Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Truth About Abs Promises Fat Loss - You Should Read How

By Smith Trent

I don't often write reviews, but I've made an exception in this case. I believe there is more than just hype to the well known abs program 'The Truth About Abs'. Most 'lose fat' information on the web tends to be just a lot of sales copy in front of a gimmicky product or crash diet. The reason I want you to read this whole article is so you can see that there is actually some solid information in this plan, and if followed will change your success with your get fit and stay fit endevours.

What I'm talking about is what I'm about to review for you - giving you a solid understanding about what kind of information is really required to obtain success with a fitness plan. I'm talking about a well known book written by Certified Nutrition Specialist and Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Mike Geary, called "The Truth About Abs". It is often seen as a program only designed to get six pack abs. While this is the goal, for sure, what you may not have realized is that the plan WAY exceeds that goal, by providing sound fitness and nutrional information required to achieving fitness results. You also find out the most effective exercises and routines that will boost your fitness into fat burning, core strengthening territory. This combination is what will burn the fat and create a flat stomach. The book contains the following 3 general sections:

1. Introduction, important information on what it means to be lean, factors affecting your metabolism, a review of body fat percentage, training your abs, and lean vs fat body mass.

2. Effective workout plans, information about more efficient ways to exercise, what multi-joint vs single joint exercises mean, as well as a collection of total body work outs. An explanation of why your current cardio program IS NOT helping you lose weight the way you expected; and

3. Diet and Nutrition, explanation of how blood sugar and insulin affect your diet program, the Glycemic Index, and the calorie burning properties (thermic effect) of food.

The Truth About Abs training program has two parts : Interval training and Resistance and Weight training. The fitness schedules are easy to follow and are time effective. The program explains how sessions longer than 45-60 are not a good use of your time. The program calls for 3-4 sessions per week, each about 45-6- minutes.

If you really want to get your body toned and in shape, then you should easily be able to find time for this schedule. The bonus is you don't need a gym or a lot of equipment. However, Mike suggests having a set of dumb bells and an exercise ball to most effectively perform the workouts. This shouldn't be a huge investment, $30-40 at the most - way cheaper than a gym, and it means you have created your own gym right at home.

The Truth About Abs program has a specific meal plan consisting of 5-6 smaller meals, eaten every 3 hours. A great tip that Mike explains is to take your meal plan and shop for everything once per week. This makes it easy to prepare and stick with the more frequent smaller meals you need to be effective on this plan.

Beyond planned, smaller and more frequent meals The Truth About Abs explains how to calculate your daily caloric intake requirements, and use that as a guide line for what we should eat. This section is really enlightening. You can eat regular and tasty meals and still lose weight. I can assure you that this is not a salad diet. In fact, there is an entire section of this book which explains why crash diets actually cause weight gain.

The meal plans provided in the book make it easy to shop for and prepare your food. The meal plans provide more than enough food - you are unlikely to experience hunger pains - however the plans are most likely a change from your current diet, and in order to be successful you need to be disciplined with your nutrition. This will be vitally important to your success. It is clearly stated in this book that to succeed on the Truth About Abs program, you must apply BOTH the training strategies as well as the food strategies.

If you've been thinking of trying to lose weight for some time now, this is a great opportunity to make it happen. Mikes program contains so much information about how to really make your exercise and diet work together, it really is one of the most effective programs available today. You must put some effort in, but he tells you how to make it all work, in the most effective way possible.

About the Author:

The Fear of Food Must be Broken To Beat Obesity

By Carlene Jones

Fast weight loss is every obese person's dream diet, but when I introduce my new clients to my proven plan they panic when I tell them they must eat to succeed. This is something I actually understand. When I weighed 256 pounds and was so depressed I was worried for my safety, I found a naturopath who would run the blood tests I wanted to see if my liver was to blame. After giving her my medical and dieting history and explaining why I felt it was my liver causing the problems she agreed to let me do things my way. I thought I had convinced her. Nine months later when I had lost 136 pounds and returned for the final blood work that would prove my liver theory, she shared with me her first impression. She had written in her notes: "Patient views food as poison."

She was right. After helping so many other obese women, I have realized I was not alone. For many of us food is our greatest nemesis. We love it, but hate it. Actually, we fear it more. Even as a child I never ate any food, including good foods like apples, without guilt or fear of being judged. Many of my clients say the same thing, yet the number one reason the obese quit diets is that they just want to eat like a normal person.

The problem is that for those of us who have grown up with obesity the idea of how to eat like a normal person is outside our realm of understanding . We only know two modes of eating: dieting and overeating. The only time we seem to be able to control our eating is when on a structured diet, but that structure soon becomes a prison and we run to our other method of nutrition, the one that keeps us obese. Food has just never worked for us.

One of the first things that becomes very clear when new obese clients start my program, and what they actually all voice is: "I don't know how to eat like a regular person." When I tell them I want them to eat 1800 calories their first two weeks to find out what their true maintenance diet will look like, their eyes pop, their voices quake, and they stammer: "1800 calories, that is insane. I will gain weight." It takes me a while to convince them otherwise.

I check their food every day. The first week is always predictable. The food logs are packed with diet type foods in quantities that wouldn't satisfy a child. The calories rarely come close to the 1800. For that matter they rarely reach 1500. When I start to question the choices they actually defend the food saying they prefer it to other "real" food. After a long lecture on what we are trying to accomplish the second week is better, but it still takes a while to get them to give in to foods they feared all their lives and to eat enough to feel sated before leaving the dinner table.

I don't believe there is anyone diet that works for everyone. We all have different likes and dislikes and our bodies react to certain foods in both positive and negative ways. Some of us do better with low fat, some thrive on higher fats. Some of us are insulin resistant with some foods spiking our blood sugar while others can eat what they want. We also have different appetites that dictate if we are grazers or three meal a day type of eaters. There is no one right or wrong way to eat. Yet most obese men and women feel they have to conform to dieting standards which have always been about deprivation and obsession.

We are so distrustful of food and our own ability to manage it that it is actually harder to get the obese to eat then it is to them to starve. If I said, okay here is this liquid diet, you won't eat for six months, they would sign on in a minute, but when I say I am going to make them eat, they back off not believing they could succeed.

When I start a new client on this program, their first week proves how true the above statement is. They eat tentatively. The foods tend to come from their dieting history, the amounts minimal. I pick out these dieting foods and ask why they chose to eat them. Their answer is surprising. Not only was the food not satisfying, but oftentimes they ate food they didn't like because that is what their dieting brain told them was the only acceptable choice. Now, there are diets out there on the market that promote lots of eating choices. They work for some, but the problem is they are small amounts for the calories, and most obese men and women need bigger servings, and when they eat higher fat, sugar, or salted foods, cravings dictate that one serving is never enough. That creates more fear of food, and that fear limits viable choices in their idea of what they can and cannot eat for weight loss. I make it clear, I do not want to see those diet foods in their menu again. Panic ensues.

It takes time and effort to move into a healthy diet, one that is satisfying and can last a lifetime, but it is worth it. Anyone can be successful if they open their mind and fight the fear and guilt associated with eating. Once I convince them that they can eat real food to maintain their weight with real food, shedding the pounds is easy.

For so many years the obese have fought their inability to control their weight and take responsibility for their relationship with food. That loss of control makes food the enemy for some, and an abusive lover for others. But food is only as powerful as e make it. The obese must open their eyes to the true value of food. It is nutrition for the body. Like gasoline for a car. There is no need to fear it, there is only a need to build a solid relationship with it where we are the ones in charge.

About the Author:

Lose Weight And Get Healthy With Resveratrol

By Jane Louis

In the media as well as the news, resveratrol has been making a huge splash.

It has been covered extensively by the media and has been featured on shows like Oprah as a recommended supplement by Dr. Oz.

In fact, Resveratrol was looked at in some ways as many as 17 years ago when 60 Minutes featured a show that looked at the benefits of red wine on one's health. Red wine is one of the best sources of resveratrol in natural foods and drinks but of course, the effect can be compounded in supplement form.

Even clinical studies show the results of resveratrol. In one study, two mice were raised and given a high carb diet. However, one of the mice was also given a resveratrol supplement while the other one did not.

After time had passed, they were both weighed and it was found that the mouse that had received the resveratrol supplement was 30% thinner than the other mouse that had had the same life and diet except for the resveratrol supplement.

About 40-50% of the nutrients in food is asorbed by our bodies when we eat. The excess is stored in fat cells for example. This often results in toxins being present in our bodies.

Resveratrol is an anti-oxidant and so it is able to get rid of these toxins in our bodies and make us healthy and thin again. Even after only a short time of use, resveratrol can have these great effects.

For this reason, if you want to try out resveratrol for yourself and get these great health benefits, then try a resveratrol supplement like Resveratrol Ultra. At the time of this writing, Resveratrol Ultra is even being offered for free so you can try it out before spending any money on it.

About the Author:

Monday, May 25, 2009

Do You Know Why You Can't Ignore Bruises?

By Carolyn Cooper

We talk a great deal about bruises that appear for no apparent reason, and for almost all of us, finding a cure for this situation is simply a case of enhancing our circulatory system's well being and being a little more cautious. However, it is still necessary to keep in mind that whether they are painful or not, or whether they are big or not, bruises are still an indicator of a form of damage that our body has suffered. Even more than just the the knowledge that blood vessels are broken; however, it is essential that we remember that bruises may be pointing to something else that has gone wrong in our body.

By way of an example, easy bruising is one thing that can signify the possibility of a vascular problem, or it may also be indicative of diabetes. Diabetes causes sugar to be leeched from the blood stream which in turn causes the blood to become thicker. This thicker blood then causes the white blood cells to have a more difficult time to get to an infection in order to stop it, which can then cause a number of other complications. For this reason, if there is a history of diabetes that runs in your family, you should always be diligent in monitoring your bruises.

Easy bruising can also be a sign of a depressed immune system. When your immune system has been compromised, you'll find that it can lead to a number of opportunistic infections, viral issues and bacterial situations. You may also find that you might be seeing easy bruising due to an immune system that is responding excessively to stimuli. For instance, allergies will fall into this category, as will asthma and autoimmune diseases.

Lymphomas and blood related diseases such as leukemia can all be signified by easy bruising, as can liver disease. Bruising easily can also be a sign of bloodstream infection, systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as some nutritional deficiencies. Be aware that you should also consider the possibility of aplastic anemia, which is a disorder of the blood in which the bone marrow loses its ability to produce enough new blood cells.

This is a long list of ailments, and it is far more likely that you are looking at something that can be cured with a few specific supplements or a really good bruise treatment. However, the truth is that we cannot get away from the fact that a bruise is a sign that something has gone wrong in our bodys systems. We are given advanced warnings like this so that we can better fix them, and the more aware that you are about what you might be facing, the better off you are going to be.

If you find that you tend to be bruising more easily, it is essential that you take your concerns to your doctor; especially if you have a history of family problems in this vein. This is the only way that will help you get the help or treatment that could prove essential later on.

About the Author:

Top 6 Tips to Burn Fat Faster Than You Could Imagine

By Thong M. Dao

Do you want to lose fat? Have you tried different diets and failed consistently? If you answered yes to these questions, you are in good company. There are a lot of people who have been trying fat loss diets over the years and have failed. The reason they have not succeeded is that they used gimmicks and lose-weight-fast diets that do more damage than good. Here are some sensible things to keep in mind when you try to lose weight.

1. Fresh veggies are better than canned or cooked veggies. Try to have your veggies uncooked. If you cook them, you're indeed taking out nearly 50% the vitamins in them. And canned veggies also are processed and not nearly half as healthy as fresh veggies. Whenever you purchase your veggies it would be good to find out if the label states that it's pesticide free.

2. Chocolates should be treated as luxury items. Buy the good stuff and only eat them every once in a while. If you really savor each morsel, you'll experience that much more joy in eating them and they will taste even better.

3. If you can say no to alcoholic beverages please do. Alcoholic beverages are not good for you. Beer can be fattening and the rest of the alcoholic drinks may not be fattening by themselves but after a couple of swigs you will be in no position to watch your diet and your appetite too will be something to battle with.

4. Your diet should include all food groups including carbohydrates. In fact, your diet needs to be about 50 - 55% carbs. Carbs are a great source of energy. Those diets that prohibit carbohydrates are actually harming you and only making you crave them that much more. Your diet should not cause you to be deficient in anything.

5. Fats should make up 15-20% of your meal. This is really all the fat your body needs. A lot of this is going to be in your diet in the form of cream, sugar and the like.

6. Choose white meat rather than red. White meat, which includes fish and fowl, is miles better than red meat, which includes beef and pork for those trying to lose weight.

About the Author:

Faster Weight Loss With AcaiFit Supplement

By Jake Wakefield

Acai Fit is a new weight loss product that features the superfood known as acai.

If you are interested in losing weight in a healthy manner, then you may be interested in this new weight loss product. As you may know, Acai has been touted by the healthy industry for some time now as an extremely healthy fruit that can provide many benefits.

One of the advantages that Acai Fit has over its competitors is that it is completely natural and is free from chemicals. It is created from a fruit that has been safely consumed by humans for thousands of years, so you have nothing to worry about in terms of side effects.

Acai is filled with helpful nutrients like Omega-3, 6 and 9 oils. Additionally, one can find B vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and more. This is why many world class athletes use Acai Fit in order to stay fit during training.

Acai is found in the Amazon and is created by a special palm tree located there. It is high energy and consists of many monounsaturated (healthy) fats, dietary fiber and phytoseterols that help greatly with cardiovascular and digestive health.

Much research has been done on Acai, as well. In one study at the University of Florida, it was found that acai eliminated leukemia cells in vitro of up to 86%! This reveals the great healing powers of the acai berry.

Many users of Acai Fit report losing many pounds over routine use in as little as a few months. 20 pounds or more of lose weight is not unheard of.

If you want to shed some pounds and keep them off in a healthy manner, then you should check out Acai Fit. At the time of writing, Acai Fit is offering a free trial so you can take a look and see it work for yourself before spending a cent!

About the Author:

The benefits of green tea's antioxidant

By Collin James

By now you've heard about the green tea's antioxidant abilities, and how the quality of this antioxidant helps fight against dangerous diseases like cancer and heart disease. But what is an antioxidant? And why would anything that's anti-oxygen be good for you or for your bodies health?

Antioxidants themselves don't do anything to oxygen. What they do, do is fight a chemical reaction in your body called oxidation. I am sure your saying right now, wait a second - that's what causes metal to rust - I am not made of metal! Your right to say that but oxidation is the interaction between oxygen molecules and the substances they come in contact with. If this just so happens to be living tissue, then that's when disease occurs.

The harm caused by oxidation, is result of free radicals, highly reactive, unstable molecules that travel around the body wreaking havoc. Although free radicals can be generated by exposure to UV rays, toxins, cigarette smoke, microbes and other sources, the most common source is the oxygen molecule itself.

Oxygen usually travels through your body paired up with another oxygen molecule. In some cases this pairing splits into two individual oxygen molecules called singlet oxygen. When this occurs, electrons fall in short demand as there are now to many oxygen molecules. This destabilizes the molecule and in a way, throwing it off balance. In the attempt to try and fix itself it races through the body trying to find an other electron.

But singlet oxygen doesn't just wait for a spare electron to float on by. Instead, it boldly steals one from some other molecule. This destabilizes the "new" molecule which, in turn, careens off to steal an electron from yet another molecule. The process of serial "electron stealing" damages cells, tissues, organs and even entire body systems, and is believed to be a major cause of cancer, heart disease, aging and many other conditions.

What antioxidants do is fight against this constant stealing of electrons. Your inner body police, is the best way to look at it. How they work is they donate electrons to the free radicals so the urge to steel is gone. You body does produce a certain amount of antioxidants, but not nearly enough!

Among others, these include beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, the mineral selenium, and various phytochemicals such as lycopene and quercetin. But the catechins, especially EGCg, are among the most powerful and effective antioxidants of all.

About the Author: