Forget The Weight Loss Tips
Forget The Weight Loss Tips
Simply put, weight loss tips suck. They serve almost no purpose and do not provide you with any real direction on how to actually shed the pounds and keep them off.
I’ll give you a few examples of some tips about losing weight that I have read recently and why I think they are useless.
1. How to add more fiber to your diet – “Eat a cereal with more grams of fiber per serving”
The tip above is a no brainer to most people. I mean what actionable advice are you receiving that you haven’t or couldn’t have already thought of on your own?
For a health/weight loss tip to provide any real value it should include at least some specifics or examples that you can put into practice immediately. The “How to add more fiber to your diet” tip above does none of this.
2. How to get more exercise in your day – “Take the stairs” or “buy a gym membership.”
Again this is another pointless health tip. The “Take the stairs” part although vague, does seem reasonable enough but, the “buy a gym membership” part really offers nothing to the reader. Which brings me to my next point.
Wrong Questions
While I think that most of the weight loss tips and advice offered online are a waste of time at best, they are not the real underlying problem.
The problem is in the questions that we ask or the advice that we are looking for. The most popular searches related to weight loss are around dropping weight quickly?, which diet pills work the best? or are questions based around different diets (example HGC Diet, The Mediterranean Diet etc….)
The thing they all have in common is that they’re all looking for short term fixes to a life long problem. If the information you get based on the questions above were actually helpful and useful, you would be fit and healthy by now. Odds are, if you are reading this you are most likely still looking for the real answer, the real solution to the problem.
New Focus
I am out of the “tip” business as I’ve realized that there is very little value in it for both you the reader and myself in writing them.
Instead I am focusing this blog on educating both of us on transitioning to a healthy and active lifestyle. It’s something that I think all of us strive for but don’t know how properly achieve. In my opinion this is Mainly due to the conflicting messages floating around on what we should be eating, how we should be exercising and everything in between.
I hope that I can clear up as much of the confusion as I can and that is part of the reason why I won’t be posting “tips” on this site anymore.
In the coming weeks and months most of my posts will be centered around nutrition and really understanding the importance of certain vitamins and minerals. How they affect us and the best ways to ensure that you are getting enough of them.
There will be more recipes as well. This helps to incorporate some of the ideas and habits that i hope to present. I am a big advocate of home cooked meals as I have seen the results first hand of not following my own advice. Fast food and frequent trips to my favorite restaurants have tipped the scale in the wrong direction too many times.
Getting Social
A major part of educating is making sure that the message is reaching the people that need to hear it. Social media is one of the best ways to achieve that these days. Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and other SM sites are going to be part of the mix going forward so I encourage you to spread the word if you can.
Follow me, Friend me, Favorite me, Stumble me and feel free to email anything you find here to your friends and family. I’ll be adding social buttons to make the process easier (hopefully).
Follow Me on Twitter – @Steve_wlw
Friend Me on Facebook – Facebook.com/weightlossweapons
Comments
For the past few months the amount of comments on Weight Loss Weapons has dropped off, mainly due to WordPress making all comments closed on all my posts for the last 6 weeks. I have fixed that now and re-installed comment luv.
I am also planning on launching monthly comment contests and rewards for people that have downloaded my e-book as well.
You can get the book and enter the contests by entering your email in the side bar ——>
Saving Money?
The last thing I wanted to mention was around losing weight and money. Many people thing that eating healthy, losing weight and getting in shape is expensive. That just isn’t the case or at least it doesn’t have to be. There are many parallels on weight loss and debt reduction/saving money. I will be presenting different options and ways you can lose weight and save money at the same time.
Lets face it, money stress is a major cause of weight gain so getting that under control can help your weight loss efforts.
That’s it, leave a comment, or contact me thorough my contact page and let me know what you think.
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Iphone Weight Loss
iPhones are known for their numerous uses, but can they really help you lose weight?
According to countless testimonials and reviews, they can. So, I decided to give it a try. And guess what? It worked! The apps helped me keep track of what I was eating and how to exercise. It was like having my own personal trainer. I lost 5 pounds in 3 weeks. And, as an added bonus, all of the apps I used were free.
This probably sounds like an infomercial, but, here is a summary of the free iPhone applications I would recommend using to lose weight.
First, I needed a basic iphone weight loss application that would help me keep track of calories in vs. calorie burned.
Lose It! (Rated: 4 stars)
Lose It! is similar to other diet tracking apps. It has a vast database of nutritional information and a large food bank that allows you to find your food item for purposes of determining caloric intake. But, what I liked about Lose It! was its “Friends” feature. This feature allowed me to connect with my friends and view their goals and accomplishments. We were able to encourage each other to stick to our diets and reach our goals. I really liked this personal touch.
Next, to help me insure that I lost weight in a healthy way, and not through starvation, I needed an application to help me workout.
Six Pack App (Rated: 3.5 stars)
The Six Pack App has exercises to work out my abs, chest, back, arms, shoulders, and legs. I liked the fact that the app had pictures of all exercises so that I could have a visual of what the exercise should entail. This iphone weight loss app gives general information, steps, tips, specific rules and muscle location for each exercise. My favorite part of this app is that I could incorporate a customized workout, including stretches and yoga.
Finally, I needed medical advice from time to time regarding the aches and pains I was feeling as I began working out.
WebMD Mobile (Rated: 3.5 stars)
WebMD is a unique app that allows those, like me, who are often worried about their health to save a trip to the doctor’s office. You can check your symptoms, access drug & treatment information, get first aid tips, and even check local health listings. For the symptom checker, you don’t even need to know what your symptom is called- there is a visual of a human body that you can use to locate your symptoms. The app provides warnings, uses, side effects, precautions, overdose information, and images for drugs and treatments so you can learn more about your prescriptions. In case you have a medical emergency, you can use this app to find local health listings.
If you want to lose weight, try these apps. And if they aren’t a good fit, there are many other weight loss apps available for your iPhone.
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Author Bio: Drake MacDonald is an educator. He is currently on staff at Online Schools, where he researches areas of higher learning, how to pick schools online, and education. In his spare time, he enjoys staying fit, watching football, and spending time in the outdoors.
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My 7 Link Challenge Post
Well I guess I’m a little late with this but here is my best shot at the 7 link challenge post that was first issued by Darren Rowse at Problogger. Thanks to John from John is Fit for pointing me towards the challenge.
My first post was called…..”my first post” and that was almost 3 years ago. I remember it well as I was so excited to just to get it started. After many weeks of reading about blogging I figured I was finally ready, this post was my first attempt at it and as you can see I had big plans for this blog.
The post I enjoyed writing the most was called Being the Butt of the Joke. For me it reflected a very important lesson I had learned about setting boundaries with people and accepting abuse.
I think the best discussion that came from a post was the one where I asked a simple question and stated my opinion. The question was which is more important when first starting a weight loss plan Exercise or Diet?
The post I wish I had written was called The Fat Voice by Mary from A Merry Life. I had that same voice for a long time. It’s a good read from a great blog.
I’d like to think that all my posts are helpful in one way or another but the most helpful one in my opinion was the post about HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). It included a nice little 8 week schedule for doing HIIT and improving your times every week. If more people would adjust their diets and use HIIT they would see results much quicker I think.
I can’t really say that I’m proud of a post title although I think “Meet the Man Behind the Scale” was pretty good back when my logo was just the numbered part of a bathroom scale. I am however most proud of my domain name. Weight Loss Weapons – Arming you one post at a time! – Come on you have to admit, that’s pretty clever 
Finally the post that I wish more people would have read was Accepting Personal Responsibility I think it has such a great message and at the time was going against the popular opinions that I had been seeing on other weight related sites. It still applies today.
OK now it’s your turn to take the challenge. If you have a blog click here to see the rules. Have fun with it and remember to leave a comment below with a link back to your own 7 link challenge post.
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Losing Weight After College (5 Tips for Post-College Weight Loss)
On the studying side, college life consists of pulling all-nighters studying for tests, endless cups of coffee while finishing projects the day before they are due, and inhaling greasy slices of pizza.
On the party end of it, college involves a lot of binge drinking and late nights eating more greasy foods. “Weight loss” and “getting a job” are 2 very common stresses for recent college grads.
How to lose weight after 4 – 6 years of destroying our bodies?
While those who partied too hard may need a liver detox, most looking to get in shape will only need some time management skills and a little discipline. The 5 weight loss tips below are strictly targeted at college grads looking to lose weight.
5 Tips for Post-College Weight Loss
1. Make weight loss a priority – While many people want to lose weight, many do not put weight loss goals on a very high priority because they view weight loss as strictly cosmetic, and forget the health benefits of losing weight.
2. Schedule workout time and make a routine – Life is busy for young adults balancing a career and an active social life. There is less down time after college, so it’s important to plan out a time when you can get in a healthy workout and stick to it.
3. Get a fitness buddy – Getting in shape is often made easier if you have a friend to workout with. If you don’t have anyone near you who works out, consider joining a fitness community online. Fitness social networks can be a great way to connect with others and stay motivated to accomplish your weight loss goals.
4. Lose Unhealthy College Habits – If you didn’t live the healthiest lifestyle in college, it’s best that you try to leave those unhealthy habits behind. Excessive drinking and sleep deprivation can have serious health risks if those unhealthy habits continue throughout life.
5. Reward Yourself with those old habits – A great way to stay motivated is to reward yourself at the end of every healthy week. Did you meet all of your diet and workout goals? Meet a friend at a sports bar and have a beer and some wings at the end of the week. Moderation is important, but there’s no reason you can’t reward yourself with a beer every once and a while.
This was a Guest Post By Ryan Mayberry
Co-Founder of Fitconnect.com
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No One Is Coming To Save You
That title sounds very pessimistic doesn’t it?
But I’ve phrased it that way for a very specific reason. Because I believe it’s true.
I have always been amazed at our ability to be comforted by false hope, this is something I have done myself hundreds of times. Let’s face it we all want to believe that there is something or someone looking out for our interests, and that “they or it” will eventually come to our rescue and solve all the problems (or at least the major ones) in our lives.
To be completely honest for the vast majority of us, there is no one coming to save us from our problems, no leprechaun with a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
At first you may think I’m talking about religion and while I’m sure you can apply this argument to that field, that is not what I am referring to here.
The best example that I can think of is the popularity of lotteries! Is Lady luck on your side? (don’t worry this is related to weight loss at the end)
Lotteries – Solutions for your Financial Problems
I live in Canada and we have dozens of lotteries available for us to play daily and weekly. The most popular one is lotto 6/49. Basically you pick 6 numbers between 1 and 49 and for $2 you have a chance at winning a few million dollars.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 14 million to 1. You have a 99.99% chance of not winning the jackpot. Yet, millions and millions of Canadians play it twice a week, some spending hundreds per draw on these tickets. (I’ve been stuck behind them in a line before)
The lottery for so many people is that great false hope. People know that the odds of them winning the jackpot are astronomical but they play it anyway. Why and why is it dangerous?
Besides the lost money, which can add up to thousands over a lifetime, I believe that the lottery and other games like it give people an easy way to avoid doing the necessary work needed to succeed in life. (financially speaking anyway).
Earning a comfortable living* is not an easy thing to achieve, it takes education, it takes a lot of effort on your part and if you are looking to start your own business a lot of time and money.
Add in the easy access and convenience of credit cards to debt amounts that seem to compound every month and you get many people giving up or avoiding the problem all together.
They stop taking action, instead of trying to change their habits they consoildate the debts only to have them pile up again. They are waiting to be saved rather than trying to save themselves. You think the last thing people in this position would do is throw away a few more dollars on the lottery, but believe it or not from what I have seen firsthand in some cases their “lotto budget” increases as their debt gets bigger.
Obviously I’m not a fan of the lottery, but what makes it worse and angers me is the way in which it is promoted. The Lotto 6/49 slogan is “Just Imagine” meaning just imagine what you could buy with millions of dollars, which just fuels the fantasy and imagine the bills/debts you can pay off “if” you win.
6/49 is advertised everywhere and has just become a part of our Canadian culture. While they technically promote winning the jackpot and its ability to dramatically change your life, there is always this underlying fear that goes along with it. “What if your numbers come up and you didn’t play?”
The Answer To Your Biggest Question
Ok Steve enough with the Lottery rant, how does this relate to losing weight and trying to live a healthy lifestyle?
IT relates like this: Just like the lottery people are looking for the easy out when it comes to losing weight, instead of money problems they are waiting for the “FAT” problem to be solved.
1. They want to lose fat without doing the necessary work to burn the fat.
2. They want to eat fewer calories without having to eat less food.
3. They are waiting for someone to answer their biggest weight loss question, “how do I lose weight” and give them the solution to their greatest desire “I want to lose weight”. In essence they are waiting to be saved.
The answer to solving the lottery/money problem is the same for solving the weight loss problem: YOU TAKING ACTION. You already know that you need to exercise to burn more calories, you know that you need to eat at least 1500 calories per day consisting of good healthy nutritious food like Fruits and veggies, lean meats, low fat dairy products, whole grains and indulge with the occasional treat, (1500 calories of burgers and fries won’t cut it).
(For finances I take the “curb your spending and increase your income/investments” approch)
So get off your ass and do it already, stop waiting to be saved and save yourself.
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