Healthy Low Fat Fruit Smoothie Recipe

Even when you are trying to lose some weight, you have to make sure that you eat at least two portions of fruit each day. This is not always easy to fit into a busy schedule. Well, if you have a blender such as one of the KitchenAid 5 Speed Blenders with Polycarbonate Jars, you can make this tasty low fat smoothie recipe and have your fruit on the run,

What You Need:

• 1 C orange juice
• 1 C papaya, peeled and diced
• 1/2 C cantaloupe, peeled and diced
• 1/2 C mango, peeled and diced
• 2 apricots, pitted and diced

How to Make It:

1. Pour the orange juice into the blender.
2. Add the papaya, cantaloupe, mango and apricots.
3. On medium speed puree mixture for 1 minute.

If you like fruit you’ll like this smoothie. This is one way to ensure you get the recommended amount of fruit in a daily diet.

So, no more excuses for not having your two portions of fruit a day. This is quite a big smoothie, so to reduce calories share it with someone.

Is The Dr. Atikins Diet The Right Diet For You?

One of the most popular diets are the Dr. Atkins Diet. This diet is essentially a Low Carbs Diet. So, even before you start wondering about it you have to ask yourself if a low carbs diet will work for you. Keep in mind that even though it works for some it may not be the correct diet for you. People differ and what I do not like about the Dr. Atkins Diet is that it can be classified as one of the Fad Diet Plans. So, consider your health as well before you embark on this diet. Another question is "How Long Should You Stay On the Atkins Diet."

First, evaluate your past dieting history. If you’ve been trying to lose weight for a long period of time, you’ve no doubt tried a wide variety of diets. Take note of the different diets you’ve tried over the years. Write down the basics of each diet, what worked and what didn’t. Also, write down why you didn’t stay on the particular diet. Evaluate your experience with high carbohydrate diets. These types of diets include most low-fat and calorie controlled diets. How did you feel while on these types of diets? Were you hungry, obsessed with food or experiencing negative reactions? Or did you feel full of energy and generally good?

If you’ve had experience with low carb diets, write that down as well. Past the negative effects of the first week, how did eating low carb make you feel? Why did you stop using the low carb diet?

The answers to these questions will help you decide whether Atkins is right for you or not. If you’ve had good experiences with low-fat diets and bad experiences with other low carb diets, then Atkins is probably not for you. If other low-carb diets have worked but not without difficulty, then you may have been on the wrong type of low-carb diet and Atkins might work better. If you’ve had bad experiences with both types of diets, then you may have better success with a modified Atkins diet.

Your food and eating behaviors can also give you a clue to whether or not Atkins is a good choice for your weight loss efforts. Carb sensitivities are indicated by a certain set of behaviors. You may be carb sensitive if you feel like eating right after you’ve finished a meal. You will also feel strong urges to eat throughout the day. You may feel dizzy, fuzzyheaded and fatigued without getting a boost from sugar or another carbohydrate. Carb sensitivity is also shown when you feel sluggish after eating. This occurs especially after you eat a meal rich in sugars and carbohydrates. If you experience these symptoms frequently, you may have carb sensitivities. Try paying close attention to how carbohydrates affect you and if you continue to experience these symptoms, try doing a low carb diet.

Your success on the Atkins diet can also be determined by your medical and family history. If you have any pre-diabetic symptoms, or diabetes itself, a reduced carb diet like Atkins may be right for you. Significant weight gain can also be helped by the Atkins diet. Normally, the more overweight you are, the more likely you are to have high blood pressure, high triglycerides and high blood glucose.

If any member of your family has diabetes or is significantly overweight, this can also put you at risk for these conditions. Your tendency toward these conditions on a genetic level can mark a necessity for a low carbohydrate diet like Atkins. The Atkins plan has been shown to improve weight and control blood sugar issues. If these are problems in your family history, then you may want to consider the Atkins diet.

There are a lot of good reasons to try the Dr. Atkins Diet. Whether you have responded well to other low carb diets in the past or you have a medical history that warrants a controlled carbohydrate diet, the Atkins diet can meet your needs.

The Truth About BMI Body Fat And Health

 All of us have heard about the BMI and are wondering about it. Should we take notice? Is it a problem for me? We do not all understand it. You want to know if you have excessive fat on your body and wether you should ask the question "How Can I Lose Fat" Maybe you are not fat and your weight is muscle? Well let's have a look at the BMI.

Though one of the most popular tools used today to determine whether someone is at a healthy weight or not is the BMI, body fat and lean muscle tissue don't figure into the equation. This has led many experts to discount BMI as an archaic measurement that isn't accurate for many people. What is BMI, and why is it a good measure for some, maybe, and completely wrong for others?

BMI, or body mass index, was created in the early 1800s by Adolphe Quetelet. Because of that, it's sometimes called the Quetelet index. It's nothing more than a way of comparing a person's weight to his or her height, and determining if his or her weight falls into a healthy and normal range. The BMI is still used today pretty much as it was when Quetelet invented it.

The formula for figuring BMI (body fat, bone and frame size, muscle and body type aren't included in that) is this: Take your height in meters squared (your height times itself) and divide your weight in kilograms by that number. For example, if I'm 5 feet tall, that's about 1.5 meters. To square that number, take 1.5 times 1.5. The result of that is 2.5. So if I weigh 120 pounds, that's about 54.5 kilograms. Divide 54.5 by 2.5 and I get 21.8 as my BMI. The normal weight range is from 18.5 to 24.9, so 21.8 is classified as a normal weight. Underweight is considered 18.5 and below, while overweight people will calculate a BMI of 25 to 29.9. A BMI of 30 or greater indicates obesity.

BMI, body fat and general health can all be used as signs of how fit a person is. But where general health is pretty self-explanatory and the percentage of body fat clearly shows whether a person gets enough exercise or not, BMI is a bit trickier.

People with a lot of muscle don't show accurate BMI readings. Because muscle weighs so much heaver than fat but takes up less space, a relatively small statured person can carry a lot of muscle weight without looking huge. BMI doesn't take that into account. Football players, professional wrestlers, bodybuilders, and virtually any athlete who has a lot of muscle is going to measure as overweight and even obese according to the BMI. So it's not accurate for them. Is it accurate for everyone else?

The answer to that is yes, and no. It depends on you. The BMI typically doesn't show an accurate result for children. And extremely tall or large-framed people will show overweight or obese classifications more easily because of the extra weight from their bones and muscles. So for very short, tall or muscular people, the BMI appears to not be a good tool.

There's also no distinguishing between men and women in the BMI. Body fat is more natural for women who are supposed to have more than men, so some sort of distinction in the measurement of the sexes would help the BMI's accuracy

So, in the end it also boils down to common sense. Have a look at yourself and you will see if you are fat or not. Be honest with yourself! Take action if you KNOW that you are fat and should lose some weight. Your next step is to look for one of the good Lose Weight Diets and go for it. Keep at it and you will see results.

What Is The Truth About The South Beach Diet And How Does The South Beach Diet Work

If you have been thinking about Lose Weight Diets you may have asked yourself the following question. Does the South Beach Diet work? This is a question many people ask themselves. Will it answer my question "How Can I Lose Fat?" You may also be wondering if you will understand it, but the good news is that it is really very easy to understand. The fact that the south beach diet is broken up into three phases helps you manage the whole process.

The south beach diet is by far the biggest, newest trend in the health industry and has garnered much attention from celebrities and regular day folk alike. The main reason for this is that it just works. No matter what your body type, age, or weight the south beach diet can work for everyone.. This is why we have put together the following information to help you understand exactly how it works.

For those of you who are completely unfamiliar with this diet and are wondering “how does the south beach diet work?” it is quite simplistic. The basic idea of the diet is to abandon untested methods of weight loss and return to the basics. This is achieved by replacing the bad carbohydrates and fats that you consume with good ones. This process is broken down into three phases (below) that all have their own benefits.

How does the South Beach Diet Work?

Phase #1: 

The first phase, like the others, is very easy and will not prove to be difficult when trying to transition from your old dietary routine. The first phase consists of three meals a day and will last for two weeks. The types of meals you should be eating include beef, chicken, turkey, fish, shellfish, eggs, cheese, nuts, and lots of vegetables. The meals should be sided with a garden salad using 100% olive oil as a dressing. Unlike other diets, the south beach diet instructs you to eat until you feel full.

Phase #2: 

The second phase of the south beach diet, unlike the first phase, has no set time limit. This means that the second phase will last as long as it takes you to lose your desired amount of weight. The main goal of the first phase was to make your body re-learn what foods are good for it as well as starting to phase out the cravings that are associated with some of the sugary foods that you have cut out of your diet. During phase two you will continue the routine from phase one however you can start to have some sugary foods once or twice a week in small portions. By the time phase two is completed you should feel as if you have complete control over your cravings and thus the food you eat.

Phase #3: 

Phase 3 begins once you have reached your target weight during phase two. Phase 3 will actually become your new diet for the rest of your life. If the first two phases are followed correctly the third phase will just feel like your normal eating habits. No longer should you be wondering “how does the south beach diet work”, instead you’ll be enjoying the benefits of it.

How To Burn Fat Belly - Stomach Exercises!

During the summer vacation most of us indulged a little more than we should have. Now you may be wondering how to burn fat belly. Well, with a healthy balanced diet and these exercises you will get rid of those extra pounds around your tummy without a problem. Keep at it and you WILL see results.

I you prefer to do your training with a machine, a machine such as the Body Champ BRM3671 Cardio Dual Trainer is a good choice. This machine is a 2-in-1 machine which simply means you can use it for toning as well as for cardio. Remember doing cardio exercises at 60% of your maximum heart rate is still the best if you are looking for Burn Fat Exercises.

1. Hip Lift

For this stomach exercise, you will need to lie on your back on a flat surface, such as the floor. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine. Put your arms at your sides with palms facing up to the ceiling. Put your legs straight up in the air so that the soles of your feet are facing the ceiling and your legs make about a ninety degree angle with your torso.

Keep your knees unbent and as straight as possible. Now, contract your ab muscles so that it feels like your belly button is being pulled toward your spine, while at the same time gently lifting your hips off the floor. Raise your hips to a height of a few inches, keeping your legs extended straight upward. Hold this position, then slowly lower your hips back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set.

2. Seated Torso Twist

Stay on the floor for this stomach exercise, getting into a seated position. Bend your knees so that your feet are flat on the floor. Position your feet about hip width apart. Extend your arms straight out in front of you, interlocking your fingers. Contract your abdominals and lean back about forty-five degrees. Holding the contraction, rotate your torso as far to one side as you are comfortably able to. Use your abdominals to control this motion so that your upper body moves as one, do not lead with your arms.

Remember to keep your arms in front of you with fingers locked-- pretend you are aiming an imaginary gun. Once you have rotated as far as you feel comfortable, rotate back to center, then to the other side. Repeat these steps for an entire set. Take care to go slow and keep a controlled movement. Do not allow your momentum to twist you.

Well, I think with these exercises and a healthy balanced diet you will not have to ask "how to burn fat belly" again.

Five Easy Toning Exercises you can Do Anywhere

It is important for everyone to do exercises, but it is almost impossible to lose any weight without it. So, if you are saying "how can I lose fat?" you have to look at exercise as well as a healthy diet. Weight bearing exercises are also important for increasing muscle mass and bone density as you age. More muscle also equels faster metabolism and that is what a slimmer needs.

Most of us have learned what to do when it comes to exercising. The problem is where and when to get the job done. With a busy lifestyle, making time for exercise is a challenge.

Weight bearing exercises aren’t just for bodybuilders. As you age, especially once you hit the age of forty, you begin to lose muscle mass. For women especially, bone loss becomes a problem. When the body is in need of calcium it can rob it from your bones. Building muscle not only increases their mass but your strength.

You can do the exercises below or you can make use of a machine such as the Body Champ BRM3671 Cardio Dual Trainer that is actually a 2-in-1 machine that you can use for toning as well as for cardio exercises. Remember that doing cardio at about 60% of your maximum heart rate is still one of the best Burn Fat Exercies.

Here are five easy toning exercises that can be done anywhere and whenever you have time. At home, at the office, or on vacation, you can do these easy yet extremely effective exercises.

1. The Bridge Butt Lift

Sounds like a plastic surgery technique but it is an easy way to tone your buttocks. Lay down with feet flat on the floor, legs shoulder width apart. Place your hands, palm side down, on either side of your body. Pushing with your feet, squeeze your gluteal muscles and lift your butt off the floor. Hold the position for a count of five to ten and release down to the floor.

2. Squats

Squats work the butt, the hamstring muscles and the quadriceps. If you aren’t sure of proper form, you can use a chair. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and feet firmly planted. Push your butt back as if you were preparing to sit in a chair. Keep your abs tight and your upper body straight. Once you reach chair level stop and hold the position for a count of two to five and release. At the lowest point, place all of your weight on your heels for balance and maximum toning.

3. Reverse Lunges

Lunges work the quadriceps muscles. They can be hard for people with knee problems. A reverse lunge still tones the right muscle groups but with less pressure on the knee. Stand with feet together and arms at your sides. Take one leg and move it backwards until you are in lunge position: front leg bent at a 90 degree angle and back leg extended until you are on the ball of your foot. From this position lower yourself down until the back knee almost touches the floor. Hold for a count of two and return to starting position.

4. Pushups

This is a classic toning exercise that works all areas of the arms plus the chest muscles. If you aren’t comfortable or strong enough to perform a pushup on your toes, lower your body to your knees. Be sure your arms are tucked into the body and your back straight as you lower and lift your body.

5. Crunches

Abdominal muscles can be worked every day to build strength and muscle tone. Lying on the floor in sit up position, place your fingers behind your head. Squeezing your abdominal muscles, lift your upper body until your lower back is about to come off the floor. Hold for two to five counts and return to starting position.

These five exercise moves can be done whenever you have time. The best thing about exercise is that its effects are cumulative. Even five or ten minutes at a time will work to your advantage.

OK, I agree you will have to take it slow at first. Do what you can and constantly strive to improve. This is really worth the trouble because it does not only tone your muscles to give you a slimmer appearance it is also important to know that fat does not grow on working muscles.

Tips On Buying A Home Exercise And Training Treadmill

Buying a treadmill is an investment in your health and fitness. There are no better burn fat exercises than running on a treadmill at 60% of your maximum heart rate. Keep it up for at least 30 minutes a day and see how the fat simply melts away.

There are lots of benefits to having a home exercise treadmill such as the Sole S77 Treadmill:

1. Having a home exercise treadmill makes it easy to keep up with your training program. If you have a very heavy schedule, a home treadmill will make it a lot easier for you as you can fit your training in when ever it suits you the best.

2. A home treadmill can be a necessity for people who do not have the time to go to the gym or to go outside for even a brief jog. A busy lifestyle is the most common excuse that can prevent people from getting the right exercise and fitness regimen to maintain health.

3. Having a home treadmill can keep a person fit without the need to go into a gym to do so.

4. With a home exercise treadmill, such as the Sole S77 Treadmill, one can exercise in absolute privacy.

5. When the weather makes it impossible to go outside for a jog, the home treadmill will help you keep up with your fitness goals.

When buying a treadmill requires you to understand the features and the types available:

1. Treadmills are generally made up of a wide rubber traction belt covering a platform bed of two or more rollers. This is where the user stands and so It must be sturdy enough to handle a person's weight.

2. The rollers then move to stimulate motion that would keep a person running even while stationary.

3. Treadmills can either be powered by its own motor or just by the running motion of the user. The rollers move the rubber belt as the user keeps running over it.

4. Motor-powered treadmills, on the other hand, allow its users to enjoy some added features. It can be adjusted to regulate the running speed of the equipment according to the preferred level of activity the user wants.

Treadmills are generally categorized according to their quality and their features. They can either be for residential or commercial use. Home treadmills are considered for residential use and are differentiated from gym treadmills by their size and features. With the Sole S77 Treadmill, though, you will find gym quality without the price tag!

Gym or club treadmills are usually made bigger while the home treadmill is smaller to make it easier to use when you have limited space such as in small rooms. Gym treadmills are made to be able to withstand the strain of regular daily use and usually have bigger and longer lasting motors. Home treadmills can be made using only a smaller motor enough to handle a certain load for a certain time.

Buying a home treadmill can sometimes be a challenge since the various models of such equipment available in the market can vary greatly in price according to its features. So, the price range can be very different for different treadmills.

There are treadmills that can range from the simplest down to the most advanced models. And their prices can range from the acceptable down to the outrageous. In this case, choosing the right home treadmill will ultimately depend on your budget and how much you are willing to pay for a treadmill.

Added Tips:

1. One of the most important things to consider when buying a home exercise and training treadmill is to make sure that the platform area where the user runs is ideal for one's height and weight. You can determine this by how wide the treadmill's belt is. The common and more popular belt width is twenty inches for normal folks.

2. Not only is the belt width important, its length is also another important point to consider. This will help to determine if you will have a sufficient running area. The taller you are, the longer the belt has to be. Normally, the length should not be less than 50 inches. Treadmill belts should be around 55 to 60 inches for bigger and taller runners.

How To Lose 15 Pounds Fast

Do you want to lose 15 pounds fast? Would that be pounds of fat, water or muscle?

You see, when people talk about losing weight, they don't always comprehend exactly what that means. Most people automatically connect weight with fat, but that's not accurate.

If you want to lose 15 pounds just so it looks better on the scale readout, then it probably doesn't matter whether you lose fat, water or muscle. If you want to lose that extra bulge around your middle, then you're looking to lose 15 pounds of fat fast. This is where a good diet such as Strip That Fat comes in to help you lose FAT and not water and muscle

Regardless of whether you want to lose fat or pounds, it's important to know that water makes up part of that loss. In fact, during the first few days of any diet, water makes up the majority of loss.

There are countless sites on the internet that claim to be able to show you how to lose 15 pounds fast. What they don't always tell you is that losing weight fast can be dangerous to your health. Of course, it all depends on what you consider 'fast'. For some people, a month would be fast while others see it as something more immediately, like a few days or a week.

The most realistic goal would be to lose 15 pounds in a month, because that's far more achievable. Still, it can be risky if you don't approach your weight loss correctly.

If you want to lose 15 pounds fast, it can't be all water, which is the easiest to shed. Your body needs water to survive. Deprive it of too much water and it will begin to break down.Do not risk your health and look at Strip That Fat.

Starvation or near starvation isn't the answer either. In fact, not eating will cause your body to retain and even gain weight. When your body isn't getting enough nutrients, warnings go off. In a desperate effort to survive, it hangs onto everything you feed it, which adds weight.

The best way to lose 15 pounds fast is by eating foods such as meat that use more of your energy to digest it. You could eat nothing but meat, but that wouldn't be healthy either. Your body needs a well-rounded diet that provides all the required nutrients. You can eat a well-balanced diet and still lose weight if you know which foods to choose.

Before starting your weight loss plan, take measurements of your body including your weight and fat content. Special callipers (usually part of a weight loss or fitness center's tool kit) are used to measure fatty tissue on various areas of your body. Keep these figures handy so you can see your progress.

Here are some things you can do to lose 15 pounds fast.

Is The Cottage Cheese Diet One Of The Fad Diet Plans?

It is important to know that eating only one type of food or mostly one type of food is not a wise and sound way to lose weight. It is normally a sure sign that it is one of the many Fad Diet Plans that are out there. It is far better to stick to one of the healthy Lose Weight Diets. This way you lose weight and stay healthy as well.

There are lots of diets out there claiming miracle foods, but for the most part, those diets are probably trying to tap into the pocketbooks of folks who happen to love whatever particular amazing food is being touted.

For peanut butter lovers, there is the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet. For lemonade lovers, there is the Lemonade diet. For meat lovers, there is the Atkins Diet. For sweet lovers, there is The Cookie Diet. The list goes on and on.

And now, some folks are claiming the miraculous cottage cheese diet is the best thing in the world for losing weight; one beauty pageant contestant springs to mind immediately.

Regardless of what she says, eating one kind of food most of the time is not the way to go. I mean who wants to constantly eat grapefruit or drink lemonade? How boring is cottage cheese the fifteenth time you spoon it in? Is that any way to live and enjoy the abundance God gave us? I think not.

That being said, however, the cottage cheese diet does have some merit in a way. Basically, cottage cheese is good for you, and the dairy industry is now claiming that dairy products really do help people lose weight. So, incorporating dairy into your diet, including cottage cheese, is probably a very sound idea.

What exactly should you do with the cottage cheese? Well, I have picked up a container off my refrigerator shelf, and I can see that a serving has only about 160 calories. My particular brand is made using 1% milk. That is not a lot of calories. My little jar also explains to me that my cottage cheese has twenty-eight (28) grams of protein. That’s a lot of protein, and we all know that protein is healthy.

You know how doctors are always saying you should eat “lean protein?” Well, 160 calories and 28 grams of protein sounds like the definition of lean protein to me.

Cottage cheese is also very versatile. You can top it with some berries or peaches for a yummy dessert or afternoon snack. That is obviously better than hitting up the office vending machine for a chocolate bar. The cottage cheese diet might also suggest that you put a spoonful atop some greens and veggies for a little dash of protein with your garden salad.

You can also experiment with jazzing up your curds. Do you love apple pie? Why not throw a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg in your cottage cheese? Do you enjoy fruit smoothies? Try throwing some strawberries, a banana, a dash of water or milk, and some cottage cheese in your blender. You will get a nice consistency to your drink, and it will be absolutely delicious.

Finding interesting ways to add healthy items into your daily eating is the best way to get great nutrition, and the best cottage cheese diet of all is one that replaces higher-fat and higher-calorie foods with cottage cheese once in a while.

For more ideas on how to identify a good diet, go to: Lose Weight Diets
For ideas on how you can work out your own diet go to: How Can I Lose Fat?

Well Balanced Meal Plans On The Run

Whether you're traveling on the go or around the home, you don't need to give up healthy eating simply because you are on the run. The fact is, healthy eating is even more important when you're trying to keep up with a busy schedule. So, even though you are busy you should pay attention to well balanced meal plans.

The benefits of healthy eating will make your body to handle stress better. As you hustle about, a healthy meal is probably the last thing you think about. The following tips can help you eat when you're on the go. This will also help you if you are asking the question: How can I lose fat?"

1. Restaurants

With tempting menus, large portions, and a festive atmosphere, it's easy to skip healthy eating. It's okay to splurge every now and then, although you'll pack on a lot of weight if you make it a habit. When you eat out at restaurants, always be smart about it.

2. Airports

An airport can be a very stressful place, although you shouldn't scrap your diet because of it. Eat because you are hungry, not because of stress, boredom, or to kill time.

3. In your car

Keep some healthy snacks in your car at all times, so that when you get hungry - you have them.

4. At home

Evenings and mornings are busy times in most homes. Making the time to eat can be hard, although you shouldn't run out the door without eating breakfast first. Cereal with milk, a banana, muffin, or even a bagel is a great way to start the day.

Anytime you are on the go, always make sure that you make the right food decisions. You can take healthy food with you if you need to, so that you have it when you need it. Eating healthy on the go is easy to do, once you know how. Never sacrifice healthy food for junk, always keep well balanced meal plans in mind, as your body will regret it later if you do not do it!

Easy And Simple The Slim Fast Diet

With summer coming you are probably thinking about losing some weight. Well, that is the first step you need to take. It is also possible that you are not too sure about how to go about it. The diet industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. It can be hard to separate fact from fiction. This makes it very easy to fall into the trap of Fad Diet Plans!

There are five very important aspects to any weight loss program. If you expect to lose some unwanted pounds it is very important that you consider these five factors: 

• Permission from doctor
• Portion control
• Calorie intake (in how to lose weight calories is unfortunately still important!)
• Ease and convenience to implement
• Exercise. 

If you want a diet that incorporates all the factors mentioned above, then you may want to consider the Slim Fast diet or a diet such as Strip That Fat. This will also help with your question of "How Can I Lose Fat?"

By now, unless you’ve been living on a deserted island, you’ve probably seen the commercials for the Slim Fast diet. In fact, if you think hard enough, you could probably recite the slogan right now: “A healthy shake for breakfast one for lunch and a sensible dinner.”

If the idea of a shake for a meal is not really possible for you, why not have a look at the page How Can I Lose Fat for more and different ideas on losing weight and getting rid of all those unwanted fat and pounds.

How does the Slim Fast diet work?

The Slim Fast diet is as simple as the slogan. You drink one of their shakes or eat one of their meal replacement bars in the morning and the afternoon. For dinner, you eat a healthy, low fat, low calorie meal.

The Slim Fast diet also allows for you to have food along with your meal replacement bar or shake. However, whatever you choose to eat along with your meal replacement bar or shake must be 200 calories or lower. For example, you could have half a turkey sandwich a mini pizza or a salad, etc…

It is a known fact that if you eat 5 times a day, you will help your body to burn more fat. The Slim Fast diet also encourages you to have some healthy snacks between your meals to help your body burn fat. For example, they suggest that you have an apple, half a banana, half cup of grapes, small bowl of fruit salad, one ounce of mini-pretzels, etc…

What should you eat for dinner while on the Slim Fast diet? So long as you keep the meal balanced and at or under 500 calories you can eat it, within reason. The Slim Fast diet suggests that the calories of your meal consist of one fourth proteins, one fourth starches, one half vegetables. You should also have a tossed salad and a dish of fruit. You should drink something that doesn’t contain any calories.

Just like any other diet, if you are on the Slim Fast diet, it is suggested you also get regular exercise. For example, you can walk. The Slim Fast diet suggests that if you would like to walk you should do it daily for 30 minutes to an hour. You don’t have to walk if you don’t want to. They want you to pick an activity, any activity and do it daily. This will help you to burn more calories and lose weight quicker.

As you can see, so long as your doctor says the Slim Fast diet is okay with you, it brings a lot to the table in terms of weight loss. It covers all the bases when it comes to portion control, reduced calorie intake, ease and convenience to implement and an exercise routine.

Water Help in Weight Loss: Drink it up for a healthier Body

Doctors always recommend drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. It is believed that water can actually heal a lot of diseases. In fact, water therapy has been known to help in the cure and prevention of common colds, dry cough, problems with cholesterol, high blood pressure, and many other ailments. Water also helps the body get rid of toxins which will result in more energy and lighter skin. Dieticians also say that water help you to lose weight.

Dieticians recommend regular intake of water to clients who are on weight loss diets. Water help to loss weight by regulating appetite and increasing body metabolism. Studies show that feeling hunger and feeling thirst go together. Therefore, drinking water can help people lose weight by substituting food with water. This can suppress hunger and prevent overeating.

Many people find it hard to stick to a water therapy during diet because they do not realize how water help to loss weight. Studies show people who started drinking more water than they used to have lost about 4 pounds in a week. This is because the body is hydrated more and does not need to store water in the system.

Most of the extra weight and inches in the body are due to water stored. When a person does not drink enough water, the brain commands the body to absorb the available water and stock up. That is why people who are not fond of drinking water look bloated. The water is stored around their belly, thighs, arm, everywhere! These water fats look hideous but can be rid of by increasing water intake regularly. As you drink more water regularly, the stored water in your body is released. Since your body is hydrated more, your brain tells your body that there is no use for stocking water up. Eventually, all those weight from your water storage goes away and you will feel lighter and healthier.

Several studies also show that water can actually increase metabolism by 30% which means that when a person drinks more water, more calories are burn. One explanation noted in some of the studies on water help to loss weight says that every time you drink water, your body will try to heat thus using energy and burning more calories. Some water weight loss programs even recommend drinking cold water as the body uses more energy to heat this.

The recommended amount of water intake a day is an average of six to eight of 8 ounces of water. If you are on a water help to loss weight program, it is advisable to drink 2 glasses more for every 50 pounds extra from your recommended weight for your height.

Many people doubt the effectiveness of water in the help of weight loss. Very few believe that losing weight can be that easy. However, a lot of medical research has been done and published to prove that water help to loss weight. The will to stick to drinking more water consistently is the key to a healthier and sexier body.

Well Balanced Meal Plans For Summer Weight Loss

Winter has been unforgiving and well balanced meal plans did not always form part of our winter eating pattern! 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.

The minute you feel warm enough to wear shorts, you realized something: The beach is beckoning and you are not prepared for it, physically!

You panic and think of stapling your mouth for a week or two, until you look good in your swim wear, as a summer weight loss solution. This is also when you start considering Fad Diet Plans.

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. Everyone is now looking for good Lose Weight Diets in desperation!

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, sticking to well balanced meal plans.

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. This obviously will form part of well balanced meal plans. 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:

1. 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.

2. 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 a blender and your perfect juice is ready in a snap.

3. 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 and well balanced meal plansare 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.

Here Is A Great Way To Loose Weight Fast

If you want to loose weight fast, the first thing you need to realize is that you probably aren’t going to lose weight quite as fast as you want to. For some people, 2 pounds a week is fast, I personally think it is too fast. To loose 1 pound of weight a week is better. So, if you are asking the question: "how can I lose fat?" you will have to be realistic about it!

What is certain is that losing more than 2 pounds a week is generally not considered healthy, unless you’re very overweight. If you have 15 pounds to lose and want to lose it all in two weeks, you’re going to have to adjust your thinking or you’re either going to be very disappointed, or you’ll resort to one of the Fad Diet Plans and risk making yourself sick.

Yet, if you need to loose weight fast over a period of a few days or a week just to fit into a dress for the weekend, for instance, and you realize that by dropping a few pounds quickly you’ll likely put them back on after the weekend is over, there are some things you can do to drop a few pounds right away.

When you loose weight fast, you’re losing water weight, not actual fat. (Have a look at all the Dangers Of Fad Diet Plans) So as long as you understand that your quick weight drop is really a very temporary thing that’s easily undone and you don’t risk your health to do it, you could be very pleased with the results.

First, stop drinking anything with calories in it. Just that alone can help you loose weight fast. No alcoholic beverages, no sugar in your coffee, no soda other than diet soda, and no fruit juice or flavored waters that have calories in them. Just this step alone can cut hundred of calories from your day. Replace those sugared beverages with water. Don’t drink 64 oz of water in one sitting—that can even be dangerous—but try to get that much in slowly throughout the day.

If you really want to loose weight fast, you can drastically cut back on your calories. While 1200 calories is really just above a starvation diet, if you limit yourself to that or fewer for only a very short time like a few days, it won’t harm you. But it is crucial to realize if you keep this up for more than a few days you are heading for a disaster!

We’ve all had those days where we’re sick with the flu or we don’t feel well and we eat very little. It happens from time to time naturally, so doing it on purpose for a short burst won’t hurt you either, just don’t decide to starve yourself as a method for long-term weight loss.

Stick to easily digested foods like vegetable soup with little fat in it. Soup can help you feel more full while you’re eating so little food and take away the growling stomach that will no doubt happen at least a few times if you cut your calories back drastically. Drink seasoned broth, or clear or tomato-based vegetable soups for best results.

Avoid potatoes and starches like corn and peas. Go for broccoli, lettuce, spinach, celery, and other greens. Oranges and strawberries can help your sweet tooth. And take a multivitamin, so you’ll still get important nutrients while you loose weight fast.

Each of these tips will help you loose weight fast. However, you should check with your personal physician to make sure you are physically fit enough to loose weight fast. For more permanent results having a look at some good lose weight diets may not be a bad idea!

Make Some Tasty Low Fat Smoothies That Will Not Ruin Your Diet

With summer coming you will want to enjoy some smoothies. Well if you have a blender such as the Cuisinart CBT 700 Blender than you can easily make yourself tasty, low fat and low sugar smoothies that will not ruin your diet.

In any healthy balanced diet, see How Can I Lose Fat, you will have skim milk, low fat yogurt and fruit, all you need to make a tasty smoothie. It will be a life saver when it is hot and you feel like something cold.

To start off with take your days allowance in fruit and chop it up into bite size pieces. Then you freeze the fruit in a flat layer. The reason for this is that you can break the pieces apart to use in your smoothie.

Now all you need to do is take some of your skim milk allowance, some of your fat free yogurt allowance and us much of your fruit allowance as you want and make a smoothie with it.

It is best to only add a little of the frozen fruit to start with and then you add the rest little by little until you get the consistence you want. If you cannot use a full portion you can simply use the rest in another dish.

Of course, if you do not have a Cuisinart CBT 700 Blender you can also use one of the Cuisinart 11 Cup Pro Custom 11 Food Processors or even a Cuisinart CSB-76 Smart Stick Hand Blender. It will be quite OK with any of them, but the Cuisinart CBT 700 Blender will the best and it will give you the best results.

So, now you can see how making tasty smoothies this summer does not have to ruin your diet. If you prefer a little more sweetness you can add artificial sweetener, but I do not recommend it as artificial sweeteners come with a lot of problem of their own.

To see what I means go to: Stumbling Blocks On The Road To Weight Loss Diet Sodas. The long term effect of sweeteners on your metabolism is not very good. So, I would avoid them if I can.

How Kids Lose Weight

How Kids Lose Weight has become a very important issue these days. With kids becoming more and more inactive overweight kids are becoming a big problem. Putting kids on a weight loss diet is normally not a very good idea, so her are a few tips to show you How Kids Lose Weight in a healthy way.

How Kids Lose Weight:

1. Make it a family effort

Make losing weight a family affair. Rather than just concentrating on your teen, try to adopt healthy habits as a family. Eating healthier foods at home and getting more exercise is good for the whole family. Try to encourage family members to eat more fruits, veggies and whole grains.

Prepare menus that contain healthy food groups to ensure that your family is getting all the nutrients that they need. Try not to buy any junk food when you do your shopping at the grocery store. Healthy foods may sometimes cost you more, but it' is worth investing in, as it concerns the health of your whole family.

2. Allow occasional treats as a break from the usual.

That late-night pizza with friends or nachos at the mall doesn't need to be totally excluded from your kid's healthy-eating plan. Suggest a healthier alternative instead such as breadstick and marinara sauce instead of garlic bread dripping in butter and cheese.

You can also opt for ordering a shared snack instead of a full-size order to lessen the portions. You can let your kid know that he or she can also have control over his or her eating choices and an occasional indulgence is acceptable. A trend towards developing healthier habits is what really matters rather than banishing your kid's favorite food totally.

3. Plan family activities

Plan fun and highly active family outings, such as regular walks in the park or weekend visits to a local recreation center. Such activities can greatly help keep your kids stay active. And not only that, such activities can also be a great way for the whole family to bond and enjoy each one's company.

If you love cycling, it is a very good family activity all can enjoy. Get yourself, and your kid, a bicycle and go on long rides over weekends. For a nine your old boy I can recommend a bicycle such as the Mongoose Montana Boy's Mountain Bike 24 Inch Wheels. You will find a Mongoose bicycle for every family member.

4. Be positive.

With your kids being overweight, their feelings should also be taken into consideration. How they feel about themselves can affect their motivation to lose weight. As a parent, you can actually influence how your kids will feel about themselves.

You must help them realize that being overweight doesn't inevitably lead to a lifetime of having low self-esteem. Your acceptance of their condition is critical. Try to listen to your kid's concerns. Provide positive comment on his or her efforts, skills and accomplishments. You must always make it clear that your love and concern is unconditional and that it is not dependent on weight loss.

This will make them more secure as well as confident in trying to motivate him or herself to lose weight. You can help your kid learn healthy ways of being more open in expressing his or her feelings.

5. Eat breakfast.

Most families do not take breakfast very serious. But breakfast can really help your kid with getting rid of those extra pounds. It may take some constant urging for your kid to get up early for breakfast, but always bear in mind that it is important.

A well-balanced nutritious breakfast at the start of the day will jump-start your kid's metabolism. This meal will be able to give him or her energy to face the day ahead. Even better, feeling full each morning before going out of the house may keep your kid from eating too much during the rest of the day.

These are just a few of the many things that you can do to help your kid with getting rid of excess pounds and keeping it off. It may take a bit of work on your part. But the rewards can be seen in knowing that your kids are learning to live a healthier lifestyle and grow and develop into healthy adults.

So, this is how kids lose weight in a healthy and positive way.

Does Pilates Work? - The Basics of Pilates Exercise and Training System

If you are wondering "does Pilates work?" looking at it may be a very good idea. We all are aware that Pilates exercise and training system is a popular program. It is a fitness program that focuses on stretching, strengthening and balancing of the different areas of the body.

Pilates makes use of a system or sets of body specific exercises that is practiced along with focused breathing patterns. The exercises also help in teaching proper breathing awareness while doing them.

The Pilates fitness system also helps aid spine alignment. The exercises in the Pilates system also aim to strengthen the deep torso muscles that are more commonly known as the "core". So, if you are wondering "does Pilates work?" I think you can say with safety that it does.

1. The history of Pilates:

The Pilates system was first developed by a German by the name of Joseph Pilates sometime during the First World War. In the system that is now widely known by his last name, the aim was to help improve the rehabilitation program being provided for the returning war veterans.

This type of fitness regimen was proposed to make use of only a few and precise movements. This makes it a more convenient fitness regimen, especially for injured soldiers. The Pilates fitness system focuses more on control and form, adding a mental aspect to fitness. A primary aim then was to help injured soldiers to regain their strength as well as to stabilize some of the body's key muscles.

2. Mental Aspect:

At first, Joseph Pilates called this new fitness system Contrology. The term was chosen because he believed that the new method and its exercises needed to make use of the mind more often in order to control the muscles to achieve the perfect execution and form of each type of exercise.

The aim was to make the mind work closely together with the body in order to allow movements with grace and balance, but with the least amount of movement possible. It is important in the Pilates system that practitioners to always pay close attention to the body as it moves when doing the exercises.

3. Breathing:

Another aspect of Pilates is that Joseph Pilates believed that good blood circulation is very important for having a healthy body. The blood needs to circulate properly in order for the body to function more efficiently. Good circulation helps with regenerating the cells in the body. Good circulation also helps a lot in getting rid of waste products in cells and tissues. These are the waste products that are usually related to fatigue.

One way for good circulation to do its work properly is through proper breathing. As the blood circulating in the body needs to be rich in oxygen and be free of waste gases, proper breathing is vital.

Pilates believed that proper breathing and good circulation go hand in hand. And because of this the practice of proper breathing is an important part of each Pilates exercise.

If at one point a person stops breathing for a moment during a certain set of exercise, then it is considered as a problem. The person may be doing something wrong in the specific Pilates exercise.

4. Core Focus:

The Pilates exercise and training system also focuses on strengthening the group of muscles usually referred to as the "core". This group of muscles which is located in the center of the body includes the muscles in the hips, abdomen, lower back and the buttocks. The Pilates exercises focuses on building a more powerful core. This is where the body's energy is said to originate from.

So, if you look at everything addressed in Pilates I think you do not have to ask the question "does Pilates work" again. In the end the answer to this question will depend on want you need to get from Pilates.

Essentials To Health And Fitness And Permanent Fat Loss

Living a life of health and fitness is hard but it is not impossible and for permanent fat loss it is essential. So, if you are saying "how can I lose fat," or even if you are only wondering about "how to lose fat in legs" a healthy lifestyle is essential and you should read this article with care.

In fact, with discipline and commitment, you can actually change your habits and finally get rid of all those bad habits that affect your health, weight and wellness.

Below are some of the things that are important parts of the road to a better and healthier and slimmer you:

1. Serious commitment

If you really want to change your life and get rid of bad habits that you have been doing for so long, you’ve got to want it real bad. You need to really commit to it to ensure that you will see the plan through.

For instance, if you like cycling, do not only get a bike, get a bike trainer such as the Bell Motivator Mag Indoor Bicycle Trainer or the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine Indoor Trainer, to ensure that you will not use bad weather as an excuse not to train!

There are a lot of people who start eating healthy and living healthy for a while and then they fall back on their old ways again after some time. Don’t be like those people.

Starting and stopping will only let you become discourages and make you believe that you can never really do it.

Start when you feel that you really want it bad enough and that you can really do it. Willpower can be really amazing. It can make miracles happen.

2. Support system

Changing old habits, whether giving up a bad diet or quitting another vice, is hard but when done with people who live and support you, the task becomes easier and more manageable.

This is the reason why diets and programs for quitting alcoholism and smoking have support system programs within their organization. People who share your experiences, whether or not they are undergoing the same things as you, will help encourage you to continue with the goals that you have set.

3. Avoid temptations

Without the willpower to avoid temptations, your plan to change will constantly be derailed. It is important that you remain in control when it comes to the changes that you want to make in your habits.

Of course this is not something that is easy to do. There will be lots of instances when you will be truly tested and most people will fail the test. They will go back to their old bad habits once, and then twice and then thrice until they completely forgo with their plans for a healthy lifestyle.

To avoid this, you should stay clear of the temptations in the beginning stages. If you have friends, for instance, who influence you not to eat and not to live healthy, tell them your goals and ask for their support.

Real friends will not make things even more difficult for you. If they do, don’t go with them for a while, especially if you know that you will only be tempted when you are with them.

You should also avoid going to places that you know will tempt you to go back to your old ways.

4. Reminders

People who are constantly being reminded of how they should proceed have a better chance of making it through the program than those who are just going it alone.

Reminders work in the same way as support systems, but even better, because in this instance you have somebody who really point out to you what you should be doing.

Sometimes, we go back to our old ways not because we want to but because it is something that our bodies are so used to. So, if you want to really change your ways and live a life of health and fitness, have somebody you trust and respect with you all the time.

Living a life of health and fitness and attaining permanent fat loss is possible. After a while it will become habit and you will simply do it naturally.

Is Green Tea Weight Loss A Reality

So the Chinese have had green tea now for around 4,000 years. They’re keen with herbs and stuff, and they stick with green tea’s ability to help you lose weight. Case in point: the Japanese. Their society is literally addicted to green tea, with local demand pushing the local supply of high-grade green tea to the limit. And if you notice, it’s rare to find overweight Japanese. And they attest it all to their insatiable thirst for green tea.

To drink up your cup of green tea it is good to have a kettle where you can boil a small amount of water if you only want to make one cup of tea. For this I can recommend the Bodum Mini Ibis Electric Water Kettles because they are perfect for that purpose.

So here’s the question: are green tea weight loss diets plausible?

The quick answer to that question is a resounding yes! Whether through drinking green tea or through dietary supplements, green tea weight loss diets revolve around the time-tested reliability of green tea to help in weight reduction.

Green tea weight loss: The Scientific Studies

The Study:

There is this physiologist, William Rumpler, who’s currently investigating the effects of green tea on the energy expenditure and fat oxidation of the body when exposed to green tea. In English, that means your body’s generation of energy for you to work and the tendency to burn up fat for fuel. Both are ways for you to lose weight.

The only weight-reducing component that they’ve identified in green tea is the caffeine. However, when they had other subjects consume caffeinated water instead of full-strength green tea, they experienced some strange results. Not surprisingly, the subjects who took full-strength green tea had significantly greater energy expenditure and fat oxidation levels in their body.

The Implications:

All they could do is attribute the weight-loss effects of green tea to confounding variables. Simply put, this means that they don’t know what the heck it is in green tea that helps people lose weight. The only thing the scientists are sure about is that it helps you lose weight. More studies in this field will probably isolate what makes you lose weight when you drink green tea.

But no matter what research will yield, they’ve already proven the fact that green tea weight loss diets work. And that’s what really counts.

The Bonuses:

Other related studies about green tea indicate that not only will you lose weight, but you’ll also have a healthier life in the process: antioxidants help clean up the damaging free radicals that float around in your body, your intestinal track is less likely to absorb excess cholesterol, and your risk to get cancer is significantly lowered.

What more could you ask from green tea weight loss diets? You get what you want and even more, all for just drinking a couple of cups a day!

The Wrap-up

Green tea weight loss diets not only help you lose weight, but you’re losing it naturally and healthily. There’s no need to take in chemical poisons to lose weight; no need to undergo surgical procedures that’ll cost a small fortune and create a scar on your body. All you need is a healthy lifestyle complemented by a green tea weight loss diet, and you’re sure to go down the road to a slim and healthy future.

Mull about it over a cup of green tea.

Some Motivation Help for Exercise and Training that Works

Unfortunately it is true that exercise and training takes some work. On the other hand for effective fat loss you really have to do some exercise as a diet alone will not do the trick. Especially if you are asking the question: "How Can I Lose Fat?" exercise will have to be a part of your slimming efforts.

The problem very often is that people find it hard trying to do the same routine each and every week. This is then very often the reason why some people eventually get bored and stop doing their fitness and exercise programs altogether.

There are ways, however, that you may be able to avoid this and continue on making exercise and fitness as a habit. One way is to make use of exercise equipment such as the 2 in 1 Elliptical Cross Trainer & Exercise Bike that has many built in variations to make it more interesting.

Another important aspect of keeping up with any exercise and training program and sticking to it is proper motivation. If you are not motivated to exercise, and disciplined enough to stick to it you will find that getting into the habit very difficult.

Making any type of fitness program workable will then be impossible. In short, you will not be able to stick to any fitness routine long enough to get any results from it. You can then get the best possible exercise equipment, such as the Keiser M3 Indoor Cycle and it will be a waste of money!

Motivation is something that does not happen in an instant. It is something that should be worked at. It is something that has to be worked upon. Just as easy as you can find enough motivation it is also just as easy to lose it. That is why you should try to psyche yourself up and try to keep that motivation up before it wanes.

The root behind the right motivation for exercise and training comes from the very reasons why you even wanted to start at all. If you want to lose weight desperately or if you want to build up a good physique that would then be the primary motivation to keep you going.

To follow an exercise and training program, that will help you to get the results you want, will then become easy. Then all you need to do is to keep reminding yourself, every day, why you are doing what you do and what you want to get from it.

One way of reminding yourself of what you are doing to keep the motivation up is learning to have a visual cue of what you want to become. What you want to look like and why you are doing the exercises.

If you wish to lose weight, you might want to have a visual image of what you want to look like after you have reached your goal. You can have a poster of the type of figure you wish to have after you have lost all the weight that you want to lose.

Another way to keep your motivation up while you are on an exercise program is by not doing it alone. You can get a friend or a colleague at work, with the same goals as you, to join you in your efforts.

By training with a friend you will have someone who can inspire you to do better and vice versa. Having a friend to work out with will provide you with the necessary motivation to keep going and to strive for your fitness goals.

Another way to keep up your motivation is by simply trying to keep track of your progress. Try to have a record of your previous weight or size and try to keep track of the changes on a weekly basis to give you an account of the pounds that you have lost and the inches that has melted away due to your hard work with exercise and training. Just by keeping track and being aware of the positive changes would even motivate you to do better and reach out for more.

Can Stretching Help You Slim?

I think this is something everyone thinks about, "can stretching help you slim?" You hear claims and wonder if it is true. Well, you can stretch yourself two dress sizes smaller, but then you have to really do it regular and do it in the correct way.

With a machine such as the LifeSpan Fitness SP1000 Stretch Partner Stretching Machine you should be able to do all stretches you need and you should see results in a very short while.

That being said, you cannot expect to lose any weight by using a machine such as the LifeSpan Fitness SP1000 Stretch Partner Stretching Machine. All stretching does is make you suppler and then you appear slimmer, but you will not lose any weight.

If you are really overweight or even obese, you will really have to do more than only stretch, even with a good machine such as the LifeSpan Fitness SP1000 Stretch Partner Stretching Machine.

For real weight loss you will have to go on a healthy balanced and calories controlled diet, because as we know in how to lose weight calories are important, and you will have to do more exercise as well. You will have to include some cardio and resistance training in your routine as well.

So, even though a machine such as the LifeSpan Fitness SP1000 Stretch Partner Stretching Machine can help you with suppleness, mobility and the prevention of injuries, it is not going to make you lose any weight without diet and exercise.

So, if you are saying "how can I lose fat" stretching alone is not going to do it for you.

How Can I Lose Fat And The Benefits of Cardio Training

Cardio training is always and essential part of a healthy weight loss effort if you are saying "how can I lose fat?" Sometimes the weather is not that good and you need some other way to workout and keep up with your cardio. So, before we look at cardio, let us look at some equipment you can use to train at home.

Well, if you love cycling, and you have a bicycle, looking at a bicycle trainer, such as the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine, it is much cheaper option than any other home exercise equipment.

Of course if you do not cycle, looking at the Stamina Spacemate Folding Stepper or the 2 In 1 Elliptical Cross Trainer & Exercise Bike is other good options to look at.

OK, so let us have a look at cardio as part of your healthy lifestyle and weight loss efforts.

1. What Is Cardio Training?

Cardio training involves any activity that requires the use of the large muscle groups of the body in a regular and uninterrupted manner. It elevates the heart rate between 60 to 85 percent of the fastest heart rate you could get. For fat burning purposes it is best to train at 60% level.

Some of the usual cardio training activities are walking, jogging, running, aerobics, cycling, tae bo, swimming and rowing.

What Are the Benefits of Training Apart from the Weight Loss?

1. Gives Energy to the Body

You can expect more energy and higher endurance after some time of regular cardio training.

2. Prevents Diseases

One could prevent heart diseases with regular cardio training. It is also helpful in preventing other diseases such as diabetes, obesity and even high cholesterol.

Cardiovascular training strengthens the heart and the lungs. Low to moderated type of cardio exercises are required for people wanting to prevent diseases. Examples of these are walking, brisk walking or jogging.

For moms wanting to go jogging with baby, the Schwinn Hope Jogging Stroller is ideal. With it you can go jogging and take baby along!

3. Control Your Weight

With cardio training, you are able to burn more calories. This will help you lose weight. Those who have already achieved their goal weight, Training will make it easier to control their weight.

Cardio training helps to burn some extra calories. However this depends on your current weight and the kind of cardio training you are doing. Here it is best to consult with a trainer if you are not sure.

4. Lose Body Fats

Some people do not have a problem with their weights. However, there may be some fat in certain areas that keeps bothering them. Cardio training will help you with getting rid of those. Cardio activities involve the movement of large muscle groups. Regular cardio will make you leaner.

5. Get Rid of Boredom

Cardio training is fun. It pumps up your system. You will definitely feel more energized and rearing to go.

Recommendations for More Enjoyment and Benefits from Cardio Training:

Cardio training is essential when you need to make health improvements. For starters, it is best to do 30 to 45 minutes of exercises, 3 to 5 days a week. If you are aiming for weight loss, the training should be done 5 days a week. The more frequent you do it; the more likely it is that you will lose weight. However, avoid exhausting yourself too much. Avoid going beyond 45 minutes. Remember, it has to be done on a regular basis.

Start now. Walk or ride the bike around the neighborhood. Follow that aerobics video you purchased. Set a goal and follow that goal. At the same time, modify your diet as well. Eat healthy food. There will be no weight loss without a healthy diet.

As you increase your fitness levels, the intensity of the training must also increase. There should always be room for improvement. Implement this by intensifying some parts of the training. If you are into jogging or running, increase speed every 5 minutes for at least a minute or two. It is important that you challenge yourself, so as not to be stuck in a stump.

Avoid doing cardio exercises just before bedtime. You will have a difficult time falling asleep. If you do so the energy level of the body will stay high for sometime keeping you awake.

If you are undergoing weight training too, do the cardio exercises right after, not before.

It is best to take a snack 30 minutes before doing cardio exercises. Do not start with training on an empty stomach. This will not help you to achieve the proper momentum when you train. At the same time, avoid indulging in large meals before exercising. Just give your body the proper supply it will need to sustain you during your training.

Simple Home Fitness Ideas For Moms That Are Quick And Easy

So often moms are asking the question "How can I lose fat?" You know you have to eat healthy and exercise, but how? Very often you are also wondering How Kids Lose Weight. All these can be resolved with a little planning.

When you workout at home using exercise equipment one of the real problems are the difficulty in scheduling a regular fitness routine. This is even truer if you are a work at home mom.

Work at home moms have to juggle the many tasks that needs her attention such as doing home chores, taking care of the kids and the spouse, and running errands.

Unfortunately, very often, all these activities add to a very tight schedule and it leaves the home fitness equipment just lying there collecting dust in a corner of the home.

If you are one of these moms that have problems finding time to stick to a proper fitness routine, you can still workout even without using any fitness equipment.

Here are a few quick and simple ideas on how to keep your body healthy and fit all year round:

1. Work and Exercise with your Kids

If you have kids and a baby, take this as an advantage rather than a disadvantage as far as your workout routine goes. Put your baby in his pushchair and then go for a walk around the block with the kids. Brisk walking is a good cardio exercise, which keeps you feeling refreshed and relaxed afterwards. Plus, it is good for the kids as well.

If you love cycling, why not get the kids bicycles such as the Mongoose Montana Boy's Mountain Bike 24 Inch Wheels and go cycling. Put a baby chair on yours for the baby and you are spending some quality time with the kids while you are getting your exercise!

Also, you can get everybody moving by tidying the kitchen, the living room, and the bedrooms for at least five minutes a day. Have fun by setting a timer, putting music on, and getting everybody, including you, picking up the clatters, books, toys, clothes, shoes, and so on and so forth.

It is good cardio exercise for you and your kids even though it is only for a short time. There are many things you can do with your kids that will keep you up and running. In the process you keep yourself fit and healthy without spending hours training.

2. Use your Time Alone

When you are alone at home, make a list of 5-minute activities, that you can do, which will get you active and exerting some physical effort. It can be as simple as climbing the stairs up and down, stretching, running to and fro the house, gardening, watering the plants, laundering the clothes, washing the dishes, any activity that will speed up your heart rate.

You can go to the park and just walk around and catch some fresh air. There are endless activities you can do. The good thing is it does not only achieve your goal of burning calories daily but it allows you to accomplish the household chores at the same time.

Of course, you need to take rest as well. It will help a lot if you get enough sleep so that your body and mind are refreshed daily. You must also bear in mind that eating healthy foods is the key to completing your goal of keeping fit and healthy. Be sure that the food is both good for you and your kids. Nothing can ever beat a healthy balanced eating plan.