How to Lose Weight Fast

Somewhere in my first cycle of Fat Loss 4 Idiots, I started the brisk walking that the program recommended. Not a lot, just now and then. I still felt heavy then, so I didn't feel really motivated to move. 

During my second cycle, I started moving more. After dropping 10lbs, I really started to feel a difference in my knees. Stairs used to be really tough, but losing 10lbs made a huge difference to my knees. So I started to move more and incorporate more activity into my routine. 

Towards the end of Cycle 2, I picked up a couple of DVDs that really got me on the Weight Loss Fast Track! I didn't want to talk about it at first cos you'll want to hear about results, I'm sure. I think Jillian Michaels really helped me drop more weight and achieve the 9lb loss on my 3rd Fat Loss 4 Idiots cycle! 

I'd been watching Jillian on The Biggest Loser for years, and i always thought that if i could get my butt moving and actually get on a weight loss program, I'd want her to train me. Fat Loss 4 idiots takes care of what i eat and when, and also advocates brisk-walking, and that was fine to start for me, but on my 3rd cycle, i decided i wanted to ramp things up a bit.

The good thing about Jillian's workouts are obviously, they're on DVD. Watch and workout when you want. The exercises are also a good mix of things, so you work all body parts and really rev your metabolism. She's got a few programs. I have Jillian Michaels: Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism and her 30-day Shred.

I'm busy. I have work and aging parents to look after, nieces who live down the street whom I spend a lot of time with. I wanted a workout that worked me in a short space of time intensely, and before I know it, I'm done. Jillian delivers. Plus, of course, I'm starting to see physical results too! Firmer all round... mm-hmmm! 

I have to say though... Jillian can be really tough. If you've seen her on The Biggest Loser, you'll know what I mean. Generally, i need someone to push me to work out, so this's great for me. Her workout DVDs are not something you should jump into right away if you haven't moved much before. There are 3 workout level intensities, so you should build up to it gradually or you will be in pain for days after your first workout and never want to move again. Work up to it. After a week or two, you'll get into the swing of things.

Here's an excerpt of a couple of reviews from Amazon that sum up what I feel too.

Tough As Nails! You'll Love Every Second, February 3, 2009

By	Pampooty (NYC) -

"...Here's the skinny: 7 six minute circuits, no weights, no equipment. Just you and some free space to jump around (you don't even need that much space; trust me, I live in a tiny NYC apartment and am completely able to do all the exercises). Each circuit is made up of a set of exercises performed twice before moving on to the next circuit: full body engagement, plyometrics and some serious core work mid-way through. But the focus is really on getting your heart rate up and Jillian delivers (my husband walked in after I was done and said he'd never seen my face so red before -- so beware! It's a tough enough workout that you might not look stunning immediately after; you can save the stunning for the beach this summer!) 

Now, I should mention I have done JM's 30 Day Shred and love love love love it. There's no better way to get in a thorough workout in 22 minutes. This is not The Shred. There are many familiar exercises, but it's a much longer workout and the intensity is modulated to make it possible to keep going for the full 45+ minutes of the workout. I was intent on getting through the whole workout, so I can't speak to what the experience would be like for a beginner. But, the dvd is broken into chapters that split at each circuit, so theoretically, you can progressively build up as your stamina increases. I imagine I will have days when I'm pressed for time and just want to hit 3-4 of the circuits, and the chapters are designed to allow me to pick the ones I most like (or hate! depending on how tough they are!) ..."

Don't be scared of the other reviews, July 13, 2009

By

Kaye O.

"I ordered this video, but began to feel very nervous as I read the reviews. I questioned if I could handle it. The soreness and pain that people described seemed unbelievable. I received my DVD and was hesitant to start "shredding," but decided to go for it. I have to say, a lot of the reviews were a little bit harsh. I'm assuming that the worse the reviews were, the less active the reviewer was before this video. I work out about five times a week with weights and cardio, so I wasn't just jumping into this without any endurance. I think if you do have some fitness background, this won't be so terrible for you. DON'T BE AFRAID! I plan on doing the video in the morning and cardio at night. So far I love the routines and know I will see results...."

JM's hot in Amazon. If you want to get yourself a copy, click on any of the DVD covers you see on this page.

Lower Intensity Workouts

If you think Jillian Michaels is too much for you, give Leslie Sansone a go. 

A friend of mine who took up Fat Loss 4 Idiots after she saw me lose weight got Leslie's DVD and is very happy with that. Leslie shows you how to lose weight through walking, which is the main exercise advocated by Fat Loss 4 Idiots. Lower intensity, but still gets your heart rate up and helps you lose weight.

Between Jillian and Leslie, I'm sure you'll find some exercise that's right for you.

Choosing a Fast Weight Loss Diet

Ever since I started my weight loss journey, I've met lots and lots of people who want to lose weight too, and they all want to know the same thing: How To Lose Weight Fast. 

Some people are so desperate to drop the weight (hey, I get it! I was there!), but remember that the weight loss process should be healthy and safe too. 

Here's my list of 6 questions to ask to help you decide which Fast Weight Loss Diet is right for you:

1. Are you hungry on your diet? If you are hungry most of the time on the weight loss diet you're on, and that's how most low-calorie diets work (less than 1000 calories a day), your body is going into starvation mode, which slows your metabolism down to a crawl. Then your body burns muscle tissue and actually stores fat. You lose water weight and it seems like you've dropped a few pounds, but when you eat normally again, the weight comes back really quickly and that weight is mostly fat because your body feels it's been starving, so stores whatever it can.
2. Do you eat just one type of food? Mono-diets are really not a good idea. When you eat just one type of food for days on end, you are starving your body of essential nutrients and minerals. These are also usually low-cal diets, resulting in rapid weight gain after the completion of the diet (see Point No.1)
3. Do you have to buy expensive ingredients and add-on supplements? Before you start on any diet plan, you should know if it is something you can afford. There are some really expensive plans out there with costs that add up. Make sure you estimate your total cost so you know whether it's within your budget. Remember - if it's stretching your budget too much, you will feel demotivated pretty quickly. 
4. Do you need to depend on pills to lose weight? I've never been a big fan of pills and unless you have tried absolutely everything with nothing working for you, and you doctor says "take these", don't depend on artificial chemicals to help you lose weight. You can lose weight safely and healthily.
5. Are the weight loss claims realistic? Before you get all emotional, think hard about the weight loss plan you're considering. If the claims set off alarm bells in your head, but you want to try it just because you're desperate, then listen to your inner voice and pick a plan with realistic weight loss goals. Nothing is more demotivating than setting unrealistic expectations.
6. Is the weight loss diet you choose something you can sustain? Unless you have only a few pounds to shed (under 10lbs), you need to ask yourself whether your chosen weight loss diet is sustainable. Is it something you can do again and again in order to reach your goal weight? If it's really tough or weakens you, or the food is incredibly unsatisfying, then all these will be obstacles that will erode your weight loss success.

For me, the solution is simple. I chose Fat Loss 4 Idiots and have been on it for 3 cycles. I lost 8lbs the first time, 5 the next, and just dropped another 9lbs on the last cycle. 22lbs total in the last 40+days! I'm on my 3-day cheat break now and will get back on the next cycle again. I want to lose another 15-20lbs, and I can see my goal approaching!

Fat Loss 4 Idiots is easy to stay on, affordable, safe and healthy. And it works!! Did I mention before that there's a 100% money-back guarantee? Try it for 60 days (you can do 4 cycles in that time!) and if it doesn't work for you, you get every red cent back. So really, you have absolutely nothing to lose. When I bought the plan i thought I would see how it goes after the first 11 days. Doesn't work, get a refund! Nothing to lose at all (except the pounds I wanted to drop)!

If you want to see if Fat Loss 4 Idiots is for you, just click this link.

What you eat on FatLoss4Idiots

The FatLoss4Idiots food groups are pretty varied, really. As I said in my last post, you can choose up to 30 food groups from a selection of 50. The choices include: chicken, fish, cottage cheese, eggs, cheese slices, milk, different kinds of fruit, vegetables of all kinds and nuts. And burgers, pasta, sandwiches,  sausages, even frozen yoghurt! The key is moderation. You usually get 1 day when all you eat is vegetables, and another day when you have mostly fruit. The diet emphasizes more protein, but I love my proteins, so no problem for me.

So what happens if you're vegetarian? They have a special section for that. The online Diet Generator can whip you up a meal plan based on vegetarian food choices too, so that shouldn't be a problem.

What about Drinks?

It's really important to drink a lot of water every day. Water fuels the fat-burning process. We aim for at least 8-10 glasses a day. Low-cal sodas, coffee and iced/hot tea with lemon are also allowed. Easy on the sugar though. That's where lots of hidden calories creep in and sabotage things. During the 11-days, sugar substitutes are recommended, but I just try to go without cos I don't like the taste. One glass of wine a day is also budgeted for, but I don't drink, so that's not an issue with me.

Food Group Arrangements

The food groups are arranged in interesting ways, which took me a while to adjust to, but no big deal really. My first time, I had scrambled eggs and peanuts! I wondered whether I was supposed to cook my eggs with the nuts or what? But no, you can have them separately. Or just the eggs with no nuts. Or the nuts, no eggs. One more example: Green and red veggies (any kind) + a bowl of baked beans. Not hard, right? Quick green & red salad and beans form a can. For me, can't be easier.

Fruit days are toughest for me, cos they never make me feel very full, and I get hungry really fast. Although we get 1 meal with any kind of deli sandwich (turkey, ham, roast beef etc), I miss my meat during the rest of the day and feel a little weaker, so on fruit days, I try to keep my activities easy-going. I also hit the sack a lot earlier so my stomach doesn't rumble for too long and kick in cravings halfway in the night.

 

Some people said this way of eating is not balanced, but they were basing that statement on only 1 or 2 meal plans. When you look at it as a whole over 11 days, the meals are really healthy. I have picture versions of my meal plans and I can see the variety of things that I eat. It's really colorful too.

And you have choices, so if you don't like cooking, you can manage with stuff that's quick to throw together. Sausages, ham or turkey breast slices, or chicken from a deli are all quick and easy. If you like cooking, then you can be creative about it too. Make sure you tick the assortment of nuts too, cos they make things a lot easier and convenient as well.

If you want to check out the FatLoss4Idiots website, just click here.

How FatLoss4Idiots works

Fat loss for idiots is one of the fastest, safest ways to lose weight without spending a lot of time in the gym. They claim you can lose 9lbs every 11days. This post is all about what you get when you sign up for Fatloss4Idiots.

When you go to the FatLoss4Idiots website, you are first taken through a series of pages explaining the basic principles of the program. I found it interesting what they had to say about low-calories and low-carb diets and why they don't work. 

"You are overweight for the most simple of reasons -- because you're eating the wrong foods, the wrong types of calories per meal, and you're also eating meals in the wrong patterns each day."

Now that intrigued me. Eating wrong foods at the wrong time? Hmm...

1. After you pay, you're taken to a page where you can download your ebook(s), depending on whether or not you also bought the Beyond Calories ebook. (I will write about Beyond Calories after I've given it a go.) This promises even more accelerated weight loss! I haven't tried it, but I got it anyway. It's only an additional $16.95 I think, so I will look at it if and when I have some really tight deadline for losing weight. 
2. Access to the online Diet Generator is also from the download page. Before you go any further, the online software takes you though a quick overview of the FatLoss4Idiots system and the 10 basic rules to follow. Many of these are common sense, but serve as good reminders before proceeding with the program. Click the reminder away and off we go!
3. A checklist of about 50 foods is presented to you and you get to pick 30 of the food groups. When you click submit, you instantly jump to the page with your 11-day meal plan. You can print it straight out, or like I do, copy it and stick into a word processing app and reformat a little so it doesn't use so many sheets of paper. 
4. There are instructions on meal plans, including what you can and cannot eat during the 11 days, food groups, condiments and drinks that are allowed or not. I liked the fact that I didn't have to read a whole lot of material before getting on with it. The website explains principles very clearly and a quick read through the downloadable ebook makes things very clear and easy to follow.
5. Follow the diet for 11 days, and for 3 days after that, you can cheat and eat anything you want or crave... but if you want to maintain the weight loss, make sure to not pig out or you'll find you've put back what you worked so hard to lose! The key is moderation. Have the chocolate cake. Or pizza. Or ice cream. Have whatever you want, but in smaller portions. Better yet, share with someone. 
6. If you want to lose more weight after those 14 days, then you can go back to the Diet Generator and print out another meal plan. Then just keep going till you reach your goal weight!

Great Tip!: Make A Visual Reference of Your Meals

You can print meal plans straight off the website, put the fonts will be huge, and that takes up a lot of paper (about 15-20 pages), and the formatting is all weird. If, like me, you'd reformat the meal plans anyway (copy, stick into Word processor), a little extra work here makes things a lot easier: I got some images of the different things I will eat, and created a visual reference for my meals in a day. At a glance, I can see what my meal combinations will be. I have my 11-day cycles in 3 pages, full colour. Easy to take on a shopping trip or refer to when I want to know what I'm eating on a particular day.  

Easy Shopping Lists 

Shopping for groceries is a lot easier now since I know exactly what i need to buy. After the first cycle, you get a very good idea about quantities too. Generally, count the number of times you will eat a particular food group, and multiply by the amounts you will need. Like, if I know I have to eat sausages 3x in a 11-day cycle, and I eat 3 links at each meal, I know I have to buy 15 sausage links.  

What are the Portion Sizes?

There is no portion-control. The recipes do not specify amounts since we're all different and need different quantities. We're supposed to eat until we're satisfied. For convenience, I prepare certain food in batches, so only cut and mix things up once during the entire 11-day cycle.

I've found that I eat healthier, i eat more regularly, and I feel more energetic. I haven't felt hungry and have actually felt sometimes like I couldn't eat another meal that day! But I know I should - keep the metabolism burning and all that, so I do. And obviously, it works!

I Don't Have Hours to Spend Working Out

Who does? FatLoss4Idiots recommends walking as exercise. (I no longer feel guilty about spending time in a mall.) I'd ike to look a bit firmer though, so I started working out too, to complement eating well, and it's starting to show.

My Next Goal

I cannot tell you the elation I felt when i could put on clothes that haven't fit for ages. I now have a size 30 pair of skinny jeans that are my target. I'm giving myself 2months to get there. That's another 20lbs to lose gradually, which should be pretty reasonable  (I've been told that weight loss slows a bit the closer you get to your goal weight). If i could do cartwheels to show you how liberating this feels, I would. I haven't felt so good about myself for ages. I'm healthy! And looking good in nice clothes!

People say that it's superficial to want to look good, but you know, they're just comforting themselves. I look better so I feel better. I have more energy, I feel healthy. Lighter. I don't feel so awkward about meeting people. I'm recently divorced, and when I was heavier, i didn't feel like getting into the whole dating scene again. But I've been out a couple times now, and things are definitely looking up ;-)!

All you fence-sitters out there who want to lose some weight, you really should give this a try. I really like the fact that this program is so affordable. And the food recommended is affordable and easily available too! Anyone can do it. You pay $39 for the basic FatLoss4Idiots program and a little more if you want the Beyond Calories ebook, but that's not necessary unless you need to lose weight really fast, I hear. 

You could just read this, and look for more reviews to read. And read those too. And think about it. And wonder whether it's worth your time, and whether you will stick to it. I did all that, and stayed fat the whole time. Before i knew it, weeks had past. Then I met some old friends from high school and I remembered what it was like to be in better shape. I had avoided reunions because of my weight, and suddenly bumped into these old friends at a mall, and they smiled, but they also had that... that horrible pity look, y'know? The "Oh... look what happened to her." That day, i went right home and bought FatLoss4idiots. 11 days later, I lost 8lbs. A month later, I lost another 5. I'm on my third cycle now, and halfway in, I've lost another 4lbs!! 

Can you imagine how much slimmer you could be in a month? Maybe 15-20lbs slimmer! Think of the clothes you could wear again! And the look on people's faces when they bump into you and say, "Oh...! You look really good!" And that feeling inside when you know it's true, and the real you is starting to shine... there's nothing like it.

There's a time for research and a time for action. I took the step, and if you're serious about losing weight, well come and join me!  Click here and start losing the weight that's hiding the real you!

Does Fat Loss 4 Idiots Work?

The name is dumb, and I thought it was a scam. But I needed to lose weight for an upcoming function and I'd sort of plateued for a while, weight-loss-wise, so I thought I'd give FatLoss4Idiots a shot. I read all sorts of reviews before trying. Lots of people have had very good results. Some haven't, but the majority have, and I thought ok, it costs less than a good night out on the town, so I'll try it.

I have to be honest. I've always been a bit on the heavy side, and have tried all sorts of diets. On the fad diets, I felt weak and cranky. Later, I realised that this was because my diet was nutrient-poor. Or I just wasn't consuming enough calories. If you've been through this too, you might also know that this caused my body's metabolic rate to slow down considerably. 

So I lost some weight, but it was more water and lean muscle mass (which is actually very important to keep our metabolisms fired up). And when I started eating normally again, the weight would come back on, but get this, it would be mostly fat! Yuck, but true! Skinny fat is not pretty. The combination of eating less and a slower metabolism put my body into starvation mode, so whenever it got a hold of a little carbs or sugar, it would store the energy as fat in case I was going into starvation mode again soon! Talk about self-sabotage!

South Beach was the best-working for me, but I had a hard time with the low-carbs, no-sugar rule (I really dislike the taste of Equal, Splenda and the like; they taste fake to me). I avoided carbs & sugar for weeks, and lost about 20lbs, but whenever I had them again, even if it was only a little bit (like a small bowl of rice, 3 slices of bread or a cup of pasta), I'd find myself weighing 2lbs more the next day without fail! On one 3-day vacation, I put on 7lbs because of this! So I'd have to go back to Phase 1 all over again. After a while, I just stopped.

So I was pretty amazed that FatLoss4Idiots worked. I lost 8lbs in the first 11 days! And another 6lbs on my second cycle. It wasn't the 9lbs they claimed, but I figured that not everyone would get results like that anyway. Still, under a month is pretty darned good, right! And it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I will be posting more info in the coming days about stuff I've learned along the way.

I've gotten quite a few compliments, and many people have asked me how I did it, so I thought I'd set this page up to explain. Feel free to ask me questions. Just post your comments at the bottom and I'll get back to you. I'll post more explanations really soon to help you out. In the meantime, you can read more about FatLoss4idiots here.