Friday, June 30, 2006

Nine Kickass Ways To Burn The Flab In Seven Days!

1. Holistic Fitness is crucial: Keep your overall fitness in mind instead of just one facet of it. Realize that there are four major aspects that one work on: aerobic fitness, endurance and muscle strength, body composition and flexibility. Develop and build upon each of these every training day.

2. Focus on the sport’s objectives: Hone parts of the body which is most used for your primary activity activity. If you play soccer you would want to hammer on endurance, and if you compete at karate you might rather focus on strength training.

3. Tag your girlfriend: Chugging along on the fitness train is simpler when you work with someone. Misery loves company as we know. Draw upon your girlfriend’s enthusiasm when yours is running low. You’ll perk up all the more as she depends on you to motivate her. But before you bring her, ensure that she shares the same goals as yourself.

4. Bring the tape: No, not the VHS, you lazy lump! Themeasuring tape. Take stock of your stats, including your arms,chest, waist, thighs and wherever else that you are trying to make sexier. Get a habit out of re-measuring once a week. As you admire some measurable results, you motivate yourself allthe more!

5. Bring in the Goals: Jot attainable short and long term goals for yourself! Don’t just hit the homerun and pat yourself on the back once you reach them. No, I want you to break all stops and reward yourself with something special! But please, don’t make the reward something that will be detrimental to your goals, such as chugging down beers or popping tarts into that gut. Make your goals reachable. Set goals that are challenging but not depressing.

6. Time to commit: Set holy appointments with yourself. Can the excuses as to why you can’t workout. Jot them on your calendar, highlight them and draw all manner of motivational pix next to them. Stick with it! Respect this time for yourself and let others know about it. When someone asks you out for coffee let them know your workout dates, and ask them to join you. This way people will know that during that time you are unavailable. The moment you accept gut –swelling coffee outs, you will postpone future workouts.

7. Reach out and streeeetch: Stretching exercises make any workout easier- it floods your body with happy chemicals like endorphins. Take care to stretch before a workout and afterwards as well.

8. Your Personal Space: Where you run the gauntlet is just as important as what you do. Ensure that you are comfortable and enervated in your chosen workout place. Good places include TVmagazines and music. Keep water and fruit bowls within reach.How many times have you used getting drinks as an excuse to stop cardio?

9. Please the lenses: What can be more motivating than before and after shots of people who have lost weight or built muscle? Sheer eye-candy! Now what if photos were of you? You see yourself every day and sometimes it is easy to forget the old you. Take those photos right now and look at them often. Looking at the before photos and looking in the mirror is not enough. Take after photos every week.

About The Author: A master of manifestation to his associates,Joseph R. Plazo offers intense executive coaching and runs a total empowerment free content article directory. http://www.xtrememind.com http://jobcentralasia.comhttp://www.powerconsultants.net

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Carbohydrates And Losing Weight!

In simple terms, carbohydrates are broken down by various enzymes into simple sugars then glucose so they can be absorbed into the blood. Digestive enzymes are like biological scissors -they chop long starch molecules into simpler ones.

According to experts, if we cannot burn all the fat we consume,the remainder is stored as fat tissue. This fat-burning ability is determined by the amount of insulin in our bloodstream.[Note: a major factor in insulin release is the glycemic index (GI) value of the carb-foods or meal consumed.]

When insulin levels are low, we burn mainly fat. When they are high, we burn mainly carbs. But a problem arises when insulin levels remain constantly high, as in the case of individuals suffering from insulin insensitivity. In such cases, the constant need to burn carbs reduces our fat-burning ability. Result? More fat isstored as fatty (adipose) tissue.

Generally speaking, the speed of digestion is determined by the chemical nature of the carb itself, and thus how "resistant" itis to the activity of the enzymes. A simple sugar is usually much less resistant than a starch, and is digested or metabilized much faster. Things that slow down digestion include: the presence of acid (from gastric juices or the food itself), and the presence of soluble fiber.

High Insulin Levels May Increase Risk of Obesity

This is why experts are linking high insulin levels, together with a reduced ability to burn fat, with obesity. And as you can see, high insulin levels are typically determined by the type of carbs we eat. High GI foods or meals trigger higher levels of insulin than intermediate or low GI foods. This is why the Glycemic Index is considered to be so important in assessing carb eating habits.

As we have seen, the human body is fuelled by glucose. Therefore all foods must be converted into glucose before they can be used as fuel. Carbohydrates are more easily converted into glucose than protein or fat, and are considered to be the body's "preferred" source of energy, and the brain's essential source of energy.

Simple carbs (excepting fruit sugar) are more easily converted into glucose because their molecular structure breaks down faster in the stomach and small intestine. Therefore these carbs raise glucose levels in the bloodstream quite rapidly (less than 30 minutes). This explains why diabetics, who occasionally suffer from an excessively low blood-glucoselevel, can quickly restore their balance by eating simple carb-foods, like sweets.

About The Author: Which Diet Pill works? That is a million dollar question! Find out about Diet Pill athttp://www.smartreviewguide.com

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Liposuction: How Does It Work?

Hello,

I've been getting many questions on liposuction. Here are some basic explanations on what it is and how it is done.

Liposuction - A Weight Loss Method?

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery employed to remove excess fat from body parts. It is also called lipoplasty, suction lipectomy, liposculpture or fat suction.

Generally the fat is removed from thighs, chin, buttocks, love handles (abdomen), breasts and stomach for women and chin, waist, breasts and buttocks for men.

This surgical procedure is not an alternative to exercise and dieting and should be used only to remove the stubborn fat that does not respond to exercises and diet.

Liposuction is not a weight loss method but a method to remove excess fat. 10-15 pounds of fat is removed generally. However,taking out of large amounts of fat can be dangerous at times.

There are many types of liposuction performed today like traditional liposuction, tumescent liposuction, ultrasound liposuction, super wet liposuction. All these methods employ acannula (a blunt straw like tube) for suction of fat.

Saline water is injected into the space between muscle and fat to separate them. If the amount of saline water is less than the amount of fat to be removed it is called traditional liposuction.

If the saline water is 3 to 4 times the volume of fat to be removed it is called tumescent liposuction.

Adding extra water assists the surgeon in moving the cannula back and forth tobreak up the fat cells. However excess water may affect thehomeostasis of the body. In super wet liposuction the amount of saline water is the same as the amount of fat to be removed. This is the most popular surgical method used by surgeons.

In ultrasonic liposuction the fat is initially liquefied by ultrasound before being suctioned out. However, ultrasound methods are not popular as they sometime lead to necrosis(death of skin) and seromas (collection of yellow fluid in pockets).

In all types of liposuction either local anesthesia or general anesthesia is used. The usual anesthetic used is lidocaine.Epinephrine is also used in liposuction to reduce blood loss.

To perform liposuction the patient must be over 18 and in good health with elastic skin. If the skin is not sufficiently elastic the excess skin may have to be removed after liposuction. Generally the excess skin is removed from abdomen called abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. This leaves scar marks onthe skin.

Diabetics and patients on antibiotics are advised not to undergo liposuction. Before operation the patient should not have taken any anticoagulants like warfarin, phenindione etc.

If general anesthesia is given the patient has to fast on the night before the operation. If local anesthesia is given there is no requirement of fasting. Smoking and drinking etc should be avoided.

The incisions are usually less than an inch. After operation the excess fluid takes days to weeks to drain out. During that time antibiotics and/or pain killers are prescribed.

Patient recovery varies from days to 2 months. As with all surgeries there are surgical risks in liposuction too. Thereare minor risk, up to 0.7%, of side effects like internal organs being scraped, seromas, necrosis, excessive bleeding etc.

Liposuction is not a weight loss method and the patient should expect realistic and not dramatic changes in appearance.

About The Author: Keith George always writes about valuable news & reviews. A related resource ishttp://the-liposuction.info/ Further information can be foundat http://the-wellbeing.info/

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Weight Loss Help: Break Your Weight Loss Plateau in 2 Steps

What is a weight loss plateau? This is the point at which you stop losing weight during the course of a weight loss program. Once most people reach this point they have a very difficult time losing any further weight. And this is the most frustrating part of any diet or weight loss plan.

It is also the reason that most dieters give up on their weight loss efforts. You fought so hard to lose a substantial amount of weight and then suddenly you hit a brick wall. You can’t lose another ounce, no matter how much you continue to diet or exercise. You feel disappointed, defeated and you surrender. Then you develop guilt feelings and a vicious cycle begins.

Well, what if I told you it doesn’t have to be that way at all. In fact, most people can overcome their weight loss plateaus with the right system – unless there is a medical reason that hinders their weight loss.

Because everyone has different metabolic rates and genetic make-ups, weight loss plateaus and the rate of overcoming them may vary from person to person.

Overcome Your Weight Loss Plateau in 2 Steps:

The first and most important thing is to eat less food on a daily basis. “That’s it?” you ask. This is so simple and trivial it sounds stupid. You were probably expecting some complicated diet plan that involved food combining, complicated meal planning, or excluding entire food groups – something of that nature, right? Sorry to disappoint you.

The fact remains, that weight gain and weight loss is directly related to input and output. And the first thing you need to do is reduce the input part. How many calories do you need? To see a formula that can calculate exactly how many calories you need for weight loss, see my e-book at http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/natural.htm.

The fact that you are overweight simply means you are consuming more calories than your body burns on a daily basis. Over time, these excess calories are stored as fat and before you know it you have a hard time fitting into your clothes. And you try to convince yourself that your clothes have shrunk (not that you have gained any extra pounds).

The other reason this factor is important to keep in mind, is that many diets out there falsely claim you can lose weight no matter how much of their foods you eat. And one of the arguments they use is that certain macronutrients are much less fattening than others. Or that a certain combination of foods has some magical or scientifically proven effect on weight loss.

In all fairness, however, it is true for example, that protein has a greater impact on thermogenesis than carbohydrate. In other words, you burn more calories during digestion and absorption of protein than you do with carbohydrate. At the same time, though, there are several important factors to remember here.

First of all, diet induced thermogenesis (DIT) has very little effect on weight loss (as low as 3% of the total daily energy expenditure - TDEE). For this reason, if you eat too much protein, DIT just cannot burn it fast or effectively enough. In other words, at some point your body will begin storing this extra protein as fat.

Secondly, your body naturally burns between 60%-75% carbohydrate during physical activity. It stands to reason then, that the same percentage should represent your daily intake of carbohydrate. The key is to cut down on refined carbohydrates and increase your consumption of whole and fresh carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, whole gains etc. REF

On the food combining issue, there hasn’t been any substantial scientific evidence that links different food combinations with weight reduction.

The second crucial factor for overcoming weight loss plateaus is participation in regular exercise. That is, healthy eating, that includes a proper amount of daily calories combined with an effective exercise routine will help you break your weight loss plateau, guaranteed.

Why people who exercise cannot break their plateau.

The main reason most people have a problem surpassing their plateau is because they use improper exercise methods. The theory that moderate exercise for 3 or 4 days a week is enough to lose weight is essentially not true. This method might produce a little initial weight loss, but is just not enough to get you passed your weight loss plateau.

Your target should be at least one hour of cardiovascular exercise at an intensity of 65%-85% of your maximum heart rate - in other words, at a fairly vigorous level of intensity. Exercises could include, cycling, jogging, cross country skiing (or machine equivalent), step climbing, power walking (that includes walking on inclines), etc. Furthermore, you must exercise at a frequency of 5-7 times per week.

One way to turn the fat burning process up a notch - to get even better and faster results - is to include high intensity training in your workout routine. This involves training near your maximum heart rate for shorter time periods. Examples of this are sprinting, skipping rope, walking or running up a hill, etc. One way to combine the two methods is, for example, to jog for 45 minutes and follow that with 10-15 ten-second sprints with 30-60 second rest periods in between.

Believe me, train this way and you’ll see those last 10, 20 or 30 pounds literally melt off. If you are not in the physical condition required to perform at this level then you can work towards this goal gradually. If you’re new to exercise or if you train at much lower levels you should get clearance from your doctor first.

Once you reach a body weight that you’re comfortable with, you can switch your workouts to the weight maintenance level. That is, you can reduce the exercise frequency to 3-4 times per week while training at the same intensity. That’s it.

So remember, eat healthy, get off the computer and get into the training mode. Unfortunately, they haven’t invented the magic weight loss formula we’re all dreaming about…yet. Good luck!

About the Author:

John Tiniakos helps make weight loss easier through proven weight loss methods using information and analysis from the worlds leading scientists. For more information and to subscribe to his free monthly newsletter that includes valuable, up to date tips on diet, weight loss and health visit http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/natural.htm (scroll down the page to find sign-up form).


References:

http://www.nature.com, International Journal of Obesity: “Similar weight loss with low-energy food combining or balanced diets”, retrieved 26 June 2006 from http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v24/n4/abs/0801185a.html

http://www.findarticles.com, “Exercise, the cornerstone to weight loss - Tech Brief”, retrieved 27 August 2005 from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0675/is
_5_20/ai_92840206#continue

Monday, June 26, 2006

Green Tea: Help Or Hype?

There’s been lots of health-hype lately surrounding thebenefits of green tea. I’m certain you’ve heard it, too. Haveyou ever wondered: “Is it really worth my while to drink tea ofthe green variety?” Stick around and decide for yourself.

First: The Claims:

A rich source of anti-oxidants: What are anti-oxidants? Anti-oxidants neutralize “freeradicals” or unstable molecules in the body that can eventually become unfriendly and wreak havoc on the cells. Free radical damage can cause everything from sun damage to hardening of the arteries. Green tea will help you bulk up on the anti-oxidant warriors that help to both lower cholesterol and reduce therisk of heart disease by controlling blood pressure.

Cancer prevention: Green tea has been shown to lower rates of cancer in Asian populations. The cancers studied and which have been recorded include: bladder, colon, esophagus, pancreas, rectal and stomach. New evidence suggests green tea may also help preventprostate cancer, as well.

Help with arthritis: Studies also suggest there is possible anti-inflammatory and arthritis preventing effects in green tea although, I’ll admit,solid scientific evidence was difficult to come by. By simple suggestion, I’ll give green tea an A for effort in the arthritis category.

Liver protection: Green tea has been proven to protect liver cells by stimulating the immune system. Green tea protects the liver by warding off toxins such as alcohol and cigarette smoke.

Teeth protection: Green tea has been thought to promote oral health (although scientific proof was difficult to come by here, too). Green tea is supposed to work against bacteria, protecting teeth from cavities.

Weight loss: Here’s another benefit that will raise many an eyebrow. Several sources I found claimed that green tea may actually help to stimulate weight loss. Yes! Green tea contains polyphenols (molecule compounds) that actually help the body to burn weight and regulate both blood sugar and insulin levels.

The Bad News

What’s the bad news? The only negative side effect I’ve found is the simple recorded cases of insomnia due to naturally occurring caffeine in green tea. It looks like there’s only 30-60mg in 6-8 ounces of tea, however. That's less than half the caffeine content of coffee which weighs in at 90 mg. per 8 ounce cup.

Other FAQ’s About Green Tea: How much green tea is enough to reap the benefits? No one seems to be too sure about the answer to this question, either. Let's be realistic – most people could easily drink 3-4 cups of green tea daily. This is a good round number and one that I came up with based on its frequency in the research studied. A suggestion: why not try replacing your usual cup of coffee with a clean dose of health?

Where to get a good cup of tea? Check out your local grocery for my favorite: Lipton. There'splenty of others, but I like the way Lipton aims to zip upgreen tea with variety. They even have a orange, passion fruit & jasmine flavor that's de-lish!

In summation: In this scientist’s opinion, green tea is well worth your consideration. The simple speculation of benefits is enough toget excited about it. It’s easy to digest, tastes good and, hey, if it helps me with my goal of wellness and illness prevention, I’ll take ample tea time, any day!

Research for this article has been created through careful consideration of research and articles appearing on WebMD and though several working texts which include:

Balch, Phyllis A., CNC. Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing.New York: Penguin Putnam, 2004. Mabey, Richard. The New Age Herbalist. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1988. Mindell, Earl, R.Ph., Ph.D. Herb Bible. New York: Simon &Schuster, 1992. Tierra, Michael L.Ac., O.M.D. The Way of Herbs. New York: Simon& Schuster, 1998.

About The Author: Laura Turner is a natural health practitioner and author. She hosts http://www.beauty-and-body.com and publishes the bi-weekly New Body News and Wellness Letter, The Online Magazine Healthy People Read. (http://www.new-body-news.com ) Subscribe for f.r.e.e. andreceive her Special Report: "Take Charge of Your Health!"

Saturday, June 24, 2006

The Skinny On Diet Pills

Have you been hanging around the buffet table for far too long? Do your jeans snap open when you do a simple twist? Have youever had any part of your body jiggle when you walk? It is an incredibly frustrating situation when your body does not look (or even feel) the way you would like.

While some might opt to take the dangerous turn of acquiring eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia to hasten their weight loss progress, there is a safer and far more pleasant feeling method of achieving weight loss. Exercising at least 30 minutes a day may even be enough to do some significant positive change to your appearance and weight even in just a matter of one to two months. Couple this with the right kind of diet, but never deprive yourself food such that your body is legitimately hungry all the time.

Unfortunately there are people who would really like to lose weight but are either too lazy or impatient for them to make healthy lifestyle changes. It is important to note that while some doctors prescribe weight loss pills or diet pills to their patients, this doesn’t mean that just about anyone could buy them from any drug store or pharmacy and just pop them in their mouths.

1. Think Before You Act

Before buying diet pills, you must first go to a registered physician or a registered dietician for them to be able toassess your weight and your body mass index (BMI) among other health related information that concerns yourself. These doctors would really have to know your family’s medical history like if your family tends to lean towards the healthy side orare there any cases of cancer, high blood pressure or heart attacks in your family.

2. Risks Associated With Diet Pills

Hereditary illnesses are an incredibly important reference point for registered doctors and registered dieticians. They need to know this information so they can prescribe to you the correct pill. In addition, some people can have allergic reactions from weight loss pills or a multitude ofside-effects.

A popular diet pill that has been around for quite some time called Xenical. This diet pill acts by draining the excess fat through constant bowel movements. This may be a little gross or inconvenient for some (especially those people who are always onthe go) but with the proper diet and exercise this weight losspill promises to help you shed off at least twenty pounds injust a matter of two months. People who have used this weight loss wonder have had nothing but praise for this drug. However,they testify that it was incredibly inconvenient, not to mention a foul smelling experience. Doctors are actually praising this drug for another reason, it also lowers the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Other diet pills, however, are not as great for our bodies. The notorious Bangkok pill, which has been circulating all over the world, promises significant amounts of weight loss in just a mere 2 weeks. A lot of people fall prey to this unhealthy weight loss drug because it’s a lot faster than the other weight loss drugs and doesn’t require you to go the bathroom every now and then. There are three sets of pills that one must take everyday, these diet pills are labeled as breakfast, lunch and dinner (which contains several more packs of diet pills) and you have to take one or two from each of these packs and take these weight loss pills after every corresponding meal.The weight loss effect from these Bangkok pills are indeed drastic but they are banned and considered as illegal due to their extremely high chance of causing heart attack or stroke.

About The Author: For more great diet pills related articles and resources check out http://www.dieting-sucess.com

Friday, June 23, 2006

Going to the Beach? Lose Up to 20 Pounds In Less Than 2 Weeks

Hello Everyone,

Here's an article I wrote for publication that I think you might find interesting and helpful.

Going to the Beach? Lose Up to 20 Pounds In Less Than 2 Weeks

Do not eat anything beyond 3 hours before bed time. This is probably the most important factor in quick and in long term weight loss. And that includes all foods. Water may be an exception. Although, you shouldn’t drink too much water either, during this time. It will make you get up in the middle of the night for a visit to the washroom which will increase the chances of going for a snack. Remember, your defenses are down when you’re half asleep.

Cut down on starchy carbohydrates and eat only whole grain bread and pasta and brown rice. Avoid potatoes or cut down to very small portions. Eat yams instead of potatoes. Yams are much lower in starch; they have a low glycemic index and are much less filling.

Never combine two starches in a meal. For example, if you’re eating rice, do not eat pasta, bread or potatoes. Fill up on fresh or lightly steamed vegetables and salad at the expense of starch and protein. Do not use any creamy salad dressings. Instead, add olive oil (not too much), apple cider vinegar, oregano and basil to your salads. You’ll notice that vinegar replaces the need for salt.

Salt must be reduced because it retains water. And a lot of the bulk in an overweight person is simply water. Water is the first thing that comes off when people begin dieting. This article, however, as you have probably realized, is not really about dieting. It’s about making certain changes – replacing old habits with better ones.

Avoid eating deep fried products in restaurants such as, fried chicken, French fries and donuts (yes, they are deep fried). Avoid dessert completely. If you must eat dessert decrease your meal portion and have fresh fruit only for dessert - which brings us to the next point.

You must cut down on the total amount of food you eat. Remember, it still comes down to input and output. One method I use to lose weight is decrease the size of my meals to half and add an extra meal. In other words, if you have 3 meals a day each containing 1000, the total is 3000 calories. If you cut the 3 meals in half (500 calories) and add another meal (500 calories), the total becomes 2000 calories. In this example we have reduced the day’s consumption by 1000 calories. Just like that. And it’s not hard to figure out how to reduce meal portions. Simply visualize you regular meal portion and reduce it by half.

Avoid junk food snacks like candy bars, chips and so on (you know what I mean). If you feel like something sweet, have a fresh fruit or a non fat yogurt with fruit. When you want something not sweet, try crunchy fresh vegetables or unsalted walnuts and almonds.

As you may have noticed, what we’re doing is:

- Cutting down on total calories and choosing foods lower in fat and calories.

- Increasing high fiber foods (fruits and vegetables,) that fill you up while containing almost no calories.

- In addition, these fresh foods along with walnuts and almonds have 2 great benefits. One is they contain very powerful antioxidants that help fight against heart disease and cancer. The other thing is, foods like walnuts and wild greens, for example, increase a certain food ratio (the n6:n3 ratio) which has shown - in certain cultures - to extend life and reduce body weight. For more information on this, visit the site which contains the downloadable e-book I have written at http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/natural.htm.

- Decreasing starchy carbohydrates (your body turns excess carbohydrates into fat).

- Avoiding late night snacks which just end up getting stored as body fat, as the body does not burn many calories at rest.

- Avoiding junk food which is extremely high in fat and calories, high in salt and various unhealthy chemicals.

The final thing we need to include is something that most of us dread - daily exercise. “Did you have to include this? The food stuff part is hard enough.”…you say.

I know, I’m sorry – but you want to lose weight very fast don’t you? Well then you have to exercise and not just 3 or 4 times a week (that’s the weight loss maintenance level). To lose weight quickly or even for the long term, for that matter, you must exercise 6 to 7 times a week. Your workouts should last at least one hour. Your exercise intensity target should be between 65%-85% of your maximum heart rate. In other words train at a moderately vigorous level.

If you’re already exercising, increase it to the above level; if not get clearance from your doctor first and then increase your intensity gradually to that level. To find out the best way to lose weight with exercise go to my Blog and look for the title: “Do You Lose More Weight When Exercising On An Empty Stomach?” At http://topweightlosssite.blogspot.com

Depending on certain factors such as body fat percentage (BMI) and level of metabolism a person could lose from 10 to even 20 pounds in just the first week by following this program.

Good luck, good health and enjoy the beach!

References:

www.exrx.net, “Aerobic Exercise Guidelines for Specific Goals”, retrieved 17 May 2006 from http://www.exrx.net/Aerobic/AerobicGoals.html.
By John Tiniakos

John Tiniakos helps make weight loss easier through proven weight loss methods using information and analysis from the worlds leading scientists. To subscribe to his weight loss blog or his free monthly newsletter that includes valuable, up to date tips on diet, weight loss and health and to receive 2 free reports visit http://www.nulife-weightloss.com. For more information on his latest ebook “Nulife Natural Weight Loss Program” visit http://www.nulife-weightloss.com/natural.htm.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

The Two Things That Make You Fat

There are two main causes of all of today's obesity problems. These two evils are sugar and saturated fats.

Sugar is extremely sweet, and therefor addictive and easy to eat a lot of. When you eat sugar, your body digests it so quickly that your insulin levels spike and you receive a huge boost in energy. The thing is that all of the insulin transports the sugar throughout your system very quickly, so after a while your huge energy boost crashes and you are left feeling de-energized and hungry again a mere hour or so after eating the sugar. Replace sugar in your diet with good carbs - whole wheat everything (refined white-bread digests almost as quickly as raw sugar and is just as bad), beans, legumes, etc. Eating better carbs will cause your energy levels to remain stable all day and will keep you feeling fuller longer, making you eat less throughout the day. Thats a biggy for losing weight.

The second evil is saturated fats. These fats give all fats a bad name, but that is not fair. Unsatured fats and EFA's (essential fatty acids- they must be obtained from your diet - the body cannot produce them), although caloricly dense (9 calories per gram compared to 4 for carbs and protein), are good for you and your heart. Saturated fats on the other hand raise your LDL cholesterol and lower your HDL cholesterol and are very bad for your heart and body. It has also been shown that high levels of saturated fats in your diet can lower your testosterone production, thus lowering your metabolism and increasing your chances of putting on weight.

The easiest ways to cut saturated fats from the diet is to switch to skim milk, eat lean cuts of beef and pork (chicken is extremely lean as it is), make sure all of your dairy products (cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc.) are low-fat, and start using olive and canola oil to cook with. Remember - all fats are not bad but you have to be careful when eating any fat because a gram of fat has more than twice the calories of a gram of protein or carbs. But if you cut out the saturated fats, you'll be sure to improve your health.

Interested in health and diet issues? Check out http://www.youfitness.com/ Click on over today, and learn how you could be living healthier!

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Ya Gotta Wanna (Lose Weight)

Because you're reading this article, I'm willing to bet that you are interested in looking and feeling better. You, like me, probably want to lose some weight and tone up.

But it's hard to find the time and motivation to exercise. Sometimes it's even more difficult to say 'no' to that delicious dessert or mouth-watering entree. The excess weight that seemed to appear overnight takes time and effort to lose, and sometimes it can be frustrating.

Our topic is 'ya gotta wanna'. What do we mean by that? Of course you 'wanna' lose weight and tone up! But do you 'wanna enough'?

Sometimes when people want to earn more money, they decide to work more hours or two jobs. They give up free time for money. That's a personal decision, and there's nothing wrong with that. These folks 'wanna' money, so they've consciously decided to give up something of value (time) to get what they want.

Sometimes when people want to spend more time with their family, they quit their job and obviously take a cut in pay to do so. These folks 'wanna' something of value (family time), so they've decided to give up something else of value (money) to get what they want.

In both of these examples, these people 'gotta wanna enough' that they gave up something of real, substantial value to achieve their goals.

Now let's come back to being fit and healthy. Ya gotta wanna do it, or it won't get done. To be more specific, to create the 'new you' you must be willing to give up something of value in exchange for fitness success.

So what do you have to give up in exchange for a fit, trim and lean body? Well, you'll probably have to give up some free time. Even if you do a quick, efficient and effective workout such as circuit training, that's still about 30 minutes out of your day. You need to decide if you 'wanna' enough to give up that free time.

To achieve the 'new you' you'll probably have to give up some food as well. A critical part of living better and being fit is not eating as much junk food as you used to. You need to decide if you 'wanna' be fit and trim enough to give up some junk food.

To be fit, trim and healthy you may even have to give up some social events. Does your office have a steady supply of donuts in the breakroom, and are you willing to avoid that breakroom? Do you have a regular lunch date with some friends where you pig out on cheesecake, and are you willing to miss that event? Do you regularly have parties at your house with chips, dip, etc. and are you willing to cancel those parties?

What we may have to give up to achieve true fitness for life is different for each of us. So here's your assignment: take a blank piece of paper and draw a line directly down the middle of the page so that you have two columns. At the top of this paper, label one column "My Goal" and label the other column "What I Will Give Up".

On the "My Goal" side write down your health and fitness goal. You may choose to write down a bodyfat percentage goal (between 20% and 30% is recommended for most women). You may choose to write down a goal weight. You may choose to write down a clothing size you'd like to be. You may choose to tape a 'skinny' picture of yourself on this half of the page, or even draw a picture of what you want to look like. It's up to you.....this is your goal.

Now, in the "What I Will Give Up" column write down all the things you've gained by not getting fit. In other words, list the benefits of not exercising and eating right. Again, some examples are spare time, junk food, etc.

At this point you have a sheet showing the 'desired you' and also what you have gained by not achieving the 'desired you'. Now comes the hard part.

Take a good, honest look at the "What I Will Give Up" column and really think about what you are willing to give up to achieve the 'new you'. Remember, ya gotta wanna and ya gotta wanna enough!

Maybe ice cream 7x per week is on your list. Are you willing to give up that? How about giving up half of those ice cream binges?

Maybe spare time is on your list. Are you willing to give up 30 minutes per day for exercise? How many days per week?

Maybe regular soda is on your list. Are you willing to give that up to achieve the 'new you'? How about switching to diet soda or cutting back to smaller portions?

There are no right or wrong answers here. The bottom line is 'are you willing to give up something to get something else'? That's what we mean when we say 'ya gotta wanna'. Nobody is going to magically make you thin and fit. Nobody is going to make these decisions for you. Nobody is going to prioritize your life for you. You are in charge, and ya gotta wanna or you're not going to achieve those goals.

So, do you wanna? Do you wanna enough?

Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit http://www.letspickupthepace.com/ for more information.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Want A Six Pack?

Every model you see on TV has it: the 6 perfect ripples on the stomach and all the girls just melt at the sight. Now you’ve decided you want to be that guy that just drives the women wild. You’re going to do whatever it takes to get a six pack!

Conventional knowledge leads us to believe that the way to geta six pack is to sit-ups, and lots of them. The truth, however, is that you may develop very strong upper abs, but they may never show. The abs are muscles that hide behind a layer of fat. In order to see them, you must first work on removing the fat that hides these muscles. The proper way to do this is with cardio exercise like jogging, running, riding a bike or using the stair-stepper!

Try jogging at a constant rate for 15 minutes a day for a week.Increase the time by 5 minutes every week. If you think you cango longer or harder, do it. Be sure to avoid eating fattening foods, drinking soda and consuming too much sugar as it will only mask your hard work.

After you’re in a cardio routine, you can begin with thesit-ups or crunches. Get in a routine of doing sit-ups as soon as you wake up and right before you go to bed. Start with, for example, 50 each morning and night, and increase that number every week as well. If your muscles are sore, that’s great;you’re doing your job. The abs and the calf muscles are theonly muscles in the body that can be worked day in and day out without worry of damage and need for rest.

Stick with the routine and you will see results in 1 or 2months. Coupled with a strict diet, you can build your six-pack just in time for summer! If you wish to build more muscle and have a professional workout plan tailored to your needs, visityour local gym and enlist the services of a personal trainer. A membership to a gym is also a great start to losing weight and gaining muscle.

About The Author: John Rivers is owner of Fitness Tips Blog,Nutrition, health, diet and fitness tips, information, support,advice for all ages. http://www.fitnesstipsblog.com

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Green Tea Produces Weight Loss – Fact or Myth

Weight Loss With The Help Of Green Tea

Weight Loss - Green Tea Benefit

Over the past few years, green tea and its connection with weight loss has long been the center of various clinical studies. Positive effects of green tea on weight loss have been discovered in recent years.

Studies show that the relation between green tea and weight loss are substantially linked together through the plant’sthermogenic properties. Thermogenesis is the process by which the body produces heat by speeding up metabolism, burning calories, and breaking down fat. Certain substances in greentea are believed to help in the body’s thermogenesis, thus contributing to weight loss.

Weight Loss in Other Herbs

Other than green tea, there are other natural herbs that contribute to weight loss. Gugulipid for instance has been shown to augment the metabolic rate of the body and help with thermogenesis, thus leading to weight loss. Gugulipid has alsobeen reported as a catalyst for lowering down cholesterol levels.

Another herb that aids in weight loss is Maitaki. Derived froma Japanese plant, Maitaki helps promote weight loss by targeting the liver, which is a major digestive part of the body.

Maximizing Weight Loss Benefits in Green Tea

A standardized weight loss herbal extract of pure green tea is needed in order to maximize the weight loss benefits of greentea. The market offers several green tea weight loss productsthat do not use standardized extract. These non-standardized green tea weight loss products are cheaper but do not contain enough active green tea substances to have any significant weight loss benefits.

Scientists and traditional herbalists believe that better weight loss results are achieved when green tea is used in conjunction with other weight loss herbs and with other nutrients. So before buying a green tea weight loss product, itis advisable that you choose a product that contains a rich blend of green tea herbs, minerals and nutrient that aid in weight loss.

Green tea when combined with ginger and olive leaf helps lower cholesterol and promotes weight loss. Green tea helps stop blood vessel constriction while CoQ 10 protects the heart and ensure blood pressure levels. By mixing green tea with CoQ 10,you will not only achieve maximum weight loss but you will alsobe able maintain the health of several body systems at one time.

The Ideal Green Tea Weight Loss Product

The first thing to make sure of when buying green tea products is to see if the manufacturer of the green tea extract follows strict GMP compliance, the manufacturing standard used throughout the world. Having GMP approval in green tea products assures you that you are getting a product of the highest quality.

Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, herbal products such as green tea are considered dietary supplements. This means that the success or effectiveness ofthese products do not have any guarantees. Companies or manufacturers that claim 100% success in their green teaproducts are doing false advertising and should not be patronized.

For assurance that you’re getting your money’s worth when you buy a green tea product, find a product that is using standardized green tea extract. Look for strict GMP compliance and make sure that the manufacturer of the green tea product has all the proper credentials in product formulation.

About The Author: http://vitamin-vitamins.blogspot.comhttp://vitamin-b-12.blogspot.com

Keep in mind, however, that green tea and other products that have been shown to increase thermogenesis should only be considered as a minor component of a weight loss plan.

Diet induced thermogenesis (DIT) only accounts for as little as 3% of the body’s total daily energy expenditure – which is not much. Products such as green tea and others are often promoted as answers to weight loss in misleading advertising campaigns. While green tea has been shown to have favorable effects on DIT, it should only represent a very small aspect of a weight loss strategy.

In addition, if other changes in lifestyle aren’t made green tea may be completely ineffective.

Just something to think about.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Can't Lose Weight? Maybe You Have A Thyroid Disorder

Hello,

If you've tried everything and can't lose weight maybe this article can help.

Can't Lose Weight? Maybe You Have A Thyroid Disorder
By Ken Black

A thyroid disorder called hypothyroidism means you have anunderactive thyroid gland. If you have trouble losing weight nomatter what you do, it could be because you are hypothyroid.There are almost 30 million Americans with thyroid disease and women are 7 times more likely than men to have it. Hypothyroidis the most common thyroid disorder and often misdiagnosed by doctors.

You may get this because it is inherited, or because of previous problems, such as nodules, goiter, thyroid cancer,previous thyroid surgery, another autoimmune disease.

This is a condition where the thyroid gland, a small butterfly shaped organ located at the base of the neck, does not produceenough hormone to function properly.

What happens is that it takes in iodine, combines it with tyrosine (an amino acid) and converts it into the hormones T4and T3. If your thyroid is normal, 80% will be T4 and 20% T3.These hormones travel through the bloodstream, convertingoxygen and calories into energy. If this process doesn’t work properly, then the calories and oxygen cannot convert theenergy properly and you may gain weight or incapability to loseweight.

The symptoms can include : weight gain, depression, forgetfulness, fatigue, hoarseness, high cholesterol,constipation, feeling cold, hair loss, dry skin, low sex drive,tingling hands or feet, irregular periods, infertility. You mayeven experience recurrent pregnancy loss, resistant high cholesterol, difficult menopause, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, or mitral valve prolapse.

Do you feel sluggish and fatigued on a regular basis, or do you get bouts of depression and sadness? Are you always feeling cold, especially your hands and feet, or do you have brittlenails? These are just some of the possible signs of the disease. There may be other causes, but at least this may give you a clue as to why you do not feel well. Check with your doctor in all cases to be sure.

When your metabolism doesn't work right because you have this disorder, you may find that there's no amount of dieting or exercise that takes the weight off. You may in fact put on extra pounds, even though you are doing just what you are supposed to.

What can you do ? Meet with your doctor and ask if you need at hyroid examination and blood test. These likely will be a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) blood test, along with T4, T3,Free T4 and Free T3 tests.

A drug called levothyroxine (often called Levo-T, Levoxyl,Synthroid, Unithroid) may be prescribed for you. It is usually inexpensive, has minimal side effects, and has uniform potency.However, all thyroid hormone replacement therapies, whether natural or synthetic, have the ability to restore thyroidhormone levels.

Supplements that contain the following might also help:

- L-Tyrosine - is one of the amino acids that your body needs to make thyroid hormones. It is included in some weight control products because it works to stimulate your metabolism. It'salso an element in helping your brain operate more efficiently which makes you feel better.

- Guglipid - an extract from the Indian guggal tree, mayimprove thyroid function and assist in controlling your weight. Scientists are finding that guglipid lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol, and thus can help somewhat to prevent heart disease.

There is always hope and lots of help out there for you. If yoususpect that you have this condition and you are not sure whatto do, talk to your physician for guidance and advice.

About The Author: Ken Black is a freelance writer on Health related subjects. Visit http://www.thyroid-supplements.com formore information about hypothyroidism.

Friday, June 16, 2006

A Look At Obesity

Hello,

Here are some facts on obesity:

If you thought being obese is being the target of fun, it only tells the part of the story about dangers and predicaments obesity exposes you to. Obesity is no more a simple result ofovereating-lead-to-overweight case. To quote the American Obesity Association’s words, “It is now recognized that obesity is a serious, chronic disease. No human condition — not race,religion, gender, ethnicity or disease state — compares toobesity in prevalence and prejudice, mortality and morbidity, sickness and stigma.”

Obesity is a trojan horse. It brings a battalion of ailments, which are most detrimental to our health. To name a few, following are the complications that could arise out being obese.

1. Hypertension

2. Diabetes (Type-2)

3. Coronary heart disease

4. Stroke

5. Gallbladder disease

6. Osteoarthritis

7. Asthma

8. Sleep apnea and respiratory problems

9. Some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon)

10.High levels of cholesterol

This is an unending list, where each of the above ailments arecapable of creating other complications, where no medication without side effect, could be comfortably used. Prevention isthe best cure for obesity. How to achieve this?

Shake Your Head

A doctor once told my friend, who is obese that it is very easyto lose weight. My friend became very interested and asked him to suggest a way. The doctor calmly replied that just shakeyour head from left to right, maybe ten times a day! My friendbecame very curious. What is the idea behind this? He asked.Doctor calmly replied, "Whenever anyone offers you something toeat, shake your head from left to right". Simple, isn't it? Itis simple, but it requires discipline, which is not simple. But then, habit makes discipline. Avoiding junk food and fast food must be done with a discipline.

Is Being Overweight Obesity

Obesity is not just due to eating disorder unlike overweight.Obesity is hereditary and it is measured by Body Mass Index orBMI. Adults over the BMI of 30 Kg/m2 is considered are considered obese and any one with reading between 25 and 29.9kg/m2 is overweight, not obese.

Obesity is posing the biggest threat to Americans and the numbers are rising with each year. There are around 35% obese Americans according to a survey. This is also draining thestate exchequer heavily to the tune of $25 billions a year.

What Causes Obesity

There are more reasons than one. Having obsession to eating more calories than you can burn off, how active are you, what you eat and whether you have an inherited streak in your genes,all these determine your chances of becoming obese. In any caseit is due to the over accumulation of fats.

Is There An Anti-Obesity Plan?

There are many quick-fix plans being promoted by the so called dieticians which are not regulated by FDA. However, burning fatby increased physical activity and a changed lifestyle inaddition to changed eating habits to healthier foods must gradually show results.

Although fat at hips is not quicker to harm you than the accumulation around waist, there is no guarantee that you are absolutely safe. Talk to your trainer and dietician, pull-upyour socks and get going. After all, it’s your life.

About The Author: Alan Ross is a regular article contributor onmany topics. Be sure to visit his other websiteshttp://www.obesity-foryou.info and http://www.diet-foryou.info

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Weight Loss Secrets You Already Know

Hello,

Gettin' ready for summer? Dreading the thought of putting on a swimsuit? Don't worry there's still a little time left to drop a few pounds so you could fit into last years swimsuit. Check this article out.

Weight Loss Secrets You Already Know

Weight Loss dreams in the spring are as predictable as Aprilshowers. Those who have put on a few extra holiday and winterpounds realize the annual bikini season is almost upon us andhave a fear of having to bear it all at the beach. Without theability of having to drown their sorrows in food (which prettymuch put them in this banana boat anyway) weight loss hopefulslook for ways to make the weight magically disappear.

Weight loss season is the start of a whole new holiday seasonfor retailers. Books about the newest weight loss fads fly offthe shelves. Diet pills and diet pill supplements sell out atthe pharmacy. Health and fitness magazines like Shape andPrevention start to outsell the ever popular celebrityweeklies.

The most astonishing part of this whole phenomenon is thatweight loss hopefuls seek answers to a question that theyalready know the answer to. Like the exasperated parent, whomust repeat things just one more time, I will give you the notso secret secrets to weight loss. It will not cost you a pennyat the pharmacy or the bookstore, it is absolutely free.

Weight Loss Secret #1

Lay off the ice cream, cookie dough, deep fried Twinkies, wellyou get the point. It is not just the sweets but they are a bigculprit. In general you need to burn more calories than you aretaking in. Cookies and the like are really high in calories.Try choosing foods with fewer calories, the fewer calories youtake in the less you have to burn. Foods like lean meats and vegetables are low in fat andcalories. So have the broccoli (without the melted cheese ofcourse), Make a nice big salad your best friend. Salad willnever steer you wrong unlike fair-weather friends fat andgrease.

Weight Loss Secret #2

Move away from the keyboard. I repeat, move away from thekeyboard. You will never, ever be able to burn the desiredamount of calories by surfing the net and instant messaging.

There are quite a few ways to get moving. Clean the house mowthe lawn, its spring so start spring cleaning. A better idea isto take the kids to the park and enjoy the weather. Get into it,jump rope, play baseball maybe a little catch. Don’t be botheredby the heavy breathing and wheezing. This will subside afteryou’ve done it a few times.

You don’t have kids? Take the dog to the park and play Frisbee.Don’t have a dog? Borrow a friend’s for the day. If that doesn’twork out go to the park and play with the pigeons. They love torun and exercise and there are always plenty of them around inthe park to play with.

Another solution is to do what millions of other people do. Goto the one place that is bearable for only 2-3 months of theyear – the gym. There, while working out you can and will meetthose just as reluctant to be there as you and together you cancommiserate on the cruel twist of genetic fate that has broughtyou to such a pass. The exercise will do you good. You’ll makenew friends and start to feel better. An added bonus is thatwalking up long flights of stairs will no longer be such a chore.

So there you have it the not so secret secrets to weight loss.Read the article, follow my tips, they will work of course.Tuck this article away until you need some inspiration again.See you next spring.

About The Author: Lisa James is an avid reader of books andmagazines. She is a staff writer for http://www.suscriba.com,provider of discount magazine subscriptions

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Results of Exercising on an Empty Stomach

Hello Everyone,

I’d like to make reference to a previous post I had made, when I argued that working out on an empty stomach (before meals) was more efficient in producing weight loss than training on a full stomach (after meals).

Well, I have been putting it to the test and the results are in.

Firstly, let me tell you a bit about myself.

I am well into my thirties now, and I find it more difficult too keep the pounds off these days (with everything being constant). In other words, I am not eating more calories than I did 10-15 years ago and I’m also not exercising any less. And yet I had put on an extra 12 pounds. By the way, I also have a slow metabolism.

So, I wanted to see if there would be a significant difference when I exercised before breakfast instead of 2-3 hours after dinner which is what I had been doing. My workout was exactly the same, I didn’t change anything. I jogged for 30 minutes and followed that by 15 minutes of high intensity interval training. The results were shocking. I lost 11 pounds in four and a half weeks – that was extra weight around the mid-section that I was carrying around for quite some time.

In truth, however, I am not really a morning person and find that my body has a hard time waking up for a workout first thing in the morning. If you’re not a morning person, you’ll know what I mean. So I am going to experiment by switching my workout period to first just before lunch and then just before dinner (on a fairly empty stomach). I’ll let you know what the results will be. I have a feeling they’ll still be more favorable with respect to weight loss than when workouts are conducted after meals.

John

Monday, June 12, 2006

Seven Major Points To Consider Before Dieting

Hello,

If you’re thinking of going on a diet, here are some points that will better prepare you for it – mentally and physically.

Seven Major Points to Consider Before Dieting

Consider joining groups which has a common goal with you:losing weight. Through others, you can solicit advice. No onecould tell what the best way for you is but having real peoplewho have real experience about such situation is a plus point.As you know new information and second opinions about yourdieting plans, you also gain more friends. Remember, two headsare better than one.

Also consider healthy lifestyle both physical and mental.Regular exercise such as walking, dancing or even doinghousehold chores are the simplest yet most forgotten form ofburning calories. No gym fees, no hassles. A plan on what toeat is another good step. A diet that is low in fat and high nfiber is the most recommended by experts. A step to considermental health care another good point. Free your self fromstress and depression. These factors causes you to feel down,slows down your metabolism, lets you crave for food endlesslyand gain weight.

Ask yourself if your diet program is tested and proven safescientifically. There are a lot of DDs or Diet in Disguise.They give you sweet promises but they leave you unhealthy. Evento the point of putting in a pitfall of health hazards. A dietprogram may be effective for your friend but it does not assurethat it is perfect for you. Consider questions like: Was a studythoroughly conducted proves this plan to be safe and effective?

Do not get carried away by appealing testimonials. You are acustomer; every dieting-concerned salesman will convince you totry his product or service. There is a difficulty in determiningthe truth from a claim. Be wise enough not to consideradvertisements as the key to your decision.

Know what the possible health risks. It pays to be cautiousespecially in situations when your health and wellness is atstake. Dieting is not all about having the waistline one wants,nutrition must be a priority. Slimming down just to feelattractive is a dumb move if you just find your self sufferingfrom gallstone and other health disorders.

Think of what is really the social stigma when you are thin.One wants to be thin just because he or she wants to be “in”.In the society in general, one feels dumped if he or she s fat.If your purpose of dieting is as half-baked as this, betterthink again. Go on a diet not because you want to be slim butbecause you want to be healthy.

Know your purpose and be disciplined. If you are the type of aseasonal or moody diet doer, better stop. The yo-yo effect willjust make you feel upset. Before starting a diet, you must befirm with your purpose, and that has to be healthy. Consideralso your attitude towards dieting or else you will justrestart if you feel like doing it.

Being sexy is not only having those well-carved bust line,24-inch waistline, slender-molded legs. It is all about stayinghealthy inside. Outside? It will just naturally exude.

About The Author: Alice Riley is an independant writer whowrites for several major publications. His latest project canbe seen at the Diet Blog http://www.fdietlive.com/.

Living in a Toxic World - Children's Nutrition

Hello,

If you have children or know people with children, this article can serve as a good source of information on how to use preventive health for children.

Living in a Toxic World - Children's Nutrition

I just read an article about a study that compared the health of Americans with those of Britons of the same age and ethnicity ie caucasian, of course the Americans won hands down in ill health. The article wondered why with all the money that we spend on health care over here, we are more unhealthy. They were saying that maybe we spend less on preventive health care etc. As a physician that has practiced medicine on two continents and being married to one that actually practiced in England for 5 years I can vouch for the fact that we practice more preventive medicine here than anywhere in the world. The problem lies somewhere else. As a country USA has more chemicals insidiously pervading in every aspect of our lives than any country in the world. No wonder with all the money in the health care system we are so unhealthy.

One of my patients, recently showed me a hamburger that she had bought from a fast food joint 6 years ago. It looked maybe a day old, thats how stuffed with preservatives it was! How can the body handle food like that. Food is meant to be broken down into basic building blocks for the body to use. Anything that is not food is sent to the liver to handle or stored elsewhere or excreted by the kidneys and so on.

So, as a parent what are you to do? How do you protect your children given this environment? Its not easy. You do need extra effort but you cannot afford not to! Consider the fact that according to a study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, household chemical and pesticide exposure doubled childhood leukemia risk! The authors described the links as "significant" and said that preventive action should be taken to make sure that the risks to children were as small as possible. A group of pesticides known as carbamates present in plant treatments, lice shampoos and insect sprays were most commonly linked to leukemia. Did you know that essential oils that are obtained from natural plant sources can be used as insect killers and lice treatments! You don’t need to subject your children to dangerous pesticides.

So, lets start with the lunch box. Many lunch boxes that you buy in stores contain lead. There is no safe level of lead for children. You can buy lead free lunch boxes or use brown bags. Next, the plastic wrappers. Some of them contain additives like bisphenol A and phthalates that are cancer causing. Paper wrapping is safer like parchment paper, brown bags etc.

Next, read labels. You will find that baked goods that are imported from europe, by and large will have 3 or 4 ingredients. Flour, butter, sugar and eggs. Go check out some of the baked goods produced here. The ingredient list is so long that if I listed it, it would use up the remaining space for my article! Monoglycerides, diglycerides and long chemical names that most people cannot even pronounce!

Then we have the class of compounds known as excitotoxins, the most infamous of which is monosodiumdiglyceride or MSG. I am amazed at the number of products that contain it! Soups, chips, crackers, noodles, instant rice and the list goes on and on! How many chemicals can a child's small body handle!

Some of the juices and sodas that are marketed to children contain both ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and either sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate which when mixed together produce the cancer causing substance – benzene. Don’t buy poison for your children and monitor what they buy in school!

Milk has gone from being a health food to a toxic drink. It is stuffed with hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals. On the top of that homogenization turns a natural food into an unnatural substance that makes the body work harder to deal with it! Buy organic and buy non homogenized.

Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats damage your child's brain. They cause the cell membrane to become rigid and inflexible. They are toxic! Please read labels for the sake of your and your family's health. The coalition for healhier schools has a "Back to school checklist" that you can check out at Organic consumers.org. The state of Minnesota has recommended that schools use Integrated Pest Management to reduce toxic threats to children. They also passed legislation to reduce unnecessary school bus idling to protect children from dangerous diesel fumes.

Dr. Mark Hyman, author of Ultrametabolism says “We live in a culture that makes it nearly impossible to make healthy food choices. A number of food industry and political factors keep us sick and fat. In supermarkets 25% of the square footage is devoted to selling sugar. Political advice focuses on personal responsibility, not the effects of a toxic food environment, it focuses on individual choices instead of public health initiatives. And it makes things way too complex (like the new food pyramid) instead of focusing on simple principles like eating whole, organic foods, with lots of fibre and consuming a diet plentiful in fruits and vegetables and omega 3 fats, and low in sugar and junk food.

His suggestion :- and I could not put it better myself!

- Buy around the perimeter of the store (that’s where the healthy stuff is)
- Don’t go down aisles (that’s where most of the junk food is)
- Don’t buy food in a box
- Or with more than 5 ingredients
- Or with ingredients you can’t pronounce
- Or with a cartoon on the package.

Dr.Aruna Bakhru is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Additionally, she was awarded a Fellowship from the American College of Physicians. She has been listed in the millennium edition of Marquis Who's Who in America.Visit her website at http://www.thecenterforenergymedicine.com/

Why Should College Students Exercise?

Hello Everyone.

This article is directed to college students and life in college.

Why Should College Students Exercise?

College is a very important and exciting period in your life. During these years you are going to experience a lot of new things, meet new friends who you will hopefully keep for life, and do a lot of the things that will help define who you are and more importantly, who you are going to be for the rest of your life. As with all big things in life however, with all the opportunities and chances that college offers, it also brings an element of risk, and no small amount of stress.

There will be pressures on your from all directions. Your parents and family will be expecting you to do well in your studies. Your tutors will also want to see clear and fresh thinking from you and may expect a level of commitment that you are not used to. You will have a lot of social pressures as you make new friends and find your place to settle in to your new life. You may have financial pressures as you struggle to meet bills and pay for everything, perhaps for the first time in your life. Even just moving out of home and having to cook and look after yourself can be a big pressure for a lot of young people. Don’t underestimate the intensity of all of these challenges and take the time to evaluate how you are doing and what you need.

For all of these reasons it is important that you do some form of physical activity while you are in college. Exercise gives you confidence and a sense of control over you life. Whether or not you have been active in high school, you should aim to be in college. If you took part in a lot of sport during school then it is always a shame if you let these stop simply because you are in a new setting. You do not have to be the star of the team or anything, but find some people to play your favourite sport with, or go for a run or a swim or a bike ride or even a regular walk. If you haven’t been very active up till now, then starting a new life at college is an excellent time to begin.

You may also notice that your lifestyle has some unhealthy elements at college, such as eating a lot of fast food and drinking more alcohol than you are used to. Rather than resorting to all sorts of drugs to relieve stress and anxiety give exercise a shot. You will not regret it.

Visit my-fitness-online.com to read articles about precor exercise bike and stamina recumbent bike.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Is Our Diet Harmful?

Hi Everyone,

Your diet is directly related to your present state of health. Food keeps us alive. What we eat however may determine both the length and quality of our life.

Article Title: Is Your Modern Diet Killing You?

Not feeling good lately? Having a hard time enjoying a gooddinner for fear of the discomfort that may result later? Areyou finding it harder and harder to lose weight? Do you ormembers of your family find it takes longer to get over anillness or injury?

Scientists the world over are increasingly saying many of theseproblems and more are probably related to our modern diets. Eventhough the food we eat tastes and looks fine to our eyes, mostof it is filled with fat and harmful chemicals that don't evenhave to be listed on the label.

Did you know that the taste AND smell of many foods inrestaurants are achieved almost entirely with speciallydesigned chemicals? Without those chemicals, the french friedyou enjoyed yesterday would have tasted like grease lumps andsmelled even worse. Specially designed chemicals added to foodtrick you into thinking you're eating food that is good foryou. Nothing could be further from the truth.

More and more people are insisting on eating whole, raw,natural foods. Instead of milk that is filtered, cooked, andchemically treated, many families are now finding ways to getuntreated, natural milk directly from the cow. The healthbenefits are incredible, including real scientific evidencethat raw milk (like our grandparents drank) successfully treatssome ailments.

The lesson is easy to see. Humans were never designed to eatchemicals and processed blobs of fat. For thousands of years weate nothing but whole grains, fresh fruits, and other natural,raw nutrients. Instead of ingesting factory-created pills, weused specific herbs to calm maladies and cure illness.

No wonder people today have more health problems that ever.Clearly we need to stop and remember some of the importantnutrition lessons our ancestors knew so well.

Here are four ways you can improve your diet NOW:

1. Stop buying so many pre-packed foods. Instead, stock yourshopping cart with fresh vegetables, fruits, and juices.They're better for you by far.

2. Pass up fast food. Our busy schedules encourage eating atdrive-throughs, but taking time to cook fresh food will paydividends to your health.

3. Look for herbal supplements and treatments first before youopt for prescription drugs. They're far cheaper and often muchbetter for your health.

4. Get exercise. Our ancestors didn't sit for hours in front ofTV's and computer screens. Most walked everywhere they went. Nowonder many lived active, healthy lives well into their 70s,80s, and 90s.

One of the most exciting developments recently are studies thattell us what people ate in biblical times. As you may know, somepeople mentioned in the Bible lived what may have beenextraordinarily long lives. Studies show people of thoseregions in those times ate very interested combinations ofplants and juices. Experts say that may be how many of themlived to be well over 100.

About The Author: A line of exciting, healthful productscreated from recipes from the Bible. Extensive scientificresearch has shown just what foods and juices helped peoplelive extraordinarily healthy, long lives.These produts wereused by many with amazing success. YOU can too symmetrydirect.com/mbacchus.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Your Weight Scale May Be Fooling You

Here’s something you should know about your weight.

Why and How to Measure Your Body Fat PercentageCopyright 2006 Lynn VanDyke

Your body fat percentage is one of the best indicators ofyour fitness and nutrition program. Many people weighthemselves and judge their results on the bathroom scale. However there is one major problem with using the scale todetermine your progress.

The best way to illustrate this is by using an example. Let’s say you have been working out for a month now. Youinitially weighed 160 pounds. You weigh yourself thismorning and you are 157 pounds. Your cannot believe thatyou’ve only lost three pounds! You become frustrated andwant to give up.

The scale shows that you lost three pounds, but it does nottell you if you lost fat or muscle. Testing your body fatpercentage will tell you how much fat you lost and how muchmuscle you’ve gained. You see even though the scale saysyou lost three pounds, you could have lost 8 pounds of fatand gained 5 pounds of muscle. That would equal a net lossof 3 pounds.

As a trainer, I always test my clients body fat percentage. There are three main ways to measure body fat. They arecalipers, bio-impedance devices and hydrostatic testing. Hydrostatic testing can be done at universities orhospitals, but tend to be more expensive than most peopleare willing to pay for a body fat test.

Calipers and bio-impedance, or hand held, devices are morecommon. Both have a margin of error of about 3-4%. Calipers are better if someone else takes the measurementsfor you and they are trained professionals. Calipermeasurements need to be taken in at least three areas(usually belly, thigh and triceps) and then average themall out to get an overall body fat percentage.

Bio-impedance devices are easy to do by yourself. It takesabout 7 seconds for a reading to register. The reading canvary depending on your body's hydration levels, sodiumlevels, temperature, and a host of other things. There aredevices that you can hold in your hands or ones you canstep on.

Overall the actual number is not as important as the rangeyou are in. You also want the overall pattern of your bodyfat percentage to decrease until you are at healthy levels. Calipers and bio-impedance devices will both give you anestimate to as to how much body fat you actually have.Here are ranges of body fat levels for women:

Essential Fat= 10-12%
Athletes= 14-20%
Fitness= 21-24%
Acceptable= 25-31%
Obese= 32% plus

Here are ranges of body fat levels for men:

Essential Fat= 2-4%
Athletes= 6-13%
Fitness= 14-17%
Acceptable= 18-25%
Obese= 25% plus

*These numbers are according to The American Council onExercise

Knowing your body fat level is a far better indicator ofyour progress. It allows you to accurately assess whetheryour fitness and nutrition program is working for you oragainst you. Simply using a bathroom scale will not letyou know how much fat you have lost or how much muscle hasbeen gained.

About the Author:Lynn VanDyke is the head trainer atTrainerLynn.com. She will create a customfitness and nutrition program for you. Get dramatic resultswith a professionally designed workout routine and menu.Work with a master trainer and fitness nutritionist 1-on-1and finally achieve your weight loss goals! Simple andextremely effective.

For more great articles and tips on diet, weight loss and fitness – and to see reviews of the top 10 diets, visit http://www.nulife-weightloss.com.

Your Weight Scale May Be Fooling You

Hello Everyone,

Here's something you might want to know about your weight:

Why and How to Measure Your Body Fat Percentage
Copyright 2006 Lynn VanDyke

Your body fat percentage is one of the best indicators ofyour fitness and nutrition program. Many people weighthemselves and judge their results on the bathroom scale. However there is one major problem with using the scale todetermine your progress.

The best way to illustrate this is by using an example. Let’s say you have been working out for a month now. Youinitially weighed 160 pounds. You weigh yourself thismorning and you are 157 pounds. Your cannot believe thatyou’ve only lost three pounds! You become frustrated andwant to give up.

The scale shows that you lost three pounds, but it does nottell you if you lost fat or muscle. Testing your body fatpercentage will tell you how much fat you lost and how muchmuscle you’ve gained. You see even though the scale saysyou lost three pounds, you could have lost 8 pounds of fatand gained 5 pounds of muscle. That would equal a net lossof 3 pounds.

As a trainer, I always test my clients body fat percentage. There are three main ways to measure body fat. They arecalipers, bio-impedance devices and hydrostatic testing. Hydrostatic testing can be done at universities orhospitals, but tend to be more expensive than most peopleare willing to pay for a body fat test.

Calipers and bio-impedance, or hand held, devices are morecommon. Both have a margin of error of about 3-4%. Calipers are better if someone else takes the measurementsfor you and they are trained professionals. Calipermeasurements need to be taken in at least three areas(usually belly, thigh and triceps) and then average themall out to get an overall body fat percentage.

Bio-impedance devices are easy to do by yourself. It takesabout 7 seconds for a reading to register. The reading canvary depending on your body's hydration levels, sodiumlevels, temperature, and a host of other things. There aredevices that you can hold in your hands or ones you canstep on.

Overall the actual number is not as important as the rangeyou are in. You also want the overall pattern of your bodyfat percentage to decrease until you are at healthy levels. Calipers and bio-impedance devices will both give you anestimate to as to how much body fat you actually have.Here are ranges of body fat levels for women:

Essential Fat= 10-12%
Athletes= 14-20%
Fitness= 21-24%
Acceptable= 25-31%
Obese= 32% plus

Here are ranges of body fat levels for men:

Essential Fat= 2-4%
Athletes= 6-13%
Fitness= 14-17%
Acceptable= 18-25%
Obese= 25% plus

*These numbers are according to The American Council onExercise

Knowing your body fat level is a far better indicator ofyour progress. It allows you to accurately assess whetheryour fitness and nutrition program is working for you oragainst you. Simply using a bathroom scale will not letyou know how much fat you have lost or how much muscle hasbeen gained.

About the Author:Lynn VanDyke is the head trainer at TrainerLynn.com. She will create a customfitness and nutrition program for you. Get dramatic resultswith a professionally designed workout routine and menu.Work with a master trainer and fitness nutritionist 1-on-1and finally achieve your weight loss goals! Simple andextremely effective.

For more great articles and tips on diet, weight loss and fitness – and to see reviews of the top 10 diets, visit http://www.nulife-weightloss.com.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Hi Everyone,

Today I would like to talk about exercise. While the type of exercise, the intensity and duration is important with respect to weight loss, the time of the exercise is equally as important – if not more so.

Timing your workout can be crucial. There are specific times during the day during which your body burns fat most efficiently. It has to do with your eating cycle - or more accurately with your body’s digestive cycle.

The body burns much more fat when you exercise on a relatively empty stomach – contrary to many claims out there to the contrary. The longer you wait to exercise after a meal the more fat you will burn. Is that truth or myth?

A university researcher studied the effects of exercising on a full versus an empty stomach. A group of women participated in 2 exercise studies. In one they exercised twice before meals and in the other, after meals. Evidence showed that when the subjects exercised on an empty stomach (before meals), blood glucose levels were lower in the periods following meals and during the night, than the when they exercised on a full stomach (after meals).

The study suggested that exercising before meals can help to regulate blood glucose levels almost as well as 2 popular glucose-lowering drugs. (1)

To take it one step further, since this type of exercise method lowers blood glucose, lower amounts of glucose may translate to decreases in body fat. Remember excess glucose in the blood (from carbohydrate) may be stored as fat.

This study, it seems, supports the widely popular theory that the best time to exercise for fat loss, is on an empty stomach. A theory which many claim is only a myth.

Just something to think about.

John

Reference:

1. http://www.umich.edu/~urecord/0506/Nov21_05/06.shtml, “Exercise nearly as successful as drugs at lowering blood sugar”, retrieved 6 July 2006 from

Monday, June 05, 2006

Welcome to Top WeightLoss Site Blog

Hi Folks,

Welcome to the Top Weight loss Site Blog!

My name is John Tiniakos and I run www.nulife-weightloss.com/topweightlosssite.htm ...yep, you guessed it…It contains reviews of the top weight loss sites.

You can hop over to my web site (mentioned above) to check out what’s new, but in the meantime, why not take a look around my blog - hang out, check out some links - bookmark it and check back regularly for current news on diet and weight loss.

And since I have a slow metabolism and always trying to keep my weight in check, I will also include some of my personal experiences with weight loss. And don’t forget to leave a comment and contribute to some lively weight loss - diet chat.

John