Senin, 28 Februari 2011

Fastest Way To Lose Belly Fat - 7 Tips To Get A Flat Belly!

In this article, you will discover the fastest way to lose belly fat easily and without even trying hard. There are many things you can do to lose belly fat the fastest way. I am going to discuss the best methods you can implement today to start losing belly fat!

Most obese people have fat accumulated near the stomach region. It can be quite difficult to get rid of this. If you want to lose belly fat fast then read on. Below are 7 tips that can help in getting that flat stomach!

Fastest Way To Lose Belly Fat:

1) Exercise early in the morning: Exercising early in the morning can be very good. Jog or do brisk walking for 30 minutes to 1 hour everyday before breakfast.

If you cannot do this everyday, at least try to do it on most days of the week. However, note that exercising alone may not be completely effective in helping you lose belly fat.

2) Avoid drinking alcohol: Alcohol contains high amount of calories. There are 7 calories per gram of alcohol.

Another reason to stay far away from alcohol is that it has a huge impact on the body sugar levels. Studies also suggest that alcohol consumption is likely to increase your appetite leading to overeating and thus affecting your efforts to lose belly fat fast.

3) Avoid junk food: Junk food has become the bane of modern society. We have got so used to it so much that it is difficult to give it up.

But realize that eating too much junk food can be a primary cause for developing weight problems. Eating junk food can raise your appetite levels making you eat more and also eat unhealthy fattening foods resulting in gaining more fat around your stomach.

4) Drink lot of water: Guess what happens whenever you drink lot of water? If you haven't guessed it, here's the answer - you will feel the need to frequently rush to the washroom.

How does this help you to lose belly fat? Actually it is your body's way of releasing water that it has been retaining for long. You may be surprised to know that the more water you drink, the less of it is retained by the body.

So you can lose some water weight and also lose belly fat by drinking more water. Along with this water, unwanted pounds are also shed off by the body.

5) Reducing stress: Just before you think that I have gone nuts, let me explain how stress can come in the way of losing belly fat fast.

Actually, high levels of stress can cause your body to produce a hormone called as 'cortisol'. This cortisol is released in your body during periods of stress and it has been linked to weight gain.

Research seems to point out that stress can hinder with your body's capacity to reduce belly fat. By incorporating stress relieving activities in your schedule and learning how to relax, you can do a world of good to your efforts to lose the belly fat.

So the formula is to relax, avoid tension and thereby stand a much better chance to lose belly fat.

6) Eat balanced diet: A balanced diet is so important when you are trying to lose belly fat. Proper dieting can be one of the fastest way to lose a lot of weight quickly and permanently. It can be much more effective than exercise too!

Avoid unhealthy foods and those foods that have high levels of sugar or caffeine. Try going for foods which are rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and fibers. Examples of such healthy foods are vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, whole grain etc.

Such kind of healthy foods keep your insulin levels even and control blood sugar levels as well as your hunger. So you can develop a much better control over your hunger if you get into the habit of eating healthy nutrition rich foods and stop eating junk!

Gaining control over hunger means you stand a much better chance of getting rid of belly fat quickly, easily and permanently without putting in too much effort. Avoid eating processed food as much as you can and try eating natural food as much as possible.

7) Get sufficient sleep: Peaceful, calm, relaxing and restful sleep at night is one of the keys to long lasting health and strong immune system.

If your immune system is strong, your body can fight off diseases and keep fit. Such fitness is necessary if you want to lose weight permanently and stay slim.

When you are tired, you may tend to feel hungry or feel like eating something. This can lead to unhealthy food choices or overeating ultimately leading to weight gain and a pot belly.

By getting proper sleep at night, you can ensure that you stay active during the day so that you burn more fat, lose belly fat and stay energetic and fit.

Keep in mind that quality of sleep is more important than quantity. You may sleep for 7-8 hours but don't feel so rested and another person may sleep just 5 hours and be happy, healthy and active.

So try to improve sleep quality by cultivating proper sleep habits. Realize that proper sleep habits may indirectly have an impact on your weight and even assist you in your quest to lose belly fat quickly.

Download our free Ebook below that shows you the exact system on how to lose belly fat fast and easily. This Ebook will help you a great deal, we wish you the best.

This article was first published at: http://bit.ly/gmAkP2

In this article, you will discover the fastest way to lose belly fat easily and without even trying hard. There are many things you can do to lose belly fat the fastest way. I am going to discuss the best methods you can implement today to start losing belly fat!

Most obese people have fat accumulated near the stomach region. It can be quite difficult to get rid of this. If you want to lose belly fat fast then read on. Below are 7 tips that can help in getting that flat stomach!

fastest way to lose belly fat:

1) Exercise early in the morning: Exercising early in the morning can be very good. Jog or do brisk walking for 30 minutes to 1 hour everyday before breakfast.

If you cannot do this everyday, at least try to do it on most days of the week. However, note that exercising alone may not be completely effective in helping you lose belly fat.

2) Avoid drinking alcohol: Alcohol contains high amount of calories. There are 7 calories per gram of alcohol.

Another reason to stay far away from alcohol is that it has a huge impact on the body sugar levels. Studies also suggest that alcohol consumption is likely to increase your appetite leading to overeating and thus affecting your efforts to lose belly fat fast.

3) Avoid junk food: Junk food has become the bane of modern society. We have got so used to it so much that it is difficult to give it up.

But realize that eating too much junk food can be a primary cause for developing weight problems. Eating junk food can raise your appetite levels making you eat more and also eat unhealthy fattening foods resulting in gaining more fat around your stomach.

4) Drink lot of water: Guess what happens whenever you drink lot of water? If you haven't guessed it, here's the answer - you will feel the need to frequently rush to the washroom.

How does this help you to lose belly fat? Actually it is your body's way of releasing water that it has been retaining for long. You may be surprised to know that the more water you drink, the less of it is retained by the body.

So you can lose some water weight and also lose belly fat by drinking more water. Along with this water, unwanted pounds are also shed off by the body.

5) Reducing stress: Just before you think that I have gone nuts, let me explain how stress can come in the way of losing belly fat fast.

Actually, high levels of stress can cause your body to produce a hormone called as 'cortisol'. This cortisol is released in your body during periods of stress and it has been linked to weight gain.

Research seems to point out that stress can hinder with your body's capacity to reduce belly fat. By incorporating stress relieving activities in your schedule and learning how to relax, you can do a world of good to your efforts to lose the belly fat.

So the formula is to relax, avoid tension and thereby stand a much better chance to lose belly fat.

6) Eat balanced diet: A balanced diet is so important when you are trying to lose belly fat. Proper dieting can be one of the fastest way to lose a lot of weight quickly and permanently. It can be much more effective than exercise too!

Avoid unhealthy foods and those foods that have high levels of sugar or caffeine. Try going for foods which are rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and fibers. Examples of such healthy foods are vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, whole grain etc.

Such kind of healthy foods keep your insulin levels even and control blood sugar levels as well as your hunger. So you can develop a much better control over your hunger if you get into the habit of eating healthy nutrition rich foods and stop eating junk!

Gaining control over hunger means you stand a much better chance of getting rid of belly fat quickly, easily and permanently without putting in too much effort. Avoid eating processed food as much as you can and try eating natural food as much as possible.

7) Get sufficient sleep: Peaceful, calm, relaxing and restful sleep at night is one of the keys to long lasting health and strong immune system.

If your immune system is strong, your body can fight off diseases and keep fit. Such fitness is necessary if you want to lose weight permanently and stay slim.

When you are tired, you may tend to feel hungry or feel like eating something. This can lead to unhealthy food choices or overeating ultimately leading to weight gain and a pot belly.

By getting proper sleep at night, you can ensure that you stay active during the day so that you burn more fat, lose belly fat and stay energetic and fit.

Keep in mind that quality of sleep is more important than quantity. You may sleep for 7-8 hours but don't feel so rested and another person may sleep just 5 hours and be happy, healthy and active.

So try to improve sleep quality by cultivating proper sleep habits. Realize that proper sleep habits may indirectly have an impact on your weight and even assist you in your quest to lose belly fat quickly.

Download our free Ebook below that shows you the exact system on how to lose belly fat fast and easily. This Ebook will help you a great deal, we wish you the best.

This article was first published at: http://bit.ly/gmAkP2

Fastest Way To Lose Belly Fat - 3 Simple Exercises That Works!

In this article, you will discover the 3 simple exercises that are known to be the fastest way to lose belly fat. Most people want to lose belly fat only through diets. Let me tell you something, you have to be doing exercises if you are looking for the fastest way to lose belly fat. Diets alone won't do it!

Most of the people like us who have to work in the office everyday will most probably face the same problem - Big Belly. I used to be very thin back in university, however, once I started to work in the office, I sit in front of the computer everyday, and as a result, I have a belly. I have started to lose weight by doing some exercises to lose belly fat. I have loss about 10lbs so far, and my belly is slightly flatter now. So, I would like share 3 simple exercises to lose belly fat quickly at home. If you ask me what is the fastest way to lose weight and how to lose abdominal fat, I will surely recommend these 3 simple exercises :

1) Sit Ups

Yes, sit ups. People have been saying that sit ups are useless because you cannot get the maximum effect. However, this is because they have done something wrongly. One major reason if because after doing sit ups, they do not stretch their stomach muscle as well as go for a 15 minute jog or walk. After doing sit ups, it is very easy to lose weight and belly fat by walking or jogging.

2) Leg Raise

Among all the exercises to lose belly fat, I will highly recommend you to do leg raise because it can lose the lower stomach fat. It is very effective when combines with sit ups because sit ups will burn the upper stomach fat while leg raise will help you to lose the lower belly fat.

3) Jogging

As what I have said just now, jogging or walking for about 15-30minutes after doing the above workouts will give you the maximum effect. Walking to lose weight after doing the above workouts is very effective because your body have been stimulated to burn more energy at the stomach and the energy is converted from your belly fat. So, you can lose your belly fat, effectively.

Hope that you can follow the exercises above, it is very easy and only takes less than 1 hour commitment every alternate day. Besides working out, you will also need to have a balanced diet. I will recommend Calorie Shifting diet.

Check out the Ebook below that shows you step by step ways to lose belly fat really fast. This Ebook is available to you for free, take advantage of it and implement the tips and methods outlined inside. We wish you the best!

Article source(edited): Ezinearticles

In this article, you will discover the 3 simple exercises that are known to be the fastest way to lose belly fat. Most people want to lose belly fat only through diets. Let me tell you something, you have to be doing exercises if you are looking for the fastest way to lose belly fat. Diets alone won't do it!

Most of the people like us who have to work in the office everyday will most probably face the same problem - Big Belly. I used to be very thin back in university, however, once I started to work in the office, I sit in front of the computer everyday, and as a result, I have a belly. I have started to lose weight by doing some exercises to lose belly fat. I have loss about 10lbs so far, and my belly is slightly flatter now. So, I would like share 3 simple exercises to lose belly fat quickly at home. If you ask me what is the fastest way to lose weight and how to lose abdominal fat, I will surely recommend these 3 simple exercises :

1) Sit Ups

Yes, sit ups. People have been saying that sit ups are useless because you cannot get the maximum effect. However, this is because they have done something wrongly. One major reason if because after doing sit ups, they do not stretch their stomach muscle as well as go for a 15 minute jog or walk. After doing sit ups, it is very easy to lose weight and belly fat by walking or jogging.

2) Leg Raise

Among all the exercises to lose belly fat, I will highly recommend you to do leg raise because it can lose the lower stomach fat. It is very effective when combines with sit ups because sit ups will burn the upper stomach fat while leg raise will help you to lose the lower belly fat.

3) Jogging

As what I have said just now, jogging or walking for about 15-30minutes after doing the above workouts will give you the maximum effect. Walking to lose weight after doing the above workouts is very effective because your body have been stimulated to burn more energy at the stomach and the energy is converted from your belly fat. So, you can lose your belly fat, effectively.

Hope that you can follow the exercises above, it is very easy and only takes less than 1 hour commitment every alternate day. Besides working out, you will also need to have a balanced diet. I will recommend Calorie Shifting diet.

Check out the Ebook below that shows you step by step ways to lose belly fat really fast. This Ebook is available to you for free, take advantage of it and implement the tips and methods outlined inside. We wish you the best!

Article source(edited): Ezinearticles

Fastest Way To Lose Belly Fat - How To Lose It Easily!

While belly fat is one of the biggest physical challenges both men and women face today I can tell that you can lose belly fat fast and easily. The reason for the excess fat around the belly area has very little to do with the failure of proper dieting, or the amount crunches you did or the amount of carbohydrates you ate, it has everything to do with a change in hormonal production.

Belly fat can be a very soul destroying personal challenge and is responsible for many health risks along with loss of sex drive, fatigue, depression and hot flushes and it all comes down to a shift in hormone production. Of course some fat however is required, because without it we would freeze on a very cold day. But excess belly fat isn't good for you.

It doesn't matter what your own personal challenges are: food cravings, old age or just simply puppy fat. Of course by eating too much of any food, can make you fat. Whenever we gain 5 or 7 pounds, it's in our belly that it shows. And when we try to take these pounds, that's where they remain... Cutting down on our cardio or weight training will simply just add inches all over the body so that is not advisable either.

Male body fat tends to concentrate around the belly area, chest and face, and even though they often refer to it as "beer belly" - it doesn't really have much to do with beer, only for the fact that beer is used as a catalyst for gaining weight.

Women's body fat, tends to concentrate on the hips, bum and thighs but as women get older the estrogen levels also decline, so they start putting on weight around the belly area, just the way males do.

Why is it that we start to form belly fat around the age of 30? It's in fact anywhere between the ages of 30 and 55. And it is all down to hormonal dominance, namely estrogen, in both men and women. Yes you heard right, in men as well.

As we age, our hormone production begins to shift and our estrogen levels can become dominant, our bodies are then unable to efficiently use fat stores for energy, which means that our metabolic rate, the rate at which we burn calories, is compromised. The end result is excess fat that is harder to shift even with less food intake and more exercising.

So, How to Lose Belly Fat Fast?

The answer lies in a diet specifically designed to reduce estrogen levels and restore hormonal balance while boosting our metabolism rate. Start to include the following foods designed to target belly fat reduction in your every day diet:

Cruciferous Vegetables: consume large amounts of these "belly flatters": broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, radish, turnip and beet root.

Insoluble Fiber: these can help bring about hormonal balance causing you to burn fat around the belly quicker.They include: whole-wheat bread, barley, couscous, brown rice, whole-grain cereal, seeds, cucumber, tomatoes and wheat bran.

Citrus Fruits: these include lemons, limes, grapefruit, tangerines and oranges. You will lose weight a lot faster if you eat large amounts of these fruits.

A lot of things can be done to lose belly fat fast. We recommend you go ahead and download the following Ebook that shows you exactly how to lose belly fat fast and easily. You will discover the tips and tricks on how to lose belly fat sooner than you can possible imagine! Good Luck!

Article Source (edited): Ezinearticles

While belly fat is one of the biggest physical challenges both men and women face today I can tell that you can lose belly fat fast and easily. The reason for the excess fat around the belly area has very little to do with the failure of proper dieting, or the amount crunches you did or the amount of carbohydrates you ate, it has everything to do with a change in hormonal production.

Belly fat can be a very soul destroying personal challenge and is responsible for many health risks along with loss of sex drive, fatigue, depression and hot flushes and it all comes down to a shift in hormone production. Of course some fat however is required, because without it we would freeze on a very cold day. But excess belly fat isn't good for you.

It doesn't matter what your own personal challenges are: food cravings, old age or just simply puppy fat. Of course by eating too much of any food, can make you fat. Whenever we gain 5 or 7 pounds, it's in our belly that it shows. And when we try to take these pounds, that's where they remain... Cutting down on our cardio or weight training will simply just add inches all over the body so that is not advisable either.

Male body fat tends to concentrate around the belly area, chest and face, and even though they often refer to it as "beer belly" - it doesn't really have much to do with beer, only for the fact that beer is used as a catalyst for gaining weight.

Women's body fat, tends to concentrate on the hips, bum and thighs but as women get older the estrogen levels also decline, so they start putting on weight around the belly area, just the way males do.

Why is it that we start to form belly fat around the age of 30? It's in fact anywhere between the ages of 30 and 55. And it is all down to hormonal dominance, namely estrogen, in both men and women. Yes you heard right, in men as well.

As we age, our hormone production begins to shift and our estrogen levels can become dominant, our bodies are then unable to efficiently use fat stores for energy, which means that our metabolic rate, the rate at which we burn calories, is compromised. The end result is excess fat that is harder to shift even with less food intake and more exercising.

So, How to Lose Belly Fat Fast?

The answer lies in a diet specifically designed to reduce estrogen levels and restore hormonal balance while boosting our metabolism rate. Start to include the following foods designed to target belly fat reduction in your every day diet:

Cruciferous Vegetables: consume large amounts of these "belly flatters": broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, radish, turnip and beet root.

Insoluble Fiber: these can help bring about hormonal balance causing you to burn fat around the belly quicker.They include: whole-wheat bread, barley, couscous, brown rice, whole-grain cereal, seeds, cucumber, tomatoes and wheat bran.

Citrus Fruits: these include lemons, limes, grapefruit, tangerines and oranges. You will lose weight a lot faster if you eat large amounts of these fruits.

A lot of things can be done to lose belly fat fast. We recommend you go ahead and download the following Ebook that shows you exactly how to lose belly fat fast and easily. You will discover the tips and tricks on how to lose belly fat sooner than you can possible imagine! Good Luck!

Article Source (edited): Ezinearticles

The Beauty of Dry Brushing


After writing my last article on cellulitis, I felt the need to elaborate on the beauty of dry brushing the skin. Using a natural vegetable brush on dry skin is one of the best ways to exfoliate, detoxify, and stimulate the body. 

Dry brushing isn't a new fad. Dry brush treatments have been in vogue for centuries in countries like Russia, Turkey, and Scandinavia where natural cures have been favored from generation to generation. The Finnish doctor, Paavo Airola, proscribed dry brushing techniques for health improvements starting in the 1960’s, bringing the technique to a broader public with his many books on heath and fitness.  

As the body’s largest organ, the skin is responsible for eliminating approximately one pound of waste every day.  This means the skin is responsible for up to a quarter of the body’s ability to detoxify by getting rid of toxins through the sweat glands and pores. Receiving 1/3 of the body’s blood circulation, the skin is the first place we see signs of illness, dis-ease, and lack of care when it is not stimulated properly.

Dry brushing the skin is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to awaken blood flow, get rid of dead skin cells, massage the organs, stimulate nerve endings, mobilize fat that contributes to cellulitis, tone muscles, avoid water retention, and much more.

Detoxifying the Skin
When we apply a dry brush to the body, we are stimulating the lymph gland, which is responsible for white blood cells known as lymphocytes.  These cells carry nutrients throughout the body while also removing waste.  Detoxification occurs through the lymph gland by cleaning out the intestines and healing areas that need attention. Large proteins that are not easily transported by the blood are carried by the lymphatic system, which pumps this material out of the interstitial spaces in the body.  When we dry brush, we speed up this process, helping to avoid fluid build-up, which can lead to edema.

Stimulating the Organs
Through gentle strokes of the dry brush towards the heart, we are actually stimulating all of the internal organs as well as the skin by massaging connective tissue and delivering blood flow to these areas. 

Strengthening the Immune System
As toxins are cleared due to greater blood flow and stimulation of the organs, the immune system gains strength as there is less debris left to impede its function. This means that any type of discomfort including chronic illnesses can be dealt with in a more efficient manner by the body’s natural healing processes.  As the lymphatic system drains toxic mucoid substances from the body, our entire system becomes purer.

Activating Hormones and Glands
If the skin isn’t cleansed properly, the pores begin to suffocate.  Dead cells and hardened oil keep uric acid and other impurities trapped inside, making it difficult for hormones and glands to do their jobs.  This puts greater stress on the liver and kidneys as they must work overtime to try to cover for what the skin is not able to do. When we dry brush, we can then cleanse the skin on a deeper level by removing surface debris and allowing a good cleanser to sweep away deeply seated wastes.

Improving Skin Texture
By sloughing off dead skin, the pores are able to take in nutrients and skin cells are able to renew themselves. What results is glowing, soft skin that becomes finer in texture.  As the skin texture improves, the skin itself finds it easier to breathe, which is a boon to all internal functions, including digestion and neurological function.
  
Reducing Cellulitis
Because of the increase of circulation, dry brushing can help to soften hardened fatty deposits, or cellulitis.  In this regard, muscles also begin to become more toned as the muscle fibers are positively affected by daily brushing.  Many homeopathic doctors proscribe a dry brush regimen to patients who cannot exercise as the brushing is a passive yet effective way to create better body tone over time.

Dry Brushing, Diet, and Exercise
Dry brushing accompanied by a good diet that is high in alkaline foods is a powerful way to keep yourself young, vibrant, and glowing.  Adding a good exercise protocol is also key.  Meditation and other similar relaxation techniques help to quiet the nerves and reduce tension, which also helps us stay healthy on the physical as well as mental level.

When to Dry Brush
Dry brushing should be done just before you are about to take a bath or shower.  Take your time to cover your entire naked body with a natural vegetable fiber brush or a loofah.  The brush should have a long, detachable handle for reaching your back. The brush head itself should have a strap for easy manipulation on other areas.  Bathing or showering after brushing washes away the dead cells you have loosened.  If you are showering, an additional lift to circulation is to alternate hot water with cold water three times consecutively.  Then, after your bath or shower, dry off carefully and  moisturize your invigorated skin with plant oils like coconut, apricot, avocado, sesame, or olive.  If you have arthritis, you can mix any of these with a bit of caster or peanut oil to help reduce inflammation.

Note: Clean your brush once a week with soap and water.  Dry thoroughly in a sunny area to avoid mold.

 Applying the Technique
I generally brush from toes to head, working my way up from the soles of my feet as I brush towards the heart.  Once I reach my hands, I brush up towards the chest and shoulders. Above the heart, the strokes should go downward towards this area. 

It is best to brush in long, firm strokes or in circular strokes that cover the entire area that you are concentrating on.  Use lighter pressure on sensitive areas, firmer pressure on areas such as the soles of the feet.  As you get used to the sensation, you will be able to tolerate stronger strokes as time goes on.  Make sure you stroke each area seven times before moving to the next.

Word to the wise: never brush on infected areas, rashes, cuts, or wounds.

Dry brush every single day and you will begin to see the results of your patience and care after about a month .  Make it a beautiful ritual before your bath or shower where you take time for yourself, honoring your body and staying cognizant of your breathing as you concentrate on each healthful stroke.

 Here is a great dry brushing guide (long but worth reading) as per the site,  Natural Health Techniques:

1.     Using your right hand, gently slide the brush along your right jaw line starting from your earlobe to the underside of your chin 7 times.
2.     Place the brush at the hairline on your neck and gently pull around the right side of your neck to the Adam's apple 7 times.
3.     Hold the brush with your right hand at the bottom of your neck (where it joins the top of your back) and bring it around your neck to the right and down along your right collar bone and end up between your collarbones 7 times.
4.     Stroke your breastbone in a circular fashion to stimulate the thymus gland 7 times.
5.     Carefully brush the breast in a circular motion 7 times.
6.     Repeat the above steps for your left side holding the brush with your left hand.
7.     To stimulate the pituitary gland, hold the brush on the back of your head near the base of your neck and rock the brush up and down, then side to side, both sides 14 times.
8.     Hold the brush in your left armpit with your right hand and rotate it counter clockwise 7 times, then clockwise 7 times.
9.     Repeat on your right armpit with your left hand.
10.   Brush upward 7 times from your upper right thigh to your right armpit.
11.   Repeat process on your left side. Women may need to hold their breast out of the way with their free hand.
12.   Brush back and forth over your belly button and around your waistline 14 times (like passing a basketball behind your back).
13.   Brush in a circular motion over your belly button, counter-clockwise 7 times then clockwise 7 times.
14.   Finish brushing the front of your body in any direction starting at the bottom and brushing all the way up 14 times. Very little pressure needs to be applied to the genitals and women's breasts because the skin is sensitive and will redden if irritated.
15.   Brush up and down your spine from the base of your neck and down as far as you can 14 times.
16.   Finish your upper back by stroking it around toward your sides.
17.   Brush your spine from tailbone up as high as you can reach 14 times, holding the brush with two hands or with the detachable wooden handle.
18.   Finish your lower back by stroking it around toward your sides.
19.   Brush up from right ankle to right knee and work all the way around your leg, brushing up towards your heart.
20.   Hold the brush in the right groin with both hands and rotate it 7 times counter-clockwise, then 7 times clockwise.
21.   Repeat with the left groin.
22.   Brush from right knee to right hip 7 times.
23.   Work all the way around your leg continuing to brush upwards (towards the heart).
24.   Brush up from right ankle to right knee and work all the way around your leg, brushing up towards your heart.
25.   Brush around your right ankle 7 times.
26.   Brush back and forth over the top of your right foot from toes to ankle.
27.   Brush across your right toes on top and underneath 7 times.
28.   Brush the bottom of your right foot heel to toe 7 times.
29.   Now do the same with for the left foot, leg and thigh.
30.   Brush upward from right elbow to your armpit and shoulder 7 times.
31.   Brush from your right wrist to the elbow in the same manner 7 times.
32.   Repeat steps on your left arm.
33.   Lightly brush the webbing (or junction) between your left thumb and index or pointer finger on the palm side 14 times, then on the non-palm side 14 times.
34.   Brush your left palm from wrist to fingertips and back 7 times.
35.   Brush the back of your left hand the same way 7 times.
36.   Brush each left hand finger individually back and forth 7 times on the areas that have not been brushed yet. Then repeat with right.

Sabtu, 26 Februari 2011

Know How About Men’s Fitness Tips

Health and fitness issues hold same importance for men as for women. As a matter of fact there should be no distinction on gender basis in this highly important domain except for the treatment on the basis of physiological differences. Let us have a look at what men should be more focusing on while taking care of their health:
A Healthy Diet
By no means the importance of a balanced diet should be underestimated by men. We all know what a balanced diet comprises of and what it means to our well being. Men should take appropriate amount of servings from all the basic nutritional groups to fulfill their bodily needs on daily basis. An important consideration in this regard is to take whole grain instead of processed food. Whole grains provide necessary energy to the body in the form of carbohydrates. These are also recommended as they help you fight the hunger as they take relatively longer time to digest as compared to processed food. Moreover, whole grains help in building your lean muscles which are found to be in men in a higher ratio as compared to women. Men should also take adequate amount of fruits and vegetable in order to have the vitamins and minerals their body needs. Another useful tip is to take more white meat especially fish as compared to red meat which can lead to cardiovascular diseases especially when your lifestyle is not an active one.
Active Lifestyle
Modern life style is characterized by technology which though has simplified our lives yet the machines are taking the tool. We spend more time in front of our systems than actually living the life. To have a healthy and happy life one needs a little sunshine as well. The workload may not allow the men to act upon the advice however; it is never difficult to make a way out if only you are actually determined. Sparing some time out of your busy life and spending it just with yourself or those near and dear to you is likely to improve your quality of life manifolds. It also let you combat the stress and the strain that adds during the course of work. Most of men seek refuge in activities like smoking and alcohol when tense which is highly injurious to your health. The only healthy way to have a healthy and happy being is to adopt an active lifestyle.
Exercise
An overweight or an obese person is always a subject of laugh for others and unfortunately this form of discrimination is still socially acceptable. However, obesity in itself is not a good thing as it poses hazards to our health along with lowering our level of self confidence. It is recommended to steal some time for you from the hustle & bustle of life and invest it in you to have the wealth we call health. One can take help from the exercise equipments, can walk or join some gym for the work out that will not only reduce the health related issues but also make you feel good about yourself.

Body Fitness Equipments

These days, people pay a lot of attention to body fitness and exercise. The reason might be that the job requirements of most people these days demand them to sit on a desk and work for countless hours, which has a bad effect on their health. Human body needs exercise to remain fit; otherwise the body starts to decay. Also fat deposits create a huge problem for everyone.
To keep one’s body fit, one needs to exercise daily. Some people are fortunate enough to get time in the day to exercise their body by running a few laps around the park or going to some gym. Others are not as fortunate as they do not have time in the day for such activities.
The best thing for such individuals is to buy small body fitness equipments for their homes. This way they can keep themselves fit by exercising whenever they get the time. They would not be bound by specific gym hours and thus can schedule their exercises as and when they want. Also it gives more privacy so that one can exercise in the comfort and privacy of their home.
Buying body fitness equipments is a difficult task as, one needs to consider the space available in which one can place these equipments for exercise and also one has to consider which type of equipment should be best suited for the purpose. There are different equipments with different sizes and specifications available in the markets. One simply has to do a survey and choose the one that fits the need.
Most people prefer using a treadmill for all their exercise needs. This machine is suitable for those who just want their body to stay fit and used to some exercise. It serves the same purpose as jogging or walking in the park and is thus a mild exercise machine.
There are some motorized treadmills available in which the walking platform is in motion by the use of these motors. The speed can be adjusted to the needs of the user and is thus a good way to keep the body healthy and fit.
It would be suggested that those who are able to join gyms and are able to schedule time for gym in their busy daily routine then it would be best for them to join gyms as they have much more advanced and expensive equipment. There are also instructors who will make sure that all the exercise needs of your body are fulfilled.

Exercises For Health

Year’s ago people had to work hard for finding their living means. During that time majority of people’s job was cultivation. The people who had performed office jobs and other governmental jobs were negligible. More over there were no vehicle facilities at that time as if we are experiencing nowadays. Hence people had to walk long distances for reaching their destination. The only vehicle which was common during that period was bicycles. Since walking and bicycle riding were very good body exercises there were no needs of extra exercises for those people who rely on bicycles and walking. Thus even office going people were in good health condition because of their to and fro walking and bicycle riding. But nowadays there are facilities of two wheelers, three wheelers and four wheelers in addition to regular bus services. Hence people have no need to walk even to cover short distances. Thus these advantages minimized the body exertion of people on a large scale. That is how the need of separate physical exercises aroused among people for maintaining good health condition.
Regarding various health exercises nothing is better than simple walking. On e hour walking in the morning and evening is sufficient to ensure proper health condition to people who have no physical exertion during day hours. If open place can be chosen for walking people can breathe fresh air during morning. Morning hours ensure unpolluted air in all respects. Other fitness activities similar to walking are swimming, bicycling and running at minimum speed. All these activities are capable to provide all body movement and hence they are good exercises also. Other body fitness activities are exercises, weight lifting and body building. Since all these activities are to be performed indoors the advantages of fresh cannot be enjoyed for those who prefer body building and weight lifting. But all these activities are very good for keeping good health in all respects.

Seasonal Diet For Better Health

Controlling weight and caring body health should be continuous process in all aspects. Hence body caring must be in full swing in all seasons of the year irrespective of rain winter or summer. If only this can be carried out carefully, better health can be maintained. In order to achieve this successfully people must rely on seasonal healthy foods in addition to regular exercises and walking. These techniques will enable people to gain health skin as well as healthy body. Fruits and vegetables are the various food items available with respect to various seasons. If we can consume these fruits and vegetables with respect to their availability then we will be in sound health through out. Since fruits and vegetables contain minerals and vitamins in abundance, they can be considered as the better alternative for ideal balanced diet. Fruits and vegetables which are available seasonally are capable to keep man in good health all the time. More over, they can be refreshed and rejuvenated all time by taking these foods regularly.
In additional to these seasonal foods if people can take milk and eggs also, nothing extra is needed to maintain better health. Fruits and vegetables are very good supplementary food for eyes, skin, hair, bone, teeth and hemoglobin found in blood. The diet we usually consume are suitable to apply externally also. In this regard certain fruits, vegetables, vegetable juice and fruit juices are recommended to use in our body and face. Fruit juices and vegetables have certain tendencies to reduce our body heat. Hence they are highly recommended for using during summer seasons. No vegetarian foods and dishes are not suitable to develop cool in human body. Hence they are not ideal especially during summer season. In addition to these nutritive foods, people must drink enough water every day. Since water is the main constituent of human body tissues drinking enough water will enable tissues to perform better metabolic activities. Thus seasonal diet and water consumption have key roles to develop better health.

Jumat, 25 Februari 2011

Nutrition Adjustment for Winter

The winter season and the typical events that occur throughout the winter (Christmas, New Year's, challenges of snow storms and cold weather, school assignments, exams and the excitement of our winter sports – to name a few) create significant challenges to the immune system. When the immune system challenges become excessive it manifests in the form of some type of illness. Illnesses ranging from the common cold and flu to more serious conditions leading to cancer and heart disease.If you develop and maintain a healthy immune system there is no reason for your body to participate in the so-called flu and cold season. In fact it might be more correct to refer to it as the "weakened immune system season". Please appreciate that the "immune system" is not like any other system (cardiovascular, respiratory or digestive systems) in the body. You can’t see it nor localize it. It is really just a term to express all of the mechanisms your body uses to protect and defend itself from the invasions of bacteria, viruses and toxins from the outside world.
Immune system strength is determined by the food you eat and your responses to the "stresses of life" (the neural-humoral connection). The food you eat provides the building blocks for healthy cells that are the most significant part of healthy immunity. During the "busy-season" and the various celebrations we enjoy, often the food choices and other lifestyle habits are not optimal.
To enjoy a healthful, illness-free, high-energy winter, think about forward planning your food choices so they become part of your lifestyle. Don’t let "lifestyle" dictate convenient, less healthful food choices. Appreciate the fact that your current state of health is supported by your lifestyle. To change your health and ill-health risks you must change your lifestyle. "Magic Bullet" products and quick fixes will not endure.

Lifestyle Choice # 1:

Eat enough protein to support optimal health and chosen lifestyle activities. You require approximately 0.75 to 1.25 grams of protein per pound of body weight depending on your physical activity level. (I know that is higher than conventional recommendation, but trust me - it works). As many know I advocate an eating plan of 40% carbohydrate, 30% protein and 30% carefully chosen fat. A caveat is to understand that you only effectively absorb 30 to 35 grams (5 oz steak = 35 gms) of protein per meal or snack so it is necessary to distribute your consumption though-out the day. Eat some protein in every meal and every snack. There is recent evidence that (at least in the Western world it is recent) at least 30 grams of your daily protein should come from soy to provide adequate "isoflavanoids to help build and protect the immune system.

Lifestyle Choice # 2:

Select low" glycemic index" (GI) carbohydrates and avoid those easy to digest high starch and sugar products. GI is a measure of how fast blood sugar rises after eating - sugar = GI of 100 whereas peanuts = GI of 15. That means peanuts raise blood sugar at rate of only 15% of that created by white sugar, lower is better. Fast rising blood sugar means the pancreas produces or over produces insulin. Spikes in insulin production and chronically elevated insulin weakens the immune system and interferes with the production of the "Super hormones" that control many of our other hormones. If you eat low GI carbohydrates, combined with adequate protein and eat some of the protein first, you will control your insulin and be a friend to your immune system.

Lifestyle Choice # 3:

Consume adequate "essential fatty acids" (EFA’s) from nuts, seeds, fish, cold pressed oils and supplements. EFA’s are the building blocks for the "super hormones". Low fat, and high carbohydrates diets put you at risk.

Lifestyle Choice # 4:

Understand that nutritional supplementation is no longer an option if you wish to have optimal health and protect your immune system. On the average we eat less that ½ the Calories that our relatives ate in 1900 (1900 = 3800 Calories, today = 1800 Calories). And much of the food eaten today has a lower nutritional density. Remember that in 1900 "everything" was ORGANIC. In addition, modern life has dramatically increased the risks of Free Radical damage through the chemicals and toxins in our air, water and food supplies.
Numerous reputable research papers and books have demonstrated that the protective levels of the three major anti-oxidant nutrients (beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E) are much higher than we can expect to receive from any typical diet. Estimated protective levels of beta-carotene and other carotenoids has been estimated at 50,00O i.u. (30 mg) per day, the equivalent of 6 ½ average carrots or 5 ½ sweet potatoes EVERY DAY. The suggested protective levels for vitamin C are in excess of 1,000 mgs per day, the equivalent of 15 average oranges EVERY DAY, assuming the oranges contained vitamin C – some don’t. The suggested protective level for vitamin E is at least 400 i.u., equivalent to 19 cups of almonds or 2.1 cups of soybean oil. I think these examples demonstrate the difficulty one would have in receiving protective levels of essential anti-oxidants from any average diet. Many other examples of such difficulty are available.
The anti-oxidants mentioned above are merely the most publicized examples available. Other significant anti-oxidants include grape-seed extract, selenium, coenzyme Q10 to mention a few.
Anti-oxidants are known as "Free-Radical" scavengers. They combine with Free Radicals to prevent them from being oxidized. Oxidized Free Radicals are the toxic versions and the ant-oxidants basically neutralize them and allow more available oxygen for energy production. When we exercise we produce more Free Radicals and breath in more oxygen thus increasing the risk of Free-Radical damage. Surveys have shown that up to 40% of Marathon finishers become ill in the week following completion. It therefore behooves all heavy exercisers to protect themselves by increasing their ant-oxidant consumption.
Many people have used or heard of herbal remedies as protectors from flu and colds. The expression is that herbs like Echinacea "stimulate" or "support" the immune system. This has lead to the use of these products upon the appearance of symptoms. However it must be understood that herbs are "herbal remedies" or "herbal medicines" and not food. Echinacea may well stimulate the immune system but if you don’t feed the immune system with protective and constructive nutrients, the effectiveness of herbal remedy will be limited or short lived.

Menu Planning for the Outdoor Season

Following a long winter (for some all winters are long), many families are looking forward to the warmer “outdoor” season. You know – the season when we say “Let’s spend an entire day outdoors performing demanding physical tasks” like hiking, climbing, bicycling, roller-blading, or gardening.
To get the most enjoyment from these high energy burning tasks, it is wise to make plans about the fuel to be consumed throughout the day to help provide a steady supply of this energy. Proper food selection for an all-day hike or aggressive day in the garden can mean the difference between total enjoyment and “bonking” at 11:00 AM or 2:30 PM. “Bonking” is a term for really low blood sugar, very low energy and feeling like your world is in painful slow motion.
Unwise but common advice given to those wishing to maintain high energy expenditure levels would include the consumption of sugar loaded snack bars, energy bars, soda pop, popular sport drinks (which are really just non-carbonated pop with some table salt added), rice cakes, bananas, raisins and dried fruits. These choices are unwise because they all raise blood sugar very quickly (which does give you a temporary energy boost) resulting in an insulin surge from the pancreas. A small, slow rise in insulin is both desirable and necessary because that is how the sugars go from the blood to the working cells to provide the basis for energy production. However, a “surge”, which is how the pancreas responds to a sharp rise in blood sugar, causes blood sugar to drop quickly (often to levels below the pre-eating stage) creating the desire to sleep or not think too clearly or to be depressed. We call this “Hypoglycemia”. Hunger is also prevalent with chronically elevated insulin. (There are many other affects of high insulin that will be discussed in other columns.)
Food choices for optimum energy and feelings of “well-being” involve the control of insulin. To avoid the peaks and valleys in energy and to maintain a happy level of vigor throughout a long day it is wise to:
  • eat a varied diet with adequate protein and fat in addition to the carbohydrates,
  • eat small meals and snacks to sustain the flow of energy, and
  • maintain good levels of hydration by drinking liquids frequently.
Understand that at mild to moderate levels of exercise intensity you receive 50 to 75 per cent of your energy from stored fat. A mixed diet – and I prefer 40% complex carbohydrate, 30% protein and 30% good fat – will prevent insulin surging and prevent hypoglycemia. Eating protein and fat in every meal and every snack is the key to insulin control. So avoid the unwise list previously mentioned and create some menus from the following:
Breakfasts: eggs, omelet’s with cheese and or meat, large flake oatmeal, protein supplement drinks (not in juice), rye bread, sprouted wheat bread, fish, ham, back bacon.
Lunches: egg salad, cottage cheese, yogurt (unflavored), smoked salmon, pickled herring, peanut butter (no sugar), hard boiled eggs, beef or turkey jerky (home-made is best), cheese, apples, berries, coleslaw, sliced cold roast beef, chicken, turkey and rye bread or sprouted wheat bread.
Dinners: Choices of meat, poultry, fish (BBQ is great), salads, colorful vegetables – raw or stir fried, cottage cheese, tofu stir fries, yogurt (plain).
Snacks: cheese, nuts, seeds, beef or turkey jerky, apples with cheese, yogurt, high protein sport bars, peanut butter bars.
Drinks: Avoid caffeine beverages, because they are dehydrating. Drink a cup of liquid (preferably not coffee, tea, pop, or booze), approximately every hour (more often if the activity is high intensity and the outdoor temperature is high). Successful Marathoners and tri-athletes drink a cup every 15 minutes to avoid dehydration. Do not wait until you are thirsty, that is too late.
Try iced herbal tea, unsweetened, quality sport drinks that are primarily malto-dextrin sugars and contain 4 or more electrolytes (not just table salt), dilute fruit juices with meals and snacks are OK and of course water.