Best Way To Lose Weight

For those of us who are struggling with unwanted pounds and have to resort to dieting, the challenges of staying with the diet or weight loss plan are apparent. Hunger pangs, cravings for comfort food, and finding yourself constantly thinking about just a 'tiny bit of real food' and eventually being unable to stick to the chosen plan of action - is an all too familiar outcome.

Well, there is no need for despair! Hoodithin, an all natural herbal weight loss supplement, available on the market today, helps to overcome those unpleasant feelings, associated with being on a restricted diet. Hoodithin is a liquid extract of Hoodia Gordonii, an African cactus plant, that was extensively researched and proved to be an effective appetite suppressant. It tricks the brain into thinking that your stomach is full, thus preventing hunger bouts and cravings. The supplement has no known side effects and considered to be completely safe to use within suggested dose.

One may wonder how long it takes to see weight loss results when using the hoodia supplement. As per manufacturers of Hoodithin, it could vary from person to person, as well as frequency and amount taken. On average, you should see the difference within 2 weeks of consistent use.

There are many Hoodia products advertised and sold on the market. One should keep in mind, though, that the liquid extract of Hoodia plant is considerably more potent and fully absorbed, compared to the pill, providing faster and more efficient way to fight off hunger and unpleasant feeling of food deprivation. Another advantage being that liquid ingredients require no fillers, binders or other added ingredients - capsules/tablets often contain other ingredients and the percentage of actual pure Hoodia can be quite small. Hoodithin, the 100% pure hi-potency liquid extract of Hoodia is actually the only Hoodia product in history to have been featured on Oprah, MSNBC, CBS, 60 Minutes and the BBC.

For an overview and other informative articles on Hoodithin and liquid Hoodia please visit http://hoodithinreview.net

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 11:52 PM 0 comments

In an attempt to eat healthier and lose weight many people have given up there sweet tooth...

Perhaps you're one of the many who have adopted a diet void of all the things you love...Cookies, cake, pudding and all other favorite foods all for the sake of dropping a few pounds.

But is all of this completely necessary?

Do you really have to suffer through a "boring diet" to shed that extra weight?

You will be happy to know that the answer is no. The problem with the sweets we eat is not the sugar in them unless the sugar is refined.

Walk into any grocery store and the shelves are lined with processed foods, most of which contain sugar in its refined form. Read any food label and you're likely to find ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, another name for refined sugar. Heck, it's even found in items that you would never expect...Items such as Whole wheat bread, salad dressing, canned fruit and many others.

But what is it about refined sugar that is contributing to those extra pounds?

The answer lies in the way it affects your metabolism.

Your body runs off of energy from the food you eat. Every time your heart beats, you blink an eye or take a step your body uses energy. Your body obtains that energy from the food you eat through a process called metabolism. Simply defined, metabolism is the process of breaking down food into energy to be used to carry out body processes.

Forgive me for being scientific, but do you remember your high school chemistry class? What happens when you burn something? A series of chemical reactions takes place. It's no different with your body. When food is broken down by your body (metabolized) a serious of chemical reactions occurs. If the food you eat is in its natural state the reactions are positive. However, if the food you eat is not in its natural state (refined) the reactions are not positive.

So what does refined sugar have to do with all of this?

Refined sugar is not in its natural state. Therefore, the chemical reactions that occur when refined sugar is being broken down by your body are not positive. In fact, the process of breaking down refined sugar produces poisons! These poisons move throughout your body and have an extremely negative impact on your metabolism. Over time, the continuous consumption of refined sugar creates an extremely inefficient metabolism making it harder for your body to convert the food you eat into energy.

What's the solution?

If you are looking to shed some extra pounds, the elimination of refined sugar will work wonders. Purchase desserts that have organic, non-altered sugar. This is not a license to over-indulge yourself, but there is no need to suffer through a boring diet.

Jason Clemens is a leading weight loss and nutrition expert.
"Learn how you can lose 20 pounds this month
without giving up your sweet tooth?"
==>Visit naturally-lose-weight-fast.com

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 10:24 PM 0 comments

Satisfying the proverbial sweet tooth and losing weight or keeping off the pounds that you have already lost can be a daunting task. When you see the dessert, you want to eat it the whole thing and worry about the extra calories later. This method does not always work well when trying to keep the weight off. There are some desserts out that can help keep the weight off and satisfy your craving for sweets.

Fruit cobblers, yogurt mixtures, fruit pies, and low fat cakes are just a few. However, the key to maintaining your weight loss, having your cake and eating it to is in watching your portion size. You can always run into the problem of too much of a good thing. You want to look at the desserts calorie count and fat grams associated with the portion size before you begin eating the dessert. You must consider the calorie count associated with your diet and determine if you can have the entire portion size or if you need to eat just half of the portion to stay in line with your diet. If you dont have the will power to resist the whole portion of a dessert high in calories and fat, then fix the whole, appropriate portion size and throw away of the portion before you sit down to eat it. You can not eat a dessert that is not there.

Now there are some healthy desserts with natural ingredients that you can eat the entire portion, satisfy your sweet tooth craving and stay on your diet. These delicious desserts can be prepared quickly and easily. Dont worry you dont have to be a master chef to do it.

For example, fruit pies are a delicious dessert that can be prepared in a manner that yields them low in calories and low in fat. You can begin by washing and draining your fresh fruit. Some fruits that make great pies are apples, peaches or berries. Cut up the fruit as necessary into bite-sized chunks or slices and put it in a bowl. You can add a sugar substitute to your taste or leave the fruit in its naturally sweet state. Then pour the fruit mixture into a pre-made pie crust thats in a foil pie pan. Be careful not to overfill the pie pan with the fruit mixture. Add one tablespoon of butter (if desired) cut into small pieces and drop the butter chunks through out the fruit mixture that is in the pie pan. Take another pie crust and put it on top. Cut slits in the top pie crust for ventilation. Bake the fruit pie in the oven at about 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or until the pie crust is lightly brown. Let it cool and enjoy!

Yogurt shakes are also an enjoyable low calorie and low fat treat. You can take some low fat yogurt and blend it with your favorite fruit to make a yogurt shake. Or you can add your favorite nuts or add one or two low fat cookies to your yogurt, blend it, and make a crunchy, enjoyable cool treat.

So enjoy and indulge your sweet tooth with appropriately portioned, delicious, healthy desserts that are low in calories and low in fat while you keep the weight off.

Milton Whitley has been commercially baking and preparing products with natural ingredients and 0g trans fat for over 20 years. You can get more recipe ideas for natural, delicious desserts that will help you keep the weight off at http://www.miltonspiefillings.com

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 10:17 PM 0 comments

If you are aiming at fast weight loss there is only one way to go. To get rid of excessive fat you will need to do 2 things. 1) You need to go on a proven fat burning diet and 2) Exercise in a way that improves the result of the diet.

Choosing diet isn't that hard. You should pursue a calorie shifting diet that will boost your metabolism into burning fat like never before. During the first cycle of dieting it is quite possible to lose 10 pounds in 7 days. The result of the diet comes from many factors and the more you initially weigh the more you will lose. This is because your insulin levels will stabilize and you will lose some water weight. Shifting calories according to a certain scheme will increase your metabolism and have it going at full speed ahead meaning that it will open up your fat cells and release a lot of the fat.

Choosing exercise program is a bit more difficult. You want to lose weight so if you do too much weight lifting you'll gain muscle and weight. On the contrary, if you do too little weight lifting you will lose muscle mass and we don't want that either.

I found that combining cardio-exercising and weight lifting was a great way. I have a free program over at my site. Look below for link. This program is built to burn fat and it burns fat all day and all night. The program should be done about 2-3 times per week. If money isn't an object you should try Turbulence Training as this is a full program.

Jennifer Olsen was a master of failing at different diets. She understood that there were more to losing weight then just going on a diet. Today she has lost nearly 50 pounds with the calorie-shifting diet and meanwhile she has finished reading 'Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle' and she is implementing what she learned into daily activities.

She made a mini-site that gives examples of diets, complete fast weight loss diets and reviews of books that helped her stop living the unhealthy life and turning around into a more healthy life-style. If you are interested in learning more please Click Here!

If you are interested in learning more about the calorie-shifting method, please please Click Here!

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 10:15 PM 0 comments

People these days hop from one weight loss program to another without realizing how self-destroying this attitude can be! As a matter of fact, weight loss is all about finding a suitable plan for yourself and then working according to it, but too often, people make the mistake of searching for a "perfect plan" which would make them lose weight without either diet and exercise. Unfortunately, no weight loss program is perfect. In this article I will tell you about a weight loss program that I am sure will work for you as well as for everyone else!

One thing that people often forget to make is a food plan. Write what you'd be eating throughout the week, then shop accordingly. If you don't do this you are more likely to grab the junk foods when there is nothing nutritious at home. Plan your office lunch as well. Make sure you take only healthy foods for your office lunch and stay away from the 'forbidden foods' that are rich in fat and calorie and contribute to nothing other than fat!

Before choosing any weight loss program, you need to be 100% honest with yourself and ask yourself some questions. I'd ask you to write on a sheet of paper all about how much you eat daily and how often, whether you exercise or not, whether you eat junk foods and calorie-rich snacks, etc. Once you've answered these questions honestly, you will get a clearer picture of your eating habits as well as what you need to change in order to lose weight.

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posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 10:08 PM 0 comments

Due in part to many reasons, the whole world, on average, is getting bigger & fatter every year. At present:

* More than 300 million adults worldwide are obese.

* Almost half of these individuals live in developed countries and as many as 23% of American adults are obese.

* Obesity results in $100 billion in healthcare costs each year in the United States.

* Obesity results in 300,000 preventable deaths each year in the United States.

* Obesity nearly doubles your chances of developing high blood pressure.

* Nearly 70 % of cardiovascular disease cases are related to obesity!

* The U.S. Surgeon General has developed a national action plan to reduce obesity.

STATISTICS PROVIDED BY:

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

The National Institute of Health

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention

The Na tional Women's Health Resource Center

A recent study from the journal Public Health reported obesity as being a greater health risk than smoking, drinking or poverty. Obesity was more closely associated with major illnesses and a poorer quality-of-life in comparison to people that smoked, drank, or lived in poverty. Researchers found that half of the people who are obese have an additional chronic condition such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes. This study was based on a telephone survey of 10,000 Americans and used only body mass index to assess obesity and overweight. Regardless, the results are cause for great concern.

You must also keep in mind that some individuals may fit into more than one category, and sometimes even all of the categories. However, the researchers stated that more people are overweight or obese than are, collectively, daily smokers, problem drinkers or living below the poverty line. Of course, being in more than one category puts your health status at an even greater disadvantage.

Obesity is a huge burden on the health care system now and will be even more so in the near future. It is a largely a preventable disease however it is a medical condition in many cases. This is very unfortunate but it is not something that should be dismissed as static. You can make a change or you can help someone make a change toward healthier living. One of the authors said the survey "demonstrates that public health officials should intensify their fight against obesity to levels that at least match the public health campaign against smoking".

Sturm, R., and K. Wells. Does obesity contribute as much to morbidity as poverty or smoking? Public Health. 115(3): 229-235, 2001.

Unfortunately, this is not a joke, and it's definitely no laughing matter. There are a large number of Internet resources for more information on either subject, such as www.diabetes.org and www.diabetesonestop.com. The newsletters from the American Diabetes Association have provided a wealth of knowledge (and many statistics and research facts in this article).

Type 2 Diabetes (T2-D) is associated with a marked impairment in the ability of the hormone insulin to stimulate glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. Most diabetic patients are obese and have high blood levels of lipids (fats) and glucose (sugar). Both of these blood levels can contribute to insulin resistance. Correct insulin is necessary for the cells of the body to pull sugar (glucose) from the blood to use as energy. Thus, it is a negative cycle (high blood glucose leads to insulin resistance and insulin resistance leads to high blood glucose!). Over the long-term, high blood glucose levels can lead to damage of the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart.

Fortunately, while diabetes is serious, it is largely preventable and is also possible to control with lifestyle modifications, although it can't be "cured". Patients can learn to take care of their diabetes by decreasing their blood glucose levels through nutritional and exercise interventions and subsequent reductions in body fat. In fact, with weight loss, exercise, and better nutrition, many diabetics can greatly reduce (or eliminate) the need for medications. Any treatments should be discussed with a medical professional before changes are initiated.

However, enough optimism, it's time to look at the hard facts and the sad state of diabetes in North American (and the rest of the world).

* T2-D affects 140 million people worldwide.

* 16 million Americans have diabetes.

* Diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death by disease in America.

* In America, the total annual cost of diabetes to the nation is more than $100 billion.

* ~25% of all Medicare costs are spent on people with diabetes.

* Obesity is the most important determinant of insulin resistance.

* No one is able to escape the effects of diabetes (i.e. death of family and friends; financial; health care costs; etc.).

The chance of death due to diabetes is increasing primarily due to cardiovascular disease. More depressing is the fact that the risk of death increases with lower socio-economic status, likely because these people are less educated, and due to the fact that you can buy loads of saturated fat and sugar for a couple of bucks just about anywhere. Cardiovascular disease sucks. Having been a spectator of an open-heart surgery at the foot of the operating table, it is clear that no one who has the choice would want to go through that ordeal. Imagine your chest ripped open, your heart fixed up, and your chest sewn up with wire. Bring on the morphine.

THE CHILDREN

The most disturbing issue surrounding diabetes is the impact that it is having in adolescents and in specific ethnic groups. Nowhere is it more sad or obvious as to what harm a sedentary lifestyle and a fast food nutritional intake can have on a person's health than in children. Overweight children are becoming more common, health problems are greater, and T2-D is being seen more and more at younger ages. Risk factors for overweight kids include overweight parents, high-fat diets, watching too much television, and being from poor families.

Unfortunately, overweight children often simply become overweight adults. Because it is difficult for people to lose body fat as one grows older, public health experts hope that preventing excess weight gain in children will avert health problems later in life. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that American adolescents are developing T2-D. However it is difficult to detect T2-D in children because rarely do they show symptoms (these take years to manifest). Thus, it is extremely important to initiate educational, nutritional, and physical activity programs as soon as possible at all socio-economic levels.

ETHNIC GROUPS

Overall, the number of American diabetics increased at least 33% over the 1990's and as obesity continues to increase, so will diabetes. Unfortunately, this impacts certain ethnic groups to a greater extent than others. For example, Native American Indians have a very, very high number of T2-diabetics in their communities (3 three times the national average). African Americans may have an even higher rate of diabetes (10.8% of all African Americans - 2.3 million). It is hoped that educating these peoples on nutrition and physical activity will help combat the disease.

NUTRITION

American's fat consumption has decreased over several decades from 40 % to 34 %, however the rate of obesity has risen from 12 % in 1991 to at least 23% today. This may be due in part to the vague "official" nutritional recommendations and the massive fast food industry. The general public believes in a low fat and high carbohydrate diet, however they don't know that there are both good and bad fats and good and bad carbohydrates.

In fact, some research shows that neither the total amount of fat or carbohydrate a person consumes can predict diabetes. Researchers suggest it may not be the quantity of fat or carbohydrate that you eat, but rather the quality. Improving the quality of your food intake and monitoring the quantity will help prevent against overweight and obesity.

Hu et al. (2001a) have written a tremendous paper on the role of nutrition in diabetes. They found that for carbohydrates, one should consume more low-glycemic carbohydrates and a high fiber content. In contrast, everyone should consume minimal refined flour products to prevent large increases in blood sugar and insulin after meals.

Recommended carbohydrate foods are oatmeal, whole unrefined grains, fibrous vegetables, apples, and other fibrous fruits, while breads and sugar based foods (soda, candy, etc.) should be eliminated. In diabetic individuals, a diet of low-glycemic carbohydrates can improve blood sugar control and if you are obese, you should absolutely eliminate all high-glycemic carbohydrates from your diet. In fact, a meal of high-glycemic foods does not cause people to feel full, and may lead to more eating! In summary, this relationship has been established: High-glycemic carbohydrates develop obesity, and obesity develops diabetes.

In their thorough review, Hu et al. (2001a) also found that a high intake of saturated fat and trans-fatty acids likely promote diabetes. In contrast, an increase in a person's intake of poly-unsaturated fat and Omega-3 fatty acids could help prevent diabetes. It is wise to decrease consumption of saturated fats (animal fats), margarine, butter and hydrogenated vegetable oils (i.e. the oil that french fries are cooked in). Salmeron et al. (2001) recommend decreasing your intake of trans-fatty acids (hydrogenated vegetable oils) by replacing them with non-hydrogenated polyunsaturated fatty acids will help decrease your risk of T2-D. One place to start is reducing your intake of fast food.

In replacement, everyone should try to consume more fish oils and non-hydrogenated vegetable oils (i.e. olive oil). Most of the research presented is based on association. For example, in the Netherlands, diets containing a lot of fish are associated with lower risks of diabetes. Researchers suggest that one must follow the correct diet for a long time (i.e. make it part of your lifestyle) in order to see benefits. For example, fish oils (Omega-3 fatty acids) have benefits for "cell membranes" and help insulin function properly, however this will not happen overnight just because you had a salmon steak!

Basically, a typical "Westernized" diet should be avoided. All the negatives (i.e. saturated animal fats and sugars) seem to be associated with one another (i.e. they are all found in your typical fast food meal). In reality, everyone should try to:

* Decrease animal fat (saturated fats) and hydrogenated cooking oils.

* Increase fish and flax oils (poly-unsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids) and vegetable oils.

* Decrease high-glycemic carbohydrate intake. Don't drink regular soda!

* Increase fiber from whole grains

* Increase fruit and vegetable consumption

At the 2001 ENDOCRINE SOCIETY meeting, alternative treatments of T2-D were recommended by Arsenis and Goettelman. In this study, diabetic patients reduced animal protein intake from 2-3 times a day to once every other day (vegetable protein was substituted) and stopped all consumption of plain sugars. Patients liked the new diet and the fact that they did not have to fast, take low calorie diets or receive appetite suppressants. The metabolic profile of many patients improved and it even helped some to stop using certain medications. The authors concluded that the reduction of animal protein and sugars help to improve the quality of life and metabolic profile of diabetic patients.

LIFESTYLE

In addition to diet, another contributing factor to obesity is that 60 % of Americans don't get enough activity and 25 % get NO activity. A recent study examined almost 40000 males over the age of 40 and how the amount of TV they watch relates to their T2-D risk (Hu et al., 2001a). Researchers showed that more TV was significantly associated with higher risk for diabetes and that increased physical activity is associated with less risk for diabetes.

The key point is that if people get up and moving that they may be able to decrease their risk of diabetes. This information should be applied towards youths as well. In addition, for obese people, simply losing 5-10 pounds can have a dramatic positive effect on their health!

Even inadequate sleep can have an effect on diabetes according to research from the lab of Dr. Eve Van Cauter. In a study, subjects that got restricted sleep (< 7h) for 5 nights had impaired insulin sensitivity (Mander et al., 2001). It may be due to disruption of bodily functions due to shortened sleep. Thus, one of the functions of sleep may be to assure normal blood sugar levels. That's another "Western world" lifestyle factor that may contribute to diabetes.

On a related note, "Excessive Daytime Sleepiness" (EDS) is becoming more prevalent. This condition is associated with diabetes and is considered as an important public health problem because it is a strong risk for public safety. Its prevalence is estimated to occur in 5% to 15% of the general population.

INTERVENTIONS

According to the National Institute Health, 35-40 % of adult American women and 20-24 % of adult American men are trying to lose weight at any given time. An interesting story came out of Philadelphia last month. Philly was rated the fattest city in the USA for January of 2000 and the mayor urged the city to lose weight. The city has taken the challenge and this year sits at 3rd, while Houston is now the fattest in the USA. On a whole, obesity and diabetes are more prevalent in the Southern United States!

In a study presented at the American Diabetes Association conference, diabetic patients have the greatest improvements in symptoms after following a program that combined a proper exercise and diet approach (Alpizar et al., 2001). Obesity remains the major obstacle to the achievement of satisfactory glycemic control in T2-D and often limits management of cardiovascular risk factors. After nutritional education and guidance, as well as an increase in daily physical activity, modest weight losses and improved diabetic factors were noted (Reynolds et al., 2001). Again, these stress the need for education and guidance.

If you are active, if you eat a variety of healthy foods (natural produce, lean meats, un-refined grains), and if you are of a healthy weight, than the fear of diabetes and obesity should be minimal. When asked how to avoid diabetes, Dr. Ronald Kahn said, "Stay thin! If you are not, get thin!" After all, obesity is the most important determinant of insulin resistance.

For active people of a healthy weight, it is not unrealistic to include the odd "Western" meal in your weekly schedule without causing panic. However, the consistent intake of a high-sugar, low-fiber, high-saturated fat diet, along with a daily sedentary living pattern precludes people to the awful diseases that are diabetes and obesity.

REFERENCES

Alpizar, M., et al. Effectiveness of an Exercise Program and Diet Plan in the Control of DM2 Patients. American Diabetes Association, 61st Annual Conference, 2001.

Hu, F., et al. Diet & risk of Type II diabetes: the role of fat & carbohydrate. Diabetologia 44: 805-817, 2001a.

Hu, F., et al. Physical Activity and Television Watching in Relation to Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Men. Arch Intern Med. 161: 1542-1548, 2001b.

Mander, B., et al., Short Sleep: A Risk Factor for Insulin Resistance and Obesity. American Diabetes Association, 61st Annual Conference, 2001.

Reynolds, L., et al. Lifestyle intervention reduces multiple risk factors in obese patients with poorly controlled insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes mellitus. American Diabetes Association, 61st Annual Conference, 2001.

Salmeron, J., et al. Dietary fat intake and risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 73(6): 1019-1026, 2001.

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Mens Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines and all over the Internet, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. For more information on the Turbulence Training workouts that will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment, visit http://www.TurbulenceTraining.com

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 10:01 PM 0 comments

Salsa dancing is emerging as a refreshing replacement for conventional aerobic exercises. Classes based on the fiery music and movements of Salsa, Mambo, Cumbia, Merengue and more are starting to get people interested in Salsa dancing, while at the same time giving them a pounding workout.

Salsa music first appeared in the 1960s as a rhythmic fusion, birthed in the cultural melting pot of New York City. Combining Cuban Son with Guaracha, Montuno and Guaguanco, it also has a strong Puerto Rican Plena, Bomba and American jazz influence that mellows the smoking urban sound.

Salsas popularity began to percolate beyond the borders of the Latin neighborhoods in the early Seventies, spreading into New York's ballrooms and dance halls. Although somewhat formulized when practiced by those who favor profession competitions, salsa dancing in its most traditional form is typically spontaneous and extremely energetic. Dance movements alternate between the very slow and the furious, an embodiment of its lively musical style.

From a strictly athletic point of view, a night of dancing is a superb workout. It merges aerobic and anaerobic training, working your stamina and leg strength. Any kind of dancing is a great way to build the perfect body shape. The continual movements build up aerobic stamina while steadily burning calories over the course of the evening. This helps to strengthen and tone your legs at the same time you lose weight. But salsa excels at this.

Experts say that dancing salsa can burn up to 10 calories a minute, without the negative side effects of high impact exercises such as running. You can learn salsa dancing in the privacy of your home or in a studio, with or without a partner and its a fitness program that can easily be integrated into your social life. By using salsa dancing to get fit, you will not only look great, but youll have no excuse not to get out more and improve your social life.

The sudden bursts of frenzied dancing in Salsa also can help to improve the anaerobic fitness essential to sports like sprinting, swimming and basketball. Equally important to the aerobic paybacks are the improvements in flexibility and dexterity, a commonly overlooked facet of fitness. Elasticity from dancing will help your swiftness, power and co-ordination by growing your overall range of motion.

When you think about it, dance is actually the most natural form of exercise around. It is also a lot more fun. Life is too short to waste on regimented aerobics, spinning and step classes. Put some spice in your fitness regimen and become a Salsero!

Lyn Doxley is an author and the webmaster at http://www.dance-shoes.biz, where you can find tips and resources on Salsa Dance Shoes

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 7:00 PM 0 comments

There are only two things you can do to lose weight
1) Consume less calories
2) Burn more calories

Thats it! That will always be it, there is nothing that will ever change this hard and fast rule. How you go about getting one or both of these things done is where the trick is, and apparently it must be one helluva trick because almost half of the North American population cant figure it out. This is also why the fitness, functional foods, and supplement industries continue to grow with no end in sight promising all the latest weight loss fixes.

So the question becomes, which one is more important, diet or exercise? This isnt that simple of a question.

Ive heard experts say that if you eat right exercise doesnt matter, and Ive heard other so called experts say if you exercise enough diet doesnt matter.

I think the real answer is in the middle somewhere.

For example: you can lose all kinds of weight by just restricting calories and never working out at all...this isnt exactly what I would consider the healthiest way to lose weight, and research shows that most people cannot sustain this for very long and go back to eating the way they did before.

On the other hand it is difficult to workout enough to be able to completely ignore nutrition/diet when you are trying to lose weight. If for example you dont work and can spend 3-4 hours exercising each day, then you would be able to lose weight and have a pretty care free diet. Again, this may not be the healthiest way either and certainly isnt practical as most people cannot workout for 3-4 hours every day.

So considering these points I would say both diet and exercising are essential to creating and maintaining your best possible shape! Learning how to do both effectively gives you some wiggle room when you slack off on one or the other.

For example: Lets say you have a solid workout routine going, and youve been hitting the gym 3-4 times per week consistently for a period of months. You can probably get away with a couple of days of eating all kinds of naughty stuff. Because of your consistent workouts the negative effects of your eating adventures will be minimized.

Similarly, consistent moderate food intake allows you to miss a few days in the gym here and there without putting on all kinds of weight.

Both diet and exercise play a role in weight loss, the degree to which varies from person to person. People who workout more often will have a greater benefit than people who workout less often or not at all. People who eat moderately with less high calorie days, will see greater weight loss than people who have more high calorie days. In the end it all comes back to consuming less calories than you burn off.

John Barban is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a varsity strength and conditioning coach as well as a successful entrepreneur. John has trained with world class level powerlifting teams and athletes at the professional level. Most recently he has specialized in training female varsity athletes, specifically women's ice hockey players. John has his masters in nutritional science and human physiology from the University of Guelph, and further graduate work at the University of Florida where he taught principles of strength training and conditioning in the department of health and human performance. John also has extensive experience developing and formulating nutritional sports supplements. John write for http://www.grrlathlete.com and http://www.womensworkout.blogspot.com

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 6:51 PM 0 comments

Dear dailymuscle,

I'm 21 years old and trying to quit doing the unhealthy things I do to my body and here's my problem. I started smoking and drinking a couple of months ago (vodka), and last night was one of the nights I went overboard and drank way too much. I hate the terrible, worthless feeling I get the next day as I don't feel like training at the gym today due to this feeling. I just feel like staying in bed all day..

I know this is a stupid question but would smoking and drinking affect my gym training (I know it affects cardio cause it screws up your lungs)?

~the thirsty trainer

Dear thirsty trainer,

Thanks for writing in.

Drinking and smoking while trying to achieve practically any fitness goal are the exact opposites and dont mix. Drinking can compromise your goals especially if fatloss is one of them. I've read that the liver can take days to get rid of the alcohol in ones body and so one of its main jobs of filtering fat comes to a standstill and it packs it away for processing later (which never comes of course).

Still not convinced? Okay try this - have a can of beer (or any other alcoholic beverage) just before your workout and let me know if you have a productive workout.

It's a matter of priorities, especially at your young age of which path you want to choose. Many people think that they can counteract their smoking and drinking habits by doing enough exercise, not realising that they are only fooling themselves of the harm they are doing to themselves.

There is research out there that says alcohol in moderation has benefits, but I would not recommend anyone that doesn't drink to start solely for these benefits. Hey, Schwarzenegger smokes cigars too, however, I believe that they are the exceptions. I'd rather stay away from it if I were you.

You know what the right decision is - otherwise you wouldnt be asking about it here ;)

Good luck!

Josh Stone, also known as DM, is the author behind the site http://www.dailymuscle.com which offers the author's personal views on real-life fitness, bodybuilding, sports nutrition, cardio, fat loss, training information, and on all things that surrounds fitness.

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 6:48 PM 0 comments

If you want to get back into shape it does not have to be all gym, gym, gym, why don't you lose weight by doing activities you enjoy. Most types of sports evolve some type of physical activity and is a great way to shed some pounds. If you want to lose weight you must burn off more energy than you consume on a day to day basis. This is why doing sports is good for losing some weight as it uses a lot of energy. Tennis, football, rugby, hockey, or any type of sport where you can burn off some energy and work up a sweat is all good for weight loss. It is important to enjoy the sport because if you do not enjoy it you are unlikely to keep doing it. You must do the sport at least 3 -4 times a week for a hour or two per session. It may take a month or so before you start seeing the benefits of it, but if you are enjoying yourself the time will fly by.

Obviously it is important to eat the right foods, doing 2 hours of physical activity then going home and pigging out on bad foods is not going to help you much. Try to set yourself a program each week where you might do 2 hours on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday and have a break on Saturday and Sunday. Try to make time for this and fit it around your lifestyle.

Swimming is another energy burning way to lose weight. Its great as it works all the muscles in your body at the same time, i bet you have never seen an overweight swimmer. However it is not considered the best form of weight loss as it increases your appetite more than other methods. Experts are not sure why but put it down to the cool water people swim in. As their research seems to indicate, by swimming in cold water people consume more calories afterwards than by swimming in natural water.

The bottom line is any type of exercise, be it swimming, walking, sports activities, or any other method where you can burn off some energy is all good for you. As long as you enjoy yourself and feel better about yourself , that is the most important thing.

Ian Bennett operates http://www.megaweightlossplan.com, a blog about weight loss. He loves giving away stuff and right now when you sign up you will get a great Newsletter. and its all FREE!

Check it out at: http://www.megaweightlossplan.com

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 6:43 PM 0 comments

What turn over out to be a minute, yet irritating pain in your joint, can rapidly twist into incredible much more debilitating? At initial, you just believe it might be a dragged muscle. You may think you did a bit in excess of heavy weight? Except the transitional to superior bodybuilder familiar with what muscle discomfort experiences like later than exercises. This isn't it. But there is a possible way out.

Your biceps schedule, which was moving ahead relatively nicely, twisted into a non-existent habit (twisting a 30lb dumbbell was not possible) once you may "formally" make a diagnosis with sensitive Tendonitis in your right arm (just under the elbow joint). Then medical doctor would understand that this particular Tendonitis doesn't restore to health. It can get a smaller amount painful but the micro tears and harm are everlasting. As natural, the suggestion was to 1) quit whatever aggravate it 2) make use of a cream that provides a little warmth to the region.

To a certain extent follow the rule #1, for the reason that if you are a hardcore bodybuilder, just suspending the work out isn't how this damage occurred in the first place. You may found impressive that worked. You may not desire to stop doing bicep exercises. Bicep exercises are one of the mainly suggested movements for building mass. It's an easy, essential movement that works.

You may discontinue doing biceps actions until the pain dropped. Once the pain was considerably reduced, you can determine to regulate your form, have a spotter help on certain bicep workout and used a relevant cream (Bio-freeze by AST). You may change the exercise to go exact on any and all bicep movements. Your arms then currently stretch to the sides with steady strain on the muscle. By means of a spotter for dumbbell bicep curls assist you to eradicate the natural propensity to flare out the arms to obtain that weight to the conclusion phase of the work out. Heavy mass with the arms somewhat out tends to set a lot of stress on that tendon.

Taking a rest from the workout permit you to repair enough to feel sensibly about the regulations you may desire to make in your regular practice. Going back to harsh form, using a relevant (heat) cream and having a spotter help with a few of the bicep activities has all but reduced (in a therapeutic sense) you're Tendonitis. You may experience no added pain from bicep activities because of these alterations.

Read more on Tendonitis. Check out for Achilles tendonitis fact sheets and Iliotibial band syndrome.

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 6:36 PM 0 comments

Suzanne Somers has parlayed her Hollywood acting career into the fitness and weight loss industry over the past several years now. Her latest entry is the Suzanne Somers diet plan or also called Somersizing. So, how does this weight loss plan stack up?

The Suzanne Somers diet plan is yet another in a long line of low carb high protein diets. Although not as severe as some diet plans of this nature, it still bans many healthy foods as well.

The major theme with this diet plan is food combining and eliminating sugar and white flour as much as possible.

The plan is broken into two levels; level one is the initial starting point and level two is the maintenance plan.

The Suzanne Somers diet plan encourages you to eat 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day instead of only three. The size of the portions are not as important as to the combing of the foods are.

As with other diets, water consumption is encouraged and any drink containing more than 10 calories is a no-no.

The diet plan includes a wide variety of unique recipes that are interesting at times.

Total calorie intake id limited to no more than 1200 calories a day. This is a starvation diet according to USDA guidelines, but I'll leave that for you to decide.

Since the diet is low in fiber, constipation may become an issue and needs to be watched. Junk food is eliminated in this diet, which is a good thing.

Something I found very interesting in the Suzanne Somers diet plan is that exercise is not discussed. This is the same woman who gave us great abs, thighs and even the ButtMaster machine, but her own diet plan fails to address the importance of exercise in maintaining a healthy weight? Rather odd I think.

While you can obtain weight loss with the Suzanne Somers diet plan, as a long term strategy it would be difficult to follow and stick to it. The foods are restrictive and the calorie limits are so low they border on starvation levels. Now where did that Thigh Master go?

By the way, you can learn more about How To Lose Weight as well as see the results from the plan I've been on and much more information on weight loss on my blog at http://www.FatLoss4IdiotsReview.net

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 6:26 PM 0 comments

Are you looking to lose weight fast because you have an upcoming event or just like to look good in her swimsuit? Have you become a walking whale? Sorry, let me try to say this in a less self-esteem destroying way. Would you like to lose a few pounds so you will look and feel better? I've been there and believe me you are not alone. I have had my moments where I desperately needed to know how to lose weight fast. I think I've seen them all. Every conceivable diet and exercise program designed to teach people how to lose weight fast they run the gamut from eating nothing but carbs, to nothing but meat, to nothing but veggies and fruit. I chose the fruit and veggie one. It actually seemed to make sense to me.

Oh yeah, and I finally got off my butt and started exercising. Not every guide to how to lose weight fast says it, most of them will, you won't shed any pounds if you don't in the work as far as exercise goes. So I started jogging, lifting weights, stretching it seem like pretty much hit them all, I was doing it. I was highly motivated at first, and it seemed as if of I figured out how to lose weight fast. The pounds seemed to be melting away, until I was within site of my goal. And then, with 10 pounds to lose, I just gave up. Some reason I hit a wall and I could no longer lose any more weight.

I realize that 10 pounds more isn't really that big of a deal. But that ten pounds contained in an ugly little pouch right on my stomach. I mean it looks terrible, hideous even. There has to be some way how to lose weight fast that goes all the way and get the job done. When your goal is to be able to put on a bikini without embarrassment, but you don't quite make it, it can be quite a let down. I mean it is much too soon to give up, but I'm running out of time.

I would estimate that the self proclaimed experts on how to lose weight fast aren't actual health experts at all, and that is a big part of the problem. You see, anyone who knows the human body well will tell you that although you can learn how to lose weight fast, it doesn't necessarily mean it will be a healthy thing. It can be quite dangerous, and many times the weight loss is not sustainable. But still, you to get frustrated and would like to get instant results, and unless I figure out how to lose weight fast right now, I will not get the kind of attention I want there. I know it sounds sad. Perhaps I should really be looking at treating my vanity issues.

Morgan Hamilton offers his findings and insights regarding losing weight. You can get interesting and informative information here at Lose Weight Fast

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 3:34 PM 0 comments

So you have decided to lose some weight before the holidays? Great move!

Dieting has never been easier than it is today, new progress in the industry have made way for new diets that are easy to follow and the gives fast results. There are also better exercising programs today than there was a decade ago. You have chosen the right time to lose weight!

The diets that are taking the world by storm is called calorie shifting diets. Those diets have been used by bodybuilders for a long time but for some reason it haven't made it to the public. Previously it was designed to help bodybuilders burn the subcutaneous fat to give them that ripped look. Well as you know, there is, basically, no difference between subcutaneous fat and fat stored around organs and so on. It is the latter that is a major concern to many giving them that big belly.

What is different is the excessive amount of proteins a bodybuilder eat. We (ordinary people) don't need that much protein and that is why a adjusted diet was needed. This adjustment has now been made and this gives us a diet that don't starve us during weight loss. In fact the protein is still quite high during this diet and that prevent us from losing too much muscle.

The diet is built in short intervals. 11 days on the diet and then you get 3 bonus days. 11 days of dieting is a short time especially when you lose between 8-10 lbs. The 3 bonus days are not to be discarded, they are just as important as the dieting days. These days helps you keep motivated and it also helps in sticking to the diet. An example is if you go on the Atkins diet. You are not allowed to eat carbs or at least very little carbs. This makes the diet almost impossible to follow, since you will start craving carb rich foods in a week or two. This risk is eliminated with the bonus days in the calorie shifting diet.

Of course, if you are going to lose weight you should also consider exercising. Since the calorie shifting diet targets your metabolism, you should go for an exercise scheme that does the same thing. The new turbulence training is a great option. It combines cardio with strength training in a special way that also increase your metabolism and you could literally feel the fat melting of your body.

Jennifer Olsen was a master of failing at different diets. She understood that there were more to losing weight then just going on a diet. Today she has lost nearly 50 pounds with the calorie-shifting diet and meanwhile she has finished reading 'Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle' and she is implementing what she learned into daily activities.

She made a mini-site that gives examples of diets, complete fast weight loss diets and reviews of books that helped her stop living the unhealthy life and turning around into a more healthy life-style. If you are interested in learning more please Click Here!

If you are interested in learning more about the calorie-shifting method, please please Click Here!

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 3:33 PM 0 comments

Losing weight has become a national obsession, and with good reason: we all want to look our best. We do it for health, we do it to look sexy to the people to whom we feel attracted. Sure, diet pills from the big drug companies might or might not work, but who knows what they are doing to our bodies: just look at the fen-phen debacle of the late-1990s.

Happily, there are ways to naturally lose weight while avoiding potentially dangerous diet pills manufactured by drug companies. Here are 5 secrets for how to naturally lose weight fast:

Secret #1: Know your calorie math: Put simply, over a given period of time you will lose weight if you burn more calories than what you take in. Pretty simple math, right? The unfair thing is: some people have a naturally slower metabolic rate (the rate at which your body naturally burns calories). That is why you have thinner friends who can eat twice as much as you eat without gaining a pound. However, even they are not exempt from the calorie math. So, start becoming acutely aware of how many calories you are taking in per day versus how many you are burning through exercise. If the math adds up, you will be subtracting pounds from your rear, thighs and tummy before you know it.

Secret #2: Drink more water: Water is the natural way to flush your system clean. As you begin to lose more weight, your blood will be flooded with toxins rejected from the cells in your body. Drinking more water will help flush these toxins out. Water also helps with basic cellular functioning and, importantly, metabolism.

Secret #3: Get a pedometer: Pedometers, or step counters, are really great little inventions. Just attach one to your belt in the morning, reset the counter to zero, and go about your day. At the end of the day, remember or write down your "score" (number of steps). After a few days, you may find yourself trying to outdo your own high score! A pedometer makes it easier to visualize the connection between your daily activity and your calorie burning. Pedometers start at around $1.

Secret #4: Cut out dessert: People who try to diet usually end up gaining all of the weight back within a few weeks. Reason: when we deprive ourselves of food, we end up craving it more and then end up blowing the diet. Try this: instead of going cold turkey on sweets, just cut out your after-dinner dessert. Even shaving those extra 200 calories from your daily diet means taking in 6,000 fewer calories a month!

Secret #5: Learn which snack foods are good for you: Snacking is one of the biggest enemies of a weight loss plan. Eating healthier snacks can actually make you want to eat less. Reason: your body craves healthy food. When you eat right, you will be less hungry.

Losing weight naturally is the best way to go. As you lose weight, you will feel better and you will look better to those to whom you are attracted. By understanding the connection between caloric intake and calorie burning, you have the right foundation in place for seeing significant weight loss.

Looking to burn more fat, faster? Try a proven eating plan invented by a professional bodybuilder: http://www.No-Fat-Yes-Muscle.com/

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 3:28 PM 0 comments

This Fat Loss 4 Idiots review will touch upon the most frequently asked questions that I've encountered from people who used this diet or who considered using it. I have talked with hundreds of such people, so I believe these Fat Loss 4 Idiots FAQ will prove valuable for anyone who is using or is considering trying out this diet.

Q: Is the FatLoss4Idiots diet good for diabetics?

A: The Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet wasn't made specifically for diabetics, whether type 1 or type 2. Some have reported excellent results with it, but it's impossible to know how this diet will effect your condition.

Q: Can I mix the various food items that I get for each meal in the Fat Loss 4 Idiots menu?

A: You can eat the food you have in each meal together, mixed, or separately.

Q: How many times should a person be repeating the 11 days cycles of the diet?

A: As long as that person has more weight he or she wishes to lose. Once you reached your weight goal, you should stop the diet and make sure to maintain a healthy lifestyle from now on.

Q: How do vegetarians do on Fat Loss 4 Idiots?

A: As far as I've heard the results are similar to meat eaters. There shouldn't be a significant difference.

Q: Can you drink coffee with the diet?

A: Coffee is allowed in moderation. The diet's handbook has a short segment on allowed beverages and how much do drink from each of them.

Q: How much can an average person lose in six months on FatLoss4Idiots?

A: Each person loses weight at a different rate. I just heard from a woman who did 3 11 days cycles and lost 32 pounds! This is a faster than usual weight loss rate, but you see that it can be a substantial amount.

I hope this batch of Fat Loss 4 Idiots FAQ has helped to shed some more light on this diet.

To learn more about this diet, click here:
Fat Loss 4 Idiots Review.

John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. To read more about fast weight loss, click here: Fat Loss 4 Idiots testimonials

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 3:22 PM 0 comments

The original cabbage soup diet recipe is known for its ability to allow users to lose at least ten pounds in 7 days. The diet consists of eating foods according to a 7-day plan, as well as consuming unlimited amounts of Cabbage Soup. The diet included in the diet plan contains very little calories and may be cooked using a variety of different spices and vegetables. Since the bulk of food consumed during the diet is the soup, it is important to choose a recipe that you find tasty, as you will be eating this for 7 days. Since everyone has different tastes and preferences, there are a number of different recipes that may be tried and used.

Here are some recipes used for the Cabbage Soup Diet.

1 bunch basil
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 small cabbage or pointed cabbage
3 carrots
5 stalks celery
1 young fennel
salt, ground pepper
5 cups vegetable stock
1 cup low-fat yoghurt
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp. pecorino

Step by step of the original cabbage soup diet recipe:

1. Wash Basil, pick leaves and mix with 2 tbsp olive oil and a pinch salt. Let the basil composition freeze for ten minutes and mix it then superfine with a blender.
2. Wash cabbage, carrots, celery and fennel and slit. Heat 1 tbsp. olive oil in a big pot. Add carrots, celery, and fennel and finally also the cabbage strip and sweats it all together. Season with salt and pepper and fill up with the vegetable stock.
3. Boil up the soup for short (7-8 minutes) then take it away from your hot plate. Stir in the low-fat yoghurt. Taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper and let it brew 2-3 minutes on your hot plate (switched off). When serving, sprinkle some pecorino on your soup for a great tasty. The diet will help you lose 2-3 pounds a week if followed correctly. But as any diet eating the same repetition of food is boring and easy to give up on. One way to make it easier to stick to the diet is to try the diet with friends. That gives you more motivation not to give up.

You'll be enjoying the original diet if you adjust it to suit your tastes. Use your favorite type of cabbage, add seasonings you like and adjust the vet to suit. By having hot low calorie soup available all the time you'll be able to help yourself to a bowlful sot hat you're going to be full and not snack on more unhealthy things.

Besides the original cabbage soup diet recipe, some weight lose recipes info provides detailed information on Losing Weight Without Starving

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 3:21 PM 0 comments

For losing weight you have to follow some simple tips.These simple tips will make some small changes in your life and small changes will help you lose weight.So have a look on these tips to lose weight and start practicing them today.

If you want to lose weight you should live an active way of life.You should always move your body.For example you can have a walk after your meals it will help you burn your extra calories and it is a great way to breath in some fresh air.

Keep a check on your fat intake you can try fat free version of your favorite food.Fried food is root of obesity so avoid frying whenever you cook.You can try grilling,baking,steaming and boiling in place of frying.

You should visit a dietician before you start losing weight so that he can recommend you a healthy diet pattern and a weight loss program which suits your body.You should have a food journal in which you will keep account of whatever you eat every day.

Avoid high calorie drinks especially sodas.Stop drinking alcoholic beverages if you can as they are having lot of calories and they also work as appetite stimulator.Drink lot of water as water help a lot in losing weight.

It is a myth that skipping meals help you losing weight because skipping meals make you more hungry in the later part of the day.You diet should contain lot of fruit and vegetables as they contain water,fibre,vitamins and minerals.

Jitesh Arora.If you want to know more tips to lose weight visit http://jitu-doctor123.blogspot.com

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 3:19 PM 0 comments

I spent a lot of time this week designing personal nutrition programs and meeting with new clients. And everytime I do that, I have clients fill out an extensive feedback form, which includes a 3 day diet record.

Now one of the questions on the feedback form is, "Do you eat lots of fruits and vegetables?"

The most common reply: yes. And it's always a lie.

But the truth comes out pretty quickly.

When I take a look at their daily diet record, many of these clients aren't eating any vegetables at all. Not a single vegetable all day.

Listen, I guarantee you that not eating fibrous vegetables means that you are not going to reach your fat loss goals.

If you want to be lean, but don't think you need any vegetables at all to accomplish this goal, then I'd like to know what color the broccoli is in your world, because getting lean just isn't going to happen for you.

I'm serious.

You can bump up the lean protein and knock down your sugar intake, but if you aren't pumping up the greens in your diet, you're going to be frustrated with your fat loss.

Find out more about proper eating from female health and fitness expert, Rachel Cosgrove.

Craig Ballantyne: Do you have any super foods that you think absolutely must be in everyone's diet for health and wellness purposes?

Rachel Cosgrove:

Green vegetables are a super food. I usually try to get my clients to have some kind of vegetable at breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. They can throw some spinach in their eggs, have a salad at lunch and broccoli at dinner for example.

The other super food besides green vegetables is essential fats, whether it is from foods or in supplement form everyone should be getting their Omega 3 fats. Over and over again in the research Omega 3 fats prevent all types of diseases and are truly a super food. So eat fish and green vegetables!

CB: Where should someone start if they want to take their healthy eating to the next level? (i.e. beyond just eating regular supermarket chicken and vegetables). What are some tips to eating as healthy as possible?

RC:

Get out of your rut. Too many people get stuck in a rut of eating the same thing every day. You should rotate your foods. If you eat a food today, you shouldn't eat it again for four days. This is called a rotation diet and works great for your health and for decreasing inflammation. Basically if you have chicken today, don't eat it again for four days.

This is really hard to do and I dont usually give a true rotation diet to too many people but I do emphasis variety and trying to eat different foods throughout the week.

Basically each time you go to the grocery store try to buy something different, try buffalo or ostrich meat or a different type of fish. Grab a new vegetable you have never tried.

CB: What ratio of carbohydrates, fat and protein is best for fat loss or is this something that must be approached individually?

RC:

This is individual, depending on metabolism and activity level.

Following a Low Junk Diet cuts your carbohydrates back pretty low though so I suppose if I were to recommend anything, it would be lower carbohydrate where all the carbs are from fruits and vegetables.

I would never say no carbohydrates though. You have to be careful because if you cut back too much you'll be too tired to move and then you'll burn less calories and it'll back fire on you. I also like to cycle in a higher carbohydrate day once or twice a week.

CB: What are some common Western-diet foods that cause problems such as fat gain, inflammation, food allergies, etc.?

RC:

Fast food, processed junk, sodas- again, stick to whole, natural foods. Remember "Green Faces."

(The majority of people would do well sticking to whole, natural foods. We have a nutrition plan we start people on at our gym to eliminate the junk from their diets called "Green Faces" and it consists of eating foods that are green or that had a face. That's it, nothing else.)

Allergies are usually from bombarding your body with the same foods over and over again. Most common allergies are wheat, dairy and sugar. If you are having symptoms of allergies such as post nasal drip, fatigue, bloat, gas, excess mucus, etc. try eliminating wheat, dairy and sugar and see if your symptoms disappear. It is most likely one of these foods.

CB: What are the benefits of eating organic food? How does a customer know if the food is organic?

RC:

For myself and my clients I recommend eating organic when possible.

Organic food will have lower amounts of pesticide residue. Don't let this scare you though, eat more fruits and vegetables, organic or conventional, and you'll be healthier. Just be sure to wash your produce well before eating.

I have started to see more and more organic foods in the regular grocery store which makes it easier to get. It will say "Certified Organic" on it, meaning it was grown on an organic farm. I also love to visit the local Farmers Market every week, this is a great way to get a variety of really fresh vegetables, some organic.

CB: What are the best teas for us to be drinking? Where should we buy them (commercial grocery store, real Chinese health food stores, etc.)?

RC:

Green Tea has thermogenic, anti cancer and cardio-protective properties. What better way to start off your day! Skip the coffee and have green tea. You can find organic green tea at your regular grocery store.

CB: Thanks Rachel. It's easy to eat well for fat loss and health, you just have to plan ahead. So plan, shop, and prepare on the weekends so that you have great meals and snacks all week long.

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Men's Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines and all over the Internet, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. For more information on the Turbulence Training workouts that will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment, visit http://www.TurbulenceTraining.com

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 3:09 PM 0 comments

Katy and I wandered through the Op Shop always on the look out for a surprise.

We both enjoy old books and so it was with joy when Katy picked up a 1960s edition of an old elementary school book on physical education.

It seems only yesterday the 60s have come and gone and it is perhaps with the passing of time that there has been a downward slide in the quality of structure and function within our society especially with our children.

Obesity, with its associated symptoms is fast becoming the norm perhaps the word fast with its tendencies toward the over-eating of food-less foods is a major cause.

The increase in chemicals in our food industry is also a major causative factor - are you aware that the FDA allows over 5,000 chemicals to be added to the foods we purchase and ingest?

Then there is the old law that if one puts in more than is eliminated, there will be a build up of poor quality tissues ergo an abnormal increase in weight gain.

And this brings us back to exercise.

When asked for my opinion regarding the best form of exercise I immediately picture a park full of children.

The children are:

- Running, jumping and hopping

- rolling

- climbing

- swinging

- twisting, flexing, stretching, bending and torquing.

In other words, they are putting their bodies through a full range of movements movements that are designed by the structure of the mechanism.

A couple of addendums to this line of thinking are:

1. We very rarely see children in our practise that need an exercise program put into place.

2. If we are seriously looking for an exercise program for ourselves, we could do no better than to become more child-like.

All the best in working on all angles of structure in order to improve function.

Kevin Hinton is a renowned Natural Health Educator & Advocator who has assisted a broad range of people to reinvigorate their lives through common-sense Natural Health practices. He is a trusted advisor to many in the corporate world in Australia and North America who recognize the life-improving value of Natural Health habits. His experience in the field reveals that adopting practical Natural Health habits usually helps drive success in other areas of life.

Visit kevin @: http://www.thehealtheducator.com

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 2:59 PM 0 comments

January has finally come - The month we all dread, cause lets face it. We are faced with that annual obligation to make some sort of self improving change, or resolution as more commonly referred to. So I thought that we could all use some extra tips on how to lose that extra belly fat that we are to resolve this year.

Number One - Many so-called "health foods" are actually cleverly disguised junk foods that can actually stimulate you to gain more belly fat... yet the diet food marketing industry continues to lie to you so they can maximize their profits. All we need to do is stay away from what we know is bad, and watch what we eat - overeating and binge eating are our worst enemies.

Number Two - We should all start with the most obvious, a little extra cardio always helps to burn the fat. I prefer to jog. some to bike, but there's also skiing, canoing, walking, sports and everything under the sun that makes you sweat. All followed up with lower to upper abs exercises to emphasize the stomach muscles.

Number Three - STICK TO A PLAN! This is the hardest but most effective thing we can do! running Monday Tuesday is great! but not if we watch football every other night. Doing eighty five crunches last night is working well towards the cause... but far from productive if its only a bi Tuesday routines.

Losing the belly fat and gaining those six pack abs truly isn't the easies thing to do in three weeks. But we all know its achievable. We need to watch what we eat - exercise and stick to that routine that's sticky noted to our bathroom mirror. With all that in play, we're bound for success!

Check out my blog for what I use for my ab routine.

http://drewsabs.blogspot.com/

posted by tips-for-losing-weight36843  # 12:04 PM 0 comments