Lose Weight Before That Big Day

Rapidly Shed Pounds and Shrink That Waistline

by Keek

Wedding?  Vacation?  Prom?  Spring break?  Class reunion?  It doesn't matter if you're a man or a women or what the occasion is, you can rapidly shed pounds in only two steps:  1)  Sensible eating, 2)  A 10-minute exercise routine. 

My Wedding Favors - Wedding shower favors, gift ideas, bridal favors, informative wedding articles and much more.

• Lose weight without pills.
• Lose weight without fad diets.
• Lose weight without gimmicks.

Step #1 - Eating Right

The United States is one of the richest countries in the world, yet average Americans are rapidly killing themselves with poor nutrition.  How can that be?  Obviously, we've not starving.  One look at the behemoth bodies walking down the street is a testament to that.  We have food on our tables and in our bellies yet we're in poor health and dying at alarming rates from cancer, heart attacks, diabetes and more.  The #1 health problem in U.S. is obesity.

Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of the best-seller "Eat To Live" explains how we are digging our graves with forks and knives because we are filling ourselves with nutrient-deficient, high-calorie food - junk food, empty calories.  Losing weight is not about will power, it is about knowledge. Sustaining a healthy life is a very simple recipe.  Eat nutrient-rich, low-calorie foods.  I can some it up in one sentence.  Basically, if it grows from the earth, it's good. 

The brain controls our eating habits.  Receptors in the nerves that line our digestive tract monitor the nutrient and calorie density of every mouthful, including the volume of what we eat, and send that information to the brain.  When the brain determines that the stomach is not filled up on nutrients and fibers, it sends a signal to eat more, hence, we overeat. 

Dr. Fuhrman's simple formula looks like this:  Health = Nutrients / Calories.

When the ratio of nutrients to calories is high (the "health" side of the equation), fat melts away. Eating high-nutrient, high-plant fiber foods will reduce our body's caloric drive.  Losing 20 pounds in two to three weeks is just the beginning.  The more high-nutrient food consumed, the more we are satisfied with fewer calories, and the less we crave fat and high-calorie foods.  Even if you need to lose 50 pounds or more in a hurry, Eat to Live works for every dieter, even those who want to lose as little as 10 pounds quickly.  No willpower required-just knowledge.

Diet Pills Are Not Our Friends

Diet pills attempt to trick the body by short-circuiting its natural chemistry and receptors.  Introducing these man-made concoctions into our bodies is a disaster waiting to happen.  Instead of learning how to eat high-nutrient, low calorie foods (and NOT those 100 calorie snack packs you see in the grocery stores), drug companies can make millions and millions of dollars by inventing some new toxic pill.  Why?  Because they can't get rich by telling us to eat natural foods.  If we all ate healthy, those supplement and diet pills companies would go out of business.

Doctors learn in their basic pharmacology course in medical school that all medications are toxic to some degree.  Dr. Fuhrman says, "You cannot escape the immutable biological laws of cause and effect through ingesting medicinal substances."

I'm sure you've seen those legal commercials on TV about contacting an attorney to see if you have a claim against some drug manufacturer for some type of medication you may have been given in the past.  Drugs are killing us.

Need more proof?  Magazines are full of drug ads.  You'll see a full page ad on the right side of a magazine, followed by two full left and right pages of drug information.  Drug manufacturers are required by law to disclose the facts.  Take some time to read the side effects section on some of the disclosures.  They can be deadly.

The High Cholesterol Epidemic

Take cholesterol lowering statin drugs, for example.  Unless a patient has a genetic predisposition for high cholesterol, we're doing to to ourselves.  I was on Lipitor for several years.  It was my own fault and my high cholesterol level was directly due to my lifestyle.  I ate out a lot.  I also made a lot of fried foods at home.  It wouldn't be uncommon for me to eat entire box of deep fried prawns for breakfast and sometimes lunch, too...in the same day!  The prescribing doctor warned me about muscle and liver damage from the Lipitor.  Patients on these drugs must get a blood test to make sure the drugs aren't destroying their liver.  They are toxic!  He also put me on high blood pressure medication.

Yes, the Lipitor lowered my LDL cholesterol by over 40% in just a few short months.  It worked, but when I asked how long I'd have to stay on it, he said, "For the rest of your life."  I should have found a different doctor right then and their. 

Months later when I went in for a follow-up I told him the Lipitor was making me tired.  He said there's nothing in it to make me tired.  Back then I was getting up around 6:30 a.m. and many times I was back in bed before noon or at least by 2:00 p.m.  I just could not force myself to stay awake.  I also couldn't think and solve complex problems like I used to.  (I was a computer programmer.)  Work was stressing me out because I was so tired and couldn't think on my feet or deal with issues that never bothered me before.  At night I'd fall asleep within minutes of hitting the pillow, but I'd wake up about 1:00 a.m. and wouldn't get back to sleep until 4:30.  I had to get sleeping pills from my doctor to combat the insomnia and Lexapro to combat the stress.

The Fatal Chain of Events

Did you notice that chain of events?  Fat foods = high cholesterol = toxic statin drugs / blood pressure drugs = toxic sleeping pills = anti-depressant.  GOOD LORD!

I told an RN nurse friend of mine that the Lipitor was so expensive, even with insurance, and she did some research for me.  She found out that once the cholesterol problem was under control that it's possible to cut back on the Lipitor, but doctors don't tell you that.  So I began taking 1/2 a tablet, continued with my blood work, but didn't tell my doctor I was only taking 1/2.  Lab results were right on the money. 

Then I reduced the 1/2 tablet to every other day.  Six more months went by and my blood work was still right on the money. 

By now I had stopped eating poorly and stopped taking the Lipitor altogether.  I still got the blood work done and it was still right on the money.

The Revelation

Once I stopped taking the Lipitor I noticed a drastic change in my sleeping pattern and my mood.  I was actually sleeping at night and felt rested the next day.  Just for the heck of it I took a 1/2 Lipitor before bed one night.  Wouldn't you know it?  I was up half the night and napping again the next day.  Wow!  The puzzle pieces were falling into place. 

I got online to see if other people on Lipitor were having the insomnia and stress problems.  I found forums full of statin drug users and reading their posts was like looking in a mirror.  I am proud to say that now I am completely off the Lipitor.  My BP is also in a normal range and I'm off that medication, too.  No more sleeping pills and no more anti-depressant.

Eat To Live

By simply eliminating the high-fat, high-calorie foods from my diet, by body naturally adjusted itself back to normal.  Months later when I read Dr. Fuhrman's book and I introduced the foods that he recommended and mostly importantly why he recommends them, I felt satisfied and lost my cravings for empty calorie foods.  Not to mention, I also lost 30 pounds in only three months.  It was a simple as knowing what to eat.  It's not a fad diet.  It's completely natural. 

Step #2 - Adding Resistance Strength Training

This is the part where the women go, "But I don't want big muscles."  Chillax.  Strength training is not body building.  Strength training is defined as applying resistance to the muscles.  Lifting weights is gravitational resistance, but it's not the most efficient type of resistance.

Resistance through tension is the most effective and resistance bands deliver smooth tension in all directions, something up and down gravity dependent weights can't give you.

Resistance bands are very affordable, very compact, and very efficient.  You don't need a room full of gym equipment to get a total body workout, only a good set of resistance bands.

For the average person, it is completely achievable to get toned and trimmed in only a few short weeks with resistance bands.  A strength training workout increases strength and stamina.  You'll be able to walk longer distances and go up flights or stairs without losing your breath.

The resistance bands I recommend come with everything you need in one small package, including a total body workout manual.  I suggest you also get the optional Circuit Training DVD for only $5 more.  Circuit training is a combination of resistance and aerobic/cardio exercise.  The DVD is worth it because you can work along with the trainers at the correct pace.  I like the way it's presented.  There are three trainers all working out on the floor at the same time, but at different resistance levels, beginner, intermediate, and advance.  Just pick your own preferred pace and follow along with that specific trainer. 

If you're pressed for time, you need routines that are short and sweet.  The circuit training DVD gives you that as it only takes 10-12 minutes to complete. 

Bodylastics T.O. Super Strong Man 254 lbs of strength training resistance Includes: 7 elastics from 5 to 30 lbs, 4 handles, 4 ankle straps, 1 door anchor, 1 user manual, 1 Terrell Owens Workout & Diet Guide, 1 Circuit Training DVD, 1 travel bag FREE BONUS: Lifetime access to StrengthBandUniversity