Saturday, February 27, 2010

How to Lose Belly Fat - Magic Ways to Lose Belly Fat

Fats around the belly are a very irritating thing to have. Many people these days have a problem of over accumulated fats in their belly region. This area of the body is such that it accumulates fats really quickly and then when you try to shed weight, one realizes that it is a very tough thing to get rid of belly fats.

In this article, I am going to tell you about some of the very simple and basic things that can help you to get rid of that adherent belly fat. There are two basic things that you have to take care of. The first thing that you have to ensure is that you exercise daily. It is very important that in order to lose belly fat you must do exercises that are focused especially on the belly areas of your body. Some of the best exercises for the belly region are crunches and sit ups. If you have enough time to dedicate to this cause then you can even join a gym where you will be able to perform such exercises under expert supervision and you can also use some very superior equipments meant especially of this purpose. The other thing that you can do is make use of a number of fitness videos that are available over the internet, these videos are made by experts in the field and are very easy to follow.

The other aspect of your life that you can control is your diet. Yes your diet can have a major impact on the fat around your belly. In order to lose belly fat you have to quit the consumption of fatty and fried foods, these will immediately go and sit around the belly region. Trust me once this type of fats accumulate over a long period, it is very difficult to lose it. I recommend that you should start eating food with as little fats as possible, in order to this you should use as little oil as possible and also avoid the intake of carbohydrates and simple sugars. So you have to make it a habit to consume as much home food as possible and try and avoid eating outside food as much as you can. The other thing that you have to do is stop drinking too much alcohol; it is a very common thing that people who drink a lot of beer have a characteristic beer belly, so if you want to lose belly fat then you have to quit these bad habits.

How To Lose Belly Fat With A 10 Minute Workout

Are you looking to change the shape of your body or trying to lose belly fat without joining a high priced gym? If so, try this high energized cardiovascular fitness routine that that was developed by Keli Roberts.

With this 10 minute exercise routine you can burn up to 150 calories every single day.

The first two minutes of this fat burning routine is: Jump Rope - Begin by performing two jumps for each turn of the rope. Safety: Use the correct size jump rope and always land softly on the balls of your feet (that is the upper part of the bottom of your foot). Keep thinking I am losing weight.

Minutes two to three: Squat Thrust into a Push Up. The proper technique for this exercise is to stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your arms strait down next to your sides. Slowly squat down with your head forward and bring your hands to the floor just outside of your feet. Your hands should be pointing forward as well. Then in one movement, push your legs back and out behind you (into a pushup position). Perform one strict pushup and then jump back into your squat position and then stand back up. Keep thinking, the fat is vanishing.

Minutes three to four: Jump Rope with only one jump per turn. Keep thinking, The fat is melting away.

Minutes four to five: Back to the Squat Thrust and Push Up only this time you are going to add the Side Plank. After completing your squat thrust and push up, you are going to lift and rotate your left arm off of the ground and over your head. Your left foot will rotate and rest on top of you right foot. And you will rotate your neck so you are looking up at your ceiling. Rotate back to the center and repeat on the other side. When finished, hop back into your squat position, stand up and start again. Keep thinking, no more belly.

Minutes five and six: Jump Rope. Same as minutes three and four. keep thinking, I am losing body fat.

Minutes six and seven: Back to the Squat Thrust and Push Up only this time you are going to add the Leg Lift. This is the same as minutes two and three only this time you will lift the toes of one foot about twelve inches off of the ground only after you have performed your push up. Lower your foot and repeat on the other side. Hop back up to your squat position, stand up, and start again. Keep thinking, goodbye belly.

Minutes seven and eight: Jump Rope. Same as minutes three and four. Keep thinking, my belly is getting smaller.

Minutes eight and nine: Back to the Squat Thrust and Push Up only this time you are going to add Mountain Climbers. Repeat everything as in minutes two and three only this time after your push up, you will quickly jog in place from your push up position. Make sure you bring your knees up to your chest on each rotation. Perform 5 jogs and repeat this entire process. Keep thinking, I am going to lose weight.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Lose Belly Fat Diet Plan

If you eat more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. The extra calories become long stores of energy in the form of body fat. The opposite is true If you eat less calories than you burn. However, it's generally easier to gain fat than to lose fat, and it's especially difficult to reduce belly fat. Because each pound of fat contains roughly 3,500 calories, there's a general saying that to lose one pound of fat a week, you need to create a calorie deficit of 3,500 each week, which equals a calorie deficit of 500 per day.

Drinking more water can also help increase weight loss. Your kidneys requires water to function properly. When your kidney does not get enough water, it does not operate at optimal levels, and your liver ends up assisting the kidneys. This is significant because a key function of your liver is to metabolize fat. When it has to pick up the slack from the kidneys, the liver is unable to metabolize fat efficiently.

There are studies that have confirmed this and found that water consumption reduces meal energy intake, and increases weight loss. A study involving 48 adults with BMI range between 25 to 40 found that weight loss was 2kg greater in the water group compared to the non-water group, and the water group had a 44% greater decline in weight over 12 weeks compared to the non-water group.

So if you're not drinking plenty of water, then you need to start now. Not only does drinking extra water help you lose weight, it's also good for you, and helps improve your bodily functions. After all, 60% of your body is made up of water.

For a diet to help you reduce belly fat and lose weight, it needs to create a calorie deficit where the amount of calories you consume is less than the amount of calories you burn. There is no shortage of diets that are created to help you lose weight and burn belly fat ; however, as many will eventually discover, it gets more and more difficult to lose weight as your weight loss progress.

So what can you do to combat this slow down in weight loss and keep up with the weight loss? There are several factors to consider:

- Increase your lean muscle mass by strength

- Engage in high intensity strength training

- Follow a calorie shifting diet to lose belly fat

The Fat Loss for Idiots diet is a popular diet plan based on shifting calories to increase your metabolism.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

1200 - 1600 Calorie Diabetic Diet Plan

The basic principle behind a calorie controlled diabetic diet is of course controlling your daily calorie intake. A 1200-1600 calorie diet is based around consuming no more than those calories per day. The benefits of these diabetic diets is that they give you the opportunity to control your sugar levels in your blood stream, this in turn will give you better control over your weight and reduce any heart complaints. The 1200-1600 daily calorie diets are aimed at small women who exercise, small or medium-sized women who want to lose weight, and medium women who do not exercise much. A major factor when starting these diet plans is to make sure you are taking on a complete and balanced diet that will pack in your recommend daily nutritional intake.

The key to any calorie controlled diabetic diet is Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates is the main source of Glucose or sugar, this is also your body's main source of energy. A 1200-1600 calorie diabetic diet works on controlling your intake of fat, protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

You will have to ensure you only consume the right amount of calories per day. This will mean getting an understanding on the calorie values in each food type and portions. One gram of carbohydrates equals four calories.

There is no big secret to these diabetic diet plans other than eating a healthy balanced diet. A diabetic controlled diet is all to do with maintaining a balance of carbohydrates, fat and protein that you consume in your 1200 - 1600 calorie plan. For diabetics it is advised to break your meals into 4 to 6 small snacks and meals.

6 serving of starches

2 servings of milk and yoghurt

3 servings of vegetables

2 servings of meat or meat substitute

2 servings of fruit

Up to 3 servings of fats

The above gives you a guide for portioning suggested from each food grouping. Sticking to your 1200-1600 calorie diet plan is essential because any excess calorie intake may increase your body fat.

To aid your success you could pack your foods the night before - ensuring you have your fresh foods maid already. Keep your food simple to start, just start by calorie counting and progress from there. Try eating you foods a little slower and avoid foods that have a high calorie and fat content.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

1200 Calorie Diet - A Healthy Diet Plan For the Working Woman

It has been scientifically proven that the minimal daily calorie intake that is healthy for the average adult female is equal to 1200 calories. This is the basics for the popular 1200 calorie diet. Such a nutritional plan is beneficial, but it is also very restrictive. The good news is that you can make it work as long as you use some simple tricks.

Before going on a 1200 calorie diet you need to have a clear view about your problem, preferably its roots and negative aspects and get as much determination and motivation for its solution. The issue with excess weight in women has more than one aspect which makes it so special. You are not only under a higher risk of suffering from cardiovascular system diseases and diabetes, but tend to experience low self confidence that often leads to depression states and is reflected in your success in your career and personal life. The reasons for weight gain are two - the high calorie diet and the lack of physical activity. Still, modifying your nutritional plan to include fewer calories has been proven to bring about more beneficial results.

Thus, you need to reduce your calorie intake effectively in order to lose weight. However, it is worth having realistic expectations - you will not turn form a chubby girl into a super model overnight. The healthy weight loss is the gradual one. The key to having a beneficial 1200 calorie diet is to consume healthy foods in moderate portions and not to starve and then overeat afterward. What you can expect from this type of nutritional plan is a good looking figure with slender thighs and tight hips and most importantly without an ugly fat belly. Fitting into sexy clothes will no longer be a problem for you. Above all, you will feel much better in your own body, which will boost your self confidence substantially.

You should plan your meals for every day and preferably every week very carefully while you are on the 1200 calorie diet. This will allow you to do the calculations and the shopping and cooking more easily. It is of great importance to take account of the drinks' calories and to include them in the count. It is best to have five meals every day - the three main ones and two snacks one in the middle of the morning and one in the afternoon. You should have a greater calorie intake in the lunch meal since it has to keep you full for the longest. The dinner should not be too restrictive either - include a variety of foods in small portions to make it healthy and tasty.

The 1200 calorie diet has been proven to bring the desired weight loss results quickly and effectively. As long as you use the small tricks described above the nutritional plan will be easy and pleasant to adopt and to stick to. Make the right choice and do not hesitate to start it today and enjoy the wide range of benefits from being slim and elegant very soon.

The 1,200 Calorie Diet - Fast Weight Loss For Women

If you are a woman and want to lose weight fast, then you will love this article about the popular 1200 calorie diet for women. The 1,200 calorie diet is becoming a more popular diet for women everyday. Why? Because it's the fastest diet that is healthy and safe to lose weight that's out there today.

Why? Because 1,200 calories is the absolute bare minimum amount of calories that a woman can take in consistently and still maintain good health. Therefore, as far as dieting is concerned, you cannot lose any more weight than with using this diet safely.

The 1,200 Calorie Diet

1. Eat at least 90 grams of carbs.
2. Most of the rest of your calories should be from lean protein sources.
3. Food should be broken up into 3 meals and 1-2 snacks.
4. Have a cheat day every 7th day.
5. Don't eat less than 1,200 calories, and you should eat within 100 calories or so of 1,200.

1,200 Calorie Diet Tips

1. Don't drink your calories. High calorie drinks can totally ruin your diet - even if it's healthy, like juice, it is high in calories.
2. This works best when mixed with at least 3 days of workouts. (2 days of aerobic, and 1 day of weights)
3. Stay hydrated! It takes up to 2 days to get re-hydrated once dehydrated.
4. If you eat veggies and fresh fruit, along with lean protein for every meal, you should easily stay near 1,200 calories.
5. Condiments, nuts, and oils (even cooking oils) are super high in calories. Use a non-stick cooking spray until you reach your desired weight.

I know this diet will help you lose weight as fast as possible. You can expect to lose any where from 3-7 pounds or more every week when combined with some physical activity. The 1200 calorie diet is by far the fastest weight loss diet for women there is.

Monday, February 15, 2010

A List of Foods That Lower Cholesterol - If You Have High Cholesterol This List is a Must

You really don't have to travel to a far away land filled with danger and intrigue, armed with a treasure map borrowed from the national archives to compile a list of foods that lower cholesterol. Everything you need to put a whipping on high cholesterol levels can be found at your local grocery store or super market. Not quite as sexy, but every bit as effective. But first we should examine what we are trying to avoid, when visiting our local grocery store filled with crazed shoppers armed with very large buggies with at least one bad wheel.

The two fats we will need to avoid are saturated fats and trans fats. Saturated fat could easily go by the alias of big and fat! These fats are solid at room temperature. All meat contains some saturated fat with the well marbled variety winning the gold star for artery clogging prowess. Saturated fat can also be found in abundance in butter, cream, and cheese. Needless to say none of these foods will make it on our list of foods that lower cholesterol.

Our next really dangerous villain goes by the name trans fatty acid but his friends simply call him trans fat. These fats are made in the hydrogenation process that solidifies liquid oils for use in preparation of many food products. Trans fatty acid can be found in such family party favorites as cookies, doughnuts, and crackers. As you may have guessed these food will be left of our list of foods that lower cholesterol as well.

You probably wonder how we can compile a list of delicious foods now that all the fun stuff has been eliminated. It may not be as difficult as you think.

*Fish: Not any fish will do! While the aquarium fish may be appealing for your cat they will not do much for your cholesterol. On the other hand cold water fatty fish high in omega 3 oils raise good cholesterol (HDL) and decrease triglycerides (fatty material that circulates in the blood). Salmon, herring, and mackerel are all very good sources.

*Fruits and Vegetables: How many times do I have to tell you to eat your fruits and vegetables? I'm sure you heard it growing up at least a million times, right! Fruits and vegetables only contain tiny amounts of fat, and most it is unsaturated. Avocados, apples, pears, pomegranates, and blueberries all make our list of foods that lower cholesterol.

*Nuts: Studies from both Loma Linda University and Penn State University confirm that certain nuts do indeed lower cholesterol. Omega 3 fats and antioxidants found in nuts lower bad cholesterol levels (LDL) while working to reverse prior arterial damage caused by saturated fat. Some heart healthy favorites are walnuts and almonds.

*Give me Olive Oil: No, not the rail thin cartoon character but instead the kind that comes in a bottle that you can find on isle 5 in your grocery store. Studies show olive oil lowers bad cholesterol while leaving good cholesterol undisturbed.

Well, there you have it our list of foods that lower cholesterol. Nothing real fancy but the above foods will positively give you an excellent foundation to build your low cholesterol diet around. Additionally, many natural health minded individuals have found that by combining smart diet choices with natural cholesterolreducing remidies they have been able to jump start their cholesterol reducing program. Natural cholesterol reducing remedies are a safe and effective alternative to hard to manage statin drugs and are certainly a natural option worth learning more about.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Vitamin Supplements - Why All Men, Women and Children Should Use the Best Multivitamin Brand

Vitamin supplements, multivitamin products, whatever you want to call them, they are now becoming a necessity to living a healthy and fruitful life. If you want to look good, feel good and avoid disease, you have to give your body the nutrients it needs to survive.

I am not just talking about vitamins and minerals, because while those are essential there are many other ingredients that you should be aware of, such as:

• Antioxidants
• Flavonoids
• Carotenoids
• Adaptogens
• Herbal extracts
• And so on...

The list goes on and on. I could probably rattle on for ages, but I think you get the point. Most men and women are not aware of what really makes the best multivitamin brand.

You see, it's not just about taking single vitamins or minerals, because science has proven that this isn't really effective.

What is effective though is when you start blending nutrients together. Vitamins, herbs, antioxidants and so on. This is creates a synergistic effect that will improve the absorption of your supplement and increase the health benefits that you can get out of it.

All men, women and children should use the best multivitamin brand because your body cannot be healthy without it.

"But don't we get enough nutrients from our food?" I can hear you say.

The truth is that we don't. Our foods have been depleted of nutrients because of the farming practices that have been going on for the last several decades. Pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals destroy the soil and deplete vitamins and minerals.

This leads to the population being deficient in many different nutrients, which is why even mainstream science and many doctors are recommending that you use a natural multivitamin supplement for your whole family to ensure your health and happiness.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Best Calcium For Osteoporosis Doesn't Have to Be Expensive

You can pay 4 cents or 30 cents for calcium supplements of similar quality. But all supplements are not created equal.

Osteoporosis societies and pharmaceutical companies now agree that calcium alone is not sufficient to improve bone density. The best calcium for osteoporosis treatment will provide:

  • 1,200-1,500 mg. calcium
  • 800-1,000 IU. of vitamin D
  • 120 ug. vitamin K
  • 420 mg. of magnesium

These calcium and vitamin D targets are recommended by the U.S. National Osteoporosis Foundation and Osteoporosis Canada for women over the age of fifty. The vitamin K and magnesium targets are the upper levels recommended within the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) followed in the United States and Canada.

Few brands provide the recommended levels of calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and vitamin K required to build healthy bones. There is also little relationship between supplement prices and the blend of ingredients that are being offered. Some of the most popular brands can cost up to 30 cents a tablet and still not provide the recommended levels of vitamins and minerals. And there are brands that cost as little as 4 cents a tablet that provide all the required ingredients. Most importantly, few calcium supplements have enough vitamin D to ensure that the calcium enters the bones rather than migrating to the arteries and soft tissue.

High quality generic supplements do exist for an attractive price if the consumer has the time and patience to search through hundreds of brands. Doctors do not have the time to monitor the supplement market and health food stores are rarely excited about the less expensive bone building supplements. Indeed, some of the best prices are found on-line rather than in big box stores or drug stores.

For the millions of women and men who are threatened by osteoporosis, both the quality and cost of calcium supplements are critical as they may be purchasing them for the next 30-40 years. It is worth spending some time choosing the right brand so that more time and money can be spent on developing a great diet and exercise program-which are also necessary for building health bones.

Learn the Health Benefits and Best Food Sources of Calcium

Calcium can indeed be called the 'King of Minerals', at least as far as the human body is concerned. Of all the various minerals that are present naturally in the human body, the mineral calcium is by far, the most plentiful.

Although calcium is present in the highest quantities amongst all minerals, it is not very evenly distributed in the body.

Almost all the calcium in our bodies (as much as 99%) is found in our bones and teeth. The remaining 1% of calcium flows freely in the blood stream.

Calcium Sources: Are You Getting Enough?

As per the recommended dietary allowances (RDA), men and women between the ages of 19 and 50 should have a minimum intake of 1000mg everyday.

If you are above 50, your daily intake increases to a minimum of 1200mg.

But why do you need to take so much calcium when it is so abundant in the body already? Read on to know why.......

The 6 Amazing Health Benefits of Calcium

1) Healthy Bones: The majority of your body's calcium is not stored in the bones just for nothing; it is this calcium that helps to strengthen the bones. By taking the recommended doses of calcium daily, from whichever calcium sources, you can stop bone loss and thinning, thus preventing osteoporosis and other bone deficiencies.

2) Healthy Teeth: Calcium is instrumental in making, and keeping your teeth healthy. A deficiency at an early age can cause your teeth to fall out very early in life. Yellowing of the teeth can also be associated with a deficiency, thus it is important to supplement if you want to maintain those pearly whites.

3) Alleviates Back Pain: Calcium has proved to be very beneficial in reducing back pain as it strengthens the bones and cartilages in the back.

4) Decreases High Blood Pressure: Even though only 1% of the total calcium is present in the bloodstream, it helps to lower high blood pressure considerably.

5) Eases Heartburn: Antacid tablets that contain calcium carbonate are the easiest remedy to reduce burning and uneasiness, which are both symptoms of heartburn.

6) Can't Sleep? Take Calcium: One of the many causes for insomnia is lack of calcium. Taking calcium can thus make you sleep like a baby, provided your insomnia is due to a calcium deficiency.

These are just the many useful health benefits that one can get from different calcium sources. The stores of calcium in our body are constantly utilized and absorbed for various functions, thus it is necessary to keep replenishing these stores.

This can be done from the following calcium sources.

Calcium Sources: Foods and Supplements

Foods Rich in Calcium: Dairy products, broccoli, almonds, figs, beans; are all very good sources of calcium. In spite of there being many natural calcium sources, an average American gets only about half the amount of daily calcium requirements from his diet.

Calcium Supplements: There are many types of calcium supplements available in the markets. A calcium supplement is the most convenient and easiest way of ensuring that you get your daily allowance of this essential mineral.

Choosing A Calcium Supplement

When choosing a calcium supplement, make sure you pick one that is made by a pharmaceutical GMP compliant maker. This ensures the safest calcium supplement for your use. One of the best way to get your calcium and improve your overall health dramatically is to use a cutting-edge multivitamin.

Do not buy any calcium supplement that has been derived from oyster shells, bone meal, or dolomite. These substances contain lead, which is very harmful to human health and should thus be avoided.

Of the various forms that calcium supplements are available in, calcium citrate is the best type to buy. Unlike calcium carbonate (which is also very popular), the citrate form is better absorbed by the body and is not required to be taken with food.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Natural Good Health is All About Supporting Your Immune System

Natural good health is all about supporting your body's best efforts. Your body has innate wisdom. Everything it does, every symptom it throws out, is an attempt to restore balance. Although it can sometimes seem as if it is putting you in danger, it never does.

For example, a high fever is an excellent sign that you have a strong immune system. One that is working very efficiently to expel an invading pathogen. Yes, it does need to be monitored. But the best treatment is no treatment. Or homeopathic treatment which works by supporting your immune system.

Another example is asthma. Frightening though the serious symptoms of asthma can be, before the use of cortisone, there were no recorded deaths. The cortisone treatment changed that. Now, it is possible to die from asthma.

In the first example, the strong immune system was able to prevent entry of an invading pathogen. In the second example, the asthma attack achieved what the body needed - more carbon dioxide. The only way your body can receive more carbon dioxide is to stop you breathing for a few seconds or a minute or two.

By preventing the high fever, a pathogen invades successfully. By allowing normal breathing, your body carbon dioxide levels remain too low to allow a healthy recovery.

Once you understand and appreciate that your body does have wisdom, and that signs and symptoms are there to be treated with understanding, then you can start to move towards natural good health.

A strong immune system should always be your aim. Armed with this, your natural good health will know no bounds. You'll hardly get sick and when you do, you will recover quickly.

Some modalities work by suppressing your immune system. This will always take to towards more sickness.

So how do you support your natural immunity?

There are many ways and all aspects should be addressed:

  • a healthy diet
  • regular exercise
  • regular time for you
  • regular relaxing time, where you can stop and 'smell the roses'
  • regular exposure to the natural sun
  • emotional freedom - your own natural expression and allowing others the same
  • only use health or emotional disorder treatment which works by supporting your immune system, such as homeopathy, yoga, meditation

It's really important to make regular time for you. This isn't always appreciated as being important. Parents are often guilty of this. They often put the children first. However, it is vitally important, to have time to be you. It restores balance, it relaxes you, you end up setting a great example to your children.