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Answer honestly.
Do you have the discipline of a Sergeant Major to kick the sugar habit and hit the gym? Are you blessed with the self-control of a monk to meditate, eat and drink in moderation and do whatever else you're supposed to do to lose weight?
Don't worry if you said no - most of us fall into the "won't happen, it hurts too much" camp. Yes, it takes a little self-discipline, but if you're reading this, you probably have the willpower to break old habits and make small life-enhancing changes. And once you get into the rhythm of a new daily routine, you realize that it's actually not so hard at all.
The good news is you need NOT radically change your lifestyle or embark on a new diet if you want to lose weight for good. Perhaps the most important exercise is a mind game. Make an effort to examine your daily work and eating habits and learn more about your metabolism, the amount of energy (calories) your body burns to maintain itself.
As any health professional will tell you, the way to increase your metabolic rate is to begin exercising and stop dieting.
You heard right, no more dieting. (Exercise, you know about.)
Your body is like a finely tuned Swiss watch, and the way to keep it ticking and running properly is to normalize your metabolism so your body functions all work optimally. As we age, we may have to fine-tune our habits to account for a natural slowing down of our metabolism, but that's usually an easy thing to do.
True, you may have to make some small changes to your lifestyle, but "tweaking" you can cope with. Radical change you can't.
If you want to feel better about yourself and lose weight for good, let's look at the five important factors that play a role in normalizing metabolism and increasing your healthy enjoyment of life.
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STEP ONE: Brain chemistry and hormonal balance
How dieting makes you fat
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Does it seem like forever that you've wanted to lose weight? Have you tried every diet on the latest best-seller list without results? Despite your best efforts, do the pounds pile back as soon you return to your normal eating patterns? >>
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STEP TWO: Food & Energy Balance
Are you a slave to your cravings?
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It happens to the strongest of us.
No matter how often you resolve to stick to a diet and banish bad habits, it's easy for your natural food cravings to sneak in, take over and get the better of you, leaving you feeling guilty, weak-willed and totally frustrated. >>
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STEP THREE: Fitness & Muscle Tone
Speeding Up Your Metabolism for Weight Loss
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A friend recently asked: Does reading a Harlequin romance novel count as an exercise?
You could argue it's a mind exercise. Because of the cover hero's broad shoulders
and chiselled good looks, you could make a case about breathlessness and increasing your heart rate, which is good, right? >>
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STEP FOUR: Mind over Matter
Learning to Love Yourself
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Need a good therapeutic cry? Have a listen to the inspirational song "Learn to Love Yourself" written and recorded by Olivia Newton-John after she was diagnosed with breast cancer >>
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STEP FIVE: Rest, Relax, Sleep & Fun
Zzzz. Why do we need sleep?
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Did you just yawn? Is it because of the subject matter, or is your tiredness is a sign that all is not well and you need a good night's sleep?
Without rest, your body will not function optimally. When deprived of sleep, the brain operates poorly, like a car running on three instead of six cylinders. Our thinking process slows. Our creativity suffers, and oops, we're more prone to making mistakes. Without proper sleep we become cranky and irritable, and we're not just talking about children. >>
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Go Back
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Do you have a 'sugar craving' syndrome?
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