You Are What You Eat

TRA helps you to build a good eating habit in 90 days. No diets, no hunger, you can eat almost everything because we're teaching you the right attitude towards food!

Magic pills never last but a right mindset does!

Metabolic Sydrome

It is not good enough to just fight fat, we need to go ONE STEP BEYOND helping those that have already had heart attacks, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. We need to recognize the SYMPTOMS BEFORE THEY APPEAR and show them why it is so important to take ACTION now.

You may want to learn more about METABOLIC SYNDROME. Read the enclosed information from JAMA (The Journal of American Medical Association).

METABOLIC SYDROME is a collection of unhealthy body measurements and abnormal lab test results that indicate a person risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and stroke. Individually, these measurements do not indicate anything serious (YET), but together they point to some POTENTIAL HIGH RISK ISSUES.

Please be familiar with the definition of the metabolic sydrome so that you can recognize them. IT WILL SAVE A LIFE! Remember, TRA is not JUST to help lose weight for beauty reasons, it is designed for LONG TERM HEALTH reasons. "Losing just 10% of excess body weight lowers blood pressure and improves insulin resistance."

TRA can help a person lose 10% of their body weight, 30% of their Visceral fat (internal organ fat) in just 90 days, FOR LIFE.

We're here to be a Force For Good, help others understand METABOLIC SYNDROME and be healthy for LIFE!

The Right Approach

The Right Approach (TRA) is a system with sustainable four-pronged approach to losing weight the right way. The right way is a simple equation:

Calories intake < Calories consumed = Decrease in Body Fat

It is a simple concept, but its application can be very difficult for many people. By a proven combination of world-class supplements, nutrition, exercise and the right team, TRA provides the tools to consume fewer calories than you expend and makes it possible to finally live this equation.

To achieve your weight loss goals, you have to eat less but that doesn't mean you have to starve. Discover the TRA program today and discover the path to well being.

Visceral Fat

Did you know that the vast majority of people in this day and age have excess abdominal fat? The first thing that most people think of is that their extra abdominal fat is simply ugly, is covering up their abs from being visible, and makes them self conscious about showing off their body.

However, what most people don't realize is that excess abdominal fat in particular, is not only ugly, but is also a dangerous risk factor to your health. Scientific research has clearly determined that although it is unhealthy in general to have excess body fat throughout your body, it is also particularly dangerous to have excess abdominal fat.

Why??

There are two types of fat that you have in your abdominal area. The first type that covers up your abs from being visible is called subcutaneous fat and lies directly beneath the skin and on top of the abdominal muscles.

The second type of fat that you have in your abdominal area is called visceral fat, and that lies deeper in the abdomen beneath your muscle and surrounding your organs. Visceral fat also plays a role in giving certain men that "beer belly" appearance where their abdomen protrudes excessively but at the same time, also feels sort of hard if you push on it.

Both subcutaneous fat and visceral fat in the abdominal area are serious health risk factors, but science has shown that having excessive visceral fat is even more dangerous than subcutaneous fat. Both of them greatly increase your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep apnea, various forms of cancer, and other degenerative diseases.

Part of the reason visceral fat is particularly dangerous is that it apparently releases more inflammatory molecules into your body on a consistent basis.

If you care about the quality of your life and your loved ones, reducing your abdominal fat should be one of your TOP priorities! There's just no way around it. Besides, a side effect of finally getting rid of all of that excessive ugly abdominal fat is that your stomach will flatten out, and if you lose enough stomach fat, you will be able to visibly see those sexy six pack abs that everyone wants.

Food Fight

If you feel hungry, here is a cooool video to share....

Lose Twice the Weight by Tracking Your Food

You hear all the time that to lose weight, you should track what you eat. Well, a recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that keeping a "food diary" may double your weight loss efforts.

Researchers from Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research kept tabs on 1,685 overweight and obese adults (men and women), whose average weight was 212 pounds. The researchers encouraged participants to adhere to a reduced-calorie, DASH eating plan and asked them record their daily food intake and exercise minutes.

After 20 weeks, the average weight loss was 13 pounds per person. But researchers discovered something else; the more participants recorded what they ate, the more weight they lost in the end. Participants who did not keep a food diary lost about 9 pounds over the course of the study, while those who recorded their food intake six or more days per week lost 18 pounds — twice as much as those who didn't track any food!

So start to write your food diary today to double your fat loss result!

Breakfast Slide Show

Eat Real Food

There are lots of food choices but how many good food choices do we really have?

We live in a beautifully delicious world if we know what to do. Here's how...

Beware of Healthy Diet Foods!

I am besieged everyday with questions about what foods will help to lose fat. The biggest surprise is that there are many foods that most people regard as “healthy” and “diet friendly” that will actually make you even fatter.

Since you might be making the same innocent mistakes, I am sharing some of the most frequent and most damaging“healthy-foods-that-make-you-even-fatter”food choices.

Most dieters mistake the following food choices a great to eat while dieting. Unfortunately, they are really loaded with fats, preservatives and hidden calories....all big saboteurs if you are eating to get a slimmer belly, thighs and butt.

1. Diet Coke. No soda of any kind is good for you, diet or not. Diet soda create more insulin in your body which means more sugar. Diet soda also inhibits the hormone leptin which regulates your metabolism and appetite so you want to make sure you order your meals with water! That also helps you drink the correct amount of water per day.

2. Pretzels (biscuits). I know most people think that these are so much better for you than potato chips but they are made with enriched white flour which as I have warned you in the past is a big NO NO on the Belly Flat diet. Pretzels are also loaded with carbohydrates which as we all know we need to avoid as much as possible. An entire bag equivalent to 24 slices of white bread.....devastated?

3. Fruit Juices. Having a refreshing glass of orange juice in the morning is a great start to the day right? Actually you are probably starting your day out horribly. Fruit juices have so much sugar and most of them are not actually fruit juices. Some only contain 5% natural fruit juice. Even fresh fruit juices are not recommended as they're simple sugar yet no fibre at all. Eat your fruits rather than drink the juice.

4. Complete Salad Kits. Most of these kits seem great for those who are too busy to cut up all the vegetables we like in a salad, however, most of the dressings can add on hundreds of calories and more fat than you want in a day. The light varieties are better.

5. Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter. Like a lot of girls, I also love my peanut butter. The reduced-fat variety seems like a great idea but the fact that what they remove is replaced with fillers and there is no calorie reduction with the fillers. Also the fat that is removed is the kind that is actually good for you. Yes, there is some good fat! If you just use a little less of the regular kind you'll be a lot better off.

6. Poultry Hot Dogs. You would think hot dogs made with turkey or chicken would be so much better than the beef or pork dogs… WRONG! All hot dogs include skin and fat so you are not receiving any benefit from eating poultry dogs.

7. Cereal Bars. You can find a lot of cereal bars that are healthy, low-fat and are not loaded with calories, but you have to look. Most of the cereal bars at the grocery store are high in sugar and saturated fat. Make sure to read the labels for low fat, sugar and calorie content before you start your morning with an addition to your belly!

8. Frozen Yogurt. Most people hear the word yogurt and ask for seconds thinking that since it is yogurt it has to be good for you… WRONG! Most frozen yogurts have a lot of added sugar which means you're licking up extra calories. If you look for the low-fat frozen yogurt and go sparingly you can treat yourself every now and again.

As you can see, there are many things so many of us think are really“Healthy Diet Foods” when really they are not. Stay clear of these not-so-healthy-make-you-fat diet foods and you may finally be able to lose those extra pounds hanging around your tummy.

Secrets Of Starting Fat Loss Right

One important factor is you begin to have a healthy relationship with food.

Eat every 4 to 5 hours and have the normal 3 meals. Do not skip any one of them especially the breakfast. This is crucial to losing fat and keeping it off. Most overweight people tend to skip breakfast. They tell me they are not hungry in the morning and simply take a coffee and a biscuit. Well, duh... No kidding! They are not hungry because they ate 2/3 of their calories at night. They awake still feeling full.

I recommend eating a solid, filling breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up. This includes salad or stir fry (or steamed) veggies, some good complex carbs like whole wheat toast, oatmeal or high-fiber cereal. Along with a fist sized of protein like egg whites, chicken breast, fish or lean meat or soymilk. Stay away from deep-fried meats. Eating a good-sized breakfast is one big key to effective fat loss and keeps you energetic throughout the day.

NO refined carbs. That means no white bread, no cakes, no biscuits and no dessert.

Eating the majority of calories at night is one of the worst things you can do. Instead, try eating a solid breakfast, and then a small snack between meals. Some good examples of snacks include a small piece of fruit and different kinds of veggies like cucumber, carrots, baby corns, green/red/yellow pepper and celery. Chances are you will go to bed a little hungry but that's OK. You will live and you will be fine. When you wake up in the morning, you will be very hungry and look forward to your breakfast. Well, that's it -- the simple secrets and tricks that fit people follow. I follow this plan and it works - simply enjoy food and burn fat at the same time.

Join The Fat Loss Challenge 2009

Don't miss out on The Right Approach 2009's Fat Loss Challenge. This New Year's Challenge is guaranteed to put you back on track for 2009, which is scheduled to be YOUR best year ever!

Participating in this Fat Loss Challenge is a terrific way to gather your motivation and strength and put it to extraordinary use! You can not only meet new friends and keep fit buddies, but you can learn new fitness strategies, share your progress and triumphs, get great new healthy recipes and win some awesome prizes along the way!

Wait wait, "Win awesome prizes"??? UM, YEAH.

I don't know about you all, but nothing gets my motivation up like the THRILL of competing for a Grand Prize! Our past Grand Prize winners have won a total of $10,000 worth health products plus cash, free trip to Taipei to participate in the Regional Fat Loss Challenge. Want to know how you can earn the top challenger spot, and take home some incredible prizes of your own? Check out the upcoming TOP-SECRET tips on how YOU can be named the winner of 2009 Fat Loss Challenge...

Opening Launch of Unique Fitness Blog in Asia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Jan 02, 2009 – Hong Kong – Anti-aging expert, Jessica Chan has launched a new blog in Asia offering unique tips on winning the last fat loss battle in life and introduce a revolutionary fat loss program she brought to Hong Kong since 2007.

Contents for this unique fitness blog in Asia will be drawn from Jessica and her team's experience and presence in Asia, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and China. Recent posts include Avoid Serious Mistakes In Fat Loss, 7 Tips On "How To Choose A Comprehensive Fitness Program" and Comparing Weight Loss Methods.

“You cannot change your past, but you can certainly change your future. My team and I will do our best to support you as you pursue your dreams,” said Jessica Chan.

Visit Asia's Unique Fitness Blog at http://1lastfatlossbattle.blogspot.com/

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Yo-Yo Oprah

We've seen Oprah struggle with weight loss since she first appeared on TV more than a decade ago.

In 1992 Oprah reached her heaviest, 237 pounds. She was 38. Then, four years ago, she made it a goal to loose weight, and she appeared on the January 2005 cover (left) at a toned 160 pounds. She thought she was finished with the weight battle. She was done. She'd conquered it. She was so sure, and was even cocky. She had the nerve to say to friends who were struggling, "All you have to do is work out harder and eat less! Get your 10,000 steps in! None of that starchy stuff!"

Bam! Karma is a bear of a thing.

So here she stand, 40 pounds heavier than she was in 2005. She's mad at herself. She's embarrassed. She can't believe that after all these years, all the things she knows how to do, she's still talking about her weight. She looks at her thinner self and think, "How did I let this happen again?"

It happened slowly. In February 2007, at 53, she started to have some health issues. At first she was unable to sleep for days. Her legs started swelling. Her weight started creeping up, first 5 pounds, then 10 pounds. She was lethargic and irritable. Her internal clock seemed totally out of whack. She began having rushing heart palpitations every time she worked out. She was scared that she would pass out.

"It seemed as if the struggle I'd had with fat my entire adult life was now officially over. I felt completely defeated. Fat wins. All these years I'd had only myself to blame for lack of willpower. I felt like the life force was being sucked out of me. I always had an excuse for being tired. It took extra effort to do everything. I didn't want to go anywhere, and I didn't want to be seen any more than I had to. I could oversee a show and a magazine that tell people how to live their best lives, but I definitely wasn't setting an example. I was talking the talk, but I wasn't walking the walk. And that was very disappointing to me. "

If Oprah had came over the 7 tips on how to choose a comprehensive fat loss program, she could have avoided her thyroid problem and the yo-yo disaster!

Comparison Of Other Weight Loss Methods

☆Cocktail Therapy
Theory: Drugs used contain thyroid hormones which breaks down
lean muscle mass (muscles, organs, etc.)
Side effects: Harmful to health, weight rebound quickly

☆Acupuncture
Theory: Each treatment uses 2 to 7 needles
Problem: Painful and inconvenient. Weight regains once after the treatment stops.

☆Sauna and slimming machine
Problem: Only lose water, not the right way to lose weight！

☆Xenical
Theory: Blocks dietary fat absorption by 30%
Side effects: Oily discharge, fatty stool, soft stool. Some may experience fecal incontinence, flatulence, nausea, vomiting. Reduce absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K.

☆Duromine
Theory: Enhances satiety. Increase BMR. For dietary obese patients and obese diabetics. Increase fat utilization in cells.
Side Effects: Dry mouth, constipation, insomnia. Not suitable for patients with arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension.

☆Slimming Teas
Theory: Combination of 4 natural herbs or flowers, multiple claims on
benefits, no artificial flavoring.
Problem: Mostly cause purging, lose water not fat.

☆Hot bath
Theory: Stimulate circulation. Relief stress & calming. Facial and slimming at the same time. Uses models as testimonials.
Problem: Feel warm after treatment, only water loss, not actual weight loss!

☆Phaseolamin (White Kidney Bean Extract)
Theory: Blocks carbohydrate absorption (amylase inhibitor)
Problem: Only has effect on sweetened food, taking fatty or oily food will still result in fat storage in the body.

☆Gymnema sylvestre
Theory: Reduce sugar craving, help sugar & carbohydrate lovers
Problem: Only has effect on sweetened food, taking fatty or oily food will still result in fat storage in the body.

☆Body Shaping Sole Plaster
Theory: Stimulate acupressure, improve circulation and metabolism.
Problem: Marketing hype, no weight loss effect

☆Weight Loss Surgery (gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band, vertical-banded gastroplasty, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch)
Theory: Reduce the size of your stomach and/or shorten your small intestine. This decreases the amount of food your stomach can hold and causes your intestine to absorb fewer calories. After surgery, patients typically feel full after eating about 90 percent less at a meal.
Side Effects: Like any major surgery, all options carry risks for bleeding, infection, cardiac events, and adverse reactions to anesthesia. One in 300 patients die as a result of the most common bariatric-surgery procedure.

Comparing Fad Diets

It is always recommended to take a balanced diet. The American Dietetic Association has warned that any diet that severely limits one food group should raise a RED flag to dieters.

☆Atkins diet

Theory: It based on restrictions of carbohydrates and focus on eating mostly protein and fat, along with use of vitamin and mineral supplements.

Side Effects: Some are suffering from muscle cramps, diarrhea, general weakness, and rashes more frequently than people on low-fat diets. Others have constipation, bad breath, headache, fatigue, high levels of cholesterol and heart disease. Also when there is a buildup of the byproducts of fat breakdown because the body does not have enough glucose available. The condition can be dangerous, resulting in cell damage, severe illness, and even death.

☆Low GI diet plan
Theory: Taking low GI food, prevent over secretion of insulin, therefore
reduce the fat storage process
Side effects: Low GI food may not be low calories, steak has low GI but high calories. Without proper intake control, these calories will convert to body fat.

☆MONK diet plan
Theory: Eat only breakfast and lunch, meat is allowed but less pork.
No food after 2 pm, can only take water or sugar-free drinks.
Success rate close to 80%
Side effects: Need to maintain this plan at least ½ - 1 year in order to
avoid weight regain. Not suitable for (1) low blood sugar or low blood
pressure (2) elderly (3) type I diabetes (4) kidney failure patients
(5) disease-related obesity

☆Enzyme diet plan
Theory: rapid water loss to reduce weight
Side effects: Watery stools, severe dehydration, may affect GI function

☆Apple diet
Theory: Speedy weight loss
Side effects: unbalanced nutrient intake, result in severe deficiency of proteins, destroys muscle tissues, fat storage is worse once weight rebounds

☆High protein diet plan
Theory: Reduce hunger, increase metabolism, may reduce weight
Side effects: Increases burden on kidneys, causes osteoporosis,
muscle cramps.

7 Tips On "How To Choose A Comprehensive Fat Loss Program"

1) Is the program a multi-faceted approach? Healthy weight management program which is well-balanced in terms of nutrition, exercise & spiritually.

2) Is it a safe plan i.e. no drugs (weight loss pills)? There is no magic pill. Unsafe and even deadly methods of weight loss are everywhere. Many people just see the results and figure the worst consequences of what they're doing won't happen to them.

3) Do you need to starve all the time? There is nothing wrong with the food. What makes people fat is how and what they eat. So it is important that the program is set to develop a lifetime healthy eating habit for the individual, even after the class. Eat too less would only result in more fat gain and muscle loss.

4) Is the program focus on fat weight loss or just weight loss? Because weight is only a figure and doesn't reflect the whole picture. It's the fat that makes people sick.

5) Is the program user friendly that allows you to carry out in daily lives on a long term basis? Some plans have lots of restriction that participants will easily give up after 2 weeks.

6) Is the program helping you to build muscles so to increase the metabolic rate to a certain extent to avoid any rebound or yo-yo sydrome in the future?

7) Is it an effective program that works for everybody? Realistic goal for you is to lose no more than 2-4 pounds a week.

Good luck!

Avoid Serious Mistakes In Fat Loss

"I Couldn't Believe It! I Lost Tons of Fat within 2 Days! And so can you!"

This statement sounds like a holy message to many. Who won't want to uphold their toned physique? Your unique physique has already lost in the cramming of fast foods and the long-term reprieve in front of the PCs. This advertisement definitely sounds more promising and convenient in this situation. But wait! You have to think a lot before you leap into these ever-promising weight loss advertisements. You will be ruining your health other than enhancing your appearance if you make those serious weight loss mistakes.

As per Medical definitions, "weight loss" is the reduction of total body weight which informally refers to an endeavor to look up fitness, health and appearance. . However, body weight is just a figure but what really risks our health is the body fat or more precisely the abdominal fat. So we should focus on the fat weight loss and that can be an attainable goal through healthy eating patterns, nutritional supplementation and regular exercise instead of taking drugs, liposuction or bariatric surgery.

The first and major mistake of the people who aspire to lose fat is the setting of unrealistic goals. They expect to lose tons of weight within one or two days as in the above advertisement. But it is important to realize that fat loss is a slow and steady process. Studies have proved that individuals, who rapidly lose their weight, gain it back at the same speed. It is safer and healthier to lose 2 to 3 pounds of fat weight per week. In that case it will be easy to maintain the fat weight and to reduce it again.

Anxiety is the side effect of weight loss for many people. They will compare their weight loss with who might have lost the weight considerably. There are other instances like the weight being static irrespective of the continuous efforts. The anxiety about not losing the weight will lead you to sleeplessness and further diseases. But there is no need to be anxious about these irrelevant factors. Everyone's body is different and the time to show the fat weight loss varies.

Another regular mistake made by people who try to lose fat is eating less. Many people will assume that the less you eat, the more you will lose the fat. But this habit in fact slow downs the metabolism of the person. The person who starves herself/himself to slim down will lack enough nutrients and calories in the body. As a result they come to a 'starvation mode'. An ironic impact of eating less is that you will tend to eat more than the usual routine. Since you are not having the regular food at the correct portion and correct time, you'll be liable to eat something or other at all instances. As a result, the body will gain weight instead of losing the weight. It is always advisable to develop a healthy eating habit in accordance with the instructions of a professional weight management consultant.

Exercise is a crucial factor to burn fat. The worst mistake some will make while taking exercise is to exercise hard from the beginning. Exercise must be started in a slow pace and with low impact. In the first week one can exercise for 10 to 15 minutes and can increase the time span regularly. One has to take the easy exercise steps in the starting, as the hard exercise will tire you easily. Walking is a very good exercise for all individuals - easy and free. As encouraged by the Department of Health, we should walk 10,000 steps every day.

Finally and more importantly, you must be optimistic about the result. Fat loss is an attainable goal. A good eating habit and regular exercise will definitely reduce your body fat. On the other hand a pessimistic attitude will pull down your efforts. You must not be too much obsessed with the scale. It is more vital to consider how you feel and how your clothes are fitting. It is desirable not to take any drugs or surgeries for fat loss as it may leave long lasting side effects.

Avoiding these casual mistakes will help you to stay away from many fat loss hazards.

PS. You must learn to face the ups and downs of fat loss. In any way, fat loss is not easy, but you can always do it!