We all like to watch the number on the scale go down when our goal is to lose weight.  However, it is important you drink adequate amounts of water throughout the day, every day, in order to burn fat and maximize your weight loss.  This cannot be overemphasized enough.  Let me tell you why water helps to burn fat.   I am sure you will all go get a glass or bottle of water after reading this.

TIP:   one large sip of water is equal to about an ounce of water.  For me, it is a tad under an ounce.  When I drink ten sips of water (these are good-size sips) I know I am getting about eight to ten ounces of water and I do not have to measure it out.  Since I aim for at least 120 ounces of water per day (more if I am exercising or playing a sport) this knowledge makes it easy for me to calculate.  Fifteen or twenty sips of water during or before each meal and I am set each day.

Your body’s fat-burning super organ is the liver.  The liver is also a multitasking organ.  When the kidneys need help in the filtration process, they call on the liver for assistance. This is a concern if you want to burn more calories and more body fat.  Every minute the liver spends helping gout the kidneys is one minute the liver is not spending doing its real job which is to help the body burn fat. 

Since the kidneys are assisted tremendously by adequate water intake, the key to keeping this relationship between the liver and kidneys happy is to drink sufficient amounts of water.

You do not have to overdo the water.  You can actually damage your body if you drink too much water at one time.  Spacing water out over the day and getting about one quart for every 50-75 pounds of body weight is absolutely vital to the fat-burning, weight loss process – and that is far less than the average person is drinking.  On the WeightLossVillage program you will be encouraged to drink water in between your meals so that you can take advantage of the fat burning power of water.

For your added enjoyment we suggested drinking infused water

Serious About  Weight Loss? Click Here.

Goal setting in an important part of your quest to loose weight but it is also important that your goals be realistic. For example setting a goal to lose twenty pounds in 2 months may leave you disappointed. However, when you set the goal to lose 2 pounds a week over a ten week period you will be able to achieve continual milestones.

The popularity of goal setting is in fact evidence that  it really does work since it thrives and remains an important step in pursuing and reaching weight loss and other goals for the following reasons:

1.    Goal setting requires establishing definite and achievable objectives.
2.    Setting goals strengthens your plans. The more concrete your goals are to you, the more motivated you are to achieve them.
3.    Goal setting is like your personal agreement with yourself.  We all know it’s easier to break agreements we make to ourselves than to others since but if you let goal setting be a test to your personal integrity you will see a change. How can you keep your word to others if you cannot keep a promise you make to yourself?
4.    Goal setting is a powerful tool to help you master your own future.
5.    Goals made today determine the actions you need to take today that will affect your situation tomorrow.
6.    When you specify your goals you determine where to focus your resources and efforts.
7.    Goal setting is like a blueprint that shows you what to do and how to do it.
8.     Be clear about you goals.  It helps eliminate distractions that can disrupt your progress.

Ask.   Write.   Review.
Ask yourself what are my goals?   Write down your responses.   Review them each day.
When you do not write down your goals they are merely a wish – not a goal. 

Decide exactly what you want to achieve, how long do you want to work to achieve it and what would you do to achieve your goal?  It is important your goals be what you want and never what you do not want

REMINDER:  Goal setting should not be mistaken with a declaration of your personal dreams and desires. You’ll not be able to find fault with the results of your goal setting if you think you can get to the moon with an old broken down rusty car without gas.
Goal setting with positive results requires you consider each of the steps (small and big) that make up the journey from who and where you are today to who and where you are to be tomorrow.-

Here is a recap on the secrets for reaching your goals through goal setting:
1. Decide what you want.
2. Clearly specify your goals. Think about how you will get what you want.
3. Develop a clear step by step action plan including a way to monitor your progress.
4. Keep your goals realistic and regularly revisit them and adjust them if need be.

It’s Worth It!
Decide on your goals, stick with them and see them through to the very end,  Once you get to where you want to be you’ll see that every step of the journey was worth it!!!

Today we’re focusing on ‘How You Move”

In addition to eating right and thinking positive it is important to add fitness into your schedule and to keep track of it. Our cutting edge tools help you track your calories, workout and weight loss.   A good fitness program in addition to its health benefits will also help you reduce weight and get into a better shape when combined with proper eating and a positive mind set.   It would beneficial to check out the gyms near where you live and also by where you work to find out their membership offers. Get motivated when you get a few friends or co-workers to join wight you.

By the way it is a proven fact that people who exercise regularly can save thousands of dollars on medical treatments over their life span. Workouts have been know to improve the immune system as well as reduce the chance of heart disease, strokes and diabetes due to excess weight,  Additionally fitness reduces fatigue, improves concentration and treats insomnia which increases productivity and can in turn boost income for some people.

There are two major components to fitness, aerobic and anaerobic. They work together to maximum benefits you can get from a fitness exercise program.

Aerobic exercises:   are the physical activities such as jogging, swimming, rowing, walking, stair climbing, cycling, and my favorite aerobic dance, etc. There are multiple health benefits which include but are not limited to improved energy levels, helping to normalize your blood pressure and of course increased metabolism to help with your weight loss efforts. .

Walking is the most natural, simplest and preferred exercise with minimal expense other than making sure you treat yourself to a good pair of walking sneakers.   If you have the room and are keen on purchasing exercise equipment, you can look for used equipment that often is offered at half or a third of the original price.   Keep it in good condition and you can look to resell it when it becomes your corner clothing rack as many at home exercise equipment has been know to become.

If you are a beginner, aerobic exercises can be helpful to increase your energy levels. The best time to engage in aerobic exercise is in the morning as it helps you burn calories through the course of the day. Why not get started today?  Follow a strict workout routine and soon all kinds of wonderful things can happen including the having your metabolism improves.

In a perfect world 30-40 minute per day for exercise is ideal BUT even if we do for a mere 15 minutes it is far better than doing nothing at all.  Start today to add ‘move it to lose it’ to your daily routine just as you do brushing our teeth or bathing.

Anaerobic exercise includes resistance exercises such as weight training which strengthens and tones muscles as well as helping you burn excess body fat, improve your energy levels, enhance your metabolism and so much more.  Weight training programs can be done at home at low cost but it is important you get some training or purchase a DVD or tune into You Tube.  Beginners should always start with light weights and more repetitions as this will be most effective.

You can also, like many other people buy the latest exercising gadgets to shed excess fat and achieve your goals.  The good news:  It is possible to get an effective and comprehensive workout program on a shoestring budget. You just need to get started.

Register for the Weight Loss Village online program today

Have you seen the RESULTS our members are achieving.   We’re so proud of our members and their success stories!  Our mission is to have each and every one of our member enjoy similar results.

There is no magic or fast way to lose weight.  Just take one day at a time, eat right and exercise more .  I found the Weight Loss Village program amazing when I followed the suggested menus.  It is helping me keep my weight off.   I love it.  I know you will too.

You may have been through a number of different weight loss programs and “diets” at this point in your journey. We understand your skepticism and frustration, and want you to understand what makes Weight Loss Village different than many of the other plans out there. Why our program delivers optimum results. .

The Weight Loss Village program is a lifestyle not a just another diet that sets you up to fail.. We offer a variety of customized meal plans that allow you to decide what does or does not work for you. You get to be the decider. What foods do you enjoy? What does your daily schedule require of you and how does that affect your meal times? We want you to find the right fit for what you need, not to try to fit into a diet with a bunch of restrictions that won’t fit your lifestyle.

Weight Loss Village strives to help you be happy with everything in your life, not just your weight. Our Think Thin workshops are designed to help you reboot your mentality about getting healthy and fit… but also to boost your overall self-confidence and feelings about your life!

Stick to the program on-the-go. Keep track of your meal plan, menus, calories and workouts wherever you are.

Our program is designed to help you get results. If you’re having success with our program, even if you’re still in the middle of your journey we would love to hear from you to share your story.

Please email us

Tips for Staying Fit When the Temperature Drops

When the weather is beautiful and warm it is sometimes easier to include physical activity into our daily lives. Going for hikes, playing games on the beach, even taking a walk around the neighborhood are all activities that fit seamlessly into our lives in the summer.

Once fall officially brings in the chill, many of us get into the trap of “hibernating for the winter” and staying indoors more than we used to. Cold weather can also cause us to eat more than we usually do, and many of the cold weather comfort foods we crave are higher in calories and fat.

What can you do to avoid getting out of shape in colder weather?

1. Learn what to eat as a member of WeightLossVillage.   Members can choose from a wide variety of online meal plans designed by Registered Dieticians.  You then get personalized weekly menus (with grocery lists) based on your calorie, dietary and lifestyle needs.  Our cutting edge tools will help track what you eat which will help you stay on track with your weight loss and health goals.

2. Check out your local gym. You’ll keep up with your workouts, and maybe even make some new friends in the process. Some gyms even offer seasonal or short-term memberships, in case you’re still planning on getting an outdoor workout when it warms back up.

3. Consider using workout videos (traditional DVDs or even YouTube videos!) that will give you that fun class atmosphere in the comfort of your own home! There is a huge variety in options as far as videos go, so think about trying something completely new (like a hip-hop workout or belly dancing) to mix things up!

4. It is easy to stick to your weight loss program no matter where you go with WeightLoss2Go™ Mobile App. The holidays can mean lots of traveling, which can interfere with your typical routine. Our app allows you to take track your eating and workouts anywhere you go!

Make a decision today to be in control of your health and fitness, even as the seasons change, with the tips above as this gives you a  leg up on the “winter weight” that many struggle with every year.

Do you have any additional cold weather fitness tips? We’d love to hear about them in the comments! write to:  teamwlv@weightlossvillage.com

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” – Henry Ford

We’ve all heard about the power of positive thinking, but getting ourselves in the right mental space can sometimes be more difficult  than it sounds… especially when it comes to something as sensitive as weight loss. In fact, one of the primary reasons so many people never reach their weight loss goals is that they create too many negative feelings around the process of getting there.

Some of us have spent too much time telling ourselves reasons why we cannot achieve our ideal weight. Some of us have created too many excuses that hinder our weight loss success, making it difficult to even find a starting point.

Over time diets come and go – many diets are temporary or do not work at all. We become discouraged and start to feel hopeless about ever reaching the goals we set. On top of everything else, these negative feelings cause stress—which typically leads to overeating, causing an even bigger problem than we started with. It can be a vicious and unhappy cycle… but the cycle can be broken when you start to change the way you think.

When you come to realize the benefits of adapting a new lifestyle and not just another new diet, and then start changing your mindset about the entire journey to a healthy and fit life, your success ratio is heightened exponentially.

If you’re feeling this way, or going through rounds of unsuccessful attempts at losing weight, it might be time for a mental reset.

Weight Loss Village is pleased to offer a series of online workshops called “Think Thin.” They are hosted by experienced coaches who work to build your overall sense of self-confidence, reboot your unhealthy habits, and help you find a path to permanent weight loss when coupled with healthy eating and exercise. . Visit our website to learn more about the program or about the upcoming Workshop schedule.

Take a moment to listen to a complimentary workshop on our website. After listening, you can decide which of the three available programs is best for you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have about which program best fits your needs!

Register Today

Do you find it difficult to motivate yourself to stick to a weight loss program plan or make the time to fit in some exercise? Studies show that if you set health goals with friends, or a ssignificant other, you’re much more likely to reach them.

Why does having a weight loss buddy increase your odds of achieving your weight loss goals? A number of factors are at play here:

1. Friends and loved ones help to hold you accountable. Instead of working towards a goal that only you are aware of, including others in your mission gives you extra incentive not to let them down.
2. Spark a competitive spirit to keep up as your friends shed pounds—a little competition never hurt anyone, especially when the goal is better health!
3. Each member of your weight loss team brings their own experiences and knowledge to the table. You’ll be able to give each other valuable advice based on your past experiences, making sure you help each other avoid mistakes along the way.
4. When the people around you are working towards their own health goals, you’ll all be focused on eating well. This can make preparing meals much easier, and you won’t be tempted by unhealthy foods if those around you aren’t eating them either!
5. Having a supportive atmosphere can make working out and losing weight—gasp!—more fun. Sharing your experiences and laughing through the ups and downs of your journey with people you care about is a lot more fun than going through those emotions alone. Rather than looking at your health goals as an unpleasant burden, you’ll start to associate them with positive, upbeat parts of your life.

A safe, sure way to get started on your weight loss journey is to become a member at Weight Loss Village with one or more friends and family.

Make today the day you each sign up, find an online meal plan just right for each of you, enjoy the personalized weekly menus with grocery list, Think-Thin workshops that can change your mindset and change your life plus take the plan with you wherever you go with their amazing app for iPhone, iPad and Android.

Here’s to a thinner and fitter you in excellent health… and to enjoying time with friends during your journey!

You’ve probably heard about your friends’ smoothie recipes, and the new liquid diets. Making your own smoothies at home has become a huge craze, for people who want to lose weight as well as those looking to add more fruits and vegetables to their diets for health.

Documentaries like Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead have covered the amazing results that this type of diet can give, as well as their positive effects on the overall health of a person… the benefits go well beyond weight loss.

What’s so great about smoothies? Here are just a few reasons why you might want to jump on this bandwagon:

- Breaking down vegetables into smoothies actually allows you body to absorb more of their nutrients than consuming them as solids does.
- Sticking to a smoothie plan can help cut your cravings: fruit juices make a great substitute for traditional desserts.
- For anyone just starting a weight loss plan, smoothies can be an excellent jump start for your body. After just a few days, you’ll find that cravings for the foods you’re trying to avoid will be much less.
- Smoothies taste great! You can get a variety of flavors into your daily regimen if you have enough recipes.

Get started with the smoothie lifestyle by entering your name and email below.  Weight Loss Village has done most of the work for you!  We’ve compiled over 100 of the absolute best smoothie recipes we could find and put them into Simply Smoothies eBook!

It is a well know fact that childhood obesity has become an increasingly serious problem for kids in the United States. Keeping our children healthy, and setting them up to live a full and active life is incredibly important.

Traditional “dieting” is not usually the most beneficial route for children, because it can lead to an unhealthy self-image. The best way to change a child’s weight is to monitor their meals, and to give them tasty but healthy options so that their cravings swing more towards fruits & veggies than fried & fatty. We recommend the WeightLossVillage Online Meal Plans for Kids ages 9 through teens as a great tool to help you restructure your child’s eating patterns. Since the kids are more computer savvy that their parents our online meal plans allow kids to get involved and take control of their eating habits, and to find healthy foods that they love just as much (if not more) than “junk foods.”

Additionally, encouraging and exhibiting a more active lifestyle will pay dividends down the road. Children who become interested in sports are much more likely to maintain a healthy weight throughout their life. Even if your child isn’t interested in becoming a star on the soccer field, make sure that they are spending at least as much time outside participating in active play as they do inside watching TV, playing on the computer or x-box. Even better? Set up a 2:1 ratio of physical activity versus video games and cartoons.

As a parent, your role is to lead by example as well as adding encouragement .  If your child’s eating habits need to change, working to make sure the entire family is eating healthy will make that transition easier for everyone. Where outdoor activity is concerned, come up with fun and physical games that the whole family can play. Not only will your entire family benefit from the exercise, but you’ll have a good time together!

Creating good habits at a young age will help your children grow into adults who have a better handle on their health.

Is ‘diet” a four-letter word in your vocabulary?   You are not alone.  Many people believe that they won’t be successful in their attempt to lose weight because they hate to diet. However, don’t consider obtaining a healthy weight “dieting”. Instead, change certain habits that make it difficult to lose weight and shape them into a permanent lifestyle. Here are five weight loss tips that do not include the word ‘diet’.

1. Eat Filling Foods

Instead of thinking about eating less, think about eating more. This doesn’t mean increasing your portion size, it means choosing foods that though you up so that you eat less. These foods will also prevent you from getting hungry and snacking between meals.

Whole-grain food has carbohydrates and proteins, which help you to feel full longer. Eating more vegetables and less meat or starch during a meal can also help you to feel full longer.

2. Find an Eating Buddy

In eating Buddy is someone that you can share meals with, literally. If you want a piece of cake, share that piece of cake with a friend. If you go to a restaurant that has large meal portions, offer to split the entrée with your eating companion. Many restaurants understand that people will sometimes split a meal with others at the table. If you ask them, they often will even bring you a second plate when they serve an appetizer, entrée, or dessert. By splitting a meal with a friend, you are able to taste the food that you enjoy without the guilt of the extra calories.

3. Water Everywhere

Drinking plenty of fluids is important to your body for many reasons. Too often people don’t drink enough water and end up going through their day with borderline dehydration symptoms. Water is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight. It also helps your body flush out toxins and keeps your skin healthy.

While there is some dispute regarding just how much water a person needs to consume each day, you can still increase the amount of water you drink and be better off. One rule of thumb is to drink a glass of water when you first wake up in the morning, have another glass after you of exercise, and have at least one or two more during the day. If you consume a lot of coffee or other caffeinated drinks, you should increase your water intake.

4. Don’t Eat In Front Of The TV

When you are eating meals you should be paying attention to the food that you eat and your body signals. Listen to your body and stop eating when you no longer feel hungry. It can take up to a half an hour for your body to register that it is full, so you shouldn’t wait until you feel soft before you put down your fork and knife. You also shouldn’t eat in front of the television. Whether you are eating a meal while watching your favorite show or just snacking, you aren’t paying attention to what it is you are eating. People who eat in front of the TV have a tendency to overeat and will end up gaining weight.

By getting rid of bad habits and replacing them with good habits, you can start a path to losing weight. Eating filling foods, drinking more water, finding and eating Buddy to share your favorite meals with and eating at the table instead of in front of the TV are easy changes to make that can help you create a healthy lifestyle.

5. Meal Plans Made Easy

The final suggestion for quick, healthy weight loss is investing in a program that can help you organize your meals.  We found Weight Loss Village with over 40 Registered Designed online meal plans that provide 100% personalized weekly menus with 3 meals and 2 snacks a day an excellent option.  This is the easy and simple to create your own weight loss plan, track calories and take the plan with you no matter where you go with their mobile app starting at just $3.95/wk. Weight Loss Village is a quick, simple way to get and stay motivated to soon reach you weight loss goals.  Check it out and sign up!