Saturday, January 31, 2009

Reach The Weight You Want And Stay There

To lose and maintain weight you have to change your eating, activity and thinking habits. Basically you have to eat less, eat smarter, drink more water and move more. And you have to give yourself a break. In essence, you must adjust your attitude or relationship towards food.

So as you get ready to fulfill your New Years resolution, when it comes to losing weight, it is suggested that you make a resolution to also improve your attitude about yourself, to increase your activity or exercise through the year, and to work on changing your eating habits. Also, include in that resolution to get a good nights rest each and every night. But do not sabotage yourself by making a resolution to diet for three months to take off 50+ pounds with the idea that after you reach that goal, its over.

Weight maintenance is a way of life and it becomes more and more important the older you get. Just as you have to keep your mind active to maintain your mental abilities, so too you have to keep your body active to maintain your health, strength, movement, and weight. Remember, this is a process, be patient and enjoy the ride.

Which Household Can Lose The Most Pounds


Nearly a month after the holidays, many people are still struggling to take off those extra pounds put on through holiday indulging. This has resulted in some well-known Gyms competing against each other - Which Gym Is The Biggest Loser.

On a personal note, individuals can do this at the Household level, by organizing their neighborhood with the goal of identifying the household that loses the most pounds. For convenience, a general workout plan can be decided on including routines like cardio, daily walks, cycling among others.

At this point individual households are left to execute the routines in a manner most comfortable for the group. The goal being to get rid of the belly fat accumulated over the holidays.

There is a greater chance of pursuing to the end when working with others, thereby holding each other accountable. Further, the thought of not losing to a neighbor is motivation enough to keep shedding those unwanted pounds.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Bouncing Up And Down Will Get It Done



As we think of ways to get rid of stomach fat, we often overlook one of the simplest but very effective techniques.

Bouncing up and down on a rebounder (or mini-trampoline) is one of the best and most complete anaerobic exercises you can do. Since jumping strengthens muscles, tendons and ligaments - and demands great energy.

The acceleration, deceleration and gravity-pull positively stresses your bones, which results in higher bone density. Rebounding affects the efficiency of the lymphatic system, which helps to shuttle nutrients to the cells and remove waste from the body

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Lose Belly-Fat Easily By Jumping Rope.



Now that the holidays are over and it's time to shed those pounds around the middle, we tend to look for simple, but effective exercises to achieve this goal.

An excellent lung-bursting exercise is jumping rope, which is a quick way to get the heart pumping blood and oxygen cells through the veins and arteries.

The up-and-down rhythmic bouncing from jumping rope promotes increased lymph flow by as much as fifteen times. A sure way to lose unwanted belly fat.

If the last time you jumped rope was back in elementary school, bring your jump rope out of mothballs. You'll be surprised how winded you'll get, but that's a good thing.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

How Safe Is Your Gym.

You go to the gym to shape up and stay healthy, but your club may be undermining your efforts by sending you down the road to serious harm. Check for these five signs to make certain you're getting the best (and safest!) workout possible while trying to lose unwanted fat.

Danger: Your Yoga Teacher Speaks Another Language. It's not just frustrating when your yoga instructor uses terms you can't understand, it could actually put you at risk for injury by causing you to perform an exercise incorrectly. Don't be afraid to ask for more specific instructions.

Danger: Your Gym Isn't Clean. Since fungi and bacteria thrive in warm, moist places, wear flip-flops in the locker room, in the shower stalls, and near the pool to avoid athlete's foot, plantar warts, and other infections.

Danger: Your Trainer Isn't Certified. Find out just who is training at your gym: At a minimum, trainers should be certified by a nationally recognized body. Always ask for credentials and references.

Danger: No One Asks About Injuries. The instructor should always ask whether you're new to the activity or have any pain, since you could exacerbate an injury or risk a new one. For a pre-existing condition, the trainer should be able to modify the moves to suit your needs.

Danger: Your Trainer Stops Working Out Too Abruptly. Suddenly stopping a high-intensity activity can leave you lightheaded and dizzy; your teacher should wind things down during the last few minutes of the workout, slow to a jog or walk until you're breathing normally.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Get Fit And Save Money At The Same Time.

On Jan. 1, you and about 250 million other people looked in the mirror and said to yourself, “This is the year I’m going to get in shape.” You said it last year too, but one thing led to another and on Feb. 1, you still hadn’t seen the inside of a gym, much less a lower number on the scale.

Losing weight is tough, but that obvious jelly-belly should be motivation enough to take action.

Eat what you love. If you cut out your favorite cookie dough ice cream completely, you won’t last more than two weeks without falling off the bandwagon and scrapping your diet altogether. But if you allow yourself a small scoop of the delicacy (or slice of pepperoni pizza or a small order of fries) every now and then, you won’t feel so deprived, and you’re more likely to stick with a healthy eating plan.

Make exercise fun. If you hate running, then why do you think buying a treadmill is the answer to your fitness plan? Try different classes around town until you find something that makes you smile (most places will let you try the first class for free).

Your final roadblock? You probably think you can’t afford a gym membership. But there are great, affordable deals that gyms are currently running for the New Year. But don’t forget: Running, walking, biking, hiking, roller-blading, and a million other activities are free. Make this the year of no excuses.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Ways To Trim Your Midsection.

Ever wonder why some people have a flat tummy and others don’t? Often, genetics, poor diet and/or lack of exercise are the culprits. But whatever the cause, you can change the way that ugly jelly-belly looks with some simple exercises.

And while proper diet and activity are the best solutions, here are some quick-fix tricks to get you started:

  1. Sit and stand up straight.
  2. Eat a high-fiber diet.
  3. Avoid carbonated drinks.
  4. Drink plenty of water and stay away from salty foods.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Trim And Tone Your Tummy At Home.




Pelvic tilt


1. Lie on the floor on an exercise mat or carpet with your knees bent and feet flat on floor.

2. Tighten your abdominal muscles and slowly tilt your pelvis toward your head. Tip: As you tilt your pelvis, place one hand on your belly so you can feel your abdominal muscles working. Avoid tightening your buttock muscles; concentrate on using only your abdominals.

3. Hold the position for 1 to 3 seconds, then slowly lower your pelvis back to the floor.

4. Perform 1 or 2 sets of 10 repetitions.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Continue To Trim And Tone Your Abs.




Legs-up crunch

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent 90 degrees and lower legs resting on the seat of a chair. With your hands behind your head, slowly lift your shoulders and torso off the floor. As you lift, relax your head back into your hands so you don’t place excess strain on your neck.

2. Once you have reached the highest point you can, hold the position for 3 seconds, then slowly lower your torso and shoulders to the floor.

3. Perform 3 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions.

No doubt you will experience a reduction of that unwanted belly fat.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Trim And Tone Your Tummy.


SINGLE AND DOUBLE LEG RAISE.

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent 90 degrees and raised over your hips so that your lower legs are parallel to the floor.

2. While keeping one knee bent 90 degrees, lower the other until your toes touch the floor. Then raise the leg back to the starting position. The farther your toes are from your backside, the more effective the move. Perform the movement in a slow, deliberate fashion, so you feel the abdominal muscle tightening. Do not allow your back to arch off the floor.

3. Repeat on the other leg. Try lowering and raising both legs at the same time.

4. Perform the entire sequence 10 times. In no time you will see the difference in your jelly-belly.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Depression Sometimes Can Lead To Belly Fat.

Are you feeling depressed whenever you look into the mirror and find that you will not look nice in a dress because you have a belly? Having a belly is a common frustrating problem for many people. If you want to start losing belly fat, read on to discover 3 easy steps to get rid of your stubborn belly now:

1. Eat right. Cut down on unnecessary junk foods and replace it with healthy snack like salad. If you are one who gets hungry easily, try taking 4 to 5 small meals per day instead of 3 big meals.
2. Exercise regularly. Cardio exercises like swimming and jogging are great ways to reduce overall body fat and you should engage in at least 30 minutes of cardio for every session.
3. Detoxify your body. A great way to detoxify your body is to drink fruit juices and take in more vegetables and fruits during every meal.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Frequent Stops At The Bar May Mean A Fat Belly.



Having a beer belly is definitely not a sight to behold. So as soon as you notice that you are starting to gain that unwanted beer belly, it’s time to take necessary measures to stop it from growing. You can start by doing regular exercise. What you can do is to go for long walks, swim or go bicycle riding.

The next step is to cut down on rich foods and alcoholic beverages that which are actually the two main culprits that lead to this beer belly. Once you have controlled your diet and lifestyle you will need to let time dissolve your overhanging beer belly. Keep in mind that it also took time plus beer, and an unhealthy lifestyle that resorted for you to get that beer belly.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

All Diet Foods Are Not Healthy Foods.

Food can be deceptive. There are lots of diet foods that are actually not at all healthy. The key to leading a healthy lifestyle is to ensure that you are filling your diet with foods that have been proven to be healthy. Basically, the more food is kept in its natural state the more healthy it is. For example, by simply steaming broccoli, you will keep it healthier than if you steam it, season it, and smother it in cheese sauce. In fact, these additives are the cause of that ugly jelly-belly over time.

Eating healthy foods will ensure that you are giving your body all of the vitamins and minerals that it needs. Additionally, by keeping your food in its natural state you will keep your body free of those additives that could harm you over time. There have been so many cases where a chemical was added to enhance the food, only to be discovered that the chemical actually created the possibility of a side effect, which eventually leads to a disease like cancer.

Additionally, you do not want to eat foods that have lots of extra fats and salt. Those are the things that will pile on the pounds, especially in the tummy. Not to mention the damage it will do to your internal organs. The extra fats and salt can create a build-up in your blood vessels which will lead to complications as you age.

To keep yourself in top operating condition you need to have a diet made up of water, vegetables, fruits, meats, whole grains and the likes.

EAT SENSIBLY AND LIVE LONGER!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Motivation x 2 -------Exercise With A Partner.



As resolutions are being made this month we are all encouraged to endure the rigors of losing unwanted belly fat after the hectic holidays. It's important however, to include those close to you in your plans, even if only to cheer you on and hold you accountable to your set goal.

Research has consistently shown that when couples work toward achieving a healthy weight as a team, they’re more likely to lose pounds and keep them off longer. Their secret? A built-in support system. Having someone help you work through daily challenges, encourage your efforts and recognize your progress is priceless.

Indeed, good social support is one of 12 research-based factors that predicts successful weight loss, according to an Institute of Medicine report (Weighing the Options: Criteria for Evaluating Weight-Management Programs, 1995). And no worries if you don’t have a live-in partner who also wants to drop some pounds. Dieting with a close friend, child or coworker can have the same effect. Just keep in mind that the people you have the closest relationships with, will most likely have the greatest influence on you

One advantage to teaming up with a partner is that you’ll each bring different ideas to the dining table. When your weight-loss partner is of the opposite sex, the differences may be especially pronounced. For example, both men and women are often emotional eaters, but they tend to overeat in reaction to different emotions.

Women tend to overeat mostly when in a negative mood state—they’re stressed at work or upset about something. You get two stressed-out women together, and they’re going to pull out the Häagen-Dazs. In stark contrast, men are much more likely to overeat when they are happy. As opposites, men and women may find it easier to help each other stay on track

Sunday, January 4, 2009

EXECUTING A PROPER EXERCISE PLAN.

It's traditional for those who have concerns about their stomach to make losing belly fat their #1 resolution for any New Year. It's also traditional for many to lose interest by the end of January. Mostly this is due to a lack of proper planning and executing the plan.

Firstly, it's important to set a realistic goal. What exactly is to be achieved, broken down into days, weeks and months. Write this down and place it in a conspicuous spot. If necessary, show it to a friend or relative and ask that they hold you accountable.

Secondly, plan your schedule, again making it as realistic as possible. Bear in mind, your sleep pattern in going to be as important as your exercise routines.

Next, take a careful look at your eating habits; what you eat, how often and in what quantities.

Taking note of the weather conditions is essential. This way you know what attire to wear or how to prepare for proper hydration.

Details must even include a warm-up routine, which helps a great deal in avoiding injuries.

At first it might seem like a tedious task, but those who succeed are the ones who prepared a proper plan and stuck to it. Losing that unwanted belly fat should be motivation enough to see this through.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO LOSE THE WEIGHT!

Friday, January 2, 2009

NUTRITION TIPS FOR EVERYDAY LIFE.

As we make plans to lose unwanted belly fat for this New Year it might help to take a look at the way athletes choose what they eat.

It's important to balance macronutrients - get a fat, a protein and a carb in every single meal. The old philosophy of carb-loading before an event or exercise routine, is outdated because the body can only absorb so many carbs without turning them into fat. True, athletes may need more calories than some of us who are just trying to lose belly fat, but we all still need to consume them with the right ratio of protein, fats and carbs.

If you ate a little too much over the holidays or found yourself in a place where you weren't that consistent with your diet, don't starve yourself this month. Eat consistantly every three to four hours, get all those nutrients, and your body will naturally release the fat.

You can have anything you want if you will only take the time to plan for it. Dream big about what you want for your life and make small changes over time to help achieve those things. It's not about a huge lifestyle change; it's just little changes over time. Enjoy the process and above all stick out this month. Good luck all.