Keep Your New Years Resolution With New Life Weight Loss

"The folks at Mindful Life Weight Loss give three easy tips to healthier living."

The clock is ticking. You know that, come January 1, you’re going to get cracking on your New Year’s resolution to start living healthier. But why wait?
The pros at Integrated Peace Arts—a White Plains-based a non-profit organization specializing in mindful weight loss—have come up with a few things you can do to get started on that resolution right now. The good news is these are easy life changes—think of it as a warm-up until you’re really ready to go full steam ahead. (And, when you are, see the details of the Mindful Life Weight Loss program below). “Small changes can add up to big results,” says Integrated Peace Arts founder Kim Gold.
Work these into your daily routine, and be one step ahead come January.

1. Think in terms of footsteps, not miles.
“Measure the amount of footsteps you take on an average day by using a pedometer app or wearable device,” Gold says. “Then, add to your baseline each day. Challenge yourself to improve on the day before.”

2. Make one food substitution.

“Swap one unhealthy food with a healthier choice,” she advises. “For example, if you have a sugary drink with every meal, have water instead. You will decrease calories without feeling deprived. Aim for a reduction of about 200 calories.”

3. Do one small act of kindness each day.
“Negative emotions take a toll on our health,” Gold notes. “Kind acts generate positive emotions such as compassion, generosity, and joy. This creates a positive ripple effect for yourself and others.”
From January 2 through March 6, 2015, Integrated Peace Arts offers it Mindful Life Weight Loss program, which uses a behavioral approach to lasting weight loss, examining at how lifestyle choices affect weight. The program ($50) consists of 10 classes plus unlimited group sessions.

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Rick Ross And Weight Loss

Image shows Rick Ross on Grammy Awards

Rick Ross had two seizures in a single day, sending him to the hospital three years ago.

Health didn't concern the 300-pound rapper then, but he's shed nearly 100 pounds in the last seven months by eating healthier foods and embracing a high-intensity workout plan.

Ross, 37, says he continues to work long hours creating music, including his seventh album, "Hood Billionaire," released Monday. It's the second album Ross has put out this year after the March release of "Mastermind," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

But in the middle of making music and running his Maybach Music Group record label, Ross has made his health a main priority.

And now, he believes if he can drop pounds, you can, too. In an interview with The Associated Press, the Grammy-nominated rap star offered tips on how to lose weight.

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NO SODA ON THE SIDE

Ross has given up a few things since changing his lifestyle.

First, the rapper stopped drinking soda, unless it's diet. He also said it's better to eat heavier meals earlier in the day. As a result, he said he's able to burn calories faster.

"I used to eat big meals at 2 a.m. and base it on my schedule," he said. "But I don't do that no more."

Ross said you should drink water throughout the day. He also said to treat yourself when you work hard.

"I just went to Prime 112 (in Miami) the other night, and I had some fried Oreos and fried velvet cake," he said. "I treated myself. You wake up in the morning, you might regret it. But you got to get back to work."

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EVERY DAY HE'S HUSTLING

Ross credits a CrossFit program introduced to him by Reebok last year ? calling it "Ross Fit" ? with helping him lose weight. It's a highly active workout plan where Ross completes a series of exercises within a 20-minute span, including pushups, sit-ups, boxing, squat jumps and Olympic-style weightlifting.

"CrossFit overall is more of an intense workout," he said. "So instead of doing 20 minutes on the treadmill, you'll (do) a 20-minute CrossFit workout and you'll be not only building your endurance, but also muscle simultaneously."

Ross said the number of people who work out with him has grown from four to 20, including hitmaker DJ Khaled and producer E Class.

Enduring a tough workout isn't foreign to Ross, who played offensive line at Albany State University in Georgia.

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WINNING WITH WINGS

Ross stopped eating certain foods such as bread, white rice and fish fillets, and began drinking less alcohol. But he hasn't eliminated one of his favorite foods: lemon pepper wings.

The rapper, who owns nine Wingstop franchises around the country, said he stops by the restaurant at least twice a week when he's in town. He's trying to keep a good balance, though, by eating foods like Branzino and fruits such as pears.

"I'm not under no stress of what I'm eating," he said. "There are no restrictions. I'm not trying to make a particular weight. I'm just working out and doing what's best for Rozay."

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Common Weight Loss Pills: Effectiveness And Safety

Scottsdale, Arizona - The appeal of losing weight quickly is hard to resist. But do weight-loss pills and products lighten anything but your wallet? And are they a safe option for weight loss? Here's a look at some over-the-counter weight-loss pills and what they will and won't do for you.

Over-the-counter doesn't mean risk-free
A number of weight-loss pills are available at your local drugstore, supermarket or health food store. Even more options are available online. Most haven't been proved effective, and some may be downright dangerous.

Dietary supplements and weight-loss aids aren't subject to the same rigorous standards as are prescription drugs. Thus, they can be sold with limited proof of effectiveness or safety. Once a product is on the market, however, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors its safety and can take action to ban or recall dangerous products. Indeed, the FDA has banned the sale of supplements containing ephedra and other ephedrine-like ingredients.

Check the facts before you buy
It's important to do your homework if you're thinking about trying over-the-counter weight-loss pills. Read labels and talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Also be sure to check the FDA website for alerts about safety concerns and product recalls. 
The table shows common weight-loss pills and what the research shows about their effectiveness and safety.

Product	Claim	Effectiveness	Side effects
Alli — OTC version of prescription drug orlistat (Xenical)	Decreases absorption of dietary fat	Effective; but weight loss is even more modest than that with Xenical	Loose stools, oily spotting, frequent or hard-to-control bowel movements; reports of rare, but serious liver injury
Bitter orange	Increases calories burned	Probably ineffective	Similar to ephedra: raised blood pressure and heart rate
Chitosan	Blocks absorption of dietary fat	Probably ineffective	Uncommon: upset stomach, nausea, gas, increased stool bulk, constipation
Chromium	Decreases appetite and increases calories burned	Probably ineffective	Uncommon: headache, insomnia, irritability, mood changes, cognitive dysfunction
Conjugated linoleic acid	Reduces body fat	Possibly effective	Upset stomach, nausea, loose stools
Green tea extract	Decreases appetite, and increases calorie and fat metabolism	Insufficient evidence to evaluate	Dizziness, insomnia, agitation, nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, diarrhea
Guar gum	Blocks absorption of dietary fat and increases feeling of fullness	Possibly ineffective	Abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea
Hoodia	Decreases appetite	Insufficient evidence to evaluate	Insufficient information available

Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2011; Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2011

Include your doctor in your weight-loss plans

If you're considering trying weight-loss pills, be sure to talk with your doctor, especially if you have health problems or take prescription drugs. Your doctor can provide support and advice on losing weight and can monitor your progress. Just as important, your doctor can talk with you about possible side effects and what to watch out for.

In addition, your doctor can help determine if weight-loss pills are likely to interact with any prescription drugs you take. Many weight-loss pills contain multiple ingredients, such as herbs, botanicals, vitamins, minerals, and even caffeine or laxatives. If you take prescription drugs - or herbal or dietary supplements - adding weight-loss pills to the mix can be tricky.

Despite the hype, no quick fixes

The makers of weight-loss pills would like you to believe that their products will miraculously solve your weight problems. But keep in mind that even if you take a weight-loss pill, you still have to eat fewer calories than your body uses in order to lose weight. And even if these products help you lose weight initially, you will probably have to keep taking them to keep the weight off, which may not be practical or safe.

The reality is that there's no magic bullet for losing weight. The most effective way to lose weight and keep it off is through lifestyle changes: Eat healthy, low-calorie foods, watch portion sizes and be physically active. It's not magic, but it works.

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Whey Protein For Weight Loss And Fitness

Weight Loss Scale

“Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, eating her curds and whey.”

That’s the first time most people probably ever heard of whey protein – a protein powder that is commonly sold in health food stores like GoNutrition and smoothie shops like Robek’s – when the word “whey” (pronounced like “way”) was sung during a popular nursery rhyme. These days, whey as a source of protein is being used by more everyday, average folks outside of the bodybuilding set, simply because celebrity personal trainers to the stars are making the general public aware of the big beauty benefits that whey holds.

Need effective weight loss tips? Try whey, say celebrity trainers like Harley Pasternak – a guy who has helped stars like Halle Berry, Lady Gaga, Robert Pattinson and Robert Downey, Jr., get back in top form, reports People.

Although seeking out excellent sources of protein usually isn’t top of the list of many folks’ search for beauty tips that help assist their overall health, great looks, and wellbeing, surprisingly the more “perfect” protein has been credited with helping the weight loss process, and cutting high cholesterol numbers to boot.
As reported by the Inquisitr, whey is a better source of protein than others because of the way the digestive system more easily converts whey into usable protein chains, over and above soy protein.

Shape says that other celebrity trainers like Jillian Michaels agree in whey protein’s benefits at the top of the list for beauty tips – for building beautiful lean muscles, that is. So beyond simply painting on makeup or counting calories, a dose of whey protein in a daily green smoothie can help you feel fuller and want to avoid snacking too much. Paul Arcierco, Ed.D., called whey a very effective dietary aid because it’s the most thermogenic food source that can be consumed, which means in layman’s terms that it helps burn more calories after you digest whey.

In the end, the benefits of whey protein prove that some beauty tips are more than skin deep, and The Journal of the American College of Nutrition reported that conducting strength training exercises in conjunction with consuming whey protein meant more weight loss than simply using whey alone. Therefore adding bootcamp or CrossFit classes onto your list of beauty tips along with getting your daily dose of whey protein should help the weight loss process flow more effectively and smoothly as a result.

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