"Body wraps" have been around for ages in the weight loss and spa industry. Claims include loss of body weight, loss of body fat, and loss of inches. Infomercials for rubber "waist belts" are also back on TV and similar claims are made for these types of wraps as well. What few people realize is that there is a huge difference between losing fat and losing inches. When your body fat decreases, your circumference measurements will usually also decrease, but "fat" loss and "inch" loss are not one in the same. If you don't know how to tell the difference, you could be falling for one of the oldest, most notorious fitness and weight loss scams in the book.

The truth is, body wraps and waist belts do not shrink fat cells or burn body fat - no matter what type of wrap is used: bandages, plastic, foil, vinyl, or rubber and regardless of what you are wrapped in: herbs, minerals, enzymes, seaweed, clay, or mud - it doesn't matter. Fat can only be lost with a caloric deficit from a reduction in food intake, an increase in activity or ideally, a combination of both.

Whenever you see fat loss claims for wraps or any other product which doesn't involve a caloric deficit created though nutrition or exercise, the "scam alarm" should go off in your head, and you should always stay away, no matter how compelling the sales pitch. [more]

Not long ago, one of the members of my health club poked her head in my office for some advice and assistance. Linda was a 46 year old mother of two, and she had been a member for over a year. She had been working out sporadically, with (not surprisingly) sporadic results. On that particular day, she seemed to have enthusiasm and a twinkle in her eye that I hadn't seen before.

"I want to enter a before and after fitness contest called the "12 week body transformation challenge." I could win money and prizes and even get my picture in a magazine."

"I want to lose THIS", she continued, as she grabbed the body fat on her stomach. "Do you think it's a good idea?"

Linda was not "obese" by any means, she just had the typical "moderate roll" of abdominal body fat and a little bit of thigh/hip fat that many forty-something females struggle with.

"I think it's a great idea" I reassured her. "Competitions are great for motivation. When you have a deadline and you dangle a "carrot" like that prize money in front of you, it can keep you focused and more motivated than ever."

Linda was eager and rarin' to go. "Will you help me? I have this enrollment kit and I need my body fat measured."

"No problem," I said as I pulled out my Skyndex fat caliper, which is used to measure body fat percentage with a "pinch an inch" test.

When I finished, I read the results to her from the caliper display: "Twenty-seven percent. Room for improvement, but not bad; it's about average for your age group."

She wasn't overjoyed at being 'average'. "Yeah, but it's not good either. Look at THIS," she complained as again she grabbed a handful of stomach fat. "I want to get my body fat down to 19%, I heard that was a good body fat level."

I agreed that 19% was a great goal, but it would take a lot of work because average fat loss is usually about a half a percent a week, or six percent in twelve weeks. Her goal, to lose eight percent in twelve weeks was ambitious.[more]

Don't be fooled by the misconception that all vegetarian food is made from a low calorie vegetarian recipe. It may be the case if the dish is based solely around vegetables but often the addition of oils, dairy products, nuts and seeds significantly raise the calorie content.

If you think that there is no such thing as an overweight vegetarian then think again! Perhaps that is how you found yourself at this site. If you are a looking for a low calorie vegetarian recipe that tastes like it is NOT a low calorie vegetarian recipe then congratulations because you are in the right place!

I have found the most popular low calorie vegetarian recipe to be Spinach Quiche with Oat Crust. It tastes so good that most people would not even realize that it is vegetarian or low in calories!

This recipe is low in calories because the core ingredient is spinach (a vegetarian's best friend). After using this recipe and my other low calorie vegetarian recipe (Vegetable Cottage Pie), I found that the few extra pounds I had gained over my holidays had vanished! All without any real effort on my part!

By using a vegetarian low calorie recipe you are taking the first essential step to fighting obesity, ensuring good health and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases!

Counting calories in your vegetarian diet is essential to living life as abundantly as a vegetarian can! The ultimate key to vegetarian weight loss is not only to use a low calorie vegetarian recipe when preparing meals, but to also combine the change in diet with a change in your lifestyle.

You may be thinking 'here we go again, another diet that I will fail at' or 'low calorie food never tastes good'. Perhaps that is the reason you are losing the obesity battle. Change your attitude! If you are serious about weight loss, make a low calorie vegetarian recipe tonight![more]