Do you want to lose 10, 30, 50 or more pounds? Have you recently reached your weight loss goal but want to maintain it? Are you willing to dedicate yourself to a healthy lifestyle? Then this blog is for you!

I have lost 118 pounds and have maintained the weight loss for two years. One of the things I have learned during the weight loss process is that it is much easier to reach and maintain your goal weight if you surround yourself with like-minded individuals to support you in the process (whether they be in person or online).

I also have learned that learning as much as possible about healthy living gives you the knowledge and expertise needed to lose weight the “right” way. So this blog includes regular posts, a book list, website list, TV list, video list and book and website of the month. In addition, there is a recipe of the month and product review section. Visitors to Weight Loss Aficionado can just enjoy the site for informational purposes or can comment on posts, ask questions, share resources, their triumphs and pitfalls during the weight loss process.

Friday, March 22, 2013

If I Lose 1 Pound Each Week This Year!

A friend shared this poem with me. How brilliant it is!

IF I LOSE 1 LB. EACH WEEK THIS YEAR…..


By Valentine's Day I'd be 7 lbs. lighter
I'm loving it!

By St. Patrick's Day I'd be 11 lbs. lighter!
With the luck of-the Irish I'll make my goal.

By Easter I'd be 16 lbs. lighter!
I'd be a cuter bunny.

By Memorial Day I'd be 23 lbs. lighter!
Won't let it rain on my parade.

By Flag Day I'd be 25 lbs. lighter!
Boy, could I wave my flag then.

By Independence Day I'd be 27 lbs. lighter!
That's a neat declaration of independence from overeating!

By Labor Day I'd be 36 lbs. lighter!
What a wonderful reward for all my hard work.

By Columbus Day I'd be 41 lbs. lighter!
What a joy to discover what I can do.

By Halloween I'd be 44 lbs. lighter!
I didn't think I had a ghost of a chance.

By Thanksgiving I'd be 47 lbs. lighter!
I'd have so much to be thankful for.

By Christmas Eve I'd be 51 lbs. lighter!
Talk about being merry.

By New Year's Eve I'd be 52 lbs. lighter!
It's not just a new year, it's a new ME!


* If you shoot for losing just 1 pound a week you can lose 52 pounds in a year!


Sunday, February 24, 2013

Exercise Pants that Keep the Jiggle In Check and Activate Your Muscles!

I am always on the lookout for the most body flattering exercise gear. I came across Reebok EasyTone pants. These pants are absolutely amazing. The pants are form fitting and have a inner tight that sucks in your thighs and stomach. The inner tight is made with 24% spandex! It is like having a girdle inside your exercise pants, but is unbelievably comfortable!

In addition to making you look great Reebok states that the pants have toning bands that create resistance as you move, resulting in increased muscle activation. This action tones and strengthens your quads, hamstrings and butt.
They come in both capris and full length pants.

Here is the description from the Reebok website:

Part of our EasyTone Apparel Collection, an innovative performance line that uses uniquely placed resistance technology, the EasyTone Fitness Pant hugs the back of your legs while you work out and is stylish enough to be worn as everyday clothing. Fitnes
  • 88% Nylon / 12% Polyester outer shell tricot pant
  • Fitted athletic design contours to your body
  • Play Dry technology wicks moisture, reduces chaffing and doesn’t trap heat
  • Contrast color waistband option adds feminine flair
  • 75% Nylon / 25% Polyester jacquard inner short
  • Won't get in your way or slow you down during high-performance exercise
  • EasyTone construction incorporates resistance technology

Below is the TV commercial for Easytone apparel:




One Strategy to Stop Snacking When Your Not Really Hungry!!

When I was overweight I was constantly snacking when I wasn't really hungry. For me it was usually when I was bored or watching TV. I took three steps to stop the incessant snacking:


1. Assessed the Situation: I made a list of when I was "over snacking." I realized it was usually when I was bored or watching TV.

2. Created a Plan:  I decided I would make a list of things I could do instead of snacking; things I enjoyed doing that would keep my mind off food. I also decided I would post it in the places where I kept the food I was snacking on.

3. Took Action: I created an eye catching  list on my computer, printed it and posted it on my refrigerator and on my food cabinet where I keep my snacks. Every time I went to grab a snack I would see it and be reminded of the things I could do instead. I would pick an item from the list and do it!
 
What about you? When do you tend to over snack? What do you enjoy to do that you could do instead of snacking? Where in the house do you need to post your list of things to do?


 




Get More Bang for Your Buck! Eat Nutrient Dense Foods!

When you are trying to lose weight it is very important to eat nutrient dense foods. A food with high nutrient density is very nutritious relative to the number of calories it has. These nutrients include vitamins, minerals, fiber and essential fats. High nutrient dense foods include greens, eggplant, mushrooms, bell peppers, watermelon, raspberries, apples, cantaloupe, papaya, brown rice, wheat bran, whole wheat bread, nonfat plain yogurt, skim milk, tuna, scallops, shrimp and black beans.


Thursday, January 17, 2013

A Bracelet That Counts Your Bites!


Press Release
Clemson University researchers are making every bite count

CLEMSON - Two Clemson University researchers seek to make diners mindful of mindless eating.

Psychology professor Eric Muth and electrical and computer engineering professor Adam Hoover have created the Bite Counter, a measurement device that will make it easier for people to monitor how much they eat. Worn like a watch, the Bite Counter device tracks a pattern of wrist-roll motion to identify when the wearer has taken a bite of food. Think of it as a pedometer for eating.

"At the societal level, current weight-loss and maintenance programs are failing to make a significant impact. Studies have shown that people tend to underestimate what they eat by large margins, mostly because traditional methods rely upon self–observation and reporting," said Muth. "Our preliminary data suggest that bite count can be used as a proxy for caloric count."

The advantage of the Bite Counter is that it is automated so that user bias is removed. The device can be used anywhere, such as at restaurants or while working, where people find it difficult to manually track and remember calories.

The device is not based on what happens in a single bite (i.e. exact grams or specific food nutrients), but in how it simplifies long-term monitoring. For commercialization, Bite Counters eventually will be sold as simple consumer electronics alongside such familiar devices as activity monitors, heart-rate monitors, GPS watches and pedometers. A device is available from Bite Technologies now for professional and research use at http://www.icountbites.com.

"The device only requires that the user press a button to turn it on before eating and press the button again after the meal or snack is done. In between, the device automatically counts how many bites have been eaten," Hoover said.

In laboratory studies, the device has been shown to be more than 90 percent accurate in counting bites, regardless of the user, food, utensil or container, according to Hoover. However, there are few existing data on how bite count relates to calorie count or how a bite-counting device could be used for weight loss. The device will allow for such data to be more easily collected.

With prototypes completed and manufacturing under way, devices are being tested in 20 subjects for one month. The devices will store logs of bite-count activities, which will provide researchers baseline data for developing guidelines for completely new and innovative weight-loss studies.

Check out the video below.


Saturday, January 12, 2013

Try FIT Radio for Free for a Month!



I was recently looking through the available apps for my iphone and came across FIT Radio. The app is amazing! If you like great music when you are working out this is the app for you!  It allows you to listen to commercial free music that is geared towards athletic activity. Once logged in you can choose music by genre, station or DJ. There are 14 genres, 14 stations and a list of top DJ’s to choose from. You also have the ability to favorite genres, stations and DJ’s so you can easily access your favorite music. I only wish it gave you the BPM’s (beats per minute) for each song. It only gives you the average BPM’s in a particular genre. It would be nice to be able to create music lists by specific BPM’s not just ranges.

Cost: FIT Radio lets you download their app (iphone and android) for a free one month trial.  After that, once you get hooked, it is $36 a year. But, I just went on livingsocial today and saw that for the next three days you can get a one year subscription for $18 instead of $36!

“Recent scientific research overwhelmingly reveals the correlation between workout performance and music choice.  As one doctor who has thoroughly researched music’s relationship to physical performance states, “…there is a science to choosing an effective exercise soundtrack [for working out]”, meaning that high-tempo music serves as a crucial motivating force for exercising.[2]  The professionally mixed non-stop musical compositions heard on FIT Radio make this scientific choice for its listeners an easy one, thus revealing another way FIT Radio stands apart from its market competitors”- FIT Radio.

I read the above quote on the FIT Radio website. How true this is. In my experience when you are working out to great music with the proper BPM for the activity it energizes you to perform better. So, if you like great music to work out to try FIT Radio for free for a month! For more information visit http://www.fitradio.com You can also checkout the video below.





Friday, January 11, 2013

A Robot to Help You Lose Weight!!


Autom lady-bot will help you lose weight, love you regardless


Aw, this little cutie is so adorable -- until she denies you pizza and cheese fries. Autom, the 15-inch talking droid we first caught a glimpse of last year, is back and available for pre-order. Using the LCD touch screen, hungry dieters are prompted to enter daily calorie consumption and exercise habits -- to which the robot will respond kindly to keep you motivated. With face-tracking capabilities and a killingly sweet death stare, Autom is always watching, which might just make you feel guilty enough to skip the dip. The lady bot costs $195 for the deposit and $670 for the device through company's website. Slated to ship in 2012, apparently aiding the impending robot apocalypse doesn't come cheap. Check out the video below!