Thirty Days To A Slimmer You

Think you can't afford weight-loss foods? If you believe the media hype, the only way to lose weight is via "eating this exotic berry" or similar. That's nonsense.

The only four weight-loss foods you need to be concerned with are in your kitchen right now.

Here they are:

1. Protein

Protein gives you the energy you need to live each day. It influences your metabolism, helps you sustain your muscles while you lose weight and helps your body use insulin and leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells. There is also some evidence that protein triggers a hormone that reduces hunger. Protein is vitally important in your diet. You can get protein from a variety of sources, including lean meats, beans and dairy products.

2. Whole grains

Whole grains are essential to a healthy diet, especially for those who are trying to lose weight. Research shows that whole grains help you feel full longer because they slow the emptying of food from the stomach to the intestine. "Apples" (those of us who retain excess weight in the abdominal area) should eat more whole grains in order to lose that extra VAT (visceral adipose tissue). Whole grains are found in cereals and other grains, but look specifically for the words "whole grain" on the label in order to get the full benefit.

3. Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables contain fiber that helps you to feel full. They also contain plenty of water to keep you hydrated and natural sugars to satisfy your sweet tooth. Fruits and veggies have plenty of vitamins and minerals as well as a variety of flavors to keep your diet interesting. They are convenient because you can buy them fresh, frozen or canned so you can always have some on hand when hunger strikes.

4. Water

Water is by far the best thing you can drink to lose weight. It contains no calories, fat or carbohydrates. It is available virtually everywhere for a low cost. Water helps you to fill up and also flushes fat from your body. In fact, if you think you feel hungry, have a glass of water: Those "hunger pangs" you feel may actually be the first signs of dehydration. In addition, drinking water helps your skin to look better, giving you that healthy glow.

These four foods are all you really need to lose weight.

In most cases, you can prepare them any way you like. However, in order to get the full benefit, avoid using added fat (including butter and excess oil), sugar and salt and processed grains.

Try to get these four foods as close to their natural forms as possible. Those factory-produced snacks you find in vending machines and convenience stores should be avoided like the plague because they provide no nutritional value and only give you a brief sugar fix.

Weight-loss foods are not a myth but they are not necessarily exotic mysteries either. Load up on these four foods and you will lose weight.

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Weight loss for teens is often a matter of peer pressure. For better or worse, Britney Spears and Hannah Montana are held up as models to aspire to. However, not everyone is meant to be a size 0. How can you tell if your teen is losing too much weight? And what should you do to help them?

1. Consider honestly whether your teen is really overweight to begin with. As a parent, you may have blinders on, but really try to see him or her objectively. Also consider what kinds of food your teen eats. If he or she seems to be eating plenty of whole grains, protein, fruits and veggies, then all is probably well. However, if his or her idea of a balanced diet is a Twinkie in each hand, then you should probably intervene.

Likewise, if the only exercise your teen gets is using the joy stick on a video game, then your teen needs to get moving. On the other hand, if he or she seems obsessed with exercising to the point of injuries and constant exhaustion, then there may be an eating disorder or self-esteem issue looming.

2. Consider your teen's mood. Is he or she constantly cranky and irritable? Is he or she constantly checking the scale or talking about losing weight? Then he or she is probably not eating enough of the right foods. Your teen may be developing an eating disorder.

3. Consider your teen's social life. Does he or she seem basically happy? Are there plenty of friends around? Or does your teen seem withdrawn, holing up in the bedroom for hours and hours? If your teen seems to be drawing away from the world, he or she may begin using his or her weight as an excuse to do so.

To help your teen through these perilous waters, it is important for you to show you care. Follow these steps:

1. Don't nag. If you constantly harp on your teen about what he or she is eating or doing, that will only make the matter worse.

2. Be a role model. Eat proper food yourself and your teen will likely follow. If junk food is a problem, don't buy it. Get exercise and invite your teen along. Not only is this a good example, it also gives you some good one-on-one time. Teens are more likely to open up to you if you are sharing an activity.

3. Offer good counsel, when it is sought. If your teen starts talking about weight, use the opportunity to point out that few people are meant to be stick thin. Show them that no one really knows what size another person wears. Explain that eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia can lead to health problems years in the future. But only talk about these matters when the subject comes up.

4. Seek medical help if warranted. If you really think your teen is either over- or underweight, make an appointment with his or her doctor. The doctor will be able to reassure both of you and offer advice on healthy living.

5. Value your teen. No matter what the scale says, teens need to know they are loved and appreciated. Take some time to get to know your teen. Let him or her know that you care and really love them. That reassurance will go a long way.

Weight loss for teens is often a matter of self esteem. By following these tips, you will be helping them mature into happy, healthy adults.

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Got a belly rather than abs? If you'd like a six pack, or a trim smooth tummy if you're female, read on. You can tailor a diet specifically for abs.

Any diet for abs will begin with eating more fiber. You need to eat at least 25 grams of fiber a day to ditch the belly fat. Some researchers have even said that 35 grams is optimal. Fiber is the indigestible parts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

The bulk factor of fiber is like a sponge, when it combines with the water in your digestive track, it soaks up everything. High fiber foods also fill you up, so you are unlikely to overeat. Finally, there is the chew factor. High fiber foods just take longer to eat. This allows your stomach to signal your brain that you are full before you stuff yourself.

The next strategy is to choose a sensible amount of quality carbs. The best diet for abs will have 45 to 65 percent of the calories from carbs. But this does not mean a lot of Twinkies. Fruits and vegetables have carbs in them, but they are the high quality ones.

Carbohydrates break down into glucose. This is stored as glycogen in the muscles and liver. When glycogen is stored, it carries with it three times its own weight as water. Fat and protein carry no weight. This is why people who go on no carb diets like Atkins can initially lose weight so quickly. They are really just losing water. That is why you don't want to go above 65% carbs in your diet.

Still, you want to have at least 45 percent carbs on your diet for abs. You should focus on balanced eating. For best results, eat at least three to five servings of veggies (15-25 grams of carbs); two to four servings of fruit (30-60 grams of carbs) and about 1 cup (8 ounces cooked or 2 ounces dry, or 2 slices of bread) of whole grains per day.

Next, you should drink your water. Many people mistakenly believe that drinking a lot of water will cause them to bloat. In fact, the opposite is true. Drinking water will flush your body of sodium. The water will be eliminated naturally. But when it takes the salt in your system with it, it will actually reduce bloating.

But, don't drink fizzy drinks such as soda. That's because pop and spritzers increase bloating. The carbon dioxide trapped in the bubbles creates gas, which slows down stomach emptying. Also, limit your consumption of alcohol and caffeine. Both are natural diuretics, which increase fluid loss and don't replace your body fluids as effectively as water or juice.

The next tip on our diet for abs is to watch the sodium -- salt. You only need about 500 grams of sodium a day, but most people get between 3000 and 6000 grams in the modern diet. This is just too much. Processed food and restaurant meals are the main culprits. Try to eat at home by preparing your own foods more.

Try to eat light at night. Your biggest meal should be breakfast. A moderate lunch should follow at noon. Your evening meal should be the smallest of the day. And, after dinner, close the kitchen.

Finally, try to reduce your stress if you are on a diet for abs. Stress triggers cortisol which is a hormone that causes you to deposit fat around the organs in your abdomen. Exercising and deep breathing relaxation techniques can help you to chill out.

If you are trying to lose the tummy, try this diet for abs.

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