Fasting for weight loss can take several forms. Some people chose to include juice drinks during their fast while others eschew all foods and liquids other than water. If you decide to go on a juice fasting cleanse, be sure you select organic fruits and vegetables to get the best possible nutrition and to help your body rid itself of toxins. The grapefruit juice benefits make grapefruit one great juice to add to your regimen, but other juices such as carrot and tomato have great benefits too. Drinking only juice for up to three days is a great way to jump start your weight loss and flush your system.

If you decide to do a water only fast, do not follow this plan for more than forty eight hours. A water fast will help you flush toxins from your body but will be completely devoid of nutrition so it is definitely not a long term weight solution. Some people on water fasts like to add a lemon slice to their water for flavor while others like to add cayenne pepper to help increase their metabolism.

There are many juice and water fast plans available, so do your research to find the one that is right for you. One of the most popular diet detox programs is the Master Cleanse so check out the Master Cleanse pros and cons if you are considering using it to lose weight.

Getting to a healthy weight slowly will help you maintain your weight loss success and fasting is a great way to start. While fasting for long periods of time is ill advised, intermittent fasting can be a great weight loss tool. Many people find fasting even just one day a week can help them loose weight and keep it off, so consider making one day a week a fasting day. No matter which type of fast you chose or how often you fast, be sure to stay well hydrated, get plenty of sleep and do not schedule strenuous or taxing activities during your fast to help conserve energy and enjoy watching the excess weight melt away.

Some will look at the amount of sugar you eat in things like teaspoons, while others look at it in forms of grams, while others look at the overall percentage of the diet that it is.  You need to find the way that works for you so that you will remember how to go about it yourself.

Where does all the sugar come in from?  It is things like the drinks of Coke, frozen lemonades and Kool-Aid to the foods we eat like donuts, ice cream and cereals.  And most of the time only having one of these eats up most of the sugar we are really suppose to be eating in a day.  We also need to remember that there are foods that have natural sugars in them that are counted as well.

So what is the difference?  There are the natural sugars, called fructose, that are found naturally in things like pineapple, grapes and oranges to name a few.  Then there are the sugars that are added during the manufacturing and even processing of foods.  These would be things like what is added to frosted flakes, desserts and other foods that we may buy already made for us.

You can always control this by doing more of the fixing of food yourself and buying less of the readymade meals. This allows you to control the sugar portions that are added.  Also watching our serving sizes can help in how much sugar we are taking in.  There is a reason why things will say what a serving size is.  The bigger the serving size the more sugar that is being eaten.

It isn’t wise to completely get rid of sugar, but it does need to be cut down considerably. Knowing what sugar can do to you will help you understand why it is important to really keep that level down.   Knowing how the sugar is in the food can also make a difference.  Knowing there will be sugar in some of the natural food you eat is also something to remember.

Based on research and what fitness experts say, most people usually get enough protein in their diet and that they do not need the extra protein shakes or supplements. If people need it is because a doctor or someone in the medical field has worked with the person individually and feels it is a good idea. Most of those that are either in the medical or fitness field say there are other ways to get more protein in the diet without using protein shakes. These may be cheaper and healthier way to do that.

All of this is to say that protein shakes are not necessarily as helpful as people may think. If used over time they can be very harmful to a person. It has been found that arsenic, lead, mercury and even cadmium are just a few of the things that are found in protein shakes that can be harmful. If too much of the toxic are found in the body it can be quite harmful to the organs within the body. Now this is if there is a large amount of the protein shake ingested.

It is also wise to not take in too much protein. This is because some of the problems it could lead to would be dehydration, digestive problems, possibly even kidney problems. Another possible risk increase could be towards people ending up with osteoporosis.

It is possible to get enough protein in a diet if a person eats properly and it can be a lot cheaper as well. This is of course if a proper diet is followed. If there are things that can cause problems it would be important to check with a doctor to actually see what else can be done to get enough protein in the diet.

Protein shakes may be used to either help people lose weight or to be used when working out in the gym. It is said if the protein shakes are being used for weight loss then it is important to consider what you may not be getting from the nutritious food that a person wouldn’t be eating when replacing it with a protein shake. The protein shake may help with calorie intake, but it is important to remember that what goes into the body and the activity that is done is what is important.

Stanley Burroughs designed the Master Cleanse to be both the detoxification program and a reducing program, which is a fancy old-fashioned way of calling it a diet. Like any diet however you need to continue healthy eating habits if you expect to see your results stick with you. But one of the cons of a program like the Master Cleanse is that you can gain the weight back pretty quickly if you slip back into your old eating habits, partially because the lemonade diet is so low in calories. Depending on how much of the Maple syrup you consume you can expect to get between 600 and 1200 cal per day. Mr. Burroughs allows for adjustments to the quantity of Maple syrup for those trying to lose weight, so you may be getting even fewer calories.

If you consider the Master Cleanse a good way to kick start your new healthy diet however and you develop new habits, like eating fresh and raw fruits and vegetables, healthy lean meats, and minimal complex carbohydrates, then you’ll probably have a lot of success.

Now let’s talk about that increase energy that you can expect. There are both pros and cons of this expectation. The con is that you really won’t be feeling it right away. In fact, you may find that you feel sluggish and lethargic during the first few days of the cleanse. This is a crucial time for many people who are doing the lemonade diet because this is when you are most likely to quit. Unfortunately one of the major cons of the Master Cleanse is that many people don’t succeed and sticking it out for the entire 10 days. However, if you can get through these first few days of feeling sort of crappy, then you should find that your energy level starts to soar and the final few days of the program are quite easy. During the early days of the cleanse your body is heavily detoxing and that is why you feel not so great.

Thankfully you can eliminate some of the cons of doing the Master Cleanse by being fully prepared for before you start. This means knowing what to expect, and being psychologically ready to cope, and having everything you need on hand, and getting rid of things that you don’t want around because of the temptation they represent. Some of my Master Cleanse tips should be able to help you get ready, but you also may want to look at Master Cleanse Secrets for additional ideas that can help you achieve success.

This is the food list that you will want to refer to for your phrase 1 shopping and meal planning. I recommend picking a few different meals from the South Beach books that look interesting and simple to prepare and buy the ingredients neeed ahead of time. Then buy some additional items from the list to prepare other meals more spontaneously. It will also help to keep some of these items on hand so that you have healthy snacks and plenty of phase one acceptable foods when you get puckish.

South Beach Phase 1 Shopping List

• Beef - lean cuts like tenderloin, ground beef and top loin are great options.
• Poultry – skinless turkey and/or chicken breast and even turkey bacon.
• Pork – this can include things like loin, tenderloin and even veal.
• Meat substitutes – soy based items.  Some of the items may include Tofu of any variety, chicken patties or nuggets or even burgers.
• Cheese - fat-free or low-fat is the best options and may include American, Cheddar and Swiss to name a few.
• Milk/Dairy - only 2-3 cups daily, including any yogurt.  Some of these options include soy milk, fat-free yogurt and low-fat milk.
• Beans/Legumes - it will be important to start with 1/3 – ½ cup servings and then the portions may grow.  Some of the options available would be Chickpeas or Garbanzo, kidney beans, lentils and Lima beans.
• Vegetables - May be frozen, fresh or those that are canned without any added sugar.  Some great options would be Brussels sprouts, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Okra, Onions and Fennel.  Making sure there is a variety of color is a great option as well.
• Nuts and seeds – limit them to only one serving per day.  These options include sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, and Peanut butter.
• Fats/Oils – The monounsaturated oils are recommended.  Some of the possible options are Canola Oil, Olive Oil or Peanut Oil.
• Other Fat Choices may include things like Avocado, Margarine and Mayonnaise.
• Spices and Seasonings to help when cooking many of the above options include broth, lemon juice, salsa and/or pepper to name a few.
• Sweet Treats – Sugar free items are the best choice available.  They may include things like hard candies and gelatin.
• Sugar substitutes are options if a little extra something is needed.  These may include saccharin, sucralose and Nutrasweet (aspartame).
• Beverages – Everyone needs to make sure they are getting plenty of fluids.  These fluids include Decaf Coffee, tea and soda, herbal teas and vegetable juice, and of course you should be drinking plenty of water.

Now remember, healthy portions are just as important with the South Beach Diet as they are with any other diet. So don’t eat until you are stuffed. Just eat until you are satisfied and eat slowly so you recognize that almost full feeling as it is creeping up on you.

Also, if you have any dietary restrictions due to various medical issues, it is always a good idea as well to check with your medical doctor to see if any of the foods that will be part of the diet will cause any problems with anything that may going on with your body, for example, arthritis, etc.

To make losing weight even easier, there are Medifast coupons codes which you can use when you place your order. With savings between $25 and $50 dollars you would be crazy not to use a coupon code for Medifast orders. Here’s the latest batch of Medifast coupon codes! Just click the links to get your discount.

July 2011 Coupons for Medifast

Medifast – $50 off any purchase of $275 or more! Use Coupon Code: JUL31H good until 7-31-11

Medifast – $25 off any purchase of $150 or more! Use Coupon Code: JUL31H25 good until 7-31-11

When you place your first order, enter your Medifast coupon code in the promo box. Also make sure you sign up for the automatic delivery program as that will save you even more money over time, especially after you use up all the available discounts. You can cancel the auto delivery shipments easily and also change your orders to add favorite items and remove the ones you don’t care for as much so it is a smart move to sign up for it.

Disclosure: DietInspector.com is a paid affiliate of Medifast, Inc.

During the 1970s, Walter L. Voegtlin, a gastroenterologist put forward the theory that human genetics have remained basically unchanged since the beginning of the Paleolithic period. One of his main points was that the typical diet back then did not rely on processed foods, sugar and high fat, but consisted mostly of meat, fruit, fish, vegetables and roots. Beacause of this diet, our distant ancestors were able to live surprisingly free from disease, a big contrast to today’s world with its high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity and heart disease. Largely because of these observations, the Paleolithic diet was born.

The Paleolithic diet is similar in some ways to the Atkins diet, which puts an emphasis on avoiding carbohydrates. However, the main emphasis of the diet is that it encourages you to eat only foods that could have been gathered or hunted, as well as grains. Processed carbohydrates, such as those that are found in cereals and breads are discouraged with the diet, making it not only healthier than the Atkins diet, but in recent years more popular as well. The regimen focuses more on an overall lifestyle and approach, rather than just being a diet, which has also persuaded some people to see it as a holistic nutrition plan.

The diet is so successful because it virtually eliminates the processed foods which are unfortunately all too widely used today and puts an emphasis on natural and nutritious foods. The diet has also been successful and many people have noticed not only a substantial weight loss, but other benefits as well. The lean meats, fruit, vegetables and fish that comprise the caveman diet have been given credit for reducing the chances of obesity and heart disease and reducing the risk of diabetes or cancer. If you have been looking for a diet which is more of a lifestyle change than a diet, the Paleolithic diet with its overall holistic approach may be what you have been waiting fot.

Medifast Centers are available in numerous states across the nation and with more opening all the time. The good thing is that you can get that professional face to face communication that really can’t be duplicated online. This also means that you might have to drive a ways to get to a Medifast center near you though, because right now not every state has its own Medifast weight loss center. In fact, Medifast weight loss centers are only located in 10 states – Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. Texas gets the best representation overall with 24 locations throughout the state.

Thankfully, the scarcity of Medifast locations that you can visit doesn’t mean that you can’t go on the diet if you don’t leave near one of their locations. While you won’t be able to sit down with someone face to face, you can get many of the same features and perks that you can find in any center online for free. You can do all of your ordering through Medifast’s website, plus visit their forums and read tips that are posted almost on a daily basis. You won’t have to worry about getting out in bad weather to drive to the center; instead, you can visit a virtual center online. In fact, the support available freely from Medifast is one of the many reasons Medifast diet reviews tend to be so positive about the results you can expect with this diet.

Being able to get all of your information and products online, without having to go through a middle man in the process will save you loads of money in the long run. Unlike other name brand dietary programs around, Medifast allows you to get everything you need online without having to pay higher prices for visiting an actual building in a town that isn’t all that close to you. This can make things a lot easier on you and your family, and still give you the confidence to continue on with your dieting needs.

It won’t be long at all before you are able to get those “Friday Night Jeans” back on and you won’t even have to leave your house. Well, you WILL have to get the mail when it arrives. If you had to choose between driving for hours to one of the Medifast centers, or sitting at home and ordering online, which one would you prefer? Given the gas prices of late, NOT having to drive somewhere may be true motivation to ordering online.

Now that you know your options, your next step is to find out the current deals. Medifast is always running specials. Click here to Get the Latest Medifast Specials.

Disclosure: DietInspector.com is a paid affiliate of Medifast, Inc.

The Traditional diet meal plan comes with a 5 week menu of freshly prepared food without additives. Each meal is prepared in the chef managed kitchens of Diet to Go and then flash frozen to maintain peak freshness. With dishes such as Curried Shrimp, Meatball Fettucini, and Tuscan Boats, you’ll never have to sacrifice taste while losing or maintaining weight. These meals also come with everything you need such as rolls, fruits and other side items along with condiments.

For people with vegetarian preferences, the Diet to Go kitchens has a menu that includes a quite decent variety of dishes, such as Portobello Lasagna, Ravioli, and Egg and Broccoli Pie. As with the Traditional diet meal plan, all side items and condiments are supplied with your meals. This is a healthy Lacto-Ovo style diet that vegetarians can enjoy while losing weight without being hungry.

The Diet to Go Low-Carb Plan offers you meals that have 30 net carbs each day. Their kitchens prepare such low-carb meals as Parmesan Chicken Wings, Cod Loin, and Portabello Lasagna for you to enjoy while losing the weight you need. As with the others, this menu comes with all needed side items and condiments. There’s never a reason for you to make last minute store trips for something to go with your meal, which in the long run will help you stick to the plan.

Diabetic people need to follow a very structured sort of diet which can be tiresome and bland. However, the chefs at Diet to Go have created healthy meals for the diabetic. Based on the American Diabetes Association Guidelines, Diet to Go offers a 1200 calorie meal plan that promises to satisfy the taste buds while keeping your weight where you need it to be. But it is probably still a good idea to double-check the menu with your own doctor to make sure the plan is right for your own personal needs.

As you can see, no matter what sort of menu you need to meet your dietary requirements as well as your taste preferences, Diet to Go has a meal plan to suit you. And if you don’t need a specific diet to follow, then their variety of plans will help make sure you don’t get bored with your diet. Just try a different menu. To place a Diet to Go order, or to just take a look at their menu options in detail, be sure to visit Diet-To-Go.

To make the Medifast brownies, you only need to empty one packet of mix into the provided tray. Next, you add 3 tablespoons, or 1.5 ounces, of water. Mix it all together well. Then all you have to do is put the tray in your microwave or conventional oven and bake them. Soon, you’ll be enjoying a fragrant chocolate aroma emanating from your kitchen. These brownies are not only tasty, but they provide protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.

The Medifast Brownies are available in a box of seven servings and priced at $15.50 per box.  Calories per serving are 110 and there are 15 calories from fat. These tasty brownies are lactose free, heart healthy, non-Kosher, good for vegetarians to eat, and contain 9 mg of caffeine.

The great thing about the brownies is that they are so easily incorporated into the Medifast 5 and 1 plan. The brownies have been created so that they’re so easy to make, which is quite appealing to everyone that lead busy lives and have no time to bake. When people are that busy, they certainly won’t have time to bake something that is this tasty while allowing them to stay on their diets. You can make these brownies to either eat right away or ahead of time to take with you for later. They’ll make the perfect office snack.

People that are in love with these Medifast Brownies often want to know just how many they’re allowed to eat in a day. Their calorie and carb content is low, so they’re actually not restricted in the way that some of the Medifast snacks are. You can have five of the brownies a day if you wanted to eat that many of them. On an eating plan that offers such a variety of food choices though, you may not want to risk getting bored by eating the same thing over and over again.  However, they are great for taking care of that sweet tooth.

If you are still waiting to place your first Medifast order, you can Become an Advantage Member and get Free Food, Free Shipping and 5% off!! Just Select Medifast Advantage at checkout!

Disclosure: DietInspector.com is a paid affiliate of Medifast, Inc.