Sunday, November 29, 2009

Here Come the Holidays

By Dr. Jason Fowler

The holidays are here - Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. Lots of family get-togethers, lots of fellowship and fun, and usually lots of food. Family dinners, parties, family breakfasts, more parties. Is there any way to avoid gaining five or ten unwanted pounds during the extended holiday season? Thanksgiving through early January can be a pretty long time. In order to maintain that healthy weight range you've worked hard to achieve, it is important to keep following the good habits that got you there.

We want to have fun and enjoy ourselves during the holidays. We want to participate in all the activities and share the abundance of good food with family and friends. This really is a Zen question. How to let go without letting go? Solutions are available by having built a solid foundation. Food plans that work are based on a few simple and solid principles -

Eat five or six small meals daily.

Make sure each meal combines protein and complex carbohydrates 1,2 Drink plenty of water Exercise regularly Have a "free food day" once a week Such a food plan is realistic and doable. There's no crazy dieting involved, no highs or lows. You are eating healthy food with no restrictions, choosing from all basic food groups. You eat anything you want, being sure to follow guidelines on portion sizes. The results are weight loss that stays lost. Because you're exercising regularly, your body sheds fat pounds and adds a few pounds of lean muscle mass. Your metabolism becomes optimized to burn fat, even when you're resting. If you've been following such a food plan your metabolism is already doing what it's designed to do. During the holidays you'll continue to burn fat for energy, provided you don't overload your system with too many extra calories.

Try to schedule your free day - when you can eat anything you want, as much as you want, and whenever you want - to coincide with a big holiday get-together. When you are at a party and it's your free food day, you can indulge as much as you like. It's a part of your regular food plan. That's a pretty good bonus! Also, alcohol consumption often goes up during the holiday season. Punch, egg nog, all sorts of "holiday cheer". These beverages are super-high in calories. 3 Again, your free day is a good day to indulge yourself. On other days, maybe not so much.

After the last guest has gone home and the last dish is put back in the cupboard, if we have gained a few pounds during the course of the holidays it's not so bad. What we wanted to avoid was gaining a bunch of weight. Now, we can return to our regular food plan - six days on and one day off - and those extra few pounds will be gone in four to six weeks. We had fun, we spent quality time with a lot of family and friends, and at the same time we took care of our health and well-being. That helps make the holidays especially joyous!

1 Hageman R, et al: A specific blend of intact protein rich in aspartate has strong postprandial glucose attenuating properties. J Nutr-8(9):1634-1640, 2008 2 Claessens M, et al: Glucagon and insulin responses after ingestion of different amounts of intact and hydrolysed proteins. Br J Nutr 100(1):61-69, 2008 3 Suter PM: Is alcohol consumption a risk factor for weight gain and obesity? Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 42(3)197-227, 2005

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Fat Loss Tips To Help You Lose Weight

By Christopher Rom

A low-fat diet involves the reduction of fat in a persons diet. Your calorie consumption is reduced for the purpose of ssing weight. Diets of this type include NCEP Step I and II. A meta-analysis of 16 trials of 2-12 months' duration found that low-fat diets resulted in weight loss of 3.2 kg (7.1 lb) over eating as normal. Some low carbohydrate diets such as Atkins and Protein Power are relatively high in fat and protein. They are very popular in the press but are not recommended by the American Heart Association. A review of over 100 studies did not find that low-carbohydrate diets cause weight loss, except when calorie intake was restricted. No adverse effects from low carbohydrate diets were detected.

Low-calorie diets will usually produce a average deficit of 500-1,000 calories per day, and may result in a 0.5 kilogram (1.1 lb) weight loss per week. They include the DASH diet and Weight Watchers among others. The National Institutes of Health reviewed 34 randomized controlled trials to determine the effectiveness of low-calorie diets. They found that these diets lowered total body mass by 8% over 3-12 months.Very low calorie diets provide 200-800 kcal/day, maintaining protein intake but limiting calories from both fat and carbohydrates. They subject the body to starvation and produce an average weekly weight loss of 1.5-2.5 kilograms (3.3-5.5 lb). These diets are not recommended for general use as they are associated with adverse side effects such as loss of lean muscle mass, increased risks of gout, and electrolyte imbalances. People attempting these diets must be monitored closely by a physician to prevent complications.

Losing of weight typically involves the loss of fat, water and muscle. Overweight people, or people suffering from obesity, typically aim to reduce the percentage of body fat. Additionally, as muscle tissue is denser than fat, fat loss results in increased loss of body volume compared with muscle loss. Reducing even 10% body fat can therefore have a dramatic effect on a person's body shape. To determine the proportion of weight loss that is due to decreased fat tissue, various methods of measuring body fat percentage have been developed.

Loss of muscle can occur during weight loss but can be restricted by regularly lifting weights (or strength-oriented calisthenics or isometrics) and by maintaining sufficient protein intake. Those on low-carbohydrate diets, and those doing particularly strenuous exercise, may wish to increase their protein intake. The National Academy of Sciences states that the Dietary reference intake for protein is "0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight for adults." Over extended periods of time excessive protein intake may cause liver and kidney problems and may be a risk factor for heart disease. There is no conclusive evidence that moderately high protein diets in healthy individuals are dangerous, it has only been shown that these diets are dangerous in individuals who already have kidney and liver problems.

The energy intake from food is limited by the efficiency of digestion and the efficiency of utilization. The efficiency of digestion is largely dependent on the type of food being eaten, while efficiency of utilization is affected by individual factors, including body weight and hormones. Also the effects of chewing, especially in elderly people, have been shown to affect the intake of micro-nutrients. However, there was no significant effect on the intake of macro-nutrients, such as sugars, fats, and proteins.

Your bodies nutrients are provided from six separate classes: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, dietary minerals, and water. Carbohydrates are metabolized to provide energy. Proteins provide amino acids, which are required for cell construction, especially for the construction of muscle cells. Essential fatty acids are required for brain and cell membrane construction. Vitamins and trace minerals help maintain proper electrolyte balance and are required for many metabolic processes. Dietary fiber is another food component which influences health even though it is not actually absorbed into the body.

Many diet's that fail to meet minimum nutritional requirements can threaten general health (and physical fitness in particular). If a person is not well enough to be active, weight loss and good quality of life will be unlikely.Check out the National Academy of Sciences and the World Health Organization because they publish guidelines for dietary intakes of all known essential nutrients. Sometimes people on a diet will ingest excessive amounts of vitamin and mineral supplements. While this is usually harmless, some nutrients are dangerous. Men (and women who don't menstruate) need to be wary of iron poisoning. Retinol (oil-soluble vitamin A) is toxic in large doses. As a general rule, most people can get the nutrition they need from foods. In any event, a multivitamin taken once a day will suffice for the majority of the population.

Weight-loss diets which manipulate the proportion of macronutrients (low-fat, low-carbohydrate, etc.) have not been found to be more effective than diets which maintain a typical mix of foods with smaller portions and perhaps some substitutions (e.g. low-fat milk, or less salad dressing). Extreme diets may, in some cases, lead to malnutrition. So please be very careful with these types if this is what you choose.

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The Truth About Getting Six Pack Abs

By Jules Verily

Lets be honest, six-pack abs don't come easy. But if you are determined and can combine a low-fat diet with some highly targeted ab-exercises for just 15 minutes a day, you too can get six-pack abs. Forget doing hundreds of crunches, these exercises will work your abs all-around for fast results. The most important part is to continue doing them everyday and gradually increase difficulty.

Nothing makes a body look better than a flat, sexy stomach with six pack abs. In fact, if you want to get six pack abs you have to strengthen your stomach muscles and lose overall body fat. You only need to do crunches and sit up 2 or 3 times a week to develop abs because you have to spend more time on whole body exercises. In another word, it is no use to focus on specific stomach exercises to much.

Ab workouts and exercise routines has been researched and tested by many fitness experts and bodybuilders. The following abs workout routine has shown to be the best in producing strength, stability and most of all a fantastic looking stomach. It does this by allowing the twitch fibres and neurones in the abdominal and oblique muscles to develop faster than any other routine.

To get six pack abs, you need to perform regular exercises that are effective for building abdominal muscles. There's just no way around it. But there is another equally important aspect that you need to pay attention to in order to build six pack abs, which is your diet. Many people spend long hours in the gym doping repetitive exercises but fail to take care of their diet and nutrition. Here are 4 important principles of diet for six pack abs.

Do you want to strengthen your abdominal muscles, lose body fat, and get six pack abs? The concept is generally simple. What makes it hard is how you put the concept into action. It takes your great dedication, patience, time, and determination to finally achieve leaner abs but in the end, your effort is more than worth everything.

Please be careful to use proper posture and form when doing your abs workout. People have hurt their backs and neck trying to attempt this result without proper training and understanding of the human's body approach. Also, know that the abs region is a very sensitive area where hypertension and other injuries can happen in a very split minute. Know your body and learn to listen to its needs, know how to get a six pack fast and enjoy your abs.

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Friday, November 27, 2009

How To Lose Belly Fat Fast?

By James Hopkins

Losing Belly Fat

Everyday we heard people mentioned about losing belly fat. However, what will the best way to lose belly fat? Thus are these way safe to implement? Are them consists of any health risk? Let?s take a look of the below tips on how to lose belly fat fast.

Water

Start your day with a glass of water. Water is important for trashing out toxin from our body. Thus they are the best medium for losing belly fat. Generally you are required to take at least six to eight big glasses of water everyday. Water ensured you body systems and metabolism functioning well.

Avoid Sugar

Please reduce the sugar intake in your diet menu. If possible, stay away from sweetened beverages like sodas and can drinks. Besides make sure you stop taking sweetened desserts like cheese cakes, puddings and cream tarts. These sweetened stuffs are the number one enemy for losing belly fat.

Healthy Diet And Eating Habits

A healthy diet is the key factor of losing belly fat. You will get rid of belly fat if you include fresh food in your diet. Limit yourself for taking three meals only in a day. No supper and snacks time. Learn to apply low calories food dressing to your food.

Exercises

There are several types of exercises to lose belly fat. These exercises are inclusive of swimming, jogging and surfing. However most of them are considered as cardio exercises. Train yourself to familiarize with these exercises. Make yourself believe that they are one of the key factors that help you to get rid of belly fat.

Take Weight Loss Supplements

Weight loss drugs also help in losing belly fat. Weight loss drugs like fat burning pills are needed for people that seriously over weight. However not all weight loss drugs are safe to consume. As such you need to take advice from doctors before you go for any weight loss drugs.

Weight Loss Surgery

People will not choose this unless they can?t think of other solution for losing belly fat. Thus weight loss surgery did contain risk on health. The most common weight loss surgery that we heard is fat liposuction. However the surgery might cause sight effects to the patient in long term.

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Thursday, November 26, 2009

The Number One Meal

By Susanne Marra

The best way to get off to a great start is to eat breakfast. I am sure you heard this growing up. I do not mean coco puffs!
You should try to eat some protein first thing in the morning. It will give you the energy you need to sustain you until you first snack.

I love a protein shake for breakfast. It's quick,easy, and I know it provides the nutrients I need. Organic protein powder is the beat choice. it is important because most regular protein powders have protein sources that have been exposed to pesticides, hormones and antibiotics. We should try to avoid putting these things in our body.

Another good option is egg white and turkey on wheat bread rather than white bread. You will get added fiber with whole grain bread and turkey is a great source of protein.

If you love cereal try oatmeal. Oatmeal has a low glycemic index so it will keep you feeling full for quite a while. If you are trying to lose weight is a good choice, especially if you currently eat sugary cereal. You should buy plain rather than flavored oatmeal. The flavored type can have too much sugar in them, or artificial sweetener. You can add a few raisins, apple chunks, and even almonds. All these add great flavor and should keep you satisfied for a while.

A good way to keep you metabolism up is to eat several small meals throughout the day. Grapes are an excellent option with a low glycemic index and high water content, ideal for hydration. Make some healthy snacks to eat during the day. You should always drink water during the day as well. we all need water! Here you can find great information on the water. http://thewatercure.com water. This site contains great information on the benefits of water

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Healthy Options to Consider Over Soda

By Alex Winston

I think I've been addicted to sodas ever since I was a kid. It was my favorite thing to drink at the age of five, and it's still my favorite drink over 30 years later. There's some kind of fix that a soda satisfies that other drinks simply can't.

The sweetness of soda can't be beaten in my mind. Some of my favorites, like cream soda, give me just the right amount, and a unique sense of satisfaction. As I get older, though, I fully acknowledge the fact that it's a habit I'd be better off putting an end to.

Aside from the fact that it causes cavities, too much soda can also make you excessively tired. Many point to sodas as a leading cause of diabetes too. It was time for me to make a change, and that's exactly what I've done.

If you're at a loss for what to drink in its place and can't come to terms with the idea of drinking water all day, any one of these drinks might do the job for you.

A simple alternative to soda is club soda. Free of any sugars or artificial substances, it also has no calories. The carbonation gives it a similar feel to that of soda, and there's really nothing bad about drinking it as far as your health is concerned.

If you seek a little more flavor, opt for a carbonated fruit drink. There are plenty of these, and the key will be to get one that's completely natural. One brand that you may enjoy is Fizzy Lizzy, as their brand of sparkling juice drinks has no additives and tastes great.

Lastly, green tea is very healthy and will give you some of the energy that you're used to getting with soda. Loaded with antioxidants, you'll be doing a great thing for your body by substituting soda with green tea.

All it takes is one substitute, and you'll be well on your way. Try out each of these in the hopes that you enjoy one of them as much as I do.

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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Dietary Tips To Lose Weight

By Christopher Rom

First you will need to determine what your ideal calorie level is. You need to calculate your approximate base metabolic rate using the calculator below. This is the number of calories you would burn if you were asleep 24 hours a day.

Personal Deficit

Part 1: It's recommend to recalculate for every 5 lbs you lose. At lower body weight you will require fewer calories for fat loss and also a lower deficit. Lesser aggressive deficits are used as your body's fat % goes down as it's more difficult to keep your lean mass as you get leaner. You want to avoid lean mass loss as much as possible.

Part 2: Allow yourself a treat once a week , or one day to take in higher amount of carbohydrates. Eating at your maintenance calories on this day is recommended. This will help keep your metabolic rate up, and help stave off cravings.

Gauging Your Progress

Measure yourself once every week or two to gauge your progress. Measure when you wake up after using the washroom. If you are female, not measuring when you are on your cycle as you will be retaining water as this will give you a false measurement. Some or all of the following measurements will change.

Customization

Estimated above your maintenance calories will be an approximation. Which may need to be adjusted due to how many calories you eat based on results. IF no results are seen in how your clothes fit, or with the measuring tape then lower your daily calories by 300. Wait 2 weeks and re-evaluate every 2 weeks.

DO NOT consume less than the number you calculated. IF no progress and you have lowered your calories to the estimated BMR, Read the article on repairing a damaged metabolism: Venuto - How to repair a damaged metabolism

Designing a Diet

* Get rid of junk foods from your home if possible - ie. chips, ice cream, pizza. They bring in a lot of extra calories. They also sacrifice your health. Save junk foods for the once per week "treat" with a maximum of 500 extra calories. * Meals that are based around a protein, a carbohydrate (fruit, vegetable or grain), and a fat. Is complete meal.

* Eat something before morning exercise and don't skip breakfast. You could end up burning muscle tissue.

* Water, water, water. If you don't drink enough water you may get more hungry when you are thirsty. Approximately 1 gallon a day, more if you are very active. Increase water intake slowly though, such as over the period of a week with an extra 16 oz per day.

* Store meals in tupperware containers and cook in advance. It can be frozen for later in the week. This prevents the "there was nothing ready to eat" excuse.

* Get a digital food scale and measure out your servings. No need to measure broccoli, you can guesstimate it and similar vegetables (ie. things with 20 or fewer calories per serving). * Intake at least 1 gram of protein per pound of goal weight (ie. if you would like to weigh 120 lbs, eat at least 120g of protein per day).

Advance Planning of Meals

A nutrition diary can help plan meals based on your desired caloric and macro-nutrient intake. You can either add the meals the day before, or you can use a word processor or spreadsheet program to write up week long meal plans in advance. Planning in advance helps with staying compliant to the meal plan as there are no "last minute" decisions to be made, and you can precook and store in tupperware in advance. Most meats last at most 4 days in the refrigerator, so advance cooking requires cooking twice per week or freezing of some meals.

A few Meal Examples/Ideas

1. 100 grams of cooked chicken breast, 2/3 cup cooked brown rice, 6 walnut halves, 1 cup strawberries.

2. 4 oz cooked measure sirloin steak, 1 cup broccoli, 200 grams sweet potato.

3. 0.5 cups 2% fat cottage cheese, 1 cup cubed cantaloupe

4. 3 oz shaved home cooked turkey breast, 2 slices 100% whole wheat bread, mustard or light mayo, 1 oz light cheddar sliced. Calorie Counting and Tracking Macro-nutrients

Three of the macro-nutrients are protein, carbohydrates and fats. Protein has 4 calories per gram, carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram, and fats have 9 calories per gram. Fiber contains between 0 and 2 calories per gram but we don't explicitly take this into account when doing ratios (just use total carbs, it will be close enough). Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram. Macro-nutrient Ratios

The percent of calories coming from a macro-nutrient ratio gives you the carbohydrates, protein or fat.

Strictness with a particular ratio could hurt your outcome, so the one you favor will be dependent on you. There is also no need to switch ratios when switching from cutting to bulking (although, you may wish to make changes for increased satiety when cutting, or decreased fullness when bulking). A macro-nutrient ratio gives you the percent of calories from each nutrient in your diet. Here are a few suggestions (again, no need to be strict):

Make sure that you are getting at least 1g of protein per pound of "goal" body weight. For fat loss, goal body weight is where you would like to end up. For muscle gain, use the body weight you expect to be in 6 months. So if you would like to weigh 120 lbs, then you would want at least 120 g of protein. As well, for dieting, 20% fat intake could put your fat intake very low, I suggest for most women to intake at least 40g of fat per day. Example

Needing 2000 calories, you are using a 40% carbohydrates, 40% protein, and 20% fat ratio (often written 40c/40p/20f), then you calculate the grams of each by the following calculation: You will be aiming for 200 grams of carbohydrates, 200 grams of protein, and 44 grams of fat per day. Assuming you are aiming for 5 meals a day, the easiest way to determine approximately what to intake per meal, is by dividing these numbers by 5.

The simple way to count calories and track macro-nutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fat) is through the use of free calorie tracking software such as Nutridiary. You simply add the foods in that you ate that day or, preferably, plan in advance by skipping ahead to the next day(s), and entering ahead of time.

I prefer Nutridiary for the ability to design meals that you can easily tweak to get desired nutritional amounts. Another website that is helpful is NutritionData. NutritionData is good for quick searching of nutrition info, and for calculating calories from recipes. I do hope that this will help you in your quest towards a healthier body, body weight and life!

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Monday, November 23, 2009

Whey Protein Sets The Body For A Great Day

By Nathaniel Millsby PHD

Protein powder can be an extremely effective tool in helping you build muscle mass, but it's not a miracle worker. A scoop of most protein powders, for example, is about 20 grams of protein, that's the same as a 3-ounce chicken breast. So it's no miracle worker.

Dairy products as well as eggs, cottage cheese, soy and vegetable protein also contain good amounts of protein. Nevertheless, none of these sources compares in quality or ease of use like whey protein. Whey protein has the highest value in providing branched-chain amino acids, which result in building and retaining muscle tissue.

Whey protein (the highest quality and best form of protein) is incredible stuff. It provides the body with the necessary building blocks to produce amino acids that are used for building muscle tissue. Whoa! Nearly every bodybuilder knows the importance of protein supplementation.

Studies have been conducted that compare whey protein to other sources. They have found that whey protein contains the perfect combination of overall amino acid makeup... and in just the right concentrations for optimal performance in the body.

Both hormonal and cellular responses seem to be greatly enhanced with supplementation of whey protein, too! Not to mention the benefits whey protein has on the body's immune system according to documented scientific research.

A lot of people struggle with getting enough protein at their breakfast. Stir that protein powder into your milk, pour that over your cereal, perfect. Stir it into your oatmeal.

So using it strategically to boost the protein at certain times of the day you need is gonna help you then increase recovery, increase muscle mass, increase strength.

But just because you use a protein powder, if you're using it in replacement of another meal, it's not gonna be a miracle worker. It's not automatically gonna make you stronger, faster, leaner.

Protein powder is designed to be taken everyday as a dietary supplement. Even if you aren't a bodybuilder, starting your day with a protein powder shake can provide nutritional benefits. While many nutritionists advise consuming protein throughout the day, a healthy boost of protein first thing in the morning can stabilize your blood sugar levels throughout the rest of the day.

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Sunday, November 22, 2009

How to Create a New Healthier You Over Fifty

By Juliette Crane

As our bodies age, our metabolism tends to slow as our activity levels reduce and it is not uncommon to get a bit of a tummy. Stomach acid and saliva production are reduced making it more difficult for the body to process food. As a result, we are less able to obtain the nutrition from the foods we eat. In particular, we can easily become deficient in vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid. As well, many enzymes and coenzymes that are essential building blocks of the body or digestive aids, are produced in far fewer numbers or in some cases are not produced at all. This can all sound a bit too scary, but don't worry. There are some simple steps you can follow to keep you healthy and your body functioning at optimal level.

Firstly, if you want the stamina to live well, it is important to eat a good breakfast. Many people are fully aware of the importance of breakfast and have in the past made sure their families ate properly before they started their day. You may not do the same thing for yourself once the children have grown up and left home. Breakfast can be easy and healthy. The combination of fruit, oatmeal, toast and juice or a hot drink, can provide an excellent and balanced start to the day.

Fruit should be your first choice for a mid morning snack. Full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants as well as high in vitamins, fruit is a great immune system booster. Smaller meals eaten more frequently, whether fruit or otherwise, make digestion easier and speed up metabolism making it less likely that you will gain weight as you age. Frequent, small meals also help to control blood sugar levels and prevent hunger.

A good, healthy lunch can include salads, healthy wraps, or soups. However, it might be a good idea to avoid creamy soups since milk products can cause flatulence as we age. The reason for this is likely to be because of a reduction in the production of lactase as we age so we are less able to digest milk sugar. Undigested lactose can cause diarrhea as well as flatulence. When cheese is aged more than sixty days, it contains very little lactose, so you may be able to tolerate it and obtain needed calcium if you otherwise cannot consume dairy products.

As you age, if you begin to show signs of food allergies that you never had before, they may not be food allergies at all. If your body is not able to properly digest certain foods, the symptoms can mimic those of some allergies. For example, gluten intolerance can cause real health problems that can often go undetected unless a physician asks the right questions. Wheat and many grain products contain gluten.

Supplement your diet with additional vitamins and minerals. Several companies produce vitamins created specifically for seniors. Try capsule forms for easier absorption. There are abundant amounts of coenzymes and enzymes that are available for purchase. One particularly interesting coenzyme is CoQ10. The Co stands for coenzyme. This is normally produced by the body but the production diminishes as you age. Many studies found this beneficial to those on cholesterol lowering drugs and people with beginning Alzheimer's or heart damage. Even though there has been no harmful side effects reported, it is always best to consult your doctor, particularly if taking other medications.

Youth can often provide a grace period during which we don't suffer the full consequences of bad eating. However, as we age, our bodies can seem to turn on us and we don't get away with nearly as much. Processed sugar is a serious health hazard which you need to minimize increasingly as you age. Sugar should only be eaten in the form of fruit. Along with some daily exercise, a healthy diet will leave you feeling healthier and more energetic.

More than anything, it is important to be positive, happy and enjoy life. Maintain an active life and stay interested in people and life in general. By simply changing your approach to eating, you can develop a new outlook to life. You can learn new healthier recipes, create interesting healthy menus and begin to enjoy food in a different way. Your generation changed the way youth was viewed and experienced. Are you ready to change the future of aging?

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Saturday, November 21, 2009

The Flabby Arms Will Go Away If You Ditch The Sugar

By Katherine Crawford M.S.

Some people believe that sugar addictions are not real. However, recent research has shown that sugar has drug-like effects on the brain. And anything drug-like is probably not good for your flabby arm mission.

You see, high levels of sugar consumption will chronically elevate the amount of insulin circulating in your blood. And insulin completely blocks the burning of arm fat. Therefore, eating lots of sugar will prevent you from obtaining flabby arm freedom.

In the end, you have to overcome any addiction to sugar you may have if you are really serious about getting lean and sexy arms.

So here is how to ditch the sugar so that the flabby arms go away:

1. Get ready for the shock. Just knowing that your body will crave sugar once you transition away from it gives you an edge. Mentally prepare for the urges and you will have a better chance of winning.

2. Stabilize levels of blood sugar. Once levels of blood sugar plummet, your body will send you on a sugar scavenging hunt. After a certain point, it will be nearly impossible to resist the cravings. So never let yourself go hungry if you want to get rid of those flabby arms.

3. Trick your nervous system. Your nervous system can only take in so much information at once. If you overload it with information, your sugar cravings will get blocked out. I recommend activities that require a lot of attention.

4. Have some fake sugar. Artificial sweeteners can trick your brain into thinking that it is getting sugar. You get the taste without the calories. The key here is to use them sparingly since we still do not know if they are safe.

5. Have some south American tea. Specifically, yerba mate. This stuff is strong and can completely block out your cravings for an entire day. The only issue here, however, is that if you take too much, you might not be able to sleep.

Getting rid of flabby arms and sugar addictions do not mix. I strongly recommend that you attack your sugar addiction head on if you really want lean and toned arms. Once the sugar intake is lowered, insulin will go down and you will be well on your way to flabby arm freedom.

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The Right Kind of Healthy Breakfast Foods

By Jamis Hartley

At the start of each day it is essential to give our bodies the nutrients needed to keep our bodies functioning through the daily demands. If we don't eat what our bodies need our body will begin to tell us so and most likely you will end up eating something you shouldn't. Skipping breakfast is not an effective way to lose weight or manage health.

By getting the healthy breakfast foods first thing in the morning we are able to perform at a much better level. Our appetites will not be for candy or sweets because our body is full and focused on the tasks of the morning. In order to stay satisfied your body wants the energy you are asking of it. If you are filling it with candy or sweets or other empty calories you cannot be healthy.

The highly advertised breakfast foods that our kids love so much (and adults too) are typically high in sugar and low in actual food content. They tell you it has the nutrients that are part of a healthy breakfast but it is nothing more than some add-in powder. You just as well eat a vitamin for breakfast, it has more of the vitamins and minerals anyway. Your body needs food, whole foods, like whole grains and fruits, something with substance.

Think about those foods that are typically offered for a quick breakfast and you're going to find processed sugars by the ton. Typical cold cereals may have high sugar, high fat aspects that give you edgy fluctuations in the glucose levels in your body later that morning. It's probably better to select something else, although you won't hear that from the ad agencies.

Healthy breakfast foods are going to be those that are more slowly broken down by your digestive system. Unlike the sugary cereals that boost your blood sugar to give you that boost but let you down, whole foods will fill your tummy and give you the sustainable energy to work and play and not snack and wait for the next meal. Real food with real ingredients and not just sugar and vitamins will keep your blood sugar steady and provide the nutrition your muscles and bones need.

To find healthier breakfast foods, look for those higher in fiber and whole grains. Believe it or not I do believe there are plenty of good boxed cereals that have the substance to them to sustain life. Unfortunately, it is hard to have the profit margin in the healthier foods to allow for the HUGE marketing budget of the sugary low value boxed cereals. The only way to sell the sugary garbage is spend millions on ads that will lead us to believe they will do the job. The smarter consumer however, will choose their healthy breakfast foods by looking at the nutritional facts.

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Friday, November 20, 2009

Is Thanksgiving Guilty, or Are We?

By Klint Newton

We all know that Thanksgiving has been labeled the least healthy eating day of the year. If you are on a diet, you will most likely blow it, or make yourself crazy trying to stick with it. With Thanksgiving's tradition of eating until you're ready to burst, it seems pretty logical to be scared.

We have labeled Thanksgiving as the least healthy holiday. Well, like we all know, it doesn't pay to hang out with the wrong kind of people. Thanksgiving should just be considered another day in November as far as it's affect of our health, it just happens to be guilty by association. The association we give it to food, and lots of it. With this being the United States of America, we are free to do as we wish, furthermore, eat as we wish. Let's take a closer look at the major food components to Thanksgiving before we judge too strictly.

The first offender, Turkey, the centerpiece of our Thanksgiving meal.

5 ounces of Turkey (White Meat): Total Fat: 11.8g Saturated Fat: 3.3 Trans Fat: 0 Cholesterol: 107.7 mg Sodium: 89.3 mg Carbs: 0 Protein: 40.5g

Turkey does have a little bit of fat, no saturated or trans fats though, but healthy unsaturated fats. There is a very small amout of cholesterol, sodium, and no carbs. It has tons of protein, and protein from turkey is a great source because it is a complete protein with all of the necessary amino acids. It seems like turkey is not bad for us, but actually healthy. The jury says that Turkey is innocent!

Now for Sweet Potatoes.

Sweet Potatoes, Dark Orange, Fresh, 5" long, Total Fat: .1g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 71.5mg Carbs: 26.2g Protein: 2g

It seems that sweet potatoes are fat free and cholesterol free. They are nearly free of sodium as well as protein. This vegetable, or root, has good carbs as well. These good carbs are complex, which means your body breaks them down slowly providing you with energy over time, instead of going straight to your hips or stomach as fat. It would appear that sweet potatoes are innocent also.

Now let's look at canned, sweetened cranberry sauce.

Cranberry Sauce, Sweetened and Canned, 3 slices: Total Fat: .3g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 49.6mg Carbs: 66.5g Sugars- 64.5.g Protein: .3g

Well, it appears that cranberry sauce is fat free, please remember that the FDA lets food be labeled as fat free, preservative free, or trans fat free as long as there is less than .5g of the substance per serving. Please don't think that everything is actually fat free. Just think of it as .49g of fat per serving. Canned cranberry suace has no cholesterol and a very low sodium level. It does have 66.5g of carbs, 64.5g of those are sugar. Think of those 65g being pasted right to your belly, that's not a pretty sight. It looks like canned cranberry sauce is guilty!

Up next, stuffing:

Stuffing, bread, prep/dry mix 1/2cup Total Fat: 8.6g Saturated Fat: 1.7g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 543mg Carbs: 21.7g Sugars: 2.1g Protein: 3.2g

Well, stuffing has a small amount of fat, but not bad fat. There is a limited amount of cholesterol and protein, but tons of sodium as with most boxed or canned foods. It has a little bit of carbs from the white bread mix, but it's not from sugar and actually has less carbs than a can of soda, so it seems like stuffing is innocent.

The jury is in, we've seen all we need to see. Turkey is not bad but healthy, sweet potatoes are not bad but healthy, cranberries are healthy, but the sweetened canned version is loaded with sugar, and stuffing isn't healthy, but isn't bad.

So, is Thanksgiving innocent or guilty? It's innocent. Think about it, if we eat a serving of turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberries (not the canned sugary kind), and stuffing, we actually have a pretty healthy meal made of real, natural food. For some, it would be the healthiest meal they have eaten in a while.

Now who do you think is actually guilty?

Well, that's obvious. The truth is, if you eat anything in excess, even the most healthy foods, you will gain weight. If you eat more calories than you burn, you will gain weight.

So what's the big deal? Thanksgiving has only gotten it's bad image because we overeat, and not only on the healthy stuff. We fill ourselves full of dinner and dessert. I know I don't have to tell you how bad dessert can be, so I'm not going to. Just take it easy.

Let's stop accusing Thanksgiving, and get real with ourselves. How about this year we take responsibility for ourselves and call it quits when we know we should. We won't feel guilty, or miserable and actually enjoy our time with family. This year let's be thankful for our family and that fact that we have so many leftovers.

Happy Thanksgiving

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Why Fat Loss Supplements Are Unsuccessful - Discover the Secrets Now

By Josh Wintrop

Even though there are literally thousands of weight loss products out on the market right now, there is still an epidemic of obesity that afflicts thousands upon thousands of people nationwide.

There are critics who place the blame on the overweight public, saying they are just stubborn. That simple folks like us are simply not capable of working our way towards a healthier life. The "health experts" have it wrong and regular folks are not going to take their insensitivity any longer.

There certainly is a good reason why almost all weight loss products and solutions do not work. And to tell you the truth, there's really a secret that the weight loss industry does not want you to know.

That dirty little secret is that all of those pills, plans and programs are designed to fail. You see, it is matter of greed. If their products actually realized real results, then they would be out of business.

This is the closely guarded secret that the establishment does not want you to know. The industry wants you to buy more pills and fat loss supplements. Because, let's face it. They are not in business to make you a better person, they are in business to make money.

And often, the products that they market can cause you to become sick or cause health problems years down the road. No matter what they say, you are still consuming chemicals and artificial additives that can harm your body. Some of these products have even recently been found to cause a multitude of health issues, even when they were purported to be safe!

The answer to obesity and weight problems do not lie in some fancy weight loss products. The top secret fat loss secret can be found closer than you think. In fact, get a mirror and take a look. You see, the top secret fat loss secret is inside you! The things that make you fat and grossly overweight are embedded right in your gut and deep in your bowels.

Since the invention of sweeteners, preservatives and other artificial ingredients, your system has been inundated with things that are bad for it. These things sit in your digestive system, waiting for you to give it something that will flush all those nasty elements out. They will continue to breed and multiply as long as they are in there.

They can reach a combined weight of 25 to 30 pounds if they are left. Now, if you could flush these impurities out of your digestive system, how much healthier would you look and feel? And on top of that, you could even lose up to 25 pounds? How awesome would that be?

Losing excess weight however is not the only benefit that you can get if you flush the nasty critters and parasites that crawl freely in your gut. There are many toxins, chemicals and other bad for you things trapped inside your digestive system. These things are constantly seeping into your system, causing all sorts of health issues.

An inefficient digestive system means that your body is not processing everything it consumes. The excess nutrients are converted to fats and stored in your body. And this is why it does not matter if you are taking the latest fat loss pill. If your body cannot process the ingredients, you are basically fighting a losing battle. The parasites in your gut will prevent you from losing weight.

Therefore, the best way to lose the weight is to actually eliminate these organisms from your body. In a few days you will see and feel results, as you will be thinner and healthier than ever before.

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Bingo Wings-How To Get Rid Of Them With Less Insulin

By Katherine Crawford M.S.

There is ultimately one hormone that controls whether or not you can reduce bingo wings: insulin. Thus, your main priority when trying to get rid of the dreaded bingo wings is to lower this hormone.

No matter how much you exercise, if your levels of insulin are high, you will NOT be able to lose arm fat. There is no way around this simple truth.

Thus, here are 5 tips for reducing bingo wings by lowering insulin:

1. Stay away from whole grains. Despite what you have heard, whole grains are not the best source of carbohydrates when it comes to getting toned arms. Instead stick to legumes and beans. They digest a lot slower than whole grains.

2. Use balance. If you want the lowest levels of insulin possible and the fastest reduction in bingo wings, you need all macronutrients in your diet. Leave one out and you will slow down progress. Make sure you have protein, carbohydrates, fats and vegetables in as many meals as possible.

3. Beat the sugar addiction. Depending on how addicted you are, you may need to use some powerful loose leaf teas to aid the cause. You see, research has consistently shown that high intakes of sugar can alter brain levels of dopamine. Be prepared for this effect and deal with it accordingly.

4. Stay away from the spirits. By spirits I mean alcohol. You see, alcohol is one tricky drink. A little of it is great for you, but a lot is absolutely horrible. Specifically, it increases abdominal fat which has a direct impact on insulin.

5. Squash emotional black holes. If you tend to over eat in order offset negative areas of your life, you have to attack the problem at the root. You should only eat because your body needs the food, not because your mind needs it. This can be a tough feat, however. If you cannot do it alone, then please seek professional help.

If you can master insulin, you will master the process of reducing bingo wings. No woman should have to endure the hindrance of having too much arm fat. You deserve sexy and lean arms today, so do not put off taking action until tomorrow.

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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Decreasing Weight By Eating, Shown By Eagan's Weight Loss Programs

By Rob Smith

To reduce weight leads to the fact you ought to burn fat in your body. This is why people who trains frequently are more successful in reducing more weight than those who do not.But if you are not the person who work out regularly, you can still lower the excess fat by eating.

Lose weight by eating? Ironic but real, you can lessen weight by eating certain kinds of foods. If you fuse your exercise routine-even if you don't do it continuously-with the correct eating habits. Change to healthier food groups . Consume foods that are high in fibers and some other minerals so that you can notice large change in your body.

The friendly consultants from the Body Project Studio will tell you the foods you should eat to reduce weight. Eat these continuously and you will see best results. You need to be aware however, that you do at least a short exercise to pump up the results.

If you are looking for a plain routine that suits you, Eagan's personal trainers will help you find one.

Fresh fruits - Aside form having no cholesterol, fruits are high in vitamins and fibers that help you eradicate fat. Fruits like pear and grapefruit are highly told Pears will lower your appetite so you don't consume a lot of calories. Grapefruit meanwhile have a special fiber and natural emulsifiers that burn fat fast.

Almonds and other nuts - researchers have learned that almonds can aid lessens weight. Although high in calories, they are cholesterol-free and high in protein, phosphorous, zinc, magnesium, and Vitamin E. Fats that are located in nuts are the ones in charge for making you feel full and the proteins assist in burning calories.

Beans - Beans have resistant starch which destroys fat fast. Studies have resulted that when added to your daily food, it can help burn up to 25% more fat.

Chocolates - Specifically dark chocolates have anti oxidants and flavonoids that are very significant in weight loss. Researchers from Taiwan have learned that these elements are significant in weight loss and decrease the risk of obesity.

Green tea, wine, and coffee - These common beverages are also high in antioxidants and flavonoids. Because of their flavonoid content, these beverages contains anti-inflammatory abilities that both help lessens hunger and burn stored fat.

Fused with the proper exercise, digestion of these foods will put you to your desired objective sooner than you think.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Useful Pointers To Follow When Burning Fat

By Josh Wintrop

Nutrition plays an important role in burning fat in addition to following a regular fitness work out program. Eating a diet made of few calories can improve how the body cuts weight. Taking care of the kinds of food to feed the body can help.

One method to cut on caloric intake is by avoiding unnecessary eating. This can lead to feeding on just the required amount of calories. It is advisable to graze on foods that have health benefits and little energy to the body.

Aim to enjoy small portions of foods through out the day. Including nutritious items in your weight loss plan as options to graze on can help you stick with the program. You can buy nutritious food items to graze on during the day. This provides vital compounds to the body and you also get sufficient energy.

It is important to watch out for the calories of the foods you use as snacks. You can make healthy changes such as substituting carbonated sodas, sugary coffee or tea with water. This can cut the amount of sugar in your diet to bring about some weight loss. Water provides proper hydration to body functions and it has no calories. Your body is also cleansed as a result of taking water regularly.

Other small changes that can have a good impact on your body when burning weight include keeping away from unhealthy substances. Alcohol and cigarettes depletes your body of vital nutrition. They can results to a slowed rate of how your body burns fat. These are small measures you can include in your program. They might appear insignificant but they bring positive benefits when used along side a healthy weight loss plan.

It is good to know that indulging continuously in unhealthy foods is likely not going to allow the body burn fat. The reason is that these substances pile excess calories back into the body. This happens as extra energy available in such foods causes you to exceed caloric needs.

It is good plan what to eat so as not to fall back into your old feeding habits. You can do this by buying healthy food options. Get nutritious items to add to your diet and avoid those with high calories. This helps in maintaining the good health of your muscles and body.

Aim to have the best nutrition for your body. Make sure you include foods that provide energy and develop lean tissue in the body. Proteins and carbohydrates are necessary for this function. Taking plain water, good portions of ripe fruits and natural vegetables helps in providing useful compounds which assist the body to lose weight.

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Why Liquid Diets Are Not Effective for Weight Loss

By Walter Marsaki

Liquid diets are popular among people who want rapid weight loss. But are they really good?

Just taking liquid diets for many days is absolutely unhealthy habit. You expect rapid weight loss based on just liquid diets, but you forget that you will lose muscles mass when you go for such dieting.

It is not possible to get the required energy needed by your body from liquid diets. So what will the body do?

At first, the body will try to get energy by burning fat then later on will burn muscles to gain more energy. So you will lose muscles with continued use of liquid diets.

Once you start eating solid food, the weight that you lost might come back again. But the muscles are unlikely to be back so easily.

In order to gain back the lost muscles, you have to do regular exercises. When you lose muscles, your body becomes weak.

As muscle loss makes your body weak, it is not a good practice to embark on liquid diets for fast weight loss.

Most liquid diets consist of low calories in the range of 400-800 calories per day. Many overweight people will not be accustomed to such low calorie intake.

Drastically reducing the calorie intake might cause unwanted side effects. A better approach is to go slowly and steadily. Wanting to lose weight overnight, can cause you serious health problems.

The major problems of liquid diets which we discussed above are as follows - muscle tissue loss, body weakness, difficulty in keeping the weight off, drastic reduction in calories.

Remember that you cannot continue liquid diets forever. Once you start solid foods, it can get pretty difficult to maintain the weight loss. The weight is likely to come back. As such, liquid dieting is a temporary solution.

Once you start eating solid foods again, it can get pretty difficult to keep the weight from coming back again. Sometimes, you may gain back more weight than your original weight.

Such rapid weight loss tactics will cause more of muscle loss than real fat loss. They might also cause reduction in metabolic rate.

One thing you have to be careful about is that you should not continue liquid diets for may days. Otherwise you may face serious health problems.

Prolonged use of such diets can cause kidney as well as lung problems. Your immune system may also suffer. Kidneys and lungs are very important organs of your body and deserve utmost care.

I am sure, no one will like to cause permanent damage to these organs. Hence it is better to try to lose weight through healthy methods.

Remember - liquid dieting is not at all effective when it comes to permanent weight loss. So it is not at all recommended as a means of fast weight loss.

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Informed People Make Healthy Choices

By Dr. Jason Fowler

Being an informed patient is an empowering concept.1 In the modern healthcare marketplace, the doctor-patient relationship has become a two-way street. It's no longer a situation in which the doctor tells the patient what to do. Today, patients can be full partners in managing their own care and well-being.2

What does it take to be an informed patient, one who will participate in a meaningful way and not be merely the passive recipient of the doctor's instructions and recommendations?

The first key is to identify a doctor - a chiropractor or family physician, depending on the circumstances - in whom you have confidence. Here are a few essential points to consider:

The doctor has spent enough time with you on the first visit. The doctor has focused on you, and has not been distracted by all the other things happening in the office. The doctor has satisfactorily answered all your questions. The doctor's recommendations are clear, and you understand what the next steps are going to be.

The questions you ask are not just to keep talking and capture more of the doctor's time spent with you. An informed patient does some preparation - some homework - before the actual office visit. The Internet offers a lot of valuable information on both chiropractic and medical treatment. And, it is important to remember that not all information is accurate and authoritative - consider the source of the "information".

Consider the author's background and affiliations. You should consider the potential for bias. Is the site itself up-to-date - for example, are there "dead links" on the site.

Do your best to evaluate your doctor's recommendations. First, what are the expected results? How quickly should you begin to feel better? Are there potential side-effects of the recommended treatment? What are the alternatives?

Alternatives may include other forms of therapy within the doctor's office and may also include consultation with another specialist. The main point is not to be left with a confusing array of choices, but to have enough information to go forward with a treatment plan that makes the most sense, both to your doctor and to you.

If a prescription is involved, make sure you write down the exact spelling of the medication and the exact dosage and frequency. Prescriptions are usually scribbled, and both doctors and pharmacists can make a mistake. Don't let your doctor simply hand you an illegible piece of paper. Insist on ensuring that you understand what is being prescribed, and be sure to ask your doctor about potential side effects, risks, and interactions with any other medicines you may be taking.

As in all relationships, the doctor-patient relationship is based on clear communication and mutual trust and understanding. You can help your doctor help you by being an informed patient and participating in the decision-making process.

1Informed Consent. "Ethics in Medicine". University of Washington School of Medicine. http://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/consent.html#ques1 2"Be an active healthcare consumer". Agency for Healthcard Research and Quality. http://www.ahrq.gov/path/beactive.htm

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Having Difficulty with Portion Control? Switch to a Raw Diet and Lose Weight

By Alistair Bedingford

Even though you might know that you are eating too much it can be very difficult to stop and control your intake. It is surprising to discover that people on raw food diets don?t have this problem. Here are some of the reasons why.

Raw Food Takes Longer to Eat

Many people know that it takes around 20 minutes for the body to recognize that it is full. This is why most people who are trying to lose weight are reminded to slow down. Raw food can be very helpful for people who have a difficult time slowing down because it takes longer to eat and chew. This gives you time for your body to communicate that it has had enough.

Raw Food Has a Lower Calorie Ratio

Raw foods have much more fiber and water than cooked foods because the cooking process can break down the fiber and remove the moisture. Hence raw food has a lower calorie ratio than cooked food meaning that you will feel full before you have had the chance to eat too many calories.

Many highly processed foods also have a very low nutrient to calorie ratio. This might result in the body trying to get its required nutrients by needing more food and more food means more unnecessary calories.

Processed Foods Do Not Communicate as Well with Your Body

Processed foods are designed to be laden with the basic flavors that the human body finds irresistible. We are genetically wired to crave fats, sugars and salts. When you consume such food your body is bombarded by these tastes making you want to eat more and overpowering signals that tell you that you are full.

So go raw and stop over eating by slowing down, eating fewer calories and more nutrients and by being able to know when you are full before you are stuffed.

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Sunday, November 15, 2009

How To Get Skinny Without The Hype!

By Lorainne Phyllis

There are millions of americans who would all love to learn what they can do to learn how to get skinny and get back into shape. The internet is one of the first places that people begin searching for; you should know that this article was written to assist you with just that.

We wanted to share some of the tips that most people have used to be able to shed the weight and keep it off permanently. We all know that it does not take a rocket scientist to get into shape. Unfortunately so many of us in today's society seem to be carrying around excess weight that is keeping us unhealthy.

Now what is the deep secret that will teach me how to get skinny and keep off the weight? The only thing that you need to do is learn what types of foods to eat and how to eat the right portion sizes plus begin exercising on a daily basis. The great thing is that you do not have to do long strenuous workouts; all you have to do is begin working out with small workouts on a daily basis.

Of course this is where most people tend to get off track. We all hope and pray that there are ways that we can begin shedding weight without having to do any type of exercise. So you might as well know that if you are serious about learning how to get skinny then you had better get up off that couch.

However if you want to implement healthy weight loss tactics this is the only way to get that accomplished. So if you want to find out right now how to get skinny and keep off the excess weight then be sure to visit the site below for valuable tips and information that will have you get back in the best shape of your life.

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Saturday, November 14, 2009

Exercises To Select When Attempting Weight Reduction

By Connor Sullivan

Losing weight can be a daunting prospect for many, many people. People are often desperate and sometimes willing to try any and all weight loss plans. Some plans, such as eating raw food or following a raw food diet can assist with weight loss while promoting good health and eating habits to boot. Some weight loss plans which rely on pills or chemical supplements can indeed provide at least temporary weight loss but can do damage to the health of an individual. Once an individual finds the right healthy weight loss plan that he or she is comfortable living with, it is time to add on a workout program. Sure, food modifications alone can provide an individual with the weight loss they seek, however, for optimal health and fitness, and to help tone up "stretched out" skin as weight loss is occurring, doctors and nutritionists alike recommend sticking to an exercise program. There are a few tried and true exercise options that can be incorporated into various weight loss programs. The following are some exercise favorites. Do not forget to check with your physician before beginning any exercise.

Walking is the easiest fitness choice for beginners. Walking for approximately thirty minutes each day is a great way to ease into better health and fitness. Brisk, sustained, walking, which elevates the heart rate is a great way to get some cardiovascular care while sweating off calories as well. Walking is easy on the joints, great for the heart, relaxing, and just plain fun. Walking is the economical choice too, as no gym membership or home workout machines are needed. Although, some people do choose to use a treadmill for winter time walking or for convenience, many find it unnecessary.

Jogging is a popular choice for those looking to tone up and get fit. All the same benefits of walking can be found in jogging, however, the jogger often will "speed up the process" seeing results sooner. Jogging or long distance running can be difficult on the joints in particular so be careful to ease into it to avoid discomfort or injury.

Cycling is a great option for an individual trying to get involved in an exercise program. Cycling can be a hobby as much as it is a sport. Cyclist are often very enthusiastic about what they do and have a real love for their sport. Cycling is a wonderful cardiovascular activity and the benefits to the lower body muscles are incredible. Upper body conditioning is present too. Indoor cycling can take several forms. Many exercisers choose to purchase stationary bikes in either upright or recumbent style. Cycling is a great outdoor or indoor workout.

Maintaining a weight program is a super option for getting fit. Often with the help of a trainer, people are finding it possible to maintain a weight lifting program to tone and strengthen muscles. People attempting to loose weight and stay healthy are finding themselves able to shave inches off their waist line, thus increasing heart health. While lifting weights was once thought to be nothing more than a way to bulk up, the benefits of weights for building lean muscle mass are now widely known .

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The Three Secrets to Drop off Fat Easily

By Joen Devenport

1) Prepare Practical Goals

You need to set some realistic goals to work for. It is crucial for us to see results and get a sense of accomplishment. while you set goals you must prepare both long-term and short-full term goals.

First you should have a final actual like say you want to lose 50 pounds, that is obviously a long-full term goal. A great weekly goal would be to drop off 5 pounds. You don't wish to begin out with a goal which is chimerical as if you don't achieve it then you drop off self-confidence and don't feel like you are reaching anything so you'll get down on yourself.

You must pen this down in your planner and deal it like any other important appointment you have. You may need to talk over this with your family so they know which time of the day you are busy and unobtainable, if they need something during which time then they ought to do it themselves. You need 3 - 5 hours a week for you; your family will need to understand. If you want to drop off weight fast you will actually need to stay dedicated.

2) Lift Weights The secret to quick weight loss is making lean muscle. If you understand that and you work towards that particular goal then you would begin to drop off fat quickly. In fact lifting weights, doing aerobic exercise and having a good, nutritious diet is actually the just fast way to lose fat. If you think you may just run on a treadmill or elliptical machine and the fat will just melt away, think over. Lean muscle is what burns the most calories and you need to life weights to create bigger muscles that will burn more calories.



3) Alter Your Diet This is obviously a very important piece of the puzzle if you wish to lose weight fast. Our food choices contribute directly to being overweight, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. We all know the dangers of eating fatty foods and yet Americans still get 40% of their calories from fat. So we know that exercise is important for burning calories and our nutrition is the fuel.

You need to consume the proper foods to feed the machine and drop off fat fast. You need to Select lean meats and poultry for protein. You need protein to build your muscles which helps you to drop off weight fast as it increases your metabolism. When you are trying to build lean muscle try to eat about 1 gram of protein for every pound of your desired fat. So if you fat 160 pounds but you should weight 125 pounds then try to consume 125 grams of protein.

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Friday, November 13, 2009

Your HCG Diet Planner: HCG Diet Direct

By Amelia Handley

Have you heard of HCG? It's a rare person nowadays who hasn't. We've all known or at least heard of someone who has dropped an amazing amount of weight in a ridiculously short period of time and it's all because of HCG. 1 to 2 pounds of average weight loss per day is hard to ignore; especially when the method is all natural.

So if you're considering taking advantage of it yourself you'll want to know the basics. HCG is actually a natural element found in (and produced by) the human body called human chorionic gonadotropin. It's often been called the pregnancy hormone because of its connection to the reproductive process. It's even used as an early indicator of pregnancy.

The HCG levels increase during pregnancy because it has a physiological function to fulfill. It increases progesterone production; vital to the pregnancy. HCG was originally introduced as a weight loss aid by Dr. Simeons, an endocrinologist, over 50 years ago.

Until the last few years the HCG weight loss methods was only available to a very exclusive group at very astronomical prices. The average Joe (or Mary for that matter) couldn't afford to take advantage of the benefits even if they did somehow know of its existence. Getting a HCG diet planner in today's market is much easier for members of the general public. There are many HCG based weight loss clinics, practitioners offering HCG weight loss options and online HCG diet planners to provide the necessary tools for successful weight loss.

Online HCG diet planners seem to be a popular choice for many due to the added advantages. One reputable online source for your HCG weight loss needs is HCG Diet Direct. They offer guidance, information on the industry and the product and the diet. They offer additional tools to make success a probability for dieters. They are a full range HCG diet planner aiding people who want to take advantage of the amazing results that go with proper HCG use.

HCG Diet Direct's program depends upon the homeopathic HCG weight loss formula. Through proper use of the formula dieters can see up to 1 to 2 pounds of weight loss daily. It requires a very strict diet with only 500 calories allowed per day. And to see the results you must follow the rules exactly. But most find the rules easy to stick to as they see immediate weight loss results and look forward to reaching their goal weight.

To access further information from an online HCG diet planner...access HCG Diet Direct's website. The site is full of free information that will ensure you know what you need to know in order to succeed on the diet.

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Calorie Restricted Diets Might Be Best Bet To Stop Illness And Halt Aging

By Kirsten Whittaker

Adults, and especially younger people, have one more rationale for reducing the calories you take in each day. If the monkeys from some terribly positive research appearing in Science are any guide, by following calorie prohibited diet plans you'll increase longevity, look younger and stay disease free.

Monkeys, as close as you can get to humans, fed a low calorie diet live longer, have fewer indications of aging and less illness - conditions like cardiovascular disease, brain atrophy and even cancer - according to new fascinating research.

In the twenty-year research, the school of Wisconsin-Madison researchers discovered half of the monkeys permitted to eat as they wished were still alive, while eighty percent of monkeys who ate the same foods but with a 3rd fewer calories have survived.

Other experts think the long lifespan of monkeys ( about 40 years ) means assumptions on longevity and diet can't yet be exprapolated and we want to wait a little bit to be certain.

This pioneering but long-term study started in'89 with 30 rhesus macaques and was intended to have a look at the health results of a calorie-restricted diet.

Previous work from'35 had shown that mice fed a calorie restricted diet lived up to 40% longer - the researchers wanted to work out if the same may be true for primates.

In'94 the research was increased with the addition of 46 additional animals. All of the subjects were adults when they were enrolled, and of the original 76 in the study, 37% of the control monkeys lost their lives to age-implicated causes --% of the animal's fed a prohibited calorie diet died of similar consequences.

The incidence of cancerous growths and coronary disease in the monkeys who ate restricted calorie diet plans was half that of the animals permitted to eat what they preferred.

In reality, the oldest monkey still in the study is control subject Owen, who is twenty-nine, two years older than the average life-span of twenty-seven years in captivity.

One of the more noteworthy findings of the study came in the case of diabetes ( or pre-diabetes ).

This illness was discovered in 42% of the control monkeys who ate as they liked and none of the monkeys on the limited calorie diets.

And when it comes to brain health, the animals who ate a low cal diet were better off here too, according to Sterling Johnson, a neuroscientist and another of the researchers.

The report revealed that the areas of the brain that are tied to short-term memory and problem solving are better preserved in these subjects.

These same brain scan results have been noticed in other research on animals like fish, mice, worms, rodents and spiders. All the gurus can say for sure at the moment is that there are differences in places of the brain that could be related to the subjects diet.

A controlled number of these same kinds of studies have been attempted on humans, and have resulted in fewer signs of cardiovascular aging according to professionals.

More work needs to be done, and researchers who study getting older are divided on what stock to put in this work, but that doesn't suggest there's not a ggod case for following calorie restricted diets to keep your body healthy today and also as you age.

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How Many Calories Do You Need to Drop off Weight?

By Nik Tartin WS

The calories required to lose weight can vary considerably depend on how much weight you need to drop off. Losing fat is all about energy using up coupled with the amount of calories consumed in a day, so if you increase activity as well as make wiser food choices, you may in reality get away with eating more.

Finding Your Calories needed to lose weight:

While it might be a little complex to determine personal calories required to drop off fat on your own, there are some online resources which may assist you in this regard.

If you want to drop off weight, then know that a pound of fat is about 3,500 calories, so you need to consume 3,500 fewer calories or expend 3,500 more calories to drop off a pound in a week.

Women should multiply their fat in pounds by 12, men by-- and that's how Many calories you need to maintain fat. To lose fat, drop 500 calories a day from that to lose one pound in a week.

Slow and Steady: You'll note that most of the online calorie calculators suggest losing about a pound of fat a week. While it is surely possible to drop off more fat in a week if you really worked at it, but this is a healthy rate and simple for most people to achieve either through eating less or by moving more.

If you think about this last statistic, that cutting 500 calories a day can assist you lose one pound in a week, you can see that it doesn't have to be hard to lose weight, especially if you are working out more in addition to your less eating.

If you burned just 300 more calories in a day exercising you'll just need to cut about 250 calories from your daily diet in order to lose one pound a week. If you unite cutting calories and working more, you could drop off two pounds a week and meet your weight loss goals even faster.

The main trouble with counting calorie as a means to lose weight is that we tend to underrate how much we are eating. We may not know the calorie counts of foods which we eat out. Keeping a food diary can assist track exactly what you're eating, or you may just replace high-calorie foods with more vegetables and fruit and you would be well on your means to losing weight.

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All and Sundry Say - "I Need to Reduce Fat Fast!"

By Nik Tartin WS

It's so silly that it's a joke. Almost everyone on this planet has said these words at least once in their life time "Aaargh! I need to drop off weight! I look fat!" But if you look at it we don't in reality do anything to lose all that baby fat! But no matter, how Many diet books we read, or diet tips we pick up, you would not drop off any fat unless actually you try to motivate yourself to commit to your diet.

Motivation is the key to any difficult task. You may not like dieting, or exercise and unless you motivate yourself to drop off weight you are not going to get anywhere. Recollect that life is short and it's something you should enjoy when you are young. If you are overweight and tired all of the time then you would not be able be able to do all the things you have planned for yourself.

Set a reward system for your self which works. You have to keep in mind that if you are going to lose weight you have to keep restating to yourself "I have to drop off weight." pace yourself in your chosen program (it can green tea weight loss, running for fat loss or even abdominal fat loss regimes).

If your weight loss has been appreciated, don't rest on your laurels but up the fat loss regime straightaway. If such a small amount of weight loss can get you so much appreciation; then imagine what will happen when you lose at least ten pounds! Remember that you cannot jump right into a weight loss and exercise routine if you have never exercised earlier. Just be slow and steady and you should be fine. Keep your goal in mind and with the correct attitude, you will be able to adhere to your weight loss regime.

Even if you lose a single pound try to commend yourself and tell every one of your success. People would value your success and try out to follow your weight loss routine. But follow a healthy pattern of eating by eating small meals rich in fruits and veggies.

Do not try to starve yourself, as which does not work. eat the right food at the proper time and you will lose weight. At Last there will come a time when you follow a weight loss routine not to drop off fat but to be healthy and in shape. Motivate yourself to drop off fat and you would be fine; you won't be telling yourself "I need to lose weight"!

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The Truth On The Subject Of Getting Six Pack Abs

By Josh Wintrop

Any time you turn on the television, you are subjected to the sight of actors, models, and stars talking about their wonderfully sculpted, flat tummies. This can be frustrating, right? Why? Even though these people make it seem simple to get toned abs, you don't seem to have the same luck in your own life. However, have you been doing the best things? If you know what you need to do, getting that sculpted midsection you want is actually fairly simple.

It is an unfortunate fact, that many people whose main focus is gaining six-pack abs, tend to spend all of their time on abdominal exercises, and neglect to pay attention to the other elements necessary to achieve their objective.

With the TV models spouting a laundry list of reasons that our stomachs get flabby, it is very hard for viewers to find the reality in all of it. The way you and your midsection look are attributable to your age, gender, genetics, health condition, lifestyle, and many other things as well. The spare-tire look that most men end up with is due to the fact that they naturally store fat in the midsection. When it comes to women, the fat is stored in the lower abdominal area, which creates that little pooch.

You can do your best to workout and decrease body fats, but determining where the fat will be reduced is impossible. It can be a bit more difficult to get a flat stomach since you have to concentrate on that area in particular to get the results you want. It is essential to choose an effective, comprehensive program to ensure that you will reach your goal. The difficulty of having a goal of a flat stomach is that you have to cut out body fat significantly, and this either can be hard for you to do or simply harmful to your health.

If you are a person whose health prohibits these lifestyle changes, than you will only experience frustration in your attempts. Your only realistic answer it to set an attainable goal, that, over a long period of time, you can conceivably achieve. You should set goals that are possible for you to reach, which means you have to accept the fact that your body might not be perfect even after you work out. Rather than becoming agitated, it's useful if you begin challenging yourself by getting over the fact that your body won't be perfect and paying attention to your overall well-being.

You might be misinformed and start getting the wrong ideas if you keep watching infomercials that tell you tips on how to get a flat stomach. Be wary of weight loss pills and supplements, abdominal exercise machines and strange weight loss mechanisms, particularly when they claim you can reach your weight loss goals in a very short amount of time. In order to make permanent, effective changes in your body, you should not expect an overnight fix.

It's difficult to attain a firm, toned and sculpted body. Those strange machines and gadgets are not necessary to give your abs the workout they need. In order to get a great stomach, do abdominal exercises, the correct cardiovascular training workouts and eat the right food.

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Top 5 Quick and Easy Breakfast Ideas

By Adriana Noton

Because breakfast provides people with the fuel to start the day, it is one of the most important meals of the day. Eating breakfast keeps one alert, awake, energetic, and focused. Because we all have busy lifestyles, it can often seem too time consuming to make breakfast. Fortunately, there are many quick and easy breakfast ideas that help one make time to have a good and healthy start to the day.

The following are top 5 quick and easy breakfast ideas:

1. Cereals are a popular way of getting a quick breakfast. There are many healthy cereals that contain oats, bran, and wheat. Popular healthy cereals include Mini-Wheats, Cheerios, and Raisin Bran. You can balance the meal with a piece of toast, fruit, and glass of milk. Both children and adults love this easy to make breakfast meal. You can also use a slow cooker to cook oatmeal overnight. In the morning you will have a hot and delicious meal. Add fruit and cinnamon to add flavor to the hot meal.

2. The night before, you can boil some eggs, peel them, and store them in the refrigerator. As well, mix different cut up pieces of fruit in a bowl and store in the refrigerator. In the morning you just have to warm up the boiled eggs and uncover your fruit bowl. It is quick and easy. Sprinkle some granola over the fruit and make a piece of toast or toasted English muffin.

3. A delicious breakfast sandwich is another easy to make meal. Toast an English muffin and spread butter or mayonnaise. Add several slices of cheese and a few slices of sliced deli meats. You can add veggies to the sandwich if you want. Along with the sandwich, have a glass of milk and some fruit or yogurt.

4. There are a number of easy breakfasts meals that do not require preparation. This can include: store bought sliced banana bread or muffins and breakfast bars that include cereal bars, oatmeal bars, and granola bars. Yogurt is another example of a quick food for people on the go. It is very healthy and you can add fruit and granola to the yogurt. There are a variety of yogurt flavors available. A fruit smoothie is another popular breakfast food. Just mix fruit, yogurt, and fruit juice in a blender and you have a thick and filling meal.

5. If you are making a mad rush out the door, grab a piece of fruit such as a banana. It will give you energy and keep your stomach from rumbling. You can even make a peanut butter sandwich the night before and eat it on the way to work. There are also special breakfast drinks you can purchase.

If you are one that has very little time in the mornings, before you go to bed, set the table for breakfast with bowls, glasses, spoons, cereal box, bread, butter, fresh fruit...etc. It will help cut down on breakfast preparation time. To have a productive day, a good breakfast is essential. Fortunately, there are many ways for you to make time to have something delicious and nutritious to eat.

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