Health Update:
Are You Making These 7 Dieting Mistakes?

You’ve started a new diet. You’ve been good all week, making sensible meals, managing your portions, even exercising a little…then the weekend hits. You eat too much. You drink too much. You give up.

Not so fast! A couple of slipups won’t undo all your hard work. The key is to know the dieting pitfalls you¢re likely to make and plan ahead to avoid them.

Here are the top seven dieting mistakes. How many are you making?

1. Skipping breakfast.Research shows that people who don’t eat breakfast actually weigh more than those who do. There’s a mistaken belief that if you skip breakfast, you’re saving calories. Problem is you end up snacking and eating more at other meals because you’re body is so starved for food. Always begin your day with a healthy breakfast. Black coffee, an egg, whole wheat toast and a half grapefruit has only 250 calories and will stave off hunger pangs till lunch.
2. Too many liquid calories. Did you know that a regular soda can pack on 15 pounds in one year? Not to mention lattes, fruit smoothies and alcohol. These liquid calories do little to satisfy any hunger and the calories add up fast.
3. Not exercising. If 30 minutes is too much to even think about, start with 10 and see how it goes. If exercising is a drag to you, try something fun like bowling, playing ping-pong, or dancing. The idea is to get moving and have so much fun you’ll stick with it.
4. Using extreme diets. These don’t work and can be very detrimental to your health. When you deprive your body of food two things happen: your metabolic rate slows down to make up for few calories and your desire to binge increases. In addition extreme dieting may lead to the bloating of fat cells, shrinking of muscle cells, accumulation of toxic fats and fatigue. Rather than thinking “diet” think lifestyle change.
5. Mindless munching. Even if it’s not on a plate, it still counts. A couple of cheesy crackers before dinner, test-tasting a sauce, finishing food from your kids¢ plates while washing dishes, all adds up to more calories. On average figure 25 calories per bite. Do that 4 times in a day and you’ve just added 100 extra calories to your waistline without even realizing it.
6. Going overboard on low fat. It’s psychological. You pick a low-fat snack and you justify eating more of it because it IS low fat. Research backs this up. More food, even if it is non- or low-fat still means more calories.
7. Not taking vitamins and supplements. In a perfect world, we’d get all the nutrition, vitamins and minerals from our three perfectly balanced daily meals. Truth is, few of us do. Even if you think you’re eating right, modern food processing can deplete whatever nutrients were in the food originally. That’s why many take daily vitamins and supplements. While it’s important for everyone, it’s especially important for those who are trying to lose or maintain weight. It starts with a good, high-quality multivitamin.

As quickly as the pounds add up, they can also come off. The key is knowing what your pitfalls are and how to avoid them.

For natural weight control remedies, visit Botanic Choice.

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FINE PRINT

This policy is valid from 12 November 2009. I am C. Small, the administrator for this blog. For questions about this blog, please contact cvsmall.small@gmail.com. This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, since I am an Affiliate of the advertisers in this blog, if you buy something I will get paid, not much but I’m retired and need whatever I can get. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or post made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. Even though I receive compensation for the advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog may not be my own, but I agree with them. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.

Courtesy: WIN (The Weight-control Information Network)

What’s the difference between a portion and a serving?

A “portion” is how much food you choose to eat at one time, whether in a restaurant, from a package, or in your own kitchen. A “serving” size is the amount of food listed on a product’s Nutrition Facts. Sometimes, the portion size and serving size match; sometimes they do not. Keep in mind that the serving size on the Nutrition Facts is not a recommended amount of food to eat. It is a quick way of letting you know the calories and nutrients in a certain amount of food.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Nutrition Facts information is printed on most packaged foods. It tells you how many calories and how much fat, carbohydrate, sodium, and other nutrients are available in one serving of food. Most packaged foods contain more than a single serving. The serving sizes that appear on food labels are based on FDA-established lists of foods. (For more information, see www.cfsan.fda.gov.)

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How can I control portions at home?

You do not need to measure and count everything you eat for the rest of your life—just do this long enough to recognize typical serving sizes. Try the ideas listed below to help you control portions at home.

• Take the amount of food that is equal to one serving, according to the Nutrition Facts, and eat it off a plate instead of eating straight out of a large box or bag.
• Avoid eating in front of the TV or while busy with other activities. Pay attention to what you are eating, chew your food well, and fully enjoy the smell and taste of your foods.
• Eat slowly so your brain can get the message that your stomach is full.
• Try using smaller dishes, bowls, and glasses. This way, when you fill up your plate or glass, you will be eating and drinking less.
• To control your intake of the higher-fat, higher-calorie parts of a meal, take seconds of vegetables and salads (watch the toppings) instead of desserts and dishes with heavy sauces.
• When cooking in large batches, freeze food that you will not serve right away. This way, you will not be tempted to finish eating the whole batch before the food goes bad. And you will have ready-made food for another day. Freeze leftovers in amounts that you can use for a single serving or for a family meal another day.
• Try to eat meals at regular intervals. Skipping meals or leaving large gaps of time between meals may lead you to eat larger amounts of food the next time that you eat.
• When buying snacks, go for single-serving prepackaged items and foods that are lower-calorie options. If you buy larger bags or boxes of snacks, divide the items into single-serve packages.

• Make snacks count. Eating many high-calorie snacks throughout the day may lead to weight gain. Replace snacks like chips and soda with snacks such as low-fat or fat-free yogurt, smoothies, fruit, or whole-grain crackers.
• When you do have a treat like chips or ice cream, measure out 1/2 cup of ice cream or 1 ounce of chips, as indicated by the Nutrition Facts, eat it slowly, and enjoy it!

WIN: The Weight-control Information Network is an information service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK).

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This policy is valid from 12 November 2009. I am C. Small, the administrator for this blog. For questions about this blog, please contact cvsmall.small@gmail.com. This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, since I am an Affiliate of the advertisers in this blog, if you buy something I will get paid, not much but I'm retired and need whatever I can get. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or post made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. Even though I receive compensation for the advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog may not be my own, but I agree with them. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.

Author: Robert Hicks

Whether you are a fitness enthusiast who wants a high-intensity workout or are like most people who just enjoy the benefits of walking, you can obtain even better benefits using Nordic Walking poles and enjoy the added safety to bones and joints by taking the stress off the body. Everyone who can walk, and even many who have a hard time walking, can go Nordic Walking or Trekking with the use these poles and enjoy this great fitness activity.

Nordic Walking is an excellent way to exercise and enjoy the outdoors. It is a mix between power walking and cross-country skiing and can be enjoyed by all age groups all year. Nordic Walking poles help you accelerate your workout by lengthening your stride and it uses all your muscle groups for a full body workout. Use the poles for speed and stability and get in shape with all your friends.

Nordic Walking increases your heart rate, and your overall walking experience. You will not feel like you are working harder although your level of exertion will increase burning more calories and working your legs, upper body and back muscles. With Nordic Walking, your fitness level increases, posture improves and you will notice your energy level increasing with every walk. Living healthy with activities you enjoy is the key to success.

Nordic Walking is not the same as trekking. Nordic walking is a technique with a steady rhythmic pace. Trekking is a general activity with a varied pace , terrain and usually involves added weight such as a backpack for carrying supplies.

After going on a few walks I have noticed that my walking pace has increased as opposed to just walking. I’ve read plenty of material stating the health benefits and thought I would share them with you. I am using the Lekisport Walker now, so far so good.

On a personal level when I walk for an hour or so my heart does increase, distance of walking has increased and my level of energy while walking has also increased. I must say when I first started walking I was breathing heavier but that soon diminished in a few minutes as I kept going and found a good pace to keep walking. I believe it is important to find your optimal pace when starting out as not to overwork yourself resulting in tiredness and wanting to take breaks.

The impact on my joints and back has lightened immensely. I’m sure as I continue that weight loss will be inevitable and the combined benefits be great to help me enjoy a more active lifestyle.

I am closing in on my early forties now and I want to be in good shape so I can better enjoy a prolonged retirement with my family when the time comes. I’m sure everyone would love to be healthy during the retirement years and Nordic Walking is a step in the right direction.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/walking-to-fitness-using-the-nordic-walking-technique-1252291.html

About the Author:

About Rob Hicks Nordic Walker enthusiast, believer in living an active lifestyle, and cofounder of www.walkingtofitness.com. Resides in northern British Columbia with his wife and two kids and enjoys the great outdoors whether it be walking, fishing or hunting. For Nordic Walking Poles and Walking Poles parts and acceessories, I  recommend www.walkingtofitness.com.

LEKI Nordic Walking Traveller Nordic Pole

CVS Unlimited, LLC is a paid affiliate of Botanic Choice.

This policy is valid from 12 November 2009.  I am C. Small, the administrator for this blog.  For questions about this blog, please contact cvsmall.small@gmail.com. This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions.  However, since I am an Affiliate of the advertisers in this blog, if you buy something I will get paid, not much but I’m retired and need whatever I can get. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or post made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content.  Even though I receive compensation for the advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those products.  The views and opinions expressed on this blog may not be my own, but I agree with them.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.  This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.

Courtesy: National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences

No one should ever be judged, bullied, or teased about their weight, height, or any other physical characteristic — or for any other reason for that matter! So please let an adult know if that is happening to you or to anyone you know.

But that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to know about the health problems that can be caused by being overweight. Right now, 15% of all children in the United States are overweight. At the rate those numbers are increasing, that will soon include one third of all children. If overweight children then become overweight adults, nearly 50 million Americans could have diabetes by 2050. Now that is a very scary thought!

And there are many other serious health risks that can also be caused by excess weight, such as amputations, blindness, kidney failure, and heart attacks from hypertension (high blood pressure) and high cholesterol levels. Plus, recent studies also tell us that new cases of asthma are 1½ to 2 times more likely among overweight children.

But are YOU overweight?

Typically, you are considered to be overweight if you weigh at least 10 percent more than your ideal body weight. Obesity is defined as being 30 pounds or more over your ideal body weight. But remember, many people think they are overweight when they are not! If 15% of children ARE overweight, then 85% are NOT, and that’s important to remember since not eating enough can also cause serious health problems. So don’t just assume that you weigh too much. If you think you may be overweight, talk to your parents and your doctor to find out what your ideal body weight really is and what you should do to get there.

What can YOU do if you need to lose weight or just want to stay “fit”?

Obesity can be caused by a combination of several things including your genes, environment, and behavior. But there are still steps you can take to reduce the problem…and your waistline! How?

So the solution is actually pretty simple. YOU can change your environment and reduce your weight simply by walking an extra mile every day and decreasing your calorie consumption by about five percent! So turn off the television, computer, or video games and have some physical fun instead. Here are some other great ideas to get in shape!

P90X Extreme Home Fitness Workout Program – 13 DVDs, Nutrition Guide, Exercise Planner
P90X Resistance Bands Workout Kit–3 bands: Light, Medium, Heavy
Insanity: The Ultimate Cardio Workout and Fitness DVD Program

This policy is valid from 12 November 2009. I am C. Small, the administrator for this blog. For questions about this blog, please contact cvsmall.small@gmail.com. This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, since I am an Affiliate of the advertisers in this blog, if you buy something I will get paid, not much but I’m retired and need whatever I can get. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or post made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. Even though I receive compensation for the advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog may not be my own, but I agree with them. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.

Author: Kevin Trent

P90X is a high-intensity workout program that was developed by fitness guru Tony Horton to reshape your body in only 90 days. The program makes a lot of claims about losing weight and toning your entire body. So, just how can P90X and Tony Horton make these claims and stand behind them? Here are the specifics on how the P90X workout exactly works.

Muscle Confusion

The muscle confusion principle is the key to P90X and reshaping your body. Tony Horton developed this workout technique so that your body was always being challenged during every workout. This is effective for losing weight and getting toned because your body never gets used to the exercises and always has to put forth effort to get the workout done. Your muscles are constantly confused, which means that they are going to be burning fat and calories like crazy. This accelerates a person’s results since your body is never going to plateau. You can continue to lose weight and develop muscle throughout the whole 90 days and beyond and not have to worry about your body plateauing and your exercise efforts are never wasted.

Diversity

With the P90X workout, you get 12 different workouts that are done on a set out schedule depending on what level you are starting at. P90X easily gets rid of the boredom of exercising, as you could be doing yoga one day and extreme cardio and plyometrics the next day. Most people who start an exercise program get bored after a few months because it’s all the same exercises and workouts. P90X offers a diverse offering of 12 different workouts that will definitely keep you from being bored during the program.

Efficient

There is no wasted time during your P90X workouts. Every exercise in every one of the 12 workouts that you do are specifically done for fat burning and strength building reasons. With some workouts you may have wasted exercises that may do nothing for your body. With P90X you have different levels of difficulty which means you are always getting an efficient workout no matter if you are a beginner or a seasoned pro. You get at least an hour of constant sweating and fat burning with little rest during the workouts. No one wants to waste time when they are working out. People have busy lives and need a workout that is efficient and will utilize every minute of the workout to losing weight or getting toned. That is exactly what P90X does.

Tony Horton’s P90X is not a miracle cure or anything like that. It is a well-developed workout program that takes effort and time on a person’s behalf to lose weight and get the toned body that they want. P90X will not work if you do not commit fully to the program. The P90X workout uses muscle confusion as well as exercise diversity to help people lose weight and get the toned body they want. A person has to put in the efforts for the program to be a success.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-does-p90x-work-1154348.html

About the Author:  Tiffany Brunskole is a writer for Surfer Body Fitness, an Online retailer who specializes in workout products and supplies from Beachbody fitness such as P90X. P90X can help you burn more calories and achieve weight loss faster.

CVS Unlimited, LLC is a paid affiliate of Botanic Choice.

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This policy is valid from 12 November 2009. I am C. Small, the administrator for this blog. For questions about this blog, please contact cvsmall.small@gmail.com. This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, since I am an Affiliate of the advertisers in this blog, if you buy something I will get paid, not much but I’m retired and need whatever I can get. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or post made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. Even though I receive compensation for the advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog may not be my own, but I agree with them. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.

Author: C. Small

Over the past few weeks there have been many questions about developing “rock hard” abs. Summer is quickly approaching and people are probably pushing to get their “winter’ bodies in “summer” shape. One viewer provided some advice that I thought worth re-printing. See Crystal’s comments on rock hard abs below.

Hello guys. My name is Crystal. I am a certified athletic trainer with a Master’s degree in Athletic Training. Six pack abs are all the craze right now. It is understandable, I am one of those who constantly focuses on abdominals. Remember, diet as well as exercise are important. The rock hard abs are not going to just pop up because you cut out the sweets.

My advice…keep it simple.

The “abs” are our core stabilizers, therefore they are always working which means they are also endurance muscles. Increase the reps of whichever abdominal exercise you prefer because this is what your abs were made to do. Don’t just do crunches alone. In all of your exercises you should focus on keeping your body still and only moving the extremities you are working on. In other words, keep your abs tight while you are doing hamstring curls, squats, biceps curls, etc. The Total Gym, which can be found on this website, is great for engaging the abdominals in all of your routine exercises and all of these exercises can be accomplshed on one machine! Yoga and pilates are great for ab work and core stabilization as well.

Now, as far as diet is concerned…cut down on the carbs (don’t completely eliminate them) and increase the protein. Of course, with any diet, make sure you ok it with your physician before starting. Carbs (and alcohol) “feed the belly fat” whereas protein “feeds the muscles.” I think that is the easiest way to explain without getting in to all of the technical jargon. Most of us have decent abs, but we have so much belly fat covering them they can’t be seen (lol).

I wish you all good luck in your six pack endeavors. Please let me know how it goes!

Thanks Crystal, and to all of you, for your comments. Have fun this summer and above all, be safe!

About the author:  C. Small is the Founder/President/CEO of CVS Unlimited, LLC and a health and fitness enthusiast with more than 31 years of military training.  The Company’s desire is to help people achieve healthy lifestyles by combining good nutrition with the right exercises, and using the right equipment for lasting results.

Total Gym XLS
P90X Extreme Home Fitness Workout Program – 13 DVDs, Nutrition Guide, Exercise Planner
Insanity: The Ultimate Cardio Workout and Fitness DVD Program

FINE PRINT

This policy is valid from 12 November 2009. I am C. Small, the administrator for this blog. For questions about this blog, please contact cvsmall.small@gmail.com. This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, since I am an Affiliate of the advertisers in this blog, if you buy something I will get paid, not much but I’m retired and need whatever I can get. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or post made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. Even though I receive compensation for the advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog may not be my own, but I agree with them. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.

Author: Gregg Hall

Having a toned and trim waistline has always been a goal for most men and women of just about any age. At the health club you find all kinds of people signing up for classes designed for reducing their waist and promising to do it fast. The fact of the matter is that making changes to your body takes time and there is no quick fix but with a little patience you can begin to see results in a couple of weeks.

For the most part people want to reduce their waistline for cosmetic reasons but you should really be concerned about reducing it for health reasons. Many medical studies have demonstrated that a waist measurement of over forty inches for men and of over thirty five inches for women puts you at a highly increased risk for stroke and heart disease. This gives you a reason much more important than appearance to slim up.

The reduction of your waist should be done by employing diet and exercise at the same time. It doesn’t do you a whole lot of good if you go to the one hour abdominal aerobic class and then follow it up with a Big Mac and fries. If you want to be successful you need to include both a regular exercise regimen and a reduced caloric intake.

Contrary to all the late night infomercials and fad diet advertisements there is not a specific type of diet that you need to follow, just reduce calories and fats, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables along with adequate protein for your lean body mass and drink plenty of water. Keeping a journal or diary of everything you eat can help you stick to it and keep you from cheating. If you want a super slim waistline, avoid eating too much fiber as well which leads to bloating.

Next on the agenda is some good old fashioned cardio. Some aerobic exercises are better than others but any exercise is better than nothing! Some of the better fat burning exercises include swimming, interval training, speed walking, and low impact aerobics. Swimming is a great calorie burner and doesn’t put any stress on your joints. Speed walking is something that just about anyone of any fitness level can get into and increase the duration and intensity over time.

Interval training and low impact aerobics are easiest to employ if you have access to a gym. With interval training you will burn a significant amount of calories and aerobics are a super quick way to get in good cardiovascular shape and lose weight and inches all at the same time.

You don’t have to do sit-ups and thousands of crunches for a lean waistline; as a matter of fact these things will make your waist thicker. Try an abdominals class at your gym instead that focuses more on aerobics.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/how-to-reduce-your-waistline-without-situps-and-crunches-44012.html

About the AuthorGregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more about dieting and weight loss at http://www.shop4betterhealth.com.

This policy is valid from 12 November 2009.  This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me, C. Small. For questions about this blog, please contact cvsmall.small@gmail.com. This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions.  However, if you buy something from my blog I will get paid, not much but I’m small and need the money.  The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or post made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content.  Even though I receive compensation for the advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those products.  The views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.  This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.

When purchasing any weight loss product, it is important to do your research.  Many people are exchanging their opinions about Weight Loss on DietBlogTalk.com.

For an additional source, check out Weight Loss on the very popular Sensational.com

Why It Is Important To Maintain A Healthy Weight

There is a simple way to keep you heart, mind and body overall in good health:  maintain a weight appropriate for your build, gender and age.  Though it may seem like a simple matter, a healthy weight can prevent heart disease, high blood sugar and cholesterol, certain kinds of cancer, and depression; this is not to mention the obvious improvement in overall appearance and self-image.  And despite what many people think about losing weight, it can be quite simple—a routine of healthy eating and daily exercise plus proper supplementation is often enough to take off and keep off extra weight.

What To Look For In A Diet

A diet that is designed around healthy and permanent weight loss will be based on nourishment rather than deprivation.  People who reach a healthy weight and maintain it usually do so by eating a well-rounded diet of fresh foods from each food group.  Such a diet serves two purposes for the dieter by keeping hunger at bay while also stimulating the metabolism to burn faster.  Diet guides, weight loss cookbooks, and structured meal plans can provide dieters with a way to stay focused on their goals.  Exercise, too, can become easier when certain resources are employed.  At-home exercise equipment is often a good way to exercise, as it is convenient for the dieter; workout DVDs and book-based programs provide a similar benefit.  As long as the dieter is keeping up her heart rate for at least 30 minutes at a time, she can assume it has been a productive workout that may lead to weight loss.  It is recommended that those losing weight stay active nearly every day in order to experience continuous benefits (fat being turned to energy, a faster metabolism, creation of lean muscle, etc).  You may also want to try one of the proven weight loss supplements now available.  When used in conjunction with diet and exercise they can offer some good assistance.  Look for one with ingredients that burn fat and help to control the appetite and cravings.

Where To Find Good Information

Any dieter seeking free information can find what they’re looking for online—there are many sites devoted to dieting, exercising and the products that make weight loss easier.  You can tell a reputable weight loss site based on its affirmation of eating well and staying fit as the keys to weight loss; another indication is its unbiased look at supplements and equipment.  A product site should feature comments from consumers or a user-run rating system. Message boards and forums that allow dieters to post can also be a great place to ask questions or find encouragement from others who are losing weight.

Conclusion

Thankfully, the increase in obese and overweight people has been met with the creation of new resources to help all people lose weight.  Maintaining an ideal weight yields so many benefits, from a great looking body to a healthy heart, that there is no reason to not start on the path to weight loss right away.  Let today be the day you gather weight loss resources (cookbooks, guides, meal plans), exercise supports (equipment, DVDs, books by the experts) and online information so you can begin burning fat, defeating your cravings and working your way to a better you.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/weight-loss-healthy-weight-maintenance-information-810700.html

About the Author:  Shane Crafton is a diet editor, whose team specializes in health, fitness and weight loss reporting.

Insanity: The Ultimate Cardio Workout and Fitness DVD Program
NEW Set of 5 Resistance Bands Great for P90x, Insanity, and Any Home Workout Exercise Including Physical Therapy
P90X Extreme Home Fitness Workout Program – 13 DVDs, Nutrition Guide, Exercise Planner

FINE PRINT

This policy is valid from 12 November 2009. I am C. Small, the administrator for this blog. For questions about this blog, please contact cvsmall.small@gmail.com. This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, since I am an Affiliate of the advertisers in this blog, if you buy something I will get paid, not much but I’m retired and need whatever I can get. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or post made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. Even though I receive compensation for the advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog may not be my own, but I agree with them. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.

Are you a couch potato?  Do you prefer sitting on the sidelines watching others have fun?  Well, it’s time to get up and get active.  The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Surgeon General have all issued statements that recommend placing an emphasis on adopting physical activity into one’s lifestyle.  Their purpose is to make us aware of the health benefits associated with increased physical activity, as well as to highlight the amount and intensity of activity necessary to achieve optimal results.

Now before you look at increasing your physical activities, you should consult your physician to ensure a safe and healthy experience.  Next, you must  understand the term. Physical activity cannot be defined in just one or two words; it is a broad term that encompasses all forms of muscle movements.  These movements can range from sports to lifestyle activities (such as house cleaning, gardening, etc).  Also, exercise can be defined as physical activity that is a planned, structured movement of the body designed to enhance physical fitness. Regimented or purposeful exercise consists of a program that includes twenty to sixty minutes of activity at least three to five days a week.

Let’s take a look at the word exercise.  Are there different categories of exercises?  Actually there are.  Exercise may be classified in one of two categories or energy systems, anaerobic and aerobic, depending on where the energy is derived from.  There is a distinct difference between the two, and specific training techniques are used to enhance both.  Anaerobic exercise does not require oxygen for energy.  This is due to the intensity and duration of anaerobic events, which typically are high intensity and last only a few seconds to a minute or two.  Also, in anaerobic exercises the body creates the energy without oxygen.  This basically is due to the fact that the body’s demand for energy is greater so that it will find natural body chemicals such as creatine phosphate to create it.  These activities include weight lifting, machines that offer resistance, dumbbells, and short sprints.

Aerobic exercise on the other hand, does require oxygen for energy.  When performing a set of aerobic exercises you are causing the body to utilize oxygen in order to create energy.  The oxygen is needed to breakdown glucose.  Glucose is the fuel needed to create energy.  This energy system is primarily used during events lasting longer than several minutes, such as cycling/biking, running, swimming, cross-country skiing, playing basketball, jumping rope, roller skating, walking briskly and dancing.  In addition to these fun activities, you can get a great aerobic workout through stationary exercise machines such as cycles, treadmills, stair-steppers and rowing machines.  These can be found at a local gym or health club, where you can not only increase your fitness-level but social contacts as well.  Most of these machines can also be used in the privacy of your home.

(Note:  The potential does exist however, where one can use both the aerobic and anaerobic systems, as in soccer, where a match requires ninety minutes of continual activity with short intense bursts of effort.)

Participation in physical activity can be beneficial for anyone and can be started during any stage of life.  One goal of Healthy People 2010 is to increase the number of people who participate in daily physical activity.*  So whether you decide to do a regimented exercise program, house or yard work, walk a pet, or walk around town to complete errands, get up off the couch and get active!

(*Healthy People 2010 is a categorized listing of national health objectives established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.)

About the author:  C. Small is the Founder/President/CEO of CVS Unlimited, LLC and a health and fitness enthusiast with more than 31 years of military training.  The Company’s desire is to help people achieve healthy lifestyles by combining good nutrition with the right exercises, and using the right equipment for lasting results.

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I am not sure why, but for some reason many people including myself struggle with a sweet tooth at night, it is almost like a comfort snack before bed. Unfortunately, nighttime snacks can quickly sabotage your diet. Though you can eat late at night, under a controlled manner, nighttime snacking often brings unwanted, additional calories into your body. The danger from nighttime snacks comes from overeating and most the time we are overeating junk food. We then bring all that junk food into our body’s resting state when we sleep. Since you are sleeping or resting you are not burning those additional calories and they are quickly stored as fat. Eating balanced, sensible meals throughout the day, and at regular intervals will help prevent nighttime snacking. A mistake, commonly made with dieters, is to skip meals such as breakfast and lunch, which actually slows down your metabolism. The result is often binging on late night snacks. Often more calories are consumed during these binging sessions than would otherwise be consumed throughout the day.

Controlling food cravings is not only important to your diet, but it will help your overall, long term health. By preventing food cravings, you are keeping your blood sugar in balance. For those who have been diagnosed with Diabetes preventing these spikes in blood sugar are essential and necessary. Eating more complex carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables will keep blood sugar levels balanced and help prevent food cravings. Simple carbohydrates, which are found in white breads, doughnuts, and pasta all, are bad for packing on weight. Complex carbs are healthier for your body and are more unlikely to hold onto fat.

It can be very difficult to control nighttime snacking, and for those who are struggling with their weight, getting control in this area is vital. If you are going to snack at night, look for low calorie alternatives that will fill you up, without packing on extra pounds. Preparing for nighttime snacks is the best preventive strategy you can take to avoid any problems. In the first few weeks of a new exercise and fitness program you might find that going to bed earlier, or engaging in activities that keep your hands busy are good strategies that will help you avoid snacking.

Mindless late night snacking while watching television is a sure fire way to ruin your sensible eating plan and put on extra pounds. If you enjoy watching television at night, get some low calorie alternatives that you can eat without feeling guilty, like nuts, sunflower seeds, or air popped popcorn. Since there is a wide variety of eating plans, make sure to choose a low cal snack that adheres to the guidelines of your diet. Some healthy snacks could include whole wheat crackers, cheese cubes, fruit, vegetables, popcorn with a low calorie topping, rice cakes, a glass of milk, a cup of herbal decaffeinated tea, low fat yogurt, and cottage cheese. Make certain that you determine the amount of calories that you need and allot some for healthy nighttime snacks.

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