitness to mean getting some exercise, eating simply and wholesomely and not being adhering to an idealized body type to ensure happiness.

I found a great post today on the Top 100 Weight Loss Blogs, which lists blogs started by people who are actively losing weight, or have successfully lost weight. These blogs can give you motivation, encouragement, and advice when you’re feeling low about your weight loss efforts.

We know that changing your lifestyle isn’t easy- if it were easy, everyone would be able to do it, and obesity wouldn’t be such a issue in our society. The important thing is to focus on taking small actions, each day, to reach your goals.

On the days when you aren’t sure if you can make one more change, read some of the blogs from the Top 100 list for additional motivation.

We often think that positive thinking means looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. But that isn’t the case at all! Re-framing our negative thoughts in a more constructive light often empowers us to move beyond the limitations that negative thinking creates. How many times have you found yourself in one of these negative weight loss thought traps:
* All-or-nothing – “I cheated and ate the whole bag of chips. Why am I even trying?”
* Making rash conclusions- “My friends are going to see me as a failure, I’m going to lose my job and the world is going to come crashing down around my ears.”
* Over-generalization – Using the words like “always” or “never”, often creates unrealistic generalizations about our situation. I always crave chocolate on Sunday.
* Discounting the positive – How often have you completely ignored the compliments you receive and dwell entirely on one negative comment?
* Personalization – “My mom criticized how I feed my child. I must be a terrible parent.”
* Labeling – “I’m a loser.” “I’ll always be fat.”

One of the most immediate life-changing exercises you can do to help you lose weight is to begin paying attention to these negative-thinking pitfalls. When they pop into your mind, stop and then re-frame them. This will give you a more positive outlook and may help you lose weight and establish a new relationship with your body and your life.

Download the audio now by entering your details in the form on the upper right of this page. Take this one small action today, and get a headstart on changing your life.

One statement we hear from women over and over again is that they would like to lose 20lbs. Now, 20lbs. is enough weight to make a huge difference in how you look and feel- and 20lbs. is just enough weight that people sometimes feel overwhelmed about losing it.

The thing is, most people aren’t willing to do whatever it takes to lose 20lbs. And what does it take, really?

Reducing your food intake, increasing your calorie burn, and being energetic, satisfied, and happy in the process. Most people, when they set out to lose weight, tend to focus on either eating less OR exercising more. While either of these, alone, will help, the most effective combination is eating less and burning more, done at the same time.

The fact is that losing weight, and keeping it off, is a lifetime committment. Luckily, you don’t have to commit for your whole life right now. You just need to commit to making one small change, today, and then another tomorrow, and another the day after that and so on. One of the biggest reasons people can’t lose weight and keep it off is because they try to make too many drastic changes all at once; and this sets them up for failure.

The truth is that deciding to be thin, and healthy, requires each of us to do things differently. We have to be willing to work hard, eat less of our favorite foods, and make room in our lives for being healthy and active.

If you’re ready to make a commitment to lose that last 20lbs for the last time, get started by downloading a free gift: an audio interview with Dr. Jo Lynn and Lynette, explaining the Lose Weight From Home System and how it can be the last weight loss management plan you’ll ever need- because, this time, you can lose the weight, and keep it off.

Download the audio now by entering your details in the form on the upper right of this page. Take this one small action today, and get a headstart on changing your life.

In 2006, the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) released a study which showed that, for 1 in 4 people, obesity was linked to an anxiety or mood disorder, though the exact relationship between the two remained unclear.

The data came from a face to face survey, National Comorbidity Survey Replication, and found that obesity is on the rise in the US, along with increasing rates of depression, bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive disorder) and panic disorder.

There was no difference between men and women in the study. Societal and cultural factors did influence this connection, with highest correlation in non-Hispanic, white participants who are college educated, and aged 29 or younger.

The link between obesity and anxiety and depression still needs to be studied further, though it is also common sense. Obesity is a problem you can’t easily hide, and one that may lead to poor treatment from others. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that it doesn’t need to be this way. You can take action, today, to conquer your obesity.

Why not start by listening to the free audio interview with Dr. Jo Lynn and Lynette Patterson? You can access that by signing up on the top right of this page.