Category Archives: Weight Loss
Weight Loss Myths
There are a number of people who advise their friends, or family about weight loss, without any real prior knowledge. The say what they think is right, or what (in their opinion) is propagated as correct. Discussed below are a couple of such myths, and the truth behind them.
Speeding up your metabolism by dieting: Metabolism cannot be altered purely by diets. It is a myth that fruits provide extra energy, and other such. Exercise is the main thing that can cause an increase in metabolism. Diets that are very strict can, in fact, be contradictory to their purpose. If enough calories are not consumed, or enough food is not taken, a person can suffer from a loss of energy, and won’t be able to exercise.
Skipping meals is good: Your metabolism can actually be slowed down if you skip a meal. People who skip meals are seen to weigh more than those who don’t, because their hunger builds up, and they then tend to over eat later on to make up for what they didn’t have earlier. The better way to do it is to take smaller portions, and find low calorie alternatives to higher ones.
Why Some People Cant Lose Weight
There are a number of reasons why people fail to lose weight. In fact, it isn’t always that the person is addicted to food, or a bad exerciser, or has poor self control. A few of major reasons are highlighted in this article.
The risk of being overweight: Most people in the twenty first century lose weight to ‘look good’. Their sole purpose is to achieve that ‘perfect bikini body’, or be able to ‘flaunt their body’. We must be aware of the fact that being overweigh can be harmful to our lives in the long run. A series of problems may, and can develop- such as high Cholesterol, Diabetes, etc.
Commitment to permanent lifestyle changes: People tend to suddenly decide to drastically alter their eating habits, and go on a diet. Some of these diets force people to only stick to soups, or salads, removing all carbohydrate. Diverting from this ‘strict’ plan is inevitable, because of many unreasonable demands. They way to do it is to gradually change eating patterns/ habits, so that the effect is more permanent.
Weight Loss Its Really Quite Simple
Contrary to popular belief, there is no real science behind weight loss. It is not driven by strict, monitored diets which allow only three pieces of lettuce a day along with two glasses of water. It does not even rest on special exercises that twist and contort the body in various ways. In fact ‘fitness gadgets’ are also not the key to achieve what you desire. Medicines, pills, and a variety of supplements may promise the world, but the truth lies in the fact that weight loss is controlled by you.
It starts with sensible goals, and expectations. If a person sets sensible goals for them self, for example eight percent of their present body weight, the chances are that these objectives are more likely to be met. Not just met, but retained as well. Losing even ten percent of their present weight can improve a person’s health.
To start with, an overweight person should lose weight gradually. A sudden drop in weight can have its adverse effects as well. About two pounds a week is advised.
How to : Reduce Body Fat
If you are truly committed to shedding off excess body fat, to enjoy a new trimmer, firmer, toned sexy body, then I strongly advise that you read to the end of this article and put to practice what you learn. These simple pointers are sure to bring you exceptional outcomes.
To cut down on body fat as fast as possible, you need to do 3 things which together will bring to you the finest results:
· Diet properly
· Weight training
· Cardio workouts
The Easy Way to a Six Pack
Ask anyone you know or anyone you meet out and about, what they think of the looks of a well toned body and a perfect set of 6 pack abs, and you usually will be met with an initial blank look, then the eyes glaze over, and then a small smile as the drool works its way down the chin. Yes, no doubt about it, having a good set of well developed abs is the ultimate challenge for most people that are into fitness and toning up their bodies, and that challenge can be met head-on if you have a well planned 6 pack workout that will accomplish that for you.
When you hear the expression “abs” or 6 pack abs, the speaker is referring to the sets of muscle groups that surround the abdominal area of the human body and control the motion for that part of the body. There are several groups of muscles found in this area and each group has a defined function of its own as well as working hand in hand with the other muscle groups too. One of the main muscle groups is known as the rectus abdominus, or to the man on the street as the 6 pack; the transverse abdominal muscle; and the obliques, which are made up of two working sets of opposing muscles; the external obliques and the internal obliques.
In order to have a good 6 pack workout that will play up the functions of these individual muscle groups, you must understand what they all do and how your workout can incorporate that into the exercises you choose. The transverse abdominal muscle is the workhorse of the groups and circles the area much like a belt, and helps to hold in your insides; the obliques are found on the sides of the abdomen and are both internal and external because they aid in the twisting and rotation of the body; and the rectus abdominus (6 pack) is located between the ribs and the pelvic bone and is concerned with the motion of the midsection of the body.
When you want to put together a 6 pack workout, you must consider all the types of exercises that are out there tailored specifically to the abdominal section of the body. The most common exercise group that is recommended for firm flat abs is the crunches; and they are found to be much more effective in developing a 6 pack more so than are situps. And situps are far more dangerous for people just starting out with a workout regimen because if you are not careful, doing situps can pull on your back and cause painful damage to the lower back. Some of the other exercise choices are leg lifts, static holds (which are used to train your core muscles), various types of twists for the obliques, and the bicycle maneuver.
Including an appropriate diet eating plan into your 6 pack workout is totally necessary because the results you want will elude you unless you lose the fat that is surrounding those hidden abs and keeping them from full view of an admiring world. The key to generating a set of 6 pack abs that will make you oh so proud, is both the correct exercises and a fat loss eating plan working hand in hand. The most result producing means of doing that is for the exercise part of the program to include weightlifting as well as cardiovascular exercises; and the weightlifting is to be done first and then the cardiovascular. The reason being that the weightlifting uses mainly carbohydrates as an energy source and the cardiovascular routine then has very little energy reserve to work with, so the body goes after its stored fat to get the energy it needs and begins burning fat.
So now you have a good idea of what exercises will help you put together a good 6 pack workout, and there are just a few items to keep in the forefront of your mind when you are starting your regimen. First of all, with the exercises on a daily basis, you need to Keep your metabolism steady, Drink more water (include a lot of tea if you want-it’s almost all water and is a good metabolism booster as well), Eat smaller meals and eat more often during the day, Eat more fiber-keep your system moving, and most important of all (to the chagrin of a lot of people) Eat breakfast.
This is not going to be easy; there’s a lot of work involved in the word “workout” especially when it applies to an effective 6 pack workout; so to stay the course, you must be honest with yourself and stick with a well balanced eating plan and a good set of exercises. The diet will get rid of that fat that is camouflaging the abs, and the exercises will develop them; because remember, to get rid of 1 pound of unadulterated fat every week, you must lessen your intake of calories by 500 a day. But it will be worth it in the long run—sooner than you think, you will be sauntering down the beach with your spectacular 6 pack abs glistening in the sun surrounded by people faint with admiration.
How To Gain Lean Muscle – Dos and Don’t's
Wouldn’t you want to know how to gain lean muscle and have the kind of body you’ve always been dreaming of? There are many articles that will tell you how lean muscles are gained, but they usually begin on the same note — change your attitude and your diet.
Yes, when you want something really bad, then you must approach it with the right mind. Tell yourself you can do it, and you can. Make no room for negative thoughts because these can make you lose your focus.
You also need to work on your diet. If you have been eating junks most of your life, now’s the time, to junk them out of your system. Get rid of foods that have a lot of fat, oil and sugar. Your ideal meal should consist of 50% starchy carbohydrates, 35% proteins, and 15% healthy fat. Eating more fruits and vegetables also helps to make your muscles lean. It’s also advisable to eat six small meals in a day as this helps to improve metabolism. Keep in mind that a faster metabolism helps you burn fat a lot faster, too.
You need to burn calories in order to gain lean muscles. Cardio workouts can help you achieve this faster. Try brisk walking, biking, swimming, jogging, hiking, or whatever you feel like as long as it gets you moving and your heart pumping.
It is essential that you join a good weight training program. No you don’t have to spend a lot of money on equipment because you can easily get by with just a few sets of dumbbells, and they don’t cost a lot. Weight training enables you to tone your muscles, firm them up, and develop them so they become lean.
Gaining lean muscles is not an easy task. It may even take a while before you can sense something new in yourself. However, you should not be discouraged. Take patience and be committed and you will find your dreams.
When you sense your motivation starting to wane, try to change your routine. Instead of going to the same gym everyday, go to a different one. If you have been jogging around your neighborhood, try walking to the park this time. A change of atmosphere can do you a lot of good. Why not ask a friend to tag along with you while doing your exercises? Sometimes, it does pay to have somebody beside you to push you up when you’re feeling down.
Take time to visit my site for more on how to gain lean muscle.
