Tips to Lose Belly Fat and Stubborn Belly Fat

Are you suffering from your jelly bean appearance that you cannot sport yourselves out in the public? You can heave a sigh of relief as many people are suffering from the same problem. We should fight hard to get rid of those belly fats to sport a better physique. These fats are called as belly fats and it has a long term effect on your body. The long term effects are the advent of heart diseases and huge amount of fat molecules in your blood which can cause sudden cardiac arrest which in medical terms are known as arteriosclerosis. It may look like a mild cardiac problem but it weakens the heart tissues. Hence it is important to get rid of belly fat not only to get a better physique but to lead a healthy life. Most of the people who suffer from belly fats are trying many pills to get rid of it as they think exercises and diet program are hard to implement in their daily routine. But the truth is that a healthy diet and an efficient exercise routine helps to get rid of belly fats permanently in a very healthy way.

This article proposes a two step program to reduce belly fats that mainly concentrate on consumption of healthy natural foods and exercises that stimulates the metabolic rate to reduce belly fats.

Step 1: Exercise routine

Many are in notion that exercises can only be performed at gym and not at home, but the thing is that with a little common sense we can easily carry out exercises in the home. Exercises like side crunches and v crunches can be easily performed at home itself.  Just take a walk every day to nearby shops to buy your daily consumption of vegetables as walking is one of the best form of exercise that primarily help in the reduction of belly fats. You can invest on an elliptical trainer to provide you with a wide range of cardiovascular workouts. High resistance elliptical workouts are best for the persons having knee problems. The cardio exercises that you do for toning your stomach should be carried out at maximum intensity level to achieve better results.  Abdominal exercises helps in the stimulation of growth of muscles as cardio training only concentrates on getting rid of fats.

Step 2: Balanced diet

Many scientific researches clearly show that we consume more calories than what we eat each and every day because of our sedentary work style. This is not great news because the calories that are not used are stored as fats. Hence our diet is very important as we can't starve every day in the process to reducing belly fats. Consumption of foods that are rich in proteins and are less in carbohydrate content are encouraged, as proteins are burned totally to produce energy, while the unused carbohydrates are stored by converting them into fats.  Make a habit of taking fresh fruits or vegetable as a part of diet.  Eliminate beer and other alcohol drinks instead consume lots of fresh fruit juices without sugar.

The above mentioned steps to reduce belly fats will yield better results when followed with determination and patience. Impose confidence in yourselves to reduce belly fats to lead a healthier life.

Free Exercise Videos and Advanced Diet Tips to Lose Belly Fat

Do you want free information on how to lose belly fat? http://www.lose-fat-belly.com is an ultimate resource for all kinds of information related to losing belly fat. This website provides over 25 different kinds of belly exercises with videos on how to lose belly fat. It also contains many advanced diet tips and fat burning foods to lose belly fat fast.

Checkout the website now and choose 3 to 5 different exercises of your choice and do it regularly. Also follow the diet recommendations in the website and see how you lose your belly fat in just one month from now. Get advanced tips on how to lose belly fat now and get rid of belly fat in just one month.

Losing Belly Fat - A Simple 2-Step Guide to Losing Belly Fat Fast

Losing belly fat is not as hard as it seems. I know that it is demoralising to have a belly that bulges out of your shirt and pants but not to worry because it takes just 2 simple step to turn that belly fat into six-pack abs.

The first thing you need to understand when you want to lose weight or lose that belly fat is that your metabolic rate plays a vital role. Just by increasing your metabolic rate, your body can actually burn more calories or fats in your body. High metabolic rate equals to high calorie burning rate!

So how do you increase your metabolic rate?

You can increase your metabolic rate and start losing belly fat by following these 2 steps.

1. Eat Smaller Meals A Few Times A Day

Stop eating one big meal and start eating smaller meals about 4 to 6 times a day. The reason is because when you eat one big meal, you are taking a lot more calories than what your body needed at that point of time. Your body will just burn the calories that it needs and then store the rest as fat deposits for future energy use.

When you don't use these future energy, the fat deposits will increase with every big meal that you take and this cause you to have a bulging belly or also known as belly fat.

Another bad outcome of eating one big meal is that you will feel hungry again after a few hours so you will eat again. Your body will then store the excess calories again as fat deposits. More fat deposits means more chances of a bulging belly.

When you eat smaller meals more times a day, you are actually feeding your body with just the right amount of calories that it needed so there will be no calories stored as fat deposits. You will also not have hunger pangs because you are eating about 4 to 6 times daily.

Start eating smaller meals a few times a day and you can look forward to start losing belly fat.

2. Mini-Trampoline Jumping

This is by far the simplest exercise and one of the fastest way to increase your metabolic rate and start losing belly fat.

Most people assume that if you want to lose your belly fat, you have to do crunches because it targets your belly area. That is not a correct assumption. If you want to shed of those pounds or lose that belly fat fast, you have to find an exercise that helps you burn fat fast and as a whole. Not just targeting one part of the body.

Jumping on a mini-trampoline a few minutes each time and about 5- 10 times a day could help you get rid of that belly fat. The good thing about jumping on trampoline is that it is easy to do and you can do it anytime, anywhere you want. You can even do it while you are waiting for the tv commercials to end.

You need to stop procrastination and start taking action today. Belly fat is a no no. Six pack abs is the way to go.

If you follow the 2 steps above, losing belly fat will be a breeze and of course you will be proud to show off your new abs to your friends!

Still having problems losing belly fat? Check out my Lose 5 Pounds A Week Blog here: http://Lose5PoundsAWeek.com

Lose Belly Fat and Get a Flat Stomach With Laser Liposuction

All of us want to lose belly fat and have a flat stomach, but the amount of exercise and dieting required to have firm six pack abs is beyond what most of us can reasonably achieve. As we age, past 30, our body metabolism slows and it is much harder to lose belly fat. Those of us who have sedentary jobs which do not involve vigorous physical activity experience laxity of our abdominal muscles which normally hold our stomach contents tight to create a flat stomach. As we gain weight and our muscles get lax, we develop a protruding abdomen or pot belly.

Women who have had babies find it very difficult to lose belly fat and have a flat stomach. I have see hundreds of very fit, health conscious and physically active women in my office who have done everything right and just cannot lose belly fat caused by pregnancy. The tummy tuck or mini abdominoplsty has helped many people have a flat stomach, but many do not want surgery and the scars associated with surgery.

New laser liposuction technology enables me to offer patients who want to lose belly fat and have a flat stomach an effective, minimally invasive procedure which in many cases is as effective as a tummy tuck.

What Causes Belly Fat and Fat Stomach

There are several components that cause a fat stomach, pot belly, or loose tummy. Laser liposuction can remove belly fat from under the skin and achieve skin tightening of loose tummy skin. However laser liposuction cannot tighten your stomach muscles or abdominal muscles. To tighten the stomach muscles you will need to do stomach exercises or abdominal work outs.

Laser liposuction also cannot remove fat inside your abdomen-intra-abdominal fat, called mesenteric fat- which is wrapped around your intestine. If you are very overweight or obese, only significant dieting will help you lose belly fat that is inside your abdomen.

The several causes of belly fat or a fat tummy or pot belly are:

- Intra-abdominal Fat-Fat serves a very important survival function. Fat stores energy to provide nutrition during periods when we do not have adequate food intake. Thus fat is a survival mechanism during periods of starvation. Fat is stored inside the abdomen in a structure called the mesentery. The mesentery is wrapped around our intestines and supports the intestines. Huge amounts of fat can be present in the mesentery when we are overweight or obese. When there is excess intra-abdominal fat in the mesentery, the fat actually pushes out and stretches the muscles of our abdominal wall and creates a fat belly. Only dieting or caloric restriction can cause the intra-abdominal fat to be used for energy production and disappear.

- Abdominal Wall Laxity-The abdominal muscles (abdominal wall), called the abs, hold our intestines and abdominal contents in the abdomen. These muscles can become stretched and loose after extensive weight gain, pregnancy, and inactivity. When the abdominal muscles, or abdominal wall loses tone, becomes stretched or lax, the contents of the inside of the abdomen push the abdominal wall forward and create a fat tummy or pot belly. Tightening of the abdominal wall, that is restoring the tone of the abdominal or tummy muscles can only be achieved with ab exercises and conditioning of the tummy muscles or with abdominoplsty or tummy tuck surgery.

- Subcutaneous Fat beneath the Belly Skin- The fat directly beneath the skin on the belly also stores fat. This fat is called the subcutaneous (beneath the skin) fat and is normally about 1/2 inch thick in most people. When we gain weight and have excess fat, this subcutaneous fat layer becomes thicker, sometimes up to 4 or 5 inches thick. Laser liposuction is a very effective technique to remove subcutaneous fat. The heat from the laser melts the fat into a thin liquid which is easily removed by suction through very small tubes called cannulas.

- Loose Belly Skin-Multiple pregnancies and repeated weight gain stretch the abdominal skin and create loose belly or tummy skin. The major breakthrough in laser liposuction is the ability of the laser to tighten stomach skin. Previous liposuction techniques removed fat but left loose belly or tummy skin after fat removal. With laser liposuction, the heat from the laser tightens the skin during the laser fat dissolving process.

Laser Liposuction to Lose Belly Fat and Flatten the Stomach

Because the laser liposuction fiber dissolves fat into a thin liquid, removal of fat is much easier. This allows the surgeon to use very tiny tubes or cannulas to suction the fat out of the tummy skin. As a result very tiny holes, usually placed inside the belly button, are all that is required. This means very tiny, almost invisible scars. In addition, in my experience, following laser liposuction the skin is left smooth without the lumps, bumps and contour deformities often seen with traditional liposuction.

Skin tightening following this new technique has been truly remarkable in my experience. In patients who are fit and not overweight, I have been able to do laser body sculpting to actually reveal the outline of the abdominal muscles after healing. In the words of one of my patients "I got my six pack back."

My patients seem to recover more quickly after this new procedure. Many say they fell fine the day after the procedure. However, I ask my patients not to return to vigorous or strenuous activity or work outs for at least two weeks.

If you are not obese or very over weight and want to improve the contour of your abdomen, then these new techniques may be what you are looking for.

See pictures of results of laser liposuction of the tummy. Learn more [http://drseckel.com/boston-laser-liposuction/laser-liposuction-the-new-slim-lipo-selective-laser-induced-melting-of-fat/] about laser liposuction.

Can Wine Increase Health and Wellbeing?

There are three qualities to make a great meal and food is only one of them.

A tasty dish goes without saying, but let's not forget the importance of good company and a pleasant wine. Some scientific research indicates that wine is not only a key to a good meal, but is also good for us.

Does this mean that the next time we sit down to eat with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, we are both improving our health and our well being?

The idea that wine is good for our health has been around for some time, but found scientific basis in the 1990s. It was on Sunday, 17 November 1991 that the French medical researcher from Bordeaux University, Serge Renaud, announced on the popular American TV news program, 60 Minutes, that his countrymen's fondness for drinking wine accounted for their low rate of deaths from heart disease. In the subsequent four weeks, wine sales in America shot up by 44%. Wine was now a health tonic.

The health benefits of wine are a little more complex than Dr. Renaud initially made out. Firstly, it's important to remember that alcohol can have some very serious adverse effects to health and society. When consumed in excess, wine, like any other alcoholic drink, can weaken the immune system, increase the risk of certain cancers, and damage the liver and brain. However, wine (specifically red wine) is believed to have beneficial properties.

Serge Renaud's original research pointed out that coronary heart disease is usually linked to a high intake of saturated fat in most countries. The situation seems to be reversed in France where deaths from heart disease are much lower than many similarly advanced countries, like the UK, despite the French eating plenty of cheese, pate' and pudding. Dr. Reynaud called this peculiar situation the 'French Paradox'. His original research indicated that alcohol worked on the the blood's haemostatic mechanism, so wine kept the blood circulating properly.

Since Renaud's landmark piece of research, there has been an enormous amount of research into the health benefits of wine. Sometimes it can feel like a new study is released every few weeks, alternately saying wine or alcohol is a life-giving panacea or a profoundly dangerous substance. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle - wine drunk in moderation can be part of a healthy diet. So we certainly don't have to feel guilty about picking up a delicious, fruity bottle of Merlot the next time we go to Marks and Spencer. But what is it about wine that contributes to its health giving properties?

The health benefits of wine are largely believed to be lying in antioxidants. Nowadays we all seem to be antioxidant mad. Their benefits are being extolled in magazines, on the television, and on food packaging, but what are these mysterious little fellas? Very briefly, antioxidants are substances that protect our cells from the effects of free radicals. Free radicals have nothing to do with anarchism, but are molecules that are damaging to our bodies. Antioxidants are found in fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as some meats and fish. Foods with higher than usual concentrations of antioxidants are known as 'super foods'. To sum up, antioxidants are good for you and they are found in wine.

The antioxidants found in wine originally come from the grapes they are made from. The type of antioxidants in grapes and wine are polyphenol antioxidants, which are also found in green tea and cocoa among other things. The most important of the antioxidants found in wine is resveratrol, which is concentrated in the skins of the grape. This means that red wine, which gets its colour and flavour from the grape skins, has more resveratrol than white wine. So, red wine is thought to be especially health giving.

One of the most important benefits of the antioxidants found in wines is their cancer preventing properties. One study published in The International Journal of Cancer in 2004 found that drinking a glass or two of red wine a day might half the rate of prostate cancer. This may well have something to do with the resveratrol in the wine, as a more recent study suggests. In 2008, researchers at University of Rochester Medical Center found that pancreatic cancer cells were killed after being pre-treated with both resveratrol and irradiation.

Returning to cardiovascular disease (CVD), Serge Renaud's colleague Dr. Michel de Lorgeril found in a study published in 2002 that moderate red wine drinking reduced the risk of a second heart attack. This may well be linked to the existence of a group of chemicals in red wine known as saponins. Found in the skins of grapes, as well as olive oil, and soybeans, saponins block the absorption of cholesterol.

The existence of saporins in red wine was found by Andrew Waterhouse, Professor of Enology (wine chemistry) at the University of California, Davis, who also found that the amount of the chemical varied between grapes. Among the red wines tested by the team at Davis, red Zinfandel was found to contain the highest levels of saporins, Syrah the second highest. Then Pinot noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, which each had around the same amount. White wines had much less saporin.

Despite these seemingly beneficial chemicals in red wine, issues have been raised with the French Paradox. The healthiness of the French lifestyle has been questioned (they're not that healthy really, and coronary disease has been under-reported or will rise as they eat more truly unhealthy foods, especially containing transfats) - and attention has been drawn to other factors that might account for the healthiness of the French (they currently eat less transfats and get more sunlight which increases vitamin D and is good for the arteries).

As with all science, there is some difference of opinion, however, there does seem to be good reason for believing that drinking red wine in moderation is good for you and your wellbeing. There's nothing quite like sitting around laughing with friends over a good dinner and a glass of good wine. It is so good for the soul.

This is good for the wine lovers among us, so let's toast to the good news. Just make sure it's only a single glass (or two on special occasions), but then again there's aways another glass to look forward to tomorrow.

View the original article here

Can the Hormone Ghrelin Cause Overeating?

Ghrelin is a powerful hormone that affects your ability to gain or lose weight.

Its significance is often overlooked. Ghrelin is the hormone that increases your feeling of hunger and therefore, increases your food intake. It is also the hormone responsible for so called "food addictions".

So, what can we learn about ghrelin to help manage our weight?

First, it is important to get a good night's sleep, usually at least seven hours. Lack of sleep increases ghrelin levels and can contribute to increased hunger and weight gain. Most people produce the greatest amounts of ghrelin during normal sleep hours since ghrelin production is tied to the body's natural circadian rhythm. So, those who work the night shift, or stay up until the late hours of the night are more likely to be overweight than their early-to-bed, early-to-rise counterparts.

In recent years, scientists have been able to produce an anti-obesity vaccine that may block ghrelin effects. The vaccine has only been used on rats and is in the early stages of testing. The idea that there could potentially be a vaccine that helps control appetite and hunger is unthinkable.

However, some people are born with altered hormones and genes that could result in abnormal ghrelin production. These people would get the best benefit from such a vaccine.

It is important to be in-touch with your body and understand the different ways it experiences hunger in order to understand why you may overeat. A good way to practice this is to allow yourself to experience twenty minutes of feeling hungry before satisfying yourself. Listen to your body and think about how you feel. See if you can decipher any differences in the feelings of hunger you have at different times of the day.

Perhaps some feelings of "hunger" aren't really true feelings of hunger at all, but instead, stemming from some emotional need. The more in-touch and mindful we become of our bodies, the healthier we can become.

View the original article here

Belly Fat - Getting it Sorted Once and For All

Belly fat doesn't just sit there and do nothing; it's active. It functions like a separate organ, releasing substances that can be harmful to your body. Belly fats are not attractive, it's a clear indication of how unfit someone is. Let's look at some common causes of belly fat and how to get rid of them.

Alcohol Can Lead To Belly Fat

Alcohol is packed with calories and puts lots of stress on your liver and other vital organs. Not only that, alcohol is a source of empty calories with no nutritional value. It is high in calories and also increases appetite, but researchers aren't sure if this is the only cause, or if other factors are involved. Try to eliminate or at least cut down on your alcohol consumption.

Drinking too much beer can have a massive impact on you not losing belly fat . What I'm getting at is that in order for you to lose belly fat correctly you will also have to change your eating habits. Drinking too much alcohol of any kind can increase belly fat, although some research suggests wine may be an exception. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

Stress Can Cause Belly Fat

Some experts believe that a potbelly might be the body's defence mechanism against stress. Among men, it yields boobs. It keeps your soldier from standing at attention.Among other things, the hormones in our body seem to encourage the build up of belly fat.

Stress causes deterioration in health and affects every part of the body. People, nowadays are more stressed out than their ancestors. Stress causes the body to overproduce cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels compromise other hormones, including insulin, serotonin, and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

Women with high levels of belly fat are 45 percent more likely to have breast cancer. Belly fat also raises your risk for endometrial cancer. Biologically women are designed to have a bit more fat around the hips; this helps keep their body healthy during pregnancy. A bit of fat around the thighs or buttocks is natural for anyone but not too much in the belly.

So what can we do get rid of belly fat.

Exercise Can Help You Lose Belly Fat

Exercises to lose belly fat don't have to be difficult either ? It?s important to lose belly fat for more than just aesthetic reasons, as belly fat is a sign of poor health and eating habits.

Exercise releases endorphins and other types of hormones into your body to promote euphoric feelings. It can become a social gathering and help build your social life as well. One of the key benefits of exercise is that it boosts your body metabolism and help burn more calories and stored fats that contribute to your belly fat.

Exercises to lose belly fat should include ab exercises as they can make a big difference in the way your belly looks. Not only will your belly be smaller because of losing fat from cardiovascular exercise and dietary changes, but it can be firmer, too.

Sit-ups will help you get rid of most of your belly fat. But if you are an athlete and want to lose all belly fat, you can't do it without going regularly to the gym.

Ab exercises are not just for fitness gurus. In fact, the simplest of exercises can work out all the muscles in your abs. Abdominal fat seems to have an amplifying effect on weight gain. So logically, people that are more likely to put on abdominal weight should be more careful in their eating habits. About 20 percent of obese men aged 20 to 55 reported migraines, while only 16 percent of non-obese men did.

Weight training has been shown to have a great impact on weight loss and it is an excellent way to strengthen your muscles. Combining full body and cardio exercises with strength training will give you the best results in the shortest amount of time. Weight training would be a very good form of exercise for this purpose. There seems to be a direct link between a person's physical fitness and their ability to adapt to business pressures, social stress and emotional overloads.

Eat Healthy Diet and Supplements Helps With Belly Fat

Eat a diet high in fibre which keeps you feeling full and helps weight loss as well as keeps you regular and eliminates toxins from the body. Include foods such as vegetables, fruit, pulses, beans, and fruit. Eat fibre-filled foods, such as beans or high fiber vegetables and fruit, at dinner or at the end of the day. Foods that contain fibre are hard to digest and cause gas that puffs up your stomach.

Add diet supplements to your overall weight loss plan. I recommend fat binders. They prevent your belly from absorbing fats from food. A good fat binder supplement is Proactol. You can get more information on Proactol at the bottom of this article.

In summary, belly fat isn't a nice thing to look at. Often times it can affect a persons self esteem and confidence. Alcohol, poor diet, stress and lack of exercise are major causes of belly fat. If you eat healthy and move more through exercise, you gain a better chance of getting rid of your belly fat

Amaechi is an Expert writer and reviewer of weight loss fat binders [http://www.info2health.net/proactol] like Proactol and other best diet supplement [http://www.info2health.net/proactol]. Click for more information on Proactol

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amaechi_Ekufu

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2033736

5 Easy Steps to Lose Belly Fat

Are you suffering from excess belly fat that won't budge no matter what you do?

Have the flashy infomercials convinced you that your belly fat is directly related to stress and that they have the miracle pill that will get rid of it with no effort on your part?

Are clever marketing ads suggesting your can rid your stubborn belly fat by investing in their "breakthrough" ab-machine?

Not only is belly fat unattractive, it's unhealthy. You're probably aware of this and have tried to do something about it, haven't you?

Let's face it. You've tried everything and nothing has worked thus far. Stop playing games with yourself. This is your body and your health, and it's about time you got the TRUTH about how to lose belly fat.

Fact #1 on How to Lose Belly Fat - As frustrating and harsh as this may sound, it needs to be said. You will NEVER lose belly fat by doing countless crunches every day. If so, wouldn't most people have them by now? You can do crunches until you are every color of the rainbow in the face and it WILL NOT get rid of belly fat.

Fact #2 on How to Lose Belly Fat - Fancy and expensive ab-machines won't get rid of belly fat. Most the ab-gadgets marketed focus on spot reducing, suggesting to the consumer that all they need to do is use their "state-of-the-art" ab-device and they will get rock hard abs.

Fact #3 on How to Lose Belly Fat - Fat-loss potions and other "miracle" quick fixes will not get rid of belly fat. Many marketing companies wait for the next new piece of "scientific evidence" to emerge so they can use just enough "scientific fact" to create a product and make extravagant claims that hit the consumer at the emotional level.

Fact #4 on How to Lose Belly Fat - Fad diets are the worst of all the belly fat scams. Fad diets prey upon the desperate. They evoke restriction and deprivation, cause a loss of muscle, bone, and water, and in the end, completely destroy the metabolism.

What You CAN Do To Lose Belly Fat I know what you are probably thinking at this point and I now have you completely depressed. Alas, I'm going to tell you how to lose that belly fat you hate and have been trying to get rid of.

If you implement these methods I'm about to discuss, you will begin to notice your mid-section decreasing in size and belly fat will slowly melt off, the right way. When you take fat off the right way, it's less likely to return. The idea is to create control and then maintain that control.

Keep in mind that this is not a "quick-fix" and you will not see results overnight. Sorry, but I speak the truth. What you can expect is:

Continual belly fat loss over the course of several weeks or more

To have less cravings

Feel the changes as well as see them

To increase your health and self-esteem

Lose Belly Fat Rule #1 - Detox your body and organs. Studies show that a body that's been purged of impurities functions better than one loaded down with toxins. Cleaning your intestinal track is the first step to good health.

Lose Belly Fat Rule #2 - Clean up your eating habits. The eating rules are to eat natural food derived from the earth. Eat a small balanced meal every 3 hours. Taper off complex carbs toward the end of the day. Doing these small, yet effective dietary changes will purge your body of toxins to allow the nutrients to be utilized and it will also boost your metabolic rate.

Lose Belly Fat Rule #3 - Drink water. If you already drinking water, drink more. Water is vitally necessary in toxin removal as well as getting fat moving and flushing it out of the body.

Lose Belly Fat Rule #4 - Cardio constitutes as an effective means of reducing belly fat, provided you keep it within reason. Losing belly fat with cardio is a tool, not the sole answer as many people may think. Doing 20-30 minutes of high intensity interval training three to five times a week is sufficient to boosting your metabolic rate and burning fat.

Lose Belly Fat Rule #5 - Abdominal exercises are wonderful in building a strong midsection. When you build stronger abdominal muscles you will look and feel better, improve posture, and alleviate lower back pain. You can do a wide array of various forms of crunches up to 4 times a week.

Lose Belly Fat Conclusion The bottom line about how to get rid of belly fat is not by investing tons of money into fancy gadgets, expensive pills, and starving oneself, but it's in nourishing the body, purging the impurities and exercising.

You won't have a model-ready body by tomorrow, but in time you will lose the belly fat and keep it off.

Now that you have the TRUTH about how to banish unsightly belly fat, use this information to your advantage and you will be unstoppable.

Karen Sessions has been in the fitness industry since 1988. She is a nationally qualified bodybuilder and holds two personal training certifications. She has written 6 ebooks on fitness and has helped hundreds of clients transform their bodies. http://www.theelitephysique.com "Use of this article is authorized provided it is reproduced in full, and all web URLS are active hyperlinks directed to the author"

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Sessions

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/460980

Lose Stubborn Belly Fat - Learn How Exercise And Diet Can Help To Lose Stubborn Belly Fat

Having a flat belly is a dream of most adults and a stubborn belly fat is everyone's enemy. If you're on your middle-age stage or you have has lots of children, or unnecessarily indulge in too much food or too many beers, you probably have been trying to say goodbye to your belly fat but each time you do, you always lose track. As such, what's the best strategy for the belly fat to be gone? As to what extent can you make to achieve what you have wanted to have for so long? How do you exactly do it? Is diet enough to lose all the belly fat? Or a total change in lifestyle is always the best choice to make it happen?

Having a belly fat is embarrassing for many. It is a flaw to consider for some and others do not mind it at all. However, to those people who are conscious about how they look, belly fat can contribute to a change in low self-esteem and confidence. This is because a bulging belly is one superficial part of the body and draws a lot of attention and attracts unfriendly stares instead of looking at you in the face. Whether you admit it or not, inactivity or sedentary lifestyle, unnecessary vices such as smoking and alcohol drinking and of course, the unhealthy diet are the primary reasons behind those fats in your body which are more apparent in your belly. So, what's the next big thing that you must do? Start changing your lifestyle into 360 degree angle. From the unhealthy to a more healthy adaptation of life.

When you want to say goodbye of your belly fat, there are many things you need to consider before finally deciding to make it happen. Remember, how to lose it is never easy, it is neither done overnight nor by simply going on a diet. It could be a part but that will never be the way to achieve your desired goal. Diet is a key factor as it is helpful in losing fat from any section of your body. Exercise is also another factor. It strengthens your muscles and helps in burning calories, thus decreasing fat. However, those two factors must be done altogether for a more desired result.

Stubborn Belly Fat Exercises

One of the best ways to lose belly fat is to perform cardiovascular exercises. Cardio workouts have a vital role to burn excess belly fat as the heart is pumping to its fullest. Here are some popular belly fat exercises that are deemed helpful and necessary:

• Running and Jogging


• Fast Walking


• Cycling


• Swimming


• Hiking

Running and Jogging

For all the mentioned exercises, running is an excellent cardio activity. However, for those with severe or too much belly fat like that of an obese, It might be difficult for them to do this. A better option for them to choose will be fast walking. Even if running is an exhausting exercise, it can speed up burning that belly fat. Running can be done outdoors early in the morning, or indoors on a treadmill.

Fast Walking

Walking is not just simply walking so slowly. I tell you, it will not work. As such, the easiest option to flatten that bulging belly fat is walking at a rapid pace or what is known as brisk walking for at least 20-30 minutes daily.

Cycling

Cycling is a form of exercise that does not only eliminates excess belly fat but will also decrease the size your thighs. Bicycling daily either on a stationary bike or outdoor cycling consistently for at least 30 minutes is a proven approach to melt belly fat.

Jogging

Jogging is one of the recommended exercises to burn fat as well as losing those extra pounds. Making jogging as part of the daily exercise routine is really very effective. Jogging for 30 minutes daily can work wonders and it should be done properly to reduce fat in the belly area.

Swimming

Without the knowledge of many, swimming is a very good exercise to get rid of your fats. To swim means you have to do the moves properly and not just to play in water and just swim lazily. That should be like that. Swimming is considered a complete body exercise and must be done energetically.

Hiking

This is usually for persons who find cardio workouts boring. Hiking is really for you. It is an activity that accelerates the calorie burning process of the body, which in turn helps to get rid of the fat tissue in the belly area.

Diet

• One cannot just simply disregard diet and concentrate only on exercises. It will not take a great effect. Keeping good eating habits combined with cardiovascular exercises are necessary to eliminate stubborn belly fat.


• Fat burning foods or negative calorie foods should be eaten as these has lesser calorie than needed by the body. Weight loss can be very evident if eaten regularly. Examples of this food include oat meal, apple, watermelons, beans, etc.


• Foods high in protein such as eggs, beans, oatmeal, whole grains, lean meat as well as dairy products like low-fat milk and non-fat yogurt can also be a big help to reduce fat. Eating these foods in just a right amount will work wonders.


• Consuming sugar rich foods such as cakes, candies and chocolates will not even help you to reduce tummy fat. Prevent yourself from eating junk foods such as pizza, cheeseburgers, fries, etc.


• Force fluids by drinking 6-8 glasses of water daily; it increases your feeling full.


• Do not eat anything after 7 pm; if you are hungry eat only soup or fruits and vegetables.

Next, learn about the exact causes of gaining weight so that you can eliminate the extra fats in your body effortlessly. Click on the link and find out more about the rapid fat loss methods shared on the weight loss site today.

Are you lacking the motivation to carry out your weight loss plans? Visit our website today to learn how to lose stubborn belly fat once and for all.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stepfanie_Wayne

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5258631

Exercise How and Why It Makes Us Feel Good

One of the great benefits of exercising is how good it makes us feel after doing it. However, nobody ever really has looked into it in great depth, to find out why. So in this post, we are going to look at some of the mechanisms and the how’s and why’s of why it makes us feel so good after doing it.

A typical example of this is a study that was put together in Norway, where participants were compared side-by-side one group exercised. However, although there is beautiful scenery in Norway, and plenty of places to explore those that didn’t exercise had poorer mental health. Compared to those who did exercise.

Another study which was put together by theAmericanSportsCollege, found that a group of women. When they exercised on a bicycle or did resistance training felt less anxious than they did previously having been diagnosed with anxiety disorder. Even now, in this day and age, scientists still don’t know the reasons why and how exercise affects our brains on a basic cellular level. However, another study has managed to unlock some of the mysteries surrounding this.

This study was put together by the National Institute Of Mental Health, which did various experiments with mice to see how it affected them. If they were in a stressful situation, they used two types of mice with different personalities. One was very aggressive and dominating the others were introverted and quiet. The more dominant alpha mice had their own cages.

They put the two mice together within the cage, which had a clear partition the aggressive mouse tried every territorial tactic to make the other mouse feel bullied and intimidated. The reason they tend to behave like this is because in the wild male mice tend to be loners.

When the researchers removed the clear partition, they had to restrain the more aggressive mouse to stop it from hurting the other quieter one. Because the other mouse had been exposed to so much aggression it started to twitch and behaved submissively.

They kept the mice together in the partitioned cage for two weeks, the scientists then tried putting them in stressful situations to monitor their behavior in each instance. They ran for cover and exhibited what the scientists called anxiety type behaviors.

One of the scientists said that they didn’t actually become depressed, but showed symptoms of being so. However a second group of mice, which had been exercising and generally more active on mouse wheels as well as exploring plastic tubes.

Behaved very differently when they were put together with the aggressive mouse, when confronted by it. They just moved away and carried on as normal as though nothing had happened. When they were put in unfamiliar situations similar to the other mice. They didn’t run into corners to hide and didn’t twitch either.

The scientists concluded that the mouse which exercised had become stress free, one of the scientists said that people exposed to anxiety over a long period of time can cause depression. Something the researchers struggled to understand for a long time now is how some people are more resilient to it than others. So after the study was over, they decided to look a bit more deeply at what was going on in the mouse’s brains.

They had a look at their brain cells, particularly the ones whom had been exercising. And this is what they found, in the part of the brain that is called the medial prefrontal cortex which handles our emotions. And has connections to the amygdala, which handles feelings of anxiety and fear, in the mice who had been exercising, these neurons had been firing more often during the weeks. When they had been exercising, compared to the mice who hadn’t their brain shows cells showed hardly any firing at all.

One of the scientists involved in the study Dr Lehman, said that even though the research was done on mice. He believes there could be some links with people as well. In human relations. He also went on to say that in order to get the same benefit you do not need to spend hours exercising all the time.

Even if it is 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there. You will still gain some benefits, both from a physical and mental point of view. Yet another positive reinforcement of how beneficial exercise is to us from a mental health point of view. If you have any thoughts and opinions about this. Please leave a comment in the relevant section.

Sources and references: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com

why exercise makes us feel good ,feel good after stent exercise and eat vegetarian

Share on Tumblr

Related posts:

Can Exercise Make You Feel Full?5 Ways Exercise Makes Your Life BetterIs Exercise and The Fact It Makes You Thin a Myth?The Fantastic Voyage of ExerciseCan Caffeine Help You Exercise Better

View the original article here

Health Risks for Skinny People?

We have been told over and over that being overweight is unhealthy. But, we never hear about the unhealthy aspects of being thin.

Are there risks of being too thin?

Of course, a person can be too thin (underweight) with a BMI under 18.5. Once a person's BMI drops below 18.5 the risk factors soar.

Here is a list of risks you put yourself at when your BMI nears the underweight range:
Osteopenia/Osteoporosis: 1 in 2 women are likely to get osteoporosis later in life. Being thin puts a woman at greater risk for breaking bones later in life. Since thin women carry around fewer pounds, they put less stress on the bones and joints which does not help bone growth. In addition, thin women have less fat mass and therefore, produce less estrogen. Estrogen is the key to maintaining healthy bones.Infertility: Both thin men and women are at risk for infertility. Again, not having enough fat mass causes disruption is hormone production leading to disrupted menstrual cycles for women, and lower sperm counts for men.Inflammation and Decreased Immune System: As the body begins to detect malnourishment, the immune system becomes weakened and those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to inflammation. When the body is working on maintaining proper nourishment, it is hard to maintain a healthy immune system when you don't have all the macro and micronutrients needed.If someone is underweight, it is generally easier to gain a few pounds than to lose a few pounds. A few extra snacks, adding some strength exercises, and adding a few more nutrient-dense foods in the day is all it takes sometimes. It is better to maintain a healthy weight, and to be thin (not underweight) by today's standards than to be overweight. Finally, it is imprtant to ask your doctor to decide on how healthy your weight really is.

View the original article here

Getting Enough Iodine in a Healthy Diet

Getting enough iodine in the diet is essential for proper thyroid function, which in turn controls a number of crucial bodily processes.

While iodized salt is how many get their daily dose, people on special diets may have to focus on other foods to get adequate iodine in their diets.

Iodine is used by the thyroid gland to produce two hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Since the human body can't synthesize iodine, getting enough in the diet is essential.

These hormones regulate the metabolism of every cell in the human body so if the thyroid isn't functioning properly brain fog, fatigue, weight gain, weakness and/or depression can be a sign. Also, birth defects can result from mothers being iodine deficient and severe iodine deficiency results in a goiter (enlarged thyroid).

While goiter is uncommon in developed nations, slight iodine deficiencies could go misdiagnosed, especially for those on special diets.

While some countries advocate the use of iodized salt, fertilizers, and animal feed, other countries do not so slight deficiencies could be prevalent depending on where a person lives.

Also, vegetarians and those who eat mostly organic products may need to be extra conscious of how much iodine they are consuming in order to get the recommended 150mcg of iodine daily (pregnant or lactating woman should have between 220-290mcg daily). Here are some foods rich in iodine. Kelp: 1/4 cup yields 415mcgYogurt: 1 cup yields 87mcg*MIlk: 1 cup yields 59mcg*Eggs: 1 egg yields 24mcg*Strawberries: 1 cup yields 13mcgShell fish and fish: can vary from about 70mcg to 1000mcg (the upper safe limit for adults is around 1100mcg daily)Mozzerela cheese: 1oz yields 10mcg**This depends on the animal consuming iodine rich feed.
Fruits and vegetables grown in iodine rich soil would also supply iodine, but this can vary greatly among regions.

Those that consume a lot of processed foods probably don't have to worry about getting enough iodine. However, for those of us that try to eat healthy it may be worth spending some time evaluating our daily diets to make sure we're consuming enough. This is especially important if any of the signs of deficiency are present.

Source: World's Healthiest Foods

View the original article here

Tips to Prevent Late Night Snacking

You're up watching late-night television when you get the sudden urge to eat something. Should you ignore it or give in?

A lot of us have been taught that late-night snacking equals weight gain. And it usually does: you're more likely to pack on pounds if you make late-night snacking a habit.

But it's not really the timing that leads to weight loss - it's the types of food. Whether it's a little bit of ice cream or some chips, the calories add up.

Luckily, there are simple ways to get late-night snacking under control. Follow these six tips to ward off those late-night cravings.

Pretty simple, huh? This should be your first line of defense since water is naturally calorie-free. Many times, that feeling of hunger we have is just plain ol' thirst, even though it may not seem like it at first. Have a glass of water and wait a few minutes. Chances are that your "hunger pang" will subside. If not, it's time for plan B...

When late-night cravings strike, it's usually for something sweet. Instead of reaching for that tub of Haagen-Dazs, reach for some fruit instead. You'll get the sugar fix you want without all the extra calories and fat that can damage your diet. Some good fruits to try are berries, bananas, mangoes and peaches - all of which are packed with heart-healthy antioxidants.

A common cause for snacking at night is not eating enough throughout the day. If you're used to eating just three huge meals a day, consider breaking up those big portions into smaller, more frequent meals. That way, you stay satisfied and won't feel the need to snack day or night.

Do you really need to be up until 1 or 2 in the morning watching television? Probably not. With the technology nowadays, you can turn off the tube and catch up on your shows at your convenience. And seeing how a majority of Americans aren't getting enough sleep, it wouldn't hurt to knock out a little earlier than usual. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep whenever possible.

Alcohol does double damage on your body. Not only is it filled with empty calories, but it also stimulates your appetite. And with your judgment impaired, you're more likely to indulge on some unhealthy fare. If you plan on drinking, limit your intake and stay far away from food. Your stomach will thank you.

If you usually exercise in the morning, switch things up and hit the gym at night. You'll keep your mind off food and burn calories while you're at it. After a vigorous workout, it's unlikely you'll want to eat anything; you'll more than likely knock out fast (see #4). Ultimately, it's a win-win situation.

Written by Geoffrey Anderson Jr., the editor of MenScience Magazine, a men's skincare blog. He's written about nutrition, fitness and health for the past four years, including a 2-year stint with industry giant eDiets.com. He is based in Miami, Florida.

View the original article here

Top 5 Things You Did Not Know About Belly Fat

Jelly Belly. Love Handles. Muffin Tops. Belly Fat. Call it what you wish, the truth is that unwanted stomach fat, or "Visceral Fat," is more seriously harmful than the silly names we refer to it as. Think you know all there is about that unwanted weight around the midriff? Here are some facts that may not only surprise, but SHOCK you as to the dangers of excess weight around the abdomen.

1. Drop the Spare Tire, and Spare Your Life
Belly fat, when hidden under the muscle and surrounding the organs, is known as visceral fat. Unlike the abdominal fat that jiggles when you jump up and down, this visceral belly fat actually turns into an "endocrine organ". The belly flab you can see on the outside is visually unappealing, but it is not as dangerous as the belly flab you do not see, the visceral belly fat. Visceral fat surrounds vital organs and is responsible for what is known as metabolic syndrome. Those suffering from metabolic syndrome have an increase of free fatty acids, insulin resistance and elevated blood pressure. This dangerous cluster of diseases makes those with a large waste circumference 4-5 times likelier to die from cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. Reduction of this abdominal fat not only will help you look better, but can also save your life.

2. Crunches Don't Burn It Off
Many people with excess belly fat resort to endless sit ups in order to try to reduce the flab around their bellies. One of the biggest myths in fitness is the concept that sit ups and crunches will burn your belly fat. Although abdominal exercises are beneficial for building the core muscles, they do very little for burning the fat surrounding the abdominal area. In many cases, the abdominal area actually looks bigger from the original fat plus the increase in core muscle gained from endless crunches.

3. Belly Fat Gain - So Easy, a Cave Man Can Do It
Have you ever wondered why it is so easy to gain fat in the belly area and so hard to lose it? The answer to this question has to do with the sophistication of the human body. Since fat is stored energy, the body keeps this form of readily available fuel close to the very organs that use it. It doesn't make sense for our body to utilize stored energy that is on your foot when it can keep it close by. Since stored fat is considered the emergency source of fuel, it is also the last area that the body burns fuel from. To use accounting terms, belly fat is considered first in and last out.

4. Blame your Ancestors for your Belly
Why do some people store fat in their bellies while others on their thighs? The answer to this question is found in our DNA. Haven't you noticed that as we get older we start looking just like our parents? The DNA handed down from generation has unique codes which program your body to store fat in specific areas. The same DNA that gives you specific body features like hair and eye color also makes you prone to retain fat in the abdomen. Although this fat can be eliminated, those with the belly fat storage gene have to work extremely hard to keep fat from accumulating around their guts.

5. The 3 Prong Method to Ditch the Love Handles
If endless crunches are not the answer for belly fat reduction, what is? The best way to reduce belly fat is a multi-faceted approach that requires a strict diet, exercises and supplementation. The best exercises to reduce belly fat are those that use interval training. Interval training is based on quick elevations of heart rate followed by quick rest periods. Although exercise is important in reduction of belly fat, it is useless if you do not follow a proper diet. We recommend utilizing a basal metabolic rate (bmr) calculator in order to determine the correct amount of calories your body type needs in order to lose weight. BMR calculators are available all over the internet for free. The last component in reducing belly fat is supplementation. There are thousands of products on the market that claim to burn fat but offer little results if any. DHEA (Dehydropiandrosterone) is the only natural supplement that actually has been clinically proven to reduce abdominal fat. DHEA is a natural occurring hormone that starts to diminish as we age. Dehydroepiandrosterone has also been linked to increase in libido and mood.

Losing weight and belly fat sometimes seems like an impossible task. There are many challenges that many people have to overcome in order to win the battle of the bulge. By following some of the steps above and understating the risk associated with belly fat, the fight to lose that abdominal fat can be won. Do not be discouraged as the process to burn fat can sometimes be slow.

Rafael

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rafael_Olarte

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5063737

Weight Loss with Intermittent Fasting Can Be Easier Than Dieting

This is a guest post by Will Kashis of www.Diets.md

If you’ve ever tried to lose weight by going on a diet, you know just how difficult that can be. Most diets have unpleasant restrictions that make you cringe even before you begin dieting. After all, eating is fun. Food tastes great, and sometimes the only comfort people have is the food they get to enjoy each day.

Even if you can motivate yourself to cut out carbohydrates, fats, sugars, and more, it is difficult to keep up with a restrictive diet for longer than a month or even two weeks. Plus, even if you do lose a substantial amount of weight, you might put all that weight back on as soon as you begin binge eating all of the goodies that you gave up while you were dieting.

Instead of One-Step-at-a-Time, Lose Weight One-Day-a-Week

If you want to lose weight, but can’t seem to stick to a regimented diet plan, perhaps it is time to try intermittent fasting. This approach offers a new way to cut calories. It preaches a change in focus whereby calories are counted weekly rather than daily. What does it mean? Let me give you an example:

Assume you need about 2,000 calories a day to maintain your bodyweight. This means that if you want to lose half a pound of fat a week, you’ll need to eat 250 fewer calories every single day for seven days, if you follow a traditional weight-loss regime. But you can do it differently. You can eat normally 6 out of 7 days, and then fast one day to burn 1,750 calories and lose that half a pound. By looking at the bigger picture, the guilt of occasionally splurging on burgers and fries is removed.

If you can’t succeed at daily dieting, this isn’t a reason not to attempt weekly dieting. After all, fasting one day out of the week isn’t that difficult. You give up enough calories in that one day, so you can enjoy eating a normal calorie intake throughout the rest of the week.

Burning Fat Naturally and Easily

Even though the human body is designed to eat on a daily basis to fuel itself, it is possible for people to go without food for a single day without any problems. After all, thousands of people fast for 24 hours before medical procedures or while recuperating from the flu.

While you are fasting, your body is burning some of its fat stores in order to fuel itself. Normally, your body would turn the food you eat throughout the day into energy. However, when you go into fasting mode, your body uses up some of the fat you have stored on your waist, hips, thighs, and so on.

Intermittent Fasting Does Not Sap Your Energy Levels

Despite what you may think, intermittent fasting does not sap your energy levels. Of course, if you were to continue fasting for days at a time, you would probably begin to feel tired and weak. However, fasting for only one day does not have this effect, especially if you take the time to perform some type of exercise or resistance training.

Furthermore, a recent study by the Intermountain Medical Center in Utah showed that the body releases cholesterol during fasting, enabling the body to tap into its fat reserves for energy. In fact, a recent British study on fasting has also come up with some positive results and health benefits for fasting. More studies concerning the benefits of temporary fasting are sure to follow.

If you want to learn more on how intermittent fasting can help you lose weight, then turn your attention to Eat Stop Eat weight loss program, that is totally based on intermittent fasting.

Will Kashis is a nutrition writer who freelances for niche publications and recently launched his site at www.Diets.md

Note if your thinking of doing this please consult a professional for advice before doing so this post is for educational informational purposes only.

intermittent fasting ,intermittent fasting weight loss ,does intermittent fasting aid in fat loss ,fast one day a week maintain weight ,intermittent fasting weight loss podcast

Share on Tumblr

Related posts:

Why Yo-Yo Weight Loss Is a No-NoHow to Lose Weight without Dieting Five Secrets the Experts Won’t Tell YouFAQ About Weight Loss and DietIs Crash Dieting Safe and Can It Work?10 Biggest Reasons Why Weight Loss Fails

View the original article here

Lose Belly Fat - Causes of Belly Fat

Losing belly fat is what everyone really desires to do at every point in time but, is it that easy? If one can loss belly fat and make it permanent, it will be a nice idea but how possible will that be? This is definitely the desire for everyone and it is possible to achieve if approaches well. There is a given point in almost everyone's life when we eat more calories more than we release out never knowing our body stores this excess calories in the form of fat which is later spreads round our entire body system. Majority of the people store fat mainly on the belly before it moves round the other part because it is the easiest place for the body to store anything that enters it. That's the bad news but the good news is that if only you can start burning off more and more calories than you normally consume then you have the chances that your body will immediately begins to convert the stored fat back into energy as you burn it off everyday. If you have more fat on your belly belief that more fat will be burned out from your belly. The old belly loss fact does not work because people are using them and still getting fatter. Below are the old facts of tummy fat:

Low Fat Diet Don't Work

One of the oldest methods of belly fat loss-low fat diet cannot help you lose fat. Low fat foods have been in use for over 17 years, but yet the society is getting fatter. This is to inform you that eating low calorie food alone cannot solve the problem of belly fat. If your idea now is to starve yourself, I promise that will not help.

Low Dieting Plan Do not Work

It is very difficult to loss belly fat with the use of low dieting plan. Low diets have recently become too popular over the last few years and they seem to be good though, but the problem with low dieting plan is that they are too hard to carry out accordingly for the average man. Low dieting plans lean to cheat your body of too much energy and thus make it practically impossible to remain on the program for too long. This is the reason why a good number of people into the process are not able to complete because many dieters find it difficult to follow a strict low carbohydrate menu.

What About Weight Watcher

Using the techniques of weight watcher in the process of loosing belly fat is a very long complicated tunnel to follow. It is often described as time eater and with that reason, many people cannot wait to complete its process and it only promises 2-3 pound belly lose every week.

In the other hand, programs like Jenny Craig generally involve buying of special meals and dietary supplements during the first phases of the program. While some people may like these types of dietary programs, the most preferred a dieting plan. Let's now look into some of the causes of belly fat.

Causes of Belly Fat

Before you start burning belly fat, you need to understand some of the causes. A lot of people believed that it is due to improper dieting or probably lack of exercise that causes belly fat. Though, this may be the most common causes, but there can be other reasons or causes of the idiot called belly fat. Consider briefly the following causes:

Menopause

Women experience more percentage of belly fat than men. After menopause in woman, your body fat spreads to different parts of the body but more of the fat goes to the belly. This is how it goes, after the menopause, viscera (intuitive) fat stays right inside the stomach and surrounds the abdominal organs in the body. This type of fat has been linked to the following disease: the cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some other related health issues. There is a fat called subcutaneous fat and it is located in between skin and the abdominal wall.

Improper Digestion

Improper digestion of foods is another cause of belly fat. Most people who complain of belly fat today is due to improper digestion of the food they eat. This may be caused by stress. Improper digestion as a result of stress causes different kinds of gastro-intestinal problems leaving you gassy and overstuffed. Eating late night and immediately going to bed causes a lot of gastro-intestinal problems because the food will not digest before you go to bed thereby forming gaseous liquid due to over-compression in the abdomen. This gaseous liquid will never digest again but rather accumulate and solidify to for fat in the belly.

Slow Metabolism

As we grow into older age, our metabolic rate decreases which causes slow burning of fat. At 25years of age, our metabolism starts to decrease, in fact our metabolism starts reducing in every 10years this means that each time we added ten years to our age our metabolism decreases by about 5-7%. What determines our metabolism is age, gender, body composition, eating pattern, exercise rate etc.

Posture Effect

Poor posture in another cause of belly fat, but many people don't know about that. Posture is the average position at all point. Whether we are sleeping, standing, sitting, walking, or any other position we may find ourselves being in the right position of that position is necessary. Poor posture does not only have a serious effect on our musculoskeletal system, bring soft tissue pain and join dysfunction but also cause belly fat.

Stress

Stress is another cause of belly fat. But the question is can anyone totally do away with stress and keep it permanent? The truth is even if you tried to do away with stress now while still having belly fat, you'll still need to take some good dieting plan to get rid of the belly fat completely.

How to Lose Belly Fat?

Getting rid of ugly belly doesn't have to be hard when you have a secret weight loss plan that is guaranteed to work for both men and women!

To discover this amazing secret for yourself and get a free gifts, visit: http://www.fastfatburningfurnace.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Owen_Linnen

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3633794

Losing Belly Fat - The Things To Take Note

People are called fat if they have bigger body than anyone else, much more when they have belly fat. As such, losing belly fat is one of the concerns among many today. it doesn't only impose a health risk, but a psychological torture for them seeing themselves not pleasing to look at.

Body fat in general is not that all bad to be considered. To some extent, fat is needed by the body for some functions. However, you need to understand the difference between the good and bad fat. Good fat can give you essential vitamins such as A, D, E and K which our body benefits from. On the other note, when fat is accumulated more than what our body requires, then that is already a bad fat, you can be considered obese or overweight. As such is the case, losing some fat is required because fat has the tendency to accumulate in the belly.

There are a lot of major factors contributing to belly fat. These are overeating, no exercise, and lack of balanced diet. When you eat often to restaurants serving bigger than required, or you eat even when not hungry, or having midnight snacks over movie marathon, going to parties and celebrating holidays with bunch of foods. All these and more can add to belly fat. Even those that you do daily, like driving instead of walking, or using stairs than the elevator are an added factor.

There could have been a lot of fats burnt when you use the stairs or walk instead, but people are busy and becoming lazy these days. Those fast food chains can also increase fats, sugars and carbohydrates in your diets. Your simple disregard of vegetables and fruits is a big factor. Your belly fat can even be more when you have a high calorie intake. Adding more calories than what are only needed by the body, the more fats to be stored. How sedentary your lifestyle can slow down your metabolism.

Really, it is tough losing belly fat, you have to make a sacrifice and determination to do it. It will never happen overnight or even a week. The process will take long. However, so long as you set your goals realistically and you have been keeping your eye on the goal, you will see the desired result soon. Here are some tips for everyone to get rid of belly and say hello to a flat and sexy tummy.

To get yourself motivated to do necessary ways to lose belly fat, you have to understand what are the risks associated with it, most especially the health risks. Belly fat has always been linked with cardiovascular diseases (heart conditions), diabetes (high sugar) and cancer. This is so because fat cells from the belly fat would produce hormones and other substances that are detrimental to health. On the other note, since belly is close to the liver, fatty liver is also common among fat people. For you to be able to know if you are unhealthy or not, here's how to measure.

With the use of tape measure, wrap it around your waist at the level of your navel. A measurement of more than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men is considered to be unhealthy/obese/overweight.

Exercise for weight loss all over the body especially in the belly is important. Again, spot-reduction is not advised. Do not focus only on your belly to flatten it, instead, do a total body work out. Do calorie burning exercises rather than just sit-ups or crunches. Abdominal exercises are not an effective way to lose belly fat because it only strengthens your abdominals. A good cardiovascular or aerobic exercise is more beneficial. It is also proven that a combination of resistance training and cardiovascular exercise works better. A study would even show that those who lifted weights and did cardio at the same time lost twice as much belly fat than those who did cardio alone. Exercise can also reduce stress, thus, decreasing the hormone that cause more belly fat deposits.

It is important to know how to structure the workouts. Don't waste all the time doing abdominal exercise targeting only the stomach area because it would not be very effective. It is quite unfortunate that many people still do not understand this and spend so much time doing exercise that targets the belly. Majority of the workout time must be spent doing multi-joint exercises with different parts of the body such as legs, chest, back, etc. as that would increase metabolic rate during and after the workout.

Changing your diet is also very important to consider. Do not restrict calorie intake, just reduce what are unnecessary.

It is also important to switch refined grains to whole grains. Eating whole grains with an additional serving of fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products, lean meats (fish or pultry) can help lose more belly fat than eating refined grains. Remember, whole grains can change the glucose response of the body that can speed up melting of the deep layer of fat in the stomach which in turn can be easier for the body to burn the fats under the body.

A higher ratio of monounsaturated fats can also prevent the accumulation of belly fats. These fats are usually seen among avocado, nuts and seeds (cashew, peanuts, and almonds), dark chocolate, grape seed oil, etc.

Trans fats found in margarine, crackers, cookies, etc. can cause more fat being deposited in the abdomen; so this should be avoided.

Soluble fibers can reduce the hormone that causes fat production. Eat more of these which are mostly found in apples, oats, cherries, beans, etc.

Consume more fat burning foods with a negative calorie content. Examples are beans, apples, apricots, olive oil, egg white, lean cuts of meats, etc.

Losing belly fat as always is not an easy thing to do. The more you do something worth the effort, the more you will succeed. Most people fail in their want to lose a belly fat because they stop at the middle as they cannot bear the exhaustion, and the most who succeeded are the persons who can take the challenge as in a positive way, those who find exhaustion a challenge, those who are very persevering to do it whatever it takes. So, when you want to be fit and with a flat tummy, be a positive person who can fit in into the newly adopted lifestyle for a healthier and sexier you.

Next, learn how to stay motivated and accordingly to your weight loss plans without falling short. Click on the following link and learn what is needed in order to eliminate belly fat.

Are you trying to reduce waist size in order to fit in those slim pants? Visit StaySlimLoseWeight.com today and learn the tips on keeping slim and losing weight in order to fit into those sexy pants.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stepfanie_Wayne

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5601222

Ingredient in Apples Found to Keep Muscle Stronger

It’s a well-known fact that one of the problems when you get older is you tend to lose muscle mass, which really is something we need to try and keep hold of the main the reason being is that muscle tends to be active tissue.

When we lose muscle it can be connected with illness and ageing, you can be in a hospital because of it, and your stay may be longer than you need, because of this particular problem.

Some researchers reported their findings about muscle in a publication called Cell Metabolism, to try and find out what happens to muscle when it deteriorates. They looked at various aspects of what happens. The in-depth research, found 63 genes, which are responsible for it happening.

Both mice and people can suffer from the same problem. They also found 29 other genes, which were connected as well. Further research led them to look at something called ursolic acid, which tends to be present in apples, which is in the peel.

Scientists gave ursolic acid to mice who were fasted, when the scientists included this in their diet. Their muscles started to grow as well as this happening other things followed their blood sugar was lower, as well as decreased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.

One of the researchers involved in this particular study said he wasn’t sure whether, it would translate into human subjects, but nevertheless, it was a very interesting find he says. So it would seem that an apple a day does keep the doctor away as well as keeping other diseases at bay one of the great things about apples is they contain a lot of fibre, which acts like a gel in your stomach. Keeping you fuller for longer, which is something to bear in mind.

Sources and references: http://www.sciencedaily.com

Share on Tumblr

Related posts:

Drinking Protein Drinks After Exercise Boosts Muscle PerformanceExercise Which Is Best ?What Does a Western Diet Do to Your Fat Genes?Exercise How and Why It Makes Us Feel GoodCan Exercise Alter Obesity Genes

View the original article here

The Dangers of Belly Fat and How to Lose It

Having too much belly fat is linked with serious diseases, such as heart disease, and diabetes. Studies show belly fat is extra bad for you but researchers are still investigating the exact reason why deep belly fat is so hazardous to one's health. According to government researchers, the link between stress, tension, and excess belly fat is known as the Metabolic Syndrome. The culprit that causes this condition is insulin resistance and until this problem is corrected belly fat is likely to persist. Belly fat is now believed to be the main underlying cause of chronic inflammation.

Losing belly fat is actually much more serious than not looking good in your clothing or swimming suit. Belly fat is a stored energy and the most noticeable form of belly fat is subcutaneous, showing up as love handles and belly rolls. People think that the stubborn belly fat is the problem, when in fact; controlling the fat is the problem. The first thing you must understand about how to effectively reduce belly fat is that there is no magic bullet when it comes to weight loss. The best way to rid belly fat is a synergy of these four elements: diet, cardio, resistance training and targeted abdominal exercises.

The muffin top, the spare tire around the middle, that midriff bulge -- no matter what you call it, belly fat is hard to lose. So, the question remains, how do you effectively reduce belly fat? I am not going to lie to you folks, banishing belly fat is tough. If you want to lose belly fat then you most modify your diet and incorporate exercise so you can lose stomach fat in a short amount of time. Another way to fight belly fat is find effective ways to lower your stress levels while exercising more and eating slightly less. Lowering stress will control cortisol production, thereby helping to significantly reduce belly fat. Strength training uses up cortisol which helps reduce belly fat and curb your appetite. Eating foods that have omega-3 fats are shown to reduce stress. Broil, bake or grill fish to lower levels of PCBs and dioxins. Eliminating white sugar and flour may also help reduce that "mid-life" belly fat that creeps onto many of us. Quickly learn how to calculate how many calories a day you need to lose. You can monitor your belly fat by using a caliper. A caliper will measure your body fat so you can track belly fat loss around the abdominals.

Exercise may be a more effective way to lose belly fat than diet alone, according to a new study from Wake Forest University. However exercise alone may not be enough for some people to burn belly fat off. Diet is a very important factor and here are some points to keep in mind when trying to lose belly fat:

o Consume less sugar

o Consume less processed foods

o Consume less sodium

If you manage to lose just 5 to 10 percent of your overall body weight, you can reduce the hazardous layer of belly fat by as much as 30 percent.

Did you find this information on belly fat useful? If so you can learn a lot more about losing body fat here: http://www.fitness-4life.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Downey

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/347548

Eating Fibre Helps In the Battle With Belly Fat

Belly fat is not something that a lot of us like to have especially if we have an excess of it. Some of the reasons for not having it, are you may be at risk of getting cardiovascular disease as well as diabetes, so anything that we can do to prevent it is all for the good.

So apart from cutting calories and eating different foods as well as exercise. Is there anything else that we can do to keep it in check and reduce it if we have it? Well the good news is yes there is just by eating certain types of foods. We can help ourselves to combat it.

The problem with belly fat is it can tend to be visceral fat, which is the more harmful of the two visceral fat, tends to get around your organs, which is something that you don’t particular need or want.

In order to reduce this particular type of fat it’s merely simply a case of eating more soluble fiber, which can be found in vegetables, fruit and beans. A new study which was done at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Found some really interesting things about soluble fiber, and belly fat.

During the study, they found that for every 10 gram increase in soluble fiber. The amount of visceral fat in the participants was reduced by a factor of 4.7 percent if they did some moderate activity. This increased visceral fat loss by 7.4 percent. In order to incorporate 10 grams of soluble fiber in your diet, all you need to do is eat the following.

Two small apples, a cup full of green peas and a half a cup of pinto beans. As far as the moderate exercise goes, one of the researchers stated that it’s a case of exercising vigorously for a period of 30 minutes two to four times a week. That is all you need to do. However, some people may prefer to exercise more. This is entirely up to the individual and how fit they are.

So next time your shopping make sure you that you stock up on fruit and vegetables that contain lots of soluble fiber. If you have anything to add to this then, please leave a comment in the section below.

Here is a list of soluble fiber foods just in case your not sure what to use.

Banana’s

Kidney beans cooked

Soybeans

Oranges

Oatmeal

Citrus fruits

Lima beans

Dates

Beets

Gooseberries

Peaches

Sweet potatoes

Apricots

Oats

Oatmeal

Pears with the skin on

Dates

Raisins

Strawberries

Mangoes

Grapes

Parsnips

Papaya

Sources and references: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

Share on Tumblr

Related posts:

Are You Eating Enough FibreWill Eating More Greens Ward off DiabetesFatty Liver Vs Fat Belly What Is the Difference Regarding Health?How Many Portions Of Fruit And Vegetables Do You Need To Be Eating A Day?Tart Cherries May Be able to Reduce Belly Fat

View the original article here

The Thrive Diet

The Thrive Diet was created by professional ironman, Brendan Brazier, and is based on following a vegan diet to achieve optimal performance and health.

He designed his vegan program for anyone, no matter if you are an athlete or not.

Can this restrictive plant based diet improve performance and allow for balanced nutrition?

The Thrive Diet allows no dairy, gluten, wheat, soy, corn, refined sugar, or animal products. Specific energy gels and sports drinks are allowed, however. Foods that are highly recommended are legumes, vegetables, seeds, some grains, fruits, oils, and nuts. Lower body fat and increase muscle toneDecrease signs of agingIncrease energy and mental clarityIncrease sleepImprove moodStrengthen the immune systemLower cholesterolDecrease junk food cravingsThe main struggle when going vegan and soy-free is figuring out how to get high quality protein into your diet. Brendan recommends specific legume powders to add to smoothies and homemade energy bars to sneak in additional complete proteins. It can be done, but it is hard to consume more than 80 grams of legume/nut/grain protein in one day.

The only other concern is adequate vitamin and mineral intake. If following this diet, you might need supplementation of B12, vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and possibly iron.

This diet will likely reduce your cholesterol since it is practically a cholesterol-free diet, and will likely lower your body fat percentage since you will be eating fewer calories. I am doubtful the diet could improve your immune system or sleep habits much, but all the other claims seem reasonable.

Since this diet is pretty restrictive, it would be hard for the average athlete to follow. It takes more time, energy, and money to prepare for a diet like this. It can be done, but you need to focus on getting enough calories, protein, and fuel for your lifestyle.

The book can be found on amazon here.

View the original article here

Vegetables For Lean Muscle Growth?

Is there anything green leafy vegetables can't do for you?

We already knew that eating plenty of vegetables reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. Vegetables can also help you to maintain a healthy weight and they protect against inflammation.

But research now shows that vegetables are also fantastic for building strong, lean muscle mass.

According to a study published last February in Cell Metabolism -- and summarized in Science Daily -green leafy vegetables can help the mitochondria in body cells, including muscle cells, work more efficiently. What are mitochondria? Sometimes mitochondria are called the "power plants" of the cells. They are the organelles that produce energy so that cells can operate properly. They also convert molecules of food nutrients into energy that the entire body can use.

When you eat plenty of spinach, parsley, kale, or other green leafy vegetables, you provide your body with nitrates that make your mitochondria work better and cause you to need less oxygen during your workouts. In other words, you can work out more comfortably, without feeling as though you are gasping for breath.

You'll also have more energy as you go about the rest of your day, but I suspect you'll notice that energy the most during your workout!

You can't reproduce the effect of eating a big green salad by taking a supplement (in case you were thinking of it!). Nitrates in food need to be processed by bacteria in your mouth in order for the body to make efficient use of them. In fact, the bacteria in your mouth play such an important role in processing nutrients that scientists are now speculating that powerful antibacterial mouthwashes could block the effects of green leafy vegetables.

Green leafy vegetables are also high in glutamine, an amino acid that is often taken by body builders as a supplement. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and protein helps the body to build muscle mass. Believe it or not, green leafy vegetables are fairly good sources of protein, though you'll want other protein sources in your diet as well. While glutamine can be supplemented, you will get other benefits, such as the effect of the nitrates on your mitochondria, not to mention the fiber in your vegetables, if you get your glutamine from dietary sources, such as parsley, spinach, and asparagus.

However, if you really don't care for salad, there are alternatives. One is to juice your greens in a smoothie.

Try this simple recipe:

Fill a blender halfway with spinach, and then add three bananas and two cups of water (and as much ice as you'd like). Puree and you'll have a sweet green smoothie, that won't taste like spinach no matter how green it looks. You could also add some red beets, which are also high in nitrates.

Vegetables are helpful for muscle-building at any age, but they are especially important for older adults. A 2008 study showed that an increase in the blood plasma content of carotenoids (the substances that produce vibrant colors in vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, collard greens, and tomatoes) is connected with higher hip, knee, and grip strength in older adults.

The same year, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition noted that older adults who had increased levels of potassium in their urine also had higher percentages of lean muscle mass. Potassium, a mineral which is important in muscle contraction and relaxation, can be found in chard, spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, squash, eggplant, and tomatoes. In general, the greener and leafier the vegetable, the better or, in the case of a nongreen vegetable, the more vibrant the vegetable's color is, the better.

Certain vegetables will also protect your muscles from damage incurred as the result of exercising to the point of exhaustion. Overdoing exercise can cause a decrease in the antioxidant capacity of muscle tissue. But according to a 2009 study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, eating cruciferous vegetables was associated with an increase in the antioxidant capacity of muscle tissue after acute exhaustive exercise. In other words, eating your vegetables regularly will mean that your muscle tissue will recover faster after an intense workout.

To think that these are not the only benefits of eating vegetables! As you must know (unless you've been living with your head under a rock), vegetables (and fruits for that matter) are also powerhouses of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This is a subject for another day, but green leafy vegetables are actually better, more bioavailable sources of calcium than milk and, therefore, can play a critical role in protecting your bones, as well as your muscles. Again, I have to ask -- is there anything green leafy vegetables can't do?

Written by Brett Warren, a biochemical research scientist based in Boston, Massachusetts. He puts his expertise to work on a daily basis by developing sports supplements for Force Factor. Brett loves weightlifting and working out at the gym almost as much as he loves his job. In addition to his work with Force Factor, Brett spends lots of time with his family hiking, biking, and enjoying the outdoors.

View the original article here

5 Tips for Raising Fitter Kids

Allow me to be blunt: Our children are fat and they are getting fatter.

While there are many opinions as to the solutions to this epidemic problem - one thing is certain: It starts in the home.

Here are 5 basic strategies for raising healthier, fitter children.

This one may border on harsh. I don't know how many times I've heard parents tell me "he only eats french fries". If french fries were an option every meal, I'd probably only eat them too, if I were 4. As parents our jobs aren't easy. Despite what big food companies would have us believe, children should not be placed in charge of what they eat. Placating a whining child with a sugar/fat/salt bomb does the trick short-term, but making high/empty calorie foods a daily option will send them down a very unhealthy path.

It doesn't matter what you do, just get out there and play. Take the lead and bring the kids outside or to a community center or an indoor pool if it's raining outside. On that note, why let a little rain stop you? Put on the raingear and jump in some puddles.

With non-traditional working schedules and dual-income families, meal times are often on-the-go, fast, or even non-existent. Aside from the obvious benefits of generally healthier meals, it makes for great family bonding time and reduces the likelihood of children taking up smoking, drinking, and drug use. Make time for this at all costs.

Contradiction to point #1? No! Giving choices within the context of healthy eating should be encouraged. Have children pick a recipe, pick their own fruits/veggies and have some say in meals, as well as help out with preparation. This will help empower them to make decisions.

Or an individual sport - something active. Even if your children are less oriented towards athletic pursuits, there are a wide range of active options that will appeal to a wide variety of interests. In addition to helping keep kids fit, being part of a team or a sport in general can help foster teamwork, cooperation and build self-esteem.

Image Credit: icultist

View the original article here

The Nutrition Of Animal Testicles

Chefs around the globe are gearing up for the annual, World Testicle and Aphrodisiac Cooking Championship held in Serbia this coming September.

One of the goals of the competition is to raise awareness of the health benefits of eating testicles and a call for a more responsible way to use a greater percentage of the protein provided by farmed animals.

However, what's the nutrition of a bull, pig, or sheep testicle and should you start asking your butcher to save you some?

The nutrition data on testicles was a bit hard to track down (not surprisingly), but here's what I found.

Serving Size: 100g (3.5oz)Calories: 135Protein: 26gFat: 3gCholesterol: 375mgCarbohydrates: 1g

I found some more data concerning a ram testicle, which had similar macronutrients to the beef and pig, but additionally listed the mineral components.

Sodium: 171mgPotassium: 380mgIron: 6%Phospherous: 26%Magnesium: 3%Zinc: 13%Testicles are promoted as an aphrodisiac because they are supposed to also contain testosterone. However, from what I read, you would have to eat them raw to get the benefit. Information on testosterone injections says that the syrum has to be kept away from heat as this will break down the hormone.

Well personally, I don't think I'll be adding testicles to my diet, but to each their own. They are a good source of lean protein and would be perfect for all the people on the Dukan Diet or the 17 Day Diet. Testicles seem awfully high in cholesterol if the source I found is correct, which is more than the daily recommended allowance. Cholesterol is needed to produce testosterone so this would make sense.

I would agree with the notion that a lot of the edible parts of an animal do get wasted, but I don't want to be one that has to eat them. Would you eat bull, pig, or sheep testicles if they were available from your butcher?

Sources: The Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society, 1965, (Vol. 42, page 540) , Fitbit.com

View the original article here

Everyday Foods with Extraordinary Benefits

It's important to make each calorie count, especially when you are trying to get back into your skinny clothes.

Many foods are packed with nutrients plus mother nature gave them a little something more that could help keep you even healthier.

Here are some of my favorite healthy suggestions.

Many foods are naturally rich in plant sterols, which have been shown to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. All whole grains, for example, are high in plant sterols. So load up on rice bran, oat bran, whole wheat and brown rice. Other great plant sterol sources include dried peas, dried beans and lentils, peanuts, almonds, walnuts and pecans.

Plant sterols are so good at lowering cholesterol that over the last few years, manufacturers have started adding them to a dizzying array of foods most of us buy every week including bread, cheese, pasta, pasta sauce, milk, muffins, snack bars, and juices. These fortified products carry an FDA-authorized heart-health claim, recognizing that they can be a beneficial addition to a healthy diet. Just be sure to read the labels carefully. While plant sterols are healthful, these products are not necessarily low calorie.

Even though palm fruit oil has received a lot of bad press it is surprisingly healthy and can be used in place of olive oil in most cooking applications. Palm fruit oil is the most widely produced edible oil in the world. Red palm fruit oil contains 13 to 15 times more carotenes than carrots and 40-50 times more than tomatoes. Carotenes are the building blocks of vitamin A, which is important for maintaining good vision and supporting our immune system. Carotenes also are potent antioxidants, which are associated with fighting the aging process and some chronic diseases.

The virgin and red varieties of palm oil are also rich in powerful antioxidants called tocotrienol and tocopherols (vitamin E). Plus, this cooking oil won't raise your cholesterol! While that doesn't mean you should eat large amounts of chicken wings fried with it, it is reassuring to know that when you cook or bake with it, it will taste great, it won't raise your cholesterol and it delivered beneficial nutrients.

Being sensitive and proactive on current environmental concerns, the palm oil industry is actively pursuing ISO 14000 standard series discussions and formulations on climate change, life cycle analysis ecolabeling & design for the environment, environmental communications, and environmental management system.

The next time you're feeling a little sluggish and need an energy boost, reach for a carton of Greek yogurt. People sometimes call Greek yogurt a protein powerhouse since the protein content is concentrated. The typical protein content of an American style yogurt is five grams while Greek yogurts can reach up to 20 grams!

Written by Dr. Felicia D. Stoler, a registered dietician, exercise physiologist and expert consultant in nutrition and healthful living. Her new book is called Living Skinny in Fat Genes™: The Healthy Way to Lose Weight and Feel Great (Pegasus 2011). She hosted TLC's groundbreaking series, Honey We're Killing the Kids!! She specializes in integrating behavior modification to influence positive health outcomes.

View the original article here