Coconut oil is known to boost metabolsim and has less calories per gram than most fats (which have 9).  You should cut back on the sweets, eat more fiber and use butter instead of margarine.  Unlike many other fats, coconut oil produces energy rather than fat.  Not only is coconut oil burned for energy production, it also encourages the burning of long chain fatty acids.  Research indicates that a diet consuming 40% long chain acids versus one consuming 40% medium chain acids has a different thermogenic effect.   By consuming medium chain acids rather than long chain acids, you double the thermogenic effect (burning twice as many calories).

A follow up study demonstrated that medium chain fatty acids given over a six day period can increase diet induced thermogenesis by 50 percent.  The key is to keep the calories the same, just change the source of the fat.

I am writing an article about coconut oil and will post it at Go Articles and Ezine Articles.  Then I will follow up with additional information shortly thereafter.

 

Your body needs water. It craves it all day, even if you don’t feel like drinking it. While

everyone should be drinking 8 glasses each day, it’s even more critical for those who are

trying to lose weight. In fact, weight loss without sufficient water is a platform for

failure. Let me explain how water can help you shed the extra pounds.

We gain weight based upon our caloric burn rate. If we consume more than we burn, we pack on

the pounds. So, we exercise. We try to burn calories to slim down. Ideally, we’re burning

more than we’re consuming each day. Over time, we end up losing weight.

Now, keep that in mind and consider what water does for your body. First, it helps you

digest food. This is important because the more quickly your body can turn food into energy,

the more efficiently it can burn through the calories. And remember, losing weight is about

burning more than you’re consuming.

Second, water helps your body eliminate what it doesn’t need. By helping the elimination

process, water flushes the waste matter from your system, thereby lowering your body’s

toxicity.

Third, dehydration leads to hunger. That may sound counterintuitive, but it’s true. When

you’re feeling dehydrated, your body begins to crave food. Drinking water helps to sate that

hunger and avoid excess eating.

Diving In

Now, let’s review. Water helps your body turn food into energy to accelerate your caloric

burn rate. It also helps flush waste matter from your system. And it regulates your hunger.

These are some of the reasons why doctors, nutritionists and other experts recommend

drinking plenty of water.

Losing weight is a matter of burning more calories than you consume. For millions of people who are overweight, the problem lies in their inability to control their appetite. Some people take pills such as Hoodia to stave off their hunger and thereby gain control. While it’s effective, managing your hunger should be a byproduct of your lifestyle and eating habits. You should be able to control your appetite naturally.

First, eat your meals slowly, chewing thoroughly and pausing between bites. Most people eat too quickly. The problem is that your body does not immediately register the feeling of being full. Because the brain requires time to develop and deliver that feeling, many people eat too much. Those who feel “stuffed” after a large meal are likely suffering from this physiological phenomenon. Eating slowly takes discipline because our natural tendency is to avoid pauses and chew less thoroughly. But, doing so will give your brain time to deliver the feeling of being sated while you are eating less.

Second, track how you normally feel after meals. If you consistently feel bloated after eating, that is a sign that you’re eating too much too quickly. By the time your brain delivers the feeling of satiety, you have already eaten past your limit. Take that as a sign that you should eat more slowly. Chew each bite at least 10 times before swallowing. Pause for a moment between bites. You’ll eat less, feel satisfied and control your appetite naturally.

People who are not obese typically do not understand why those who are, stay that way. Healthy people are accustomed to maintaining an appropriate weight through eating right and exercising. Therefore, they often consider obese people lazy or unmotivated. But, obesity is a complex condition that involves physiological, genetic and emotional influences. While consuming too many calories and leading an inactive lifestyle are primary causes, there can be deeper issues.

For many people, eating is an emotional outlet. When bored, stressed, or otherwise conflicted, they will eat to feel a sense of fulfillment. The act of eating eventually becomes associated with that emotional fulfillment, cementing the habit.

Other people may be genetically predisposed to obesity. Their metabolism may be naturally slower than others. That being said, a slower metabolism is often caused by a sedentary lifestyle. Further, experts have also noted that obese people tend to come from families in which other members are also obese. This may imply that the “obesity gene” is a significant influence in the condition. However, this trend of familial obesity may also be due to sharing poor eating habits and lifestyle.

Social scientists have found that obesity is also influenced by environment and culture. These factors play a major role in the formation of dietary, nutritional and exercise habits. Though obesity is a health issue, dismissing it as laziness or lack of motivation fails to address the root cause. Whether emotional, genetic, or environmental, dealing with the root cause is the most effective way to treat the condition.

Getting rid of excess body fat involves more than merely losing weight. It focuses on

replacing body fat with lean muscle and boosting your metabolism in the process. While many

fitness experts recommend weight training, you should also mind your diet and the timing of

your meals. Here’s a quickie guide to reducing the percentage of fat on your body:

Step #1: Say No To White Carbs

Carbohydrates are important to maintaining your energy and blood sugar levels. However,

white carbs can inhibit your body’s ability to eliminate excess body fat. Avoid white rice,

white pasta and white bread. Instead, get your carbs from vegetables, fruits, brown rice,

oats and 100% whole grains.

Step #2: Maintain A Consistent Meal Plan

Fat loss relies heavily upon dietary consistency. Once you have decided on which foods to

eat, don’t deviate from them. Prepare three or four meals from those foods and eat them

consistently.

Step #3: Avoid Heavy Drinks

Drink as much water as possible. Unsweetened teas are also good. But, avoid heavy drinks

like milk, soft drinks and sweetened fruit juices. Avoid putting cream in your coffee. While

these drinks seem fine, they can prevent your body from losing fat and building lean muscle.

To lose body fat, plan your meals based on the three steps I’ve just described. Then, plan a

daily cardiovascular exercise routine. Once you lose fat and build muscle, you will feel

less sluggish and more energetic. The key is consistency and focus.

People have been drinking different types of teas for generations. Some drink them as a mild stimulant due to their caffeine content. Others drink them for the antioxidants they provide. Many people have always suspected that there’s a link between drinking tea and losing weight. But, in the West, the evidence has only been anecdotal.

During the past few years, research in China has focused on the effects of oolong tea. The results of that research suggest that oolong tea has a unique ability to help the body burn fat more efficiently. China Daily recently reported that a 5-year study focusing on the genetic predisposition of obesity found that a compound in oolong tea accelerated the body’s metabolism. As a result, fat metabolized more quickly and the study’s subjects lost weight.

Another test was conducted in Japan in 2003. The study compared the weight-related effects of oolong and green tea on a number of female students. The results of that experiment showed that oolong tea had a greater influence on their bodies’ metabolism than green tea. As a result, the students expended more energy and experienced a higher daily caloric burn rate.

The foundation of weight loss involves consuming fewer calories than you burn each day. While oolong tea has helped many people lose weight, it shouldn’t be a substitute for regular exercise and a proper diet. That being said, it can be a perfect complement to a healthy lifestyle.

Losing weight requires planning, diligence and self control. For people who have difficulty in those areas, weight loss programs are available that can manage the details for you. Many of them will organize your entire diet including your meal plan and send you the food that fulfills the plan. Here are 3 benefits to using this type of program…

#1 - No Thinking Required

There’s no need to plan your meals. You won’t have to count calories, fat grams and other details to make sure you don’t blow your diet. The meals are carefully planned for you.

#2 - Convenience

You won’t need to spend your time driving to the grocery store, buying your food, or cooking meals from scratch. These weight loss plans will deliver each meal to your doorstep. Plus, they’re measured for calories and fat so they’re consistent with the program’s diet.

#3 - Self Control

A trip to the grocery store is a test of your self control. Every aisle offers a host of junk food that can throw your diet off-course. When the food is delivered directly to your home, it reduces the likelihood that you’ll stray. What’s more, the portions are measured for you, so there’s less chance of overeating.

A weight loss program that designs your meal plan and delivers the food to you eliminates some of the biggest hurdles to losing weight. Though these programs can be expensive, they reduce the chances that a lack of discipline and planning will sabotage your diet.

You already know that the foods you eat have a direct impact on your weight. Raw fruits and vegetables can help you lose weight while fried foods will increase your waistline. However, millions of people are unaware that the manner in which they eat those foods can also have a significant impact. They may follow a strict diet that includes the right types of food, but their body chemistry may be impeding their weight loss.

Your body metabolizes and burns fat throughout the day. You can control how efficiently your body does this by changing your eating habits. Even though most people were raised to eat three meals each day, eating smaller portions more often can boost your metabolism. Your eating schedule is the main barometer that your body uses to determine when it should burn energy and when it should conserve it. The more often you eat, the more regular the burn rate. This is the reason why you should always avoid skipping meals. If you miss meals, your metabolism slows down because your body thinks it should conserve energy.

Along with eating smaller portions more frequently, it’s important that you’re filling your diet with the right foods. A diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and nuts is valuable. But, you should also have a source of protein as well as carbohydrates with a low glycemic index ranking.

While weight loss programs and supplements can be helpful, don’t underestimate the value of eating smaller balanced portions more frequently to increase your metabolism.