Just as I made the firm decision to stop being an overweight woman, lose weight and burn fat, you can do it too.

However, eating a Healthy Mediterranean Diet  is only part of a healthy living style, which is why I don’t call it a diet. It is a diet that is not a diet but enjoying living La Dolce Vita.  . 

The  healthy Mediterranean diet is not a temporary program with the yo-yo cycle effect, but a permanent lifestyle, the best diet for life.

This is why I say that it was like learning how to lose weight fast without a strict diet, but having lots of fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, grains, etc.  The other important issues are exercising and combining healthy nutritional supplements. 

At my 40s, I feel great, awesome, terrific, and all the positive adjectives you can add to feeling great. Just as I learned how to lose pound quickly and keep the weight off too, instead of living the yo-yo diet cycle, YOU CAN DO IT TOO.

Good thing is that I did not get depressed, but challenged myself to bring back the true Anna full of optimism and a healthy figure. That was the beginning of my way to a healthy lifestyle.

I researched on the internet for ways to lose weight.  I wanted to understand how to really lose weight without starving or following extreme diets. I look for weight loss diets, exercise for overweight people, especially weight training over 40.

I still have my photo with that blue dress, I use it as my before and after weight loss picture, to keep me motivated.

• I joined the gym, and for the first 3 months, I did cardio at least 5 times a week for 1 hour in the elliptical.
  
• I did not deprive myself, but started researching online different methods to lose weight and understanding how the body functions.
  
• I also started watching programs on nutrition and the inspirational stories shown by different shows, such as Oprah Winfrey.

  Gradually, I adjusted my exercise program to 4 times a week cardio, and weight lifting every 2 days to tone my muscles and avoid stretch marks for losing weight excessively.
  
  I included stretching exercise, arm exercise, abs exercise, weight lifting exercise, dumbbell exercise.  Naturally, I followed an appropriate weight training for a woman over 40.

  •  At 230 pounds, I could not do fast cardio exercises. Therefore, what was the best burn calorie way? I chose cardio exercise.  My favorites cardio exercise include cardio dance and elliptical cardio exercise.
  •  
  • So, I started with home video exercises from none other than Richard Simmons.  (I hope to meet him one day and thank him personally.)
  •  
  • Simmons had the appropirate exercise for overweight people with real overweight people doing the exercises. That encouraged me greatly. 

  The Disco Sweat dance exercise is so excited!  Those times were special for me. It was party time, seeing how I started to lose weight by exercising while dancing to the tunes of :

  -  I will Survive
  -  Shake your Booty, (this was my favorite part, therefore, thanks Richard!),
  -  Born to be Alive,
  -  It’s My Party and I’ll Cry If I Want To,” until I went to an intermediate level with Kathy Smith and Denise Austin cardio and fat burning exercises videos.
  
  I wanted to lose weight naturally, enjoy meals, choose healthy options. And guess what? After 8 months, I DID it and have kept the weight off for 3 years without starving but eating every 3 hours healthy foods, exercising, and having my  nutritional supplements.  I am still astonished how I deprived myself with crazy diets and not losing weight permanently, but playing the yo-yo diet game.
  
  Now, I eat, I enjoy food and still have a healthy figure following a healthy diet, which is more as enjoying La Dolce Vita. I learned about nutrition and ways to boost metabolism, such as herbs to speed up metabolism, food that boost metabolism. etc. Whenever I grab a yogurt, almonds, or a protein bar, I enjoy each bite of it for their taste and nutritional values to help me boost my metabolism and burn body fat.
  
  For example, most diets forbid pasta, pizza, rice, and so on, but I eat those. Uhmmmmm The Secret? Simple, have small portions, not super size portions, and make sure to add  Protein too. My other secret to boost my metabolism was discovering the benefits of food that boost metabolism . Also learned about herbs to boost metabolism, teas.  Green tea is my favorite for weight loss. I drink it as cold or hot tea. I don’t need the empty calories, so I rather have a chocolate protein bar with less calories and more nutritional value. Don’t get me wrong, I still eat chocolates, but in small portions.  Thus, should someone ask you, “why do you eat healthy?” You will know what to reply. Take a look back at your old self and those gone pounds, while padding yourself on the back to congratulate you for having dared to reprogram your overweight mind to lead a healthy lifestyle and said no to junk foods.
  
  Now, you know my story, what is your story? One of my greatest satisfaction is having the opportunity to motivate others on their resolution to lose weight. I hope my weight loss success story can help you reach your weight loss goal. My best reward will be if you tell me, 
  
   “Ok, Anna, if you could do it, so can I. I am ready to make and KEEP my commitment to lose weight for myself, not to please others, but for my own health. I am ready to break with the yo-yo cycle, learn to choose healthy food and exercise.”

   

   

   

  Remember, your commitment is also my commitment, make it “Official! Overweight? NO MORE!” We can do it!  Weight loss support is crucial, so I am here for you.
  
  Your Motivated Weight Loss Support Friend and ready to HELP YOU lose weight now,
  
  Anna O.
  Overweight No More.
  

• Moreover, I learned that when our blood sugar and insulin levels are high, our bodies shift into fat storing mode. All extra carbs or high carb meals influence our blood sugar and insulin levels. The option is to lower our insulin levels and the pancreas releases glucagon, which is a hormone that sets our bodies into fat burning mode by helping to convert body fat into energy. Wow! This was one of the best things I learned.

  I also learned about nutritional supplements and how to use them to make sure I have my nutrients, including complete vitamins, minerals. For example, how delicious a protein bar is, instead of munching on many chocolate bars.

  As my friend Renato says, “Chocolates are not bad, after all, they are a good source of flavonoids.” Hence, that is my excuse when craving for a chocolate cake … I just need my flavonoids portion. Ha ha.Currently, I enjoy motivating others to lose weight for their own good, not to please people. However, it is not a matter of forcing anyone to lose weight. That is a personal decision, to make and keep the commitment to lose weight and learn how to eat healthy.

                                  

  Now, my weight loss fitness motivation for my arm exercise to get rid of flabby arms and have toned triceps is Rafael Nadal.  I admire Rafael Nadal's fitness commitment.  My motivation to keep my fitness training and weight training workout exercise comes from my favorite soccer team AC Milan, i rossoneri.
  
   

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• Click here for YOUR Free Diet Profile, choose the diet that best fit to YOUR lifestyle and start losing weight.

  You can also visit my weight loss blog for more tips  http://howyoucanloseweightnow.com
  

  PS:  I continue dancing ... now, I am able to dance and enjoy  ballroom dancing . Yet, I will never forget my entertaining weight loss dance with Richard Simmons videos. My inspiration for ballroom dancing are Raymondo Todaro, Samanta Togni, Natalia Titova, Cheryl Burke, Karina Smirnoff, Mario Lopez, Joey Fatone, and Maksim Chmerkovskiy. 
  
  Before starting any nutritional program, exercise or diet program, we advise you to consult with your physician.
  
  NOTE: This article may be freely reprinted in your ezines, ebooks, off-line publications, or on your websites. We only require that the entire article - including the links, and the resource box "about the author" at the bottom of each article remain unchanged.
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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Anna O., Overweight No More, shows you the weight loss tips she used to lose 80 pounds from 230 pounds and keeping the weight off for over 3 years. She reveals not only how YOU can lose weight, but also how YOU can keep it off while eating regular meals not strict weight loss diets. Start YOUR Weight Loss Program today and lose pounds! I am ready to help YOU lose weight, are you ready?
  http://howyoucanloseweightnow.com/

  NOTE: This article may be freely reprinted in your ezines, ebooks, off-line publications, or on your websites. We only require that the entire article - including the links, and the resource box “about the author” at the bottom of each article remain unchanged.