Archive for February, 2010

Juicing Benefits – Juicing As A Weight Loss Aid


Although juicing in itself is not considered to be a weight loss method, it can be a great addition to a weight loss plan. I believe that solid food should always be part of a weight loss regime, and thus, juicing for weight loss is more about fitting healthy juices into the diet and is not a method in and of itself. So how does juicing help?

One thing that can happen during dieting is that we may not be achieving the nutrition that we need when we cut back on the food. It depends on the specific diet.

The great thing with fresh juices is that they supply us with an exceptional abundance of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes. These nutrients are essential for keeping every part of us functioning properly which can be a great aid to dieting because the extra intake of nutrients can help with food cravings.

The brain for example needs more than just a delivery of blood sugar to keep running, it needs (and ‘craves’) nutrients too. If we eat a meal that is limited in nutrients, then the brain will think it has had nothing to eat and will send out a signal that it needs more food. That signal to you and I is a craving for food! So on a chemical level, juicing benefits the body and helps its cells ‘feel full’.

Juicing recipes also supply us with essential B vitamins. B vitamins are like the energy factories in our bodies and help release the energy from food. This helps keep our energy levels in good order and can therefore limit possible ‘dieting fatigue’.

Juices, especially vegetable juices, are great low calorie snacks. Vegetable juices carry more substance than fruit juices and are a little more satiating at minimal calories. Some vegetables such as spinach and broccoli are known as negative calorie foods. This means that it takes more calories to digest them than they actually provide us!

Fruit juices are more sugary and therefore contain more calories. The sugar content of fruit juices can also cause a dieter a disservice at a hormonal level. The sugar content will generate a spike in blood sugar levels followed by the inevitable crash. A crash means irritability and hunger pangs!

So it may be better to limit the amount of fruit juices during dieting. If you do go for a fruit juice, directly before a meal might be the best time. It will help in the overall feeling of satiety of the meal and a solid meal will also smooth out the blood sugar spike of a fruit juice. If you are looking for a juicing machine I recommend the Jack Lalanne Juicer Review . Of the juicing machines I have tried, this is by far the best.

The Fast Diet

Many people all over the world are interested in different weight loss methods, and one of the most effective ways to shed unwanted pounds is through fasting for weight loss . Fasting, by definition, is willingly abstaining from some or all food and drink for a specified period of time.


Depending on the type of fast chosen, a person can decide to abstain from all food or just certain kinds of foods. A popular fasting choice is to consume only liquids for a specified period of time. If done properly, fasting can have many positive lasting effects on a person’s health, and can be the jump start needed to begin a healthy lifestyle.

Overeating is the leading cause of unwanted weight gain, and this can be the result of cravings and an emotional addiction to food. Many times people will eat excessive amounts of food during times of extreme sadness or depression. The food comforts the person and provides fleeting moments of happiness. The practices of emotional eating and overeating are habits that must be broken before a person can embark on the road to a healthier lifestyle.

This is where the fasting diet comes into play. A period of fasting has been shown to break a person’s addiction to food. It has also been shown to break unhealthy eating habits such as snacking and overeating. The longer the period of fasting, the more effective it will be at breaking these habits.

Fasting helps a person to lose weight by burning stored body fat because when you fast, you are not consuming foods that contribute additional body fat to the fat that is already stored on the body. This forces the body to burn the fat that is already stored there in order to provide the body with energy to function properly. During a fast, the body also slows down its metabolic rate so that a smaller amount of energy is needed to perform the same tasks as before. Since this energy is provided by the food that is eaten, this means that less food is needed after a fast to maintain the current energy levels.

Finally, a fast diet works to cleanse the body of harmful toxins. This process is called detoxification, and it leads to a cleaner digestive system, which means that the body is better able to digest the food that is eaten than it was before the completion of the fast. This works to aid in weight loss because the body is functioning as well as it possibly can.

Why You’re Not Losing Weight

If you have reached a weight loss plateau in your efforts to lose weight, it helps to step back and take a close look at possible reasons this might be happening. Take note of any of the following potential problems that may be standing in the way of you reaching your weight loss goals.


1. You are consuming more calories than you burn

Obviously, consuming more calories than you burn will make you gain weight, or at the very least – keep you from losing any. Try to stick with a healthy and portion controlled meal plan likeThe Truth About Abs’ Meal Plans, to help you control your calorie consumption.

2. You are burning fewer calories than you consume

Pretty much the flip side of the previous reason; you may not be moving enough, or getting enough exercise. If this is the case, you are burning fewer calories than you consume, and in order to lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. You don’t, however, have to be an exercise fanatic or a gymnast. In fact, you might start with something as simple as taking your dog for a stroll around the block, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator where possible.

3. You overlook the small snacks

Every single calorie counts, even those that you may not even realize you have eaten. To see how many bites or tastes of food adds up to your daily calorie consumption limit, keep a food dairy. Write down everything that you eat throughout the day and use it as a tool to track your calories.

4. Your exercise routine is inefficient

If you do long hours of steady state cardio and you skip out on weight training, your exercise routine may be inefficient. If you need a new workout plan, have a look at the The Truth About Six Pack Abs Main Program . It has one of the most effective workout plans I have seen yet.

5. You give up easily because you are not motivated

If you keep on giving up on your weight loss plans because you are impatient or because you don’t have the willpower or motivation, you will surely struggle to lose weight. To find your weight loss motivation, start by writing down your top 10 reasons for wanting to lose weight.

Hopefully, this list of weight loss obstacles has given you insight into why you are not losing weight. If you are guilty of one (or more) of the reasons listed here, just take the necessary steps to counter the harmful effects.

Burning Body Fat – All Calories Are Created Equal!

Guest Post


When I go on an exercise machine at the gym, one of the first things I’ll notice is the chart which shows age against your heart rate. A band called the fat burning zone runs along the chart at around 65-70%. Frankly, I have always had an issue with the fat burning zone. I mean, how can you possibly burn body fat by working less intensely? It just doesn’t make sense.


The reasoning behind the fat burning zone is the source of energy your body turns to when exercising. When you are working at a high intensity, your body requires more oxygen than you can breathe in.

And due to the relative lack of oxygen, your body is unable to use fat as a source of energy so it must use carbohydrate stores to provide your body with the energy it requires.

At lower intensity, the fat burning zone, your body relies more on fat stores for energy. You breathe more easily and there is enough oxygen consumed to use your fat stores for energy. But at higher intensity, your body is fed by your carbohydrate stores.

Essentially, what this is saying is that energy (calories) supplied from fat are better than energy supplied from carbohydrates. This is simply not the case. A calorie is a unit of energy, a measured quantity. All calories are equal, and therefore a calorie from fat is the same as a calorie from carbohydrates.

Weight loss is achieved by consuming fewer calories than your body needs. When your body has this calorie deficit, it will burn body fat to make-up the difference. Burning body fat to maintain the energy balance is what causes you to lose weight.

In terms of an Energy (or calorie) balance, the source of the energy is not important, but the relative amounts of calories expanded are. If you have a finite amount of time, you would achieve greater success working at a higher intensity. You could still achieve weight loss with relatively lower intensity exercise, however it would take much longer to burn the same amount of calories compared to high intensity exercise. If you have limited time to exercise, burn body fat by ditching the fat burning zone in favor of high intensity workouts.

Fat Burning Foods That Will Help You Lose Weight

Guest Post

Weight Loss Foods / Fat Burning Foods



Making wise food choices is the quickest way to lose weight, and one of the most important things you can do to help boost your weight loss efforts. When I talk about ‘food choices’, most of you will probably immediately begin thinking of what you shouldn’t eat rather than what you should, and also about how much less you need to eat.

Because of the negative programming we’ve had over the years, just thinking of words like ‘diet’ or ‘fat burning foods’ conjures up thoughts of restriction and denying ourselves the foods we love.

So, to help you to start looking at dieting and making healthier food choices in a more positive light, let’s take a look at some weight loss foods which you not only can, but should include in your daily eating.

Spicy Foods: Science has shown over time that eating spicy foods will immediately rev up your metabolism. This means that your body will actually burn more calories than before without you doing anything more than what you would normally be doing. Granted this is going to be a small incremental increase, but when you’re trying to lose weight, even the small things add up.

Now, keep in mind that many people can’t handle a lot of spicy food, and if this describes you, take heart. Just know that the more spicy food you eat, the more you can tolerate, so it may take you a few times before you can get used to the heat. You can start off with something simple like sprinkling a small amount of crushed red pepper on your grilled chicken breast which will help boost your metabolism a little bit. Then, as you become more accustomed to spicy foods, you’ll be able to add in hotter items such as jalapenos or the grand-daddy of them all, habaneros.

Green Tea: Another great choice to add to your list of foods to help you lose weight is green tea. Not only does it have a great, refreshing taste, it also has a naturally occurring chemical called EGCG that has been proven to boost your metabolism in the same way caffeine does, but without increasing your heart rate. Green tea also provides you with a nice gentle boost to your alertness, much like coffee, but with a bit less of a jolt.

Lean Protein: A recent study out of Denmark showed that men who replaced 20% of their carbohydrates with lean protein saw a 5% boost in the amount of weight they lost. That’s a fairly simple change to make, and one that will probably leave you feeling much more satisfied after each meal. For many people, the biggest reason they’re not losing weight is the lack of protein in their diet. Some great choices for increasing your lean protein are chicken, turkey, salmon and tuna.

Lifestyle change is all about small incremental adjustments which eventually lead to a total nutritional make-over. The above fat burning foods can be added to your diet today and with very little to no inconvenience, and it’s the best way to lose weight a little bit quicker.

Exercise Routines For Great Home Made Abs


Wouldn’t you love to learn how you can get that wonderful six pack abs in the confines of your home while you watch your favorite show on television? It really isn’t necessary to get dressed for the gym, then make that drive there and back home when you can accomplish pretty much the same results right in your living room using exercise routines that require no special equipment.


Following are the steps to several abdominal exercises to do at home, and the good news is that you can do every one of them and never miss a single episode of your favorite show, or while spending time with your friends or just hanging out with your kids.

The Basic Crunch – Lie down on a carpet or rug. Curl both of your legs and keep your heels flat on the floor. Support your back by placing both hands on the back of your head. Lift your upper body off the ground and let your elbows touch your knees, but remember not to shift or lift your feet above the ground as you go up. This is also a fantastic cardio exercise at home that will get your heart pumping.

The Belly Crunch – Crunch or constrict your abdominal muscles while sitting on a chair or sofa. Just feel your abdominal muscles as they become hard and tighten up. Hold that position for a few counts then release. Do this for about twenty to thirty times.

The Plank Abs Exercise – This is a great exercise that you can do during intermissions or commercial breaks. Lie face down on the ground, clasp both hands together, and lift yourself up using your elbows and the tip of your feet. The idea here is to hold that bridge-like position for about ten to fifteen seconds. You might think that this exercise is kid’s stuff, but mind you, holding that position for just a couple of seconds is truly difficult.

The Bicycle Stomach Routine – Lie down on the floor and lift both your legs up. Bring one knee in and try to touch it with the tip of your opposite elbow. Switch legs and repeat the entire process.

These are but a few of the many exercise routines you can do in the comfort of your home to get that lean, chiseled look quicker than you think. And if you need to lose a few pounds before getting that six-pack abs, there are also lots of exercises to lose weight that you can do while watching your favorite TV shows, including aerobic exercise and dancing. All it takes to attain that great looking body is the desire to look fitter and healthier and a little self-discipline to follow some fairly basic weight loss tips and exercises!

Getting Home Gym Equipment at Cheaper Prices

Guest Post

If you are interested in creating your own gym at home, you’ve been looking around online at different equipment in home gyms, and you’re wondering how you can afford those expensive pieces of equipment, well don’t worry. I am going to show you a good way to get your home gym started without having to spend thousands and thousand of dollars. You can get a great workout, begin to lose weight quickly, and get in shape right in the comfort of your own home for less money than you might think.


The first place that you will want to look for discount home gym equipment pieces is at garage sales. People who are selling gym equipment at a garage sale are probably really serious about getting rid of the items, and therefore willing to settle for an even lower price than they have on it. And since most pieces of gym equipment are notoriously bulky and heavy, that’s another reason why you can probably haggle the price down some more, especially if you’re going to be taking it home with you that same day.

Just be sure to have a truck or other means of transporting the item right away if this is going to be one of your bargaining chips.

Another fantastic place to look for discounts on gym equipment is on Craigslist. They have a specific fitness section that allows you to search for different items you want. People are always adding new stuff every day, so if you don’t see anything you particularly like or want today, just keep checking back. There’s a good chance you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for if you’re patient for a few days.

People selling on Craigslist are also likely to allow you to haggle the price down, but don’t get too cheap. There are tons of potential buyers looking through there every day, and the seller just might decide to wait for someone who is willing to pay something closer to their price rather than go too low. And, here again, it’s important to make arrangements to pick the item up pretty quickly to make sure they don’t sell it to someone who can.

These are fantastic sources to keep in mind once you decide you want to find cheap equipment to put in your home gym . Sure, it may be used, but this is a good way to get your home gym started for little money out of pocket. Good luck finding deals!

How To Burn Off Fat – Burn Body Fat


Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could get up one day and find that all of the unsightly weight we had been trying to get rid of had just disappeared during the night? Well, unfortunately it isn’t going to take place as easily as that, but it can happen, and eating foods that burn fat is a great place to start.


The most effective method to burn off fat would be to put into practice some basic tactics. You need to get plenty of physical activity, eat only nutritious food, and continue to be fully committed to losing weight.

However, if you really want to learn how to burn off fat , you will find out that a few simple changes in your lifestyle can be a big help. Here are a few simple tips to get you going.

You Can Do It!

It is possible to lose pounds, and one of the best ways is without a doubt to eat meals that are loaded with fat burning foods. Listed here are several foods that will enable you to get rid of belly fat so you can keep yourself trim and fit.

Nut Products

Nuts tend to be a superb fat burning food. They may be greater in fat calories than some other foods, but they can easily fill you up and provide needed nourishment your entire body requires in order to fuel itself. Choose almonds for your greatest weight loss results. Walnuts are outstanding and pecans tend to be extremely lower carb. Restrict nuts such as cashews which are larger in carbohydrates than several other nuts.

Leafy Green Vegetables

Green vegetables provide plenty of nourishment as well as proteins. Not only are they delicious, but they also increase dietary fiber in your diet plan. Stay away from starchy vegetables such as taters and corn while trying to get rid of unwanted pounds.

Healthy Oils

Lower fat diet programs tend to be terrible for everyone. You need fat in your diet, but make sure it’s the ideal kind of fat. The right fats, such as olive oil (which should be your primary choice) can easily allow you to shed unwanted weight. It truly is a fantastic fat burning food. Those who live in Europe, especially ladies, claim that simply consuming a tablespoon each morning makes these individuals thin. Coconut oil is yet another excellent choice with regard to food preparation. It is a good saturated fat which can increase an individual’s metabolic rate.

Complete Whole grains

Whole grain instead of white flour is the best choice for burning fat and losing weight, however, you should also be watching the carbs you eat when dieting. Oatmeal stands out as the ideal grain to eat while trying to reduce. Oatmeal digests slowly and gradually and also will not create a sharpened increase in blood insulin.

Any time you choose the very best fat burning foods, and blend that with making use of the proper physical activity, you will find you start to look like a whole new person fairly rapidly.

How To Burn Fat!


We have all been in that situation where we put on some excess weight and need to start dropping some pounds and get back into shape. For women it could be a result of baby weight, or for men it could be from not enough exercise or consuming too much junk food and beer. Whatever the reasons, it’s never too late to turn to some healthy diet food in combinations that will help you to start burning fat, shed some of the extra pounds, and leave you feeling happier and healthier.


There are various fat burners contained in your regular everyday foods. For example, fruit that is rich in vitamin C has a wide range of fat burning properties, and it’s perfect for a healthy diet food plan. Lemons, oranges, and grapefruits have some of the highest amounts, so why not mix together a fruit salad and have your daily intake of fruit with its secret source of fat burning remedies.

When making the switch to healthy diet food, you need to gradually begin to replace some of your regular choices with the more healthier alternatives. Instead of meat, for instance, try fish, especially steamed salmon. It’s very healthy and also quite tasty.

Vegetables are another great way to make the transition to healthier foods, and you don’t have to be bored with eating the same ones day in and day out. Try mixing them up for variety, and include new vegetables that you might not normally eat. Broccoli is one of the healthiest sources of protein, it mixes well with fish, carrots and cauliflower, and it is low in fat. Avoid greasy, high fat foods at all times because greasy foods will drastically slow down the fat burning process, and thus, weight loss. These foods also tend to make you feel sluggish, bloated, and heavier.

But the best fat burner, and the most popular and effective one at that, actually isn’t food related at all. It’s plain exercise. And the exercises you do don’t have to be something as monotonous as walking, if that isn’t something you enjoy doing. Why not dance instead? You can enjoy yourself with music while you get in shape because dancing is great exercise. So put on your favorite CD and dance in the comfort of your own home, or join a dance class and watch those excess pounds fade away quickly.

Lose Weight in Two Weeks

Guest Post


Are you wanting to lose weight for a special event or something that is coming up in the very near future? If so, then you’re definitely in the market for some quick tips to help you to lose weight in two weeks (or even sooner if possible!). Although such quick weight loss will definitely take some hard work, there are things you can do to help yourself to lose that unwanted weight.


The first step in this situation would need to be to have a realistic goal in mind. If you want to lose a huge amount of weight in that short period of time, it probably isn’t going to happen, at least not in a healthy way.

Quick weight loss from drastically reduced calorie intake, such as fasting for example, can potentially harm your body, so it is important to follow a program that will help you to remain healthy and safe, because losing a few pounds isn’t worth damaging your body over.

When you are cutting calories it is important to remain cautious. Trying to starve yourself is not only unhealthy but it also slows your metabolism down, and as a result you could be using muscle instead of burning fat like you want to. Keeping a lower calorie count is definitely important, but don’t go too low or it works against you.

If you add a low calorie nutrition plan with proper exercise, then you can do what you need to do to lose weight. You’ll want to eat healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables, lower fat dairy products, more fiber, and leaner cuts of meats for protein. Obviously, you’ll want to stay away from foods that are high in fats and sugars. These usually just have extra calories that you don’t need and they are overall unhealthy for you.

When you do your exercises, you’ll want to do both aerobic exercises and weight training (yes, even you women). If you weight train with lighter weights but more reps, you’ll still build lean muscle which helps to burn fat, but you won’t get bulky.

It is definitely possible to lose weight if you focus on a proper diet in addition to doing the right kinds of exercises. The information is simple, and that’s why there are a ton of free diet and exercise plans out there. Learning how to lose weight isn’t the hard part – putting the information that you have learned into action is – but it can be done!