Monday, June 29, 2009

Those Who Think They Can't Lose Weight, Think Again

By Ron G Smith

If you seriously think you can't lose weight you need to have a rethink. Everybody, given the right methods, can lose weight. There's no secret to it.

I used to firmly believe I can't lose weight and would always be overweight. But, I was proven wrong in the end.

I used to lose a pound and pile two on, an endless merry go round. I changed when I was struck with type 2 diabetes.

Was it caused by me being overweight? I don't know and I don't think I'll find that one out. But I know it gave me the shock of my life.

Only twenty seven and lumped with a life long illness. Just how did I get this 'old age' persons disease?

Time to do something about my weight properly this time. No half hearted attempts to lose a few pounds. I had to change my way of thinking on this one.

Like most "fatties" I tried all sorts of diets and gizmos. Some of the stuff was sickeningly expensive and turned out to be next to useless. I shudder at how much money I've thrown away.

What I found was a step by step system that allows me to plan my day and my meals. I can plan meals of a decent size that aren't going to leave me hungry.

I use a diet generator on my computer that makes it so easy to create my meal plans. I used to stress out trying to work out what to (safely) eat.

I was a sucker for eating any leftovers my kids didn't eat. I actually thought that it was wasteful to throw it in the garbage. Now I have a totally different mindset and we rarely cook more than we can eat.

If you are like I was and believe you can't lose weight then it's time you started to change your way of thinking. We can all lose weight if we just stop believing we can't lose weight.

It's a decision that you will never regret. You may look back and think how ridiculous it was to believe that you actually can't lose weight.

I like thing to be neat and tidy and that includes my weight loss system. I have daily tasks that I can tick off once they are done. This way I know I'm on the right track to maintaining my weight.

If you want to check out some of the methods I used, including my fav system there are reviews on my site. Losing weight's like riding a bike. Learn it properly and you'll never forget.

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Saturday, June 27, 2009

Home Treadmills and the Health Benefits of Walking

By Jeffrey Hobbs

Walking can be a great way to get into shape and stay healthy. Although it certainly helps, you don't need to lift weights or run 10 miles to get a good workout. Simply going for a daily walk will get your blood moving and is certainly better than watching television or sitting at the computer.

Unlike weightlifting and a lot of other sports, you don't need to invest in a lot of expensive equipment to reap the health benefits associated with walking. A nice pair of walking shoes is all you really need. You could invest in a cheap treadmill if you don't want to walk outside but this would be completely optional. Walking is good exercise for anyone wanting to get in shape, even if you need to lose 10 pounds or 100.

While managing your weight, going for daily walks can also lower your blood pressure and raise the level of good cholesterol in your blood. Physical activity makes the heart stronger so it can work more effectively. When the heart is strong it can pump more blood with less work. This puts less pressure on the arteries.

Many people don't realize that walking can be just as powerful and even more effective than taking many prescription medications. Walking in combination with a good diet can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Walking also helps increase the level of good cholesterol in your bloodstream.

Treadmills can offer a lot of convenience if you're interested in starting a walking routine. You don't have to leave the house and you don't have to spend a lot of money on expensive gym memberships. While they can take up a lot of space, treadmills make it a lot easier to commit to a schedule and stick with it.

As your fitness level increases a treadmill can also adapt to your needs and requirements for a good workout. You can use the settings on most treadmills to adjust the complexity level based on your current requirements. Walking is also much easier on the hips, knees, legs, and ankles than running. Treadmills provide a comfortable and padded platform for those that might be sensitive to the hard surface of a concrete road or sidewalk. Even if you decide to take up running eventually most treadmills can adapt from low-impact walking to running.

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Friday, June 26, 2009

Are liquid meals good enough to build muscle?

By Jon Cardozo

One question I often hear asked about a weight gain diet is whether or not you should depend on protein supplements. I'm talking about protein powders, which are sometimes called liquid meals by bodybuilders.

You may assume that you can simply drink protein shakes and build muscle, but there are at least a couple of reasons that you should get most of your calories from whole foods.

Always keep in mind that these kinds of products were made for convenience, and they should not be used to replace the rest of your diet. You may be missing out on some much needed nutrients, including vitamins and fiber, if you concentrate your efforts solely on protein powders.

If you're serious about your workout program and want to achieve the best results possible, you'll want to give your body the best fuel available. Unfortunately, protein shakes do not represent the best of the best when it comes to choosing proper nutrition.

Another reason why you don't want to depend completely on these liquid meals is because you're going to get tired of eating the same thing over and over again. The taste is usually a bigger motivation than health for most people, and these protein shakes are going to get boring after a while!

Do yourself a favor and get most of your calories (at least 60%) from whole foods.

The truth is that most people expect these weightlifting products to make up for an inadequate diet or a lousy training regimen. It may not be as exciting as glamorous, but focusing on the basics is more important than looking for a quick fix such as muscle building supplements.

Even protein powders, which are relatively helpful supplements, are not absolutely necessary. While they're helpful when it's difficult to consume adequate calories or protein, a bunch of powder with artificial ingredients thrown in is not a substitute for a solid, healthy meal plan.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Are You Trying To Find Some Effective Arm Exercises For Toning???

By Katherine Crawford M.S.

If you are trying to find good arm exercises for toning, then you are in for a big surprise. Why? Because every fitness expert out there has a different opinion on the subject.

If the experts can't agree on this, how are you supposed to find the answer? Well, it can get frustrating

So to help you out, I am going to be reviewing a bunch different arm exercises for toning. This should help clear up some of the confusion

My analysis of different arm exercises for toning should save you a substantial amount of time. Today I will be reviewing dumbbell curls:

1. General description. This is a great exercise for the biceps because it works this muscle group through its entire range of motion. An exercise that works a muscle through its entire range of motion will allow you to get more work done per unit of time. Note: the biceps is the first arm muscle someone will see when looking at you from the front.

2. Movement technique. Stand up with a dumbbell in each hand and palms facing the body. Keep your abs tight for lower back stability. Rotate one palm and bring the dumbbell up. Then slowly lower it. Repeat for the other side.

3. High frequency mistakes. Allowing the chest to cave in. This is horrible for your back! And rocking back and forth to heave-ho the dumbbell up. Do you want to use momentum or muscle to exercise?

4. Bottom line: This is an excellent exercise that every woman should do. It would be perfect if it weren't for the fact that it can be somewhat difficult to maintain good form when going heavy.

Every woman who is serious about getting toned arms should include dumbbell curls in her workout routine. You see, learning the best arm exercises for toning isn't that confusing!

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Monday, June 22, 2009

You Don't Need the Gym to Lose Belly Fat

By Jack Spencer

You would be surprised with the number of individuals who are trying to lose weight at any given time. There are some people that only try on occasion, perhaps buying some diet foods or joining a gym and then quickly losing interest in the entire process. Other people, however, may obsess over the idea of the weight loss trend that they are currently trying and jump from one weight-loss system to another without ever letting the one that they are using take hold.

There are a few reasons why people are having such a difficult time with their weight, and more than likely you are probably familiar with those reasons. We live busy lives and as a result, we tend to eat the wrong things because they are readily available. We also tend to lead lives which are rather sedentary and a lack of exercise certainly can contribute to a considerable amount of weight gain.

Fortunately, you're not left without options as far as how you can lose weight but it is necessary for you to understand the basics about weight loss before you do anything else. Weight loss is more of a science than an emotional necessity and at times, it is necessary for you to forget everything that you know about weight loss in order to fill your mind with accurate ideas. Here are a few that may have escaped you.

The main problem that is occurring has to do with the way that the body handles the sugar that we put into it. I'm not only talking about processed sugar but any type of sugar, even what comes from vegetables and fruits. Whenever sugar enters into our body, the body amazingly produces insulin in order to assimilate the sugar and to use it effectively. If there is too much sugar in the blood stream, the insulin simply grabs it and stores it as a fat cell. It plans on getting back to it eventually, but we don't give it the opportunity to do it.

That is why it is important for you to watch the type of foods that you are eating, not necessarily restricting yourself from too much eating. If you're able to eat foods that release the sugar slowly into your bloodstream, your insulin will not have a difficult time overcoming the problem of additional sugar. Your body will kick into gear and will do exactly what it was meant to do. We need to eat the right types of food in order to achieve this.

The glycemic index is an often forgotten list of foods which indicates how quickly the sugar from the food is released into your body. If you only eat foods that are low on the glycemic index, your insulin level will remain steady throughout the day and weight loss will be much easier. Not only that, you will avoid many of the highs and lows that you're probably feeling right now.

Although there is more to weight loss that eating properly, it is been proven that it is the most important aspect of it. Make sure that you stay away from the foods that you shouldn't eat but eat plenty of those that are low glycemic and healthy for you. The weight will begin to come off naturally very quickly.

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Saturday, June 20, 2009

Vitamins and Minerals - Does Your Body Need Them?

By Nancy Lockola

A person does not need a scientific degree in Biochemistry to realize the important of vitamins and minerals for our bodies. No matter how old one is and how much one weighs, everyone needs the right amount of vitamins and minerals to remain fit and healthy. A lot of companies have produced their own versions of food supplements in hopes of providing people all the nutrients they need for everyday.

In such a short period of time, people have slowly learned the specific ingredients of the most vital nutrients in our bodies. Starting with the simple functions carried out by Vitamin C, in fifty years people were able to discover the other minerals that make our body work day in and day out.

From this assortment of nutrients, we now have a lot of food supplements to help us become more functional with our actions. People started to learn the simplest of all vitamins to the most complex forms of minerals that are present in our bodily organs.

Vitamin C, for instance, is commonly present in the most delectable dishes. This helps provide the body with strong teeth and bones. Vitamin A, on the other hand, takes care of our eyes and their vision as it strengthens the retina to provide better eyesight.

Vitamin D and E are also two of the other important nutrients needed by the body for everyday. While Vitamin D boosts up the strength of our skeletal system, Vitamin E provides the same amount of energy for our weary muscles.

Although a lot of people have a good grasp of the different vitamins present in food groups, not everyone can name most of the minerals needed by the bodies. The average individual's knowledge when it comes to minerals is limited to magnesium and phosphorous. Other than these two, individuals would struggle remembering their old science lessons.

Scientists have confirmed that there are still a surprising number of vitamins and minerals that have not yet been named. Most of these are still under careful observation and examination.

It is important to keep a close watch on the food we eat to make certain that we have the right dose of all vitamins and minerals. Keeping a well-balanced diet that is rich in all the essential nutrients will help us live longer and healthier.

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Saturday, June 13, 2009

How To Make A Great Weight Loss Shake

By Jay NaPier

If you're working on losing weight, you might have decided to use a protein shake to help you feel full and get the nutrients your body requires. They all promise results, but many fail in the end.

If you read the label, you'll see many have high amounts of sugar and a low calorie count. While lower calories are a quick way to lose weight, you are also restricting your intake of calories, which is bad for your metabolism. Fat is also a good thing in your shake as it is necessary for your body to burn excess fat.

When you're making weight loss shakes at home, you want to get the right nutrients. Now, you'll have alot more flexability and it costs less than typical commercial shakes. choosing your own ingredients gives you flexability to add your favorite fruits and vegetables. The fiber that you'll be getting from the fruit and vegetables give you the essential daily minerals and vitamins, but when the fiber is absorbed in your body you'll help cleans and flush out toxins too.

So what are these protein powders. They come in Whey, egg and soy. This is what adds the protein to your shake. The protein keeps your body healthy and it builds new muscles. The protein powder boosts your immune system and can help your body become more attractive.

Now it's time for the liquid. While milk is the most popular, there are other options. Juices are great to give your shake a great taste. Soy milk or almond milk are other options to help you get a great result. They are similar to milk, but are better for you. Low fat and non fat milk are the options most will go with. You can also add Coconut oil to speed your metabolism.

After you make your selection of ingredients, all you need is a blender and you are ready to go! Opt for fresh picked fruits or vegetables and cut them into individual pieces. Organic products are recommended, they are not chemically processed, and you are guaranteed that the products will be fresh.

And finally add the protein powder. Start by reading the instructions, then simply follow along with the recipe. Realize that you might not like the first few time your make it, so expect to play with it a bit before you find the right consistency for you. Adding ice cubes will make the shake more like a shake. If you want it thicker, just add more mix and ice. A bananna will help make it thick as well.

There are alot of options that make a weight loss shake the perfect meal replacment. Ask your friends who are also into health what they use in their shake, you'll be surprised how great they taste and how they are a great option.

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Friday, June 12, 2009

Fitness Boot Camps: 5 Reasons to Try

By Curtis Ludlow

Want to feel awesome, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than the newest fitness trend - boot camp workouts!

The benefits of boot camp workouts are too numerous to list here. However, here are five big benefits of boot camp workouts that you may not be aware of.

1. You will have a new social circle of friends.

Many people find it challenging to make friends and develop friendships as they get older. Boot camps facilitate team work, play, and fun so you have no choice but to interact with and meet new people.

2. Weight loss.

This one's a no-brainer. When you exercise, you burn calories. The more intensely you exercise, the more calories you burn " and the easier it is to keep your weight under control. Boot camp classes are by definition intense exercise sessions. This means that you will burn more calories and potentially lose more weight.

3. You will sleep like a baby.

If you are having problems getting to sleep and staying asleep, boot camp might help. Intense exercise can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep.

4. Better sex.

If you exercise regularly you will have more energy and look better, this alone can improve you sex life. However, there is more to it than that. Working out improves circulation which can lead to better sex.

5. Boot camp exercise if fun!

Most people are too scared to try a boot camp program. They think that they'll be yelled at and taunted etc. Unless you're joining a military style boot camp - this probably won't happen to you. Most boot camp programs are actually a loving and supportive environment full of people just like you. People who just want to get in shape and have fun doing it!

Are you ready to start a boot camp program? Google "boot camp" + your city to find one that looks like a good fit for you!

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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Weight Training Schedule for Beginners

By Josh Owen

If you're looking for a good beginner workout schedule, you've come to the right place. I'm going to give you the best schedule for beginners. This weight training schedule will help you make the fastest possible progress.

Your weight lifting schedule should be built around your body's ability to recover from a workout. Science has proven that the body needs about 48 hours to recover from a workout. So your weekly weight training schedule should look like this:

Day 1: Weightlifting

Day 2: Rest

Day 3: Weight Training

Day 4: Off Day

Day 5: Weight Lifting

Day 6: Rest

Day 7: Rest Day

Now for the most important part of the beginner workout schedule. The quality and types of exercises you choose are very important. You should not choose isolation exercises such as leg extensions and chest flyes. You need to choose the best compound weight lifting exercises. This way, each muscle group throughout your body is sufficiently worked.

Working each muscle group 3 times per week gives you over 150 opportunities each year to build muscle and strength. Typical workout routines only give you around 50 opportunities each year. It would take you 3 years to build the same amount of muscle with those schedules. Who wants to do that? I know I don't.

Choose only the best weight lifting exercises and do multiple sets of those exercises. Multiple sets and fewer exercises help you learn how to do the exercises with proper form. You get more practice learning how to do the exercises. And that alone is very important.

If you learn proper form on the best compound exercises, you will make faster progress. Too many people never learn proper form and waste their efforts in the gym. You're going to start out the proper way, and I'm going to help you.

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Saturday, June 6, 2009

Is Online Fitness Training Worth It?

By I. Kelley

When the internet first started to become popular, most people were pleased to discover its ability to present multitudes of information on virtually any subject under the sun. One area that has been popular on the internet has been health and fitness. Today, there are many websites and communities that effectively promote online training and fitness education. To say these sites are popular would be a dramatic understatement!

However, you might wonder if these online fitness communities are genuinely helpful. The question is whether you can actually lose weight or get into shape using an online fitness strength training program - and the answer is yes! If you have the motivation you need to achieve your goals, then all you need is some solid information, some instructions to get you started on your fitness regimen and some well planned goal management. These sites can give you all of this and more; and the web is an ideal way to provide it!

Of course, it is important to understand that there are pros and cons associated with online fitness strength training. Thankfully, the pros significantly outweigh the cons and that is why these sites are so popular. So, let's take a look at some of these positive aspects and weigh them against the minor cons.Without a doubt, the most beneficial aspect of these sites is they provide a clear alternative to personal training at a gym. While it is certainly beneficial to have access to a personal trainer, such sessions clearly come with costs. Online fitness training resources are significantly less expensive which makes them more accessible.

An online fitness community also offers flexibility. Not all of us work the same schedules; if the only good time for you to work out is a 3 am, you can when you use an online fitness site. Websites are open 24/7, but gyms rarely are.

Flexibility is another strong selling point of using an online fitness community. Some people have schedules which make working out at a traditional gym problematic. Online fitness training sites let anyone work out when it's best for them - even if you can only work out at 4 in the morning, online resources make it easy.

The customer service provided by online fitness training programs is also a big plus. They offer support, training tips and advice by email and instant messaging. You can even have a fitness, weight loss or strength training program created specifically for your needs and your fitness goals. It's this kind of interactivity and communication which makes these sites a good way to get in shape - these aren't just text-based one way information channels.

And, sadly, there are a few online fitness programs out there that are gimmick oriented. They may seek to make people feel good but they do not really approach the serious side of losing weight and getting in shape. Such venues are best avoided since they will not allow you to achieve your primary weight loss goals.

Overall, most online fitness programs are well structured and worth the time and money investment. After all, if they did not work they would not be popular.

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Friday, June 5, 2009

Top 6 Tips to Burn Fat Fast You Never Thought Possible

By Thong M. Dao

If you're hoping to lose fat, there's a pretty good chance you've tried a lot of methods. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people who are unhappy with their bodies don't succeed in their fat loss goals. That's because they're often using gimmicky weight loss plans that can actually damage their bodies! If you're in this boat, and you don't know how to get rid of the fat while staying healthy, here are a few tips that might get you on the right track.

1. Just like fruits, fresh vegetables are better than those that are canned. It is even better if you can eat your veggies raw. When you cook them, you cook away the nutrients. If you must cook them, try to boil them to the point that there is still some crispness to them. Also, don't soak them in butter. If you can buy organic and pesticide free veggies, that is even better.

2. Make chocolates a luxury and not a routine. Chocolates are not or at least they should not be a part of your diet. So do not indulge too much in them. Even the bitter chocolates are not good for you because though the sugar is less there is still the cream in them.

3. If you are able to say no to alcohol, so that's best. Alcohol beverages are not wholesome. Though a glass of red wine does give heart benefits, most are merely fattening. Beer is particularly fattening. In addition, after some drinks most folks get the munchies and whenever you are feeling a bit drunk and hungry you will not be able to make reasonable decisions considering your dieting and it is generally late at night, only before you faint from a night of drinking, that you binge. The total combination is simply not a good one.

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 take up 15-20% of your meal. It is actually all the fat the body requires. Lots of this will 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.

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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Motivation For Weight Loss

By Dr. George Best

It is often easy for people to get motivated to lose weight at the start of a weight loss program. Most people are excited about the potential results of their chosen weight loss program, but they may fail to take into consideration the amount of effort required to obtain those results. Once the hard work begins, the excitement and motivation decrease pretty quickly and many people start to cheat in just a few days and quit their diet and exercise totally within a month or so.

No matter how good or effective a weight loss program is, it's not going to work very well if you give up on it before you have a chance to get any results. What you think is good motivation to lose weight when you intially start your weight loss program may not be enough to carry you through to your goal. You need to "motivate to lose weight" with as much consistency and ongoing effort as you have to apply to the weight loss program itself.

Just wanting to drop some pounds is simply not enough to get highly motivated and stay that way. To lose weight, you will have to put forth a significant amount of effort, regardless of what the marketing hype about how easy a weight loss program is might lead you to believe. To stay on track and make the necessary changes in your eating and exercise habits, you need strong, emotional motivating factors. You need to experience strong emotions to stay adequately motivated and you need to be able to access those strong emotions on a moment's notice to keep you from giving in to moments of weakness that make you want to cheat.

Emotional leverage is the necessary ingredient for highly effective motivation to lose weight. In most cases, emotional leverage is most powerful when it comes from the desire to avoid negative feelings. Because of this, it is necessary to get in touch with whatever negative feelings you may have that are producing your desire to lose weight. Many people do everything they can to avoid experiencing intense negative feelings, but to be able to accomplish the goals of weight loss, experiencing negative emotion in an intense way is necessary to getting strongly motivated to keep you on track with your diet and exercise regimen and meet your weight loss goals.

I think it is important to give a word of caution here. If you are not willing or able to handle dealing with strong negative emotions at this time, you should stop reading this article right now and forget about trying to lose weight for the time being, as trying to lose weight will only be a frustrating experience without proper motivation.

You have to take a hard look at your reasons for losing weight and really get into the emotions behind those reasons. For example, if you feel unattractive because of the excess weight, really get into that feeling. What are the consequences of feeling unattractive. Maybe your romantic relationships suffer. Maybe you start to avoid being around the people you love because you think they'll see you as fat and disgusting. Really get into it and feel the pain - that's the thing that's going to keep you on track so you can finally lose the weight!

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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Rock Hard Abs - Functional Ab Strength

By Jose Loni

You want rock hard abs? Functional strength training is the way to go to lead a fit and healthy lifestyle. Training your whole body and working the muscles of the core and abdominals will really give the strength and appearance of rock hard abs.

Functional training is perfect for people with an active lifestyle. Training the body in a functional way will increase the quality of life, as we carry our children, do household chores or walking the dog. Basic strength is essential to an active and happy way of life.

Functional training is an effective training method for increasing ab strength. Exercises that incorporate multiple joints increase the body's metabolism and helps burn excess fat. Increasing the number of muscle groups that you train, causes the body to recruit more muscles to move. The increased muscle activity increases the body's overall energy expenditure and results in increased fat burning.

Some exercises like lunges, push-ups, squats and dead lifts incorporate multiple joints and muscles, which increases the muscle's metabolic activity. The resulting muscle mass adds to the increased metabolism as it will increase its overall activity due to its increased size.

Household chores such as cleaning, cooking and doing laundry can create opportunities to do some active movements. While you are doing laundry, you can do some wall or counter push ups, while waiting for the laundry to finish or do some leg squats, while waiting for your dinner to cook.

Functional ab training is effective in helping the body get stronger. Exercises that train the core and focus on making the body stabilize and hold its posture for several seconds requires the body to recruit large muscle groups. As a result, the body will use more energy due to the multiple muscles and joints being used and burn more fat.

Exercises that isolate movements like ab crunches don't burn much fat. To be effective, the body must use the larger muscle groups and joints to really jumpstart the metabolism to start burning more fat. The increased metabolism actually continues to burn fat well after the exercise session as it will continuously keep repairing and replenishing the muscles of the body. This can occur for several hours after the exercise.

Rock hard abs and functional training is a great way to increase your quality of life. Increasing your metabolism, and abdominal core training are great ways to a fit and active lifestyle.

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