A good aerobics workout makes you stronger and improves mental clarity. Unfortunately, many people live a sedentary lifestyle that does little to improve overall physical well-being and often they don’t find the time or energy to start exercising.

While aerobics is one of the best way to get in some exercise it should be remembered that aerobics alone will not do you much for your health if your lifestyle is filled with stress, a poor diet and habits that promote illness rather than health.

Before any exercise can begin, you need to know the current state of your health and just how much exercise is good for you. A checkup with your doctor will determine how ready you are to start on an exercise program. Likely, you will need to change your diet first as will power alone is simply not enough for many overweight people to start exercising. Your doctor and dietitian can help you set up an exercise program that is right for you.

Once you have the approval from your doctor, the next step is by taking a daily walk. If you are overweight or obese, you can begin by walking to the street corner or around the block. If you feel stronger, you can take an extended 20 minute walk. Whichever method you choose, move your arms as you walk. Moving your arms while you walk gets blood flowing to the shoulders and arms. Once you’re used to walking, you can increase your pace to the point that you begin to perspire. If walking isn’t for you, try Tai Chi or do exercise in a pool, both of which are easy on the joints and can give you a good workout.

Once walking has become routine, you can bicycle.It provides great cardiovascular exercise as it provides more challenges as you must pedal uphill as well as down. If you happen to live close to your job, you can save yourself the cost of fuel and wear and tear on your car by biking to work.

The winter months don’t allow for much walking or cycling. Ice, snow and the cold is enough to keep anyone indoors, but you can continue your exercise regimen by investing in a treadmill or a stationary bike.

The whole point behind aerobics is to exercise your heart muscle. The heart rate of a fit person beats slower than someone who is out of shape. A resting heart rate is a good indication of how easier it is for you to get sick. Healthy people rarely have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, nor are they susceptible to many of today’s modern diseases.

For optimal health, you can combine a daily routine of aerobics along with weight lifting. Aerobics primarily exercises the heart while weight lifting increases body strength, endurance and flexibility.

Once you make a start at exercise, you’ll find it more pleasurable than you thought and you will stick with your routine once you start to see the results of a better physique and a happier you.

The author is a freelance writer who has had several articles published at Helium, Suite 101 and his blog on Word Press. Currently he lives in Ottawa, Canada and promotes an affiliate business where anyone can buy and sell products, ebooks and more. Click here to get more information

Long term consumption of green tea can protect you against cancers, especially of colon, bladder, pancreas, stomach, rectum, esophagus etc. The Cancer Society has deemed green tea as high priority for cancer prevention.

Since green tea has natural antioxidants, it can protect you effectively on heart disease, blood pressure control and reducing cholesterol. Antioxidants have the natural characteristic to reduce blood clotting. For those suffering from arthritis, green tea’s antioxidant properties can naturally postpone the onset and intensity of various types of arthritis. Green tea can protect the liver in two ways: by protecting the cells of the liver and by boosting the immune system. If your body is attacked with toxins through cigarette smoking and alcohol, green tea can drive them away.

Pregnant mothers should drink green tea because it contains supplements like iron, calcium and magnesium. Green tea is also known for its anti-ageing benefits, unbelievably speaking; the antioxidants present are equal to those present in 21 vegetables and fruits.

The chances of suffering a stroke are cut by as much as 80 percent if you drink green tea regularly. Green tea is known for enhancing the quality of our teeth, stopping dental decay and preventing gum disease. The chemical antioxidant known as catechin can kill viruses and bacteria that cause dental caries and throat infections. It also eliminates bad breath. You should not drink green tea when you are about to sleep or when you are hungry because it can ruin your sleep and increase your appetite.

V.S.ARUNRAJ believes health is truly our wealth and an investment in our health can lead us to live a fulfilling, rewarding life mentally and physically.

Spring: it’s a time of renewal for Mother Nature and also for us mere mortals. As the weather gets warmer we’re motivated to de-junk basements, scrub windows and dust doorsills.. But don’t stop with your physical world. Why not take the singleminded vigor with which you tackle your cluttered closets . . . and apply it to your soul? We all have issues that block the flow of spiritual energy and hinder our growth and happiness. Now is a good time of year to zero in on the spiritual bad habits you’re living with and work to replace them with healthy new ones. Here’s how to start:

• Identify Issues — Pinpoint your most distressing spiritual issues: Be honest with yourself. Do you live in a state of constant worry and anxiety? Do you obsessively re-live mistakes or traumas? Are you controlling and aggressive or, on the other end of the spectrum, passive and “victimized?” Be aware of nything that makes you feel depressed or powerless or unbalanced—anything that blocks the free flow of Spirit.

• Ask for Help — Turn to a trusted friend to help you identify your “trouble spots”. Tell a trusted friend: “I am trying to become more self-aware so that I can work on my spiritual health. What issues do you notice that I exhibit?” What you hear might be the last thing you expect. “You have a lot of anger toward your husband” or “I think you drink too much” or “You’re a workaholic” or “Every other word out of your mouth is negative.” This is tough exercise but will help you take a look at “you” from a different perspective.

• Find a Mentor — Seek out a spiritual guide. Do you know someone whose spiritual health you admire? An individual who seems centered, balanced, happy, at peace? If so, make a conscious effort to spend time with this person. Notice how she weathers the storms of life. Imagine yourself in her shoes: how would you react if your mother died, if you lost your job, if of your children was contemplating a change in gender. Ask her how she maintains her unruffled feathers. You’ll probably find that the healthiest people, spiritually speaking, have been through the fire and come out on the other side. They probably understand what you’re going through and will be happy to share their insights.

• Start a Journal. Set aside time every day to explore your issues on paper. A problem with jealousy? Wwrite about it in your journal—how resentful you felt when your friend finally met her soul mate, or when your coworker got a promotion. Write for yourself, not an imaginary reader. Let the journal take you to where it wants you to go.

• Meditate – a minimum of 20 minutes of meditation daily will open your inner world.. Meditation is a wonderful tool which will enable you to connect with your spirit, refresh your soul to simply recharge your batteries. What’s more, it’s necessary for spiritual health. Silence, stillness and solitude are basic human needs and we don’t get them unless we make room for them. Carving out time to meditate—time free of human and electronic interruptions—is basic spiritual hygiene.

• Start setting boundaries. Speak your voice. Take back your power. Have you given your power away? Are you allowing some other person or entity—a parent, a spouse, a job, an addiction—to shape your life? Do you take on tasks you would prefer not to do, or regularly squelch your opinions to keep from offending others? Now is the time to start breaking these patterns.

• Take in Nature. As often as possible, immerse yourself in nature. Find time to connect with the earth and its healing rhythms. Get up early and sit on your front porch to soak up the sunrise. Hike or camp or walk on the beach. Plant and nurture a small garden, even if it’s a pot in a window. Getting in touch with nature helps you get in touch with the needs of your own soul. It reminds us that renewal and rebirth are not only possible, but natural. Effortless. And spring, with its buds and birdsong, is an inspiring time to start your soul work.

About The Author:
An expert in health and wellness, Deborah King, Ph.D., is author of Truth Heals: What You Hide Can Hurt You. Contact her at www.TruthHeals.com or email her at deborah@DeborahKingcenter.com.

Every thought and emotion affects your health. A holistic health approach encompasses treating the whole person: the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Traditional cultures have known for thousands of years that these aspects are intimately connected. Every food we eat, every thought we entertain, every emotion we feel and every interaction we experience impacts overall health.

Many blame their health problems on genetics, a virus, toxins in the air, and stress. While these factors can contribute to illness, very often problems result from a lack of fundamental health-enhancing qualities such as responsibility, a strong will, family support, passion, a balanced lifestyle and a knowledge of good health. Without these, whatever modality is chosen becomes just another pill to be taken and discarded when symptoms disappear.

When disease is artificially removed without changing the underlying cause, long-term health will NOT be achieved. The quick fix approach brings little or no permanent success. I am not suggesting that we abandon medical treatment. I am recommending that we look for the deeper causes of the problem from a physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and lifestyle perspective. We need to take the holistic health perspective. Lasting solutions can be found to multiple illnesses of society by getting at the root of the problem holistically.

I have observed patterns among those who have successfully reversed health problems. These traits are not rigid models. We all have them to some degree. They are holistic health approaches that each of us can maximize in our own unique way to return to our natural state of health.

Here are some very important steps you must take to achieve optimal holistic health. I can assure you that by putting these into practice, your overall health will be much improved! Sometimes you have to reevaluate what it is that you are doing with your life. By doing this, you will start to see the big picture.

Lets start with the first step, RESPONSIBILITY. This means not blindly accepting the opinion of some outside authority as the only way. Take a look at your previous choices for they may have led you to the problem. Then recognize that you can make new choices to remedy the situation.

I am not telling you to stop seeing your health practitioner. I am suggesting that you gather as much information as possible and make your own decisions. Taking responsibility is meant to empower us to make new choices for a healthier result.

Next is AWARENESS, which simply is deeply knowing yourself by observing your thoughts and beliefs, your choices and outcomes, and your response to the world around you. As you observe, ask questions. Do you believe you can recover your health? What does the illness have to teach you? Why do you make the choices you make? What do you need to know? Through questioning you will discover the things that seemed unchangeable are actually flexible and can be manipulated.

PROPER NUTRITION is the cornerstone of good health. Health and longevity depend on our daily nourishment. In 1988, the Surgeon General stated that two-thirds of the deaths in this country are related to diet. Our eating habits play a major role in many common diseases and emotional disorders.

Most Americans have a limited awareness of the power of food in maintaining health and reversing disease. The most effective diet includes whole grains, vegetables, low fat, no cholesterol, proteins and fruits.

LETTING GO OF THE PAST. Resolving conflicts and discovering their positive impact in our lives is paramount in healing. Resentment, anger, guilt and all negative emotional states are self-poisoning. They weaken cells and immunity and can be the reason for illness. Let it go and move on.

FAITH and the developing of sound judgments are important qualities in healing. Faith is knowing there is an order and unity to life, a sense of wholeness and connectedness with something larger than oneself. With faith, unlimited opportunities unfold, and we gain a sense of confidence in our choices.

FINDING YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE is prevalent among those who are healthy. Everyone has talents and skills through which they express themselves, and so do you! If you do not find your unique creative expression, you will be restless and frustrated, regardless of the success in the conventional world.

Purpose stimulates a deep sense of fulfillment and joy. With purpose, your life will take on much more meaning. I did not have a purpose for many years. The second I knew where I was going my life took a turn for the best. If you do not have purpose yet, do not worry! Focus on what makes you the happiest and visualize where and what you want to be. By working toward a goal and a purpose, you will feel alive and ready for anything.

Each of the above factors has a profoundly positive influence on your health and are more effective when bring them together. When utilized, you can go beyond sickness to health and happiness. Start with small steps and build upon them for a holistic approach to your health. Action is the only thing preventing you from achieving optimal health.

About The Author

Colleen Palat is a health and fitness enthusiast who loves to pass on the latest information on health and wellness. Sign up for your free e-newsletter filled with cutting-edge information on health, nutrition, weight loss, and fitness. For your free e-newsletter, visit http://www.HealthyRevelations.com. 

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If you want to be healthy you need to understand the seven systems that the body uses to eliminate waste and toxic matters. When these systems are working effectively the result is good health. When they are compromised all types of complications can result. If you want to understand detoxification you need to have a clear understanding of the bodies channels of elimination.

When the body confronts a toxin or foreign substance it uses these channels of elimination to purge the toxin as quickly as possible. They key to excellent health is knowing these 7 channels of elimination like the back of your hand and doing everything possible to keep them functioning optimally.

In 1904 a Russian Naturopathic Physician by the name of Eli Metchnikof discovered that the body would recycle any toxin that it was not capable of purging. In the recycling process the body would utilize all 7 channels of elimination to try and get the toxic substance removed from the body. This is important to understand because if your health has been compromised it would stand to reason that one or more of the bodies channels of elimination are not working effectively.

Most people cannot even name the bodies seven channels of elimination. If you value your health do everything you can to understand these seven vital cleansing systems.

Liver - The Liver is the bodies factory. It metabolizes food, filters toxins and converts ingredients into substances that are needed in all parts of the body. Your liver is one of the largest and most important organs in your body. The Liver when healthy will store vitamins, sugars, fats and other nutrients from the food that you eat. The Liver builds chemicals that your body needs to stay healthy and breaks down harmful substances, like alcohol and other toxic (poisonous) chemicals. It also removes waste products from your blood and makes sure that your body has just the right amount of other chemicals that it needs.

Learn about the Liver by picking up a basic book on health and supplement accordingly.

Lungs – Your LUNGS are in charge of breathing so you better take care of them. The best way to take care of the lungs is to give them lots of exercise. The best way to keep your lungs healthy is not to smoke. Smoking isn’t good for any part of your body, and your lungs especially hate it. Deep breathing of fresh air is the best exercise for the LUNGS. Spend 15 minutes each day doing deep breathing exercises.

Lymphatic System – Regular exercise is the best treatment that your lymphatic system can receive. The Lymphatic is the bodies filter system which supports immune function. A healthy lymphatic system filters out bacteria and other foreign particles. A natural herb by the name of arabanogalactan is a natural cleanser of the lymphatic system.

Blood – The blood is a liquid organ which transfers and transports substances throughout the body. It is what delivers the needed nutrition to those areas that are in need. Red Clover and Chlorella are wonderful natural cleansers of the blood system. A regular exercise routine stimulates the blood system and assists the body in eliminating waste.

Skin – The Skin is the bodies largest organ. By sweating naturally you assist in cleansing the skin and keeping it elastic and healthy. Going to a Sauna and sweating is a wonderful health regimen for the skin.

Colon – The colon is vital to effective health because it serves the function of transporting waste out of the body. Hydration of the digestion system will improve Colon Health. This can be done by drinking an equivalent number of ounces of water to your body weight every day. Also, hydrating the colon through Colon Hydrotherapy has proven to be very beneficial to re-establishing health.

Kidneys – Your chances of developing a kidney stone in your lifetime are 1 in 10? In 1995, more than 3 million people in the United States had some type of kidney condition such as an infection, kidney stones or cancer. More than 300,000 people suffer from renal failure each year and undergo dialysis or await a kidney transplant.

The kidneys produce urine which is the waste in the body. Often kidney problems are the result of dehydration. A natural supplement that cleanses and provides needed nutrition for the kidneys is Corn Silk.

If you want to understand good health you need to understand these seven channels of elimination. I urge you to understand these seven channels of elimination and do everything possible to assist them in your pursuit of excellent health.

Charles O. Palmerson is the webmaster for http://www.econstipation.com an online digestive health directory committed to providing digestive health solution. 

16 Tips For Looking And Feeling Better Than You Have In Years

Do you want to improve the quality of your life?

Do you want to look and feel better than you have in years – maybe better than you ever have before?

Do you want to protect yourself from disease and injury? And do you want to live a longer, more vital life?

I’m confident that you answered YES! To each of those questions, just as have the hundreds of individuals I’ve counseled, coached, and trained in my career as a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer and Health Expert.

Right now I’m going to reveal to you the 16 essential strategies that have enabled my clients to achieve these important goals.

These simple strategies can be immediately implemented into your lifestyle with little sacrifice on your part (okay, if not eating artery clogging fast food burgers and fries is a big thing for you, then maybe you won’t look at that sacrifice as “easy,” but I guarantee you it will add quality years to your life).

So let’s get right into it.

But before we do, I want to let you know you can easily obtain even more health and fitness advice from a certified expert on a regular basis by requesting a free subscription to my newsletter. You can get your subscription via email by visiting my web site at: www.thefitnessleader.com

Without further ado, turn the page to discover… 16 Essential Weight Loss, Health And Fitness Strategies “How To Get Maximum Weight Loss & Fitness Results In Minimum Time”

1. In the beginning, your fitness plan should not be overly aggressive. One of the biggest problems most people encounter when starting a fitness program is rapidly depleted motivation after only a few weeks due to an overly ambitious fitness plan. Two days per week of 20-minute low-intensity cardiovascular exercise (walking, jogging, biking, swimming); and two days per week of 30-minute light resistance training (using weights or resistance machines) is adequate in the beginning. As you become acclimated to the lifestyle “shift” you can add more days and get improved results. But beware: if you try to do too much too fast, you may end up quitting altogether. If you’ve tried and failed doing it alone, then I suggest you get a training partner or personal trainer who will help you sustain your motivation.

2. If your goal is weight-loss, then your cardiovascular exercise should be high intensity. Forget about all that you’ve heard about “fat-burning” zones and low intensity training to burn fat. The bottom line when it comes to losing weight is to burn off more calories than you take in. If you train at a slow speed, it is true that you will burn more calories from fat than if you train at a faster speed. But, training at the faster speed will burn more calories total. In other words, it’s better to exercise at a faster speed and burn 500 calories than it is to exercise at a slower speed and only burn 350 calories. Don’t get too caught up stressing over where your calories are being burned from. Just strive to burn as many calories per workout as you can. If you do that, you’ll be losing weight in no time. 3. Don’t waste your time working small muscles with isolated movements. If you don’t enjoy doing resistance training or are pressed for time, concentrate on working the largest muscle groups with compound resistance movements. When I see overweight people doing wrist curls or lateral raises, I wonder why. It’s generally just a lack of understanding of how their bodies work. Most people want to lose fat and tone and firm their bodies. The way to do that is to use resistance (weights or machines) to train the large muscle groups. Men should be concentrating on legs, chest and back. Women should concentrate more on their legs and back. The best exercises for legs are lunges or squats (your personal trainer will show you the proper form and then monitor you during the exercise) and leg press. The best chest exercise is bench press, and the best back exercise is the seated row. All of these are compound movements, which means they incorporate multiple muscle groups.

4. Always, always, always stretch. Stretching improves flexibility, blood flow, muscle recovery, low back pain and a host of other things. Additionally, stretching can prevent injury, make you sleep better and improve your performance in all sports. Always stretch, but be certain not to stretch cold muscles. You should always warm up before stretching. However, it is very important that you know how to stretch. Never bounce! Your personal trainer will show you the proper execution and timing of your stretches.

5. Never, ever do a traditional sit-up. Unless you are super athlete with an incredibly well-developed midsection, sit-ups can lead to a strained lower back and possibly lumbar injuries. But it gets worse. Rather than hitting your abdominal section, sit-ups can shift exercise tension to your hip flexors – which defeats the purpose. There is so much misinformation about how to strengthen, tone and firm the midsection, it’s almost frightening. It is very difficult to learn proper abdominal exercise technique by reading about it or watching it demonstrated on a video. You need to do it with supervision and get feedback about your form from a knowledgeable source. And keep in mind that you use your abdominal muscles in almost every single movement you make. Strengthening your abdominal region is the single most effective way to prevent, or recover from, low back pain.

6. Set realistically attainable goals. You must have tangible, quantifiable, short-term and long-term goals for your fitness program so you can gauge your progress. It’s crucial to have a “baseline” before you begin, so you can measure success. Your health club or personal trainer can give you a complete fitness analysis (don’t be shy – you need this) that will aid you or your trainer in developing a personalized fitness program which addresses your particular needs. Having goals, particularly short-term goals, allows you to track your progress and keep you motivated when times are tough and you don’t feel like exercising. Keeping a journal of your cardio and resistance training workouts, as well as tracking what you eat is truly a fitness success “secret.” Just remember that your goals should be realistic and attainable. The best way for you to understand what is realistic and attainable for you is to talk to a fitness professional – not to buy into the “hype” of infomercials, diet and fitness products that blatantly mislead.

7. Set exercise appointments with yourself. Use your day-timer to set appointments for exercise – and then stick to them. You wouldn’t miss a business meeting or client appointment, would you? So don’t miss your exercise appointment with yourself. Nothing is more important than your health. Nothing. Everything else will crumble around you if your health goes south. So make your exercise appointments a priority. If you find it difficult to keep these appointments, then consider hiring a personal trainer who will hold you to your commitment. When you have money invested, and someone waiting for you to show up – you are much more likely to actually show up!

8. Remember the benefits of exercise. Remember that feeling of euphoria you experienced after a particularly good work-out? You experienced that feeling because the most powerful “feel good” drug in the world – endorphins – are coursing through your veins. If there is a panacea, it’s exercise. Nothing feels better than the post-work-out high you experience after exercising. Revel in that feeling. Let it wash over you and truly experience it. Etch that feeling in your brain. It will fuel your motivation on those inevitable days when you just don’t feel like exercising. Being physically fit affects every single aspect of your life: you sleep better, eat better, love better, overcome stress better, work better, communicate better, and live better!

9. Exercise correctly. So much time is wasted doing, at best, unproductive exercise, or at worst, dangerous exercise. Get educated on how to exercise correctly. And the absolute best way to do that is to hire a personal trainer to develop a program for you and then teach you what to do and how to do it right. Personal training does not have to be an ongoing process. You can hire a personal trainer for whatever length of time you need to learn the ropes. It could be five sessions, or it could be fifteen sessions. It’s completely up to you. But statistics prove that those who understand how to exercise correctly, get better, faster results. And that’s what you want, right? Results!

10. Enjoy yourself. The most difficult thing is actually getting into your running shoes or going to the gym. But once you begin your work-out, relax and enjoy the process. Don’t fight it. Make exercise your personal time. When you are exercising you can focus completely on yourself. Yes, exercising can and should be somewhat rigorous (depending on your level of fitness), but it is just that investment which makes it supremely rewarding. As with anything, if you are in the moment, you can fully appreciate the experience and truly enjoy the process.

11. North Americans eat too many carbohydrates for our lifestyles. I’m not advocating the high protein, high saturated fat diet that you hear so much about (frankly, it’s dangerous). But I am advocating minimizing your intake of bread, pasta, rice, potato and of course, all sugary drinks. We are no longer an agrarian society participating in manual labor. Most of us are fairly sedentary throughout the day and therefore do not need the high levels of carbohydrates to sustain our energy. Additionally, carbohydrates are addictive. The more donuts you eat, the more you want. The bulk of your carbohydrates should come from vegetables and fruit. And those with high water content, such as cucumbers, grapefruit, tomatoes, cantaloupe, strawberries and even vegetable soups (watch out for high sodium), will fill you up nicely. By the way, numerous studies have conclusively proven that the quarter of the population eating the most vegetables get half the cancer of the quarter eating the least!

12. Deep-fried food has no nutritional value – none! Almost every food, whether it’s steak, chocolate or red wine, has some nutrients to contribute. But one thing is absolute: fried foods are garbage. Potato chips, French fries, onion rings, breaded chicken strips and all the rest of the deep-fried junk are pregnant with saturated fat and calories, and they contain almost zero nutritional value. If you’re trying to lose weight and/or reduce fat, simply eliminate fried foods completely from your diet. Yikes! That stuff is scary.

13. Never, ever skip breakfast. If you want to maximize your fitness results or fat-loss efforts, you’ve got to eat breakfast. Even if you don’t exercise at all – breakfast remains the most important meal of the day. Your breakfast should contain complete proteins and complex carbohydrates (if you’re trying to lose weight, you should eat the bulk of your complex carbohydrates at breakfast and lunch and only have vegetable carbohydrates at dinner). A great breakfast is oatmeal (not the pre-packaged, pre-sweetened kind) with a little honey and banana and a protein drink. Or try scrambled egg whites with Healthy Choice turkey sausage.

14. Eat fat to lose fat. Healthy fats are necessary to your body for a bunch of reasons: regulating hormonal production, improving immune function, lowering total cholesterol, lubricating joints, and providing the basics for healthy hair, nails and skin. The singular distinction you must be aware of is the difference between healthy “good” fats, and dangerous “bad” fats. Good fats are monounsaturated fats like olive, peanut and canola oil, avocados, all natural peanut butter and nuts; and omega-3 fats like salmon and mackerel and soy-based foods. Bad fats are saturated fats, partially hydrogenated fats (killers!), and trans fats. Your personal trainer can provide you with a simple diet program that will complement your exercise to help you live longer, feel better and boost your immune system. The bottom line is that your body needs good fats – and will revolt if you attempt to abstain from them – and absolutely does not need bad fats.

15. Drink plenty of fresh, clean water. Yes, I know that you’ve heard this over and over again. But there’s a reason for that – it’s the gospel truth! The recommended amount is approximately eight glasses, or 64 ounces, of water every day. When you are exercising, you need to drink even more. Over 75% of your body is water (even bone is more than 20% water). When you don’t drink enough water, and substitute diuretics like coffee, tea and caffeinated sodas, you dehydrate your body, your blood doesn’t flow properly and your digestive system doesn’t operate smoothly (among other problems). Even a small deficit of water can radically affect how your body performs. Here’s a good rule of thumb: if you’re urine is a dark yellow and/or has a strong odor, you’re not drinking enough water. Drink up!

16. Eat regularly throughout the day. Fasting or overly restrictive diets will enable you to lose weight – in the short run. Because the weight you lose is primarily water weight and lean muscle mass. But in the long-run, it has exactly the opposite effect you want. When you restrict your diet, your body instinctively thinks it’s being starved and shifts into a protective mode by storing fat. Energy expenditures are fueled by your lean muscles. Therefore your body fat remains essentially the same and you lose vital fluids and muscle instead. The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism becomes, and the less fat you burn. You should be eating 5 to 6 small, nutritious meals per day. This keeps your metabolic furnace stoked, so you burn more at a faster rate. I know, it’s counter-intuitive, but it’s the gospel truth!

There you have it. 16 essential strategies for an effective weight loss and fitness program that will have you looking and feeling better than you have in years – maybe ever!

I realize that starting (or re-starting) a productive and effective health and fitness program is not easy. That’s why I encourage you to get help.

If you’re sick, you go to the doctor. If you’ve got a tax problem, you see an accountant (or an attorney!). Have a toothache? You’re off to the dentist. Leaky pipes result in a call to the plumber. So why is it that so many people attempt to solve their health and fitness problems without consulting an expert? I don’t know exactly, but I encourage you to make the investment in yourself – in your quality of life – by hiring a qualified professional to educate you and help you get started…

…because the hardest part is just getting started and sustaining your motivation until fitness becomes habitual. Once you develop the habit, which can take as little as thirty days, your whole life will change for the better.

If I can be of any assistance to you, please don’t hesitate to call me. I’m happy to speak with you and give you my recommendations without any sales pressure (I hate it when people try to “sell” me, so I wouldn’t try that on you).

by A. Lawrence

Eat Less Fat
This may be the least confusing and least complicated way to start gaining control over your weight. It’s not just the calories, it’s also the fat. A lot of fat in your diet can mean a lot a fat on your body. Reduce the amount of fat in your diet and you are likely to shed pounds. How do you reduce fat intake? First, you read the labels on the foods you eat. You want to focus, for the time being, not on the number of calories but on the fat content (number of grams of FAT) listed on the label. Per serving.

Start by limiting your total daily fat intake to a maximum of 40 grams of fat. Total. Daily.

Here’s a little simple thing that will show you how much weight producing extra fat you’ve been eating. Add up the total number of grams of fat in everything you eat during a full day. Make sure you take into account the amount per serving. Example: the label on a pouch of microwaveable buttered popcorn states fat content = 10g (grams). Not bad, right? Wrong! Up above that the label states “per serving” and the number of servings per bag is 3. That means if you eat the whole bag (easy to do if you’re hungry) you are eating 3 servings, at 10 grams of fat per each serving. You are taking in 30 grams of fat!

HINT:

1 fast-food burger (without fries) can contain up to 30 grams of fat

regular salad dressing alone can give you up to 30 grams of fat
(depending on how much you use)

2-3 scoops of regular ice cream can contain up to 30 grams of fat

cookies, candy and other snacks can contain lots of fat grams
(if you eat a lot of it).

The above info about fat can help you see where a major problem is and help you lose weight gained by too much fat intake. Read those labels carefully; they can be tricky!

Limit yourself to no more than 40 grams of fat a day total. Later on, you might wish to reduce that to 30 grams or even 20 grams of fat per day to help you lose more weight and/or maintain your weight loss.

Start by substituting low-fat or no-fat foods (read those labels carefully!) for high-fat foods. Don’t worry, your taste buds will soon adapt.

Food Is Fuel

Biologically, your body needs food to function. It burns the food and turns it into fuel. That’s it. Your body actually needs the fuel, not the food. Food is really only a fuel source. Sorry, it sounds unromantic but it’s true. Food is NOT a substitute for love, unhappiness, loneliness, etc. Start thinking about food in a different way. Food is fuel. Like gas for your car. Stop having a romance with your food. If you are overweight food is not your friend, it’s your enemy.

Do not live for food, food is not your life purpose.

2 Easy Exercises

Start exercising. Forget the gym for the moment. The single best exercise is the “push-away”. When you’ve satisfied not your appetite but your body’s need for fuel … push away from the table. Push-aways. The second easy exercise is walking. If you are physically able to do it, start with just 1 mile a day. Every day. Takes about 20 minutes or less. In a short time you just may see a remarkable difference in how you feel. And how you look.

Snacking

Here’s where many people get into trouble. You get the munchies, a craving. During the day or the evening. You grab something to snack on. The problem is that what you grab may be a few donuts or bag of Oreo’s or a half-gallon of ice cream and maybe before you realize it you’ve gobbled the whole thing. And, poof, there’s that extra 30-40 grams of fat a day, there’s that extra 5 or more pounds a month. When you go food shopping don’t buy those kinds of fatty snacks anymore. Don’t keep them in the house. This may sound horrible to you now but, instead, have a banana or an apple or some oatmeal or some low fat ice cream. Without the whipped cream or the chocolate syrup!

Preventing Weight Gain

Here’s a simple diet rule I invented and have personally used for over 25 years. My ironclad rule is that I will not, repeat … will NOT … buy a larger size pair of pants. No matter what. And I don’t buy pants with elastic waistbands or pants that stretch. That means when I start gaining some weight (and yes, I do) my pants get too tight and it becomes very uncomfortable, even painful. That leaves me with only 2 choices; be very uncomfortable – all day, every day – or lose a few pounds. I lose the pounds. And I have been able to maintain a proper weight for my size. This rule gives you a good control technique for managing weight gain and also prevents creeping weight gain; that sneaky 5 lbs a month which in a few short months becomes a weight gain of 20 lbs and in a year can add a serious 60 lbs or more.

Want to lose weight? Want to feel better, look better and be better? Start slow, start simple, start here. Now go get undressed and look at yourself in a full length mirror. If you don’t like what you see try the above 5 free quick & easy diet tips and gain control of your weight … and your life.

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These screens (yes there are usually more than one) a supposed to provide a focal point so you don’t have to focus on the actual work of working out quite so much, however they are usually tuned to statations like CNN, CP24 or other streaming news media feeds. So everytime I worked out, no matter how much I would try to provide my own distractions, out of the corner of my eye I could see something blowing up, someone dying and a constant reminder of just how crappy our world has become.

My question is why!!! Why do we allow this type of bombardment when we are taking the time to make ourselves less stressed and healthier. Most people find it challenging to motivate themselves to go to the gym in the first place, so why not make it as positive an experience as possible.

When working out, why not ask you gym to change the station to something more positive! You can also read something enlightening, fun or educational. Listen to music that moves you and makes you feel good about yourself.

Take control and escape the negative flow of information, it will help you get stronger, feel better and help you stay motivated to work out!

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