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 weight loss

Lose Weight and Feel Great While Dieting

If you’ve ever been on a calorie controlled diet then you’ll know all too well the feeling of hunger pains. We all know that cutting calories is one of the most important steps to losing weight,  but it can be incredibly difficult to do when you feel hungry all of the time. Lying awake at night because your stomach is rumbling is not a pleasant experience!

Luckily, there are ways to cut calories and lose weight without having to feel ravenous. With more and more people becoming concerned about their weight and going on diets, business has catered to the demand and provided a range of products to help.

One useful product is called hoodia gordonii. Used for centuries by African Bushmen, its potential has become well known in western countries in recent years. In Africa hoodia has been used to treat infections and relieve the pain of indigestion. The property which has made it well known, however, is that of reducing appetite.

On long hunting trips food may not be available for many hours. Hunger builds up during this time and can make you uncomfortable, which impairs your ability to hunt. A long time ago the Bushmen discovered that eating the flesh of a certain plant – which we now know as hoodia gordonii – suppressed their appetite, reduced their hunger pangs, and made those long trips much more bearable.

Since the plant has become well known, a lot of people have been asking where to buy hoodia. My advice would be to buy from a reputable source as there are a lot of dodgy companies out there who sell inferior products which contain very little of the actual plant extract.

Another great way to avoid hunger pains is to snack. Yes, that’s right, snack! I know that snacking isn’t usually considered part of a healthy calorie controlled diet, but the fact is that in recent years a wide variety of low fat snacks for weight loss have been created. You can’t just pick up a chocolate bar from the local 7/11 of course, but you can easily find tasty, healthy, low fat snacks in health food stores and online.

As you can see, hunger pains are no longer an inevitable consequence of a low fat diet. You can lose weight and still feel great with the tips in this article!

Categories
dieting free trials weight loss

Diets that Work – Low Fat Wins in The Long Run

You probably have heard a lot about people who take off a great deal of weight using a high protein, low carbohydrate diet.  Research does indicate that is in fact a very effective way to drop weight.  In fact, in the first six months of dieting recent evidence suggests that this is by far the most effective method.  However, by the time you have been dieting for twelve months it would appear that the carbohydrate to protein ratio no longer matters, as long as you are following a low calorie plan.  Over the long run you will maintain your weight loss better if you are consuming a low fat diet, according to a study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania.  While you may be tempted to look for diets that work in the short run, don’t underestimate the value of slow sustainable changes in your diet.

Additionally, if you do decide to follow a low carbohydrate diet in the short run, it is important that you watch your fat consumption.  This is especially true of you work out intensely.   Your brain uses carbohydrates for fuel.  In a recent study, mice who were fed a high fat diet decreased their endurance by 35% and their mental capacity by 15% as compared to those who were fed a high-carbohydrate diet.  Because a high fat diet decreased the energy trapping efficiency of cells it impairs both brain and muscle function.

The ideal situation is to create a low fat, higher protein diet that is also full of healthy, low glycemic carbohydrates.  Steer clear of white carbohydrates in favor of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.  Foods like quinoa which offer an amino rich vegetarian protein are ideal, because they allow you to get extra protein in your diet without increasing your fat intake.  In reality, regardless of works best in the short run in reality the key is finding healthy foods that you enjoy and a plan you can stick to in the long run.

Categories
dieting exercise weight loss

Cellulite Myths Busted

Cellulite Myths Busted

What is cellulite? What causes cellulite? How can it be prevented? How can it be cured? The curiosity does not end just here. Cellulite has for years been a topic of both medical and personal discussions. Since it affects a large number of women, primarily due to hormonal and genetic reasons, there is a lot of concern and intrigue regarding cellulite. Due to the revolting and repulsive appearance it lends the skin, women (and even men) fear cellulite. And fear, as we know, can spawn myths. True to its worth, people all around the globe harbor certain myths about cellulite, all thanks to the paranoia associated with it.

Well, its time to bust those myths

Cellulite is fat

For the record, cellulite is not fat; it is simply a form of fat that is malformed and trapped under the subcutaneous layer of the skin. Also unlike normal fat which can be burned by healthy diet and regular exercise, cellulite is more stubborn to such measures, since it is trapped in mesh-like fibrous connective tissues that cannot be dissolved so easily.

Only obese people can have cellulite

This again stems from the earlier myth that cellulite is synonymous to fat. To get the fact right once again, since cellulite is just a form of fat, it is not just obese people who are at a risk. Even skinny people have a good chance of incurring cellulite.

Cellulite affects only thighs and buttocks

Though these are the commonest areas affected by cellulite formations, there are other parts of the body that can get affected as well. So, while most people have cellulite in thighs and buttocks only, cases where arms, stomach and back have been affected are not unheard of either.

Only women have cellulite

It is true that cellulite affects women mostly since it is often caused by the erratic activities of the female hormone estrogen in the body, especially during pregnancy and post-menopause phase. However, even men have reported to suffer from cellulite. In fact the form of cellulite present in thighs affects women and men equally.

There is no way to get rid of cellulite

Though it is difficult to absolve your body off cellulite, it is not impossible as such. There are a few natural ways as well as surgical ways in which cellulite can be effectively treated. Natural ways include massage therapy, cream applications and surgical methods include liposuction treatment. However, keep surgical liposuction treatment as a last resort procedure, since there are purported side effects and potential health risks with such operations.

Dieting and exercise can get rid of cellulite

In reality, dieting and exercise can burn fats, which can at most reduce the appearance of cellulite. It however cannot cure the problem.

Water cures cellulite

As the myth goes, drinking excessive water can cure cellulite. But actually, water only helps in flushing out toxins which aid in cellulite formation.

Veronica Davis is a freelance writer. She writes about an array of beauty and health topics, to include help for cellulite and other annoying problems women tend to face.

Categories
Acai Berry dieting exercise weight loss

Various Options for Yoga Ball Chairs

There are many benefits to using yoga ball chairs as a replacement for your current chairs that you sit at for work or at home.  One of the benefits is considered “active sitting” because sitting on a yoga ball requires you to make small little motions and adjustments the whole time you are sitting, which keeps your body moving and your core muscles engaged.  Because you’re needing to use your core muscles to stay on the ball, they are being strengthened helping you to look better in your midsection.  Finally, you’ll improve your balance by using a yoga ball chair since you’ll have to keep yourself upright.

With all of the benefits, it’s no doubt that you are sold on the fact that you want to get such a chair.  There are a few different options available to you for getting a chair.  I am going to explore three of them below:

The first way is to just buy a yoga ball at the store, blow it up, and use that to sit on.  This is by far the cheapest option, and you can use the yoga ball for workouts as well.  These are fairly easily portable, just deflate them, and ensure that you bring the pump along to blow them back up.  The problem is that they cannot roll as well if you’re sitting on them.

That is why the yoga ball chair is a great option because it combines the benefits of using just a yoga ball, but has wheels on the bottom so that you can move around at your desk at work, and it’s a little bit more practical.  But, these also cost a little bit more, although they cost about the same as regular office desk chairs.

The final option is to get a new product called the BallBike.  This product combines a recumbent exercise bike with a yoga ball as the seat, allowing you to not only get a great lower body workout, but also a fantastic core workout as well.  Plug, the seat is a lot more comfortable than most exercise bike seats.  The reason this is an option for a yoga ball chair, is because after being used as a workout machine, you can detach the seat and use the seat as a yoga ball chair at your desk.

Categories
Uncategorized

Using Affordable Treadmills

Generally, treadmills are very expensive exercise equipments and most of them cost more than two thousand dollars. More expensive models usually include fancy yet unnecessary features. Obviously, not all people can afford these so, the next best option is to go to the gym or to the local fitness club. However, most people do not have the chance to go to these places. Most of them are too busy with their occupations while others do not have enough budgets for club or gym memberships. If you are one of these people, do not worry anymore because there are other available options. One, you can try looking for a refurbished treadmill that is in good condition. This will help you save money while letting you reap the benefits of a quality treadmill. It also comes with a warranty, so you are guaranteed that the treadmill is as good as new.

You can also go for a manual treadmill. This kind of treadmill is not electrically powered so, it is basically a lot cheaper. It does not have a motor, so you can save on your electric bill. It does not have a bulky and hefty engine housing either. You just need to fold or slide it under your bed. However, be aware that this kind of treadmill also has several drawbacks. For instance, it may not have an incline. A lot of people also have a hard time running on it. In addition, it may not be suitable for short and physically weak people. Anyway, affordable treadmills like these can be found in auction sites and stores on the Internet. You can also visit thrift stores and second-hand shops. You may even have a good find at a yard sale or a garage sale. Nonetheless, you can still obtain a brand-new treadmill for less by searching for bargains online.

Then again, before you buy a treadmill, you must consider a few important factors. Low-cost treadmills are not always as great as the expensive ones, so you really have to exert effort in finding a good one. For instance, you must see to it that the treadmill you are checking out is safe to use. Make sure that it is sturdy and it can support your weight. It must also be capable of handling your daily workouts. In addition, its belt must be made of good quality materials. It must have good cushioning, as well. So, you will not risk getting injured. Moreover, the handlebars have to be sturdy, whether they are at the side or upfront. You must also ensure that the parts are well conditioned.