Day: October 11, 2010

Categories
exercise weight loss

Attributes to Look for in Running Headphones

Running is a great way to get the body moving and to keep it healthy by preventing the pitfalls of having a sedentary lifestyle. Many people choose this particular type of exercise because it does not involve any special equipment and allows you to enjoy being outdoors while you try to stay fit. Some people are satisfied with having just the appropriate outfit and a good pair of running shoes. Others, however, prefer to have their favorite tunes playing in their ears while they perform each running routine.

There are a number of things to consider before purchasing your own running headphones. Contrary to what some people think, choosing the right pair is very important in ensuring that your exercise routines are not interrupted with something that does not fit your ear snugly and falls off countless of times while you run. Although there are a variety of headphones styles available in the market, many individuals agree that the best ones are those that are fitted around the back of the head and then follows the natural contour of the ear. To minimize interferences, choose a pair of headphones that have retractable wires so you do not have to deal with the burden of cords that dangle around and tangle easily. You may also opt for one which is cordless although they may be exorbitantly priced.

Apart from making sure that what you choose does not interfere with your routine, safety is also another major concern. Some running headphones are equipped with noise canceling technology which can pose a threat to the safety of runners who jog outdoors. If you choose to jog in public, it is essential that you maintain full awareness of your surroundings such as traffic sounds and any possible warnings from people.

Music does not only provide entertainment for those who feel lonely when they jog by themselves. It also helps keep them motivated and focused on completing their routine. Some people actually find that their energy level is sustained when they listen to music while they exercise.

Categories
dieting weight loss

Halloween Weight Loss Tips, Tricks and Treats to Avoid Temptation

Losing weight is difficult enough on a regular day but when you have to buy boxes of mini-chocolate bars and watch your kids go through their loot it can be almost unbearable. Halloween marks the beginning of “temptation season” leading the way for many holiday obstacles. Here are a few weight loss tips to help you continue to lose weight fast even through the Halloween season.

Weight Loss Tips – The Candy is Small but Mind the Calories
One small candy bar won’t ruin your weight loss program, but feeding on a handful of these bars can be devastating. Most of these mini bars pack around 100 calories so while eating one won’t break the calorie bank eating one of each kind may start to slow down your progress. Since we all want to lose weight fast here are some tips to avoid the unnecessary consumption of mini-chocolate bars.

1. Buy Candy You Don’t Like – Closing your door and turning off your porch lights may lead to a toilet paper surprise from a few tricksters in your neighborhood. You can give out candy but choose candy you don’t like to eat. Buying your favorites will only cause temptation. If you don’t like it chances are you won’t eat it. If you choose hard candy, gummy bears and any candy not coated in chocolate it is probably lower in calories in case you do fall victim to temptation.

2. Replace the Candy with Better Choices – instead of candy you may be able to buy small “loot-bag” type toys to give away. Buying in bulk from a party packagers store may make this an affordable and calorie-free alternative to candy.

3. Limit Yourself – deprivation will only lead to failure. Allow yourself 1 piece of candy per day. At work ask your co-workers to keep the candy away from your desk – chances are they are trying to get it away from their own desks. Ask them to store it in the kitchen and if you have to dig in only allow one!

4. Chew Gum – if you are chewing on a piece of gum you will likely not need the piece of candy at that same moment. Perhaps you will put off eating the candy and forget about it completely.

5. Keep Track – journal all your calories over the weeks leading up to and after Halloween to help you stay on track. If you count each of those little pieces of candy and now how it is affecting your diet you will likely stop before you make a costly error.

As always the best weight loss tips include drinking lots of water, exercising regularly, eat a nutritionally balanced diet and track your calories. Enjoy the season but don’t let it defeat all the progress you’re making.

Categories
dieting exercise weight loss

Burn More Calories Than You Consume to Lose Weight

Losing weight is important to a lot of people. Unfortunately they are not willing to do the hard things to achieve healthy weight loss. It is understandable that many would want fast weight loss but it requires eating properly and exercising. These are two things that many people are not interested in doing but they still want to drop the pounds.

Weight loss is a simpler math problem: You want to burn more calories than you consume. To burn the weight off one needs to intake 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day. People should eat small meals every three hours and vigorous exercise should be performed at least 4 times a week.

Many people try to starve themselves as a diet strategy. This never works. The body senses the change and begins holding on to the fat thinking that it is being starved. If you feed yourself every 3 hours the body increases the metabolism because it knows it food will continue to be provided. Most diet plans encourage eating plenty of fiber and basically eliminating complex sugars. Meals should include eggs, chicken, fish and fresh vegetables. Drinking plenty of water is vital. Adding lemon juice to the water will aid in cleansing your body as well.

Exercise is important for losing weight. Strolling around the mall or neighborhood is just not going to benefit you as much as vigorously exercising. A person’s heart rate needs to be elevated to burn fat. Running, swimming and cycling are very good activities for getting the heart rate up. Many people enjoy going to a gym and using the treadmill. The important thing is that people have to push themselves. It may not be comfortable running but it is a great way to lose weight and get in shape. Strength training is also important to build muscle and get toned. There are numerous body weight exercises that can be done as well as using traditional weights, barbells and dumbbells. The idea is to keep moving through the workout to burn the muscles as well as keep your heart rate up.

Proper diet and exercise are the keys to losing weight. It may not be pleasant to eat properly and get fit but that is what it will take to lose weight in a healthy manner. With a focus on achievable goals and staying motivated most people will lose unwanted weight and get back to being fit and healthy.