Antioxidants for Good Health

February 26, 2010 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comment 


Antioxidants benefits are too numerous to go into. For the sake of simplicity let’s just say that they’re the good guys that beat up the bad guys in our bodies. We need them to help us fend off sickness and disease. Eating fast foods and going at a non stop pace can wreck havoc on our health. So, we need these little soldiers to go to battle for us on a daily basis.

To get antioxidants benefits we need to consume them on a daily basis. If you already eat healthy then you may be getting enough. On the other hand, if not, then it’s time to go shopping for some antioxidant rich products.

Eat organic foods for higher antioxidant levels. Many people these days peel or get rid of the skins to lower risk of consuming pesticides. There is less worry of this with organic foods, however, since there is more precaution taken to keep pesticides out.

Choose foods with antioxidants that you enjoy, so that you will eat them more often. Most everyone loves fruit so why not select a few favorite fruits and stock up on them. Examples of fruits high in antioxidants benefits are: wild blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, plums, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, lime, lemon, grapes, dates, mango’s and red apples.

If you’re a veggie/legumes/nuts eater then go for red beans, pinto beans, soy beans, kale, corn, artichokes, broccoli, squash, spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, russet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, red cabbage, red beets, pecans, walnuts, hazel nuts and almonds.

Make juices with a vegetable and fruit juicer. These gadgets are great for making a glass of fresh juice that is chocked full of antioxidants. You might be amazed at how good a glass of carrot juice can taste. But why stop there, be creative and whip up a specialty drink or two.

Eat chocolate, especially the dark kind. Say what! That’s right, this is your chance to eat something you love and reap a benefit. However, don’t get carried away, since it’s full of sugar and fat as well as calories.

Take vitamins to get antioxidants benefits. If you get tired of eating foods with antioxidants then alternate days with a supplement instead. The three primary vitamins that have antioxidant benefits are vitamin C, E and A. All three of these vitamins have multiple benefits, so you really can’t lose.

Tips for Losing Weight

February 23, 2010 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comments Off 

We all want tips for losing weight. That is, if you’re overweight and don’t want to be. There are a few people who are overweight and don’t care about their health who don’t even try to lose. However, most people who are overweight don’t like it and know it isn’t healthy and make a little effort, no matter how feeble it may be, to lose those extra pounds.

Whenever, you see tips for losing weight the least you can do is read them. You never know when you will read something that will give you an aha moment and you will do it.

I have been involved in fitness and weight loss for many years and know what will take weight off and what puts it on. Most people know the basics, but don’t follow the advice they read. If they did then they would not stay overweight.

Below are some good tips for losing weight, but if you don’t follow them they are of no benefit to you. They are simple, but not always easy.

1. Eat only 1500 calories a day or less no less than 1200. Use a calorie chart.

2. Drink plenty of water, eat high fiber foods and small portions.

3. Set and do small doable goals; write them down.

4. Do an exercise program 3-5 days a week.

5. Limit fat, sugar, salt to a minimum.

These are good tips for losing weight all you need to do is follow them and you will lose about 2 pounds a week which is safe weight loss, it pays to be safe.

8 Easy Tips for Weight Loss Goals

February 19, 2010 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comments Off 

Well planned weight loss goals keep you focused and motivated.  If you don’t have a plan or goals you most likely won’t succeed. Check out these 8 easy tips for weight loss goals and make the changes you’ve been wanting to make, but didn’t know how.

1. The first thing you want to do is aim for realistic weight loss, safe weight loss happens steadily over a period of time. Losing weight quickly is usually a sign of losing water weight or muscle instead of fat. A realistic goal would be 1-2 pounds a week, possibly 3 pounds at most.

2. Don’t try to do too much at once. Start with a few small goals so that you don’t overwhelm yourself and wind up giving up. Keep it doable so that you will stay in it for the long haul; taking it one step at a time.

3. Plan short term goals and long terms goals. Therefore, you will have daily (short term)goals and long term goals which encompass the big picture. For example, short term would be walking 20 minutes each day and long term would be preparing for a  walkathon.

4. Make the weight loss goals personal. They must be goals that you’re capable of, know your limitations. Take into consideration available time, fitness level, motivation and any health concerns you may have.

5. Choose a date. There must be a time set aside for you to begin or else you may procrastinate. Once you have set the date don’t change it for anything. You may have to change some things in your schedule to do this, but if you’re serious you will do it.

6. Take into account there will be setbacks. Every time you make lifestyle changes you may experience setbacks, it’s a fact of life, so you will need a strategy in place to overcome difficult situations.

7. Another important tip is to write it down. The more details you have the better. For instance when and where will you do it. How will you fit it into your daily routine? What do you need to do to get started?

8. Let’s not forget to evaluate and reassess. Review your goals and adjust them as needed. Be willing to change your weight loss goals if they’re not working as planned. Think about what worked and what didn’t. Maybe you started out small and are now ready to take on a bigger challenge.

These 8 easy tips for weight loss goals will help you focus on a plan that is successful. All you need to do now is go forward and implement. You can do it!

* Added note: To lose 1-2 pounds a week you will need to burn 500 -1000 calories more than you eat each day. You can do this by eating smaller portions, low-calorie foods and exercise. Changing your habits and making it a lifestyle change is one of the major keys to losing weight and keeping it off.

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Weight Loss Ideas

February 16, 2010 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comments Off 

If you need some weight loss ideas you’re in the right place. You need to remember, however, that weight loss ideas work only if you do them on a consistent basis.

1. The first weight loss ideas that will really help if you do it is to make sure you have a fiber rich diet. Fiber rich foods give you a full feeling so you don’t want to eat as much. Here’s a list of fiber rich foods you can add to your diet:

* lentils, black beans, split peas, lima beans and baked beans
* raspberries, pears, apples, figs, blueberries, strawberries and bananas
* whole wheat spaghetti, barley, oat bran, bran flakes, oatmeal and popcorn
* artichoke, peas, broccoli, turnip greens, brussel sprouts and potatoes

2. Purchase a calorie chart and use it is another weight loss ideas that will help you lose weight. Especially, if you write down everything you eat and drink to do this you need a small notebook to carry in your pocket or purse. I know it sounds extreme, but it works.

3. The third weight loss idea is to chew food slowly. If you do this you give your stomach time to catch up with your eating. Many people eat fast and when they do this the stomach is the last to know so you keep eating thinking you’re still hungry.

4. This is one you’ve heard a hundred times, but is one of the best ways to lose weight and keep it off permanently and that is to drink lots of water. Water has no calories and will make you feel full, as a result, hunger will subside.

5. As weight loss ideas go this one is a must. And that is to do a physical activity you enjoy so that you will exercise on a consistent basis at least 3-5 days a week. Cardio is the one of choice since it burns fat and increases metabolism

If you implement these 5 weight loss ideas and eventually adopt them as a lifestyle you will lose weight and not gain it back.

For more weight loss ideas check out this best selling e-book Fat Loss For Idiots to find out how you can lose 9 pounds every 11 days.

Alcohol and Weight Loss

February 13, 2010 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comments Off 

Alcohol and weight loss are they connected? Do you like to have the occasional drink now and then or do you drink like a fish? If you have a problem with gaining weight you most likely need to watch those alcohol calories that add up as fast as you guzzle them down. When you are on a you don’t have many calories to splurge with. So the bottom line is COUNT the calories that are in what you’re drinking if you can’t afford to drink them then don’t.

If you keep track of what you eat and drink you will have a much better chance of losing weight. If you’re binge drinking or binge eating this is where you can lose all the progress you’ve made. To do this a tad of discipline is needed especially when you’re at a party and you see a skinny person across the room drinking like there’s no tomorrow. And you wonder why they don’t get fat and you do. I’m sure you’ve done this before, I know, I used to do it too, but not anymore.

The thing is you shouldn’t be thinking about their weight anyway, but about yours. The sooner you do this the better. It isn’t good for anyone to compare themselves to others. Do what is best for you and keep the focus on you and YOUR weight loss program. What may work for someone else may not work for you, you need a personalized weight loss plan designed for you. And if alcohol fits into that plan then go ahead; relax, and have a drink.

It may take a little getting used to if you’ve been a heavy drinker to limit your intake of alcohol. Worse yet, you may find that you have a drinking problem when you try to limit it and can’t. In this case you need to seek professional help or think about a 12 step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous. The latter program is free and has helped many people to sober up and get their lives back under control and I’m sure many of them lost a few pounds as an added benefit.

If you don’t drink at all that’s great then you don’t have to worry about alcohol and weight loss. However, you may know someone who does, so it might be nice to share this information with them and help them out. Meanwhile, keep track of calories and do your best to stick to a weight loss program.

Yoga for Weight Loss

February 10, 2010 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comments Off 

If you’re thinking about yoga for weight loss then you should know that it can help, just as any exercise can, however, it’s not the best choice. The reason being is that it doesn’t get your heart rate up enough to burn fat.

For yoga for weight loss to work you would need to combine it with running or some other form of aerobic exercise. This is what a many others do in order to lose weight and reap the benefits that yoga has to offer. Yoga is good for strengthening muscles, improving posture and increasing flexibility. Yoga is also great for relieving stress.

There are a couple of styles of Yoga that can get your heart rate up more than the others. One is Power Yoga. This type of Yoga will most likely appeal to people who are already quite fit, enjoy exercising, and want a minimal amount of chanting and meditation.

Then there’s Ashtanga Yoga it also has rigorous movements like Power Yoga except for it follows a set series of poses with an emphasis on flexibility and strength. Once again this is usually for those who are already in pretty good shape and can follow with no problems.

If you’re determined to use Yoga for weight loss you can do it. Granted it may take a while to get where you want to be, but once you’ve got it down you can do it from home or anywhere.

One of the best DVD’s on power yoga is Total Body Workout with Rodney Lee the link goes to Amazon. It’s reasonably priced at $7.99. This DVD has 213 reviews with 98% of them good so I would say if want to use Yoga for weight loss this is the one for you.

Vegetarian Weight Loss

February 7, 2010 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comments Off 

Many people think that being a vegetarian will help them lose weight. Most likely this is because they think if you don’t eat meat, which has a lot of calories and usually fat, that you will automatically lose weight. The problem with this is that it isn’t true. Vegetarian weight loss is possible, but you still have to play by the rules which is a healthy diet, exercise and proper rest on a daily basis. If the only reason you want to be a vegetarian is to lose weight you could get disappointed.

Furthermore, if you stop eating meat and or dairy products you will still need to pay close attention to what you eat due to the absence of nutrients that will be missing in your diet from those food groups. Consequently, you will have to find other sources of protein, calcium and vitamin D, to name a few. And if you’re not careful you will opt to eat fast and easy foods which are high in fat such as cheese, peanut butter, nuts, chips, ice cream etc. In other words, you will need a vegetarian weight loss plan if you want to remain healthy when you begin to take away nutrients that your body requires.

To make the final decision it would be a good idea to know what type of vegetarian you want to be. There are several kinds of vegetarians. Some of the major vegetarian categories include :

* vegan: eats only food from plant sources

* lacto-vegetarian: eats dairy products; no eggs or meat

* ovo-vegetaria: eats eggs; no meat

* lacto-ovo vegetaria: eats dairy and egg products; no meat

This list is just the tip of the iceberg, there are all kinds of vegetarians diets to choose from, so if none of these appeal to you, do some research and come up with one that works. As long as it’s healthy and you get what you need to maintain good health that’s what matters.

It also helps to ease into it it by eliminating meat or dairy one meal at a time. Breakfast is a good meal to start with since there are so many healthy cereals on the market why not eat cereal instead of eggs or meat. Then you can do a no meat lunch a few days a week until you finally work your way up to dinner which typically has a meat item as the main course. And before you know it every meal you eat will be vegetarian and you’ll wonder why those foods were ever necessary.

However, if you’re already a vegetarian, depending on how long you’ve been one, then you already know about vegetarian weight loss and that you can still gain weight if you don’t watch what you eat and  exercise regularly. Nevertheless, I do believe that you stand a better chance of losing weight and keeping it off with a meatless diet, but only if you have a vegetarian weight loss plan and stick with it

Of course, you can always try it out and if you don’t like it then switch back, there’s nothing wrong with that. In the meantime, share your thoughts with a friend and maybe a little feedback will be just what you need to move forward one way or the other.

Exercise To Lose Fat

February 4, 2010 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comments Off 

When you exercise to lose fat it helps you to lose it faster. It’s a combination of exercise and eating properly that will give you the best results. Then once you lose the weight you will be toned and not flabby. It also helps you to not have to starve yourself because exercise burns more calories so that means you can eat more.

The best way to do it is to start doing a physical activity that you enjoy. If you enjoy it you will do it. After all, if you dread doing a workout how long will it last? A month, 2  months tops?  Another tip is to do the workout in the morning. Many people are tired at the end of the day and don’t have the energy to do a workout so they don’t do it at all.

If you exercise to lose fat the best form of exercise to do is cardio or aerobic activity. When you get your heart rate up it helps to increase metabolism. A higher metabolism means you will burn more fat and if you work on building intensity you can even get your metabolism high enough to burn fat while resting. However, if you’re out of shape you need to take your time and build intensity slowly.

A great way to start is by using aerobic dance videos. For example, Billy Blanks routines work the entire body and you can start out with a beginner version and work your way up to more advanced. Then as you exercise to lose fat you will do it faster.

It also helps to have a friend or family member do it with you for support and motivation. Then you can workout together and maybe go out shopping or to a movie as a reward. You can also share ideas and diet tips on a regular basis to assist one another with goals.

Statistics show that people who exercise to lose fat with a partner have more fun, lose weight faster and keep the weight off instead of gaining it back.

To recap there are 4 tips and they are:
* exercise to lose fat
* aerobics is the best way
* morning is the best time
* workout with a partner

You can get Billy Blanks or The Biggest Loser
videos by clicking on their links which will take you to Amazon.

Exercises for Weight Loss

February 1, 2010 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comments Off 

There are many types  of exercises for weight loss. Your level of fitness is what determines the type of exercise you do. After all,  a person who is just starting can’t do what a person does who is in great shape. We all have to start somewhere.

If you haven’t exercised in a while then it might be best if you begin with something not as strenuous like walking or yoga. Then as time goes on increase the intensity. For example,  you can start out walking 30 minutes then increase to 60 as well as walking faster and walking uphill. This way you increase endurance and intensity.

The goal is to do exercises for weight loss that raise  the heart rate and metabolism at the same time. Cardio is great for doing this as long as you continue to build intensity.

A combination of cardio and weight training is ideal for weight loss since cardio works the heart and weights strengthen the muscles. Gaining muscle is very important since muscle burns more calories which will help you lose weight faster.

Only you know what level of fitness you’re at, so it’s up to you to convey this to a personal trainer or simply know your limitations and not overdo. If you don’t know what exercises work what then go to youtube and watch videos to get ideas and learn how to do them properly.

When you design your workout be sure to write everything down so you can chart progress. Exercises for weight loss require more reps and sets,  so make note of that as well.

Naturally, what you eat is just as important as exercise. To lose 2 pounds a week a diet of 1200-1500 calories would be a good start.

Now all you need to do is begin that’s half the battle right there. Don’t put it off begin asap because tomorrow never comes!