Fitness And Nutrition For Health

In the age which we live there is an unprecedented focus on getting and staying healthy.

As more and more research points to the effect of fitness and nutrition on our overall health, the findings become more difficult to ignore.

 There is no doubt that the food that we eat and the physical activity that we perform significantly impact our weight and our body's overall health and longevity.

When you look at fitness and nutrition and the consequences of ignoring their importance, it is not difficult to see how large a role they play in our health.

 First and foremost, it is important to understand how powerfully diet can affect us.

 Natural, whole foods
- such as fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins - give our bodies the vitamins that it needs to function effectively.

 We have energy when we eat right.

 And when we have energy we burn fat.

 Eating properly allows us to maintain a healthy weight and keep undue stress off of our hearts; it also allows us to keep our blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the healthy range.

 Most importantly, good nutrition keeps our bodies stocked with antioxidants that fight off a range of illnesses including cancer.

But nutrition does go it alone; fitness and nutrition go hand in hand for achieving good health.

 When we keep our bodies active through a consistent exercise program, we are adding to our body's ability to metabolize food and keep weight down.

 Further, good fitness means strong and limber muscles and a strong cardiovascular system.

 Exercise also lowers blood pressure and reduces stress levels.

Learning how to pair fitness and nutrition for optimum health means a commitment to a particular lifestyle.

 It is essential that you revamp your diet to eliminate fatty, high-sodium, and processed food and replace it with fresh, natural - and even organic - choices.

 But remember, fitness and nutrition work best as a team.

 Implement a consistent regime of physical activity into your daily schedule including cardiovascular work, stretching, weight training, and even yoga or Pilates.

When you truly understand the importance of fitness and nutrition in your life, you will understand how crucial these lifestyle changes are in order to live a long and healthy life.

For easy to understand, in depth information about fitness and nutrition visit our ezGuide 2 Nutrition.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bery

Fitness Tip: How Does Fitness And Nutrition Go Together?

Today I'm going to talk about something that may tick a lot of people off.

 It may go against what you believe, what you do, what you've read or studied. If that's the case, so be it.

 I say this because you can go to all kinds of sites, talk to all kinds of folks, and you'll have a whole bunch of different variations on this topic.

 To that I say GREAT! So, all that being said, let me get right into it.

Right away, when someone decides to start any kind of fitness program, they focus on the workout itself.

What to lift, how far to run, how to gain muscle, etc.

 But the one thing they are leaving out is nutrition.

 Oh, believe me, anyone in the fitness industry (that's worth anything) will tell you the most important stuff about a workout program is NUTRITION, NUTRITION, NUTRITION!
 That's across the board folks, that ALWAYS should be part of your fitness plan.

 No one will argue that fact with you.

BUT, the difference then comes up about WHAT kind of nutrition. Should I eat meat or not?
  Should I switch my soda to diet soda? Should I eat 10 times a day?

Should I not eat after 6:18pm?
 Should I wake up in the middle of the night and have a ultra supersonic vitamin milkshake?
 What should I do? This is the confusing part.

I'm here to tell you my take on this whole nutrition thing. As everyone knows, I like to keep things simple.
I stay with simple stuff. Getting complicated is for the more advanced people, but not me.

 (Oh, I can hang with the best of them, but I choose not to) Of course, I enjoy talking about fitness/nutrition, and I always can (and will), but for the people that don't know what to do to start off with, getting to involved and in depth may just shy them away from being healthy, which is something NOBODY in this industry wants, right?
So, all that being said, let's talk a bit about nutrition. Let's even break it down a bit more and say "what you put into your body".

Now for those of you that have the same mindset as me (heaven help you lol!), and view things a bit skewd, "what you DON'T put into your body" is just as important.

 You can even say to replace some of the bad stuff with good stuff, get it?
Again, keeping everything simple, let's take soda pop for instance.

 I don't care what kind you drink, I don't care if it's diet or not diet, I don't care if it has sugar or not, generally speaking soda pop is BAD for you... PERIOD!
 (Oh, if a soda executive is reading this, sorry dude, but someone's gotta say it!)
But Andrew, I love my soda pop, I need my soda pop!
Well, too bad. Oh, and just so you know, I love me my Mountain Dew, which is probably one of the worst ones out there.

 In my younger days, I was a "Dew-a-holic", and I proudly admit it! But in terms of being healthy, it's garbage!
Now, instead of drinking your beloved soda pop (diet or not) drink some water.

 Heck, drink it from the tap, that's fine with me, but drink water!
 I don't care if you don't like the taste of water (that one always cracks me up!), drink it anyway.

 Again, YOU are the one looking to get healthy, so do things that will make you healthy, duh!
Here's another tip, instead of having that bag of chips, those chocolate chip cookies or that candy bar, eat an apple, or banana, or peach or some kind of fruit.

 Oh, it may not be as fun or as sexy, but is looking in the mirror at yourself right now sexy?
 Hmmm?
You want to know something real cool to do?
 Again, this is for people who WANT to be healthier, so if this is you, take note.

 Something cool is to get some sort of blender/juicer/mixer/pureer and start making some sort of blended veggie foo-foo drink once a day.

There are all kinds of recipes throughout the world wide web, so have fun looking for them. (the picture above is actually the drink I made this morning.

 It was fun to do and it tasted awesome!)
Heck, you're making trips to the grocery store anyway, pick up some fruits or veggies as well.

 (again, instead of that soda pop and bag of chips!)
I'm not saying this mixing thing is what you SHOULD do, I'm just saying it's fun and you'll be surprised at what you may find and how you start feeling.

I'm telling you, this isn't a hard concept to figure out. Remember, I'm just keeping things simple here.

All I'm doing is telling you things that you already know.

 All I'm doing is saying stuff that deep down you know, but maybe are afraid to admit.

Notice I didn't say anything about supplements, I didn't say anything about how often you should eat, I didn't say anything about a specific vitamin to take.

 I didn't say anything like that because you need to start somewhere.

 Once you start changing your habits and begin to feel better, you will find the more, let's call it "hard core" stuff to consume like vitamins, supplements, etc.

But for right now, if you're not doing stuff, just start by keep things simple.

 Learn to consume the right stuff AND NOT consume the bad stuff. Get it?
 Don't worry about this type of fat is good, that type is bad;
 this carbo food thingy is better than that carbo food thingy.

 Use some common sense with your nutrition and you'll be amazed as to your results.

 Once you start to see and feel the results, then dive deeper into the whole nutrition thing.

 But keep it simple and have

How would you like to get a personal training session in your home?
 Learn what the Fitness Professionals know!
 You have a chance to get the best fitness advice from the best fitness pro's on the planet! Get all the information at http://www.TopFitnessStrategies.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Poletto

Sports Nutrition and Fitness Awareness

Quick Know-how on Sports Nutrition and Fitness Awareness:
Hydration is your best friend
Quick Fact:
 Did you know that you can survive the hostile environments of the world without food for a month but can only last three days without water?
Water is one of the most active nutritional requirements for people to maintain the natural balance of hydration and nourishment.

 When you perspire, you reduce the amount of water in your body and it needs to be replenished.

 If you are planning to exercise then it's important to stock up on your body's water supply, during and after you finish your routine.

 Water is the best choice for liquid replacement during a workout.

 If you are planning to exercise continuously for more than an hour and a half, you may want to replace your water with an electrolyte rich liquid supplement such as a sports drink.

Aside from water, sports drinks are very helpful in restoring your body's electrolyte and carbohydrate needs during an exercise regimen.

 "Sports water" as what they are called are rich in nutrients that your body requires to avoid dehydration and replace the energy lost during a workout burn and can help you replenish lost minerals lost for the day.

 The carbohydrate contents in sports water provides you with the C6H12O6 you lose when you burn.

As you exercise your muscles produce lactic acid which makes them ache, sports drinks reduces the production of lactic acid by providing a constant supply of carbohydrates to burn.

When checking out sports drinks, make sure that they contain anywhere from fifteen to 18 grams of carbohydrates for every eight ounces.

Maintain your levels with good Nutrition
Your body draws its energy from the carbohydrates that you consume.

 A simple definition of what comprises carbohydrates is your simple sugars and starches that are found in food like cereals, bread, pasta products, lactose products and the most common source which is white sugar.

These simple sugars are metabolized by your body and converted to a compound called glucose (C6H12O6), which the body burns to produce energy through the organelle in your cells called the mitochondria.

 If you are planning to start your day with a workout then you must remember that your caloric intake should comprise of mainly carbohydrates at an average of five calories per gram.

Having a stable diet of carbohydrates should ensure that you can function well with no need for an energy stock up as your body will use up the fuel reserves from previous meals.

To be sure that you don't end up burning muscle tissue (in the event of energy scarcity the body produces lactic acid to resynthesize chemical byproducts so they may be converted to fuel called anaerobic glycolysis)
http://www.lifestylelearningdirect.com is a helpful online hub of courses that can help you understand the fundamentals of nutrition and fitness.

Lifestyle Learning Direct provides the complete distance education solution by offering online and correspondence courses from The Sackville Academy, The Writing School and Lifestyle Learning Online

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_M_Stevens

Nutrition and Fitness: Exercise Alone Is Not Enough

Almost two-thirds of adults are classified as overweight or obese based on Body Mass Index (BMI).

Clearly, there is a strong link between nutrition and obesity.

 Other medical conditions, such as diabetes, osteoporosis, hypertension, cancer, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease can also be linked to poor nutrition and obesity, as well as a sedentary lifestyle.

 While healthy nutrition habits are inherently important for your overall health and wellness, they are critical while engaging in any type of physical fitness training.

 Your success in weight loss, muscle gain, and endurance all depend heavily on your ability to monitor your diet choices and work openly and honestly with your doctor, dietitian, and personal trainer.

Essential Nutrients
There are six essential nutrients that your body needs to survive and function properly.

These are Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals, and Water.

Carbohydrates: Many weight-loss gimmicks in recent years have been based on the concept of "low-carb" dieting, which effectively deprives the body of this essential nutrient.

The prime function of carbohydrate is to provide energy.

 Under normal circumstances, the nervous system relies exclusively on carbohydrate as an energy source, and 130 grams of dietary carbohydrate is necessary to support normal daily brain function.

 Carbohydrates are also protein sparing, which means muscle tissue is not used as a fuel source if sufficient carbohydrate is available.

Simple carbohydrates ("empty calories") are found in foods such as cakes, candy, soda, sports drinks, cookies, and syrup.

These should be avoided and are not part of a healthy nutrition program.

 Foods that contain complex carbohydrates include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, brown rice, and whole-wheat pasta.

 These foods have a high nutrient density and provide much of your vitamin, mineral, and fiber needs.

45-65% of your daily calorie intake should come from carbohydrate, mostly from sources of complex carbohydrate and fiber.

The recommended dietary fiber intake is 14 grams per 1,000 calories consumed.

Fats: Yes, fats are an essential nutrient!
  Among other things, fats are the major component of cell membranes, and are necessary in the absorption and transport of fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).

There are four types of dietary fat: saturated, hydrogenated ("trans"), monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated. Saturated and hydrogenated, or "trans-fats," are high in cholesterol and should not comprise more than 7% of daily calories.
 
20-35% of daily calories come from fats, mostly from sources of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats such as fish, nuts, and vegetable oils. Cholesterol should also be limited to 300 mg/day.

Proteins: Proteins are made up of amino acids, which have many functions in the body.

 One of the key functions related to fitness and exercise is the synthesis of new tissue, such as muscle and skin.

 Many amino acids cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained through the diet.

 These are referred to as "essential" amino acids.

 The best sources of protein are animal sources (milk, meat, cheese, eggs, etc.).

 These are considered to be "complete" proteins because they contain all the essential amino acids in proper balance.

10-35% of daily calories come from protein.

 Good sources of protein include lean meats, poultry, fish, low-fat dairy, egg-whites, legumes, and nuts.

Low-carb protein shakes and bars can also be used to supplement protein if needed, but it is always best to take protein from natural sources if possible.

Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals do not actually provide you with energy, as they have no caloric content.

 However, they play a vital role in regulating many processes within the body, including the process by which energy is derived from nutrients such as fat and carbohydrate.

Vitamins: Vitamins are organic substances that regulate many bodily functions such as vision, DNA formation, red blood cell formation, metabolism of nutrients, and blood clotting.

They are divided into two types: fat-soluble (A, D, E, and K), and water-soluble (B and C).

Minerals: Minerals are elements found in nature that are also essential to bodily processes.

 They are divided into two types: major minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride), and trace minerals (fluoride, chromium, copper, iron, zinc, etc.).

 Calcium and Magnesium are key minerals for fitness training as they function in muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmission, and are major components of bones and teeth.

Water
Keeping your body well hydrated is important, especially during bouts of vigorous exercise.

While most fluids can help you maintain normal levels of hydration, pure water is clearly the best option.

Soda, juice, milk, and sports drinks may contain a lot of unwanted sugar (empty calories) and sodium, while other options such as tea or coffee contain caffeine.

 Drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day will not only help you stay hydrated, but may also help you feel satisfied longer and less tempted to snack.

What does a healthy diet look like?
So now that you know a little bit more about your daily calorie and nutrient needs, you may be thinking: "what exactly does a healthy diet look like?"
 To sum it up, a healthy diet:

• Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy;
• Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and
• Is low in saturated fats, "trans" fats, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and added sugars.

If you need additional help determining your own personalized diet and nutrition plan, you can always consult the advice of health and wellness professionals such as your physician, a nutritionist or dietitian, and a personal trainer.

Erik Jones, CI-CPT, is a Certified Personal Trainer through the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas.

He owns a personal training company, Fundamental Fitness, and is an in-home personal trainer in Frisco, a northern suburb of Dallas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erik_D_Jones

How to Practice Good Sports Nutrition

Sports nutrition is defined as the study and practice of nutrition and dieting as it relates to athletes and their performance.

 It is mainly concerned with the types and quantities of food and drink ingested by athletes and deals with vitamins, minerals, supplements and organic substances such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats, which are the most important macro-nutrients needed to build the ideal athletic diet.

Sports nutrition is something you'll commonly hear in strength and endurance sports like weight lifting, swimming, cycling and running because these are the sports that require athletes to strike a perfect balance in order to sustain themselves during intense workouts and competitions.

 Sports nutrition is a concept that has been around since the time of the ancient Greeks, who credited their Olympic victories from being able to ably combine wine, meat and bread that gives them all the nutrition they need, as well as the strength and energy to win challenging competitions.

Sports nutrition these days has come a long way from the simple bread, meat and wine regimen of the Greeks.

Continuous study has proven that diet along with specialized exercise and training routines enables athletes to lead healthy and productive lifestyles and helps them prevent or manage non-chronic diseases like non-insulin dependent diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and osteoporosis to name a few.

What you eat and what you drink greatly affects your performance and how you feel during your workouts/training which is why knowing your basics on sports nutrition can not only help keep you healthy but also ensure you make the most of your exercise routine.

 It is known to often focus on carbohydrates, an example of which is the training routine of endurance athletes, who load up on carbohydrates days before their event to boost their performance.

 It is also best to complement your diet regimens with the best sports supplements as well to take care of any nutritional gaps.

Sports nutrition goes beyond what you eat because you need to consider the times when you need to eat as well as coordinating your meals, snacks and drinks helps you maximize your workout. For starters, you need to eat something every 2-4 hours to keep your blood sugar levels stable and your energy high enough to boost your metabolism.

 By coordinating your meals and snacks, you make sure that you are never too hungry to reach for the nearest bag of chips and will be able to train at any time during the day.

Ideally, you will need to eat a pre-exercise meal that will depend on the kind of exercises and workouts you do but generally they should be food that is easily digestible and high in complex carbohydrates like pasta, breads, salads and fruits.

You can also go for a big salad that is high in protein or select a small amount of lean meat like chicken or fish.

 If you're the type who likes to train or exercise in the morning, a light snack of fruits, toast and an egg will probably be best.

On the other hand, if you would prefer to have a snack thirty minutes before you start your workout, it would be best to partake of trail mix, half a granola bar, a big banana or a few graham crackers to get your energy levels going.

 Remember though, to drink lots of water before you start working out so you can replenish the electrolytes you lose when you sweat.

Make sure you keep yourself hydrated before, during and after your training and workouts to keep from being dehydrated.

To maximize your training and exercise, you need the best supplements to complement your sports nutrition efforts.

 Find them all at affordable prices on http://www.nutritionwarehouse.com.au and be at the top of your game every time, all the time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liam_A_Wills

Eight Top Weight Loss and Fitness Tricks To Get You Back in Shape

It is no surprise to learn that you need to adopt a strategy when it comes to keeping in shape.

 Depending on how urgent your need, your health and wellness program may range from intense training, adding in a slight increase in exercise, or you may be able to get away purely with well-planned meals.

 Here are 7 tips to keep you on the straight and narrow.

1. Follow the 40:30:30 diet method.
 The diet involves:
40% Low glycemic carbs -Foods such as beans, fruits and vegetables, legumes
30% lean healthy proteins -Tofu, fish, chicken, turkey, beef and low fat dairy products
30% essential fats - nuts and seeds, fish and olive oils
It is important that each meal should contain macronutrients to maintain the balance of hormones while achieving maximum weight reduction.

2. Higher protein diet.
 Consumed high protein foods in small servings, combining the diet with an exercise program that includes weightlifting and cardiovascular workouts.

3. If you are the type of person who is constantly combating extra pounds, your will probably need to combining a regular exercise routine and diet plan.

 Try exercising five days each week, enjoying 30 minutes on a gym or home treadmill and using free weights.

This will be complemented by a diet plan consisting of legumes, seafood, nuts, vegetables and fruits, chicken and dairy products that are low fat.

 Limit your intake of white sugar and flour.

4. Stop eating anything after seven in the evening.

5. Another healthy eating plan is a macrobiotic diet, eating foods like veggies, brown rice, and lean meat.

This typically includes organically produced foods rich in lean protein.

You should stay away from sugar, dairy and white flour.
6. Boost your chances of success with daily yoga exercises, such as Ashtanga Yoga
7. Avoid junk foods, they tend to be high in salt, fats and preservatives.

 Carefully check any labels.

 Often food marked as "weight-loss" can be higher in calories than the alternatives.

8. If you need to eat "on-the-run" salad and raw vegetables are good stand-by foods, easy to take with you. Snack on carrots or sweet potatoes instead of chocolate bars, and she adopts a liquid juice diet when she has to shed weight fast.

Pick the tips from those above that most easily fit into your daily life-style, and with persistence you will soon see weight loss and an improvement in your physical fitness.

Joy Healey is a qualified nutritionist, specializing in nutrition with particular emphasis on weight loss and healthy eating.

For more tips on healthy weight loss visit her Recommended Health and Fitness Programs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joy_Healey

Get Fast Weight Loss and Fitness Results By Adding Just Two Smart Habits

Did you know that just a few minutes each day of monitoring and tracking can make huge differences in the results you get from your diet and fitness regimen?
You cannot question why something isn't working if you are not properly monitoring the habits that should be in place to meet your goals.

Too often people start out on a certain diet or exercise program with the goal of having a super model slim body in a short time...
 and when they do not see results in a few short weeks they simply give up.

If you are tired of starting over, then stop giving up!
Instead, start out with a SMART plan of action to lose weight and get fit, one that is scientifically proven.

Use a monitor to make sure your workouts are effective, and track your diet!
Habit #1: Track your workouts and use a heart rate monitor that tracks calorie burn.

It's a worthwhile investment to get a heart rate monitor that tracks your calorie burn.

You cannot fool yourself or cheat yourself into thinking that wimpy workout you are doing will get you results...
 once you actually have the caloric burn numbers in front of you!
Use your heart rate monitor to determine which workouts will actually get you the best burn for your time.

Remember that strength training workouts will burn fewer calories during the workout, but are absolutely crucial for building muscle to boost metabolism
Habit #2 Monitor your diet with a nutrition tracker that takes into account the ratio of nutrients you consume and calories you burned.

Your healthy weight is 80% diet. And it is NOT just about cutting calories!
You must monitor your nutrition with an online calculator that will track not only calories, but the ratio of protein, carbohydrates, fat and sodium you are consuming.

 A calorie is NOT a calorie - and if you just create a calorie deficit, you will not see your beautiful healthy body emerge.

You cannot live on jello and 100 calorie snack packs and expect to lose belly fat and sculpt a beautiful behind. Your body simply does not work that way.

Don't sabotage your hard work by overeating, or eating too many carbohydrates.

 Instead, use an online calculator or an app for your phone to track everything that goes into your mouth.
It's really simple - but if you aren't tracking your workouts and diet, you can't get results.
Workout -
 with intensity, and add strength training to your regimen. Use a heart rate monitor and track your workouts.

Eat well -
 low carb, high protein and lots of vegetables. Use an online nutrition tracker or an app on your phone and keep your diet within weight loss/muscle gain zone.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. I just told you how to change things up so you can actual get real weight loss results fast.

So don't be insane...
 just track it!

Melanie Milletics is a Promoter of the #1 Health and Weight Loss Platform in North America, the Body By Vi Challenge.

 Learn more about The Challenge and get a free sample when you call 727-565-2053 or visit http://www.ViShapeSample.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melanie_Milletics

10 Steps Toward Weight Loss and Fitness

Whether you are trying to lose 10 pounds or 100 it can seem like an impossible task.

 When things get difficult it is easy to lose focus and simply stop trying, thinking you have failed - again!
We've all heard that the best way to set goals is to write them down. As simple as this step seems, sometimes we overlook it.

If you have been looking at a blank piece of paper trying to figure out where to even start on your weight loss journey, I have some help for you.

 Listed below are 10 easy "first steps" that anyone can do.

 Start with #1 and work your way to #10.

Each step you complete will be a step closer to your goal of achieving your ideal weight.

 There's nothing stopping you now so get going and enjoy the journey to a better, healthier you.
1. Set realistic goals.
 Anyone who has ever set an unrealistic weight loss goal will tell you that not meeting your own expectations is the fastest way to fail at weight loss.

 You should plan to lose no more than 1-2 pounds per week.

 In general, people who set realistic goals will exceed it during at least the first few weeks.

 Exceeding your weight loss goals will give you something to get excited about, and keep the weight loss process positive.
2. Get support. When you make the decision to lose weight, enlist the help and support of your friends and family members.

 Having people around you who will encourage you through the process is a great way to start.

3. Learn to keep things in moderation. When your goal is to lose weight, remember the old saying...
all things in moderation.

By following this mantra with eating and working out, you will lose weight at a reasonable pace and feel good while doing it!
4. Join a program. Weight loss groups are popular for more than just their diet plans.

They help people to form a community with other people who have the same goals.

 This extended support network is great for making weight loss more exciting - having someone with whom you can share your excitement.

 It is also a great way to talk through some of the issues that you might be experiencing with your weight loss program.

 Support is crucial when you are attempting to make major lifestyle changes.

5. Buy yourself a portable music player.
 Music is one of your biggest allies when trying to lose weight.

 Listening to music will make exercise time fly by and it can definitely improve your mood.

6. Get a buddy.
 Having a close friend or family member agree to lose weight with you is an excellent way to get the support you need.

 And it gives you someone that you can learn tips, swap recipes and try new exercises with.

 Losing weight with a friend is also good for people who need an understanding friend to talk things through with.

7. Choose your information sources wisely.
 If a friend or co-worker offers diet advice over a fast food burger and shake - you need to decide whether their advice is the right way to go.

 Instead find trusted sources of information such as your family doctor, a nutritionist, the trainer at your gym or even a reputable website.

 Finding someone who can answer questions when you have them can take a load off your mind and make you feel good that you're making informed decisions about your weight loss.

8. Dress for weight loss success:
  In order to start thinking thin, pay attention to what you are wearing.

 Overweight people tend to dress "bigger" than they actually are with baggy or oversized clothing.

 As you begin losing weight, consider some updates to your wardrobe that will accentuate your best features and help you to remember that losing weight will make you more attractive in your own eyes.

9. Remember, there are no guarantees with any weight loss plan.
 Keep in mind that there are no guarantees with any weight loss plan.

While some people may see temporary benefits from fad dieting or other quick fixes, overall the best way to approach weight loss is by modifying your lifestyle and adopting a healthy way of living.

10. Stay off the scale.
 For best results, do not weigh yourself more than once a week at the most.

 Since a healthy goal consists of a plan to lose no more than 1-2 pounds per week, you may not see significant results until several weeks have passed.

 Spare yourself the disappointment of seeing little change and plan to weigh yourself as infrequently as possible.

There you have it - 10 easy steps to get started on your way to better health and fitness.

 Here's to your success and your great new life!

http://www.realmanfitness.net
Do you feel like your days of being fit and sexy have passed you by?
 Do you think there's no hope for you to look great at the beach, or anywhere for that matter?
 Well, there is still hope.

 Check out this site and see what is possible for anyone who decides to simply put one foot in front of the other on their journey to health and fitness.

http://www.realmanfitness.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_M_Hail

Boot Camp For Weight Loss and Fitness

When some people hear the words boot camp, visions of weary people who are mercilessly obliged to sweat it out might come to their heads.

The reality of it is that not all of these places are like this, if there are any like the vision at all.

 Many of these physically fit oriented camps offer their clients sound and helpful regimens that do wonders to the health level of the individual.

The goal to lose weight is paramount but having fun doing so is also included in the program.

 The program usually last for about a month, in which time the participant should be fully committed and determined to help the trainers and herself.

 Some places provide the paraphernalia or materials to be used while others ask the participants to bring their own things as a health precaution.

 Not all the time in the facility will be focused on losing weight because many want their participants to actually enjoy themselves while they lose weight.

Trainers
A reputable boot camp that focuses on health and fitness usually has trainers who are well trained themselves.

 These trainers do not obliged people to lose weight but they are trained to motivate each individual and encourage them to seek a reasonable goal.

 The trained professionals know what goals to set for each individual because they are educated in this aspect and usually have refresher courses or seminars regularly to update their knowledge and techniques.

These people are there to help the participant and in no way will oblige any individual to do what is physically impossible for her.

 The trainers know the limit of each person and will try to reach it and go a little bit more every day.

Diet
One of the more important aspects of losing those pesky pounds is the proper nutrition.

 The right kind of diet aimed to coordinate with the fitness and exercise programs are usually integrated into the boot camp.

This very important factor in weight loss and health will be one of the keys to achieving the goal.

 Many of the establishment also included the diet program when the individual leaves the place to ensure that that she continues on the healthy course that has been started.

 Tips and advice which are vital to maintaining and achieving weight loss will be included in the many programs.

A boot camp can really help encourage people to lose weight and change their lifestyle.

 It could give them drive to continue what they have started to be healthy and physically fit.

A New Orleans boot camp can help you get into shape whether you want to or not, so visit the following for more information: http://www.nolabootcamp.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

Creative Weight Loss and Fitness Tips That Promote Long Term Success

Are you tired and frustrated of setting a personal goal to lose weight and sustain a healthy diet, only to fall short of achieving that goal?
 Have you ever lost some or all the desired pounds you were hoping for only to have regained a significant amount of weight?
 Whatever your health goals are, it's not too late to take charge of your health and improve your current lifestyle; However, I want to share with you some fitness tips that will promote a healthy lifestyle and not a quick and short-term solution.

Because of our busy lives and hectic schedules, it is difficult to adhere to an exercise routine or fitness program with any consistency.

 Moreover, we are fascinated with diet pills and rapid weight loss products.

 I have to admit I have tried several of these diet and weight loss programs as seen on television infomercials.

 I spent hundreds of dollars trying to find that "quick fix" or magic solution that would have allowed me to drop the desired pounds and have the perfect body.

 To my dismay, the dream never became a reality.I had no consistency with my weight loss and diet efforts.

 I didn't have the time or commitment to join a gym or health club.

 I'm sure there are many of you that have difficulty with exercising, dieting, or working out consistently.

With a slumping economy, most people can't afford gym memberships or buy expensive exercise equipment.

After I invested hundreds of dollars in weight loss and diet products that either didn't work or I lost the motivation to continue with the programs...
I decided to re-evaluate how I view weight loss and fitness.

 I wanted to start a realistic diet and fitness regiment that I could sustain long-term.

I wanted to merge a fitness program into my daily routine that I could consider a lifestyle change instead of a short-term fitness plan.

There are creative weight loss and fitness tips anyone can use to help with proper dieting and weight loss without going to the gym or buying expensive diet pills.

 These are practical and simple tips that will promote long-term success instead of a quick fix.

You don't have to go to a gym to have an effective workout.

 There are things you can do in your home to get a good workout such as cardio, abdominal, aerobics, strength and resistance training.

 These are just a few tips to encourage long-term weight loss and fitness:

• Doing various exercises such as push ups, sit ups and aerobics while a television commercial is on. 
•  
• If you're watching television, there is always time during commercials to be productive.


• When out shopping or doing other business, park further away from your desired place to do some extra walking.
•  
•  We all have to go to various places where parking in a parking are is required. 
•  
• Walking a greater distance than normal would benefit greatly, especially if this is done with consistency.


• Take the stairs instead of the elevator when in facilities that need one to go to another floor.
•  
•  I can confidently say this method helps to build endurance.
•  
•  I feel the burn when I have to go up three to five flights of stairs.


• There are several items in your household that can be used for weight and strength resistance.
•  
•  If you have weights or dumbbells to use that is fine.
•  
•  However, you don't have to buy weight or dumbbells to increase muscle mass and strength.
•  
• I use various types of heavy objects in the home to do repetitious exercises which benefits my biceps and triceps.


• Change your diet habits.
•  
•  You can consume affordable healthy foods that will aid in proper weight loss and fitness. You don't have to totally give up the foods you love...
• however, consumption of not so healthy foods need to be done in moderation. I enjoyed snacking on sweets and other junk food in the past.
•  
•  I decided to replace high sugar and high fat snacks with healthy snacks such as fruits and some low-calorie snacks.

I have shared some practical tips to promote long-term weight loss and fitness that can fit into anyone's lifestyle.

 "People often equate successfully managing your weight with losing a significant amount of weight, but past research has shown that even a modest weight loss of 2 pounds can have clinical benefits," said Paul Terry, president and CEO of StayWell Health Management.

 Things things can easily be incorporated into our daily routines.

Moreover, there are several other activities that one can do to promote a healthy lifestyle.

After trying many different weight loss and diet products, I decided to stop focusing on weight loss and dieting and began to focus on attaining a healthy lifestyle that is practical and realistic.

 If you want to review a credible fitness program that not only promotes long-term weight loss, but is structured to help maintain a healthy lifestyle change, please visit http://weightlossandfitnesstips.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tino_V_Hearn

Walking For Weight Loss And Fitness

It seems these days only a handful of individuals are getting a sufficient amount of good exercise.

 Seated all day long on a computer, or on some of the many activities that restrain individuals to a workplace do not provide their body a good deal of exercise.

 Quite challenging, but the best solution to this would be to consider some sort of extra activity to give your body the essential exercise it need.

Experts have learned that walking is among the most beneficial types of exercise and the most desired fitness activity by almost all men and women simply because besides being simple, zero cost, and open to everyone it provides lots of health benefits for the body without risking injuries or being stressed as well.

 A walking program is a great option to lose weight and boost your overall fitness level, but you need to put some effort in order to get it do the job.

Walking really is a safe and efficient way for you to strengthen your heart and lungs and also to improve your overall state of health.

 Even so, to get the best benefits you need to change your walking strategy or program as you become fitter.

 When you see that your walks are turning out to be less of a challenge or your weight loss is declining, then it is time to start adding some variation on your walking strategy or program.

Let me share some good ideas to add more power and interest to your fitness walking for weight loss.
First, undertake exactly what most advanced walkers do and get a couple of wrist or ankle weights to use in your walks.

 The additional weight and resistance causes your core muscle tissues to compensate by working harder, as a consequence it melts away more calories.

Second, to gain faster weight loss, you have to reprogram your walking method to incorporate additional uphill inclines.

You may also try to look for some outdoor steps for you to climb.

 From time to time, you may get out of the city streets behind and choose an energetic walk in a nearby park or perhaps a wooded area.

 Choosing more challenging terrain as well as uphill walking often make use of slightly unique muscles and get your heart beating faster.

 You will burn more calories, improve your metabolism, and begin to witness restored weight loss success.

Third, the ideal way to enhance your motivation and obtain more out on your walks is to join with a local walking team.

 By joining a team of like-minded walkers, you will notice it less complicated to push yourself harder and will also be more determined to achieve your fitness or weight loss goals.

 Besides you will feel better about your own fitness level once you encounter other individuals that have the same level as you.

To sum it up, to be able to experience weight loss gains, you will need a lot more effort than just a relaxing walk.

 Instead of just lollygagging, walk briskly and steadily so that your heartbeat keeps improved for half an hour or longer.

 You possibly can lose weight through walking provided that you commit with your plan and continue to keep challenging you to ultimately keep working harder.

Also, please have time to visit http://www.egreenteaweightloss.net to read some articles about green tea weight loss.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Erik_Miranda

Effective Diet Solution and Weight Loss Plan

Losing weight does not need to involve dramatic numbers and rapid losses.

 As long as you have a good diet solution program to follow you are already halfway to the finish line.

 In fact, it is more healthy to gradually shed your extra weight in a longer period of time.

 By making smaller changes to your lifestyle that help you gradually shed pounds, you can give yourself the best chance of keeping the weight off for good.

This article will share a few tips on diet recipes to help you do so.

If your favorite foods include high-fat, sugary snacks, you should try to eliminate these from your diet.

However, just because you are trying to lose weight, you do not have to deprive yourself of any foods that are enjoyable.

Occasionally rewarding yourself with a favorite meal or snack when you have achieved a particular goal can actually be an effective means of motivating yourself.

 When you have something to look forward to, it is easier to keep going.

Knowing how to properly read and understand the nutritional information on food labels makes it much easier to know exactly what you are putting into your body.

 Being able to interpret how many calories or how much fat is in a serving lets you do a better job of controlling your intake.

The more familiar you are with basic nutritional concepts, the more successful you will be at losing weight.

Too often, people's weight loss efforts are sabotaged because they only focus on what they eat and ignore the things they drink.

 Sugary drinks such as soda or juice can add a lot of unnecessary calories to your diet.

 Try to eliminate soft drinks from your diet, and drink only fresh juices on occasion.

 What you should be drinking throughout the day is plenty of fresh water.

Water helps cleanse your system, keeps you healthy and makes you feel fuller so you will not eat as much.

Writing down everything that you eat can be a very effective way of controlling your appetite.

 When you have to make a permanent record of every Twinkie, every slice of pizza and every hamburger that you eat, it will be a lot easier to resist temptation.

 Keeping track of what you eat also lets you figure out exactly how many calories you are taking in so that you will know how many you need to burn.

 The more data you have, the better.

Changing your diet is only half the equation, of course.

 You also need to increase the amount of physical activity in your daily routine.

 Reducing the number of calories you take in will not help you lose as much weight if you do not increase the number of calories that you burn.

 Try to find ways to incorporate more activity into your daily life, and look for forms of exercise that are enjoyable and easy to do.

If you really want to be able to maintain a healthy weight over the long term, you should focus on small steps that will encourage gradual, steady weight loss.

 Don't get caught up in claims that with the right product, you can lose dozens of pounds in a few weeks.

Try to use the preceding tips in your daily life, and you can put yourself on a sustainable path to healthy weight loss.

I hope you enjoyed this article.

 I am just an average guy who gaining weight and needed an effective solution.

 So now it is my goal to help others lose weight instead of lose money to these fad diets that do not work.

 A good place to start is a website I am putting together for all of us interested in losing weight and then keeping it off.

 You can visit this website at: http://healthydietinsider.com/.

If you would to read a similar article to this one then you can go to: http://healthydietinsider.com/are-you-stuck-in-a-diet-dilemma-sounds-like-you-need-a-diet-solution-396/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_A._Jones

Some Weight Loss Tips to Lose The Extra Pounds

Want to lose those extra pounds?
Well, you're not alone on your dilemma.

 According to the WHO website, obesity statistics worldwide have reached 1.4 billion in 2008 (adults), while around 40 million children aged no more than 5 years are found obese in 2010.

 Here are some healthy weight loss tips to shed those excess fats.

Watch what you eat.
This is probably the most common tip, but one that is constantly failed by many.

 If you want to lose weight, it's important to take control of your diet and nutrition.

 Knowing how much calories you consume per day can be a bit tiresome at first, but the knowledge can help you a lot in the process.

 Keeping a food diary is ideal to take note of your daily food consumption - you'll be surprised with how much and what types of food you consume per day!
Make lifestyle changes.
Are you a couch potato, or you're simply too "tired" to do some physical work to exercise regularly?
While weight loss diets may be effective for some time, you can't make the most of your weight loss plan if you keep on doing your unhealthy habits.

 Besides, diets are not the answer to your weight loss goal - they're very short-term to start with. Making changes on your lifestyle and daily habit is the key towards a healthier and more effective weight loss.

 Cut down on your fats, carbs, and calories (and make this your long-term goal from now on), and start incorporating workout programs (or alternative activities you can do) to continuously burn down fats or simply maintain your ideal weight.

Find or create your support group.
Sometimes, your own motivation and enthusiasm aren't enough to keep you going.

 Take a support buddy with you or join a group that also has the same goal as yours - to lose weight.

Continuously updating and motivating each other to reduce weight and maintain healthy lifestyles can really help you a lot on your objective.

You can even find some modern and highly effective tips shared by other people who face the same problem.

Should you go into weight loss supplements?
Weight loss supplements such as MuscleWerks D-Fine 8 are fine, to some extent.

 There are some reminders you have to keep in mind should you decide to take this route.

 First off, many of these products are effective, but that doesn't mean you need to depend entirely on their weight loss benefits.

If you continue on your unhealthy lifestyle and food consumption, the effects of these products are only temporary.

 Besides, they are just intended to supplement your nutrition plan, exercise program, and your lifestyle.

Before you buy any product, make sure to check their effectiveness and reported disadvantages.

 Only go for government-approved products sold at reputable shops online or locally.

 And of course, don't forget to consult with your GP to know if you are fit and safe to use such supplements.

Lose weight safely and feel good about yourself through the help of effective weight loss supplements like MuscleWerks D-Fine 8.

Check out NutritionWarehouse for more info about this product and related supplements online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liam_A_Wills

Healthy Weight Loss

In the short run coming up to the summer months it may be tempting to go on a crash-diet.

 However, research shows that quick-fix, low-calorie diets do not work in the long-term.

 Low-calorie diets can cause the metabolism to actually slow down which can cause you to pile on the pounds once you start eating properly again.

It is important to embark on a healthy weight loss diet so that you can lose and maintain your weight in the long-term.

 We need to have a healthy balanced diet to maintain muscle in order to lose fat.

The following are tips for a healthy weight loss diet:
1. Eat a balanced diet: you need protein to build and maintain muscle to lose weight, carbohydrates for energy, fruit and veg for vitamin intake, minerals, fibre and healthy fats.

2. Buy Whole foods rather than processed food: unprocessed foods are healthier, nutritious and cheap that processed foods.

They also allow you to have more control over what you put into your meals.

3. Eat plenty of protein: as mentioned proteins help the body to build and maintain muscle, which is needed to lose weight.

You should aim to eat 1g protein per pound of body-weight per day to achieve the optimum amount of muscle whilst working out.

4. Use supplements: If you feel you are still not getting enough nutrients with you healthy weight loss diet, then supplements are a great way to ensure you achieve this, try fish oil and multi-vitamins.

5. Keep away from sugar! Sugar is addictive and is the main ingredient in most junk foods.

The sugar raises the amount of dopamine (chemical) that drives the need for pleasure; foods, drugs, sex.

 As you eat more sugar you need more to obtain a level of dopamine satisfaction.

 Thus, sugar is addictive and can be damaging for your healthy weight loss diet.

 A tip to help withdrawal symptoms from dopamine is to exercise.

 Exercise also releases the chemical into the brain, so you will have more impulse control over food.

Losing weight is not easy; it can be long road to recovery for a lot of people who have emotional eating habits.

It takes will power and a determination to succeed, but the benefits of being healthier and slimmer far outweigh the weight loss journey.

The secret to maintain a healthy weight is to eat a healthy balanced diet.

 So ditch the yo-yo diet!
So start your healthy weight loss and be fit for summer!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_A_Maher

Choosing Your Weight Loss or Fitness Program - What Is Right For Me?

So far we have discussed three ways to set up your fitness journey to help you ensure a quicker and more effective weight loss.

We have set our goals, chosen our diet, and now to pick a great program to go along with it.

This program should take into account your physical limitations.

This could include a previous knee or back injury, heart issues, or your general fitness level.

Your time constraints should also be taken into account.

Since I am a working mother, I find it difficult to pick a program that lasts longer than an hour.

 However, the program should be intense enough to burn calories too.

 Some of the workouts I do last longer than an hour, but I leave those workouts for a day when my husband is home to watch my son for that period of time.

Be sure to ask your coach to assist you in choosing a program that fits your goals, diet and lifestyle.

 They are knowledgeable and should be willing and ready to help you out.

 Once your program is chosen order it and read the nutrition guide and workout details as soon as possible.

 Then pick a start date.

 Make sure you have gone shopping to get all your meals for the week!
Make sure you also get a multivitamin to take daily as well.

 Go to a health store or online and purchase any supplements you need to take.

 Personally, I take a multivitamin, omega 3, and calcium magnesium vitamin.

 I also take a pre-workout formula for endurance as well as a Results and Recovery drink for a post workout drink.

 This helps repair muscles after a workout as well as prevent sore muscles.

 Next it's time to start!
  This is the time to go over your goals and make sure you feel motivated enough to begin.

 If you think you need more motivation try joining a Challenge group.

They are a great way to keep you supported and motivated by people who have similar goals than you.

 I have found several life-long friends from my groups and there results are amazing!
Some lose weight quickly, while others may have taken a bit longer.

 Either way you have motivation from their results which makes you reaching yours not as impossible and you may get to your weight loss goal even quicker!!
Just remember to maintain your focus on attaining your goals and when you are lacking motivation go to your coach and team mates for support.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Valarie_L_Emich

Putting Fitness Resorts To Work For You

Are you serious about finally losing weight and finding ways to stay in shape?
Have you decided that you want to live a healthier lifestyle?
 If so, your doctor may have recommended that you think about going to a fitness resort.

 Or you may have heard your friends talking about the popularity of fitness resorts.

Either way, going to a resort is one of the most effective ways to lose weight and start living a healthier lifestyle.

They will help you become motivated to lose weight, and show you ways to keep the weight off long after you've left the fitness resort.

They tend to be more successful than gyms - because it can be hard to motivate yourself to keep going to the gym, and you may not know how to use the resources at your disposal to your best advantage.

They are certainly a better idea than trying a fad diet, though, because fad diets are impossible to stick to for the long term, and more often than not cause you to gain back the weight you lost as soon as you get off of them.

 They don't teach you how to eat healthy food you will enjoy that will help you lose weight in the long term.

This is why so many people decide that they need to go to a resort dedicated to ones fitness.

 They are tired of trying to lose weight on their own and failing at it.

 They know that when done right, a resort is the most likely solution to their weight issues.

That said, no matter how good a fitness resort is, it will only help you if you make it work for you.

 You have to find the right one and then take advantage of the services they have to offer.

So, how do you make a fitness resort work for you?
That's what we are going to explain right now.

First you need to find a place where you will feel comfortable.

 You don't want to be isolated in the countryside, where you will get bored and won't be mentally stimulated.

Just like a regular resort, one that is dedicated to fitness should make you feel relaxed and be located somewhere you'd like to be.

Then, you need to find a place that will make you feel like a guest and not just a customer.

 The staff at the fitness retreat should be there to help you and make you feel as comfortable as possible.

 They should be dedicated to not only helping you meet your goals, but also is creating a safe space for you to work on your body.

When there, you should take advantage of the psychologists they have on staff.

 A reputable resort will understand that you don't simply have to eat right and exercise to lose weight.

 You also need to address the emotional issues that have kept you back from meeting your weight loss goals.

Only when you understand your relationship with your body and how you view yourself will you be able to meet your long-term health and fitness goals.

You should also become part of the community at the resort.

 Weight loss is very difficult to achieve on your own.

You will need to break very ingrained bad habits and replace them with new, healthy habits.

 To do so, you'll need a support system in place.

 At a fitness resort, everyone is there for the same reasons that you are.

 You can interact, make new friends and help support each other - so that you all work together as a community to make the most of your time.

At the weight loss resort, you should ask for a personalized diet and exercise plan.

 Most resorts will offer this as a matter of course, but if they don't you should demand it.

 Everyone has their own unique needs when it comes to weight loss; what will work for one guest at a won't necessarily work for someone else.

 So, the weight loss resort should give you a program that is tailored to your needs.

This will help you make the most progress possible.

Understanding your BMI - body mass index - is very important when it comes to tracking your weight loss results and what reasonable goals you can set.

 At the fitness resort, you should make sure that they measure and track your BMI so you can get a sense of how much progress you are making.

Find a weight loss resort that will give you the chance to keep yourself occupied when you are not working out, so that you don't get tempted to go into town and drink alcohol and do other unhealthy things.

 The whole point of being at a fitness resort is to keep you away from toxic temptations.

 Full-service fitness resorts will have premium cable television, high-speed WiFi connections, a business center and recreational activities that won't leave you tempted to eat or drink things you shouldn't.

Take your weight loss and exercise plan seriously.

 Don't skip days from the routine the fitness resort has set up for you.

 If you do so, you will not be able to make the kind of progress you deserve, and it will be much harder for you to meet your goals.

Demand a certain level of luxury. You are going to be working hard to change your life for the better.

You shouldn't be doing so in some place that is going to make you feel depressed.

 Plus, you'll need some time on your own and you'll want that to be someplace nice.

 Good fitness resorts have private rooms with the same amenities you'd expect from a five star hotel.

When you have a meal you really like, get the recipe for it so you can make it for yourself when you get home.

 Knowing how to make tasty yet healthy meals for yourself is a great way to keep the weight off when you are home.

Don't be afraid to ask questions of the staff if you have any concerns.

 They are there to help you, and will be happy to answer all of your concerns.

Once you take these basic steps, you're putting the fitness resort to work for you and you can finally lose weight and get in shape.

Resorts like http://liveinfitness.com make sure all your needs are taken care of.

Eric Viskovicz is the founder and director of Live In Fitness Enterprises.

 His site, http://liveinfitness.com is where many people find his Marina Del Rey weight loss retreat.

When it comes to weight loss, Eric Viskovicz is both an innovator and a pioneer.

 Due to his own struggle with weight loss, and a comprehensive understanding of the way in which the struggle to lose weight can totally envelope a person, Eric was the first person to realize that in order to be successful at weight loss, it needs to be treated in the way in which it is experienced.

 What this means to Eric is that in order to win at weight loss, a person has to first completely understand himself.

This philosophy led Eric Viskovicz to produce the first ever approach to weight loss based on the person's personality.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Viskovicz

Physical Fitness and Childhood Obesity - Tips for Getting Kids More Active

Ever since having kids, my shopping habits have completely changed.

 After discovering kid's consignment stores, that is the only place I shop for kid's clothes and shoes.

 I am also obsessed with consignment stores in general, as I have an addiction to designer labels at thrift store prices.

 It works for our family, since we are on a pretty tight budget.

It has been at least three or four years since I have been in a real department store in the kids clothing section.

 So I was a little shocked (and a little sad) by what I saw last week when I was in JC Penny's girls department.

I read all the articles about childhood obesity, and I see it every day at school and at after school activities, but walking by a 'Plus Size for Girls' section of the department store put it all in perspective.

Clearly there is a market for clothes designed for overweight kids.

I understand that parenting is extremely tough, especially when it comes to food - my kids eat more than their fair share of crap.

 Here is what I don't understand.

 If a parent knows the pain, struggles, and frustration of being overweight, why would they ever allow their kids to endure the same agony?
We know that parents influence kids every day with words and actions, and when mom and dad regularly encourage kids to be active, they help kids to appreciate fitness and have fun along the way.

Teaching practical life skills is one of the many roles that parents have.

 Things like how to brush teeth, how to tell time, how to tie shoes, and to add one more to the list - how to be healthy and active.

It's never too late to start a healthy habit, especially with kids.

 Kids like to move, and though it is highly unlikely that a child goes from couch potato to Olympian, there are several ways parents can influence their children to exercise.

While verbal encouragement or logistical support, such as driving kids to soccer practice, is important, parents' attitudes about health and fitness and their own patterns of physical activity are equally as important, since kids often follow by example.

Being active together has shown to have a significant impact on how kids view exercise, but it often goes down as a child's age goes up.

 Younger children are more likely to want to spend time being active with their parents than teenagers, so there may be a window of opportunity to use it before losing it when it comes to co-activity.

And even though the sphere of influence on kids can be far and wide from friends to teachers to Sponge Bob, few are as direct and important as parents.

Children are well known for their contrary nature. Tell them to do something, and quite often they will do the opposite.

 So trying to force children to exercise may not be the best strategy.

Every parent has his or her way of approaching life lessons, but the idea with fitness is to get children to appreciate being active, and have a little fun along the way.

 "Because I said so" may work for putting the dishes away, but encouragement, celebrating small victories, and doing things together can be effective ways to motivate kids to get fit and stay active.

 And no child wants their brain to turn to mush because of too much television.

Whether is it sports, riding bikes, a martial arts class, or walking the dog every night, it is important to consistently present each opportunity in a positive way.

 It may take a bit of time and patience, but when children find the fun in being active, fitness can become a part of everyday life.

When kids are active at a young age, the habit can last throughout their lifetime, and influencing kids to be active at an early age is no different than teaching them the golden rule or respecting their elders.

So it's time to put fitness right up there with teaching children how to ride a bike and that there's no hiding a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

I am a stay-at-home mom and "gym rat" certified in Fitness Nutrition.

 Health and fitness takes work, dedication, perspective and good information.

I hope I can provide you with tips to work hard, inspiration to dedicate yourself to a fit lifestyle, a no nonsense perspective on fitness and weight loss, and reliable information so that you can become the best you.

As a mom, I always appreciate a great tip.

 Whether it is a shortcut on how to prepare a recipe faster, or a trick for putting on makeup, the right tip will make my day a little easier.

 Fitness and nutrition are no different.

Most people are short on time, so I want to give you tips and tools to get the most out of your fitness and nutrition in the best use of your time.

Healthier Choices, Happier You!
http://www.fitchicktricks.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristine_Lockwood

4 Most Popular Men's Fitness Supplements

The cornerstones, of any men's fitness workout regime are proper training and a nutritional diet.

 However, in addition to training and having a balanced nutritional diet, you also need dietary supplements, which help give your body extra resources that most everyday foods do not provide.

Men's supplements come in many different shapes and form such as pills, powders and shakes; designed specifically to perform certain functions.

 Some supplements can help build muscle, while others help you burn fat or reduce weight and others give you extra energy during workouts.

Supplements also prevent nutritional deficiencies that can occur when working-out regularly.

 When you work out there is an increased demand from your body for vitamins and minerals, which increases the probability of suffering a deficiency, and even a small nutrient deficiency can damage muscle growth.

Some of the most popular men's supplements are...
Protein supplements -
Weight gain supplements -
Creatine -
Branched chained Amino Acids -
Let us take a closer look!
Protein supplements:
 Protein supplements work by providing your body with the necessary building blocks to create amino acids, which are used to build and repair muscle tissue, and when you work out regularly, you need more protein than the average Joe, requires.

There is no set measure for additional protein that you should consume, it is dependent on factors such as how regularly you work out, and the amount of protein you naturally ingest, as part of your everyday diet.

However, as an estimate, a 180-pound person who works out regularly needs about 80 grams of protein a day.

Proteins of course do occur naturally in foods like eggs and soy, but you need to ingest very large amounts (Think Rocky, and glasses full of raw eggs for breakfast.

 It's not everyone's cup of tea. ), and the quality will not be as good as if you were using a men's supplement such as Whey powder.

Weight gain supplements:
 Well as you can probably tell from the name, men's weight gain supplements help you gain weight.

 Not so that you can get fat but to allow you to bulk up and build muscle.

 You cannot build muscle without having some flesh on the bone.

Weight gainers contain larger amounts of carbohydrates and fats than other protein supplements and they can even be replacements for meals.

Weight gaining supplements ensure that you consume more calories in your diet than you expend in energy. This is vital if you want to build muscle.

Creatine: Creatine is an acid that gives your muscle cells an extra burst of energy like a turbo boost.

 This enables you to pump your muscles during a workout, allowing you to lift heavier weights due the higher muscular energy output.

Creatine helps reduce muscular fatigue and helps increase your muscle volume by absorbing water and pulling it into muscle cells, which in turn creates a swelling effect.

Branch Chained Amino Acids: Branch Chained Amino acids are really important in the healing and repair muscles, tissues and bones but like other essential amino acids they are not produced naturally by the body.

Branch-Chained-Amino-Acids contain three vital components leucine, Isoleucine and Valine, which work together to enhance your endurance so that your body can cope with the extra tension and strain of regular exercise and workouts.

However, these amino acids do more than just help with muscle repair they also help build muscle when you are resting.

 Therefore, if you have sufficient amounts in your body, even your downtime will be going to good use.

Reap the benefits!
Supplements alone will not provide you with any real benefit, if not used in conjunction with proper training, and the right diet.

 There are literally thousands of men's supplements on the market so you need to ensure that what you consume is tailored to your specific growth and building plan.

Using different men's supplements help enhance and speed up the process of building muscle, so you can reach your end goal that little faster.

 Supplements are designed for your benefit and using them correctly will provide you with fantastic results.

 However, as with anything, if abused or not taking correctly they can do more harm than good.

John Powers is a Men's Fitness Expert who has helped 1,000's of men reach their fitness goals.

Whether it be Men's Fitness Routines, Nutrution, or Supplements John can provide you with the expert guidance you desire to reach your Ideal Fitness goals.

 For more personnel guidance and information please visit http://www.mensfitnessroutines.com to Get the Ideal Fitness System eCourse for FREE!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_F_Powers

Golf Fitness Articles: Preventing The Lower Back Pain

Most golfers will experience some form of lower back pain over the course of time.

 The nature of the golf swing is inherently unhealthy for the human spine.

 Forward flexion (bending forward) combined with rotation (twisting) creates torsional stresses throughout the spine including the discs, the joints between each vertebra, the ligaments connecting the vertebra to each other and the surrounding musculature.

 Through proper awareness (given by golf fitness articles and other reliable sources), coordination, warm-up and training, however, a number of factors can be influenced to give the best chance of keeping your lower back pain-free.

To keep the back as safe as possible, a couple of things have to come together.

 One, you need to be able to find "neutral spine".

 Assume a standard "5-iron posture".

 Arch your lower back, then flatten your lower back (I tell patients/clients to "tuck their tail" if they had one aka "pelvic tilt") and then migrate back to a point about half way in between those two extremes.

 A recipe for lower back issues and an inefficient swing is to set up in one of two faulty address postures.

 The "S" posture has too much "sway" or arch in the lower back and the "C" posture has too much "slump" throughout the spine.

When the spine is in neutral those anatomical structures mentioned above have the least amount of baseline tension on them.

 The other thing neutral spine does is create a more efficient platform to transfer power from the muscles of the lower body through the core, into the midback/thorax and finally into the club via the arms.

 So, it is crucial to find that position which is going to give you the most power and the least probability of injuring your precious low back.

 To find neutral, it takes some coordination and awareness of how to move your pelvis back and forth.

 To maintain that neutral posture through the majority of the golf swing takes "core" strength as well as hip, hamstring, and calf flexibility.

Proper pre-round warm-up is essential to slowly getting your back loosened and ready.

 Just like a cold rubber band needs a little heat prior to being able to fully stretch, so do the muscles of the lower back.

Movement based dynamic warm-up exercises versus prolonged static stretching are important to prepare the back for the rigors of 4 or more hours on the golf course.

 Dynamic stretching where you hold stretches about the time it takes to exhale and repeating those 5 to 10 times is a good start.

The core is made up of the abdominals, the glutes, and the lower back muscles.

 These muscles absolutely need to be in good condition to minimize lower back injury.

 Rather than just doing crunches and oblique crunches for the abdominals, I like to find a resistance (resistive bands, cables, medicine ball, etc) to move against with the upper body while the lower body stays stationary - preferably while in your golf stance.

 The glutes strengthen well with exercises such as squats, lunges, deadlifts and bridges.

 I use a physioball as well as the previously mentioned glute exercises to strengthen the lower back muscles. A good strength training program would incorporate these types of exercises 2-3 times per week.

Flexibility is key in the joints above and below the lower back.

 So, the mid-back and the hips (both mainly into rotation) as well as the hamstrings, hip flexors and calves are crucial to create a healthy environment for the lower back to exist. General and more golf-specific stretching programs (like those offered at Bend, Oregon) and tips found on reliable golf fitness articles should be performed daily to combat the stiffness our tissues suffer from each passing day.

 To help avoid seeing me in the clinic for low back rehabilitation, strike a balance between strengthening, stretching, and going through an adequate pre-round warm-up routine.

 Your back and your pocketbook will thank you.

Are you looking for the best golf fitness program at Bend, Oregon?
Then log on to our site at http://physicaltherapybendor.org and get the best therapy for you to be at your best in the game!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_P._Cooper

Yoga Beyond Physical Fitness

A lot of people know Yoga as a fitness routine, but for those who are truly interested in learning and practicing Yoga, it is beneficial to take time and really understand to the answer the pressing question on what yoga truly means.

Understanding The Purpose
Yoga, in Sanskrit means union.

 This refers to the union of the mind, spirit and body.

There is a common misconception that Yoga is merely just one of those exercise methods designed to increase the body's flexibility.

 While Yoga does involve physical practice, its benefits are certainly not limited to the physiological aspects.

Yoga dates more than 5000 years ago.

 This is an ancient Indian practice designed to promote the union of one's universal consciousness and an individual's own consciousness.

The ancient Yogis believed that in order to attain harmony within oneself and the environment, an individual should learn how to integrate or unit the mind, body and spirit.

The Yogis created Yoga as a way to attain as well as maintain the balance through breathing, exercise and meditation.

Beyond Physical Exercise
Due to the increasing awareness and growing importance of physical exercise, a lot of people today practice Yoga for its physiological benefits, primarily to maintain fitness and a way to lose weight.

 This is of course generally acceptable, but for anyone who plans to practice Yoga, understanding what is Yoga beyond a mere form of exercise is important to gain better appreciation.

It is important not to overlook the connection between the mind, body, spirit and emotion, as all of these are intricately interlinked.

This is because the development and improvement of one area will also generate an improvement of other aspects.

As we delve deeper into the question on what yoga is, it is best to look into the different aspects of the limbs of Yoga.

A Preparatory Activity For Meditation
When the ancient Yogis developed the Asanas or the Yoga poses, the original intention was to develop postures in order to properly condition and prepare the body for extended periods of meditation.

The preparation and conditioning of the body is not merely limited to stretching the muscles, as it also works to purify and cleanse the body from toxins as well as develop stamina and strength over time.

The Yoga meditation is a both a science and an art that involves the systematic observation, acceptance as well as understanding and training of every level of one's being.

 This is with the goal to coördinate and integrate the different aspects of the self as well as dwell into the center of the consciousness.

The Six Branches of Yoga
Hatha (Yoga Postures)
This is the branch of Yoga that involves the physical poses, breathing techniques as well as meditation - all working to help one achieve improved health and spiritually.

 There are a number of different styles designed along this path, which include:
Astanga, Jiva Mukti, Integral and Iyengar, to name a few.

Bhakti (Yoga of Devotion)
This is the popularly pursued path of Yoga in India, which pertains to the heart and devotion.

 It promotes one's acceptance and love for all things.

Raja (Yoga of Self-Control)
This path of Yoga focuses on the development of respect for all creations and for oneself as a way of developing the self and learning discipline.

Jnana (Yoga of the Mind)
This is the path of Yoga that deals with the mind and focuses on the individual's intelligence.

This path of Yoga regards the intellect and wisdom as important and aims to integrate the two in order to surpass limitations.

Karma (Yoga of Service)
This refers to the path of service which believes that the present situation of a person is based on a product of past actions.

 This Yoga promotes selfless service performed in the present in order to free the self from selfishness and negativity.

Tantra (Yoga of Rituals)
Among the different paths of Yoga, this is by far the most misunderstood.

It uses different rituals in order to experience the sacred.

 While the sexual act is part of this, it is not the entirety of it.

 Tantra Yogis are required to possess different qualities such as devotion, humility, purity, cosmic love and dedication to his Guru.

As you can see, Yoga is more than just a way of keeping fit. While this is partly true, Yoga definitely goes beyond a mere form of exercise method.

To learn more about Yoga, Yoga Workshops and Yoga Workshops in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, please visit http://www.serenityyogaretreats.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mahin_Raj

6 Ways to Benefit From a Fitness Coach

With about 2/3 of the population being obese, more people are looking to personal trainers for weight loss programming.

 Personal trainers are skilled at instructing their clients about exercise programs, but what about facilitating change in their long-term health behaviors?
 Not addressing these behaviors can mean little to no progress and an increase in drop-out rates.

 When it comes to weight management, it's important to focus on the client as a whole person.

 That means focusing not only on the body, but also emotions, attitudes, habits, and thinking patterns.

This calls for a total body transformation and the services of a fitness coach.

What is a fitness coach and how does a coach differ from a personal trainer?
 Both of these roles are quite different, but often experience some overlap.

 However, both titles have a primary focus, and therefore, have very useful places in any lifestyle and weight management program.

 So what's the difference between the two?
 A personal trainer focuses more on exercise prescription and maybe some nutrition coaching, while a fitness coach focuses more on the underlying issues that block you from fitness success.

 A fitness coach more or less serves as the link between a personal trainer and a nutritionist or nutrition coach.

When it comes to fitness coaching, it's mostly about behavior change and increasing program adherence.

Fitness coaching is an emerging field in the health and fitness industry.

 It has become clear that it takes more than a well-developed fitness and nutrition program to effectively manage your weight.

 People make decisions on how they think and feel. If your mind and actions are not in-line with a healthier lifestyle, it becomes that much harder to reach your weight loss goals.

 Have you ever wondered why you tend to binge eat at certain times of the day?
 Why you skip exercise sessions?
 How do you cope with stressful situations?
 How do you schedule exercise sessions around taking care of your children?
 All of these scenarios, when not handled properly, can block your efforts at losing or maintaining a healthy weight or desired physical appearance.

Many times, we as personal trainers assume that because a client is engaging in consistent exercise per week means that they are also practicing good eating habits.

 Or, we may think that they have made a permanent lifestyle change.

 But, motivation can drop, patience can dwindle, and schedules change.

 Individuals are constantly moving back and forth between stages of change; one day a healthier lifestyle is important and on the back burner the next.

 It is up to a fitness coach to make sure that the client strives to move forward and bounce back quickly from setbacks.

 Fitness coaches may also focus on negative thought patterns and encourage positive affirmations to foster success.

So can you benefit from fitness coaching?
 Ask yourself the following questions.

• Do you have problems sticking with fitness and nutrition programs?
•  If you do, it indicates a problem with adherence and motivation.
•  
•  Have your programs in the past been too challenging or too easy?
•  Did you feel progress wasn't happening soon enough?
•  Information gathering about past experiences can go a long way in creating a program that you are comfortable with and see results.


• Do you lack self-efficacy?
•  Self-efficacy is defined as the belief in yourself to carry out a task or skill. Maybe you feel that you will drop out of a fitness class because you have too much going on; something always pops up. 
•  
• Or, you don't feel comfortable doing bodyweight exercises in the middle of a crowded gym because you feel awkward, un-coordinated, and clumsy.
•  
•  Fitness coaching can help you to develop strategies to get around these concerns so that you can work toward your fitness goals.


• Do you have problems controlling your appetite?
•  Coaching can offer strategies about how to combat this obstacle as well as dig up the underlying issues behind overindulging and decrease the occurrence of food cravings.


• Do you have a plan or purpose for your exercise or nutrition program?
•  What are your goals and why do you want to achieve them? 
• What's the real drive behind those goals and how will you feel when you accomplish them?
•  Without effective goal setting, you don't have a plan for yourself.
•  
•  If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. A fitness coach can help you in developing attainable, but challenging goals.


• Is life getting in the way?
•  Children have games and other activities to attend; hours on the job may change; or you may become ill suddenly.
•  
•  Sometimes you can't control what happens, but when it does, you have to re-consider your schedule. 
•  
• You may have to take prolonged breaks from the gym. 
•  
• However, having a coping strategy to deal with these types of situations can keep you on track and increase your self-efficacy levels.
•  
•  A fitness coach can help you to develop strategies to deal with life's obstacles.


• Do you need accountability?
•  Do you need someone to motivate you or check on you weekly to see how you are benefiting from your exercise and nutrition program?
•  Fitness coaches can provide weekly or monthly check-ups as well as help you track your progress. 
•  
• Wouldn't be nice to have someone monitoring your activities and coaching you along the way so that you don't fail?

Those are only some of the benefits a fitness coach can provide.

 A coach serves as a valuable link between a personal trainer and a nutritionist.

 Without dealing with the underlying behaviors and habits that keep you unhealthy and inconsistent, weight management becomes harder to achieve.

 Developing problem-solving strategies to deal with life's roadblocks, bad habits, and negative thoughts can go a long way to helping you to meet your weight loss or fitness goals.

 Find fitness success by investing in a fitness coach today!

Pamela Brown
http://peak2successfitness.com
Exercise Physiologist
Pamela Brown, owner of Peak 2 Success Fitness, specializes in developing and implementing post-natal and exercise rehabilitation programs that can be done at home as well as providing the coaching needed for additional support.

 She works in both one-on-one and group settings educating and training people who want the lean, sculpted body that they desire, as well as those who are recovering from orthopedic injuries or surgeries after release from medical care.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pamela_L_Brown