Blog Archive for 3 Day Diets Central - August 2007

So what's included in the 3 Day Diets Central blog archive for August 2007?  How about:

• Fad diets -- why are they bad?
• The cabbage soup diet.
• The 3 day smoothie diet.
• Using ginger to boost your metabolism.
• Why drink more water.

And a whole lot more.  Enjoy reading through the archives -- you never know what neat little tidbit you'll discover.

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Aug 31, 2007, Beating the Weight Loss Plateau

A weight loss plateau -- we've all had it.  No matter what we do, how little we eat, the pounds just don't budge.  How frustrating!

And it's at this time that a weight loss plan is in danger, because we don't feel that it's worth it anymore.

Before you toss out the diet, stop.  Take a deep breath and consider your options.

If you've been following the same basic plan for your weight loss, maybe it's time to try something different for a little while.  Just a little something to get your body out of its rut.  A three day diet can help you here -- it might be just enough to get your body to sit up and take notice (so to speak).  Then go back to your normal plan.

If you've been exercising at all, why not try something different?  If you've been walking, why not try bicycling? Or maybe order a DVD for an exercise you've always wanted to try?  I got a couple of belly-dancing DVDs, but I also saw some for Tahitian dance -- wouldn't learning to do those hula shimmy-shakes be fun to do?

The point is -- get yourself out of a rut and try something different.  Give your body a breather.  And while you're doing all this, remember to check how much water you're drinking a day -- you may need to bump it up a bit, if you're just doing your 64 ounces a day.

All plateaus end.  Just make sure yours ends by the scale inching downwards again!

Aug 29, 2007, Ginger and Metabolism

There is some talk that ginger boosts the body's metabolism, to help you lose weight.  Is it true?

The link between the spice ginger and the body's metabilism isn't anything new.  Go to any health food store and you'll see ginger as an ingredient in many weight loss teas and supplements.  The idea is that ginger is thermogenic, and the body has to put forth a little more energy to process it than regular foods.

As far as I know, there haven't been any conclusive studies on this; the reports are only anecdotal.  But there are people who swear by ginger!

Actually, ginger tastes good, although it does have a kind of spicy "kick" to it.  While you can take it in pill or tea form, you can also buy ginger roots at most grocery stores and add some to your everyday cooking, too.

Indeed, if you add ginger to your food, you may find yourself eating a bit less because of the spicy hot flavor -- which is just one more way ginger can help you lose weight!

Aug 27, 2007, Does Drinking Water Help You Lose Weight?

Does drinking lots of water help you lose weight?  Yes.  And here's why.

Imagine you're in the desert and have to walk 20 miles to a cool oasis.  You have 2 gallons of water with you, which may or may not be enough.  What if you get caught in a sandstorm and can't continue walking for a few hours?  What if there are some large dunes you will have to cross?

You're going to keep an eagle eye on that water, aren't you?  Sure, you're thirsty but what if you run out?  So you hold it close, carry it further and hope for the best.

You made it!  You're finally at the oasis, and you can have all the water you want!  You toss aside that 2-gallon container because you know you won't need it.

OK, now you know what your body does.

When you aren't drinking enough water, your body holds onto it -- after all, it's not sure when the next supply is coming.

But when your body has enough water, it releases what it's been hoarding -- your body know there will be plenty available when it needs it, so no need to lug around the extra.

So, have you had enough water today?  If not, drink up -- it's the fastest way to lose weight!

Aug 24, 2007, I'll Always Be Fat -- It's No Use Trying to Lose Weight

"Why bother -- I'll always be fat."

I'm the first to agree that losing weight is hard.  After all, if it was easy, we'd all be thin, wouldn't we?

And food tastes soooo good.  And it's so comforting.  Why would anyone want to give it up?

The truth is, when you are really wanting to lose weight, you don't have to give anything up totally.  But you can't eat unlimited amounts of chocolate, pasta, chips...you get the idea.  It's about making smart choices.

No one can lose weight without first committing to lose weight. Here's what I mean.  Say you go on a diet with every intention of staying on it -- until the first goodie crosses your path.  Then you weaken and eat it, then decide you'll always be fat and eat everything else around.

A person who is committed to losing weight will probably pass up that goodie, or at most take just a bite. And if not?  Everyone makes mistakes, so just carry on with the diet as normal.  Don't beat yourself up over it.

You don't have to always be fat.  But it's a choice only you can make.  And you make it one bite at a time.

Aug 21, 2007, So What's Your Trigger Food?

So what's your diet downfall -- your "trigger food"?  You know, where once you start you can't stop until it's gone...and then you go on and eat everything else in the house, too!

I may be exaggerating a little, but you know what I mean.  Everyone has some food or foods that just starts the cravings rolling.

Me?  It's the no-nutritional-value-carbs that get me.  White bread, chips, pretzels, sugary foods. 

Three years ago I had been on a diet for about 6 months and had lost about 45 pounds.  I was slowly but steadily losing weight at that point, and had almost zero cravings.  Then it all tumbled down.

You see, a hurricane came through.  And when a hurricane knocks out your power for 10 days, you eat things like sandwiches, chips, crackers...need I go on?  Then when I was just about back on track two weeks later, another hurricane came through.  (2004 was not a good year for me.)

After that, the cravings started up again and I just couldn't seem to fight them anymore. And I didn't try.  Yep, I put those 45 pounds back on, and then some.  I just couldn't seem to snap out of it.

Then this year, June 15th to be exact, I decided enough was enough.  I was killing myself, one bite at a time, and it had to stop.

So out went the trigger foods -- all of them.  I went cold turkey and gave it all up.  And you know what?  Just a few days later my cravings had vanished.

So these days I stay away from my trigger foods -- if at all possible, I don't have them in the house.

I'm losing weight slower this time -- only 20 pounds in 2 months -- but weight loss is good, even if it's on the slow side.  I'll eventually make it.

What about you?  What will you decide about your trigger foods today?

Aug 18, 2007, Losing Weight - a Beautiful Thing

Losing weight and dropping a clothes size is a wonderful feeling.  I'm back in some clothes that I haven't been able to wear in a long time -- probably at least a year.  It's so enouraging!

My actual weight loss has slowed a little, but I think it's because I've been exercising.  Now before you start getting worried about excercising you making you gain weight, keep this in mind.  I'm losing fat and gaining muscle.  Muscle is denser and heavier than fat, so the net weight loss isn't much.  However, it does make a difference as how clothes fit!

I've dropped one dress size, but probably not quite a pants size.  My hips and thighs are my problem spots -- gain weight there first, lose the weight last.  I do notice that my current pants are getting looser though -- a good thing.

There are days when it's kind of hard to keep on the diet -- when I long for some chips or chocolates.  But I also know those are my "trigger foods", and once I start eating them, the cravings begin in earnest.  So I stay away.

Here's to another day and staying on that diet, losing that weight!

Aug 17, 2007, Rich and Thick -- The 3 Day Smoothie Diet

The Smoothie Diet is very tasty, and very convenient in the 3 day diet format.   Just think of savoring a creamy fruit smoothy twice a day, loaded with nutrition and tasting heavenly.

I have to admit, the smoothie diet is my favorite of the 3 day diet plans.  Not only is it fast (just takes a couple of minutes to make) but it's satisfying.  And with the addition of the vanilla protein powder, it tastes rich and thick.

I've also had pretty good luck with the Smoothie Diet -- I nearly always drop around 3 pounds in 3 days.  Not bad, I'd say.  Especially since the diet is fairly well balanced, and not so low in calories that you run the risk of slowing the metabolism.

Now the only thing is this -- it does get boring by the end of the third day.  Well, every diet has it's down side, but since it's only supposed to last three days, it works out just right.

Next week it's another round for the smoothy diet -- here's to more pounds lost!

Aug 16, 2007, The Infamous Cabbage Soup Diet

Have you ever wondered why the cabbage soup diet is so very popular?  Why so many people try it?

One reason is that you never go hungry while on it, because you get all the cabbage soup you want, any time you want it.  Of course the down side is that you might get very tired of cabbage soup very fast!

Another reason is that people do lose weight on the cabbage soup diet.  Since the cabbage soup is really a vegetable soup (with plenty of cabbage), it's one way of getting plenty of veggies every day.

The standard cabbage soup diet is 12 days long.  You can take two days off, and then start it all over again -- if you want.

Or you can try a 3 day cabbage soup diet, and see if it's right for you, before committing to a full 12 day version.

Aug 15, 2007, What's New -- 3 Day Diets Central

Check out what's new at 3 Day Diets Central!

Aug 15, 2007, Fad Diets - Why Are They Bad?

So here's the question -- what exactly are fad diets and why are they bad?

Fad diets are popular and sometimes eccentric ways to lose weight. For example, maybe they focus on one food, or one food group, to the exclusion of others. Or, they have a unique angle (an ice cream diet, anyone?).

Fad diets are unhealthy if they exclude one or more of the food groups (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) that your body needs for the entire diet.

Fad diets can also be extremely low in calories - bad for your body and metabolism. When I think of the original 3 day tuna diet, I shudder at the thought of anyone using it. (If you really want to try one, check out a healthier 3 day tuna diet instead.)

Fad diets are also the in diets of the moment. These may not necessarily be fads (long term), but they are new to the market. For example, the South Beach Diet used to be a fad before it became mainstream.

How long is it safe to stay on a fad diet? It really depends -- on the diet and on your own health. Any diet that excludes any one food group for more than 1 day gets a thumbs-down from me. Ditto if the diet is 1,000 calories or less.

If a fad diet is well-balanced for carbs, proteins and fats, has between 1,200 and 1,500 calories a day, and you don't have any medical conditions, it should be fine to stay on it for a week or two, to see how you react to it. If it works well for you, then you've found something you can work with.

Aug 15, 2007, My First Exercise Success! I Can't Believe It!

As a confirmed couch potato, it's been hard for me to get in the habit of exercise.  I'd just as soon watch an exercise video instead of actually doing it!

But today I am proud of a success, and had to tell you about it.

I have been doing Leslie Sansone's "Walk Away the Pounds" program, which features in-home walking.  Since I live in an area where it's 78 degrees and 80% humidity even at night, something I can do in the house is appealing.

When I did the 1 mile walk the first time, I thought I was going to die.  I made it through, but wheezed for the next couple of hours.  Determined, I did it again the following day and only wheezed for about 10 minutes.

I've been sticking with the 1 mile walk since then (a little over 3 weeks), and today I actually completed the 2 mile walk.  I didn't think I would be able to finish, but I did.

Two miles may not seem like much, but it's something I could never have done, even 3 weeks ago.  So I'm proud that I did it.

Guess it will be the 2 mile walk for me for awhile -- 3 miles is out of my reach at the moment, body-wise and time-wise.  But I'll get there eventually.

And burn plenty of fat in the meanwhile!

Aug 10, 2007, Benefits to Exercise - 3 Day Diet Central

Exercise -- the "e" word.  There are benefits to exercise though.  Even if you hate the though of exercise at the moment, read along.  You just might be surprised!

Aug 3, 2007, Easy Exercise at Home - 3 Day Diet Central

Easy exercise at home -- we all want it. Does it mean you have to buy all kinds of expensive equipment? Nope, you can exercise at home the easy way, and spend very little or no money. Find out how to do easy exercises at home, lose weight and have fun doing it!

Aug 3, 2007, Wii Weight Loss - 3 Day Diet Central

Wii weight loss, seems way too good to be true -- but it isn't! Imagine, you get to play video games and then enjoy the benefits of laughter, fun, exercise anmd weight loss -- all rolled into one neat little package! What's not to love about wii weight loss?

Aug 2, 2007, Exercising Tips at Home - 3 Day Diet Central

Exercising tips at home help you get the most out of your workout. Whether you want to build lean muscle, get an aerobic workout or lose weight these tips can help you to work better and easier!

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