Weight Loss Success Stories: How Jennifer Hudson Lost 30 lbs in 9 Months

Slimming down: Jennifer Hudson at the recent 9th Annual JIC GEM Awards

Jennifer Hudson topped 170 pounds in 2004. After losing 30 pounds in nine months, she’s at 140 pounds. “There’s something wrong when you’re just skin and bones,” she says. After a whirlwind awards season, Jennifer Hudson is back to her five-days-a-week workout regimen with trainer Lafonza Alston of Mainframe Fitness in Chicago.

What is Jennifer's workout regime?

Super voluptuous: Jennifer Hudson in American Idol 3, 2004

“When she can, she will do a cardio workout in the morning (at 4 or 5 a.m.!), and resistance training in the evening,” says Alston. He also has Jennifer doing calorie-blasting football drills, running track and strength-training exercises like squats, push-ups and crunches.

“There’s no shortcut – you have to work for it. I’m a firm believer in that,” says Hudson. Jennifer’s also learned a new way of eating from Alston. “He said every portion of food I eat should be no bigger than my hand,” says the singer, who eats protein, carbs and fiber (such as grilled chicken, potatoes and broccoli) with every meal, and snacks on trail mix to fight off sweet cravings.

Source:  Fit and Healthy 

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Drink Water to Achieve Weight Loss and Burn Calorie

Water for weight loss? Sound weird but this fact is supported by the expert. How water can help dieting?

Water is a key component in metabolism process. Breaking down body fat and body muscle during weight loss produces wastes that must be eliminated through the kidneys. Drinking enough water is important to keep the kidneys functioning to remove these wastes. Popular high-protein diets produce more waste products from digestion, let alone from breaking down stored fat. Kidney function is even more important when on a high-protein diet.

Drinking a big glass of water whenever you feel hungry and before a meal or snack fills the stomach briefly and makes you feel fuller and stop eating sooner.  If the dieter is drinking plain water, he/she is less likely to be drinking something with calories in it.

There are other theories suggest that drinking cold water will increase the metabolism because in order to warm the cold water, your body must use energy. When you use enough energy, you can lose weight. But there is no medical research to supports these theories yet. 

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Oatmeal Recipes For Losing Weight Program

Apricot Honey Oatmeal

(This recipe yields 4 servings)    
 This is super simple and easy recipe for busy people.

• 3-1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned
• uncooked)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

In 3-quart saucepan, bring water, apricots, honey, cinnamon and salt to a boil.

Stir in oats; return to a boil.

Reduce heat to medium; cook about 1 minute for quick oats (or 5 minutes for old fashioned oats) or until most of liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.

Let stand until of desired consistency.


Banana Cream Oatmeal

(This recipe yields 4 servings)   

• 4 cups water
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 2 medium bananas - sliced into thin coins
• 1/2 cup non-fat sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

In a large sauce pan, bring the water to a boil.

Add the oats. Immediately reduce heat to medium. Cook for one minute - stirring often. Remove from heat.

Add the banana slices and condensed milk to the oats and stir to mix. Cover the pan and let it set for 2 or 3 minutes, or until desired thickness is reached.

Serve warm, sprinkled with cinnamon. Top with chopped walnuts or pecans and a splash of cold milk for a nice final touch.


Almond Joy Oatmeal

(This recipe yields 1 serving)   

• 1 cup dry old fashioned oats
• water (as directed)
• 1 Tablespoon shredded coconut
• 1 scoop (about 1/4 cup) chocolate protein powder
• sugar-free Da Vinnici coconut syrup - to taste
• sugar-free Da Vinnici chocolate syrup - to taste

In crock pot cook oats with water for about 1 hour. Stir in Chocolate protein powder, syrups, and shredded coconut. ENJOY!!


Baked Oats

(This recipe yields 4 servings)   

• 4 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 cup chopped apple
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup dates

Combine oats, walnuts, raisins, and salt in a bowl and mix well. In a separate container combine water and vanilla. Combine all ingredients, stirring gently. Pour into oiled 8" x 8" baking dish. Bake at 350 F for 60 minutes. Stir in dates and serve.

Good served with tofu milk or hot applesauce.


 Apple Walnut Oatmeal

(This recipe yields 4 servings)   

• 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal (not instant)
• 1 cup low-fat milk
• 2 medium apples - cored and peeled and diced
• 1/2 cup crushed walnuts
• 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Cook oatmeal per package directions.

Stir in the apples pieces, 3/4 of the nuts, cinnamon and maple syrup.

Distribute oats among four bowls. Top with milk and remaining walnuts.


Source: Mr. Breakfast

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Lose Weight Fast with Oatmeal

Losing weight maybe your resolution this year, or last last years' resolution that never achieved. Or maybe you want to get fitter and shapelier this Valentine's? Taking Oatmeal in short-term programme may help you lose weight. 

FAQ about oatmeal are what is oatmeal and how oatmeal can benefited to your health?

Oatmeal is a porridge-like cereal made of rolled oats. There are two kinds of oat you may find in local groceries, that is regular and steel-cut. Old-fashioned oats have a fine, soft texture and may become a mushy consistency when cooked in water. Steel-cut oats have a course and thick texture. They have a chewier texture when cooked in water. Steel-cut oats are whole-grain, as they contain the bran, germ and endosper. They are minimally processed, so the grain is left intact.

Hanging your dream dress on your bedroom wall will keep you motivated in losing weight

What is Oatmeal Nutritional Value? Beside being a rich source of fiber, it also contains significant amounts of proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins and minerals like, vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, selenium, calcium and zinc. 81 gm of oatmeal (dry) contains approximately 56 gm carbohydrates, 11 gm proteins, only 5 gm fats and 8 gm dietary fiber. As far as the calories in oatmeal is concerned, 81 gm oatmeal can provide approximately 307 calories.

What is oatmeal health benefit? As oatmeal is highly rich in insoluble fiber, it comprises of cancer-fighting properties. Oatmeal may help to lower the level of high blood pressure as well. Apart from insoluble fiber, oatmeal is considered to be power house of soluble fiber and this is the reason why it is known to reduce levels of LDL ('bad') cholesterol in the body, without causing any effect on the HDL ('good') cholesterol. Incidents of heart diseases have been found to be less common in people who have oatmeal as their regular breakfast meals.

Paste your idol poster in your bedroom wall to make you stick in your weight loss program

How oatmeal can help you lose weight? Oatmeal is high in fiber. It may promote a feeling of fullness and may decrease your appetite after meals because it stays in the intestines for a longer period of time. As a result, there will be less desire to consume excess calories between meals. Oatmeal is also a popular remedy for treating constipation. The insoluble fiber found in oatmeal adds bulk to stool, so that it can easily pass through the intestinal tract. Insoluble fiber helps the stool to retain more water and speeds up its movement through the intestine, which can prevent constipation.

READ MORE to Unlock the unknown Asian secrets of losing weight without dieting Or exercise

How to incorporate oatmeal into your diet program? It's simple. Replace breakfast with a bowl or a cup of oat everyday. It doesn't have to be limited to breakfast only. Replace one other meal (maybe, dinner?) with oat. Eat healthy balanced meal with fruits, vegetables and food containing fiber. And of course, try to work out for at least 30-minutes, 3-times a week. Challenge yourself for 14 days, and get ready to see the result.

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