If you’ve tried (and failed) on other weight management plans before, you might have decided that this was because you had no willpower.

In fact, I was at the gym earlier today, and overheard a conversation between two women who were on treadmills next to me. One woman was telling the other about how she has been trying to lose weight for years, but she “has no willpower” and “that’s why I haven’ t been able to do it.”

This made me think about willpower, and how important it really is for your weight management efforts.

The great thing about our weight loss program is that willpower is not required.

Yes, of course, you need to be motivated to lose weight (and we have an extensive intake process which can help identify your true sources of motivation and support for your weight loss journey), but, after that, the whole process is very structured, and systematic- and you just follow it, and the weight comes off.

It’s not the kind of program where you need to think about it everyday, nor do you need to worry or stress out- we tell you exactly what to do, how to do it, and we make sure you’re on track through regular “check in” coaching calls.

So the truth is, you need to say yes! to wanting to lose weight, and then do what we tell you- and the weight will come off. No willpower required!

When was the last time you stopped to think about your stomach? Not just about the last time you were hungry, but about how important your stomach is for your posture?

Many people don’t realize that having a strong stomach and back makes you stand up straighter and look thinner too.

You can look ten pounds thinner, simply by improving your posture.

When you stand up straight, you actually accomplish a few important things. First, you de-emphasize your belly fat- as all of our tummies look bigger when we slouch over.

Standing up straight improves the strength of our backs, making it easier to maintain good posture longer.

Having good posture reduces the likelihood of back pain, which means we can move through our days easily and more effectively.

Good posture also enhances blood flow to the legs and lower back, which can help improve circulation.

While weight management and weight control should be a high priority, you can look instantly slimmer by standing up straight.

Improve your posture, work your stomach and back (with proper medical guidance) and you’ll look more toned, feel more confident, and experience instantaneous improvement in your appearance and the way your body feels.

When it comes to dieting, far too many people set themselves up for failure before they even begin the process. They literally dread going on their diets and before they start the process are planning their mishaps and recoveries along the way. Sad to say but true, far too many would be dieters are planning their next bowl of Rocky Road ice cream while busily eating their last bowl of Rocky Road before they start dieting.

I have no idea why we tend to do this to ourselves but it is something I see in dieters everywhere. The far too popular notion is that one must binge on the foods most loved and enjoyed before beginning the dieting process because these things must be completely eliminated in order to shed those unwanted pounds. If you are honest with yourself, nothing could be further from the truth. Moderation is simply a concept that many of us are loathe to embrace.

You must change your way of thinking about food and your personal enjoyment of food in order for any diet you embrace to be successful. Food isn’t the enemy. And that is something that not enough people really understand. Even the ‘tasty’ foods aren’t the enemy. The enemy is your personal inability to properly portion the foods you eat. The problem is that the vast majority of us eat the wrong foods far more often than we eat the right foods. This is where the problems lie.

Our bodies need the nutrients we are miss when we don’t eat adequate servings of vegetables and fruits. Our bodies know that something is missing and we feel hungry or deprived. If we were actually consuming the proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, greens each day, we’d find ourselves far less likely to feel hungry and to want to eat unhealthy foods. This means we would be much more conscious of what we ate, and could make better choices. It might also mean that we would enjoy our indulgences more: when we decided to have a “treat”, we’d be more likely to enjoy it.

So one problem is that we don’t eat the right foods. The other problem is that we eat too much of all foods. Basically, you could say we live in a society of “up selling”. Super sized fries and gallons of your favorite cola round out unhealthy fast-food meals. We can all manage our weight better simply by reducing the size of our portions. Even if the super size meal is a better financial value, is it a better physical one?

To be truly successful when dieting you need to embrace the process as building a healthier you rather than depriving yourself of something. Do not think of your weigh loss plan as something negative but rather a positive force in your life to make changes for the better. When you have negative thoughts do not direct them at your diet. When you feel deprived remind yourself that you are depriving your bones of carrying around that excess weight. Remind yourself that you are depriving your wardrobe of those bulky clothes that are designed to hide the bulges. Remind yourself that you are depriving your body of years of bulges and bringing back the body of your youth.

Do not get so caught up in the dieting process that you forget to enjoy some of the goodies that life has to offer. Watching your weight and counting your calories does not mean that you can never go out to eat or have a portion of dessert. The goal, however, is to find and keep balance. If you learn to portion your food correctly, indulge in moderation, and incorporate enjoyable calorie burning activities into your daily routine you may be amazed at the results.

Dieting for weight loss and health is only depriving if you allow it to be. If you cannot control yourself when it comes to indulging then by all means avoid indulging. However, if you can learn to incorporate those small treats into your routine (in moderation), and burn those extra calories off too, then you should find yourself a much happier and more successful ‘dieter’ than you have ever managed to be in the past.

Remember nothing tastes as good as good health feels.

To learn more about our unique weight loss program, please get our free audio by signing up at the top right of this page.

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.

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.

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.