Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The Real Facts On Female Bodybuilding

You should first know that no amount of physical activity can give you your desired body if it is not coupled with bodybuilding nutrition and a total body workout. Actually, it is the bodybuilding nutrition that is the most vital factor in building the best body.

Female Bodybuilding Myth #1 - Weightlifting makes you look bulky.

Due to the fact that women do not and cannot naturally produce as much testosterone (one of the main hormones responsible for increasing muscle size) as males do, it is impossible for a woman to gain huge amounts of muscle mass. Unfortunately, the image that may come to your mind is that of professional female bodybuilders. Most of these women, unfortunately, use anabolic steroids (synthetic testosterone) along with other drugs in order to achieve that high degree of muscularity.

In addition, most also have good genetics coupled with an unbelievable work ethic that enable them to gain muscle quickly when they spend hours in the gym lifting very heavy weights. Believe me when I say that they do not look like that by accident. Women who conduct weight training without the use of steroids get the firm and fit cellulite-free looking body that you see in most fitness/figure shows these days.

Women's Weight Training Myth #2 - Exercise increases your chest size.

Sorry girls. Womens breasts are composed mostly of fatty tissue. Therefore, it is impossible to increase breast size through weight training. As a matter of fact, if you go below 12 percent body fat (which I do not recommend doing), your breast size will decrease. Weight training does increase the size of the back, so this misconception probably comes from confusing an increase in back size with an increase in cup size. The only way to increase your breast size is by gaining fat or getting breast implants

Womens Weight Training Myth #3 - Weight training makes you stiff and musclebound.

If you perform all exercises through their full range of motion, flexibility will increase. Exercises like flyes, stiff-legged deadlifts, dumbbell presses, and chin-ups stretch the muscle in the bottom range of the movement. Therefore, by performing these exercises correctly, your stretching capabilities will increase.

Women's Weight Training Myth #4 - If you stop weight training your muscles turn into fat.

This is like saying that gold can turn into brass. Fat and muscle are two completely different types of human tissue. What happens many times is that when people decide to go off their weight training programs they start losing muscle due to inactivity (use it or lose it) and they also usually drop the diet as well. Therefore bad eating habits combined with the fact that their metabolism is lower due to inactivity, and lower degrees of muscle mass, give the impression that the subjects muscle is being turned into fat while in reality what is happening is that muscle is being lost and fat is being accumulated.

Women's Weight Training Myth #5 - Weight training turns fat into muscle.

More alchemy. This is the equivalent of saying that you can turn any metal into gold; don't we wish! The way a body transformation occurs is by gaining muscle through weight training and losing fat through aerobics and diet simultaneously. Again, muscle and fat are very different types of tissue. We cannot turn one into the other.

Women's Weight Training Myth #6 - As long as you exercise you can eat anything that you want.

How I wish this were true also! However, this could not be further from the truth. Metabolism for an individual is determined by how many calories we burn while we exercise and while we rest. If we eat more calories than we burn on a consistent basis, our bodies will accumulate these extra calories as fat regardless of the amount of exercise that we do. The myth may have been started by people with such high metabolic rates that no matter how much they eat or what they eat, they rarely meet or exceed the amount of calories that they burn in one day unless they put their mind into reaching that goal. Therefore, their weight either remains stable or goes down.

Women's Weight Training Myth #7 - Women only need to do cardio and if they decide to lift weights, they should be very light.

First of all, if you only did cardio then muscle and fat would be burned for fuel. One needs to do weights in order to get the muscle building machine going and thus prevent any loss of muscle tissue. Women that only concentrate on cardio will have a very hard time achieving the look that they want. As far as the lifting of very light weights, this is just more nonsense. Muscle responds to resistance and if the resistance is too light, then there will be no reason for the body to change.

Women Should Train Hard Myth #8 I have trained with girls that train as hard as I do and they look nothing but feminine. If you want to look great, don't be afraid to pick up the weights and lift hard!

About the Author

expert Keishon Martin who writes for http://www.bodyguidepro.com where you can get the best weight lifting / weight loss program on the internet. also check out http://www.newmoneycredit.com

Sunday, April 27, 2008

How Diabetics Can Lose Weight Fast And Easy - More Strategies

Diabetes is on the rise and as a result many are wondering how diabetics can lose weight fast and easy. By losing weight, diabetics can improve their condition and even get rid of the disease altogether. Following the strategies below you can learn how to lose weight fast and improve your overall health.

More Fresh and Less Processed

The first key for how diabetics can lose weight fast and easy is to understand the importance of eating fresh foods over processed ones. How much of what you eat comes in some kind of package and how much is fresh? Fresh means that it is a close to its original state as possible. For example, fresh broccoli has a lot more nutrition it in than frozen broccoli.

Likewise, how much of what you eat is made from processed white flour? Do you eat a lot of bread or pizza? Heavily processed foods have had all the nutrients processed right out of them so all that is left is high calorie filler.

Because these foods have very little vitamins, minerals and enzymes in them, you become hungry again really fast and desire to eat even more, making you fatter and fatter. Try to at least eat as much fresh foods as you do processed. And if you feel you can be successful, try to tip the scale to 60% fresh and 40% processed. Or, 70/30 would be even better.

The Power of Before and After Photos

You can get quite a boost in motivation and energy when you can compare the new you to the old you. Be sure to take a picture of yourself, even if you don't like having pictures of the chubby you around.

You will be blown away after you lose 20, 40 60 pounds and can compare the difference. Documentation of your success can give you the boost in motivation to you going and either continue to lose weight or maintain your ideal weight if you have already made it.

It is also very normal for someone trying to make the significant lifestyle changes needed to lose weight to fall down now and again. The business of life may keep you from exercising for a couple weeks allowing some of the weight you have lost to come back.

Pulling out of photo of the old and overweight you may be all that is required to get you back on track. It can give you the determination to prioritize your life and make exercise a priority.

Food Labels are for Reading

Another crucial key for knowing how diabetics can lose weight fast and easy is to know what you are eating. This is especially true since sugar, in all its forms, is lurking in all sorts of places you would never imagine.

You can't trust a food product based on the front of the package. Whatever the manufacturer puts on the front is designed to sell the product, not inform. To be informed about what you are eating, you have to read the ingredients label on the back.

One thing that makes us gain weight is eating empty calories. Empty calories only make us feel full for a short while. The body hunger is only satisfied when it gets the nutrients it needs. If you eat junk food or fast food, you will quickly become hungry again when the body realizes that it didn't get the nutrients it needed from the last meal.

Read the label and make sure that there is a good calorie to nutrient ratio. Here's a good tip: stay away from most heavily processed foods. They are full of calories and have very little nutrients.

These three strategies are the foundation for knowing how diabetics can lose weight fast and easy. Eating more fresh foods instead of processed ones, motivating yourself with before and after photos, and learning how to look at food labels will start you on your way to a healthy life.

About the Author

Learn more tips like these. Just contact fatlossmadeeasy@aweber.com Learn how to lose weight fast Learn how to lose weight quickly

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Steps to improving your metabolism

There are several factors that affect the metabolism of a person, such as the amount of muscle tissue, the frequency of the meals one consumes, genetics, stress levels, personal diet and activity levels. Metabolism slows done due to the following: loss of muscle because of not enough physical activity, the tendency of the body to cannibalize its own tissue because there is not enough food energy to sustain it, and the decrease of physical activity that comes naturally with old age.

Here are several ways to rev up your metabolism. Build up on lean, mean body mass. It is only natural that metabolism decreases along with age, but it is possible to counter the effects. The amount of muscle a person has is a very strong determinant in the ability to burn calories and shed fat. So it goes without saying that exercise is essential. Build strength and resistance by working out at least twice a week, preferably with weights.

Do easy exercises in between workouts. Simple tasks such as walking the dog and using the stairs in place of the elevator can already take off calories. The key is to match the amount of eating to the amount of activity one has. Here are some guidelines in getting the right exercise:

For strength training

Increase the amount of repetitions of a particular exercise. Add the level of resistance. Utilize advance exercise techniques if possible. For cardiovascular training insert intervals between exercises, perform cross training and combine the exercises, add up on resistance and speed.

Eat breakfast. A lot of people are ignoring the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Surprisingly, the ones who eat breakfast are thinner than the ones who do not. Metabolism can slow down considerably if breakfast is taken during mid-morning or if one waits until the afternoon to eat.

Avoid sugar. Sugar enables the body to store fat. It is recommended that a person consumes food that helps sustain an even level of blood sugar. Additionally, progressive execerise 2 to 3 times a week should be in order to stabilize blood sugar.

Eat spicy foods. Hot cuisine with peppers can increase metabolism.

Sleep more. According to research, it is riskier for people who do not get enough sleep to gain weight. Also, muscles are regenerated during the last couple of hours of slumber.

Increase water intake. Water flushes out toxins that are produced whenever the body burns fat. Majority of bodily functions involves water, and lack of water causes the body system's operations to decrease its speed, and produces unneeded stress as a result.

Eat smaller meals. It is advisable to consume 4 to 6 small meals that are timed 2 to 3 hours apart.

Never skip meals. People tend to skip meals in order to lose weight, which is a big mistake since it slows down metabolism.

Plan meals in detail. Always prepare the right amount of food to be consumed at the designated intervals. Do not commit the mistake of eating meals in sporadic patterns.

Ditch the stress! Stress, be it physical or emotional, triggers the release of a steroid called cortisol, which decreases metabolism. Also, people tend to eat excessively when stressed.

Guzzle up on green tea. It can be used as a substitute for coffee. Tea has the ability to stimulate metabolism, and unlike coffee, it has no undesirable side effects when too much is consumed.

Include more energy foods in the diet, such as fruits and vegetables, beans and whole grains.

Achieving the desired body weight is never impossible if one has the determination and patience needed to stabilize the metabolism level, which plays an important role in weight loss. A person needs to realize that eating right and working out is not just a passing fancy, but a way of life.

There are a lot of people who would give a lot to increase their metabolism. Having a high level of metabolism enables one to maintain burn fat and lose weight fast with the least amount of activity. Metabolism is the rate by which the body produces and consumes energy and calories to support life.

About the Author

Increase your Websites online presence today by getting listed on The Authority Business Directory. Plus, don't forget to submit link for inclusion while you are visiting.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Giving up on weight loss? Think again

Are you one of those who have lost hope in weight loss? You think you can't do it for nuts. You think you have tried it all and it's of no use? Think again! Most of you might have reduced weight only to gain more, or some of you might be frustrated on the slow pace of weight loss or few might simply hate the kind of diet they are following. Whatever may be the reason, weight loss is not such a horrendous or a tough task. Getting that into your head will prepare you psychologically for weight reduction. It will look a lot easier. So what is the secret of those who have successfully reduced weight?

1. Study pattern shows that they pursue aerobics. They practice an aerobic session 5-7 days a week. These people average about 45 minutes of aerobics everyday with their ranges spreading over 30-90 minutes. Aerobics helps you burn a lot of calories. It also increases your BMR- basal metabolic rate. 2. Weight training programs help you to tone your muscles. This is also another successful method followed by the successful group. They weight train for 2-3 days a week. Those who follow this are more successful at weight loss. 3. Workouts in the morning help tremendously in preparing your body for the rest of the day. You end up feeling great. Consistent morning exercises on a day to day basis puts in place your food habits. You tend to feel less hunger and hence eat the right food. This regulates your metabolic system and it works the way it should and helps you get into a healthy mind frame. Natural weight loss is the best way to reduce weight as in merges well with the body and helps in the long run. Crash diets won't help. It is better to stick on to healthy food consisting of your favorites to make it tastier. Avoid junk food. 4. People often misunderstand the concept. 20 minutes of exercise every day won't help if you are looking for serious weight loss. You have to work out vigorously to make changes. If it's your priority go ahead and do it. You will definitely feel a change in yourself soon. 20 minutes every day can't change your metabolic rate effectively, drastically reduce your weight, and make you feel great. 5. It is practically impossible to work out consistently for an hour. Make time, wake up early in the morning, make it a routine, fix your targets, and be sincere. And when you end up reducing weight, it is important to maintain it, or you will end up putting on more weight. Stick to your regime, you can probably ease out a bit but not too much. If you are looking for a serious change, then you will have to follow a serious plan. Weight loss tips can only guide, you are the only one who can make it work. So go ahead and make the difference.

About the Author

Gary Grewal is the founder of the site http://www.101weightloss.com/; A site featuring many articles on weight loss subjects such as eating habits, exercise, foods & nutrition, diets, pills etc. Visit his site for many more tips on natural weight loss.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Diet Secrets Everyone Should Know

Whether you are looking to lose weight or to eat healthy, here are some tips for a healthy diet.
Begin every meal by eating your low calorie foods first, such as fruits and vegetables. Next eat your meats and other proteins, which are very filling. It's very important to eat protein at each meal, because these help your body to feel full. Try adding eggs and black beans to your diet. They are an excellent source of protein, with virtually no carbs or sugars. End your meal with your higher calorie starches. You will find yourself filling up more on the low calorie foods, and eating less of the high calorie ones.
Decrease the amount of carbohydrates you eat in the evening. Carbs let your body store fat. Your metabolism is the slowest during the night., so don't put fat storing carbs into your body in the evening.
Eat smaller meals more often. For a healthy diet, it's recommended to eat 6-8 smaller meals every day. This will actually increase your metabolism and help you lose weight faster.
Drink more water. It's important to stay hydrated, but drinking a glass of water when you are hungry can actually curb your appetite. Water also is imperative for digestion and cleansing your body.
On the other hand, cut down on all other drinks because they all have calories. Don't drink pop at all. If you drink juice, water it down.
Also, take a day off each week and eat whatever you want. Knowing that you can eat the food you are craving in just a few days, will help you to resist during your healthy diet days. Or consider both Saturday and Sunday as break days. Even if you gain a little bit of weight over the weekend, it will keep you motivated to eat right during the week. Eventually, you will crave less foods less often and find yourself eating healthier even on your non diet days.
Begin now to make your diet healthier. Implement at least one of the ideas in this article today and you will begin to look better and feel better.

About the Author

Gina Clark writes on nutrition and fitness. Click here for more tips to improve the quality of your life.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Fast Food and Fat Food

There are two sides of the same coin. You may have heard arguments on both sides regarding healthy foods and fast foods. You may have asked yourself one time or another, are all fast food fat foods? Can you binge on fast food without worrying about your health? How can you eat fast food and still stay healthy?

The United States is the leading country when it comes to obesity. The country is top three in the world in terms of existing fast food chains. When you put two and two together, you get to the conclusion that the popularity of fast food restaurants is affecting the health of the consumers.

McDonalds', one of the famous fast food chains in the world, faced a lawsuit in 2003 when parents of a teenage girl claimed that the fast food restaurant is responsible for their daughter's health problems. Although the case was dismissed, it started the battle of fast food restaurants against health experts.

Obesity is not something to laugh about. It can lead to all sorts of complications such as diabetes mellitus type 2, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and, of course, cardiovascular diseases. Aside from that, being on the heavy side can make a person the butt of jokes which ultimately results to social outcasts and suicidal attempts. Sedentary lifestyle and overeating are the main reasons why there are people who are considered obese.

You should be familiar with the daily calorie intake. Your calorie intake highly depends on your weight and lifestyle. On average, health specialists stated that the daily calorie intake for women is 1200 calories while it is 1800 for men. Generally, one fast food meal has around 1000 calories.

Most of the food offered by fast food restaurants are deep-fried or heated up in the microwave. These processes of food preparation take minimum time unlike home cooked meals. As a result, most fast food products have high calories and are practically swimming in trans-fat.

If you take all of these into consideration, then yes, fast food is fat food. Health experts have grounds why they are against eating fast food products. On the other hand, it does not mean that you have to forego fast food altogether to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Fast food restaurants were a hit because they serve food in minimum time, in good taste, and in lesser price. So how are you going to make the two ends meet?

When health issues were raised, fast food restaurants come up with possible solutions to make their menu appealing to health buffs. They added salads, fresh fruit, and white meat to widen the selection of their consumers. Also, nutritional facts are made available so that people would have an idea how many calories are in their orders. These restaurants are doing their part but why is it that they are still being blamed?

It all boils down to you as a consumer. If you want to live a long life, you should know when to stop eating fast food. Moderation is the key. You cannot have burgers and fries all the time. If you can't stay away from fast food, check out the other side of the menu. Instead of a Big Mac, why don't you order a regular burger? If a regular burger is not good enough for you, just avoid add-ons like cheese, bacon, or mayonnaise sauce. Other add-ons can be tasty without the fat like onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mustard. Skip additional toppings in your pizza. Even though a slice of chocolate cake makes your mouth water, better order a low-fat yogurt or ice cream for dessert. Lastly, forget about the upsize promo. It will save you from calories and save a few pennies too.

Balanced diet is pretty elementary. As long as you know how to balance your intake, you're good to go. The next time you crave for some fast food, indulge yourself. Just make it a point not to have the urge every day of the week.

About the Author

Vida Joy Carlos is a contributor of http://fastfoodrestaurants.aeiou.com/

If you want to learn more about fast food restaurants or anything under that umbrella, check out the website. Information about history of fast food restaurant, major brands, the menu, and other interesting tidbits are available.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Most Common Weight Loss Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Our global weight problem is a concern to health organizations everywhere as there has been a corresponding increase in health issues; the worrying factor is that school children are also affected by this, according to recent studies. To cure this problem, some people have resorted to surgical measures whereas others have decided that adjustments to their food intake and an increase in physical activity are necessary. Although no-one becomes overweight overnight, it seems that people want to lose this weight in as short a time as possible so a number decide to use weight loss drugs.

The idea behind the drugs is to quicken each person's metabolism enabling the weight to be lost much quicker. That was all well and good until the point where more research had concluded that there was an increased risk of heart valve disease and as a consequence the drugs were withdrawn. Newer drugs were developed and started to be prescribed by physicians and dieticians, some of these drugs are currently waiting for the Federal Drug Administration go ahead.

Most people have known friends or family members who have tried using diet pills and have seen tremendous improvement. To many it is a wonder drug and let's be honest, if you could lose weight that easily without having to sacrifice anything in the process, you would take them as well. The weight loss drug manufacturers have spent a huge sum on research but this cannot be compared to the amount spent by consumers.

Even with all the testing and new techniques available for manufacturers, many side effects like nausea and diarrhea still exist with the new generation of weight control pills which, incidentally, can still be purchased over the counter. You must check the packet carefully before you decide to use them because some of the other side effects can be even more harmful, like the possibility of a heart attack or even a stroke, with hallucinations, tremors, breathing problems and convulsions all recorded as side effects for users of these drugs.

The side effects vary depending on the lifestyle and health of the person and can be minimized as long as one consults the doctor first before buying them; it should be noted that if one stops using the drugs, the side effects will not necessarily cease. Problems like depression, nausea, bad mood swings, nightmares, insomnia for example have all been reported when a person has stopped taking the weight control pills.

Generally from the reports it would seem that the effectiveness of weight loss drugs is improved if they are combined with a regular exercise program and a low calorie diet. This type of diet requires a balance of the food groups to ensure a proper intake of vitamins, minerals and fiber, almost all of which can be bought at your local supermarket but may require a little preparation.

Exercising will need to be carried out if you want to benefit from the healthy food option but this probably needs to be worked out in advance with your physician. The best exercise plans should have cardiovascular and weight training exercises as this helps burn calories and increase the muscle to fat ratio that will increase a person's metabolism and assist with weight loss.

About the Author

Author: G.Wadel Find More Resources about Staying Healthy, Losing Weight and Living a Long Prosperous Life. http://amazingweightlossresults.com

Saturday, April 19, 2008

All About The Best Stomach Exercises

It is only natural, most people want to look their best, and exercising their stomach muscles is usually a huge part of most fitness programs. If so much time and energy is going to be focused on this muscle group, it is a good idea to know what the best stomach exercises are. There are many resources available for finding the best stomach exercises, and plenty of people to say what they consider the best, so how can a person decide for themselves which truly are the best exercises for working their stomach muscles?

First of all it is important to note that the best stomach exercises are those that a person is willing to do. No matter how effective the exercise is, if a person isn't going to do them consistently the exercise will not benefit that particular individual. It is also important to note that the best stomach exercises do not necessarily require equipment to perform them, although some machines and equipment may work quite well for some people.

When a person decides on a fitness program that includes stomach exercises, it is best to include stomach exercises that work the different parts of the stomach. If a person simply concentrates on one area of their stomach, there workout will not be as effective. The best stomach exercises, combine working the oblique, which are the side muscles, the lower abdominals, the mid section and also the upper section.

Some of the most popular stomach exercises are crunches. These are a very effective exercise and very convenient since they can be performed anywhere without any equipment. The next stomach exercise that is also very popular and goes along with the basic crunch is the side crunch, which works out the oblique.

Some people consider the best stomach exercises to be included in a Pilate's workout. The reason for this is because in Pilates, the whole focus is on the core of the body which is the abdominal, or stomach muscles. Every movement in a Pilate's workout will work the stomach muscles either directly or indirectly. These exercises can be found on the internet, either the exercise itself or video's that can be purchased.

Another good exercise that some fitness experts considers to be one of the best stomach exercises involves laying flat on your stomach, leg straight and then raising your body up using your arms as your hands are clasped together and keeping your body straight as if doing a pushup. Hold this position as long as you can stand. This is an excellent movement to strengthen the whole stomach.

Remember again though that just because one person may consider a specific exercise to be the best stomach exercise that does not necessarily mean it is the best for everyone. Each person's body is different and will respond differently to certain movements. Any one serious about working on the abdominal muscles will find it most helpful to try several different stomach exercises and then determine which one they can both feel and see results with. If one exercise is simply too hard to do correctly, or does not feel like it has done anything for the muscle group worked, that exercise is clearly not the best and the person should find what works best for them.


About the Author

For more on treadmill workouts, including tips on the tread climber, visit The Treadmill Workouts website.

Protein Shakes for Health

Detox programs are not only for those individuals looking to lose weight. Many people feel that their bodies are being held down by pollutants and poisons in our environment and they want to free themselves of the toxins. Being at a healthy weight already, these people have already won half the battle that toxins present, which means they need to be able to detox their bodies without losing additional weight. One of the best ways to do this is by utilizing protein shakes.

When you are on detox programs known to cause you to lose weight, you can reverse this by consuming one or two protein shakes on a daily basis. Look for shakes that include eggs, soy and/or whey. Whey is the remaining liquid after milk has been curdled and strained. You also want to be certain that the protein shakes you use in your detox programs do not include any ingredients that you may be allergic to. They should also include all nine essential amino acids and have a high protein to carbohydrate ratio.

While taking part in detox programs, mix your protein shake with water, soy, rice or almond milk rather than cow's milk. For additional flavor, you can add fruit such as bananas or extracts of vanilla, almond or cinnamon. You can also mix with orange juice as well.

For more information on protein shakes, visit Martha's Vineyard Holistic Retreat. There you will find a variety of nutritional supplements to help in your detox programs as well as the MV Diet Detox 21 Day Program, which provides you with either chocolate or vanilla protein shake mixes depending on which program you select. Here are a few protein shake recipes to get you started on your healthy detox programs. To decrease calories in the shakes, you can replace the honey with Stevia, which is now available in flavors as well.

Mocha Shaker (188 Calories)

1 Cup Rice Dream or Vanilla Soy Milk 1 Scoop Chocolate Whey Science® 1 tsp Instant Coffee 1 tsp Honey ¼ tsp Vanilla extract

Blend 15-20 seconds

Chocolate Banana Split (219 Calories)

1 Cup Rice Dream or Vanilla Soy Milk 1 Scoop Vanilla Whey Science® or Soy Protein Science™®½ Banana ¼ Cup crushed ice

Blend 15-20 seconds

Orange Creamsicle (194 Calories)

½ cup Orange Juice ¼ cup Rice Dream or Vanilla frozen yogurt ¼ tsp Vanilla Extract ¼ tsp Orange Extract 1 scoop Vanilla Whey Science® or Soy Protein Science ¼ cup crushed ice (if using Rice Dream)

Blend 15-20 seconds

Almond Buddy (249 Calories)

½ cup Rice Dream or Vanilla Soy Milk ½ cup Vanilla Low-Fat yogurt (or frozen yogurt) 1 Scoop Chocolate Whey Science® 1 tsp. Natural blend Almond Butter 1 tsp. Honey

Blend 15-20 seconds

Peppermint Freeze (308 Calories)

1 Cup Rice Dream or Vanilla Soy Milk 1 Scoop Chocolate Whey Science® ½ cup Vanilla frozen yogurt 1/8 tsp. Peppermint extract

Blend 15-20 seconds


About the Author

Dr. Roni Deluz, RN, ND, PhD is a lifestyle consultant and owner of Martha's Vineyard Holistic Retreat. She is also the author of "21 Pounds in 21 Days," which debuted #3 on the New York Times Bestseller list.

Healthy foods: The most essential element of weight loss

Weight loss can be futile process if you just go on diets without finding out what will really suit your body and metabolic system. You can diet for 25 years and still end up fatter with a slow metabolic system. So it is important to choose your diet in a way that you will actually benefit from it.

Fruits and vegetables make up a great diet. Amidst the cheese, butter, cream we have forgotten the classic delicious tastes of fruits and vegetables. So chuck the diet and eat healthy. Narrow down on the fruits and vegetables you love. You may be a huge fan of tomatoes, or cucumber. So take up the vegetable you love and look up for healthy recipes for which you favorite veggie forms the core. Find out as many recipes as you can and cook it up and eat healthy. Coming to fruits, cut pieces of fruit which you may like, apple, guava or anything and keep it store for quick snacks. This is definitely healthier than the fad laden potato chips, or the chocolate cookies.

Go for morning walks. It makes you brisk. Even if it's for 15 minutes, it's a healthy weight loss tip. See to it that you spend at least 30-45 minutes on walks per day. Follow a basic weight loss routine like dumbbells, weights etc. at home. Do not skip breakfast. Prepare healthy dishes like tomato sandwiches or a fruit salad for breakfast. For lunch and dinner cook up vegetables and mix it with brown rice. Use lemon juice to spice it and eat salads. These are not only healthy but they are delicious as well. Treat your taste buds to the taste of natural food and not junk food. Lemon, garlic, and tomatoes are a few ingredients you can use in almost everything, to make sauces, salad dressings, juices or simply to add flavor. Look up for such vegetables which has various healths advantages and make use of them in your diet. This way your diet will have variety and you won̢۪t have a monotonous dieting regime with the same one or two dishes.

If you follow this kind of a healthy diet made up of your favorites you will look forward to your meals every day. At the same time you will not feel guilty of hogging something of high calories. Your weight loss regime becomes an easy task. Following this kind of a diet with pave way for a rapid weight loss and you will witness the change in a few weeks time or may be few days even. The best part is that the natural food goes down easy on your body and you will stay healthy since it won't affect your system. These weight loss tips will suddenly seem like a miracle cure which you were ignorant about all this time. So remember, weight loss is not about starving yourself, it's about eating healthy and staying fit. So keep it natural and enjoy the experience.

About the Author

To learn more about healthy & natural weight loss visit http://www.101weightloss.com/; a site featuring hundreds of articles on healthy weight loss.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Honey and Weight Loss

Honey and weight loss are often discussed together. In what ways is honey a wiser choice than white sugar for those who are consciously watching your weight?

Refined dietary sugars lack minerals and vitamins and are often called empty calories. They draw upon the body's nutrients to be metabolized into the system, and when these nutrients are depleted, metabolizing of cholesterol and fatty acid is impeded, contributing to higher cholesterol and promoting obesity due to higher fatty acid on the organs and tissues. The good news is that honey, the natural sweetener, on the other hand, contains 22 amino acids and a variety of minerals essential for its metabolism and hence is helpful in preventing obesity. It is believed that drinking lemon juice with a little honey the first thing in the morning is an effective anti cellulite treatment as it helps to increase body metabolism. If you are determined to shed weight and speed up your sluggish metabolism, try this honey and lemon diet tip. Yet another very popular recipe associated with honey and weight loss is a drink that combines honey and cinnamon. Many people have found this home remedy very effective in losing pounds. The steps are easy: mix a teaspoon of honey and half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder (or ground cinnamon) into a paste in a cup and pour a cup of boiling water. Stir and cover for half and hour. Filter away any big particles before consumption. Take it in the morning with an empty stomach about half an hour before breakfast.

For people who tend to overeat or feel discomfort in the stomach after meals, honey can be taken for better digestion. Honey is a simple carbohydrate that one safely take during fasting because it contains easily digested sugars. Foods that are rich in sugars or complexes of sugars are carbohydrates. How the sugars are arranged will determine whether we call a food a source of simple or complex carbohydrates. When sugars are bound into rows, as they are in starches such as whole grains and legumes, they are called complex carbohydrates. It takes the body much longer to digest the sugar from a complex carbohydrate.

The latest theory based on the hibernation diet also builds a link between honey and weight loss. It suggests taking a generous spoonful or two of honey at night, either as a warm drink or straight from the jar, and promises to help us sleep and lose weight at the same time by fuelling the liver, speeding up fat-burning metabolism and easing stress hormones.

And if you are considering artificial sugar or sweetener like Aspartame to help you lose weight, you are completely on the wrong track. It might trim you off from a few calories but it gives you a phletora of other serious health problems.

About the Author

Ruth Tan is the owner of the website Benefits of Honey at http://www.benefits-of-honey.com which is an immensely rich, quality resource on honey and its benefits, and a plethora of health-related issues.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

How Can I Lose Belly Fat?

The question on many people's mind, especially this time of year, is "how can I lose belly fat"? Shedding the fat and getting cover model abs may not be as difficult as you might think. A common approach is going on a diet, but starving your body slows down your metabolism and often leads to additional weight gain...it's true!. And doing countless ab crunches won't do a thing unless you eat a healthy diet - very different from dieting. So again, how can I lose belly fat?

There are 3 important factors to follow to help you achieve your goal of a fit and trim mid-section:

1. Eat Right - First thing's first, you need to get rid of the layers of fat that is covering your abs. To do this you have to eat enough to preserve your muscle, but don't over eat so you put on fat. How? Fill up on proteins and vegetables, limit your dry carbohydrates (pasta, bread, rice) especially in the late afternoon or evening, and just as important, remember to eat fiber. Besides the obvious benefits of fiber, it also helps your body to better assimilate dietary fat.

2. Work Out Intensely - Choosing your cardio comes down to personal goals, personal preference, how important time efficiency is to you and--most important of all--what kind of results you're getting. There are many opinions about cardio, and many opinionated people. Well, there is no best cardio workout. All exercise is good exercise if it's burning calories, getting you results, and it's not injuring you. Stop over analyzing. Just get out there and burn calories, and if you're getting results, keep doing it! The more you burn, the more fat you lose, and the better your belly will look!

3. Perfect Posture - Yes, your posture plays a key role in how good (or bad) your belly looks. Just being aware of your posture, all day long, can make a difference. Here are 2 things you can do to help ensure you have a nice trim belly: (1) keep your abs taut throughout the day and (2) stand tall with your shoulders back and your abs drawn in. If you consistently keep your abs tight and drawn in, they will eventually stay firm even when relaxed. Try it!

The above 3 factors will certainly put you on the right track and help answer the question how can I lose belly fat. So eat right, work hard and stand up straight. Pretty simple.

There are so many products and programs available today that claim to burn fat, promise unbelieveable weight loss results in as little as 3 day, etc. Before investing any of your valuable time or money, click here for your FREE report to learn how you can lose belly fat. This may change your life.

About the Author

Dan has educated thousands of people on weight loss programs and healthy living. Get your free report at http://abs.burnfatforlife.com and start losing belly fat today.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Morning Exercises: The Key To Weight Loss

Did you know that weight loss becomes an easy task when you work out in the morning? It's the single most important factor for an easy and a natural weight loss. So try to exercise in the mornings, it will be effective. Even if it's just for ten minutes, it's important that you do it. So why is it important to work out in the morning?

1. Consistency is an important factor for a healthy weight loss. Now if you want to be consistent, the odds will be in your favor if you regime in the mornings.

2. By exercising in the mornings, you jumpstart your metabolism. This keeps it going for the day which means you will actually end up burning more calories than the not-exercising-in-the-mornings regime. This is a valuable natural weight loss tip and is always helpful to those who take it into consideration.

3. Exercising in the mornings energizes your body. It provides the stamina required for the rest of the day. If you follow exercising in the mornings you will notice the change. You will be energetic and enthusiastic besides being able to handle things in a much better way.

4. Most importantly morning exercises regulate your appetite. Which means you won't feel too hungry and thus end up making better food choices. This will pave way to easier weight loss.

5. Psychologically, exercising in the mornings puts you on a healthy mindset.

6. If you stick on to your exercise timings every morning, it gets integrated in your metabolic system. It becomes a habit, a norm. Your body's endocrine system and circadian rhythms adjust to your weight loss regime and it makes it a whole lot easier. Before you wake up, your body prepares itself for the work out as it knows what follows. This way, it is much easier to wake up and counter the morning blues. The hormones become elevated as you sleep, thus when you wake up you already end up feeling perked up for your exercises. Bring it on, you say!

7. The hormones well prepare your body by regulating blood pressure, heart beat rate etc. this makes weight loss, quick, easy and natural.

8. Studies say that exercising increases your mental acuity. So wake up early and exercise instead of sleeping.

9. Mornings have less interruptions and distractions; you can follow your weight loss regime peacefully. This will calm you down and prove to be relaxing. You will start looking forward to spend this time on yourself taking care of your mind, body and soul. It will cure you of mental stress.

10. Regular sleep pattern builds within your system. Research proves that if you exercise on a regular basis you will enjoy a higher quality of sleep. So even if you wake up early to exercise, you won't feel sleep deprived.

Exercising in the morning is the only weight loss tip you will ever need. Now that you know why it's important, follow it and experience the change.

About the Author

Gary Grewal is author of http://www.101weightloss.com/; a site featuring hundreds of weight loss articles including exercising, eating right, foods & nutrition, diets, pills and more.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

The Little Known Dangers of Low Carb Diets

Up. Down. Up. Down. The world of a perpetual dieter is a never-ending rollercoaster. Gaining and losing weight is just another part of the daily struggle. There's a reason the dieting industry is raking in billions of dollars a year and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Fad diets have been a huge selling point. We've all tried our share of crazy ones! Anyone remember the hot chocolate diet? Not so good. How about the yam diet? Yeah, let's forget that one ever happened! Some plans haven't been so easily dismissed. The low carb diet has continually gained momentum and it seems everyone has tried it at some point. However, there are little known dangers when it comes to this eating plan - some that cannot be ignored.

The low carb diet can be very dangerous to your heart. This is true whether or not you've ever had issues with this area of your health before. The American Heart Association was so concerned they actually drafted a paper outlining the danger. They know a low carb diet often means a high protein diet. This can lead to an increase in bad cholesterol and cause a fertile breeding ground for cardiovascular disease. This is when a heart attack could sneak in. Scary stuff. Critics of diets like this say any weight loss is temporary, which makes the entire process an exercise in futility that only leaves you with a bad heart.

If you like to use your brain (and don't most of us?), a low carb diet should be reconsidered. The brain needs carbohydrates, or more specifically glucose, to continue working. In fact, it needs twice as much energy than any other body part. Neurons (which are the cells that communicate with one another) are constantly working and need to be re-energized on an on-going basis. This can't happen if there isn't a supply of glucose coming in. If you are using your brain to figure out a problem, the demand is even higher. So, the next time you're trying to figure out your taxes or maybe even just how much money your children are siphoning out of your life, eat a granola bar!

Eating fewer carbs to lose weight can backfire. A low carb diet has been shown to result in a loss of muscle. Just like glucose fuels the brain, it also fuels your muscles. This means you'll lose muscle tone and start getting flabby. Less muscle also means your metabolism will slow down and you'll lose weight even more slowly than to begin with. Doesn't that seem awfully futile? Thought so.

There's a reason experts suggest a balanced diet to lose weight. The truth is we need a little bit of everything to keep our bodies functioning at an optimum level. Cutting out certain foods won't do the trick. Instead of driving yourself crazy by following the latest and greatest fad diet, take a step back and aim to be healthy. You didn't gain the weight overnight, so don't expect to lose it overnight! Take a deep breath, eat a piece of bread and go to sleep happy!

About the Author

I've reviewed the most effective weight loss strategies on the internet today, to check out the best ways to lose that extra weight then click here to visit the site.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Healthy Snacks Under 100 Calories

It is close to dinnertime and you are starving. You cannot wait and need something right now, but don't want to sabotage all that you have accomplished. Your willpower is growing dim and you are struggling, yet you must have something, just something that will tide you over. That cookie looks really good and that's okay, but you just know that one leads to two, and three, and........STOP!

Don't ruin it now. You have been working out for weeks and you are really noticing a difference in the way that your clothes look and feel. You have come too far for that and just think of that new dress that you want to wear to that special upcoming event. Instead here are some great snacks that will help you to squelch that rumbling tummy. Remember though...portion control is the key to success. Try eating these foods instead and you will get through those difficult times between meals.

Here is a list of foods under 100 calories:

Vegetables: Between 15 and 40 calories

Celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini, green beans, radishes, green peppers, lettuce, pickles.

Fruits: Between 40 and 70 calories

Oranges, apples, strawberries, grapefruit, cantaloupe, tangerines, peaches, apricots, nectarine, ½ of a banana.

Crackers: Between 30 and 90 calories

Melba toast, Matzoh, pretzels (5), puffed wheat, puffed rice, Bran Chex, graham crackers (2 squares), breadsticks (1), vanilla wafers (5), rice cakes, cream of wheat, ½ a bagel, ½ of an English muffin.

Miscellaneous Items: Between 10 and 90 calories

Sugar-free gelatin, non-fat yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese, sugar-free popsicles, sugar free fudgesicles, popcorn,a hard boiled egg, a piece of toast, Italian ice, a can of chicken noodle soup, slice of American cheese, fruit flavored yogurt, sugar-free pudding.

Drinks: Between 0 and 90 calories

Tea, coffee, seltzer water, diet sodas, grapefruit juice, orange juice, skim milk, apple juice, cranberry juice, carrot juice, tomato juice, water, sugar-free drink mixes.

Eat any of the above in a reasonable portion and you will be able to curb your appetite until your next meal without spoiling what you have accomplished. Also, don't forget to check out your grocery store for prepackaged weight loss packets of great snacks that are less than 100 calories. There are cereals, cookies, crackers, gelatin and pudding cups, popcorn and more items available that are already packaged to help you take the guesswork and temptation away from you. Or better yet, prepackage your own cereal and other items in little plastic baggies, which is more cost effective. It may take a little more time or be a little more costly, but worth it in the long run if it helps you to control your eating.

Choose your snacks wisely and plan your meals ahead. Think about when you will need a snack and be careful during your weakest moment. Keep a prepackaged snack and a bottle of water with you in case you have the munchies while you are on the go. Remember, you did not come this far just to lose it on a high calorie snack that could have been avoided with a little thought in mind.


About the Author

Follow a forty-something year old mom's journey from overweight to healthy and fit. Check out some of her favorite recipes and food finds at http://www.blogawaythepounds.com

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Five Ways To Weight Loss, Which One Is For You?

Before you decide on how you intend to succeed at weight loss, you need to decide if this weight loss program or system is for you, i.e. to remain healthy, as well as to lose the excess weight. Many factors affect how well your weight loss program will go including how much physical activity you have during a normal day, the type of food you eat, how many meals you have and when those meals are eaten.

There is more harm caused to an overweight person than just pride as many serious medical conditions are a result of one being overweight. Weight is not just a simple health problem and an easy weight loss treatment that works 100 percent of the time doesn't exist. Surprisingly, there are methods that provide a high degree of success. We'll breifly discuss five weight loss methods below;

1. Natural Weight Loss

The principle of natural weight loss is not consuming more calories than your body uses. A reasonable approach to natural weight loss is to stick to a diet that is high in complex carbohydrates and fiber, moderate in protein, and low in fat. A meal such as this would be something like a baked potato (complex carbohydrate), the fiber is vegetables and protein is a lean cut of meat.

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, you should also throw in some lite physical activity such as a walk/jog in the park or a little gym work once or twice a week. This also helps you feel more energetic and helps increase the metabolism rate.

2. Weight Loss Drugs

There are many overweight people who are impatient and want instant results so they resort to taking weight loss drugs instead of living a healthy lifestyle.

These drugs work in a variety of ways but mainly they try to fool the brain into thinking the stomach is full and increase the person's metabolism.

Weight control pills can be prescribed by your doctor, dietitian or purchased in a drug store and despite the advances made in the drug manufacture, there are still dangers including vomiting and stomach problems. You must check the packet carefully before you decide to use them because some of the other side effects can be even more harmful, like the possibility of a heart attack or even a stroke, with hallucinations, tremors, breathing problems and convulsions all recorded as side effects for users of these drugs.

3. Lipsuction

Liposuction or Lipoplasty as the cosmetic surgeons refer to it has become another very popular aesthetic body treatment which removes unwanted body fat. This normally works best for the thighs, bottom and stomach as it can treat this problem when some other methods fail. Two basic techniques of Liposuction used are the Tumescent and Ultrasonic techniques. The most popular of these two is the Tumescent method.

4. Green Tea

Nature seems to have a cure for everything if you can find it and with the health benefits of green tea only just being understood, it is used a great deal especially within the weight loss industry and for products which are used as antioxidants. Green tea weight loss extracts can be purchased easily in liquid and tablet form but whichever way you take it, you will burn calories, naturally.

There is generally an acclimatization period of a couple of days when using this product, during which time the user may feel some stomach and bowel discomfort but it shouldn't take too long before this vanishes. Results are normally obvious within the first week, particularly if you complete the diet with physical exercise, lots of liquids and green food.

5. Hoodia

One of the biggest discoveries in recent years to help people control their weight is the Hoodia plant and for many people this plant has great potential. Hoodia is from the cactus family and there are thirteen in all. Only one variant, the 'Gordonii', possesses the ability to suppress appetite.

Hoodia weight loss products are all the more effective given the fact that they are completely free from side-effects. There are no unpleasant digestive problems or heart rhythm disturbances that often happen with other appetite inhibitors.

This does not mean however, that you should discontinue healthy eating and drinking during the time you are taking it.

So in conclusion, regardless of what weight loss system or product you use, they can never be a substitute for living a healthy lifestyle. There is no point to weight loss if you are going to damage yourself in the process. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat right, drink right and exercise right. You will feel great for it.

About the Author

Find more information on losing weight, naturally or with weight loss products and programs at; http://www.ifeelucky.com/lose-weight

How To Gain One Pound Of Muscle Per Week With This Rediscovered Bodybuilding Trick

How would you like to learn a simple trick that will help you pack on a solid pound of muscular bodyweight each and every week without spending any more time in the gym and without forcing feeding yourself by trying to choke down more food at each meal?

Well in this article I'm going to show you exactly how to do just that by overcoming one of the most catabolic times of the day for you, and turning it into your advantage. Do you know when the most catabolic time of day is? It's when you go to sleep because you literally starve your muscles for eight hours!

Just think about it, you would never go eight hours during the day without eating a meal. But that is exactly what you do each and every night when you go to bed. The old time bodybuilders knew about this. And during heavy bulk up training phases they would literally set their alarm clocks and wake up during the middle of the night and eat a high protein meal in order to prevent muscle breakdown.

If you are staying a certain weight right now then you are consuming your maintenance calorie intake. In order to gain muscle you need to consume above this calorie maintenance level. But chances are if you are struggling to gain weight then you feel that you are already eating like a mad man and can't possibly eat any more food.

However, this middle of the night meal will provide these much needed extra calories for muscle gain, and since this is in addition to your daily meals it won't feel like you are forcing down more food. Another bonus is that because you haven't eaten for several hours most of the calories will be headed for your muscles and not stored as bodyfat.

If you consume a night-time meal replacement or protein shake with 500 calories in it; that's 3500 calories for the week over and above your current maintenance calorie intake. This will help you gain about 1 lb. of solid muscle a week. If you can stick with it you can gain some serious muscular bulk pretty quickly.

There are 2 ways to squeeze in this extra muscle building meal...

One option is to set your alarm clock for the middle of the night. However, if you are like me you hate the sound of the alarm clock as it jolts you out of your sleepy slumber like a slap in the face.

The second option, which is a lot more easy, is to simply drink a couple glasses of water before going to bed. This will naturally make you wake up in a few hours because you'll have to go to the bathroom.

Then all you have to do is before you go to bed is mix up a meal replacement drink in a shaker bottle and put it right on the bathroom counter. This way you don't even have to think about it, you can just drink it and then go back to bed.

It only takes a few minutes of preparation each night and then a couple minutes to chug down the meal replacement drink. The little bit of work involved is well worth the reward of a bigger more muscular physique.

About the Author

Lee Hayward is a Physique Transformation Specialist who is committed to helping bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts gain muscle and burn body fat. Visit his website and download a copy of his FREE Muscle Building e-Course.

http://www.LeeHayward.com

Is Aerobic really the best type of exercise for fat loss?

Often fitness and health professionals will prescribe aerobic exercise (cardio) to their clients looking to lose fat or to improve their health. The Recommendations are usually something like 30-60 minutes of Aerobic training done at a constant pace, 3-5 days a week, at a moderate intensity . This advice is popular, but does it really work or are we just running in place doing long slow boring cardio destined to fail. I'd like you to consider some new scientific research that indicates that steady pace endurance cardio training may not be all it's cracked up to be.

The first thing we need to understand is our bodies are designed to work for short periods followed by rest, or with a stop and go movement rather than the constant repetition you get with cardio exercise. New research are showing that varying the physical patterns when exercise is a very important factor to consider. We can see this in nature as all animals use variable movement, they don't use the same movement for an hour straight. We are the only ones that attempt these endurance activities. Most sports (with the exception of endurance running or cycling) all use variable movement with short bursts of exercise. To look at an example of the different effects of endurance versus short burst exercise, consider the bodies of marathoners versus sprinters. Most sprinters have a body that is very lean, muscular, and strong looking, while the average marathoner is more often bony and sickly looking. Which would you rather look like?

Another thing to remember about the benefits of variability of movement is the internal effect that different types of exercise gives us. Scientists have known that too much steady state endurance exercise (1 hour plus of exercise most days of the week is too much for most people but we are all different) increases free radical production in the body, can breakdown joints, decrease immune function, cause muscle wasting, and can cause a pro-inflammatory response in the body that can potentially lead to chronic diseases. Variable exercise on the other hand has been linked to an increase in anti-oxidant production in the body and an anti-inflammatory effect, a better nitric oxide response (which can encourage a healthy cardiovascular system), and an increased metabolic rate response (which can assist with fat loss).

The big aspect of variable exercise that makes it far better than steady state exercise is the recovery period in between bursts of exertion. Recovery is crucial for the body to promote a healthy stimulus from exercise. Another benefit is that it is much more interesting and is more likely to keep you training until you reach your goal.

Variable exercise can provide benefits like the following: better cardiovascular function, better anti-oxidant protection, increased immune function, decreased risk for joint degeneration, decreased muscle wasting, increased metabolic rate following exercise, and an increased capacity for the heart to handle life's every day stressors. One of the best modes of variable exercise to decrease body fat and increase muscular definition is to do sprinting.

In addition, weight training naturally incorporates short bursts of exertion followed by recovery periods. High intensity interval training (varying between high and low intensity intervals on any piece of cardio equipment) is a great training method that uses short burst and recovery periods. For example, an interval training session on the treadmill could look something like this:

Warm-up for 5 minutes at a fast walk or light jog; Interval 1 - run at 8.0 mi/hr for 1 minute; Interval 2 - walk at 4.0 mi/hr for 1 minute; Interval 3 - run at 10.0 mi/hr for 1 minute; Interval 4 - walk at 4.0 mi/hr for 1 minute; Repeat this 4 times to get an intense 20 minute workout . Using Interval exercise with your fat loss program as well as weight training will dramatically improve the benefit of your training program. Use them and feel the difference they can provide.

About the Author

Learn 5 Facts You MUST Understand if You Are Ever Going to Lose Your Belly Fat & Get Six Pack Abs go to www.homefitnesstrainer.com.au/truthaboutabs.htm

Friday, April 11, 2008

Childhood Obesity - Overcoming It

Are you and your child fighting his/her obesity ? The author of this product knows all about this, having been an overweight child herself.

Your child is in danger of a major health risky so you have to do something now to change the situation. Help the child to overcome the weight problem and to enjoy life again as well as getting back to full health.

Not only health is at risk, being overweight can be stressful mentally as well. Other children, being children, can be very cruel and thoughtless. They tend to taunt the overweight child and make them feel as though they don't belong to the 'in' crowd. Physically also, they may be having a difficult time of it trying to do all the things their peers may be doing, gym class, school games etc.

This e-book, as I say written by a previous childhood sufferer, tells all that she wishes had been available when she was growing up. The information she gives would have helped her overcome miserable times a lot easier. However, that information is here now so it can benefit your child.

You will find out why children become obese, what you can do to help them overcome the weight problem, how to get them to eat properly whether you are there to oversee them or not. How to get them to exercise and to enjoy doing it, and to rid themselves of the extra weight and to keep it off.

All parents want what's best for their children, and that includes the best information possible about any problem which may occur. Being overweight is such a problem these days, for children as well as adults.

This guide is filled with common-sense ideas and tips. You will be given things which can result in immediate weight loss for your child, you will be amazed. You will learn how to recognize if your child is definitely clinically obese and to find out just why.

It tells which health conditions seriously overweight children are prone to, you must be prepared to be surprised by these. Also, according to age, how you can accommodate the weight loss, because what is good for one age is not necessarily good for another.

How you can get an exercise regime going and also to make it enjoyable for the child, not just something they have to do because you say so. Eating habits need to be addressed as well, because without a change there you will be up against a brick wall.

You will be able to see your child rise to the challenge of this weight loss program. Once he or she sees weight coming off I am sure that will spur them on, and once they start to see a decrease in the teasing and taunting from their fellow schoolmates, I am sure they will be keen to carry on.

You will get some backchat I am sure when you start changing menus. It may be that you will have to reorganize your own eating plan so that you will be setting a good example.

It's a very sad fact but a survey recently found that about one third of US children are either overweight or at risk of becoming so. That means a total of about 25 million children up to adolescents are either overweight already or in danger of becoming so.

One of the big problems is that kids don't play outdoors much any more, they get themselves stuck behind a TV, a PC, or on video games etc. Whilst they may enjoy this, it is not good as a full time employment of their free time. They need to be out in the fresh air, running, playing and generally getting some physical exercise from these activities.

Part of the problem may be that children are dropping the Phys. Ed classes in favor of doing something else. So - if they suffer a weight gain there is hardly a chance that they will be able to lose the weight again.

In years gone by, children always played outside, games, riding their bicycle, climbing trees etc. All of which was fun and good exercise. The children nowadays try to grow up too quickly and consider these activities as 'uncool'. Uncool they may be, but they kept previous generations fit and trim.

So unless you want your children to grow up to be 'couch potatoes' you must do something positive to help them return to fitness. They need a good example of future nutrition so that when they grow up and have children of their own, they will see that being overweight is not one of their own children's problems.

About the Author

Jean is committed to finding the best information about weight loss products and to giving this to the consumer so that they may make an informed decision as to which product to buy, such as Click Here!

Do You Really Know How Many Calories You Need?

Most people are absolutely clueless when it comes to figuring out exactly how many calories their body needs in relation to their diets. Most are content to look at the two recommended guidelines that the FDA requires on labels as the litmus. This may work in a perfect world where everyone does the exact same things everyday and has the exact same metabolic rate but in the real world, there is simply not a cookie cutter number that is good for everyone. Here is a simple thing to help you to lose weight the right way

About a year ago, I was having a problem dropping weight. This was despite my regular diet that consisted of nothing but fruits, vegetables and protein and the fact that I was strength training and doing cardio on a regular basis. I decided that what I needed was help and consulted with a personal trainer. He wanted me to write down everything that I ate for the week and at the end of the week, we would sit down and analyze the data to find if there was a visible culprit.

Of course, I complied and at the end of the week, I sat down with my trainer. He looked it over and what he said to me completely floored me.

Lee, you aren't eating enough.....

Surprised? I was. And that is the point I am making. To truly lose weight effectively, you need to understand how much your body requires daily in calories (energy) and then make that your base point. We all know that if you eat too much, you will gain weight. However, if you eat too little, you may be cheating yourself of losing optimum weight.

So, how do you go about discovering how much your body needs? The good news is that there is a simple formula for this. By the way, it is know as the BMR or basal metabolic rate. The BMR factors in many different variables which will be different from one person to the next.

* Age
* Current Weight
* Height

How to determine your BMR:

66+(6.23 x your weight)+(12.7 x your height in inches)-(6.8 x how old you are)

Now this number is basically the amount of calories you need to just exist...existing meaning if you were to lay in bed all day and do nothing. However, I would guess that you do more than hang out in bed all day, right? So, here is where you can get a rough estimate of how many calories that you can expect to burn daily. You take your BMR number and then estimate how active you are. There is a chart for this...

* 1.0 - Sedentary (doing nothing all day)- This means that you got up from bed everyone in a while to get something to drink. Most of us wouldn't fall into this category.

* 1.2 - Very light activity If you have a day job and don't do any physical activity after work, it is likely you fall into this category.

* 1.4 - Light activity- If you have a desk job and walk after work, then this is the number you want.

* 1.6 - Moderate activity If you have a desk job and do some physical activity such as house cleaning PLUS you workout, then this number is for you.

* 1.8 - High activity- If you either have a physical job (such as construction) or you are training very hard (like working out twice daily, then you can choose this number.

* 2.0 - Extreme activity- This number is reserved for athletes mainly.

Once you have asserted what type of activity bracket you fall in, you simply multiply this number by your BMR and you will get an estimated caloric expenditure for the day.

So what does this have to with dieting?

Simple. If you are wanting to lose weight, you will simply take your total caloric expenditure for the day and drop 500 calories from your diet. By doing so, you will easily lose a pound and half a week which is a great number to lose weight and keep it off. Happy Dieting!

About the Author

Lee Carter has spent 6 years battling his weight by choosing one fad diet after another. While he was able to lose weight, he found the weight creeping back on. A year ago, he found the perfect diet....a lifestyle change and has managed to drop nearly 60 pounds in the course of a year.

Find Out How to Lose the Weight and Keep it Off PERMANENTLY!

Lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks fact & guide

Many people were discussing if it is possible to lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks and they send in a lot of reviews. As a matter of fact, you can even lose 80 pounds in one week! But that will land you in hospital as well. So it all depends on the methods of weight loss program that you are undergoing. From my previous experiences in weight loss, losing 10 pounds in 2 weeks is still possible with a healthy lifestyle.

There are several ways in which you can lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks but they require determination and hard work. If you are unable to overcome your mental hurdle, you need not continue with the rest of the process. First of all, let's do a little math here:

1 pound = 3500 calories 10 pounds = 35000 calories Amt of calories per day = 35000/2weeks = 35000/14days = 2500 calories

On average, you need to lose 2500 calories a day to meet your goal. To do this, you need to set yourself to a calorie limit and pay less attention to fat and sugars (they have the highest calorie content). However, it is a fact that a lot of people cannot live without fat or sugar a day. If you still want to achieve losing 10 pounds in 2 weeks with fat and sugar diet, you need to be involved with activities to 'manually' burn more calories, allowing yourself to increase daily calorie intake by the amount of calories burned.

A normal person consumes about 3000 of calories per day. Some people may ask, "If I take only 500 calories per day (since 3000 - 2500 = 500), wouldn't I lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks?" This is theoretically correct and I must praise him for his quick mental calculation. However, a 500 calorie per day diet is very calorie restrictive and is practically unsafe. As per said, that will land you in hospital. You still need a 2500 to 3000 calories per day diet to support vital body processes and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Here are 2 ways whereby you can lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks with a normal diet:

1. Eat more fruits, vegetables and grains

~ Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of water, very little calories (good news!) and high in nutrients. Water will fill you up and makes you full. Nutrients is essential for body functions and lose weight should not mean losing nutrition.
~ Eat whole grain bread rather than wheat bread, pasta or rice. The former has less calories as compare with the other three.

2. Workout and keep to normal routine

~ Workout is a must because without this, it is no use keeping good diet. Without workout, your body cannot burn away the fats. Workout refers to good cardio exercises such as aerobics classes, bicycling or running. Sometimes those ab machines are a waste of time (personally I think).
~ Normal routine refers to eat at normal times so you're sure to get in what you need every day. Do not eat late or over eat. Walk as much as you can because walking is a very good way to keep those calories at bay.

To sum up, losing 10 pounds in 2 weeks is actually possible if you put in commitment to it. You should also know that you'll need to work hard to keep the weight off in the future. Follow the above guide and you will have your target met.

If you find the above tips useful, you may visit this easy weight loss guide to know more about 11 days weight loss program or this lens including other fields such as diet and fitness.

To your slimming success!

About the Author

Ron Lin is a full time writer about weight loss, diet, nutrition and fitness. He serves to help people to lose weight and maintain healthy lifestyles in many different ways though his web: "Ultimate Diet Solutions --> the Diet Solution Pilot, your guide to weight loss & diet".

Does Walking Work for Fat Loss?

It is often recommended, but the question truly needs to be evaluated: is simple walking all that is needed to create substantial weight loss?

Many of the most recognized health associations in our country, such as the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association, recommend that individuals primarily increase their activity levels using walking as exercise. On the other hand, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) makes the following recommendations:

1) a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per day most days of the week, or

2) a minimum of 20 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity three days each week, plus

3) resistance, strength-building, and weight-bearing activities two days per week.

Who is right, and is it happening?

When measured by effectiveness, real-world experience shows that the CDC most closely hits the bullseye. The vast majority of exercisers who successfully lose body fat and improve their health consistently perform the recommendations provided by the CDC, at a minimum. This was emphasized quite clearly in 2007 when the American College of Sports Medicine explained that the general population would receive greater health benefits (and more dramatic weight loss) by exceeding the minimums previously published.

So, is walking enough? It is quite clear that international fat loss experience, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the CDC strongly say no!

Walking is, by far, the best way to get started with an exercise program, but don't be fooled into thinking that it is the ultimate solution which will allow you to achieve the fat loss goals you are seeking. When starting a program, walking is valuable for safely building strength in the ligaments and tendons that support our body. Once a duration of 20 to 30 minutes of brisk walking has been achieved, however, it is time to kick it up a notch and increase the intensity.

After a 30 minute foundation of walking has been laid, intervals with jogging and walking can be used by most as an excellent way to capture the CDC's minimum 20 minutes of vigorous activity. A ratio of 1 minute fast jogging or running for every 2-3 minutes of walking is a great way to start the much more effective form of cardiovascular conditioning known as interval training.

The final question remains: is exercise even happening?

Throughout the United States and in most Westernized countries, the question is answered negatively. Obesity and obesity-related diseases and death rates are at an all-time high, even though the science and knowledge behind successful fat loss mechanisms are at their height. More research and real-world experience exist right now than ever before, and all of that information is widely available on the internet, often free of charge. Yet, even the appropriate MINIMUM amount of exercise is not being accomplished, whether it is something as simple as walking or an activity that is much more vigorous and productive.

At the end of the day, it comes down to your choices regarding the use of the same 86,400 seconds we are all given, whether or not you are doing any activity at all, and whether you are doing a lot more than just walking.

About the Author

Download 2 free ebooks about "The 6 Simple Moves for Guaranteed, Accelerated Fat Loss" and "Super Successful Goal Achievement" at Jeremy Nelms and Alissa Nelms website, http://www.TheFitCouple.com , where they chronicle their daily fitness adventures, personal workout journals, and informative videos.

Weight Loss and Healthy Chocolate

When I talk to people about the weight control benefits of chocolate, the first thing I often hear is, "Are you crazy? You CAN'T lose weight with chocolate!" Before I did all my research on chocolate I might have agreed with them. With the right type of chocolate - unprocessed, dark cocoa - anyone can definitely can lose weight, keep it off and even improve other areas of their health.

Dozens of academic studies have concluded that cocoa and dark chocolate-based foods can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, improve insulin sensitivity and other diabetic symptoms, relieve inflammation, fight depression, increase energy, improve breathing and even decrease your appetite.

Various studies suggest that dieting in general actually leads to INCREASED WEIGHT gain and other health problems over the long run.

I've listed only a few of the benefits of dark, unprocessed chocolate, given by Dr. Stephen Warren, M. D. from his research:

1. Dark Chocolate is loaded with key neurotransmitters like tryptophan, serotonin and dopamine. Often, eating is an emotional experience associated with depression or boredom. Unfortunately the more you eat, the more depressed you become. These nutrient chemicals in cocoa can lower the risk of depression, as well as suppress one's appetite and block the pathway that leads to food cravings. Additionally, phenylethylamine (PEA) improves mood, which in turn decreases food cravings. Food addiction is like drug addiction; consequently, cocoa can minimize food cravings and addictions by delivering the right chemicals.

2. Fiber in cocoa is linked to decreased weight. Fiber helps block some fat absorption as well as a feeling of fullness.

3. Cocoa's flavonoid content can relieve inflammation. Chronic inflammation is associated with low leptin levels, which increases appetite. In addition, cortisol levels increase with elevated inflammatory chemicals that start to break down muscles, deposit fat in cells and fuel the appetite.

4. Cocoa also contains anandamide, often called the "bliss chemical," because of its involvement in the generation of motivation and pleasure. Like PEA, it greatly influences mood.

5. Cocoa's various vitamins and minerals provide essential nutrients that boost energy levels and aid in recovery from exercise.

6. Research shows that dark chocolate and cocoa-based foods help stabilize blood sugar levels. They also increase insulin sensitivity and proper glucose metabolism, meaning if the sugar in your blood is being utilized properly, it doesn't convert into fat.

7. Numerous studies show that dark chocolate can improve heart health. A recent Dutch study found that elderly men who regularly consumed chocolate had less cardiovascular-related and overall deaths than their non-chocolate counterparts.

8. Though it may seem a contradiction, consumption of dark chocolate can decrease your desire to eat more sweets, which in turn lowers your overall appetite. An added benefit is that energy and blood sugar levels are improved with less snacking and fewer sweets.

9. Some researchers suggest that bacteria in your stomach may play a role in obesity. For centuries, cocoa has been used as an antibacterial agent.

10. Chocolate is a histamine blocker, helping decrease stomach acid and possibly improving digestion.

11. Theobromine, found in abundance in cocoa, is associated with weight loss and increased energy.

12. Studies show that individuals who consume dark chocolate and cocoa-based foods tend to lose weight and have increased energy.

Not All Chocolate is Healthy

It's important to note that, when it comes to conferring weight loss benefits, dark chocolate reigns supreme. To benefit from antioxidant properties and cocoa's polyphenols, stick with products that are 60 percent cocoa and avoid alkalinization or Dutch process chocolate.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, eating dark chocolate can actually help us achieve our weight loss goals.

(Always consult with your physician when starting a new weight loss program. Information contained herein is not to be taken as medical advice. No therapeutic or medical claims are either implied or made.)


About the Author

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies. For tips/information, click here: healthy chocolate
Visit Majon's Health and Beauty directory.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Weight loss for New Moms. 3 Important things to remember.

Losing weight in this day and age should be easy but for most people it is a difficult undertaking. Most people don't have time to go to a gym or spend hours a day doing work out routines at home. This is even more true for mothers of newborn children. So the question becomes how can a new mom loose the weight she gained while pregnant?

Everyone knows there are hundreds of different weight loss systems and diet pills on the market and more appearing every days. Which ones work and which ones will help you keep the weight off after you loose the baby fat? Most people will tell you that none of them will work unless you know how to eat properly and exercise on a regular basis, here are some hints to help you out...

1) Burn more calories than you take in. This is a problem for most people due to the hectic lives we lead. Its faster and easier to eat at a fast food restaurant while your on the go than it is to make a healthy meal. It is very important that you take in less calories! Order a salad instead of a side of fries. Avoid the urge for pop and ice-cream. Watching what you eat will make a huge difference in your ability to loose the extra pounds.

2) Exercise is critical. The best way to burn calories is of course to exercise. If you don't have time to go to a gym or spend hours exercising at home try increasing your activities during the day. Walk to the store instead of taking the car. Jog to the mail box or take your new baby for a run in the stroller. Listen to music and dance around the house while cleaning or cooking. The point is to be active and move around a lot. Just changing a few little details in your daily routine can cause a huge difference. Exercise will not only help you loss weight but will improve you stamina and rejuvenate your mind.

3) Set realistic goals for yourself. Don't try to loose 30 pounds in a week and then get upset and give up when you don't reach your goal. Setting realistic goals will allow you to see steady progress and keep your confidence up as you start to loose weight.

Dieting is never easy but with physical work and mental determination you can get back into though tight pants. Just remember to eat right and exercise, even if its just short bursts of exercise a few times a day. Losing weight will make you look better and give you the self confidence you need to succeed in your day. You can do it.


About the Author

Marc Grey is a parent of two beautiful girls. My wife used a great weight loss program after our second baby and now she is as gorgeous as she was the first day I met her. To find out more, Click the link.

http://weightlossfornewmoms.blogspot.com/

Types Of Vitamins Nutrional Supplement

Vitamins are a nutritional supplement they're as important to us as, food, shelter and water. Since many people unknowingly miss out on vital nutrients in their diet on a day to day basis, taking a few seconds a day to add vitamins to your daily intake becomes the foundation for good health.

Over 30 published research articles conclude, that all adults can benefit from taking a multivitamin daily to help in maintaining: cardiovascular, bone and breast tissue, immune defense system, colon health-especially in people who consume alcohol, cholesterol and homocysteine levels. It also improves circulatory and blood vessel health. What about you? Are you getting the right amounts of all the right nutrients.

When choosing a multivitamin it should at least provide the basic daily requirements of vitamins and minerals your body needs each day. It should also include antioxidants, nutrients such as Vitamin A (beta carotene), Vitamin C, E and selenium, also look for a multivitamin with plenty of Vitamin B (folic acid) and trace minerals (including zinc).

Here is some basic knowledge on vitamins as a nutritional supplement, what they do for you (benefits) and where they are found (5 basic food groups).

Vitamin A: Important for healthy teeth , bones, eyes and skin. Found in eggs, meat, milk, cheese, liver and fish.

Vitamin B1 Thiamin: Helps the body change carbohydrates into energy, also essential for heart functions and healthy nerve cells. Found in whole grains, soy beans, peas, liver, lean cuts of pork, seeds and nuts.

Vitamin B2 Riboflavin: Important for body growth and production of red blood cells. Found in dairy products, lean meat, poultry, fish, grains and dark green vegetables.

Vitamin B3 Niacin: Helps maintain healthy skin, nerves and lowers cholesterol. Found in foods rich in protein, liver, meat and peanuts.

Vitamin B5 Pantothenic acid: Essential for metabolism plays a role in the production of hormones and cholesterol. Found in eggs, lier, skim milk, yeast, lean beef and sweet potatoes.

Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine: Helps form red blood cells and maintain brain function. Found in fortified cereals, beans, meat, poultry, fish and some fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin B7 Biotin: Essential for the metabolism of protein and carbohydrates and in the production of hormones and cholesterol, Found in vegetables and whole grains.

Vitamin B9 Folate: Helps build red blood cells especially important for pregnant women. Found in green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin B12 Cobalamin: Important for metabolism, helps form red blood cells and maintains the central nervous system. Naturally found in foods that come from animals, including fish, meat, poultry ,eggs, milk and fortified cereals.

Vitamin C Ascorbic acid: Promotes healthy teeth and gums also helps the body absorb iron and maintain healthy tissue and promotes wound healing. Found in fruit and vegetables, citrus fruits and juices, white potatoes, sweet potatoes and cantaloupe.

Vitamin D: Promotes the body's absorption of calcium which is important for healthy teeth and bones. Found in fortified milk, fatty fish and fish oil.

Vitamin E Tocopherol: An antioxidant that plays a role in formation of red blood and helps promote a healthy heart and prostate. Found in nuts, green leafy vegetables

Vitamin K: Essential for blood coagulation and it helps promote bone health. Found in green leafy vegetables and some vegetable oils.

With all this knowledge of what to eat and how to get all your essential vitamins, people still will not eat the proper foods. Not surprisingly, a recent study published in the journal of the American Dietetic Association concluded that adolescents who use multivitamins are more likely to have better nutrition than nonusers. Thus good nutrition plays a major role in growing up healthy and reducing health risks during adulthood

The United States Congress agrees that multivitamins can indeed promote good health. They have recently passed an act regarding multivitamin use and older Americans. In the 2006 Congress officially stated that good nutrition is vital to good health, and that vitamins as a nutritional supplement is an acceptable method of maintaining good nutrition and health.

40% of older adults are actually malnourished. Why? Because as adults get older, their bodies become less and less able to use and absorb vitamins and minerals. so like teens, aging adults are also more apt to have nutrient deficiencies.

While a balanced diet remains the ideal source of nutrition for all Americans, taking a daily multivitamin is an inexpensive way of preventing nutritional deficiencies and ensuring good health among aging populations. Although Congress's act specifically targets older adults, multivitamins can help satisfy nutrient requirements in people of all ages.

Between eating properly and taking one of the GNC's Multivitamin Formulas, this will help in taking good care of you and your body's needs!

For more articles like this please go to my website: http://health.mbsonlineproducts.com


About the Author

Health and Fitness is very important to me, along with cooking healthy meals.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Fat Loss-What is Fat Loss? And Why?

Fat loss is believed to be increased by avoiding food at a time when activity levels will below (and the body will not be burning many calories), when glycogen may be topped off from a full day of eating, and when insulin sensitivity is lower. The potential benefit is high, but so is the risk. Fat loss is simple, but doesn't always happen the way people want it to. Sometimes you will lose 4 pounds a week and sometimes a ? of pound. Fat loss is all about calorie reduction, but a calorie intake that is too low will cause problems.

Fat loss is also believed to be increased by avoiding food at a time when activity levels will be low (and the body will not be burning many calories), when glycogen may be topped off from a full day of eating, and when insulin sensitivity is lower. The potential benefit is high, but so is the risk. Fat loss is simple, but doesn't always happen as people want it to. Sometimes you will lose 4 pounds a week and sometimes less than a pound in a weeks time. Fat loss is all about calorie reduction, but a calorie intake that is too low could possibly cause problems.

Fat loss is usually limited to the face, trunk, and upper extremities. Simultaneously, fat hypertrophy occurs in the lower extremities of the body.

Eating more calories than you use equals gaining fat. Eating fiber reduces food passage time and can assist in fat loss. If you are confused, then get a packet of prunes and have some during the day. Eat slowly enjoy, chew your food properly and stop when you aren't hungry any more. You'll soon find that you will be enjoying your favorite foods and your skinny jeans at the same time.

Make sure to eat plenty of proteins, 25% to 30% good fats, and the rest as carbs. Let's say you start at 70 kgs, and during the bulking up phase, you finish at 75 kgs. Eating too many calories equals gaining fat. Now if you take a pizza and you load that thing up with triple cheese and sausage and pepperoni and olives and just stack the calories in there, then you have a very calorie-dense food. Eating the right foods at the right times helps your body to burn calories versus storing them as fat. The way this works is that every time you eat something your brain tells your body to either release fat burning hormones or fat storage hormones.

Grab your food from the outer edges of the supermarket (I mean the deli and the produce section) as often as you can. You will find it easier lose tons of weight just eating cleaner. Eating less and exercising more will decrease your resting metabolic rate. This metabolic rate accounts for roughly 60-80 percent of daily calorie expenditure. Eat larger portions in the morning and smaller portions at nighttime. Eat like you are a King at breakfast, a Prince at lunch and a Pauper at dinner.

Exercise should definitely be a part of your fat loss program - however vigorously exercising a specific body part will not have any influence on local fat in that area. Exercise is what creates the enzymes that are essential for breaking down the stored fat into fatty acids. This fatty acid is transferred to the metabolically active muscle tissue and is burned as energy. Exercise has a very important role to play in reducing a persons relative body fat. However, this role is misunderstood by most, including the vast majority of so called fitness professionals.

Exercise has so many advantages over dieting. In addition to all the health, energy, and mood-enhancing benefits, exercise also preserves your lean body mass (muscle), and boosts your metabolism (BMR) putting it to work for you rather than against you. Exercise is the best remedy, and is considered one the best ways to burn off excess body fat. One of the most productive exercises is doing interval training (example: walking outside, find an incline and challenge yourself to run up it for 60 seconds, then walk down for 60 to 120 seconds. Repeat up to six times, or walking on a treadmill, adjust the incline or speed to challenge yourself for 60 seconds, then return to a normal pace for 60 to 120 seconds. Repeat up to six times).


About the Author

http://fat-facts.blogspot.com http://health-nutrition-guide.blogspot.com

"Work from Home, Just do it" Use this, however keep it fully intact including the resource box.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Urban Health and Fitness Myths

Go to any gym or to your last social party and some person with spit out some urban legend as it relates to health, fitness, or weight loss. So many wise tales have been passed down from generations and especially on college campuses that we start to take them as fact. So, we have list 5 of the top urban myths around health and dieting to see do they tread water or not. Who hasn't thought that alcohol kills brain cells?

Urban Health and Fitness Myth or Fact

1. Inactivity turns muscle into fat: Almost Fact

a. The reality is that muscle and fat are two very different tissues with in the body. No, muscle can't turn into the fat though a sedentary lifestyle will cause your muscles to burn less calories. The fewer calories your muscles burn the greater amounts of fat a person will store. The correct statement is with inactivity fat replaces muscle. This is another way of saying you have a slow metabolism.

2. Women are going to get drunk quicker than Men: Fact

a. The key difference is body weight. The average male has more weight than the average female. The extra weight results in greater amounts of water in male bodies. The extra water lower the concentration of alcohol for men allowing them to stave off impairment longer. Another key difference is men has high amounts of gastric alcohol dehydrogenase, which breaks down alcohol is the liver. This allows men to break down more alcohol leaving less in the blood stream.

3. Drinking Alcohol Loses Brain Cells: Myth

a. Alcohol won't make you dumber though you may act dumber. Even binge drinkers are not going to kill brain cells. Studies have shown that heavy drinkers have the same amount of brain cells as the non drinker. Alcohol can kill brain cells though the amounts are too high to consume. You won't pass out or stop breathing before you would kill any cells.

4. Holiday 5 Pounds is a given: Myth

a. People don't gain an average of 5 pounds during the holidays. The average person gains about 1 pound over the 6 weeks from Thanksgiving to New Years. This isn't that different than the weight, from poor food diet and fitness choices that the average American gains at any point in time. The big reason we think about is that come January 1st we are making New Years resolutions and we are thinking about our weight more.

5. Drink green tea to lose weight: Myth

a. Many products and marketing are stating all the weight loss benefits of green tea. Green tea extract has been demonstrated to support weight loss and support increase in calorie burning from your metabolism. The amounts in the tea you drink are too low in concentration though to make much difference. You can still get the antioxidant properties of green tea in your drink though weight loss not much. If you want the benefits of green tea for weight loss you will have to go with nutritional supplements which deliver high concentrations.

Every myth or urban legend typically has some sort of truth to them. The issue it typically isn't exactly the way people think. The goal with any myth passed down is to do your homework.

Copyright (c) 2007 Al Short

About The Author
Al Short

WorldClassNutrition is a leader in discout nutrition supplements with the largest selection of diet pills, creatine products, protein powders, and bodybuilding supplements. Find more information on the products you are searching for at http://www.worldclassnutrition.com . Want more expert advice visit http://www.mynutritionworld.com/index.php.