I have a really small stomach and every time i try losing weight I end up losing weight from my stomach and butt. Is there any things i can do to lose weight on my thighs without losing muscle or without losing any more weight from my butt.

I heard first when you start the losing weight (diet and excercise) you first lose 8-10 pounds of water and after that you lose about 2-3 pounds a week on average. What is the process how long do you have to wait for the first 8-10 pounds of water weight? Why also after working out several months after you lost some weight nothing happens. I heard it’s called a "platue" and you have to find some way to shock your body so you can continue to lose weight. So if anyone knows please help and let me know and can you please be detailed about it? Provide me about how many months for the first sign of weight loss and so on. Thanks much!!

I have 2 questions:
1.I’m about 5’1-5’2 and weigh 127 pounds..is this a normal weight for my height..whats your opinion?
2.I’m trying to lose weight..but I hate running and I hate water..which I know are essential to losing weight..anyways..what are some good methods to losing weight fast,safely and without joining a gym?

I know, it’s the opposite of what most people want lol. But I want to become stronger by excercises and workouts, and still keep my weight. I’m currently 13, almost 14 years old, and I weigh about 98 pounds (I actually think I’m kinda underweight).

But my arms are very skinny – I could make a circle around my wrist using only my thumb and middle finger, and STILL have space left in the circle. My legs, on the other hand, are slightly bulkier than the average girl (about 3 times the width of my arm) and last year my teacher told me it was untrained muscle.

I want to know how you can work out without losing weight. I really want to train the muscles in my arms, my stomach and abdomens, and my legs. For me, I can run fast, but the thing is I don’t have enough stamina to run very far. Maybe while I do fitness workouts I’ll increase my stamina too. Help, anyone?

I think most of us know how to diet.  I mean, intuitively we know that we should be eating healthy foods in order to lose weight.  As a personal trainer it’s important to emphasis that losing belly fat is more than just what we eat.  A good exercise program also plays a key role in how we feel and how quickly we lose fat. With that said, taking a look at what we put into our bodies, not just for the purposes of a short term diet, but a long life is vitally important to our health.

Most people believe that weight loss is an easy equation of calories in and calories out.  Meaning, you will lose weight if you burn more calories than you consume.  While this is partially true, it’s not the whole truth when it comes to losing weight.  The type of calories you consume has greater impact on your health than strictly the amount you’re eating.

If you haven’t already started reading labels at the grocery store you should start now.  You might be surprised to find out how many products contain high fructose corn syrup.  High fructose corn syrup is not the same as glucose. Glucose is something our body definitely needs for energy and life. Complex carbs are broken up in the body and converted to glucose and metabolized in all of our cells for immediate energy.  High fructose corn syrup, on the other hand, is a man made sugar that does not affect our body in the same way glucose does.

Many scientists have come out and said that high fructose corn syrup or HFCS  is one of the number 1 reasons why our country is faced with so many problems relating to obesity and disease today.  HFCS  is not metabolized in the body the same as glucose.  It is metabolized in the liver and turned into fatty acids.

Another reason why you might be consuming  more calories is that foods containing HFCS do not stimulate the hormone leptin.  This is the hunger hormone that lets us know when we feel full.  When we eat, this hormone  is secreted and we feel full and satiated.  However, when we eat foods with high fructose corn syrup we still feel hungry and as a result consume a lot more food than we otherwise would.

Even when you think you are making a healthy choice by buying protein bars, granola bars, yogurt or packaged oatmeal….read the label.  If it contains high fructose corn syrup you are inadvertently contributing to fat accumulation around the belly.

What should you eat?

My advice is to eliminate soda’s, pre-packaged foods and meals that contain HFCS.   Eat fresh and organic foods that haven’t been injected with hormones or stuffed full of toxic additives.  This way you know exactly what and how much you’re eating.  Eliminating  foods with harmful ingredients will help you lose belly fat and feel better overall.

More information on HFCS, belly fat and obesity.

Sugar The Bitter Truth

A new study in mice sheds light on the insulin resistance that can come from diets loaded with high-fructose corn syrup

HFCS and obesity study

Dr. Mercola – HFCS is the same as sugar?

Does it seem like you’ve tried everything to lose weight and still struggle with losing weight and keeping it off? You’re not alone.

I was listening to an old podcast on NaturalNews.com about the mind – body connection regarding weight loss.  The discussion was about how your  mood affects the cravings your body will have and as a result makes it tougher for you to lose weight.

The truth is that if we are depressed, stressed out, bored or anxious our bodies secrete certain hormones in an attempt to maintain balance.  The result of this can lead to high sugar cravings and result in overeating in an attempt to self-medicate.   Obviously, this is a cycle that becomes self-defeating.

This is something that doesn’t get talked about much because so many people often overlook the reasons for overeating and focus instead on ways to suppress their appetite and eat less in an effort to lose weight.  However,  you might want to consider what types of emotional issues may be hindering your weight loss efforts?

I’ve  touched upon this before in an article on  diet and mindset.  However, the issue there was motivation and changing your mindset from one that hates to exercise to a mindset that feels exhilarated and healthier if you exercise.

The underlying basis of many people’s struggle with weight loss may just be an emotional pain that needs to be dealt with in order to succeed in losing weight.  According to experts approximately 75%  of  overeating  is caused by emotional overeating.  It’s definitely something to consider if nothing else has seemed to work.

Signs of emotional overeating you should look out for according to RecoveryConnection.org.

• Eating uncontrollably
• Preoccupied with food
• Preoccupation with weight
• Preoccupied with one’s next meal
• Hiding of food
• Eating in secret
• Multiple failed attempts at dieting
• Increasing depression
• Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities

So what can you do if you’ve identified yourself as a person that emotionally overeats?

First, identify the triggers that cause you to overeat then choose an alternative behavior other than eating.

Here’s an example of activities you can choose to do instead of emotionally eating (provided by Medicinenet.com )

• Read a good book or magazine or listen to music
• Go for a walk or jog
• Take a bubble bath.
• Do deep breathing exercises.
• Play cards or a board game.
• Talk to a friend
• Do housework, laundry or yard work.
• Wash the car.
• Write a letter.
• Or do any other pleasurable or necessary activity until the urge to eat passes.

Ways to deal with emotional stress :

• Relaxation exercises
• Meditation
• Individual or group counseling

The bottom line is, you want to get active and do something other than think about eating.  I’m a big fan of physical activity because it releases chemicals in your brain that help stabilize mood and enhance well-being.  You will feel happier and more relaxed just by getting out and going for a walk.  If you do this regularly your mood will improve and your body will become more fit giving you an additional boost in self-confidence and self-esteem.

Learning how to cope with emotions may be hard and initially take a lot of work.  If you are struggling with this on your own don’t hesitate to speak with a counselor or trained therapist in order to resolve these issues.  The better equipped you are to deal with emotions in an effective manner the happier you will be and less likely you will be to turn to food as a way of feeling the void.