Top 5 Weight Loss Strategies From A Top Level Personal Trainer

Everybody wants to lose weight. Even if it’s only that lastnfive pounds. Joey Atlas gives you five proven weight lossntactics that go beyond the "eat low fat and walk for onenhour each day" mantra of the mainstream.

You are ready to shed those energy draining, body crippling, unattractive extra pounds and you are ready to make it permanent this time. You are on the right track because you've taken the most important step toward your goal. That step is the decision to take action and stay committed. The following five proven strategies will serve as essential elements in your quest to achieve your weight loss goal.

1) You must put yourself into the right mindset. Don't think of your new efforts at weight loss as trying to do certain things every day. See your self living a new lifestyle, a new lifestyle that naturally includes behavior conducive to positive changes in your health and fitness levels. You transition into this new lifestyle by making adjustments to your daily habits until these habits are in alignment with the goals you are aiming for.

2) Find an exercise partner. It can be a friend, a co-worker, or a family member. Why is this important? An exercise partner is a tremendous source of support. A partner is crucial on those days when you really don't feel up to exercising. Unless you are sick, a good partner won't let you slack and likewise your partner will need you to pull them up when they are not up for the workout. You being needed is an indirect but important type of support. With an exercise partner comes the element of accountability, which subconsciously reinforces your commitment to your quest.

3) Have a baby or get a puppy. These two strategies work innthe same manner. I write about this one from first/second nhand experience. My wife, Jeri-Jo, gave birth to our ndaughter, Darah, nine months ago. Today, she weighs less nthan she weighed before she got pregnant. What is the nmechanism here? Jeri-Jo claims, "With Darah to care for, my mind is focused on her and her needs. Don't get me wrong, I'm not at risk for malnutrition, but I don't eat out of boredom any more simply because there is always something to do. The day flies by and I don't have time to snack on foods that cause weight gain."

The puppy strategy is very similar to the baby strategy. Ifnyou are not playing with it, training it, feeding it, nwalking it or cleaning up after it you are too tired to novereat. And, before you know it your new puppy is done nnapping and ready for more activities. Like caring for a nbaby, your puppy requires a lot of attention and mental nenergy. This prevents many people from unnecessary snackingnthat prevents weight loss.

4) If you are not ready for a baby or a puppy then take a up a new hobby. A new hobby will get you out of the house, nstimulate your mind and prevent you from eating out of nboredom. If your hobby is a fitness related activity, such nas mountain biking or hiking, then you are really going to nmake some progress.

5) Drink more water. I know, you've heard this one before.
But, can you truthfully say you are doing it? Not many npeople can. Ponder this. You consist of about 73% water.
Your body gives off water all day and all night. You must ncontinuously replenish your water levels in order for your nbody to function at its highest levels. Many fitness nprofessionals talk about the metabolism slowing down as a nresult of too little food intake. However, just as nimportant, yet rarely mentioned is water intake and its neffect on metabolism. Not getting enough water can cause nwater retention and a slowing of the metabolism. Both of nthese can prevent weight loss and cause weight gain.

One little known strategy for boosting water intake is to ndrink 8 - 12 ounces as soon as you wake up. This helps wakenup your metabolism. Another way to boost your water intake nis to drink 10 - 12 ounces when you start to feel hungry.
Instead of immediately reaching for food, drink the water and see if that calms your hunger until you are ready for your next meal.

Each one of these strategies can help you lose weight. But,nby utilizing all of them, you are creating a formula for nsuccess. A formula that can be the foundation of your new nlifestyle.

Copyright 2005 Joe E. Atlas, Inc. All Rights Reserved n