Posted by Virginia H. | Posted in Articles, Physical activity | Posted on 30-03-2010-05-2008
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If I had to pick a single factor that I thought was most important in a successful exercise or weight loss program, it would be to exercise first thing in the morning – every morning! Some mornings, you may just be able to fit in a 10 minute walk, but it’s important to try to do something every morning.
So why mornings?…
1. Over 90% of people who exercise *consistently*, exercise in the morning. If you want to exercise consistently, odds are in your favor if you exercise first thing in the morning.
2. When you exercise early in the morning, it “jump starts” your metabolism and keeps it elevated for hours, sometimes up to 24 hours! That means you’re burning more calories all day long just because you exercised in the morning!
3. When you exercise in the morning you’ll be *energized* for the day! Personally, I feel dramatically different on days when I have and haven’t exercised in the morning.
4. Many people find that morning exercise “regulates” their appetite for the day – that they aren’t as hungry and that they make better food choices. Several people have told me that it puts them in a “healthy mindset.”
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Posted by Virginia H. | Posted in Articles, Eating habits and diet | Posted on 29-03-2010-05-2008
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Eating healthy can help you lose lbs. Here is a food list of some of the best appetite suppressants already in your kitchen
Pine Nuts
New research shows that the fatty acids in pine nuts initiate the release of an appetite-suppressing hormone called cholecystokinin. Sprinkle them on salads or mix them into pesto.
Hot Stuff
As in hot to the touch (think tea and soup). According to studies from the Smell and Taste Research Foundation in Chicago, the aromas released by hot food make you feel full faster by affecting the satiety centers in the brain. We know there’s no substitute for a cold slice of pizza, but pop it in the microwave and you’ll probably eat less.
Green Leafies
Cabbage, iceberg, romaine, spinach, and other leafy greens are nearly calorie-free. And in most cases, you burn them off just by digesting them. (Cucumbers and celery count too.)
Oil, Slick
Researchers at Cornell University found that diners who dipped their bread in olive oil rather than spreading it with butter ate less of the loaf and consumed 53 fewer calories overall. They’re not sure why but think that something in the oil makes it more satiating.
(Article from http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/the-best-foods-for-weight-loss)
Posted by Virginia H. | Posted in Articles, General tips | Posted on 28-03-2010-05-2008
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I remember my first grapevine better than my first kiss (admittedly forgettable). I was 16 and wanted to shape up for a family trip to Cancun. In my oversize Forenza T-shirt, I stuck out in the Hi/Lo class filled with ponytailed moms in classic 1987 aerobics garb: Reebok high-tops, leggings, and thong leotards. After warming up with step-taps and marches in place, the impossibly fit instructor, the only one in the mirrored studio who truly deserved thong status, called out for a grapevine to the left. I watched as the class wove around me, intertwining their feet for eight counts and ending with a rhythmic hop and clap. Eight more counts to the right, and call me a fast learner I was part of the grapevine amoeba. Back and forth we went as Whitney Houston belted out, “I wanna dance with somebody” I was euphoric. I could’ve danced with my fellow Hi/Lo-ers through the entire Whitney album.
Thus began my first love affair with the gym. I spent endless hours Hi/Lo-ing and thrived on being part of the group. Unlike most girls my age, I didn’t have a boyfriend and I actually got along with my mother. In other words, most of the time I felt like a loner. But in Hi/Lo, I got to be another grape on the vine.
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Posted by Virginia H. | Posted in Articles, Eating habits and diet | Posted on 26-03-2010-05-2008
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Calories can be cruel. Sweat through a 30-minute workout and you can torch 200. Take three gulps of a foamy frappuccino and you’re right back where you started.But slashing those suckers can be as effortless as piling them on. We’ve found 78 ways you can cut 100 or more calories at a pop. From picking the right slice at Pizza Hut to skipping the whip on your latte, they’ll add up so fast, you won’t miss a thing—until poof! Your love handles are gone.
At Breakfast
- • Ditch the Pop-Tart for a slice of high-fiber toast with strawberry jam.
- • Gotta have carbs? Split a bagel with a coworker.
- • Drink your two cups of joe black. Or order a single espresso instead of your usual latte.
- • Swap OJ for the real deal—one fresh orange.
- • Trade a side of regular sausage for turkey.
- • Top your waffles with Reddi-Whip instead of syrup (or use sugar-free).
- • Skip the whip on any Caribou Coffee 16-ounce drink.
- • Eat your granola from a 4-ounce mug, not an 8-ounce bowl.
- • Lose the Yoplait Thick & Creamy and have a Yoplait Fiber 1.
- • Order pancakes, but hold the butter.
- • Scramble together 4 egg whites instead of 2 whole eggs.
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Posted by Virginia H. | Posted in Physical activity | Posted on 25-03-2010-05-2008
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Someone who increases the level of physical activity above usual, but maintains the same diet and calorie intake, will almost certainly lose weight. No matter if you hate gyms – even light exercise, such as a short 20 minute walk or visiting a dancing class, will be beneficial if done most days of the week. If you are on a light diet or taking Green Tea or other supplement increasing physical activities is even more efficient and you will lose weight even faster.
Interesting fact: Every single time you exercise more than usual, you burn calories and fat.
There are lots of different ways to increase the amount of physical activity you do. Team sports and games, aerobics or martial art classes, running, walking, swimming and cycling will all improve your fitness levels.
I will write more deep about physical activities in future posts.
Posted by Virginia H. | Posted in Eating habits and diet, Supplements | Posted on 24-03-2010-05-2008
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For some people getting on a diet is extremely hard. Diet should be your lifestyle, not a temporaly solution. If you lose 10 pounds and then gain 20 after you get off the diet – such diet will only harm your health. In such cases doctors recommend to take Green Tea . It is even better if you combine it with a light diet.
Green Tea: Green tea is a supplement that is used for immune-enhancing effects and fat loss. Did you know that:
- Green Tea increases your metabolism making you burn more fat and it’s a mild appetite suppressant that makes you eat less so… weight loss becomes a natural process with green tea.
- Dr. Nicholas Perricone told Oprah Winfrey she could lose 10 lbs. in 4-6 weeks drinking green tea instead of coffee
- Green Tea causes carbohydrates to be released slowly, preventing rises in blood-insulin levels and this causes your body to burn fat.
- Green Tea prevents you from gaining weight by stopping the movement of sugar into your fat cells. Evidence shows that taking green tea is related to reductions in body fat.
- In a test where 10 men were given Green Tea, caffeine, or a placebo with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The men who took green tea burned more fat than the placebo and caffeine groups.
- Research shows you can burn 35-43% more fat during the day when you take or drink Green Tea.
- The International Journal of Obesity states that Green Tea contains polyphenols which causes your body to produce heat that burns off your body fat.
- Green Tea is one of the most popular herbal supplements recommended by the doctors internationally.
Note: Green Tea can be in tea bags or capsules. We recommend capsules since they have additional weight loss ingredients and are more effective than just tea.
You can order Green Tea online here
Posted by Virginia H. | Posted in Eating habits and diet | Posted on 23-03-2010-05-2008
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Yes, it might sound unrealistic but it is true that water helps losing weight.
Interesting fact: When your body gets not enough water it experiences the same state as during stress and starts sending signals to your brain that are similar to those that are sent when you are hungry.
So as a result when your are actually thirsty, you start eating. Since you have no need for extra energy guess what happens to those extra calories…fat!
Paradox: The less water you drink, the more water your body will safe for future use.
Drink plenty of water evenly through the day, eight or more glasses total. As soon as you wake up try and drink 16 ounces of cold water. Drinking water is one of the most rapid weight loss tips that dieticians suggest to people and leads to 100+ calories extra burned a day.
Interesting fact: Water makes your metabolism burn calories 3% faster.
It may be difficult to drink enough water on a busy day. Be sure you have water handy at all times by keeping a bottle for water with you when you are working, traveling, or exercising. If you get bored with plain water, add a bit of lemon or lime for a touch of flavor. There are some brands of flavored water available, but watch for extra calories
Posted by Virginia H. | Posted in General tips | Posted on 22-03-2010-05-2008
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You should change the way you eat and start cutting those calories in order to start losing that fat and getting closer to the body that you would want to have. Below are some good weight loss recommendations:
- Skipping one or two high-calorie items is a good place to start when cutting calories. For example, you could skip your morning latte or that bowl of ice cream you always have after dinner. Think about what you eat and drink each day and identify items you could cut out. If you think that skipping your indulgence will leave you with a craving, try a low-calorie substitution. Avoid junk-food and all sorts of *bad* snacks which have a lot of calories.
- Stay away from sweetened bottle drinks, especially sodas. All those colas and fizzy drinks are sweetened with sugar and sugar means calories.
- Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Also try to replace fruit juice from a pack with a fresh juice or fresh fruits.
- Downsize your kitchenware. The human mind works in mysterious ways. It turns out that using smaller bowls, plates, and containers can subconsciously influence how much you serve yourself. Even nutrition experts are victims of this phenomenon; when 85 of them were given a random mix of small and large bowls and scoops, those who got larger bowls served themselves 31% more ice cream, and added on another 14.5% if they had bigger scoops!
I will add some more tips and tricks how to decrease the amount of calories you consume later.
Posted by Virginia H. | Posted in General tips | Posted on 21-03-2010-05-2008
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This is the basis of any diet or weight loss methods, you need to know how many calories you consume on average per day. From now on you should start counting your daily calories (you can use electronic calorie counters or just put it down on paper). Usually you can find the amount of calories of a product on its label (look for kcal). I also suggest USDA National Nutrient Database to find information about calories, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber in different products.
Now all this information in this and previous posts should be enough for you to determine your body index and set a goal of calories to cut per day. For fast but still safe results it is recommended to cut 15-30% of your daily amount of calories (depends on your lifestyle, sex and BMI).
Warning: Keep in mind this general rule of thumb: women should not go below 1200 calories and men should not go below 1800 calories a day. Your body burns up most of its daily calories just by keeping your body alive — even while you’re asleep! It needs fuel (calories) to do this.
Interesting Fact: A calorie is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. The calories in food are actually kilocalories or 1000 calories. When we say that a carbohydrate like sugar has 4 calories per gram, we really mean that it has 4 kilocalories per gram. This means that one gram of sugar has enough energy to raise the temperature of 1000 grams of water by 4 degrees Celsius. The calories in food provide a measure of the energy content of the food.
Posted by Virginia H. | Posted in General tips | Posted on 21-03-2010-05-2008
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First of all before trying any of recommendations, you need to know where you are at now and what is your current BMI (Body Mass Index) in order to set your targets and track your progress. You can find out your BMI by applying one of these formulas:
1) BMI = (Weight (pounds) / Height (inches) * Height (inches)) * 703
2) BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (meters) * Height (meters)</div>
Below is a table explaining your Body Mass Index
BMI = Explanation
Below 18.5 = Underweight
18.5 – 24.9 = Normal weight
25.0 – 29.9 = Overweight
30.0 and Above = Obese
Interesting fact: To lose a pound of fat, you need to burn approximately 3500 calories above what you burn on average during daily activities. That sounds like a lot of calories and you certainly wouldn’t want to try to burn 3500 calories in one day. However, by following our advices, you can determine just what you need to do each day to burn or cut out those extra calories and lose weight!
