Posted in Article on January 27, 2012
How do you lose belly fat? That seems to be the million dollar question. Many people say the key is to “obey.” But, I’m going to give you a more thorough answer to the question how do you lose belly fat in this article. A firm, flat stomach is the ultimate symbol of sex appeal. But researchers have also found that losing abdominal fat is one of the most important things you can take to stay healthy for life.
While you probably realize that excess fat is unhealthy, you should also know that where the fat is distributed is key to health. People who are fattest in the abdomen (the so called “apple shaped body”) have a greater risk of heart disease and diabetes than those with pear shapes (fattest in the hips, buttocks, and thighs).
You won’t be surprised to learn that the best way to lose abdominal fat is to eat right and exercise regularly. And there’s a growing body of evidence showing that the quickest way to burn off the fat from your belly is with a mix of weight-training and aerobic exercise.
One study tracked 30 obese women for six months. The women were assigned to either a control group, an aerobic exercise group, or a combined exercise group.The aerobic exercise group did a full hour of cardio exercise for six days a week. The combined exercise group did weight training on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and aerobic exercise on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
At the end of the six month period, the women in the aerobic group had lost 23.1 cm of abdominal subcutaneous fat while the combined group lost 61.8 cm, nearly three times as much. The combined group also did better on the abdominal visceral fat measure with 93 cm lost compared to 82 for the aerobic only group. There was no change in the control group.
How do you lose belly fat starts with developing a combined exercise plan that is strenuous. 30 minutes a few times a week won’t cut it. You need a full body training program combining cardiovascular and resistance exercises. You don’t need to do hundreds of crunches, sit ups or any of the complicated routines being touted by the “six pack abs” hype machine. The key to losing belly fat is to burn more calories than you eat. These fancy exercises don’t burn the kind of calories you need in order to be really successful.
Getting killer abs has a lot less to do with training and everything to do with lowering your total body fat. The next step is to eat the right foods. There is a lot of conflicting information on nutrition. From the Adkins “eat no carbs” people to those who eschew all fats, there are radicals on every side.
How do you lose belly fat starts with taking in enough protein to maintain muscle mass. At least 20 to 30 percent of your diet should come from fats. Then, you balance your carbs around the other two factors depending on whether you want to lose weight or not. And if you are trying to lose belly fat, you do want to lose weight. You must take in fewer calories than you burn.
How do you lose belly fat? Basically, if you lose the excess fat in your system, your belly will go away too.
Posted in Video on January 26, 2012
Video: Hip lifts work your glutes, hamstrings and leg muscles.
Posted in Recipe on January 25, 2012
Ingredients
2 large cucumbers
2 large tomato
2 tbsp olive oil
dash of fresh oregano
dash of fresh parsley
Preparation
Wash and skin the cucumbers. Cut the cucumber into 1 inch slices. Cut the tomato’s into 4 quarters. Add to bowl and add olive oil, fresh oregano, and fresh parsley. Chill before serving for best flavor!
Posted in Video on January 24, 2012
Video: A demonstration of a beginner chest press which targets the chest and the arms.
Posted in Video on January 23, 2012
Video: This exercise targets the shoulder muscles, but gives your triceps a good workout too.
Posted in Article on January 22, 2012
Yoga is another exercise which doesn’t require a whole lot of equipment to start with. Basically all you need is a yoga mat. If you attend a local yoga class these may even be provided for you. Yoga is also a great exercise that can be done at home with just a DVD to follow.
Before starting any type of yoga it is a good idea to do some research and even watch a few DVD’s. There are certain poses that you will need to learn. Plus to get the most benefit you want to be assured of doing them correctly.
You will also want to learn breathing techniques as this will also enhance your performance. Your body is bound to get a little sore after your first yoga session. This is perfectly normal and the soreness can be reduced a little by stretching afterwards.
A good yoga class or video will take you through an entire yoga workout. This should include a warm up period, a breathing or meditation technique and then proceeds into the main yoga session. In between all of this you will be taught certain poses like the child pose that allows you to take a short rest period. The class or video will end with you performing a series of cool down poses along with stretching.
To get the most of your yoga class you should not wear any socks or shoes. You should also not eat a large meal before exercising and you will want to drink some water before your class.
Any good teacher will have the ability to help you adapt any of the yoga positions that you find too difficult. Remember not to compare yourself to others as they may be more advanced than you.
When first starting out with yoga you don’t have to rush out and buy yoga clothing. Just wear pants and a top that are comfortable and be sure your clothes don’t restrict your movements. Lightweight clothes are recommended as they will help keep the moisture away from your skin.
After a few yoga sessions you can decide if this is the type of exercise that you would like to continue with. If so then you can start to purchase more yoga equipment as necessary.
It is possible to find low cost alternatives for exercising. There are many low cost yoga classes that are available. If not you can get a library book or even look online for yoga videos if money really is an issue.
Posted in Video on January 21, 2012
Video: A fitness professional goes through a workout that targets your biceps.
Posted in Video on January 20, 2012
Video: This stretch is great for the glutes.
Posted in Recipe on January 19, 2012
Ingredients
1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
1 small bunch scallions, sliced, whites and greens separated
1 small garlic clove, finely chopped
4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps thinly sliced
4 cups water
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and sliced
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4 -inch cubes
Directions
In a very large soup pot, heat the sesame oil over medium heat.
Add the scallion whites and garlic; cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
Pour the water into the pot. Add soy sauce and ginger. Let simmer for 2 minutes.
Place the chicken in the broth. Reduce heat to low; cover and poach until the chicken is just cooked through, about 7 minutes.
Transfer the chicken evenly to 4 bowls. Pour broth over the chicken. Garnish with the scallion greens.
(Makes 4 Servings)
Posted in Recipe on January 18, 2012
Ingredients
6 avocados
2 tomatoes
2 tsp lemon juice
1 onion (diced)
1/2 tsp salt
Preparation
Peel and pit the avocados and add to a bowl. Chop the tomatoes into 4 equal pieces and add to bowl with diced onion. Mash it and mix it well, and throw on the lemon juice and the salt. Chill and serve!
