Have you started running in order to lose a few (or many) pounds? What kind of diet do you need to follow to get the most out of running and also to lose the most pounds? Is the Atkins diet a good diet to follow or maybe one of the other diet plans? Should you cut down on carbohydrates or lose them altogether? These are some of the questions that runners that try to lose weight often ponder about.

If you decide to take a low-carb diet when your body is working hard, for example running to lose weight, you will certainly achieve results.Only at a certain price. Remember that you won’t be performing very well if your body is stuffed full of proteins and starved of carbohydrates like the Atkins diet recommends. This can be dangerous to your health as well.

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If weight loss is your only aim then there are alternatives to running. The Atkins diet has a point that runners could make use of. You need to be aware of carbohydrates, they are not created equally. If you eat carbs made from refined flour – that’s the kind they use to make all kinds of baked goods like cookies, baglels and cakes – isn’t going to help you with weight loss. And while stocking up on proteins such as fish and dairy, may help you slim down a bit, it certainly won’t help with your performance or your health.

No one would call me overweight if they would see me at first glance, I could still stand to lose 5 to 10 pounds. I know that this doesn’t sound like much of a challenge, but my experience has been that the fewer pounds I want to shed the harder it is.  I know that’s counter intuitive, but that has been my personal experience. For me, it has always been easier to go from 150 to 149 than from 120 to 119. I discovered something that can help me with slimming down: a green tea weight loss program.

It is well known for a long time that green tea has a positive effect on the body’s metabolism rate.And these green tea weight loss programs have been around forever. This was the first time I have tried green tea. It takes a while to get use to the taste. But I had never tried any green tea weight loss diets before because I’m not all that fond of the drink. It’s definitely an acquired taste as far as I’m concerned, and even after drinking the stuff for about a month and a half, I still cannot sip it leisurely or linger over the cup for an extended period. Instead, I have to chug it down and then chase it with a bit of water just to rinse the taste out of my mouth. I know that seems pretty childish, but that’s what I have to do! At least I’m still getting all the benefits of the beverage!

So how does a green tea weight loss program work? Well, most of the time these programs are meant to be followed in conjunction with ordinary dieting activities such as exercise and reduced caloric intake. You will not lose significant pounds simply from drinking special teas — unless you completely eschew solid food while on the program, which is definitely NOT recommended. So despite what some green tea weight loss programs claim, it’s not a miracle product, but it can help you burn up an extra hundred calories or more per day depending on how many cups you drink. While that doesn’t seem like a lot on the surface, those calories certainly do add up in the long run.

As I said, I’ve been on a green tea weight loss program for about six weeks now. (Bear in mind that this is in addition to an exercise regimen that I already had in place.) Without changing anything else about my eating habits, I have already lost three pounds, which for me is amazing news considering how long I’d been stuck on that dieting plateau. A couple more months of doing this should have me weighing in right near my target.

If you’re looking for a miracle product that can magically reduce your waistline by several inches and slim you down practically overnight, I’m telling you right now it doesn’t exist. If it did, we would all know about it and there wouldn’t be any more debates about what works and what doesn’t. Nevertheless, a green tea weight loss program can help you slim down slowly, steadily, and naturally if you’re willing to give it a chance. Try adding five cups to your daily routine to see if it helps!

During these difficult economic times it seems like everybody is feeling a financial pinch as the economy keeps on getting worse. Everybody is trying to save money any way we can, while we keep hoping that we keep our jobs. One of the easiest expenses to save on is our grocery bill, because it is one of the most flexible expenses. There is a tendency to get rid of the healthiest items on our grocery list, like fruits and vegetables, since they are often the most expensive. This is not a good idea to sacrifice your health in order to save a few bucks. Here are some ideas how to keep a healthy diet while being on a tight budget.

While its not that easy to eat healthy on a tight budget it can be done.  If you’re committed to following through, then you can still buy the ingredients for hearty, wholesome, nutritious meals that won’t put too much of a dent in your wallet.

The first thing you can slash from your budget is buying prepackaged foods. Consumers actually pay a premium for the convenience of bagged salads, heat-and-serve breakfast sandwiches, and similar products.  You can save lots of money each week by making your own salads and meals with fresh ingredients. Besides saving money on “convenience” products you will be eating more healthier because you are avoiding the preservatives which often go into prepackaged goods, so you’ll actually be killing two birds with one stone.

Also you can save by using coupons or stick to items that are on sale. While this sounds like a no-brainer, you’d be surprised of how few people take advantage of all these coupons. Shopping this way does take some discipline, so be prepared to make frequent substitutions. If apples aren’t on sale this week, make do with oranges instead or maybe go to another store which has apples on sale. If beef gets more expensive, switch to another meat product like for instance chicken or turkey.  Most people who know how to eat healthy on a tight budget are very strict about the sales-only rule. It really makes a difference!

You might also want to look into joining wholesale clubs like Costco or BJ’s. In addition to the typical gallon jugs of ketchup these places are known for, they also sell meats and produce. If you have enough room in your freezer, you can stock up on lean cuts of beef, pork, or chicken, and simply defrost them when you’re ready to cook. Similarly, you can purchase discount produce — as long as you’re sure you can use all of it before it goes bad. Loading up on vegetables and then making a couple weeks’ worth of stews and casseroles to freeze is something lots of folks do.

These are just a few basic ideas for how to eat healthy on a budget. I know it’s tempting to simply stop off at McDonald’s or Burger King and order off the dollar menu on your way home from work, but you won’t be doing your waistline any favors that way. Isn’t your health is worth the extra effort!

Are you looking for a good healthy diet to follow to lose those excess pounds? I can really recommend Isabel De Los Rios program the diet solution where you learn what foods are good for you and your family. It covers nutrition and dieting and is a real life style changer. Find out more here
Isabel De Los Rios is a certified nutritionist and the owner of New Body a fitness and nutrition centre based in New Jersey.