A website for women who use Beyonce as their motivation factor to lose weight. Includes diet and fitness news as well as Beyonce news.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Revolutionary Workout Routine For Burning Maximum Body Fat
By Faisal Khetani
You only have two choices when it comes to losing fat...
Either you chase the pill and powder hype, or you do it the real, proven, effective way. The choice is yours, but I'm hoping that you're reading this article in hope for a healthy solution, not a chemically-tainted one.
There is no real secret to losing fat. There are better solutions that many people are unaware of, but there are no secrets. As a health and fitness consultant, my objective is to help you get informed on the best possible methods of losing bodyfat.
It all boils down to three simple things. You need to eat right, exercise often, and change some habits. The main objective of this article is to lay out the exercise and workout component. Based on extensive research and real-world results, I've identified a workout routine that is sure to deliver great results.
The following workout routine incorporates cutting-edge science with the methodology of some of the elite trainers in the country. Give this workout a shot, and you should be able to lose a considerable amount of bodyfat, without losing muscle mass or going on starvation diets.
The principles are simple, yet powerful. Basically, the emphasis of this workout routine is to force your body to burn fat for fuel, and elevate your metabolism for a prolonged period of time. The key principles are pre-workout preparation, short weight training, and variable intensity cardio.
Anxious to get started? Check out the fat-burning workout routine below:
*Pre-workout*
This is a very important phase. Preparation during this phase can help you burn bodyfat for fuel and gain the energy needed to sustain a fairly intense workout.
- Make sure you haven't eaten for 2 hours prior.
- Take natural green tea extract, standardized with 60% polyphenols and EGCG as the marker compound. Green tea is a wonderful energy booster and it has been proven to help the body burn more fat than caffeine along.
- Be well hydrated - Water is your best friend for fat-loss. It helps to increase your metabolic rate, increase your muscle contractile strength, and increase aerobic ouput.
*Workout*
First of all, you have to warm-up properly to promote blood-flow. Secondly, a short weight training session before your cardio session depletes glycogen. Glycogen is the substance that is burned before your body taps into fat for fuel. Lastly, the cardio you'll be performing is of variable intensity. Basically, variable intensity means that you don't perform the cardio at the the same intensity, but rather you change the intensities to prevent your body from adapting.
- 5 minutes light aerobic exercise
- 20 minutes medium intensity weight lifting
--- Squats or leg-presses
--- Leg Curls
--- Bench press or chest press
--- Machine rows
--- Lat Pull-downs
--- Hanging Leg Raises
--- Weighted Crunches
--- Sidebends
- 30 minutes fat-burning cardio
--- Variable low to medium intensity (Switch speeds or intensities frequently. Don't do the same intensity for prolonged periods)
*Post-Workout*
- Drink 20-26 ounces of purified or spring water
- Wait 1 hour
- Then, consume 300-400 calorie meal with 50-25-25 caloric ratio (Carbs-Fats-Protein)
- Eat same meal every 3-4 hours
The post-workout guidelines are straight-forward. Water is essential, and eating the right meals is key to keep the metabolic fire burning. Small, frequent meals is one of the best ways to keep the calorie burning at a high level.
Give this workout routine a try, and you'll see the difference it makes in your overall physique. You will feel fit and look toned. In time, as the fat just melts away, your current wardrobe might feel a lot looser. Just don't say that I didn't warn you.
There are may more tips and tricks you can apply for burning maximum bodyfat. The key is to find the right information and apply it in your workout routines. Always remember, the supplement industry may not have your best interest in mind, and when you're buying a fitness book, don't judge it by its cover.
About the Author: Faisal Khetani is a health & fitness consultant and personal trainer. He owns and manages a very useful website with scientifically proven weight lifting exercises and workout routines.
Source: www.isnare.com
Exercise -- Can You Exercise Too Much?
By Zachary Thompson
Exercise is good for us and we all need some sort of it to keep our bodies in good health. However when you are working out it is important not to put abnormal strain on your body or you will defeat your purpose and do more harm than good.
Avoiding body stress when exercising: First of all be sure you are healthy. It is wise to have a physical check up before you begin an exercise regime, especially if you are recovering from an illness. It is very important not to over do it:
· Start excising gradually, do not rush into a strenuous routine
· Stimulate your body systems carefully by carrying out each exercise correctly.
· Wear clothing that is comfortable
· Exercise regularly if possible at a set time.
· Results will come over time do not expect instant consequences
· You may want to consult a physician, if you have just recovered from a serious illness.
Be careful not to get overheated: heat exhaustion can creep up on you and can be dangerous. Here are a few safety tips for outdoor exercise in those hot summer days.
Replace fluids: your body can dehydrate quite quickly if you are not careful. It may not be particularly hot but if it is humid you will sweat more and lose valuable fluids. You can replace fluids with sports drinks- replacement of minerals and cool water. Always make sure you drink a lot when exercising in the heat. For short bouts of exercise, less than an hour, water is sufficient. For longer exercise sports drinks are recommended.
In really hot weather you can schedule your exercise either in the evening or early morning. Consider working indoors if this cannot be managed.
Be aware of warning signs like fatigue and feeling light headed. If you experience these symptoms stop, rest in the cool and drink plenty of fluids.
Dress in loose cool clothes that will allow your body to breathe and sweat.
Be careful of air quality alerts, which can be more prevalent in summer. It is best to do indoor exercise if there are alerts.
Regular exercise: It is best to take regular exercise rather than a lot one day and none for the next few days. 20 minutes 2-3 times a day is a good regime. Or you can take a brisk walk for 2-5 miles. Bicycling is good but should be done in the cool of the day. The main thing to remember is to be careful and not overexert yourself. It is good to push yourself a little but not too much and you will see the results you need.
Get into the habit of trying to exercise at the same time and you will soon fall into a routine. Once you are in the habit of exercising you will see those pounds come off and at the same time you will strengthen your muscles. Over time you will see a change in yourself and will definitely feel much better, Exercise should always be coupled with a healthy diet for maximum results. As well as this you should get adequate rest so that you can have an all-round feeling of good health.
About the Author: Zach Thompson is a Glyconutrients Consultant. His clients range from pro athletes and actresses, to cancer patients and children with Learning Disabilities. Learn more about Mannatech Ambrotose
Source: www.isnare.com
Friday, July 14, 2006
Kickin It Up A Notch
Thursday, July 13, 2006
I Still Want A Body Like Beyonce's
http://www.elizabethgabbay.com/rockbodies/index.php?type=small
http://people.aol.com/people/gallery/0,26335,1097448_7,00.html
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Beyonce's "Deja Vu" on MTV's TRL Today 3:30pm ET/PT
The highly anticipated new video "Deja Vu" from Beyonce knowles will world premiere on MTV and MTV Overdrive (overdrive.mtv.com) today during "Total Request Live" which airs weekdays at 3:30pm ET/PT.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Do You Lose More Weight When Exercising On An Empty Stomach?
By John Tiniakos
Today I would like to talk about when is the best time to exercise for maximum weight loss. While the type of exercise, the intensity and duration is important with respect to weight loss, the time of exercise is equally as important – if not more so.
Timing your workout can be crucial. There are specific times during the day during which your body burns fat most efficiently. It has to do with your eating cycle - or more accurately with your body’s digestive cycle. The body burns more fat when you exercise on a relatively empty stomach – contrary to many claims out there that state otherwise. The longer you wait to exercise after a meal the more fat your body will burn.
Is that truth or myth?
A university researcher studied the effects of exercising on a full versus an empty stomach. A group of women participated in 2 exercise studies. In one they exercised twice before meals and in the other, after meals. Evidence showed that when the subjects exercised on an empty stomach (before meals), blood glucose levels were lower in the periods following meals and during the night, than the when they exercised on a full stomach (after meals).
This suggested that exercising before meals can help to regulate blood glucose levels almost as well as 2 popular glucose-lowering drugs. (1)
To take it one step further, since this type of exercise method lowers blood glucose, lower amounts of glucose may translate to decreases in body fat. Remember excess glucose in the blood (from carbohydrate) may be stored as fat.
This study, it seems, supports the widely popular theory that the best time to exercise for fat loss, is on an empty stomach. A theory which many claim is only a myth.
I decided to put this theory to the test.
I am well into my thirties now, and I find it more difficult too keep the pounds off these days (with everything being constant). In other words, I am not eating more calories than I did 10-15 years ago and I’m also not exercising any less. And yet I had put on an extra 12 pounds. By the way, I also have a slow metabolism.
So, I wanted to see if there would be a significant difference when I exercised before breakfast instead of 2-3 hours after dinner which is what I had been doing. My workout was exactly the same, I didn’t change anything. I jogged for 30 minutes and followed that by 15 minutes of high intensity interval training. The results were shocking. I lost 11 pounds in four and a half weeks – that was extra weight around the mid-section that I was carrying around for quite some time.
In truth, however, I am not really a morning person and find that my body has a hard time waking up for a workout first thing in the morning. If you’re not a morning person, you’ll know what I mean. So I am going to experiment by switching my workout period to first just before lunch and then just before dinner (on a fairly empty stomach). I’ll let you know what the results will be. I have a feeling they’ll still be more favorable with respect to weight loss than when workouts are conducted after meals.
Reference:
http://www.umich.edu/~urecord/0506/Nov21_05/06.shtml, “Exercise nearly as successful as drugs at lowering blood sugar”, retrieved 6 July 2006 from http://www.umich.edu/~urecord/0506/Nov21_05/06.shtml
About the Author: John Tiniakos helps make weight loss easier through proven weight loss methods using information and analysis from the worlds leading scientists. To subscribe to his blog or his free monthly newsletter that includes valuable, up to date tips on diet, weight loss and health and to receive 2 free reports visit http://www.nulife-weightloss.com.
Source: www.isnare.com
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Only 10,000 Steps A Day Will Help You Lose Weight
By Joey Dweck
Experts have discovered that walking 10,000 steps a day can help you drop those unwanted pounds faster than just about any other method of weight loss. Walking will also help you keep the weight off for a longer period of time because it builds your muscles while keeping your heart at a fat-burning rate.
Because it can seem to be a daunting task to walk 10,000 steps, it is important that you develop a strategy for meeting your daily quota. Here are three simple methods to help you reach your goals without losing focus:
Use a Pedometer
Using a pedometer can help you easily keep track of the distance you have covered throughout your day as well as the number of steps that you have taken. A pedometer is a small box-shaped calculator that you can clip to your belt or pants pocket in the same way you would wear a beeper.
When placed firmly near the hip, the pedometer accurately registers each step that you take. For individuals wishing to meet their new daily quota of 10,000 steps, the pedometer is the easiest, more carefree method to reach the goal.
When shopping for a pedometer, make sure that you select a model that has both distance and well as individual step readings. You will begin to learn how many steps go into one mile. You will also be surprised by how many steps you can add to your daily count by changing small habits, such as choosing the stairs over the elevator or walking to your colleague’s desk rather than sending an email.
Calculate the Time it Takes
Using either you pedometer or a counting method, calculate the approximate time it takes for you to traverse a specific distance, such as a mile. Calculate this number several times on several different days and average the figures together. You will then be able to determine approximately how long it will take you to walk a portion of your steps if you choose to spend a set amount of time walking them off.
For example, if you know that you can walk all 10,000 steps in an hour, then you can elect to dedicate an hour everyday to walking your steps. However, if you cannot dedicate a full hour, then you can add up increments of ten minutes at a time until you reach your goal. Having a clear understanding of just what it takes to reach your goal will help you to approach the task much more strategically than if you did not have a plan. Do the calculations to save time and assure that you reach your 10,000 steps.
Measure a Route
Measure a route based on the time and distance it takes you to walk your 10,000 steps. Having a pre-planned route will help you to view the task of walking 10,000 in a more manageable light. You will be able to measure your progress along your day and have a system for achieving your goals.
Because taking the same path everyday may become tedious, plan two or three routes. Plan a long route for days when you have a plethora of energy, a short route for days when you are tired, and a mid-length route for days when you are energized but busy. Giving yourself plenty of options is important to helping you stay positive so that you can achieve your goal.
About the Author: Joey Dweck is the Founder & CEO of http://WeightLossBuddy.com a community committed to 24/7 support, expert advice, and helping people find a buddy(s) who will support their effort to lose weight, and live a healthier lifestyle. And it's all Free. Sign up for the Free, award winning, 12-Part E-Course “Losing For Good” http://www.weightlossbuddy.com
Source: www.isnare.com
What Is Your Weight Loss Motivation Level?
By Lana Hampton
Have you ever wondered why there are so many diets out there on the marketplace these days? With new diets popping up on the Internet and in health and wellness journals all of the time, the phrase ‘yo-yo dieting’ says it all. If the South Beach Diet doesn’t work, there is always the Beverly Hills Diet, or the Cabbage Soup Diet…or…the list seems endless! If you are a serial dieter then you literally have no end to the options you can pick and choose from.
What you really need to know though, is that it is not the diet that controls the weight loss, it is the person behind the diet. If you have not yet come to understand what, if any, importance food weighs in your life, and you are bouncing from one diet plan to the next diet pill, to the next gym membership then you need to realize that it isn’t the diet that is failing you, but rather it is you failing the diet.
So what are some of the key things you can do to stay on track for a healthy lifestyle that involves a long term weight loss plan? Try these options:
1. Don’t follow a diet plan, but instead count your calories - You can buy a calorie chart at any bookstore and keep track for yourself how many calories you are consuming daily.
2. Stay away from fatty fast foods - Fast food restaurants may be fast and easy, but they serve up high calorie food that isn’t nutritious in the long run.
3. Make water your best friend - Water is an essential part of life. Everyone needs water because it helps to lubricate our joints. There are minerals in water that our body needs and our metabolism needs water in order to help us break down the protein in our body to supply energy. A person needs to drink at least 2 liters of water daily!
4. Stay away from alcohol - Alcohol dehydrates you. If you want some proof, remember your last hangover? After you came away with the sluggish, headachy feeling, were you craving a big glass of water?
5. Don’t skip meals - People mistakenly believe that if they skip meals they will lose weight? Skipping meals will just make your hungrier in the long-run and you will eat MORE food.
6. Stay active - Discipline yourself to be physically active. Don’t overdo it (and check with your doctor first). Create a program that you can work with. Set realistic goals and look around your environment for ways that will increase your physical activity without interrupting your day. Take advantage of any stairs you might have at home or in the office. Don’t take the elevator or escalator, take the stairs!
7. Gather support - Talk to your family members and loved ones. Involve them in your new healthy lifestyle. Plan family outings where there is a good amount of walking. Plan vacations with activities in mind that will involve the entire family. The commitment to lose weight is within yourself.
Strengthen your resolve and keep your goals small and attainable.
About the Author: Lana Hampton is the publisher of "177 Fast Weight Loss Tips" (http://www.177FastWeightLossTips.com). Visit http://WeightLossFantasy.com to subscribe to her free newsletter and receive a copy of Lana's "Confessions of a Weight Loss Expert" report.
Source: www.isnare.com
Does Your Weight Loss Plan Cause Food Cravings?
By Lana Hampton
For your weight loss plan to be a weight loss success, it’s absolutely critical that you understand the difference between weight loss fad diets and safe, effective weight loss routines that produce long-lasting weight loss results.
There are all sorts of weight loss programs out there that can help you lose weight (not necessarily fat), but they are so miserable that it's impossible to stay on them very long - even more difficult is keeping the weight loss results you achieved.
The four characteristics for successful weight loss are:
1. The weight loss plan must avoid cravings
2. The weight loss plan must avoid hunger
3. The weight loss plan must include increasing your activity level
4. It must be a weight loss plan you can live with for a lifetime
What are cravings? A craving is when your body pushes you to want a particular food ingredient. This can occur even when you are not hungry. When you finally give in and get the food, you almost always binge, that is, eat more than you would have if you did not have the cravings in the first place. For the most part, you body is probably asking for water, but out of bad habit you might turn to fatty fast foods to fill the gap.
What causes cravings? Your body needs 6 essential food ingredients to function properly. They are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins and water. If you deprive your body of any of these, it will create the sensation that will drive you to get it. The most easily identified example is when you deprive your body of water. You develop thirst. Thirst is the body's craving for water. Don’t turn to fast food, when all your body is asking for is a big glass or two of fresh cool water. Better still, don’t turn to a fad diet that restricts you to eating one or two items only. This will only heighten your body's need for other foods.
Weight loss plans that tell you to cut out particular foods will always lead to cravings. It is this battle in your body to give it what it needs that creates conditions of discomfort and lead to most individuals ending the weight loss programs. There is an area of the brain that controls what and how much you eat. It is also responsible for creating cravings as a way for you to provide the body what it needs.
So, what is the best way to avoid cravings? First and foremost, the best way to avoid cravings is by eating all the required food ingredients. The key is that in all of the food groups, there are "good" types and "not so good" types of foods. You need to know the good types and eat only those. For example, with carbohydrates, good types (in general) are the ones with a low glycemic index (GI). GI is a measure of how fast a food increases the production of insulin. Insulin causes fat buildup. Whole grains and vegetables have low GIs and therefore are good for weight loss.
By understanding the weight loss concept of eating all of the essential foods and dividing them into "good" and "not so good" foods, you will avoid cravings and overeating.
About the Author: Lana Hampton is the publisher of "177 Fast Weight Loss Tips" (http://www.177FastWeightLossTips.com). Visit http://WeightLossFantasy.com to subscribe to her free newsletter and receive a copy of Lana's "Confessions of a Weight Loss Expert" report.
Source: www.isnare.com
Monday, June 26, 2006
Beyonce's Deja-Vu Video Set to be out in 2 Weeks
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
My Virtual Model(TM) at nutrisystem.com
Come and see what's waiting for you at the following address:
http://emf.myvirtualmodel.com/emf/EMFServlet?state=pickup&id=F93FB56E1.0911453449945733E205-113265298&lang=0&z=0&retailerid=8&retailerid=8
(Click on this link to retrieve your message or copy and paste it into your browser window.)
Body Like Beyonce's message will be available for the next 20 days. Go and get it before it disappears into cyberspace!
Friday, June 16, 2006
How Many Calories Do I Need to Consume to Lose Weight?
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Using Calories For Weight Loss
By Gary Matthews
Ever wondered what a calorie is? The definition of a calorie is "the amount of energy, or heat it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water to1 degree Celsius".
A calorie is a unit of energy that is associated with food and drink and is a measure of the energy, or heat, that food produces as your body uses it as fuel.
The first step in counting calories for your personal weight loss is to calculate how many calories you burn in a day (your total daily energy expenditure), this is the total number of calories that your body expends in 24 hours, including all activities.
This is known as your maintenance level and will be the reference point (number of calories) from which to start your dieting.
The average calorie maintenance level for women in the United States is approx 2000 per day and the average for men is approx 2500 per day. These are only basic averages and are usually much higher for athletes or active individuals.
A quick and easy method to find out how many calories you require per day for weight loss and maintenance is to calculate a calorie value with a multiplier as set out below.
Fat loss = multiply your bodyweight in pounds with 12 calories (12 x lb).
Maintenance = multiply your bodyweight in pounds with 15 calories (15 x lb).
This is a very easy method to estimate your daily caloric requirements, but it has its drawbacks as it doesn't take into account your particular activity levels or body fat levels. Despite this it will give you a good estimated figure that you can work with.
The maintenance figure that you get is the amount of calories that you need to consume to stay at your current weight. To lose weight your calorie intake must be lower than the calories you burn.
In order to lose one pound of fat per week, you must reduce your weekly calorie intake by 3,500 calories, which works out at five hundred calories per day. This can be done by reducing your calories by 500 or combining a diet with physical activity.
The bottom line is to balance your caloric intake with the amount of calories that you are burning, that's the secret to successful dieting and weight maintenance.
Becoming more conscious of counting calories in your everyday eating regime is imperative if you are trying to lose weight. Studies have shown that men and women "underestimate" their daily calorie consumption by 500 to almost 1000 calories.
You can get a truer picture by keeping a seven-day eating plan of what you typically eat and drink during the day.
At the end of each days eating, add up the total amount of calories consumed and write them down on to the eating plan. At the end of the seven days, add the total calories for the whole week and then divide by seven, you now have your daily calorie intake.
Using a calorie calculator can make counting calories easier - you can total how many calories you will need for your daily activities to give you more control over how many calories you should include in your daily diet.
Another technique for low calorie eating is to watch your fat intake as this has the most calories.
Moderation is always important when you are counting calories, severely restricting calories, causes the body to lower its metabolic rate, which reduces its ability to burn fat.
At the same time, hunger signals increase and you quickly start to crave high-energy foods loaded with fats and sugar, the same foods you are trying to do without.
This is because when you return to normal eating habits, the drop in metabolic rate caused by the restriction in calories means that your old eating habits actually represent excess in calories.
Not only do you regain the fat stores just lost, but also you may even gain a bit extra.
"Dieting by counting calories means that all foods are allowed, nothing is forbidden as long as the calories consumed don't go over your daily calorie allowance"
Counting calories can also be flexible enough to accommodate most busy lifestyles.
Some food for thought isn't it; health professionals agree that healthy eating which includes counting calories and a low fat diet are essential for long-term healthy weight loss.
The way to lose body fat and maintain muscle is to have a food program for life. Quality food and more energy output are the basics you'll need to go for.
About the Author: Gary Matthews is the author of the popular fitness eBooks Maximum Weight Loss and Maximum Weight Gain. Please visit http://www.maximumfitness.com right now for your 'free' weight loss e-course.
Source: www.isnare.com
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Burn More Calories With Your Treadmill: 3 Easy Tips
By Kathryn ONeill
Treadmills are the number one exercise machines both for ease of use and for calories burned.
According to a study done by the Medical College of Wisconsin and the VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, calories burned on the treadmill for 60 minutes averaged 865 - 705. This beat out the stair machine, rowing machine, stationary cycle or even cross country ski machine.
But how do you get the MOST calorie bang for your buck? How do you superboost that calorie burn, especially if you don't have a lot of time to work out?
I asked this question of several personal trainers that write for our website and here's what they came up with.
These 3 easy tips will boost your calorie burn while on your treadmill AND possibly even after your workout!
#1) Walk Uphill
By using your treadmill incline, you are forcing the larger groups of muscles to work, thus burning more calories. You can often double or even triple the amount of calories you normally burn by walking on an incline.
Don't want to walk on an incline for 20 minutes straight?
Another way to double your calorie burning power is by doing incline intervals: walking on a steep incline for 1 - 2 minutes, then walking on a normal incline for 5 minutes (while you catch your breath) and then repeating.
Incline intervals are a powerful way to challenge your body: you don't allow your body to get used to the same workout routine and the same repetitive muscle motion. So the number of calories burned rises and STAYS high - even after your workout.
#2) Don’t Grip the Handrails
If you’ve been to many gyms, you’ve probably seen your fair share of people grasping onto the front or side handrails as they walk.
While it’s fine to touch them for balance, you shouldn't have to hold on. That actually burns less calories since your legs aren't doing the work by themselves - they're getting help from the treadmill frame.
Instead of holding on to the handrails, try lowering your intensity until you don't need to hold onto the handrails for support. Then, to build more calorie burning power into your workout swing your arms or carry 2 pound handweights to get an overall body workout. Overall, you'll be burning more calories this way than holding onto the handrails for support.
#3) Build in Speed Intervals
Just like incline intervals, this challenges your body to not only work harder while on your treadmill, but the higher calorie burn will continue after your workout.
Walk (or run) at your normal pace for 3 minutes and then do 30 -60 seconds at a faster pace (so that you're breathing heavily by the end of the interval). Then slow it down to your usual pace again for another 3 minutes.
You'll definitely feel the difference after your workout!
(Of course never push yourself so hard that you feel pain. If you ever do feel pain, slow your pace down right away and talk to a medical professional)
So there are 3 tips to help you burn more calories on your treadmill and keep your calorie burn high post workout. It's recommended that before starting any exercise program, you should consult your doctor. Remember that everyone is different. Don't compare yourself to anyone else but instead listen to your body and do what you can.
Before you know it, you'll have reached your fitness and weight loss goals!
Kathryn O'Neill is chief editor for Home Treadmill Reviews, a consumer oriented website focusing on the home treadmill market.
For the latest buying tips, brand reviews, and best buys, visit Treadmill Review at: http://www.treadmillreview.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_ONeill