Showing posts with label weight loss tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weight loss tips. Show all posts
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
FACT
30 minutes of daily exercise is just as effective -- if not more -- than working out for a full hour.
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Here's my 7 Quick Tips To a Healthy Diet...
1. To maximize fat loss, you need to eat every 2-3 hours and aim to eat 5-6 meals a day.
2. Eat a portion of lean protein with each meal.
3. Eat a portion of fruit and/or vegetables with each meal.
4. Ensure your carbohydrate intake consists mainly of fruit and vegetables.
5. Ensure that 25% of your diet consists of fat, with your fat intake being split equally between saturated fats (eg animal fat), monosaturated fat (eg olive oil) and polyunsaturated fat (eg fish oil or flax seed oil).
6. Consume sufficient fluids every day. The best sources are water and green tea.
7. Eat whole natural foods as much as possible and avoid processed foods
How many of these seven tips do you manage each day? Let me know by posting here.
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
How Health Savvy Are You?
Getting all your info from the Internet is like playing poker. You could be falling for a bluff or lapping up bogus data because a glitzy website purports to hold the truth, just like the cocky player opposite you who raised the stakes. Sixty percent of people said their online research influenced how they dealt with their condition, according to a 2009 Social Life of Health Information report by the US non-profit think tank Pew Research Center. Googling health and fitness information is such a phenomenon that it has its own name: “cyberchondria,” in which the patients believe they’re sick from what they’ve read on the net. Sometimes it’s difficult to separate the truth from the lies.
source: femalenetwork
source: femalenetwork
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Read the Label: 5 Things to Check When Picking Healthy Packaged Food
1. CARBOHYDRATE CONTENT
Snacks and sweets should be low in sugar, while complex carbs such as pasta, breads, and crackers should be high in sugar. Choose snacks with less than 10 grams (g) of sugar per serving. Remember that you also get sugar content from your vital daily intake of fruits (2 to 3 fruits per day).
2. PROTEIN CONTENT
The higher the protein content, the better for building or repair of muscle tissue. Make sure to get at least 15g of protein (from fish, chicken, or meat) in each meal to meet your daily protein requirement. For carb products like bread or snacks like crackers and bars, look for at least 3g of protein per serving. For dairy items such as milk or cheese, look for at least 6g of protein per serving.
3. FAT CONTENT
Go for products less saturated in fat and, as much as possible, with less than 5g of fat per serving. If a product contains more than 5g per serving, don't eat too much of it. The rule of thumb is no more than 50g of fat per serving (a tablespoon of oil already contains 15g of fat).
4. SODIUM CONTENT
The lower, the better-try to go for less than 500mg per serving so as not to exceed more than the recommended 2,000mg per day. Stay away from food that's high in sodium, especially if it's also high in fat and content.
5. FIBER CONTENT
The more grams of fiber per serving, the better. Eat 25 to 25g of fiber per day. You can get significant amounts of these from vegetables and whole wheat grains.
source: femalenetwork
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Exercising with a Friend May Help You Stick to Your Fitness Program
Summoning the will to exercise can be challenging at times, but according to a new study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, it becomes easier when you find someone to run the rounds with you. Researchers say that having an exercise buddy may help you stick to your fitness program more than exercising alone.
For the study, 58 women from university-based physical courses were gathered and asked to ride on a video game exercise bike under certain conditions. One group was asked to exercise with a virtual buddy; another group was paired up with a virtual individual and was told that their performance would be measured as a team. Meanwhile, the last group was asked to exercise on their own. The women who had exercise companions met their partners via a pre-recorded video chat and were told that they would be exercising with them at the same time in another lab. All of the participants were asked to cycle for as long as they felt comfortable.
Results showed that women who exercised as part of a team stayed, on average, two minutes longer on the exercise bike than those who rode the bike independently with a partner. Results also revealed that they stayed on the bicycle for twice as long compared to those who exercised alone.
The study presents strong evidence that finding someone to exercise with you and sharing your fitness goals is an effective way of sticking to your fitness plan. If you really want to make exercising a habit, find someone to join you. Having a friend or a family member makes even the most dragging of activities more fun.
source: femalenetwork
For the study, 58 women from university-based physical courses were gathered and asked to ride on a video game exercise bike under certain conditions. One group was asked to exercise with a virtual buddy; another group was paired up with a virtual individual and was told that their performance would be measured as a team. Meanwhile, the last group was asked to exercise on their own. The women who had exercise companions met their partners via a pre-recorded video chat and were told that they would be exercising with them at the same time in another lab. All of the participants were asked to cycle for as long as they felt comfortable.
Results showed that women who exercised as part of a team stayed, on average, two minutes longer on the exercise bike than those who rode the bike independently with a partner. Results also revealed that they stayed on the bicycle for twice as long compared to those who exercised alone.
The study presents strong evidence that finding someone to exercise with you and sharing your fitness goals is an effective way of sticking to your fitness plan. If you really want to make exercising a habit, find someone to join you. Having a friend or a family member makes even the most dragging of activities more fun.
source: femalenetwork
Thursday, 10 May 2012
5 Brunch Mistakes To Avoid
1. You Overcook The Eggs—Even the most casual cooks can fry eggs decently—after all, it's usually just a matter of breaking a few into a skillet and then tending to them. But things get dicey when you're cooking brunch for a big crowd. Suddenly this simple task seems incredibly complicated—how do you deal with a large skillet overflowing with beaten eggs? How do you make sure the whole mess gets cooked through but not burned? And once you've got them cooked, how do you keep them warm without turning them into an inedible rubbery mess?
The easy fix? Make a brunch casserole! Rather than fighting your eggs, make them work for you—in a delicious casserole, strata or frittata. If your recipe is a good one, you'll take the guesswork out of cooking eggs perfectly and deliver something your guests will love. Plus, you'll have all the prep done ahead of time, so you'll actually be able to hang out with your guests!
2. You Burn the Bacon—Some people love crispy bacon and some prefer it chewy, but pretty much no one wants bacon burnt to a crisp. When you're running around attending to a million things at once, it's easy to char bacon without meaning to. A hot skillet and a distracted cook can be a recipe for the smoke alarm.
An easy way to avoid burning bacon is to cook it in the microwave. It's easy: Cover a microwave-safe dish with a couple of paper towels. Add bacon in a single layer. Cover the bacon with a couple more paper towels and cook in 2-minute increments until crispy. This method is actually healthier than pan-frying, since it allows much of the fat that drains from the bacon as it cooks to be absorbed. There's an added bonus to this method, too—less cleanup!
3. You Forget to Incorporate Healthy Foods—Pancakes! Bacon! Hollandaise sauce! With fun foods like these, it's easy to forget about simple things like, you know, fruit and vegetables. Your guests will thank you, however, if you remember to set out some healthy options.
Here's my simple rule of thumb: having protein and fiber together helps you feel full for longer, so make sure you have both elements at your brunch. The protein part should no problem (see the last two tips). As for fiber, think fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Your guests will appreciate you all day if you remember to include a fruit salad, a green salad and some whole-grain muffins.
4. You Miscalculate How Much Food You Need—This is probably the most stressful thing about cooking for a crowd. After all, no one wants to run out of food at a big get-together, but no one wants to blow a ton of time and money preparing way too much food either. And while most seasoned cooks are somewhat familiar with figuring out how much to cook for dinner (when chances are that most guests will be eating your main course and sides), it's a lot harder to gauge what people will eat at brunch.
Here are some basic guidelines. Generally speaking, 3 ounces cooked (4 ounces raw) is a healthy portion per person for proteins, so try to shoot for that. For eggs, that means about 2 medium eggs per person, so make sure you make enough of whatever casserole or frittata you've decided on for each person to have that. Try to stack the menu with make-ahead foods (think: muffins, quiches, salads, etc.) that'll be good for a few days after your meal. That way, even if you have leftovers they won't go to waste!
5. You Run Out of Champagne! I love having a special cocktail when I'm enjoying brunch—a peppery Bloody Mary or citrusy mimosa just makes the whole morning seem more special. That's why I hate it when people (myself included!) run out of drinks. I think that often people plan the rest of their brunch menu and then just pick up a bottle of Champagne the day before and hope they have enough.
If you're going to serve a mixed drink at your brunch, you may as well plan for it. By following a recipe (and doubling or tripling if need be, depending on the number of people you'll be serving), you'll be better able to make sure that your guests have enough to drink. Check out some great, summery cocktail recipes here.
Sunday, 22 April 2012
Dance Workouts to Try
1. JUKARI
If you've seen Pink’s 2010 Grammy number, in which she wowed the crowd as she gyrated and spun in midair, you probably thought her rock-hard abs were so well-deserved. Her performance featured moves from the famed Cirque du Soleil, the company that gave the world theatrical wonders of gravity-defying acrobatics and literally, amazing grace. Using a Jukari Band (TM), a lightweight, flexible band, women can groove to the theatricality of Cirque du Soleil. This workout consists of dynamic, upbeat, artistic movements designed to banish blahs from regular gym workouts. Women can expect to enhance their flexibility and strength. While the workouts mimic everyday movements, the body is continually challenged by Jukari, which requires balance, core muscles and range of motion.
2. FLAMENCO
“Women can be demure and delicate but another side of us is fierce, independent and wanting to dominate.” The movements of flamenco are almost trancelike, with sudden whips and swishes from your core. The hands are critical as they twist and express their own emotions. “Your center of gravity from the waist up is pulled up, but waist down, there is a certain heaviness or weightedness in your position. And flamenco is not just a dance, it’s also about the music, the song—it’s a whole culture altogether.” Women of all ages have come for flamenco lessons, and they've found that they all emerged more confident, more graceful, and stronger. It’s not just a physical workout. For some, it’s a sense of empowerment or accomplishment. For others, they start to lose their inhibitions.
3. SALSA
Here’s a way to get the best of both worlds—getting fit while socializing. The salsa club scene is great for social interaction. You can dance with anyone and everyone, and the style of each dancer varies from different dance background that they can incorporate.
4. BOLLYWOOD
Yeah, you think they’re cheesy, but the dance moves on the Bollywood films are a major dance workout. Bollywood dancing is a celebration. Bollywood is a fusion of three dances, according to Besa, It has elements of hiphop, bellydancing and Indian folk dances, specifically Bhangra and Kathak. A dance workout like this one makes you feel that you are starring in your own Bollywood film.“ Though not to be confused with bellydancing, which focuses on channeling all gyrations on your midsection, Bollywood dancing is the larger-than-life version. Movements are big and expressive, and your eyes and face have to constantly follow your fingers as you move. The dance is really fun, festive and colorful. Theentire body moves, with some isolated movements of the chest, hips and shoulders.
5. STRIPTEASE
Striptease is a very aggressive dance.You have to be in control, and women should learn to not be timid. Apart from unleashing your inner tigress, striptease is great for toning your body, too. It’s a workout for the legs and the gluteal muscles (your bum!), as most of the movements are in a ‘Grand Plie’ (a deep squat position), combined with gyrations. You need to use your abdominals, too. Students always say they have too much fun getting sexy to notice how much their muscles hurt afterwards. Striptease is ideal for everyone, not just for the dancefloor-and-club-philes.
source: femalenetwork
If you've seen Pink’s 2010 Grammy number, in which she wowed the crowd as she gyrated and spun in midair, you probably thought her rock-hard abs were so well-deserved. Her performance featured moves from the famed Cirque du Soleil, the company that gave the world theatrical wonders of gravity-defying acrobatics and literally, amazing grace. Using a Jukari Band (TM), a lightweight, flexible band, women can groove to the theatricality of Cirque du Soleil. This workout consists of dynamic, upbeat, artistic movements designed to banish blahs from regular gym workouts. Women can expect to enhance their flexibility and strength. While the workouts mimic everyday movements, the body is continually challenged by Jukari, which requires balance, core muscles and range of motion.
2. FLAMENCO
“Women can be demure and delicate but another side of us is fierce, independent and wanting to dominate.” The movements of flamenco are almost trancelike, with sudden whips and swishes from your core. The hands are critical as they twist and express their own emotions. “Your center of gravity from the waist up is pulled up, but waist down, there is a certain heaviness or weightedness in your position. And flamenco is not just a dance, it’s also about the music, the song—it’s a whole culture altogether.” Women of all ages have come for flamenco lessons, and they've found that they all emerged more confident, more graceful, and stronger. It’s not just a physical workout. For some, it’s a sense of empowerment or accomplishment. For others, they start to lose their inhibitions.
3. SALSA
Here’s a way to get the best of both worlds—getting fit while socializing. The salsa club scene is great for social interaction. You can dance with anyone and everyone, and the style of each dancer varies from different dance background that they can incorporate.
4. BOLLYWOOD
Yeah, you think they’re cheesy, but the dance moves on the Bollywood films are a major dance workout. Bollywood dancing is a celebration. Bollywood is a fusion of three dances, according to Besa, It has elements of hiphop, bellydancing and Indian folk dances, specifically Bhangra and Kathak. A dance workout like this one makes you feel that you are starring in your own Bollywood film.“ Though not to be confused with bellydancing, which focuses on channeling all gyrations on your midsection, Bollywood dancing is the larger-than-life version. Movements are big and expressive, and your eyes and face have to constantly follow your fingers as you move. The dance is really fun, festive and colorful. Theentire body moves, with some isolated movements of the chest, hips and shoulders.
5. STRIPTEASE
Striptease is a very aggressive dance.You have to be in control, and women should learn to not be timid. Apart from unleashing your inner tigress, striptease is great for toning your body, too. It’s a workout for the legs and the gluteal muscles (your bum!), as most of the movements are in a ‘Grand Plie’ (a deep squat position), combined with gyrations. You need to use your abdominals, too. Students always say they have too much fun getting sexy to notice how much their muscles hurt afterwards. Striptease is ideal for everyone, not just for the dancefloor-and-club-philes.
source: femalenetwork
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Reduce Your Risk of Getting Diabetes by Eating More Blueberries and Apples
According to the American Diabetes Association, there are around 26 million Americans battling with diabetes today. It is not such an uncommon disease here in the Philippines either. The good news is that it's something you can actually prevent from happening. In fact, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is saying that eating blueberries, apples, and pears can reduce your risk of developing diabetes significantly.
Researchers followed the dietary records of 200,000 men and women for up to 24 years. By regularly filling out questionnaires, these participants were able to provide up-to-date information on their eating habits. Researchers were able to determine that those who ate the least blueberries only consumed half a cup or one serving of the fruit each month, while those who ate the most blueberries had two or more servings per week.
After the analysis of the data, it was discovered that none of the participants had diabetes at the onset of the study. Midway, however, some 12,600 participants were diagnosed with diabetes. Those who ate the most blueberries had a 23-percent lower risk rate of getting type 2 diabetes compared to those who didn't eat them. The same number applies to those who ate five or more apples a week.
According to researchers, certain flavonoids-natural compounds in the fruits-could be the reason some of the participants remain diabetes-free. Even after factoring in other details such as cigarette smoking, family history, and body weight, eating blueberries and apples still seems to have a significant effect in reducing the risk of getting diabetes.
source:femalenetwork
Researchers followed the dietary records of 200,000 men and women for up to 24 years. By regularly filling out questionnaires, these participants were able to provide up-to-date information on their eating habits. Researchers were able to determine that those who ate the least blueberries only consumed half a cup or one serving of the fruit each month, while those who ate the most blueberries had two or more servings per week.
After the analysis of the data, it was discovered that none of the participants had diabetes at the onset of the study. Midway, however, some 12,600 participants were diagnosed with diabetes. Those who ate the most blueberries had a 23-percent lower risk rate of getting type 2 diabetes compared to those who didn't eat them. The same number applies to those who ate five or more apples a week.
According to researchers, certain flavonoids-natural compounds in the fruits-could be the reason some of the participants remain diabetes-free. Even after factoring in other details such as cigarette smoking, family history, and body weight, eating blueberries and apples still seems to have a significant effect in reducing the risk of getting diabetes.
source:femalenetwork
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Help Your Kids Lose Weight By Cutting Down on Carbs or Food Portions
What is the best way to help your kids lose a few pounds? According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, diets which involve portion and carb control are quite effective.
In the study, researchers assigned three different diets to 100 obese seven to 12-year-olds. The first diet was simply about portion control, the second diet followed a low-carb principle, and the third diet was a variation of the low-carb system--except that it only cut down on certain carbs. For more than one year, all three diets seemed to work well. The only thing researchers took note of was that the kids had a hard time sticking to the low-carb diet.
Perhaps a low-carb diet is simply too restrictive for kids. Researchers believe that a slight modification to it can work well. The third diet based on a reduced glycemic load provides a compromise. With this diet, certain carbs like fruits and vegetables are allowed.
Regardless of which diet you choose, researchers say that your kids can end up with lower cholesterol levels. Children who choose the low-carb diet are bound to reduce their triglycerides (a kind of blood fat), while those who choose to cut portions and glycemic load show better blood sugar levels. Either way, your kids will still lose calories. Hopefully, they’ll understand what it means to eat healthily and adapt it as a lifestyle even after they grow past puberty.
In the study, researchers assigned three different diets to 100 obese seven to 12-year-olds. The first diet was simply about portion control, the second diet followed a low-carb principle, and the third diet was a variation of the low-carb system--except that it only cut down on certain carbs. For more than one year, all three diets seemed to work well. The only thing researchers took note of was that the kids had a hard time sticking to the low-carb diet.
Perhaps a low-carb diet is simply too restrictive for kids. Researchers believe that a slight modification to it can work well. The third diet based on a reduced glycemic load provides a compromise. With this diet, certain carbs like fruits and vegetables are allowed.
Regardless of which diet you choose, researchers say that your kids can end up with lower cholesterol levels. Children who choose the low-carb diet are bound to reduce their triglycerides (a kind of blood fat), while those who choose to cut portions and glycemic load show better blood sugar levels. Either way, your kids will still lose calories. Hopefully, they’ll understand what it means to eat healthily and adapt it as a lifestyle even after they grow past puberty.
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Low-Carb or Low-Fat? Study Shows Both Diets Improve Blood Vessel Function
Going on a low-carb or low-fat diet isn’t merely an issue of dropping a dress size; it’s also about dropping certain health risks. In fact, according to a recent study by Johns Hopkins University researchers, people who are on a low-carb or low-fat diet can improve their blood vessel function, therefore reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease as well. Apparently, the loss of belly fat allows arteries to expand, which in turn, helps blood flow more freely to other parts of the body.
To test the theory, researchers observed 60 men and women who weighed an average of 215 pounds. Half of the group followed a low-carb diet and half followed a low-fat diet; all participants did the same moderate exercise and consumed the same amount of calories.
Researchers also tested the participants for their blood vessel function at the onset of the study. This was done by using a blood pressure cuff to constrict blood circulation in the upper arm for five minutes. Once the cuff was released, researchers were able to determine how healthy an artery was by how wide it expanded to allow blood to flow freely. The researchers also measured how much blood flowed to the fingertips before, during, and after using the cuff.
Results? On average, those on a low-carb diet lost 10 more pounds than those on a low-fat diet. However, researchers were surprised to learn that this didn’t seem to change the fact that the improvement in blood vessel function is directly linked to the amount of lost belly fat.
Regardless of which diet the participants followed, blood vessel function remained directly dependent on the amount of belly fat left in the body. To put it simply, both diets lead to improvement in blood vessel function. This certainly makes pursuing a healthy lifestyle easier as those who prefer to eat more pasta, bread, and certain fruits have just as big a shot at reducing cardiovascular risks as those who prefer to eat more meat and dairy products.
To test the theory, researchers observed 60 men and women who weighed an average of 215 pounds. Half of the group followed a low-carb diet and half followed a low-fat diet; all participants did the same moderate exercise and consumed the same amount of calories.
Researchers also tested the participants for their blood vessel function at the onset of the study. This was done by using a blood pressure cuff to constrict blood circulation in the upper arm for five minutes. Once the cuff was released, researchers were able to determine how healthy an artery was by how wide it expanded to allow blood to flow freely. The researchers also measured how much blood flowed to the fingertips before, during, and after using the cuff.
Results? On average, those on a low-carb diet lost 10 more pounds than those on a low-fat diet. However, researchers were surprised to learn that this didn’t seem to change the fact that the improvement in blood vessel function is directly linked to the amount of lost belly fat.
Regardless of which diet the participants followed, blood vessel function remained directly dependent on the amount of belly fat left in the body. To put it simply, both diets lead to improvement in blood vessel function. This certainly makes pursuing a healthy lifestyle easier as those who prefer to eat more pasta, bread, and certain fruits have just as big a shot at reducing cardiovascular risks as those who prefer to eat more meat and dairy products.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Obese Women Have Longer Workouts with Lower Body Temperature, Study Suggests
If you want to spend more time working out, try cooling your hands while exercising. According to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2012 Scientific Sessions, women who are able to keep their body temperature lower while exercising can lengthen their workout hours and achieve better results.
Researchers studied 24 obese women between the ages 30 and 45 as they exercised at a gym. For 12 weeks, half of the women worked out with their hands in a cylinder with water at 60.8 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius), while the other half worked out with the same device holding water at 98.6 degrees (37 C). Neither group was aware of the difference. Both groups started their exercise routines the same way—push-ups first, then lunges, and eventually leading to time on the treadmill, which was where the cylinders were.
Based on the results, it appeared that the group in which the women had cooler hands continued exercising while the other group quit earlier. The same ladies spent less time walking 1.5 miles on the treadmill and lost almost three inches off their respective waists by the end of the 12 weeks. They also had lower resting blood pressures and better exercise heart rates.
"Obese women often complain about sweating and getting tired because they're walking around with extra insulation," explained Stacy T. Sims, PhD, the study's lead researcher and exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist at Stanford University in California. "If you can slow the rate internal temperature rises and cool someone who is obese, they don't store as much heat and don't feel as uncomfortable. They can do more work."
Researchers studied 24 obese women between the ages 30 and 45 as they exercised at a gym. For 12 weeks, half of the women worked out with their hands in a cylinder with water at 60.8 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius), while the other half worked out with the same device holding water at 98.6 degrees (37 C). Neither group was aware of the difference. Both groups started their exercise routines the same way—push-ups first, then lunges, and eventually leading to time on the treadmill, which was where the cylinders were.
Based on the results, it appeared that the group in which the women had cooler hands continued exercising while the other group quit earlier. The same ladies spent less time walking 1.5 miles on the treadmill and lost almost three inches off their respective waists by the end of the 12 weeks. They also had lower resting blood pressures and better exercise heart rates.
"Obese women often complain about sweating and getting tired because they're walking around with extra insulation," explained Stacy T. Sims, PhD, the study's lead researcher and exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist at Stanford University in California. "If you can slow the rate internal temperature rises and cool someone who is obese, they don't store as much heat and don't feel as uncomfortable. They can do more work."
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Your Gluten-Free Diet May Not Be as Effective as You Think It Is
With celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham going on gluten-free diets these days, it’s tough not to get caught up in the excitement. Could giving up pasta or bread be the solution to your health problems? A commentary published in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests otherwise.
A gluten-free diet is important for those who have celiac disease—an autoimmune condition brought about by gluten. Those who don’t have it and still follow a gluten-free diet apparently have a condition called nonceliac gluten sensitivity. With 18 million Americans supposedly suffering from it, it’s not difficult to understand why more and more people are trying the diet out. Still, celiac researchers Dr. Antonio Di Sabatino and Dr. Gino Roberto Corazza of Italy’s University of Pavia believe that there is no concrete medical proof of the statistic, and neither is there universal agreement on how to cure it.
Unfortunately, there is no concrete way to tell whether or not you have nonceliac gluten sensitivity. Researchers can only say that there is no need to cut gluten completely out of your life until a general consensus among medical experts surfaces. Nevertheless, choosing the right foods to eat is part of the key to good health, so make sure that you still monitor the nutritional value of the food you put on the dinner table.
source:femalenetwork
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Importance of Core-Strengthening

What’s your favorite type of exercise? If you’re like most people, cardio is at the top of your list. But focusing too much on cardio while neglecting core-strengthening exercises can result in weak core muscles and poor flexibility — and that can increase your chances of getting hurt. Even those who do conventional weight lifting may be vulnerable to injury, since this type of exercise tends to isolate muscle groups and neglect those all-important core muscles.
Benefits of functional fitness:
It will strengthen your core muscles.
Functional exercises require you to use several muscle groups in one fluid movement. This will strengthen and develop the muscles in the back, abdomen, pelvis, and hips, and promote stability and flexibility — all essential for preventing injury and helping you maintain a healthy weight.
It will tone your muscles and improve bone density.
Even if you're diligent about cardio workouts, you need core-strengthening exercises to further improve muscle tone and bone density. Combining a cardio routine with core training will not only make you stronger, it will also help promote good posture and balance.
No expensive equipment needed!
The best part? Incorporating core exercise into your exercise regimen doesn’t require you to buy fancy, expensive equipment like balance boards and pulley-type machines to see results. We recommend the following:
•A bench or a chair without arms
•A mat or thick towel to protect your back and knees during floor exercises
•Light hand weights
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Preparing Budget Foods
The best way to take advantage of buying budget foods in bulk is to cook them in bulk. Choose your recipes carefully — make meals that allow you to cook large amount of food at once so you can freeze the leftovers for a second meal. That cuts back on valuable time and gas spent going to and from the market and the amount of time you have to spend cooking.
It’s important to always have a plan for your leftovers to maximize every dollar spent. “If you bake a whole chicken, use leftover chicken in a salad or sandwich the next day for lunch," suggests Brennan.
Eating healthy on a budget does require some effort and planning, but the reward is worth it — affordable, healthy food on your family's table.
source: healthyliving
It’s important to always have a plan for your leftovers to maximize every dollar spent. “If you bake a whole chicken, use leftover chicken in a salad or sandwich the next day for lunch," suggests Brennan.
Eating healthy on a budget does require some effort and planning, but the reward is worth it — affordable, healthy food on your family's table.
source: healthyliving
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Exercise Now
Staying active can keep you feeling and looking your best — at every stage of your life. An active lifestyle is especially important for senior health because regular exercise can help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and certain forms of cancer, and it can also reduce pain associated with arthritis. By improving balance, flexibility, endurance, and strength, older adults can stay healthier longer. The National Institute on Aging is a great resource for learning more about the exercise benefits for seniors. Just remember to check with your doctor before beginning a new exercise program.
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Study Shows Bosses Are Meaner When They Get Less Exercise
Is this true?
Having to handle a bad-tempered boss is not exactly anyone’s idea of a dream job, but it is, most unfortunately, quite common. You know the type—they love to blame you for everything, scream at you in public, and so on and so forth. There could be various reasons for such behavior, but according to a new study published in the Journal of Business and Psychology, one of the reasons could be lack of exercise. Simply put, your boss just doesn’t spend enough time working out.
The researchers reached their conclusion after gathering 98 MBA students and asking them to fill out a questionnaire. Their respective supervisors were also tapped for the study. While the students answered questions that probed at the level of abuse their supervisors handed out, the bosses were asked about their exercise habits and stress levels.
Results showed that the more stressed out the supervisors were, the more the employees felt abused. Meanwhile, the more the bosses worked out, the less victimized the students felt.
Unfortunately, the consequences of having a mean boss don’t end at the workplace. Another study reports that people who have had to deal with mean bosses end up bringing the tension back home, creating problems for many marriages. One small thing can balloon into a huge argument. In most cases, you'll find that stress is at the center of everything.
Stress can bring out the worst in people. Your boss may be mean, but it’s probably because he or she can’t handle the pressure properly. In the meantime, you have to watch your own stress levels as well. No matter how toxic it gets in the workplace, try not to let it affect your personal life. And if you find you're turning into a mean boss as well, you may want to try hitting the gym.
source:femalenetwork
Having to handle a bad-tempered boss is not exactly anyone’s idea of a dream job, but it is, most unfortunately, quite common. You know the type—they love to blame you for everything, scream at you in public, and so on and so forth. There could be various reasons for such behavior, but according to a new study published in the Journal of Business and Psychology, one of the reasons could be lack of exercise. Simply put, your boss just doesn’t spend enough time working out.
The researchers reached their conclusion after gathering 98 MBA students and asking them to fill out a questionnaire. Their respective supervisors were also tapped for the study. While the students answered questions that probed at the level of abuse their supervisors handed out, the bosses were asked about their exercise habits and stress levels.
Results showed that the more stressed out the supervisors were, the more the employees felt abused. Meanwhile, the more the bosses worked out, the less victimized the students felt.
Unfortunately, the consequences of having a mean boss don’t end at the workplace. Another study reports that people who have had to deal with mean bosses end up bringing the tension back home, creating problems for many marriages. One small thing can balloon into a huge argument. In most cases, you'll find that stress is at the center of everything.
Stress can bring out the worst in people. Your boss may be mean, but it’s probably because he or she can’t handle the pressure properly. In the meantime, you have to watch your own stress levels as well. No matter how toxic it gets in the workplace, try not to let it affect your personal life. And if you find you're turning into a mean boss as well, you may want to try hitting the gym.
source:femalenetwork
Friday, 3 February 2012
Does Your Personality Dictate Whether You'll Be Overweight?
Personality traits may play key roles in body weight, according to a new U.S. study.
Researchers from the U.S. National Institute on Aging found that people who are impulsive, cynical, competitive or aggressive were more likely to be overweight. And those who are highly neurotic and less conscientious are likely to see their weight go through many ups and downs.
"Individuals with this constellation of traits tend to give in to temptation and lack the discipline to stay on track amid difficulties or frustration," said the researchers in an institute news release. "To maintain a healthy weight, it is typically necessary to have a healthy diet and a sustained program of physical activity, both of which require commitment and restraint. Such control may be difficult for highly impulsive individuals."
For the study, published online July 11 in the American Psychological Association's Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the researchers examined data compiled over 50 years on nearly 2,000 generally healthy and highly educated people to determine how their personalities might affect their weight and body mass index.
The participants were assessed on the so-called "big five" personality traits — openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism — as well as 30 subcategories of these traits. They were also weighed and measured over the course of the study.
Although people tend to gain weight as they age, the study found those who are impulsive were the most likely to be overweight. People who scored in the top 10 percent on impulsivity weighed an average of 22 pounds more than those in the bottom 10 percent, the researchers said.
"Previous research has found that impulsive individuals are prone to binge eating and alcohol consumption," the study's author, Angelina R. Sutin, said in the news release. "These behavioral patterns may contribute to weight gain over time."
Those who are risk takers, antagonistic, cynical, competitive and aggressive also had greater weight gain, the study showed.
On the flip side, the study found that conscientious people are typically thinner and their weight did not trigger changes in personality during adulthood.
"The pathway from personality traits to weight gain is complex and probably includes physiological mechanisms, in addition to behavioral ones," Sutin concluded. "We hope that by more clearly identifying the association between personality and obesity, more tailored treatments will be developed. For example, lifestyle and exercise interventions that are done in a group setting may be more effective for extroverts than for introverts."
source: healthandnutrition
Researchers from the U.S. National Institute on Aging found that people who are impulsive, cynical, competitive or aggressive were more likely to be overweight. And those who are highly neurotic and less conscientious are likely to see their weight go through many ups and downs.
"Individuals with this constellation of traits tend to give in to temptation and lack the discipline to stay on track amid difficulties or frustration," said the researchers in an institute news release. "To maintain a healthy weight, it is typically necessary to have a healthy diet and a sustained program of physical activity, both of which require commitment and restraint. Such control may be difficult for highly impulsive individuals."
For the study, published online July 11 in the American Psychological Association's Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the researchers examined data compiled over 50 years on nearly 2,000 generally healthy and highly educated people to determine how their personalities might affect their weight and body mass index.
The participants were assessed on the so-called "big five" personality traits — openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism — as well as 30 subcategories of these traits. They were also weighed and measured over the course of the study.
Although people tend to gain weight as they age, the study found those who are impulsive were the most likely to be overweight. People who scored in the top 10 percent on impulsivity weighed an average of 22 pounds more than those in the bottom 10 percent, the researchers said.
"Previous research has found that impulsive individuals are prone to binge eating and alcohol consumption," the study's author, Angelina R. Sutin, said in the news release. "These behavioral patterns may contribute to weight gain over time."
Those who are risk takers, antagonistic, cynical, competitive and aggressive also had greater weight gain, the study showed.
On the flip side, the study found that conscientious people are typically thinner and their weight did not trigger changes in personality during adulthood.
"The pathway from personality traits to weight gain is complex and probably includes physiological mechanisms, in addition to behavioral ones," Sutin concluded. "We hope that by more clearly identifying the association between personality and obesity, more tailored treatments will be developed. For example, lifestyle and exercise interventions that are done in a group setting may be more effective for extroverts than for introverts."
source: healthandnutrition
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Weight Gain: When to Consult a Doctor

Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30.
Using the metric system, the formula for BMI is weight (in kilograms) divided by height (in meters) squared.
To find your BMI using pounds and inches, take your weight (in pounds) and divide it by your height in inches squared. Then multiply by a conversion factor of 703.
You are overweight if your BMI is greater than or equal to 25.
The right time to see a doctor is when your BMI becomes 25 or greater. Doctors can treat overweight or obesity with diet and exercise suggestions and sometimes weight-loss medications. If your BMI is between 18 and 24 you are within the normal range; however, if you have gained a lot of weight recently, you may still want to see your doctor. Studies show that people who gain even as little as 4-5 kilograms (10 pounds) have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Saturday, 28 January 2012
3 Ways to Start Your Own Food Revolution
Know what you’re eating. In addition to making school lunches healthier, Oliver wants to help Americans become savvier about food — including where it comes from and how it affects your body. He emphasizes fresh, locally grown foods instead of packaged, processed ones that may contain filler ingredients with no nutritional value. Although it may be cheaper or easier to load your freezer with ready-to-serve foods, Oliver encourages families to invest in their health and take the time to cook fresh meals as often as possible. If frozen chicken nuggets are one of your grocery-list staples, for example, consider making your own with fresh chicken cutlets. Offer the kids oatmeal for breakfast instead of pop-in-the-toaster pastries.
Don’t obsess over fancy food labels. Sustainable, organic, free range: While these are all hot trends now in the food world, Oliver would rather see families just focus on buying more fresh foods than get caught up in deciphering such "healthy" labels.
Cook with your kids. Eating meals as a family has proven benefits (studies have shown kids who eat with their families get better grades and are less likely to use drugs and alcohol than those who don’t), but preparing meals together may be even better. Cooking can encourage kids to try healthy ingredients they otherwise wouldn’t touch and teach them about proper portion sizes. It’s also a fun way for you to bond. And you'll arm teens with skills they can use to prepare healthy meals after they’ve flown the coop for college or to live on their own. Give each kid their own age-appropriate job: For example, little ones can rinse vegetables while older kids saute them.
source:everydayhealth
Don’t obsess over fancy food labels. Sustainable, organic, free range: While these are all hot trends now in the food world, Oliver would rather see families just focus on buying more fresh foods than get caught up in deciphering such "healthy" labels.
Cook with your kids. Eating meals as a family has proven benefits (studies have shown kids who eat with their families get better grades and are less likely to use drugs and alcohol than those who don’t), but preparing meals together may be even better. Cooking can encourage kids to try healthy ingredients they otherwise wouldn’t touch and teach them about proper portion sizes. It’s also a fun way for you to bond. And you'll arm teens with skills they can use to prepare healthy meals after they’ve flown the coop for college or to live on their own. Give each kid their own age-appropriate job: For example, little ones can rinse vegetables while older kids saute them.
source:everydayhealth
Monday, 16 January 2012
No. 1 Excuse for Not Exercising
Excuse No. 1: 'I'm Too Busy.'

Everyone has said at one time or another that they’re too busy to exercise. But it’s just a matter of setting priorities, says K.C. Wilder, PhD, a Bucks County, Pa., sports psychologist, cyclist, author, and mother of two. If you want to exercise, it’s just a matter of making the time, whether that means getting up an hour earlier in the morning to go for a brisk walk or taking an hour for lunch and walking with co-workers rather than chatting away in the cafeteria. Need more fitness motivation? A large study in Stroke, a journal of the American Heart Association, found that women who walk for exercise reduce their stroke risk over those who are sedentary.
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