How To Use A Pilates Mini Ball

A Pilates mini ball is a very inexpensive piece of exercise equipment that can help you do many exercises. While it isn’t necessary to have one to do Pilates or any type of workout, a Pilates mini ball can help make certain exercises more efficient.If you are wondering: "Does Pilates Work?" well the exercise ball or the mini ball as it is called, is a good way to find out.

Using a ball in your workout can help you focus on muscles that you might otherwise neglect. Because you often have to concentrate on holding the ball between your knees or squeezing it while making movements, it makes you more aware of the muscles you’re using.

A variety of exercises have been developed by Pilates experts to help you use a Pilates mini ball properly and get the most from the exercises. There are routines designed for Pilates beginners specifically that use the ball to make the new exerciser more aware of certain muscles and movements. Intermediate routines are more of a challenge, while advanced workouts use the ball to really go deep into those core muscles.

To start using a Pilates mini ball, try some basic exercises like these:

• Stand about an arm’s length away from the wall, and hold the ball between your hands. Put the ball against the wall and lean into it, letting your elbows bend, then push yourself back.
• Lie on the floor with your knees bent and the ball between your ankles. Hold the ball there as you straighten your legs and bend them slowly.
• Or do something as simple as sit in a chair with the ball between your thighs. Use your thigh muscles to squeeze the ball slowly and relax.

If you’ll do those exercises regularly, just 10 times each, you’ll soon start to feel and see a difference in those muscle groups.

You might be wondering what the benefit of using the ball might be in an exercise like the wall push-up listed above. Couldn’t you just stand and put your hands on the wall to do the same thing?

Yes, of course you could. And you’d still benefit from the exercises. You could tone your arms that way. But using a ball gives the exercise more intensity. Because you’re leaning against a round somewhat malleable ball, you have to constantly correct your balance to keep the ball from rolling. You use tiny muscles in ways that you don’t normally use them when you use a ball.

You can use a Pilates mini ball for a variety of exercises. Just incorporate it into things you normally do. The added bit of resistance and the requirement of balancing yourself will add another layer to your workouts.

Another nice thing about a Pilates ball is that even if you buy one made specifically for Pilates, they’re relatively inexpensive. And if you want to go even cheaper, just buy a child’s ball that’s around the same size—about the size of a soccer ball. If you have kids, you might have the perfect Pilates mini ball already waiting for you in a closet or your child’s toy box.

Healthy Eating For Summer Weight Loss

Winter is unforgiving. What better thing to do during the cold season than to sit in a couch and munch on some goodies while keeping yourself cozy and warm? It seems like yesterday when you were struggling to lose your winter coat; before you even know it, summer is in its full effect. This is when the question "How Can I Lose Fat" will start to surface again.

The minute you feel warm enough to wear shorts, you realized something:  The beach is beckoning and you are not prepared for it, physically! Once again, "How Can I Lose Fat!" You panic and think of stapling your mouth for a week or two, until you look good on your swim wear, as your summer weight loss solution.

It can really be a struggle to shed excess fats and most people fall into a summer weight loss dilemma every year. Wacky diet, starvation, and diet pills are beckoning and giving you hopes of slimming down for that swimming costume.  Summer weight loss doesn’t have to mean starving yourself to look your best in shorts or swimsuit. The secret to weight loss is to eat healthy foods; food choices are actually easy to make during summertime because high calorie dishes are less appealing during the hot season. Take advantage of fresh fruits and vegetables that are at their peak and at their best in summer. Refreshing and light foods are bountiful and keeps you out of the hot kitchen.

Experts say that the best summer weight loss diet is to load up with nature’s produce. Fruits and vegetables are low in calorie but loaded with essential vitamins and minerals, plus antioxidants and fiber to help your body flush those unwanted toxins and fats. Aside from their health benefits, they are delectable, juicy, and satisfy the taste buds. Berries, tomatoes, zucchini, melons, cucumbers, peas and other greens are available at farmer’s markets and grocery stores. Forget portion control and go ahead and eat all the fruits and vegetables you can get your hands on. Summer weight loss with nature’s bounty will do your waistline no damage.

If you are wondering what the healthiest summer weight loss foods are, here is a list of dieticians’ and experts’ food recommendation:

Berries are luscious and sweet but there is more to berries that meets the appetite. They are known to boost antioxidant levels and help reduce the effects of ageing. Berries are also rich in nutrients that help lower cholesterol level.

Watermelons are loved because they are watery, juicy, and crisp, perfect for satisfying thirst during the hot season. If you want a tasty summer weight loss, mix slices of watermelon with milk, water, and ice cubes. Whirl in one of the KitchenAid 5 Speed Blenders with Polycarbonate Jars and your perfect juice is ready in a snap.

Garden salads are the best bet for time and cost efficient summer weight loss meal. They are easy to prepare and the perfect way to get vegetables into your diet. Dress your salad with healthy oils like extra virgin olive oil, walnut oil or your choice of other healthy oils. Salads are a great way of letting yourself off the hook from the hot kitchen.

Healthy eating is your best summer weight loss plan. Enjoy a hearty meal and reap the benefits of losing weight, staying fit, and living a healthy lifestyle. Jumpstart your summer weight loss with fruits and vegetables and get in shape for your favorite swimsuit.

Recipes For Detox Diet Clean Out Your Body

Detoxification is not just for the movie stars who abuse painkillers anymore.  New evidence has shown that just about everyone needs detox – not for drug use, but to clean out the colon, blood system, liver, and other organs that have been building up potentially toxic amounts of unhealthy matter over the years. 

Lots of people are jumping on the detox diet bandwagon, and for good reason, too. Keep in mind though that detox is all fine and well, but if you want to lose weight you will have to follow up with a good diet. So, if you are wondering How Can I Lose Fat? you will have to follow the detox up with a good healthy balanced diet.

With all the preservatives, hormones, air pollutants, pesticides, and even fat (think fast food) that gets into our bodies every day, it just makes sense to clean the temple from time to time. You wouldn’t go without cleaning the house for very long, and you shouldn’t go very long without cleaning out the body, either.



There is no doubt that detox is a good why to jump start a fat loss diet. Once you feel the benefits of the detox you can move on to a healthy and balanced diet such as you can get when you have a look at How Can I Lose Fat.


Here are three delicious recipes for detox diets.  Give them a try if you want to help cleanse your system and/or lose some weight:

1) Veggie Broth

• A head of fresh broccoli
• A cup of fresh spinach leaves
• A of celery
• A pot full of distilled water
  

Simply cut up the vegetables into very small pieces. Put them in the pot of water, cover, and bring them to a full boil. Then, reduce the heat to a simmer and let all those nutrients seep out of those vegetables into the water. After about thirty minutes, drain the mixture. Discard the vegetables, and drink the broth. Yummy and a good colon cleanser!

2) Tomato-based Hearty Detox Soup

• A pot of purified water
• A head of green cabbage
• Two medium green bell peppers (or one large and one small)
• An onion
• Three stalks of celery
• Three carrots
• One-third to one-half of a pound of fresh or frozen green beans
• One or two cans of diced tomatoes or tomato sauce
  

Slice the cabbage into strips.  Chop the peppers into bite-size pieces or smaller if you prefer.  Cut up the onion, celery, and carrots into pieces of the same size.  Prepare the green beans.

Some folks will say to ad the ingredients to the water a little at a time, beginning with the “hardest” vegetables first. I find that unnecessary. Just throw all the vegetables into the pot of water, cover, and bring to a boil. Then, lower the heat and allow the soup to simmer for several hours. Enjoy!

3) Lemon and Citrus “Tea” Detox Recipes

Lemon is quickly becoming a popular detox ingredient, probably because of its high citric acid content, vitamin C density, and abundance of bioflavonoids. Besides for all these benefits, there is something that is generally pleasing about the lemon, don’t you think? Lemon furniture polish still b rings back childhood memories of helping my mom dust the living room furniture, my dishwashing detergent is lemon-scented, and lemonade on a hot day – are you kidding? It gets no better than that.

• A glass of grapefruit juice
• The juice of one large lemon
• Two teaspoons of olive oil
• One to two teaspoons of flaxseed oil
• Optional – a clove of crushed garlic
• Optional – split the juices to half a glass of grapefruit and half glass of orange
• A scoop of your favorite protein powder from the nutrition store
  

Simply combine the above ingredients in your blender and drink. Try to drink it on an empty stomach; perhaps the first thing in the morning, and be prepared to be cleaned out.

Recipes for detox diets are a sure and fast way to help clean your digestive system out as a whole. However, it is important for you to follow the directions carefully and only use for the length of time that is appropriate.
For more on fat loss, go to:

How Can I Lose Fat

Change Your Lifestyle A Fast Weight Loss Must

Change Your Lifestyle A Fast Weight Loss Must

Waking up in the morning and looking at the bathroom mirror shocked the living hell out of Melinda Crawford. After three babies, Melinda has developed bulges of fat in all different places of her body. It saddens her to see herself looking like this.. FAT! So, her desperate cry, How Can I Lose Weight!

There are ways to help the Melindas of the world lose weight fast!  A fast weight loss program is an ageless issue that every woman would love to read about. Thousands of articles have been written and published to help women like Melinda.

The key to a fast weight loss is to be conscious of what food you take in and how your lifestyle affects your body.  In a usual busy day to day schedule, women tend to neglect their diets.  After preparing a healthy meal for the family, women like Melinda still got loads of other things to do so they tend to skip meals to get things done. 

Skipping meal is a no-no in a fast weight loss program,see more about that when you read more about How To Lose Weight Calories.  People who skip meals are not helping their metabolism.  The tendency is for them to eat more when they get down to eating because they skipped the previous meal.

Part of an effective fast weight loss diet is drinking plenty of water.  So, after putting the baby down for a nap, prepare your self a herbal tea drink up. Make sure to drink at least 8 glasses of liquid during the day and stay away from the sweet stuff like chocolates, ice cream, cookies and butter.

Next time you do your groceries, put more vegetables and fruits (although you have to limit your fruit to 3 portions a day as fruit contains a lot of sugar) in the cart instead of those sugary and starchy food kids love.  Preparing your family a healthy meal and sharing it with them would be a great way to stay on track of the fast weight loss program.

A lot of women think that they do not need exercise anymore since they are exhausted after a day of running the house and taking care of kids.  However, a regular exercise that is focused on certain parts of the body is beneficial.  Ten crunches a day, for example, will flatten the bulging tummy if done regularly and eventually increasing the number of crunches as days go.



You can get more exercise tips when you visit working out tips and burn fat exercises.

At the end of the day, what really counts to an effective fast weight loss program is the will to change your lifestyle.  If you want an immediate and noticeable weight loss, remember the following:

EXERCISE is important ? Identify the part of your body that you would like to develop and focus your exercises to that part.  A regular work out will keep you strong and toned.

EAT HEALTHIER ? Never skip meals! Stop eating sweets. Stick to vegetables and fruits

DRINK, DRINK, DRINK ? Take a lot of liquid.  Drink at least 8 glasses of water and drink fruit juices in between.  Fruit juices and water are known to help body metabolism and fast tracks weight loss

GET ENOUGH SLEEP ? As you sleep, you body builds a hormone called Leptin. This is the hormone that tells your brain that you do not need to eat more.  The lesser sleep you get, the lesser Leptin you will have in your body.  So, you will tend to feel hungry more and obviously would eat more.

A fast weight loss can be possible after 20-30 days of changing your lifestyle and sticking to a healthy diet.  Stay healthy, be a beauty!

Pilates Clothes Be Comfortable And Get Fit

Are you wondering, does Pilates work? Well, many says it does. If you are going to do Pilates, you have to get yourself some comfortable Pilates clothes so you can exercise in comfort. Of course, for Pilates to really work it needs to be part of a balanced program that includes a good diet. So, if you are wondering about Pilates because you are wondering "How Can I Lose Fat?' you have to think about both exercise and diet.

Pilates Clothes Be Comfortable And Get Fit

When you’re doing Pilates, clothes matter. The important thing when you’re doing these exercises, whether you’re on a Pilates machine or you’re doing the movements on your own, is to wear clothes that fit properly and are comfortable. No matter how fashionable a certain workout outfit might be, it’s not good Pilates clothes if you’re aware of being uncomfortable the whole time you’re exercising.


The answer to the question "Does Pilates Work?" is yeas, but to get the full benefit you have to wear comfortable Pilates clothes!

Choose clothes that aren’t too tight or too loose. This can take a little time in the fitting room at the store, because what seems to be all right while you’re standing up might not feel so great when you’re bending over or lying on your back.

When you try on the Pilates clothes you’d like to have, move around in the fitting room. Lift a leg and lift your arms. Bend over. Now think about how loose the pant legs are—if you’re on your back on a Pilates machine, how well could someone see up the your pant leg?  If it’s too loose, you could give them quite a show.

How low cut are your Pilates clothes?  When you bend over, does the cleavage become too revealing? Does the back pull up and possibly reveal more skin that you would like? If you’re wearing shorts, also consider what might show when you bend over, and how comfortable they might be if you bend and straighten repeatedly.

Because you will be on your back sometimes, and you will be rolling onto your back, think about any features on your Pilates clothes that could be uncomfortable. Any ties, buttons, beads or embellishments that will come between you and the floor could be potentially painful.

Don’t forget to consider your underwear—those are part of your Pilates clothes, too. A sports bra can offer extra support while dispensing with metal or plastic hooks against your back. You might not normally mind those hooks, but when you’re on your back on the floor, after a while they could dig into your back and become uncomfortable.

Some exercise clothes and workout tops are designed with a built-in bra for support while offering soft fabric with no bunches or embellishments. You could also opt for a regular, supportive bra with a clasp in front, if you don’t like sports bras.

Many people wear thong underwear because they’re comfortable—almost like wearing nothing at all. But are they really going to be comfortable for you to exercise in?  Some people like them, some don’t. You might consider regular full or bikini panties to avoid your underwear bunching and becoming uncomfortable. And go for plain, unembellished underwear, with no appliqués, jewels or other features, to be sure those won’t irritate you.

While it’s important that your clothes aren’t too tight and restricting, you also won’t want them to be too loose, especially if you’re exercising on Pilates machines where clothes that billow too much could get caught in the springs. If you’re in doubt, choose Pilates clothes that are just loose enough to allow you to move.

Pilates Clothes Be Comfortable And Get Fit. Pilates is just one aspect of the weight loss process. If you want to know How Can I Lose Fat? you will also have to go on a good diet. Exercise, such as Pilates, is only one part of the whole process.

So, for a good diet have a look at the page How Can I Lose Fat.

Does Pilates Work? Find Out With A A Pilates Mind And Body Workout

Does Pilates Work? Find Out With A A Pilates Mind And Body Workout!

If you are wondering, Does Pilates Work? You have to keep in mind that "Pilates mind" is the state of mind you get into during a Pilates workout. Think of it in much the same way as you think of the state of mind a person is supposed to have during yoga. Not quite like the runner’s high, Pilates mind is more a tranquil, refreshed state of awareness.

Do all who perform the exercises experience Pilates mind? Undoubtedly, no. Just as some people can run 5 miles without experiencing that sense of euphoria that can come from prolonged aerobic exercises and some people never quite get into the meditative aspects of yoga, not everyone will experience the serenity and sense of well-being that Pilates can give you. But, apart from the "Pilates mind" if you are wondering "Does Pilates Work," it will probably work for you even without the "Pilates minds."

Maybe that means Pilates just isn’t the ideal workout for them. Or maybe it just means that they’re not approaching the exercises in the right way. Because Pilates is an ideal exercise that can benefit everyone who tries it.

To fully experience Pilates with your mind and body in sync, it’s necessary to approach the Reformer machine (or your resistance bands, or simply the movements if you’re using no props) with a certain attitude.

Rather than the way a body builder might face that weight machine and start pulling and lifting, grunting and groaning his way through a set, let a sense of calmness come over you. Pilates is probably the most gentle and least strenuous workout you can do, with few repetitions necessary to get the benefits, so you’re not facing an agonizing session.

Try to develop a Pilates mind by taking deep, cleansing breaths before you begin and by breathing steadily and evenly throughout your workout. Much like yoga, the exercises you do will be more effective if you breathe properly.

As you do each movement, concentrate on doing it slowly and evenly. Feel your muscles relax and contract as you work your way through the Pilates movements. Aside from being low-impact, awareness of what you’re doing is a chief difference between Pilates and yoga, and many other exercises.

Rather than aerobics or other types of high-impact workouts where fast movement is the key to burning fat and calories and training your muscles, with Pilates you need to focus on each slow and controlled movement. If your movements are fast and erratic, you’re doing them incorrectly. And if you do them incorrectly, you won’t get the full benefit.

Develop a Pilates mind by imagining that you can feel your muscles lengthening and contracting. With each movement, you can feel yourself growing stronger as your muscles tighten and become more efficient. The more you concentrate on exactly how you move and with what intensity, the more you’ll develop an attitude of awareness.

If you do that, your Pilates workouts will do more than tone your body and strengthen your core muscles. Soon, you’ll find yourself looking forward to Pilates because you will feel stronger after each session, and not just physically. Once you learn to use your Pilates mind, you’ll find yourself mentally refreshed and relaxed after each workout, too.

Fat Burning Soup Diet 7 Days Of Soup And You'll Lose Weight

Fat Burning Soup Diet 7 Days Of Soup And You'll Lose Weight

Are you wondering How Can I Lose Fat? Are you looking for the Fat Burning Soup Diet?  Well, look no farther, because I explain the program here.  (This, of course, does not mean I agree with this diet. For my recommendations I would like to refer you to the page How Can I Lose Fat.) The fat burning soup plan includes seven days of eating soup and other prescribed foods.  Because the fat burning soup diet is very low in calories, you will be able to lose up to 10 pounds in just 7 days.

To see if this is a good idea, have a look at the page Fad Diet Plans to see the dangers in such a diet. Essentially I do not agree with any of the Fad Diet Plans, I believe in a sensible and healthy approach to weight loss such as you will find in How Can I Lose Fat.

OK, so let's have a look at this diet:

First of all, you need to make a very large pot of the soup.  This recipe makes about 12 servings.  You will probably make 2 to 3 pots during the seven days of the diet:

• 6 large green onions
• 2 green peppers
• 1 or 2 cans of tomatoes (diced or whole)
• 3 Carrots
• 1 Container (10 oz. or so) Mushrooms
• 1 bunch of celery
• Half a head of cabbage
• 1 package Lipton soup mix
• 1 or 2 cubes of bouillon (optional)
• 1 48oz can V8 juice (optional)
• If V8 juice is not used, put in 12 cups of water

Saute the onions and take the seeds out of the green peppers.  Then boil the whole thing for 2 hours.  Refrigerate the soup and then reheat on the stove or in the microwave every time you get hungry.  This recipe is at the heart of the fat burning soup diet.

But you will get to eat other foods on the fat burning soup diet.  But, each day brings about its own rules.  Here’s the plan:

Day 1: All the fruit you want except bananas.

Day 2: All the vegetables you want plus one big baked potato with butter.

Day 3: All the fruit and vegetables you want except bananas and potatoes.

Day 4: Bananas and skim milk plus the soup only.

Day 5: 16 oz. of beef and up to 6 tomatoes.

Day 6: 2 to 3 steaks and all the vegetables you want.  No baked potato though.

Day 7: Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables

Eat the foods on the diet until you are full, even stuffed.  The diet is bland, but you shouldn’t be hungry on it.

The fat burning soup diet works because even if you eat your fill, you still will only intake about 1000 calories a day.  So the plan is essentially a modified fast.

Because the plan is only 7 days long, that doesn’t give your body’s metabolism enough time to slow down. (Of course, I'm not totally convinced of that, to be honest, but that is what they say!)  So, in order to make up for the reduced calories, your body will start burning the fat – thus the name.

You shouldn’t stay on the fat burning soup diet for more than 7 days at a time though.  That would actually defeat the purpose.  After your initial week is up, go back to a regular meal plan that includes at least 1500 calories.  Then, after a week or so, you can go back on the soup diet if you need to lose more weight.  At no time should you go more than 7 days on the program without 7 days off.

And that’s the fat burning soup diet made simple.

I still think a sensible approach is better, so have a look at:

How Can I Lose Fat

Fat Burning Soup Diet 7 Days Of Soup And You'll Lose Weight