Lose Weight Fast

Posted on March 24th, 2011

Posted in Miscellaneous | Leave a comment

Best Ways to Lose Love Handles

Posted on March 15th, 2011

We are all capable of losing weight through diet and exercise but what about that little extra we have around the middle that never seems to go away? I’m talking about love handles. What is there to love about them?

Here a couple tips that will help to lose those love handles:

  • You need to exercise. You need to be doing some form of physical activity at least 3 times a week. Pick something you enjoy. It can be as simple as playing basketball.
  • Get rid of the processed food. You can still have chips and beverages, but in moderation! But make sure you start buying quality foods. Try chips without hydrogenated oils. Overall just eat less fatty foods.
  • Portion control. Most people gain weight simply by overeating. Try eating the suggested serving size.
  • Drink water! It can flush out toxins and impurities that can accumulate in your body over time.
  • Keep your stress level low. When you are stressed out, your body releases Cortisol. This chemical encourages your body to store fat around your stomach. Try to listen to relaxing music or just take a few minutes of quiet time to decrease your stress levels.

You can do it will these simple tips. You will be losing that extra “love” around your tummy in no time!

Posted in Miscellaneous | Leave a comment

Golf and Fitness

Posted on March 12th, 2011

Golfing is great, I’ve always enjoyed it and it’s a great way to get some extra exercise in if you don’t like the traditional ways of exercising like running. This story reminds me that exercise doesn’t have to be boring or hard, but can be fun.

For years, Will Council, 49, had a very good reason for not trying to lose weight: "I didn't want to face a lifetime of making what I perceived to be difficult food choices." But when the opportunity for a golf trip in Scotland came along Council decided to shed the pounds.

By Joshua Anderson for USA TODAY
For years, Will Council, 49, had a very good reason for not trying to lose weight: “I didn’t want to face a lifetime of making what I perceived to be difficult food choices.” But when the opportunity for a golf trip in Scotland came along Council decided to shed the pounds.

Then one day he and some friends started talking about going to Scotland to play golf. They planned to walk the courses because golf carts weren’t available most places.

It dawned on him that he wasn’t in good enough shape to move that much.

“There was no way I was going to spend that kind of money and not enjoy myself,” he says, “but I was so out of shape that I couldn’t even imagine walking a round of golf.”

So one Monday in August 2008, at 360 pounds, he started a diet on his own. B the end of the day, he realized he needed help. On Tuesday, he went to a Weight Watchers meeting. He lost 181 pounds in 18 months.

At 5-foot-11, Council now weighs 179 pounds—half of his starting weight.

Council is one of the readers who volunteered to share his story as part of this year’s eighth annual USA TODAY Weight-Loss Challenge. Stories about other readers who have slimmed down will be featured for the next few weeks.

Council gained much of his extra weight when he was high school. As a child and adolescent, he was a competitive swimmer, working out for two to four hours a day.

But when he was 16, he quit swimming and started working at a fast-food hamburger place. “I put on about 100 pounds in 18 months, and I carried that with me for years afterward,” he says.

He describes himself as someone who ate “too much of everything that was put in front of me.”

When he joined Weight Watchers, he was inspired by his energetic leader who helped him understand the plan and lose more than 100 pounds in a year.

Early on in his weight-loss journey, he started walking for 20 to 30 minutes several times a week, eventually graduating to doing the elliptical and strength training. He now exercises four to five times a week for 45 minutes to an hour each time.

When Council and his friends made the trip to Scotland in June 2009, he had already lost 130 pounds. The trip “was wonderful. One day we ended up playing 36 holes of golf, and I felt great.”

This past year, he has had plastic surgery to remove 9 pounds of excess skin from his abdominal area. “It was about $18,000,” he says. “It’s probably the best money I ever spent. It made a huge difference in how I feel and what I see when I look in the mirror.”

Council, who is the president of a company that operates nursing homes, says that since he has lost weight, friends, family and colleagues have joined Weight Watchers and trimmed down, too.

His mother has lost 50 pounds. A friend dropped 70. Several colleagues have attended Weight Watchers meetings that are offered at the office, and they have collectively lost 500 pounds.

Over time, Council has accepted that he has to “think and concentrate on my food and exercise choices every day, and I have discovered that it is not a burden at all.”

But when he was 16, he quit swimming and started working at a fast-food hamburger place. “I put on about 100 pounds in 18 months, and I carried that with me for years afterward,” he says.

He describes himself as someone who ate “too much of everything that was put in front of me.”

Will Council
Age: 49
Hometown: Brentwood, Tenn.
Occupation: President of a company that operates nursing homes
Height: 5-foot-11
Heaviest weight: (August 2008) 360 lbs.
Current weight: 179 lbs.
Loss: 181 lbs.
Goal weight: 175-180 lbs.

When he joined Weight Watchers, he was inspired by his energetic leader who helped him understand the plan and lose more than 100 pounds in a year.

Early on in his weight-loss journey, he started walking for 20 to 30 minutes several times a week, eventually graduating to doing the elliptical and strength training. He now exercises four to five times a week for 45 minutes to an hour each time.

When Council and his friends made the trip to Scotland in June 2009, he had already lost130 pounds. The trip “was wonderful. One day we ended up playing 36 holes of golf, and I felt great.”

This past year, he has had plastic surgery to remove 9 pounds of excess skin from his abdominal area. “It was about $18,000,” he says.”It’s probably the best money I ever spent. It made a huge difference in how I feel, and what I see when I look in the mirror.”

Council, who is the president of a company that operates nursing homes, says that since he has lost weight, friends, family and colleagues have joined Weight Watchers and trimmed down, too.

His mother has lost 50 pounds. A friend dropped 70. Several colleagues have attended Weight Watchers meetings that are offered at the office, and they have collectively lost 500 pounds.

Over time, Council has accepted that he has to “think and concentrate on my food and exercise choices every day, and I have discovered that it is not a burden at all.”

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/weight-loss-challenge/story/2011/02/Golf-trip-teed-off-dramatic-weight-loss/43217942/1

Posted in exercise | Leave a comment

How to Get a Good Job

Posted on February 24th, 2011

Most employment opportunities that are considered “good jobs” are based on experience and education. Talent and skills also play an important role in obtaining a “good job.” The base of any good job is education or training. Any higher paying or prestigious job is based around education. Doctors are educated between twenty and twenty-five years before they are even eligible to achieve the best positions. The same is true for other kinds of employment. A college degree helps you get your foot in the door, but experience will elevate you above the rest.

Experience is almost more important than education. Someone with five years of job experience and no college degree will most often obtain a job over someone with no experience and a degree. Employers do not want to have to train you to do a job you should already know how to do. Simply because you have a piece of paper that says you are qualified does not mean you can do the job effectively. All jobs, no matter what they may be, require hands-on work. Experience doesn’t just happen. It takes work. So how do you gain experience without having a job? Volunteering is the key to experience success. A law firm may not allow you to be a paralegal yet but assisting the paralegals gains you experience. The more years you have with a company the better. Hopping from one job to the next gives a bad impression.

A “good job” may also be obtained if you know a second language. No, knowing a second language may not get you an interview, but language knowledge may get you a job over someone who is just as qualified as you are. A second language may be the difference between saying “Eu tenho um emprego” and “Eu não tenho um emprego.”

Posted in Miscellaneous | Leave a comment

Exercise & Weight Loss

Posted on February 23rd, 2011

When you think about how much you exercise and how active you are, perception is not always reality. We have a tendency to give ourselves more credit than we deserve, often assuming that we exercise more than we actually do and eat less than we actually do. Even when we use trackers, we have a tendency to report something that is not necessarily the truth, because it benefits us. Obviously, this can dramatically skew our view of anything related and how we live. There are two major problems that may explain why you are exercising 3-4 days a week but not getting the results you want.

You Aren’t Exercising Enough

If you’re only exercising for a few minutes a day, even 30 minutes a day, it’s not going to be enough. 30 minutes, especially if you are only walking, is not going to be enough. Yes, experts previously said that 30 minutes allowed you to get the most out of your workout. Maybe if you exercised at least twice daily, 30 minutes each, then it would be enough. But you need at least an hour.

Exercise More, Live Less

Yes, you’re on a top notch exercise plan. You go to the gym, you do your job. But when you go to work, maybe you feel like you’re already exercising, so you can take the elevator. Maybe you don’t get out as much with friends, and you give yourself a “reward” in the form of an extra serving of dessert, because you exercised. All of this undermines the effectiveness of even the best workout. This doesn’t mean that you can’t live.

Enough Exercise is Usually Enough

If you exercising for at least an hour a day, of cardio, that is probably enough. If your workouts are long and intense enough, you are burning off typically about 500 to 600 extra calories. As long as you aren’t replacing that with 600 extra calories every day, it should still make a difference. Obviously, healthy dieting habits that remain just as healthy make it more effective. But little cheats typically won’t undermine a good workout plan. So how do you know?

Look at Your Whole Day

If you look at your workouts, yes the right workout can make a big difference. But you need to look at your whole day, if you’re sitting at a desk all day, if you are taking the stairs or the elevator, etc. If you are exercising for an hour a day and sitting around the rest of the day, unfortunately, it’s just not going to work out quite the way you might like.

Posted in exercise | Leave a comment

Consequences of Eating Disorders

Posted on February 16th, 2011

Eating disorders are more common than ever before among teenage girls, and eating disorders are becoming increasingly common among teenage boys as well. Unfortunately, being too skinny because of an eating disorder is just as dangerous as being obese, and the symptoms can mimic those of being obese ironically.

On a mental and emotional level, eating disorders can seriously impact one’s quality of life, leading to problems with relationships, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and more. And you need a prompt intervention. But it’s not just mental.

Anorexia nervosa can also cause serious heart problems as well as constipation, abdominal problems, dry skin, anemia, changes in brain structure, osteoporosis, and kidney dysfunction. Over time, it can swell the salivary glands, electrolyte and mineral imbalances, and erosions in the teeth. Laxative abuse, which is common, can lead to serious problems with the digestive system.

Some will experience problems like chronic fatigue syndrome as well as callused fingers, elevated blood sugar leading to diabetes, Barrett’s esophagus, and eventually death. Depression and anxiety are more of a cause than a symptom that just happens to accompany it. And insomnia can accompany it. And unfortunately, it can even cause seizures.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is that there is unfortunately no way to reverse many of these side effect and symptoms. If you see the symptoms early and there is early intervention, you can prevent some of the more serious symptoms, and you can possibly even get your life back on track. You can protect loved ones who happen to suffer from the disease, and there are many ways to get better results. But the main thing is to watch out for the major signs, some of which are not so obvious. Many anorexics are surprisingly good at hiding many of the signs, especially if you don’t know what to look for.

Posted in diet | Leave a comment

Skipping Breakfast To Lose Weight?

Posted on February 9th, 2011

Could all of the studies be wrong? Could breakfast just be yet another source of extra calories causing you to gain weight or slow your weight loss results? According to Dr Volker Schusdziarra MD, a researcher at the Technical University of Munich, yes!

Yes, there are studies that supposedly say that women who eat breakfast on a regular basis weigh less. But many of the thinnest women many of us know don’t eat breakfast. He stipulates that eating breakfast now does not help you to eat less later. In fact, you eat just as much.

German researchers analyzed 10 days’ worth of food journals logged by 380 people. 280 were obese and 100 were normal weight. Regardless of what subjects ate in the morning, most subjects ate about the same at lunch and dinner. Obviously, if you eat a smaller breakfast or no breakfast at all, you cut your calories.

These people weren’t going to the Pennsylvania Amish buffet for breakfast. In fact, the largest breakfast topped out at about 611 calories. But the smallest was about 100 calories.

Obviously, one cannot rely entirely on self report. Studies have shown that people lie and some actually think that they have consumed less than they have. It’s more accurate if you can keep people in a lab, which is not possible 24 hours a day in most cases. But obviously, that guy who said he consumed 611 calories for breakfast probably ate more still than the 100 calorie breakfast dieter.

So what should you do?

First, make sure that you eat something. Something like orange juice or a couple of eggs could suffice. But you don’t have to eat a lot.

Second, make sure your breakfast is nutritious. Make sure that you are getting vitamins, minerals, fibers, and proteins to name a few. This can help you to actually lose weight.

Posted in diet | Leave a comment

Easy Ways To Exercise

Posted on February 2nd, 2011

Going to the gym can be exhausting, frustrating, and even embarrassing. Few people really want to spend hours on the treadmill, and going to some expensive yoga class is not necessarily something all of us can afford. So here are a few cheaper and more convenient alternatives that do not require you to go to the gym.

1. Fake Yoga
You can watch yoga on TV, in a studio, or through various other media outlets. If you don’t want to actually pay for the class, you can watch and start imitating from time to time. Hold the poses for as long as you can, look in the mirror to see if it looks right. If you do it right, you probably won’t permanently injure yourself. But take it at your own pace.

2. Walking
It seems so basic. You can walk the dog, walk the kid, walk with friends, or walk on your own. Walking on a regular basis burns more calories, and you can use Shapeups, certain Nike shoes, or other tools to make your workouts more effective. Walking has plenty of benefits, and it doesn’t take as much effort as some other forms.

3. Dancing
Dancing keeps you active, and it can really get your heart rate going if you are going at a faster rate. You don’t have to go out to the club or to a dance class to dance. You can dance in the privacy and comfort of your own room if you want to whatever music you choose. You don’t have to look good.

4. Buy a Video
Yes, you do have to pay money. But then again, unless you’re buying P90X, it’s a lot cheaper than a gym membership. And you can easily complete any video in the comfort of your own home, no matter your stage of life.

Posted in exercise | Leave a comment

Is Walmart Making You Fat?

Posted on January 26th, 2011

Personally, I believe in personal responsibility. But what do I know, I’m just an ordinary citizen who happens to research weight loss on a regular basis, I don’t conduct studies of my own. Sometimes, studies seem so obvious to me, and I’m not gonna lie. I LOVED SUPERSIZE ME! Who didn’t, among the people who did see it. It was a little scary, but hilarious.

And I am familiar with some of the not so great practices of companies like McDonalds and Walmart. Obviously, if you’re a woman, the simple answer is don’t work there, because you will get paid less at Walmart than your male counterparts. But the third world exploitation among other things is not great. And the fact that both companies have such a high turnover rate and McDonalds actually got in trouble for using animal fats to cook their fries long after claiming a switch to vegetable oil, you get the idea. But whether you are using vegetable oil or animal fats, fries are not good for you. Fast food is not good for you. And suing any company for making you fat, you don’t have to buy their food! Unless they’re putting cocaine in every meal, it’s not particularly addictive.

But I will give the study a little credit. If it motivates people to stay away from Walmart, I’m not wholly against it. I’ve noticed it for years. The produce at Walmart is really low quality, and I’ve been specifically warned by Walmart employees about the produce. The fact that the prepackaged food is that much cheaper at Walmart stores doesn’t help.

But the study shows that apparently, ”an additional Supercenter per 100,000 residents increases average BMI by 0.24 units and the obesity rate by 2.3% points.” Apparently, this means that Walmart causes about 10.5% of the rise in obesity since the 1980’s. Women in low income families tend to pack on the pounds, and it has created a number of other problems.

Here’s my conclusion. I’m not particularly surprised about Walmart being partially responsible for rises in the rate of obesity. But personal responsibility is all important, at least as far as I’m concerned. Yes, you can blame Walmart, and I fully encourage you to stay away from Walmart for many reasons. But avoiding Walmart will not lead you to drop 20 pounds or even 10. On the other hand, were you to drop soda (especially diet soda) and start eating more fruits and vegetables, it would probably make a much bigger difference.

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

How to Lose 10 Pounds

Posted on January 19th, 2011

So you’ve sweated it out in the gym, you’ve dieted, and yet you can’t lose any weight. You’ve hit a plateau, and while it seems like you’re actually working harder, you’re not making any progress. And studies have shown that if this is your problem, you’re not alone. There are hundreds if not thousands of people out there experiencing the same problem. But if you want to lose the last 10 pounds, there are a few things that you can do:

1. Increase Your Interval Training
Cardio obviously burns fat. But in order to keep seeing results, you need to increase your intensity, not just your time or frequency. Canadian research has shown that women who did 10 sets with a 4 minute burst of intense cycling followed by 2 minutes of easy pedaling, were able to burn 66% more fat during subsequent cardio workouts. And obviously, you can apply this to any type of workout.

2. Stand For an Extra Hour a Day
Obviously, you should walk whenever and however much is possible. But standing for just one extra hour a day could actually help you to see pretty substantial weight loss results. Obese women stood for 2 hours less than their healthy weight counterparts

3. Wear a Pedometer
If you set a goal to take so many steps per day and wear a pedometer to measure it, you can get a realistic measurement of your progress. People given a specific goal are more likely to meet it, and you are more likely to alter your habits. Shoot for an extra 2000 steps a day working your way up to 10,000 over time.

4. Lift a few Weights
Weight lifting often comes with the image of bulk, heavy muscle, and the “meathead” look. But the good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. Weight lifting increases strength, and over time it obviously tones the body while simultaneously increasing natural metabolism.

5. A Day of Vegetarian
Whether you go vegetarian for one day a week or all the time, cutting out those fatty meats can help you to lighten up. Research shows that vegetarians actually weigh 20% less than nonvegetarians. And those who followed a vegan diet were even lighter and healthier. Even eating less meat can make a significant difference according to studies conducted at Brigham Young University.

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment