Cycling For Weight Loss

by Weight Loss - March 29, 2012

Cycling For Weight Loss

Cycling for weight loss is a great idea. Whether you choose to use a stationary bike, pull your bike out of the garage, go to a spin class or all of the above.. cycling can be a great way to lose weight. You’ll burn calories and shed inches while toning your lower body and even improving your posture.

Cycling for weight loss is smart. This fun and enjoyable exercise will tone your body and can burn about 400 calories per hour on average when riding at a moderate speed. Every 3500 calories burnt is about a pound lost so if you ride a little bit more than an hour a day, you can lose about a pound a week. And you can switch things up so that you won’t easily get bored with it.

Exercise Bike Riding

An exercise bike is a relatively inexpensive piece of exercise equipment. You can spend a lot of money on them, yes, but you can also buy a used model to have at home as well.

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Most models have

varying degrees of tension and often have a panel to tell you about calories burned and distance traveled.

Cycling can be done in the gym, as well, and is often a great way to warm up before strength training. Starting a workout with 20 minutes on a stationary bike could be a good way to start each workout.

To avoid the potential boredom of stationary cycling for weight loss, listen to music, vary your routine, and consider watching television while riding (it can make time fly!).

Spin Classes

Spin classes are a popular way of cycling for weight loss benefits. They are a class that involves indoor interval cycling in a classroom format. Spin class bikes attempt to replicate outdoor cycling conditions with modified spin bikes.

Outdoor Bike Riding

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Riding a bike outdoors is a great exercise to lose weight and have fun at the same time.

Cycling is a great exercise for the entire family so why not get a bicycle and helmets for everyone and spend time out together riding some great bike paths.

You’ll all burn calories and enjoy the great outdoors together.

Cycling for weight loss is something you can do on a regular basis. The first few trips might result in soreness in your legs but it will get easier and you’ll benefit substantially.

Cycling for weight loss is a fun & enjoyable exercise. Try it now!

Raw Food Diet and Weight Loss

by Weight Loss - February 20, 2012

Raw Food Diet and Weight Loss

Can a raw food diet help you with weight loss? Definitely! Raw food diets do cause weight loss and people who are on them can eat a vast amount of food. While you might be depriving your body of cooked food, you are not going to be depriving your body of food volume.

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There are some great benefits of a raw food diet. Weight loss is just one of them. Other benefits could include elimination of many health issues, reduction in chronic pain, an increase in memory, clarity, and feeling of overall well being, improved sleep, healthier complexion, reduction in bad breath, improved digestive function, reduction in recurring yeast infections, getting your body to a healthier and more alkaline (instead of acidic) state, and the list goes on. Without fighting toxins on a constant basis, this could have great results for your body’s organs.

As you shed weight and increase the feelings of wellness, you’ll be doing great things from a digestive and a detoxification standpoint. A great side effect of detoxification, after you’ve gotten over the hump of withdrawals of junk food, is the fact that you’ll stop craving that junk. Junk food cravings and ingestion accounts for a vast amount of weight gain. Eating the wrong foods leads to craving the wrong foods. Detoxification through a raw food diet could break that vicious cycle.

Raw food diets can help you break the cycle of emotional eating and feed your body instead of feelings and find other ways to satiate stress (such as with exercise, which will also contribute to your achieving your goals for weight, wellness, and fitness).

Caution – Get Enough Calories on a Raw Food Weight Loss Diet

When using a raw food diet for weight loss, it’s important that you get enough calories for your body to survive. A good way to do this is to track those calories. Once you start to get an idea of the caloric value of various foods, it will be easier to do. A good combination of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes is important.

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Here are some other things you’ll want to eat on a raw food diet weight loss regimen:

Green drinks and / or smoothies. These can be chock full of nutrients. Many are designed to supplement a raw food diet.
Nuts, avocados, and other raw MUFA (mono unsaturated fats) foods. These are especially helpful in targeting abdominal fat.
Greens. Man cannot live on iceberg lettuce alone. Experiment with green combinations
Fruit. Fruit will satisfy cravings and help you get full. Experiment with new fruits and exotic ones, too.
Veggies and other plant based foods like edible flowers and edible mushrooms.
In most diets you’ll be reminded to drink water. But the great thing about raw foods is that many have a high water content than cooked foods. Drink to quench your thirst but don’t stress, because if you’re eating a lot of fruits and vegetables and you’re eliminating well (with plenty of clear urine), you’re getting hydration.
Fish. Sushi enthusiasts often don’t mind the transition to raw food. You do need to be careful about mercury levels and safe food handling, though.

If trying a raw food diet for weight loss, do a lot of reading and researching so that you can get the best results possible. If you’re looking for some raw food recipes, check out our article: Raw Food Diet Recipes!

Healthy Recipes for Weight Loss

by Weight Loss - February 1, 2012

Healthy Recipes for Weight Loss are easy to find

Weight loss is, by and large, about math. But if you can’t exactly follow a cookie cutter approach because your life varies on a day to day basis. When it comes to food, you need to be sure you’ve got a variety of healthy recipes for weight loss so you don’t become bored and increase chances of falling off the dieting band wagon.

Finding healthy recipes for weight loss requires a bit of effort and planning. Here are some practical tips for finding healthy weight loss recipes and for keeping your menu as interesting and as fulfilling as possible:

Finding Healthy Recipes for Weight Loss

See a nutritionist.. A nutritionist or weight loss clinic will provide you with plenty of meal suggestions and some will give you specific recipes.

Buy cookbooks that focus on weight loss.. There are great options for books that will help you. You can find books locally and find cooking e-books online.

Use the internet.. This is typically the most available and easiest-to-use option. When you look online for recipes, you’ll find a number of options. You’ll find sites dedicated to decadence and indulgence, yes, but you’ll also find many sources of low cal, low fat, high protein, high satiety, high flavour foods. Consider joining mailing lists for sites that offer healthy recipes for weight loss. You might even find mobile phone apps that you can use for recipes and ingredients lists while shopping in the grocery store.

Weight Loss Doesn’t Happen Overnight

Patience and perseverance are two of the key ingredients for success with weight loss. As you find recipes to try and keep the variety level high you’ll find that it’s easier to think of your diet as a new lifestyle rather than being something that denies you pleasure in life. Experiment with new ingredients and cooking techniques and try shopping for seasonal and local items as well to save costs and get flavorful choices.

Here are some additional tips for your search for healthy recipes for weight loss:

Try take-out recipes. If you feel like fried chicken, for instance, look for a lower calorie option that uses breading but that bakes the chicken. You can find recipes for take-out style meals that you can cook at home, too. Check out our low calorie chicken recipes.

Aim to fill half your plate with vegetables but look for great veggie recipes so that it doesn’t feel boring. You can’t eat steamed veggies every day of the week without feeling like it’s deprivation.

Trade healthy weight loss recipes with a friend. If you diet with a buddy, there is a greater chance of reaching your goals.

Related Posts: Low Fat Soup Recipes, Eating Healthy To Lose Weight, Healthy Lunch Ideas for Weight Loss, Low Calorie Desserts For Weight Loss, Quick and Healthy Recipes for Dinner, 3 Low Fat Soup Recipes That Taste Great

Gym Workout Routines For Women

by Weight Loss - January 27, 2012

Gym Workout Routines For Women

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Weight loss is often the chosen goal in regards to gym workout routines for women. However, did you know that many women gravitate to cardio options such as the treadmill, elliptical machine or various exercise classes, not realizing that weight training is an excellent addition to losing weight?

Adding resistance to your fitness plan not only helps burn fat just like cardio, it also strengthens your bones as well as tone muscles. There is a reason why gyms offer a number of resistance machines and free weights to its members for use.

Cardio is a Good Warm-up and Exercise Routine

It is never a good idea to jump into your fitness routine without warming up your body. Cardio exercises are an excellent way to wake up the muscles without risking injury. Swimming, biking on the stationary bicycles and walking or jogging on the treadmill are great cardio options as are aerobic classes, a session on the elliptical or even boxing classes.

Cardio exercises should also be incorporated into gym workout routines for women as they offer great fat burning properties. A 30 to 45 minute session at the target heart rate for your body will jump start your body’s metabolism and burn fat optimally.

Take Advantage of the Resistance Machines

While cardio will kickstart fat burning, weight training for women is essential to tone muscles and strengthen bones. There are machines that will work large muscle groups just as there are machines that isolate single muscles. Some machines use a cable pulley system that uses your own body weight for resistance while others require that you adjust weights for resistance.

Building a fitness plan is essential for realizing successful results. While you can create your own plan with some research, a personal trainer can help devise a workout routine too. The best gym exercise plan will require that you have at least two or three cardio days to rev up your metabolism to burn fat as well as alternating days for weight training, working on specific large muscle groups, although not on consecutive days.

For instance, one day you might warm up with cardio and then work out your upper body and abdominals. The next day would be strictly cardio with the following day starting with a cardio warm-up again along with a lower body workout along with abdominals.

Before investing in a gym membership, think hard about your ultimate fitness goals. What you are trying to achieve will help you form the best gym workout routines for women. And one final thought – cardio and weight training alone will not help you achieve your fitness goals. You must also eat a balanced, healthy diet plan too. Exercise is not a free pass to eat what you want.

Eating Healthy To Lose Weight

by Weight Loss - January 5, 2012

Eating Healthy To Lose Weight

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To begin with, eating healthier will help you lose weight. Therefore, the vast majority of people who eat healthy have healthy body mass indexes. Portion control and exercise blended with healthy eating is a very good approach to weight loss.

Here are 7 tips for eating healthy to lose weight..

1. Count The Calories

Count calories, you’ll have a better chance of weight loss. Be accountable for what you eat, you will stop and think about eating healthy.

2. Quality Instead Of Quantity

Make your calories actually count. A good way to do this is to track nutrition as well as caloric intake. Being nourished will reduce cravings and eating healthy to lose weight will often take time and effort at first but soon you’ll probably start craving the quality and realise just how much better eating healthy feels.

3. Cut The Condiments

A lot of healthy foods are less healthy by the time you’ve prepared them because they’ve been slathered in high calorie and low quality condiments. Use condiments sparingly. You don’t have to eat bland but find lower calorie and healthier ways to make sauces and dips.

4. Swap The Snacks

Crave crunch at night? Try raw veggies instead of potato chips. Reach for low fat frozen yogurt instead of ice cream. Grab a bowl of frozen grapes instead of chocolate chip cookies.

5. Try Healthy New Recipes

One of the challenges of eating healthy to lose weight is thinking up healthy foods. We often default to our old favourites because we don’t feel creative. Find some websites with healthy recipes. You can even join mailing lists and have them mailed to you. Try a healthy new recipe each week and it could be easier to eat healthy than you thought.

6. Be Prepared

Cook extra so you can reheat leftovers. Go to the grocery store with a well thought out list in hand. These things will contribute to being better able to avoid temptation. Don’t bring junk food into your pantry and it won’t be there to woo you away from healthy eating.

7. Brown Bag It

Bring healthy snacks with you. This is part of being prepared. A stash of low fat snacks at work, a snack or two stashed in the bag, and highly portable fresh fruit can all help you give the 3:pm chocolate bar a miss and / or avoid the box of donuts in the break room.

Yes, eating healthy to lose weight takes effort but the results can be overwhelmingly positive.

Herbs For Weight Loss – Boost Metabolism

by Weight Loss - December 21, 2011

Herbs For Weight Loss

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Before considering herbs for weight loss be extremely careful and read all about them..

Bad reactions and even fatalities have occurred when people used herbs for weight loss. This information however, has not been evaluated by a medical professional.

Ephedra, for example, was touted as a weight loss drug. Also known as Ma Huang, it is natural and sourced from nature.

It has been used for generations for multiple health purposes.

In 2004, the FDA banned selling it in supplements due to numerous Ephedra deaths. Especially by those trying to use it for weight loss.

Caution is vital, do research on all herbs for weight loss you are considering.

Herbs That Could Help To Boost Your Metabolism

Cayenne – This burns fat and boosts your metabolism.

Ginseng – Ginseng is often touted for its many anti aging and anti cancer benefits. Great for increasing energy (excellent for endurance) and metabolism.

White, Wulong / Oolong, and Green Teas – Teas are great for digestion, fat burning, and metabolism and have a number of other health benefits as well.

Aloe Vera – Aloe Vera is recognized as a weight loss herb. Aloe is great for the skin and building up weight loss vitamins in your body. It helps proteins and amino acids, with digestion, boosting your immune system, and regulates appetite.

Seaweed – Seaweed blocks fat. Research into this area is increasing all the time.

The great thing about many of the herbs mentioned here is that they’re not just good herbs for weight loss but many have other health and nutrition benefits as well. There isn’t a magic weight loss pill (not one that’s safe, anyway) but adding herbs to your efforts when trying to lose weight will definitely help.

Again, do your due diligence in researching herbs for weight loss before taking them.

Remember: Use caution when embarking on any new diet or health regimen.

Does Walking Help You Lose Weight?

by Weight Loss - December 9, 2011

Does Walking Help You Lose Weight?

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There is one fitness question that is often asked: does walking help you lose weight? The answer is an unequivocal yes! However, you cannot simply take a leisurely stroll and expect to lose weight. You have to go the distance and incorporate other elements to make walking work for you in the weight loss department.

The good news is that walking is cheap! All you need is a good pair of socks and comfortable, supportive walking shoes.

The 10,000 Step Rule Of Thumb

Does Walking Help You Lose Weight You have probably heard that if you can incorporate 10,000 steps into your day, you will be able to lose weight. It seems like an awful lot, but really, it translates into about four to five miles or at least one hour of power walking. You can do this all at once or break it up throughout your day.

Walk before breakfast and dinner; walk during your lunch hour at work. Bypass your car and walk on foot to do your errands. Park at the far end of the parking lot of a store or take the stairs instead of the elevator. There are a myriad of ways to answer that question “does walking help you lose weight?”

Add Intensity To Your Walk

Walking on the treadmill or even around your block will help, but adding intensity will really boost your fat burning powers. Start with a slightly faster than average stroll for approximately five minutes and then add a two minute burst of power walking as fast as you can. Decrease your speed to a brisk walk until you recover your breath, typically about five minutes. Next, add another intense burst of speed of up to a minute, decrease your speed for another few minutes and then add on the power walking speed again. Doing this at odd intervals during your walk will boost your metabolism and increase fat burning.

Another answer to the “does walking help you lose weight” question is incorporating some elements such as hills or stairs during your walk. Inclines boost your heart rate which, in turn, keeps your internal engine revved up to burn more calories. Ankle weights, a weighted belt or even carrying a weighted backpack are additional ways to add intensity.

If you are walking in your neighbourhood around the blocks, make your walking routine into a game. From one corner to another, do a high step march or even lunges. Skipping, taking exaggerated big steps or even walking backward (keep an eye out for hazards in your path) can increase walking intensity too.

Benefits Of Walking

In just one hour of brisk walking, you can burn up to 500 calories, depending on your body weight. Walking every day of the week like this can help you lose almost half a kilogram of fat – and this is with your normal diet! Just imagine what you could lose if you revamped your diet, bypassing trans fats, sodas, candy and fried foods. Does walking help you lose weight? Absolutely! And if you develop a plan for your walking endeavors, you will experience great success in the weight loss department.

Follow these suggestions and the answer to Does Walking Help You Lose Weight will be: Of Course it Does!

Low Fat Diet Plan – Pros and Cons

by Weight Loss - December 1, 2011

Low Fat Diet Plan – Pros and Cons

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You’ll find low fat diet plan options out there that help you lower your fat intake through low fat and fat free foods. But is a low fat diet plan your best option for weight loss? Read on for some pros and cons of a low fat diet plan.

Low Fat Diet Plan Pros

Low fat diet plan foods tend to have lower calories than fat laden foods. If you’re counting calories to lose weight, you’ll find that low fat foods allow you to have more of a particular food, increasing your satiety level and helping you get to the next meal.

Beyond lower calorie counts, less fat is better for your body. This is better for your heart.

Low Fat Diet Plan Cons

The biggest con of a low fat diet plan is the belief that if you don’t eat fat, you won’t gain weight. If you eat a lot of sugar, for instance, and you don’t burn it off through exercise, it will cause weight gain. Many junk foods are a bit deceiving to dieters who read labels and see a zero fat content.

Some fat is needed by the body. Cutting out fat entirely probably isn’t good for your health overall. So what’s the answer? Here are some tips:

Opt for good fats wherever possible. Fish, olive oil, avocados.. these contain good fat.

Count calories but make calories count. Look at nutritive value more than numbers.

Calculate your percentage of each area. What percentage of your low fat diet plan includes carbohydrates, protein, and fat? Chances are that you’re eating too much fat, too many carbs, and not enough protein. Try tipping the scales in a better direction.

Conclusions

Some people opt for low fat diet plans that are portion controlled. Some food plans provide you with prepared meals, which can make it easier for you to lose weight because you don’t have to think about what to eat. There are pros and cons with this way of dieting. Yes, it can work but it’s important to learn how to identify low fat diet plan and high yield nutritional foods on your own so that when the diet plan is over, you’ll be able to make healthy choices without having to rely on packaged foods.

However you choose to approach your diet, whether choosing a low fat diet plan or choosing a low carb plan, or something else altogether, learning as much about nutrition as possible will serve you well in your diet efforts and in terms of your overall health and wellness.. and longevity, too!

10 Healthy Snack Ideas for Nighttime Snacking

by Weight Loss - November 25, 2011

Healthy Snack Ideas That Will Keep Cravings Away

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To begin with, do you struggle with staying on track for weight loss and healthy eating goals at nighttime?. If so we can conclude that this is the most dangerous time of day from an eating perspective. Therefore there is a need to snack at night in a sensible way.

Here are 10 healthy snack ideas that can help you feel good about your choice and some will still feel like you’re getting a “treat”.

1. Trail Mix

Trail Mix, Fruit and Dip, Smoothies, Popcorn and Frozen Berries Trail mix can be a high satiety snack and is one of the popular healthy snack ideas. Be careful as it can be high calorie, too, if you’re not careful. Making homemade trail mix can help you choose the right combination and in the right quantities while giving you control over sugar content.

This type of snack is great for people who like to “pick” at a snack. Measure portions out so you don’t find that you’ve consumed 800 calories while watching your favourite TV show.

2. Fruit and Dip

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A variety of fruit on a platter can be appetizing to the eyes and great from a nutritional standpoint. Fruit can be filling and it’s satisfying. Choose low fat dips (if using dip at all), such as a yogurt dip.

3. Fudge Pops

A fudge popsicle can be a satisfying sweet tooth cure for the chocoholic and it’s only about 100 calories a pop. It’s not the healthiest of healthy snack ideas but it’s a great option over a chocolate bar or bowl of chocolate ice cream.

4. Frozen Yogurt with Fruit

Fro-yo is a one of the great healthy snack ideas when it comes to substitutions for ice cream. But do watch portion control and be aware that some frozen yogurt has a pretty high sugar content. Consider adding a handful of berries to up the fibre and nutritional content and help you feel satisfied with a reasonable portion.

5. Veggies and Dip

Raw veggies can help you cure the craving for crunch. A bowl of radishes with a bit of sea salt is a much better choice than a bag of chips, of course. A plate of peppers, carrots cucumbers, broccoli, and cauliflower with a low cal dip (don’t overdo the dip!) could be a great TV snack for the whole family.

6. Popcorn

Popcorn gives you the option for a large volume of food without a lot of calories. Do be careful however, about overdoing it with cheese or buttered popcorn as it can be calorie-laden and full of fat. You can buy 100-calorie bags, for instance.

7. 100 Calorie Packs

100 calorie snack packs have pros and cons. They don’t get you eating the right food as these are often cookies or other naughty snacks but do offer a limited portion of something that can be indulgent. Use them sparingly.

8. Smoothies

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Because fruit smoothies are a filling and deliciously healthy way to cure a nighttime sweet tooth! Therefore you can mix your choice of fruit, skim milk with a banana and you’ve got a great healthy snack for weight loss. You can also add probiotic yogurt or green powder for a nutritional punch, too.

9. Cereal and Cereal Bars

Cereal is a healthy snack idea that’s low cal and high nutrition. Opt for choices with high fibre content to really satisfy.

10. Frozen Berries

A bowl of frozen grapes, berries, or cherries can help the sweet tooth for movie night.

Daria-Yakovleva / Pixabay

Healthy snack ideas should encompass flavour and health in order to help you feel satisfied.

A few of the above ideas weren’t the healthiest snack options but the occasional indulgence will feel like a “cheat” but won’t have the same impact as some of the common nighttime snacks.

Tip: Ignore the commercials! If you can skip through them you’re less likely to see something tempting that causes you to reach for an unhealthy snack.

In conclusion, use these Healthy Snack Ideas to add variety to your diet and loose weight.

Does Water Help You Lose Weight?

by Weight Loss - November 24, 2011

Does Water Help You Lose Weight?

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Does water help you lose weight? In many diet advice articles and weight loss books you’ll read repeatedly to drink plenty of water when dieting. Why is that? What’s so great about water for weight loss?

Water’s Caloric Intake

Does Water Help You Lose Weight Water has zero calories, zero carbs, and yep… it also has zero fat. It won’t make you gain weight and it can be a great weight loss aid. But it does quench your thirst. Drinking water to help you lose weight can cut your calorie intake substantially. Many people drink 5-10 calorie laden drinks a day. Imagine cutting most (or all) of those out and just drinking water? You could cut thousands of calories from your diet on a monthly basis.

There have been cases of people losing a few jeans sizes in a short time just from the simple change of drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day in lieu of calorie laden beverages.

Water Fills You Up

Why else does water help you lose weight? People who drink water find that it helps you eat less. Drinking a glass of water before a meal can help you eat a smaller portion.

Drinking a glass of water when you get a hunger craving between meals will also often help you get to your next meal without snacking. People often mistake hunger for thirst. Staying hydrated could help kill the munchies.

Water Revs Up Your Metabolism

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Water helps everything move swiftly through your system. Increasing your water intake, especially if you currently rarely drink water, could have a very positive impact on your body.

Water Detoxifies Your Body

Water is great for your body. It helps with your skin, your organs, and your overall health and wellness. Water energises you and quenches your thirst. It can help you during exercise and it helps you change your eating behaviours. Those who drink water tend to crave less junk food than those who often drink carbonated beverages. Carbonated beverages often seem to wake up the junk food cravings whereas it’s much easier to drink water and eat healthy. Mindset is important when trying to lose weight and water is an excellent way to get the right mindset.

Baby steps can add up to substantial weight loss. The simple act of deciding to drink water could help you get well on your way to reaching your weight loss goals. If you want to know.. does water help you lose weight.. why not do an experiment and see how it goes. Eating your daily calorie allotment rather than drinking it will also give you more room for satiety.