My whole life I have been one of those guys that always had a little bit of a stomach.  You know, I don’t think I ever had a nice six-pack abs or anything like that.  Luckily, my stomach wasn’t too big throughout my teenage years but when I went to college and adopted the typical college life (i.e. drinking and sleeping in) well, let’s just say things started to expand.  Although, I personally think I just shrunk my pants!

Even once I graduated, I still continued the cycle of gaining weight by being inactive and having a poor diet.  Don’t get me wrong, throughout the years I tried to go on a diet or work off the fat but I was never able to stick with it.  It got to the point where I didn’t even want to try anymore since I knew I was just going to revert back to my old ways.

So there I was getting fatter and fatter and as you would expect I was starting to become lazier and lazier.  I would get winded just trying to tie my shoes and I simply felt like garbage all the time.

The funny thing is a few months ago, while I was lazing around the house, I started thinking about all the things I want to do in my life.  You know, I am approaching 30 and I have the strong desire to start traveling and seeing the world.  I was making plans to go skydiving in Cape Town or drink some wine in Italy and all of a sudden it hit me like a lightening bolt from the sky.

How could I possibly enjoy all the years I have left in my life if I can’t even get my lazy butt off the couch?

I was never going to be able to enjoy traveling when I felt so horrible inside and out.  It was at that moment that I decided it was time to change my lifestyle for good!

I made a few shifts in my eating habits and started being more active and what do you know, the weight started dropping off.  In about 6 weeks, I went from weighing 210 pounds (I am only 5’10″ so that is quite a bit) to being just under 190 pounds.  Not only was I proud of myself for losing 20 pounds in such a short time but I felt better, I had more energy and a ton more self-confidence.

Now I am at the point where I can realistically plan my trip to South Africa without having to worry about my lack of energy or fitness level.  I can’t tell you how exciting and how great this feels.

This is actually why I created Weight Loss New Jersey!  I wanted to provide some inspiration, support and knowledge so all of you can take back your lives and start to feel better about yourself.  Congratulations for making it this far and the best of luck with your new and improved lifestyle.

Let’s Make Sure Weight Loss New Jersey and You are On the Same Page

Sometimes it can get confusing when we talk about being fat, overweight or obese.  We are going to attempt clearing everything up with this handy little post on Defining Overweight and Obesity.

In order to make sure we all understand these terms, I went directly to the Federal Government.  Here is how the US Government defines overweight and obesity.

Defining Overweight and Obesity

Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.

Definitions for Adults

For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the “body mass index” (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat.

• An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
• An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

See the following table for an example.

It is important to remember that although BMI correlates with the amount of body fat, BMI does not directly measure body fat. As a result, some people, such as athletes, may have a BMI that identifies them as overweight even though they do not have excess body fat. For more information about BMI, visit Body Mass Index.

Other methods of estimating body fat and body fat distribution include measurements of skinfold thickness and waist circumference, calculation of waist-to-hip circumference ratios, and techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Definitions for Children and Teens

For children and teens, BMI ranges above a normal weight have different labels (overweight and obese). Additionally, BMI ranges for children and teens are defined so that they take into account normal differences in body fat between boys and girls and differences in body fat at various ages. For more information about BMI for children and teens (also called BMI-for-age), visit BMI for Children and Teens.

I wanted to start Weight Loss New Jersey so I can share awesome information that hits close to home.  Until recently, I have always had a problem trying to get rid of my belly fat.

When considering a plan for fat loss, belly fat is at the top of the list for many people! Having a slender waist is a necessity if you want to look good and if you want your clothes to fit well. However, there is an even bigger reason for this type of fat loss.  Belly fat is also dangerous to your health!

Whether you are a man or a woman, young or old, belly fat is a dangerous problem. It can increase your risk factors for type 2 diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some types of cancer. The fat that collects in the belly is different from that in other areas of the body. Many experts believe that it releases large amounts of fatty acids which affect your blood sugar and insulin metabolism. Whatever its mode of operation, belly fat causes you to lose sensitivity to insulin and causes a number of problems as a result. This can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and serious resulting illness.

There is no way to choose where your body will experience fat loss. Belly fat has to come off the same as any fat on your body and in the order that your body chooses to lose it. Regardless of the shape or size of your overall body, it is the measurement of your waist that you should use as a determining factor. For a man, a waist measurement of more than forty inches puts him in the high-risk category while a woman is considered at risk if her waist measurement is more than thirty inches. Even if your genes are the determining factor in the shape of your body and the amount of fat around your waist, too much belly fat will make you a higher risk for developing the related health problems.

There is no quick fix for fat loss. Belly fat can remain a problem for a lot of people for a lifetime. In order to improve your health and physique, you need to get the belly fat off as soon as possible. That means a program of exercise and healthy nutrition that will burn the fat from your entire body. Sitting in front of the TV eating unhealthy snacks is an invitation for trouble. If you want to be healthier and more attractive, you must make the decision to commit to a program that will get the weight off.

For those who have a lot of excess weight and are considered by normal standards to be obese, you can expect to work longer and harder at your program in order to achieve fat loss. Belly fat may be the last of the excess weight that comes off so you will need a lot of commitment and patience to get the job done! Joining a structured weight loss program has helped a lot of people to get successful results where others have failed. If you have a lot of weight to lose, the support of other members can help you get positive results.

Even if you don’t need to achieve a lot of fat loss, belly fat is still a danger and you need to eliminate it. You will need the same commitment to diet and exercise but should have the advantage of a shorter weight loss program.

Below is a quick video to provide you with some more useful belly blasting tips.

Weight Loss New Jersey – General Weight Loss Tips!

Now I want to provide all of you with a few general weight lost tips to help shed those pounds away.  Besides, if you can actually see the weight dropping than you are more likely to stick to your New Year’s Resolution.  Wouldn’t it be nice to keep your resolution this year?

Losing weight isn’t easy, as you surely already know. If you’re looking for some weight loss tips to help you through this difficult experience, this article will fill you in on a few ways to get rid of those calories for good. Bear in mind that these are just tips to help you along; there are no miracle cures when it comes to dieting, and nothing helps more than eating healthy foods and exercising regularly.

One of the most important weight loss tips that should always be remembered is to make smaller portions of whatever meal you’re having. People will usually always finish what’s on their plate, and that means you’ll be eating past the feeling of hunger and putting unnecessary weight on.

Drink more water. Not only will drinking plenty of water keep you hydrated (eight glasses a day is recommended), it’ll mean you won’t be hungry as often. People often mistake thirst for hunger, and eat unnecessarily when their body would be happy with just a drink! You should also aim to drink a full glass of water before each meal, adding a bit to your stomach and ensuring you don’t overeat.

It’s a good idea to write out a list of weight loss tips and keep them with you at all times. If you’re ever feeling down about yourself, take a look through the list and refresh your memory on why all this is important.

Don’t keep the foods you know you shouldn’t be eating in the cupboard. Obviously, this will mean you’re more likely to be tempted into eating unhealthy foods in a moment of weakness. Next time you’re out shopping, help yourself by not buying the junk your body doesn’t want. Take a shopping list full of healthy choices and stick to the list!

When you’ve driven somewhere, park further away than you usually would. This will give you “incidental exercise”, as you’ll have to walk that extra hundred meters or so. Making a habit out of this will go a long way to increasing your fitness level.

Don’t get yourself down. This is one of the more important weight loss tips because your emotions can strongly affect your willingness to stay on a diet. If you put on weight, you can get depressed, and to make yourself feel better, you might eat some candy. Doing this will, of course, make you more depressed, and on and on the vicious circle will go. Just remember that you have the power to change your life for the better, and that you deserve to make the change.

Dieting is by no means easy, but the reverse of the vicious circle is true also. If you motivate yourself to get up and walk in the morning, you’ll feel good when you get home, and this will make you feel better about sticking to your diet. Always remember that the choice between good and bad health is yours to make.

If you find yourself looking through the fridge simply out of boredom, go and do some exercise to keep yourself entertained. Get a friend interested in a sport and go kick a ball around. It’s more fun than eating a bag of chips, watching TV and feeling sorry for yourself. And don’t use the computer so much either, even if you’re looking for weight loss tips, the only way to lose weight is to get out there!

Hopefully these weight loss tips will help you out. Remember that motivation comes and goes, what counts is your ability to stick to your guns and fight through the difficult times. When the rewards come, you’ll know you deserve them.