Category : Article
Overweight is the amount of body weight including muscles, bone, fat, and water that are in excess. Obesity is the excess of accumulated body fat. It is possible to be overweight based on factors of muscle, such as the case of body builders, which have muscle that weighs three times the amount as fat. Most people that are overweight are also considered obese.
One in three adults age 20-74 is overweight. This equals 58 million Americans based on the studies from 1980 to 1991, with the numbers growing every day. Overweight and obesity are known risk factors for heart disease, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, diabetes, some forms of cancer, breathing problems, and arthritis.
Women with more than 25body fat and men with 30of body fat are considered obese. It is hard to really measure body fat based on the fact muscle weighs more than fat and the calculations used to measure body mass index (BMI) does not take into consideration the factor of the amounts of muscle on the person’s body. The most accepted method of calculating body fat is the underwater method, which is limited to laboratories with special equipment and not as widely used.
There are two simpler methods for measuring the body fat. One is the skinfold thickness measurement. This test measures the thickness of the skin on different areas such as the triceps. The measurements vary based on the skill of the person taking the measurements. The other test is bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA). BIA sends a small amount of electrical current through the body to estimate the total body water levels. The higher amounts of water levels indicate the amounts of muscle matter. Yet this procedure may not be accurate for people that are severely obese.
The numbers of overweight adults in America in the age range 20 to 74 years old for females are 32 million and men are 26 million. The numbers of overweight youth ages 6 to 17 years old is about 4.7 million or 11of the children in that age group.
Some of the primary reason for people being overweight can be seen in the foods consumed and the exercise levels practiced. The percentage of dietary fat in adults is 34 Saturated fat is 12
Extra calories consumed to gain a pound or to burn a pound is 3,500 calories. The number of women trying to lose weight is 33 to 40 The number of men trying to lose weight is 20 to 24 The average calories burnt while eating is .023 kcal per minute. The annual number of deaths related to poor diet and inactivity is over 300,000.
The costs economically related to overweight and obesity is estimated at $11.3 billion on treatment, diagnosis, and management. This includes treatment for diabetic kentoacidosis, diabetic coma, diabetic eye disease, and diabetic kidney disease all contributed to obesity. The cost related to gallbladder disease is $2.4 billion.
Obesity is $22.2 billion of medical treatment for the heart disease patients.
High blood pressure in obese people costs $1.5 billion with breast and colon cancer costing $1.9 billion. The indirect costs related to obesity in weight reduction products and a service that includes diet foods, products, and programs is $33 billion a year.
These are just a sample of the many facts that are available about being overweight and/or obese.
Getting a well chiselled abdomen totally depends on how you work them ? no one was born with a six pack abs. You will have to understand that just like any muscle, if you want to build definition, you will have to hit your muscles with various resistances and at various angles. Well, regular crunches will help you tone your abs, but if you really want the chiselled look, you will have to abdominal machine too.
What You Need to Perform machine Crunches
You will an abdominal crunch machine, time and dedication.
How to Perform Machine Crunches
Look for the abdominal crunch machine at the gym. This machine has a seat that is attached to a weight stack. You will also notice that a padded area is also attached to the weight stack, around the area where your chest should be when you sit down (on the seat). It is not uncommon to mistake this machine for the back extension ? this is because these two machines look very similar. The one and only difference between the abdominal crunch machine and the back extension machine is way the padded bar moves. The padded bar moves backward on the back extension machine and moves forward on the abdominal crunch machine.
Start with a light weight so that you see what you can successfully handle for repetitions. Choose a weight that you can handle for at least 10 repetitions. You should also make sure that you adjust the height of the seat and the placement of the padding according to your height. Some abdominal crunch machines have charts that provide institution for appropriate settings for both the padding and the seating.
When you sit in the machine, place both feet flat on the ground. You should place your chest on the padding and make sure you place your hands where you feel the most comfortable. You can place them on the pad or place them on the handles attached to the seat. Make sure that you keep your back and abdominal muscles tight all through the movement in order to avoid injury and to also get the best out of the exercise. As soon as you are seated in this position with your chest placed on the pad, you are ready to start this exercise ? this will be the starting position.
You should push your chest forward on the pad and ensure that your abdominal muscles do a lot of the work. When you lean face first towards the ground, you should begin to feel a tightness in your abdominal muscles. Do not over do it! Just make sure you lean as far forward as you possibly can until you feel a tightness/contraction. When you feel the tightness in your abdominal muscles, hold the position for up to a couple of seconds.
Go back to the starting position, and repeat the exercise for at least ten (10) repetitions. Stop if you feel that your abdominal muscles are beginning to cramp. It is really a great idea to warm up the abdominal muscles before, during and after the exercise in order to avoid discomfort or injury.
The fastest way to lose belly fat for women is to modify your diet and do the combination of cardio and strength training exercises that make you lose weight all over. That’s because fat gets stored in the tummy first and the stomach is the last place it comes off. Women who are otherwise fit all over may feel a little self conscious in a bikini. So, the fastest way to lose belly fat is to realize that you’ve got to get into perfect shape.
There is no one specific exercise that will make you lose your stomach if you are 20 pounds overweight. Sit ups and crunches will help strengthen the muscles in the area, but do nothing to burn the fat. And, belly fat is, at its core, fat. The only way to lose fat is to eat fewer calories than you burn.
So, one element in the fastest way to lose belly fat is to come up with a healthy eating plan. This is an eating plan for life, not some fad diet. When you yo yo in weight, you actually compound the stomach fat problem because you lose weight in other areas but you put it back on in the stomach area first. So, making a change in your diet on a permanent basis is key.
You’re developing a lifestyle, not going on a temporary diet.
Your diet needs to be concerned not only with the total number of calories but the kinds of calories. You need to take in at least 1 gram of protein per day for every pound you weigh. You also need some fat in your diet. A diet of 30:20:50 in the ratio protein: fat: carbohydrates makes a lot of sense for an overweight woman who wants the fastest way to lose belly fat. Fish oils are the best kind of fat for this purpose.
Next up is your training program. The fastest way to lose belly fat is by doing both weight training and cardio exercises. A study of overweight women showed that women who alternated between cardio and strength training every other day lost significantly more fat in their stomachs than women who relied on aerobics alone.
The best way to do aerobic exercise is high intensity interval training. This is where you do a two minute burst of activity at the most intense level you are capable of doing followed by three minutes of moderate activity. Repeat the cycle.
You will also want to track your progress. Not only will you be encouraged to see your belly fat decreasing, but if you stall or go up, you will be able to correct the problem quickly. It is a good idea to take your body fat measurements every two weeks.
The fastest way to lose belly fat is to develop good lifestyle habits. Once you lose the weight, your belly fat will come off.
The 3 Day Chemical Breakdown Diet has been called by many other names such as the 3 day heart diet, the Mayo Clinic Diet, and the Cleveland Clinic Diet. Don’t be fooled by any of these names because it is simply a very low calorie fad diet. There’s no magical chemical breakdown in the 3 day chemical breakdown diet.
That said, the 3 day chemical breakdown diet is useful for losing about 5 pounds in a very short amount of time. It is a modified fast that allows you to have about 750 calories a day. Of course, this isn’t sustainable over time, but if you are looking to lose a small amount of weight in a very short period, it can be a godsend.
On most sites promoting the diet, you will find warnings that you must follow the stated rules because the foods work in concert to break down fat. There is absolutely no scientific evidence for this. Instead, as I mentioned before, this diet works because it has very low calories. Any 750 calorie diet will do the same.
Still, the 3 day chemical breakdown diet provides a nutritious balance of foods for the 750 calories that you do get. If you are going to try to go on a modified fast, you can do worse than the 3 day chemical breakdown diet.
Here’s the meal plan on the diet:
Day 1:
Breakfast
1/2 Grapefruit or Juice
1 Slice of Toast
1 tbsp. Peanut Butter
Black Coffee or Tea
Lunch
1/2 cup Tuna
1 Slice Toast
Black Coffee or Tea
Dinner
2 Slices (3 oz.) of any Meat
1 cup String Beans
1 cup Carrots or Beets
1 small Apple
1 cup Vanilla Ice Cream
Day 2
Breakfast
1 hard-boiled Egg
1 Slice of Toast
1/2 Banana
Black Coffee or Tea
Lunch
1 cup Cottage Cheese
or: 1/2 cup Tuna
5 Saltine Crackers
Dinner
2 Wieners
1 cup Cabbage or Broccoli
1/2 cup Carrots
?? or Turnip Greens
1/2 Banana
1 cup Vanilla Ice Cream
Day 3 on the 3 day Chemical Diet looks like this:
Breakfast:
1 hard-boiled Egg
1 Slice Toast
Black Coffee or Tea
Lunch:
1 Slice Cheddar Cheese
5 Saltine Crackers
1 small Apple
Black Coffee or Tea
Dinner:
1 cup Tuna
1 cup Carrots or Beets
1 cup Green Beans
?? or Cauliflower
1 cup Cantaloupe
?? or 1 small Apple
1 cup Vanilla Ice Cream
Do you have a big date Saturday night? Go on the 3 day chemical diet on Tuesday and watch the results. You’ll finally be able to fit into your skinny jeans. Want to knock them dead at your 10 year high school reunion? You’ll make them wish they had voted you prom queen when you go on the 3 day chemical diet.
But, as a lifestyle solution, the program is simply too limited in calories to be sustainable. Women need a minimum of 1200 calories a day over the long haul just to function.
You’ll be hungry on the 3 day chemical diet. And, that is manageable for three days. But long term, you should try a more balanced diet plan.
As a resource to help weight loss, printable weight loss charts are up there with the best of them. Anyone looking for as much help as they can to lose weight could do themselves a huge favor by using a simple weight loss chart.
This is because charts have been a basic tool used by anyone who is trying to achieve a goal. A chart that is updated regularly will show a snap shot of the users progress and will motivate and inspire. It will also show if the user is off track and needs to reassess their program to get back on track. Using a chart to help lose weight is no different to using a chart to achieve any other goal. Furthermore, finding printable weight loss charts online is not difficult since there are many sites that offer free charts that can be printed off and used.
Once you have your chart, make a note of your measurements and weight so that you know exactly where you started. Then make a note of how much weight you expect to lose per week. It is vital that when filling in your weight loss chart that you be realistic. Nothing will demoralize a dieter faster than not seeing the prescribed results. If you are aiming for three pounds weight loss per week, then that is what you should put down, putting down a figure higher than what can realistic be achieved means you’re setting yourself up for failure.
What is also great about printable weight loss charts is that achievements and goals can be very easily plotted and seen. If you hit a goal sooner than you hoped for then you know for a fact that your efforts are paying fruit. If you can see that there is no way that you will hit a particular weight when you are estimated to, then you can change and reassess your weight loss plans. And this really is the beauty of these charts. They can alert you to any necessary changes that you might need to make quickly and keep your morale high.
What these printable weight loss charts also do, is act as a great way for you to bring in the people around you who care about you. If you’re brave enough to pin one up in a public place where others can see it, they too can cheer you on towards success.
Above all use the chart as a way for you to document your progress and to keep a record of what you did and when you did it. That way you can look back and feel proud at where you started and where you have ended up!
The things that you can do for your health, exercise, reduce size and just plain feel great are much simpler than you might think. Getting out on the road and going for a brisk walk doesn’t take a great amount of your time. You will gain some health benefits and an increase in your confidence as you lose weight and reduce your dress size.
So what can you do for your health? Exercise, reduce size, and eat a well balanced diet are the beginnings to living a long and healthy life. Not only will you look and feel better, but the benefit to your confidence is one that will carry you through even the most difficult times of your routine. Watching the numbers on the scale move down and your clothes starting to fit better and looser, you will begin to enjoy your new lifestyle and love what it is doing for your health.
One of the most critical decisions that you will ever make is the decision to improve your health. Exercise, reduce size and focusing on the health benefits of your new lifestyle will give you the longer and happier life that you always wanted. You will begin to see an improvement in your energy almost immediately from your decision to include exercise and a well balanced diet in your life.
Many of the diseases that plague a number of people such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and many others can be successfully controlled with a few lifestyle changes that will have you feeling better in an amazingly short period of time. Just start off small with a simple walk and watch how quickly your body responds positively to that little bit of exercise.
When it is time to improve your health, exercise, reduce size and eliminate chronic illnesses, you should consider the type of exercise that you most enjoy doing. This is the way that many people have found to keep exercise a consistent practice in their daily life. For instance, if you love dancing, use it to your advantage and dance for exercise.
Making these changes in your life is a sure way to help you look and feel younger for a much longer period of time than any cosmetic surgery can provide. Exercise can improve your health, skin, muscle tone and appearance. Take some time to explore all of the benefits of including exercise in your life every day for more benefits than you ever thought possible.
For your health, reduce size and gain your confidence along with your well balanced lifestyle. You will be amazed at what a few lifestyle changes can do for your life. When your clothes start to feel better and you gain your confidence once again, the improvement to your life will be limitless. Confidence is key in many areas of your life and just living a healthy life with diet and exercise has the power to give all of that to you. Find an exercise that you enjoy and participate every day.
Posted in Article on April 23, 2012
Protein is an amino acid which is vital to our every day lives. It’s especially important for those of us who like to work out – it’s essential to get adequate protein in our diets in order to keep our muscles growing and strong. Even for those of you who are looking more at slimming down rather than beefing up, building muscle will actually help you lose fat faster and keep it off.
So, how do we get protein? The most common source of protein for most Americans is meat, but this is not necessarily the most energy efficient or cheapest way to get it. Of course, a steak will have a ton of protein, but this is not cheap and is not necessarily the best way to get protein into our bodies.
A great way to make sure that you save money on your protein intake while leaning down your sources of protein is to switch out meat with eggs. Eggs are much cheaper and easier to cook and serve in portions as compared to meat, and are perfectly healthy. If you really want to maximize the health quotient of eggs, try cooking only with the egg whites. Most of the cholesterol and fat in eggs is in the yolk.
Another way to get protein from a non-meat source is through beans. Beans are super cheap and also incredibly good for you – in fact, one of the best foods for humans to consume are lentils. Canned beans are inexpensive and take very little time to prepare, and can be quite delicious if seasoned properly. For those of you who really want to save money, consider purchasing dried beans. Dried beans take a little more forethought than the canned variety – being that you’ll need to soak them overnight – but they’re extremely cheap and pack a punch with nutrients and protein.
The main thing to stay away from if you’re on a budget is the specialty “protein bars and shakes” that dominate the health food market these days. It’s not that these are inherently bad for you, but they are extremely expensive for the protein they contain, and there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t get the same amount of protein from different sources. If you want to live healthy, cheap, and happy, try to stay away from processed foods as much as possible, and this includes “diet” processed foods!
Posted in Article on April 21, 2012
As much as you may have heard that eating healthy and exercising go together many people just don?t put the two together. This is really a shame as the benefits you get from improving both aspects of your life improve tenfold when combined.
If all you change in your life is to take up walking or cycling you will still get some benefits, but not as many. Think about it this way. If you start walking thirty minutes a day but still continue to eat the same foods and drink tons of pop or beer, do you think you will lose weight or feel better. You may to some extent but you could feel so much better if you change what you eat as well.
It really isn?t that difficult to change what you eat. You don?t have to totally revamp your diet, just make some small changes.
To start off you can make the following changes:
Switch sugary drinks for water
Light beer for regular beer
Muffins for donuts
Fruit instead of cookies
By doing just one of the above changes you could easily lose 10 pounds in your first month. If you can?t quit one of these habits cold turkey then just cut back each day. It takes about three weeks to form a new habit so it won?t take you too long before you will automatically grab water instead of a can of pop.
When you eat correctly and this includes eating more fruits and vegetables along with lean meats you are fuelling your body. This one aspect allows your body to perform an exercise better. For example if you are walking or cycling you will find that you can cycle or walk further when you eat in a healthy manner.
Consuming too much fat or sugar makes you feel lazy and lethargic. In turn this makes you not want to get out and exercise so your motivation will be lacking.
Try to listen to your body and see how you feel just by drinking 8 glasses of water each day for one week. Believe me you will notice a huge improvement in your energy level. Plus you will also notice that you will be sleeping much better. Sleep is another huge factor in making your workout more effective.
Just try to remember that whatever you put into your mouth will have some type of impact on your body, good or bad. By being aware of changes in your mood and energy level you will see what foods help energize you, and you will know which foods to avoid. So now you have all the tools you need to get the most of your exercise routine.
Posted in Article on April 12, 2012
Taking the time to know the facts about heart disease is one of the first steps to help with prevention. Here are some facts relating to heart disease that may help you with your battle so you can win easily.
1. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in America.
2. Heart disease death rate per 100,000 populations for the five largest cities in the U.S. based on racial and ethnic groups are Hispanics 69.2, Asians and Pacific Islanders 73, American Indians 82.5, Blacks 189.8, and Whites 235.5.
3. Coronary heart disease is the principle type of heart disease. In 2005 over 445,000 died of coronary heart disease, which equals 68.3of all heart disease deaths that year.
4. 47of all cardiac deaths occur before emergency services or transportation to the hospital.
5. Heart disease is projected to cost more than $304.6 billion, which includes the health care services, medications, and time off work.
6. In 2005, more that 7.6 million people died from heart disease worldwide.
7. Risk factors noted in 2003-2004 for adults with heart disease were contributed to 32.1of people 20 years or older with hypertension or taking medication for hypertension; 16.9of people 20 years or older with high cholesterol; 10of people 20 years or older with doctor diagnosed diabetes; 32of people 20 years or older with obesity; 18.4of people 18 years or old that smoked; and 39.5of people 18 years or older that did not have a standard exercise regimen.
8. 37in 2003 reported having two or more of the risk factors for heart disease and stroke, which include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, current smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes.
9. In 2005, 92of people suffering from chest pains recognized the symptoms of the possible heart attack with only 27correctly knowing they were having a heart attack and contacted the emergency authorities for assistance. Timely access to emergency services can mean the difference between life and death. Knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attacks can and will save your life when you act accordingly.
10. According to studies, people with heart disease can lower their risks of heart attacks when they lower their cholesterol and blood pressure as well as avoiding needing surgery for heart bypass and angioplasty. To reduce the risks, take the steps to lower the blood pressure and cholesterol.
11. According to studies of people without heart disease, they reduce their potential risks of heart disease by lowering their cholesterol and high blood pressure.
When a person changes their unhealthy life style patterns, they reduce the risks of heart disease and strokes.
Posted in Article on April 11, 2012
If you enjoy dancing then why not make this your exercise routine? You have probably read lots of articles telling you that it is easier to stick with an exercise routine that you enjoy. So why not dancing?
There are so many types of dance that you will never get bored dancing. You could try Zumba dancing, Belly dancing and even tap or ballet. Plus this can all be done in the comfort of your home with very little if no special gym equipment.
Even just turning on your favourite music and dancing is a great form of exercising. Let yourself be carried away by the music and burn lots and lots of calories. A 150 pound person can burn approximately 306 calories per hour just dancing in general. Ballet or Tap will have you burning 326 calories per hour and Ballroom dancing 374 calories in a one hour period.
Of course you don’t have to dance for one solid hour. You could break this up into four 15 minute intervals during the day. To get the biggest benefit try to put in as much effort as you can into your dancing. Don’t get carried away as you don’t want to hurt yourself by pulling a muscle.
If you want to learn a certain style or a dance routine you can find plenty of DVD’s and videos on this subject. If you visit YouTube you could probably find some instructional videos on there. This is a great way to try something new like Belly Dancing before purchasing a DVD or book on the subject. You will just need to make sure that you have enough room to dance safely near your computer.
Maybe you dreamed of being a ballet dancer when you were younger. Well there is nothing stopping you from learning the movements now. Ballet dancers are known for their incredible strength and practicing the basic steps will no doubt improve your leg, arm and core strength.
Of course it will take time and determination to perfect any new dance routine, but you are not aiming to be a professional. Your goal is to have fun while learning a new dance step or style.
Just moving your body more will help get you back into shape. You will be feeling more energetic and youthful than you had expected and all you did was dance your way back to health.
