Tourq

Acai Berry: Fruit, or Fruitless?

Apr 152012

Acai (ah-sah-ee, ah-sigh-ee) is a fruit hailing from Central and Southern America. If you’ve been on the internet in the last couple of years, you have no doubt seen advertisements for these acai berries and acai supplements. Time and time again I have seen so many claims as to the health benefits of this miracle fruit, so I have finally decided to look into it myself.

Where it is grown, it is widely consumed in various forms (smoothies and other juice drinks, alcohol, ice cream flavors, and even mixed with cereal). There’s no doubt about what it is – a fruit. What is in doubt are the claims made by the hundreds or thousands of distributors and advertisers that are peddling this product. Flip through any magazine or spend any time on the internet and you’ll come across it.

I get really peeved when I see something advertised as truth without any facts to support the claims. Most advertisements claim acai promotes weight loss, while others try to get away with other claims: “If you eat this dietary supplement, you will lose weight, cleanse your system, improve sleep, beat depression, have more energy, and even grow bigger.”

Acai is a fruit, so you can expect to get all the benefits that come with eating fruit (that is, if you eat a handfull of actual acai berries). The problem is that most people in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Africa don’t eat the fruit; they eat the non-FDA approved supplements, instead. The actual fruit, even compared to other fruits, does not seem very impressive. It ranks about the same as rasberries, apples, oranges, and grapes. Not bad, but really, any other comparison is simply spltting hairs.

There are many types of advertisements on the web for this “miracle fruit.” Most of them boil down to three types:

The miracle weight loss supplement.
The miracle weight loss supplement combined with a cleansing product for maximum effect.
Those that claim to have tested acai beforehand, with before and after pictures. They just want to be “truthful” and “help” others to lose weight, just like they did.

Most advertisers are fly-bys. They are people that see an opportunity to make some money off of others’ hopeful dreams and/or lack of knowledge. Many times, free trials are offered simply to get you to sign up. Too many times these free trials are nearly impossible to cancel, resulting in multiple charges to credit cards. I especially loathe those advertisers who purport to warn about acai scams, when that is exactly what they are doing – scamming others. Maybe I should set up a quick acai website of my own, advertise the ‘benefits’ of acai supplements and acai juice, and then make probably over $500 a month – easy.

I’m like most people. I would like there to be a miracle supplement that does all of the hard work for me. Unfortunately, acai berries are not that miracle. If they came to my supermarket, I might try a few, but I would not expect anything from them other than what normally comes from a fruit. I advise anyone that is interested in acai fruit to avoid it until you can buy it locally.

Thanks for reading,

-Tourq

Break it in with Bodyweight Exercises!

Workouts / Exercise No Responses »

Mar 252012

I have to say it: Bodyweight Exercises are huge. Not only are they almost completely equipment-free, but they are literally the only workouts you need to get in shape and lose 30 pounds. On top of that, they are geared for all people, no matter their fitness level. If you’re looking to break in your fitness engine, bodyweight exercises are the way to go.

What are bodyweight exercises? Basically, any exercise that uses your own bodyweight as resistance is a bodyweight exercise. The push-up, pull-up, sit-up, crunch, squat, jump squat, and dip exercises are the most common examples. They all require virtually no equipment to perform. Ok, so you might need a couch to plant your feet under for sit-ups, or a tree branch to do your pull-ups. That’s no big deal. For all the others you only need the ground. Sounds like a financially viable option for me!

Getting started: As always, you’ll need a comfortable pair of workout shoes, shorts/sweats, etc. Don’t forget your water beforehand. I prefer to do most of my bodyweight exercises outside, on a jogging path or dirt road, where I can incorporate a bit of running. Those Circuit Tracks at parks, colleges, and even some company buildings would be perfect. If you have to do it inside, move the furniture around to give yourself some room.

For beginners: Jog around for about five minutes, and get a sip of water. Then do a bit of stretching. If you’re inside, do some jumping jacks and stationary jogging. Once you’re warmed up, you’re ready to break that engine in.

Jog for a minute, then stop and do some push-ups. Do 10. If you can only do 5, then do 5. If you have to do push-ups on your knees, then do that. The point is to do some.

Get back up, walk for about 30 seconds, then start jogging again. After about a minute of jogging, do some sit-ups. Do 10. Do more if you want to. You don’t have to plant your feet under anything. Raise your legs up if you don’t want to do sit-ups.

Get back up, walk for about 30 seconds, then start jogging again. After a minute, do some squats. Do 20.

“Squats? What’s that?”

Easy. Plant your feet about shoulder-width apart, and a little angled away from each other. Now squat down and then back up. That’s 1.

“Those are too easy.”

Yes, they are easy. Just wait until you do 20.

Get my drift? Keep doing this for about 15 or 20 minutes. Take longer walking breaks if you really need to. Do the circuit of push-ups, sit-ups, and squats three or four times, or add in a few other exercises. Finish up by going for a 5-minute walk or jog.

And that’s it. Simple.

For those accustomed to bodyweight exercises: Increase the number of repetitions, or sprint for 10 seconds instead of jogging. If you really want to fire up your engine, do jump squats instead of normal squats. It is exactly as it sounds. As you’re performing your squat, jump straight up with power and torque. These really help train you to jump higher.

I prefer exercises that are simple, that I did in gym class in grade-school. Bodyweight exercises are simple, effective, and best of all, easy. There’s no reason why they can’t be done. No excuses. Just dooz it.

A Running Workout, with Push-Ups!

Workouts / Exercise No Responses »

Mar 252012

Again, I like to incorporate various types of running into my workouts. It’s easy, you can do it anywhere, and you can push yourself harder when your body needs it. You know what else is easy? Push-ups.

Preparation:
Make sure that you’ve been properly hydrating yourself in preparation for your workout. Water is preferable, sugar drinks are not. You especially don’t need energy drinks or even Gatorade. You’ll have a harder time trying to lose 30 pounds when drinking extra calories. Water has zero calories, so just drink that.

Also, consider where you will be running and what you’ll be wearing. If the area is smooth, you can get away with light running shoes. However, since we aren’t concerned with how far we run, opt instead for shoes that provide greater stability (you can’t run on a sprained ankle). Don’t forget about the watch (and no, it doesn’t have to be fancy). Since the workout will be a little bit dynamic, don’t bring the Ipod, as it will get in the way.

Start off with a light jog for about five or ten minutes, and then stretch your legs, butt, back, chest, shoulders, and neck. Stretching has a dual purpose: It obviously helps prevent injuries while exercising, but more importantly (in my opinion) you should stretch with the intention of burning calories (you can’t run if injured, which limits your options when trying to lose 30 pounds).

Do this workout to help you lose 30 pounds. Begin with a sip of water:
1. Now jog for 1 minute.
2. After that minute is up, drop and do 10 push-ups.
3. When done, get up and walk for 30 seconds.
4. Now run at a fast jog (about 50% of your max speed) for 30 seconds. Slow down to a normal jog and begin again at step 1. That’s it.

See how many sets you can do in 30 minutes (a set, in this case, is following through with all 4 steps). If you maintained a steady pace or cadence throughout, you should be able to do at least 12 sets.

Really, the only way to do more sets in 30 minutes is to perform your push-ups faster. You can do them as fast as you want, but after 30 seconds, get up and start walking. When you’re done with the workout, walk for at least 5 minutes to cool down.

For beginners:
Beginners will have two crunch areas: keeping with the run pace, and performing 10 push-ups in every set.

Beginners might find themselves running a little slow during the 50% speed run. That’s ok, as long as you move faster than a walk. With regard to the push-ups, maybe you can’t do 10 push-ups 12 times, or maybe you can’t even do a single push-up. That ok. Simply do what you can. “10” is not a magic number; it’s just something to strive for. If you can’t do a single push-up, or you get too tired to do any more, do this instead: Get into the push-up position, and slowly lower yourself to the ground, keeping your body and back straight the whole time. When that is done, get yourself back into the push-up position (however you can) and lower yourself again. This is a great pre-push-up exercise that will quickly get you prepared for real push-ups, and they still burn a lot of calories! Just make sure that after about 30 seconds you get back up and start walking, continuing your workout. Remember, if you want to lose 30 pounds, you have to stick with it.

For the fit or experienced:
The fit or experienced will have to make adjustments to stay challenged with this workout. If they want to lose 30 pounds, they have to really amp it up. Choose any or all:
- Jog faster
- Sprint at 90% (not 50%)
- Run uphill
- Don’t walk
- Do more push-ups
- Do push-ups with one leg raised off the ground.
I do not recommend one-arm push-ups; they are simply done in poor form and make you more susceptible to injury.

I love this workout because you can do it anywhere, with no equipment, and you can tailor it to your fitness level. In my quest to lose 30 pounds, this is a keeper.

Don’t forget a healthy meal plan, since it takes more than just exercise to lose 30 pounds!

P90X: Why it Works…

Equipment / Product Solutions 9 Responses »

May 232011

If you have any interest in burning fat and getting into shape, then you’ve probably heard of P90X. I’m going to explain why this workout and diet program is perfect for anyone who wants to lose 30 pounds (or 40, 60, or even 80 pounds). If you’re looking to lose more than 80 pounds, you’re going to need to build up to the workouts that this program provides.

So, first let me tell you what P90X is. P90X is:

Hard Work
Fat Loss
Conditioning
Strength Training
Flexibility
Nutrition and Diet Coaching
Easy

Let me explain these a bit further:

Hard Work – Make no mistake, P90X (like any good workout program) is hard work. When performing the workouts honestly, you’ll be breathing heavy and sweating well. You’ll get tired (but it’s a good tired), and you’ll get sore (but it’s a great sore)
Fat Loss – We try to not say “weight loss” around here, because that refers to loss of fat and muscle. That is done by restricting calories and not exercising (or not exercising correctly). With these workouts (which are not body-building workouts), you can be sure that you’ll only be losing fat, while at least maintaining your current muscle. When you chisel away that fat of yours, you’ll be left with those nice muscles that have been hiding underneath.
Conditioning – These aren’t endurance exercises. You’re not going to to be performing the same, boring routines. That type of exercise is good for the heart, for sure, but P90X workouts train and prepare your whole body for extended activities. You’ll have more stamina regardless of the sport or activity you do.
Strength Training – This is a total body strength training program – you will get stronger. However, as I’ve already said, this is not a body-building program. While you may gain some size, it’s the additional strength, torque, and definition that really pops.
Flexibility – From the stretching and yoga (yes, yoga), you’ll become more flexible. With that flexibility come few lifetime injuries. That’s just how it is.
Nutrition and Diet Coaching – The program tells you what to eat (with variations), how much, and when. It also tailors your diet to your situation and needs. It basically teaches you how to eat properly during the program, for which you can take with you for the rest of your life.
Easy – Yup. I said it. P90X is easy. I know that I said earlier that it was hard, but I was referring to the intensity and effort. It’s easy in the sense that anyone can do it, the exercises are not complicated, and you need very little equipment

Now, let me tell you what P90X is NOT. P90X is not Willpower. That’s it. That’s the only thing holding you back. That’s the only thing preventing your success.

Well guess what? The P90X program explains everything to you to make it easy – to help you with your willpower. There’s detailed information about your diet, but not so much that you get lost in it. You have several videos showing you real people doing the exercises. There are record sheets for you to record you repetitions, weights – all so that you can gauge your progress. Also, there’s online help and support like you wouldn’t believe.

You can burn fat and get into shape a number of ways, using a number of different programs, but there’s still that problem of willpower with most of them. I have to say that P90X helps with that willpower problem like no other, just because they make everything else so easy.

THIS IS THE ONLY PROGRAM I RECOMMEND. I wanted to lose 30 pounds, and this is the only thing that has worked for me. Everyone’s different, and may respond to different diet/exercise programs differently, but this is the only program that has worked for me.

For the P90X Extreme program, the only things you need are the

P90X Extreme ($139.80 new, and I’ve seen it as cheap as $77.00 used)
A pull-up bar (around $30.00)
and a couple of dumbbells

I’d order the program and pull-up bar from Amazon, and get your dumbbells from WalMart (that’s the cheapest way that I’ve seen). I recommend the Iron Gym pull-up bar. There is a P90X Peak Results package, but that’s too much money in my opinion. You just don’t need that extra stuff.

Planning And Implementing A Good Gym Program

General Health 5 Responses »

Jan 142011

With increasing health awareness and the idea of keeping the body in good shape gaining popularity, people are increasingly enrolling their names in gyms. However, if you have already burnt your body fat, you have to concentrate on developing muscles to achieve that ideal figure.

If you are genuinely serious about bodybuilding, you have to register with a well-equipped gym. You will not only find inspiration but also every kind of guidance from gym trainers. Moreover the professional exercise machines available at a gym are highly impractical to buy and install at your home. After getting a gym membership, you have to formulate and stick to an appropriate workout plan so that you can get the best outcome from your investments of time, money and effort.

The first thing to do is to get your workout routine charted out. A gym instructor can help you set your fitness goals and tell you comprehensively as to what you need to do to realize your objectives. Your plans must be based on a weekly routine, and must take into account everything from the kind of exercises you will perform and their routine, and also the amount of weight you will lift for your exercises.

Mental gearing up before you start your every day exercise is a must to put you in the correct mindset. You should not be laid back and lazy, as that will not only be ineffective but could also be dangerous. Total dedication and a strong spirit of competition are required in order to stick to your regime without abruptly stopping it.

Once you start your gym program you must maintain a record of how well you are progressing. This will make you stay on the right track and give you a sense of direction and control. Besides, when you have your improvement recorded on paper, your motivation levels will increase and so will your wish to attain your goal.

Instructors in a good gym will be qualified enough to recommend you the correct method for performing a specific exercise in your gym program. But if your instructor is a new comer, then you should check out bodybuilding sites on the internet or take help of a good book on the topic to figure out if the technique you are using is recommended by specialist trainers in the field and is not risky.

Finally, your diet plan forms a crucial component of a gym program. Gym dieticians can guide you on the diet you need to follow that will enable your body to recover the proteins and carbohydrates that are used up during your exercises.

By Peter Mason

Get Flat Abs – Helpful Info and Advice

General Health 6 Responses »

Jan 132011

By Janet Dawson

It has been said that what a man can do, a woman can equally do as well. Does this also apply to trainings to get flat abs? Or does a woman need much more effort than a man has to exert to achieve a flat abs? If a man finds it difficult to attain such figure, will women find it even tougher? Whichever may it be, a man or a woman, one thing is for sure and that is in order to acquire flat abs has set routines that must be followed.

Without any doubt, if you wish to have flat and sexy abs, then you must be able to endure the punitive program of working out. Your personal exercise program should include cardiovascular exercises, sit-ups and other activities that keep your body fit and in shape, especially your abdominal muscles.

Unless this program is implemented religiously and stringently, no individual can ever report any success, whether it is a man or a woman. The problem is – While men could go about doing these exercises almost irrespective of their health condition, the same cannot be said about women. Their bodies are subject to so many hormonal changes and body conditions that it is important for them to consider their state of health before they even decide to give these exercises a go. For example, any woman in pregnancy may not even think of doing these exercises because it could be fatal for her and the baby as well.

Another possible trouble is menopause. Though women in their menopausal stage are advised to do some exercises, it should be noted that these are light intensity activities only. During this time of a woman’s life, the body is subjected to a lot of hormonal changes and performing heavy type of exercises will not do any help for the body’s recuperation; in fact, they can even hamper its recovery. Hence, light exercises are advisable for women if they really want to get flat abs.

The best routine that suits for women are a combination of light intensity ab crunches as well as cardio exercise and body workouts including power aerobics for successfully to get flat abs. This routine is simple and highly recommended. With this regular program, you find that women will scarcely suffer problems with their health. In Addition, women as a whole, compared to that of men, have more fragile bodies and for this fact their health must put into utter priority.

Not only women have restrictions, though the limitations that are discussed above can only be applicable to women. Men also have times that heavy exercise should not be done. Men suffering from cardiac ailment, exercises that are exhausting are not recommended. Such being the case, it must be notable that women, to get flat abs, have to be more cautious in doing some exercise. Thus, women can get their hopes up in getting flat abs while the routines are not too far different from those of the men’s. However, at times, women need to go moderately in exercising.

About the Author:

Did you find those information on how to get flat abs helpful? You can learn a lot more about training and nutrition for getting flat abs by clicking here

Natural Methods To Slim Down By Using Calorie Menu

Diet / Meal 3 Responses »

Jan 122011

By Henry Riffiles

In our life, there are two ways to achieve anything, the hard way and also the easy way. The option is yours. There are products available in the market, which makes you lose weight. No doubt, they are doing fantastic job in making you lose weight. However, we have to ask one question at what cost. The cost you pay is that you simply are depriving yourself the pleasure of life.

For people who really want to slim down, this type of eating will not help matters mainly because the preservatives used in these foods could be quite harmful to the well being and not to mention the colossal calorie content – geez!

First, make specific goals and write them down. A goal is usually the amount of weight you want to lose, how you’ll go about losing it or a thing as simple as a garment you need to be able to fit in again.

As far as calorie restrictions are concerned, you must consult your doctor first to give you an approval having a certain diet strategy. Regardless of the reason for restricting calories, you should never lower your calorie intake for a prolonged period of time. In fact, going through extremely limited calorie consumption for 3 consecutive days could be rather risky for your well being.

Whenever you plan your meals, you may have the ability to manage the type of food you eat and it will also help you avoid a situation exactly where you will have no choice but to chow down on unhealthy, calorie packed, fatty foods. Since you planned your meal beforehand, you will be able stick to your diet, thus helping you to slim down.

Lastly, keep in mind you didn’t gain the weight from eating just two meals, so allow yourself the appropriate amount of time to take the weight off.

Thoughts About Nutrition And Workout Routines

General Health 4 Responses »

Jan 122011

By Buford Pirkleton

Losing weight and being healthy are two common reasons that people begin workout routines. Included in the pattern of exercises that many workout routines involve is a focus on healthy and nutritious eating.

Feeling good and looking good are great motivators. Shiny buffed muscles and sleek-fitting skirts or slacks just might be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that moves some people into action. There is likely an equal number of motivations to get fit as there are people in the world.

What feels good to some doesn’t apply to all. Even though media images often depict ultra-thin physiques as the ideal, not everyone feels good when they’re too thin. Super model skinny is not everyone’s goal, and some people who are too thin are unable to engage in physical activities because their vital organ functions don’t have the capacity to support the required energy output.

On the other hand, being too fat isn’t the best condition to be in for participating in physical activities, either. Having to lug that extra mass around is hard on the skeleton, and also on the circulatory system as it tries to distribute life-sustaining blood and oxygen throughout the body.

Optimum weight depends on several factors. How tall you are, your bone density, age, and gender can all play a part in determining your preferred weight. Different theories support different methods for calculating what a person should ideally weigh. Medical professionals who have a thorough understanding of how the body’s varied systems function, and what each system requires to function properly, might be the safest sources for helping a person determine a person’s weight goal.

Think of an old scale, one that uses balance to measure weight. This concept applies to the body with regard to balancing how much food and nutrition goes into it as compared to how much energy is expended from it. If more goes in than comes out, the result is usually weight gain. If more comes out than goes in, the result is likely weight loss. But there are other factors in the equation, like each body’s specific nutritional needs, stage of development or deterioration, current size, and activity level.

Most nutritionists agree there are major food groups from which we derive most of our nutrition. Those are grains and cereals, fruits and vegetables, meat poultry and fish, dairy, and fats and oils. From these food groups, many say it’s important to include a variety in your diet and to steer away from foods with a lot of salt or sugar, or too much fat and cholesterol. Increasing the amount of foods that contain fiber and starch is generally a good thing.

So once you’ve fueled the body with a proper combination of nutrition, it’s also important to help the body balance itself by expending the excess energy through exercise. Just what kind of exercise and how much is best is open to debate. There are countless theories on which types of exercises are best for achieving various desired results. But it might be a good idea to simply focus on activities that are enjoyable and practical rather than tedious and expensive when considering developing workout routines.

The Best Aerobic Exercises Out There

Workouts / Exercise 2 Responses »

Jan 122011

There are many ways to get your thirty minutes of exercise a day, but which ones are best for you?

But short of hiring a personal trainer, it can be difficult to decide which exercises will most benefit you as an individual. If you are confused about where you should begin, here are a few simple exercises to help you get started; you can always adjust to your ability levels.

Start by walking every day for a minimum of twenty minutes. This is best done on your lunch break at work because it greatly reduces your chance of having afternoon fatigue and can help you focus better for the rest of your work day.

Swimming is a great, no impact exercise routine. You are working every muscle in your body and increasing your heart rate without the risk of injuring your knees or back. If you have any health risks, swimming is one of the most recommended aerobic exercises by fitness professionals.

Last but not least, stair climbing is an amazing way to bring your heart rate up to speed! This can also be done on your lunch break or at home without any special equipment. You can be certain to increase your heart rate quickly so be sure not to overdo it.

There are hundreds of ways to participate in aerobic exercises. Don’t limit yourself to the same thing every day as you put yourself at risk of reaching a point of “levling-off” quickly. And as usual, be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin any exercise routine.

About the Author: Travis Stephenson

If You Would Like Some FREE Information on Aerobics and How You Can Take Advantage Of This To Not Only Better Your Life, Be In Better Shape, But Also Some Great Tips On Losing Weight, Please Visit OUR WEBSITE

Beginner Workout Tips

Workouts / Exercise 12 Responses »

Dec 022010

Getting You On The Fast Track To Fitness Success

If you have recently begun to dip a metaphorical toe – well Bicep, into the exciting, rewarding and sometimes idiosyncratic world of Fitness, Bodybuilding or even general keep fit, then congratulations.

In no time at all, you will soon begin reaping the benefits of your healthy new lifestyle. Including but not limited too, clearer skin, energy levels that skyrocket past what you have been used to, better lung capacity, feeling more relaxed and having the pleasurable experience of finding complete strangers of the opposite (or same!) sex, initiating random conversations with you. Now why could that be?

Of course, all of the above will only come to those who wait, work consistently towards their goals and are willing to learn from educated, honest Trainers. Like me! So this article sets out to detail some very important beginner workout tips and also aims to explode some of the silly myths that get passed round Gym locker rooms the world over.

Beginner Workout Tips For Fat Loss: The Unsung Benefits Of Interval Training

Most people fall into the misguided notion that they need to be running, walking whatever for as long as absolutely possible in order to effectively burn fat. The truth is; Yes that works, but it is not nearly as effective as HIT cardio. To burn loads more calories than standard cardio all you need to do is cycle between periods of high intensity activity and less strenuous recovery periods.

The great thing about this type of cardio workout is that its quick and super effective. Even when you are resting, your body will be burning calories at greatly increased rates. Watch as the person next to you spends twice as long on the machine opposite whilst you were finished ten minutes ago, and burnt twice as many calories as them. Suckers!

The Old ‘No Pain No Gain Principle’ What A Load Of Baloney

If you are looking to build muscle or generally just tone up then you need to realize that a lot of common misconceptions are flying around. One of the main ones is the old ‘no pain no gain’ principle.

What you are actually doing when you lift weights is to stimulate muscle growth by breaking down muscle fibers and letting them repair bigger and stronger.

So to those of you advocating hundred rep sets and other such nonsense. Its just that – nonsense. You can build far more muscle using less reps with a heavier weight than you ever will with high volume sets.

If you want to tone muscles – use light weights for 15-25 reps
A medium weight repped for 10-15 times will develop lean quality muscle
Heavy Weights lifted for 4-8 repetitions will create increased volumes of overall muscle mass

About the Author: Danny Tippings

Learn The Secrets Of How To Effectively Build Muscle For Beginners. PLUS: Discover The Ultimate Bicep Workouts to Turbo-Boost your muscle building.

Fat Burning Nutrition Tips

Diet / Meal 29 Responses »

Sep 102010

The importance of nutrition simply cannot be stressed enough when talking about weight loss. Just by eating the proper foods, you will already have the upper hand whn attempting to lose belly fat (body fat). After all, it’s the food you consume that will ultimately determine the amount of calories and fat your body burns.

Most people believe that limiting themselves to a very low caloric intake or eliminating carbohydrates will result in faster fat loss. The reality of it is that this approach can actually sometimes cause fat gain.

While extreme diets are often seen as being the best fat burning diets, this can’t be any further from the truth. These diets can often result in the body entering into a “survival mode”, which will result in your body storing as much fat as possible, rather than burning your existing fat.

The good news is that eating a fat burning diet is not hard. The key is to eat the proper foods and eat them at regular intervals throughout the day to boost metabolism and get those fat burning engines running.

A healthy fat burning diet consists of three main food groups: proteins, carbohydrates and vegetables. Eating the proper foods will ensure that the body is receiving all the vitamins and nutrients it needs to function at peak performance.

Eating the right foods consistently throughout the day will help it recover after workout sessions and continue burning fat, as opposed to reaching that dreaded plateau that many dieters have trouble with when trying to lose fat.

In addition, eat five or six meals per day, consisting of a variety of the above-mentioned food, about every three to four hours throughout the day. Eating more often instead of three larger meals helps to increase the body’s metabolism and boost overall fat loss.

Spacing your foods out evenly between all the different meals may be one of the easiest ways for you to begin eating balanced meals. It’s basically up to you, as long as you try to include each food group in each meal.

Many experts suggest that it’s best to include a protein, a vegetable, and a carbohydrate when you eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On the other hand, the smaller meals you eat in between should include a protein and a carbohydrate.

If you find yourself getting hungry, you won’t be doing yourself any harm if you indulge in one or two extra portions of vegetables. After all, vegetables are healthy, and they’re also loaded with nutrients which will help with the fat burning process.

Eggs are (without a doubt) one of the very best fat burning proteins out there, but (of course) you could also use whey protein or some other protein powder supplements. Other foods (such as chicken, turkey, beef, salmon, yogurt, and milk) are also a good source of protein.

Vegetables (such as broccoli, salad greens, and bell peppers) are amongst the best fat burning vegetables you’ll come across, but of course you’ll also want to add some variety to your diet. In order to do that, be sure to eat plenty of tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, cucumbers, etc.

When it comes to fat burning carbohydrates, your shopping trolley should include plenty of fresh fruits (such as bananas, pineapple, grapes, oranges, and so forth).

All you need to do now is to couple these dietary tips with a good 30 minute workout three times each week, and you’ll inevitably find your belly fat going th way of the Dodo.

About the Author: Ricardo D Argence

Sick and tired of fad diets that doesn’t work? We have for you a lot of articles and reviews of the best fat burning diets to lose weight permanently. You can also read my fat burning furnace review and lose weight quickly.

York X202 Cross Trainer

Equipment / Product Solutions Comments Off

Aug 142010

Consumers today are finding life in a busy state that has challenged their health a great deal. This has become the main reason for them to search for the finest equipment that can lead them towards a trouble-free life. This is also the main reason for the ultimate product types that provide consumers with various benefits in the present.

Fortunately, today, companies understand consumer needs and act accordingly. This is the main reason for York, a leading manufacturer of fitness equipment, to come forward with some great concepts in terms of exercise bikes, cross trainers, and treadmills. It certainly, as a company, has a strong record in the field mainly because it understands its job well.

York has produced a cross trainer machine named X202, which has certainly earned a great deal of consumer attention. This enables users to control their body fat in controlled workout sessions. Its sixteen resistance levels that operate in a computer magnetic method serve users quite well. Furthermore, it houses a magnetic pulse sensor which is another very important factor. It also has the ability of holding a massive 140kg, providing a fine service to users.

In addition, this product houses a large LCD that displays everything that is going on, making users feel more secure in terms of their exercise methods. This indicates important information such as pulse, time, speed, calories, distance, body fat, RPM, room temperature and functions under nine user profiles.The York X202 Cross Trainer has certainly become a product that has earned much consumer appreciation due to its fine features. This is clear when we identify the consumer feedback and its high sales records. As this is a product by a market leader, consumers are more likely to have a bright future in terms of consumer benefits.

Jonathan Davis

You may also be interested in a York exercise bike or a York treadmill.

Basic Fat Loss Tips to Lose 30 Pounds

General Health 13 Responses »

Jul 282010

There are several different approaches to weight loss. Often times, just trying to figure what to do keeps many people from even starting. What to eat, how much do I eat, when do I eat, aerobic, anaerobic, weights, supplements, and so on. If all that can seem confusing, then look at this practical list of some of the most basic strategies you can start using today.

Of course, it’s important to reduce your calories each day, but when should you eat? First, make sure that you eat right after waking up. This revs up your metabolism for the day. Then eat every two to three hours, to maintain a steady, active metabolism.

So how many calories should you consume in any given day? I like to say to eat about as many calories equal to your target bodyweight, times ten. So, let’s say that you weight 210 pounds, and you wanted to lose 30 pounds. That means your target calories should be around 1,800. However, don’t go below 1500 calories, regardless of your target weight. You just can’t get proper nutrition with so few calories.

Exercise, though secondary to dieting, is crucial for fat loss. If you’re dieting, but not exercising, you’re likely to lose muscle along with fat, so you can never get that toned look. Exercise preserves muscle, as well as improves your overall fitness.

Here’s something a bit unusual. Replace one of your snacks or meals with a handful of almonds, and that’s it. Almonds have been called a powerfood, and have a ton of good fat and protein.

How about replacing one of your snacks or meals with a bowl of high-fiber cereal. I’m not talking about breakfast, I’m talking about a snack or even lunch. My favorite is Frosted Mini-Wheats.

This one is important for fat-loss. There is no reason to drink anything other than water and low-fat milk. Fruit juices, even freshly squeezed, have tons of calories. Diet drinks, while calorie-free, may actually increase your appetite. I know you’ve already given up regular soda and alcohol.

Protein is good, protein is great. Make sure it’s is in every meal. This fills you up and limits the amount of carbs you take in. With the extra protein, make sure you’re drinking lots and lots of water to offset the extra work your kidneys will be doing.

This one’s super easy. Get the junk food out of the house. Chips, crackers, and desserts are nothing but poison. You’re simply more likely to eat it if it’s in the house, so get rid of it. If you have others in the house that won’t stop buying it, have them keep it in their room, away from the kitchen.

Most of your carbohydrates should be eaten before dinner. That way, when you’re moving around for the day, your body burns up the carbohydrates. If you eat a lot of carbohydrates in the evening, it gets stored as fat because you’re sleeping and not moving around. It’s as simple as that.

These are just some of the ways to help promote your fat loss. I try to follow all of these (and then some). Of course, take whatever tips that best suit you, and never give up on your goals. Remember, if you want to lose 30 pounds, you have to start with the basics.

Some Useful Articles

General Health 22 Responses »

May 162010

I don’t usually do this, but since I’m always reading about weight loss from various sources, I thought I’d share some specific articles that I’ve found. Each of these impressed me enough to recommend them, so take to heart what you get out of them. Enjoy!

The Best Weight Loss Diet – Lose Weight Without Starving Or Giving Up Your Favorite Foods! – Some very simple, yet effective ways to cut calories from your diet.

Some Weight Loss Tips - good for losing those last few pounds.

Easy Weight Loss Tips - even more tips for losing pounds.

Fitness Tips - This page has a tone of usful articles and tips on getting fit, I highly recommend it.

Remember, there are a lot of different ways one can lose weight. Some of them work better than others, and some might not work at all. What’s important to remember is that everything you read on weight loss is a tool. Put those tools into your toolbox and use only the tools you want.

My Beef with P90X

Truth or Scam? 24 Responses »

May 092010

First off, let me tell you this: I love P90X. I thinks it’s great if you want to lose 30 pounds, or any weight, for that matter. It has an all-around, excellent approach to weight loss and physical fitness. I especially love the chest and back workout – I think it kicks ass. And Plyometrics? Whew! That’ll empty your gas tank real fast.

Minimal equipment is required. I have a set of 25 lbs. dumb bells and the Iron Gym pull-up bar. It’s the kind of pull-up bar that is easy to set up and take down (actually, I just usually leave it up). What’s even better is that it isn’t screwed into the door frame; it simply fits snugly against it. That’s it – no more equipment.

And the diet plan is awesome. It spells out how much you should be eating at any specific point in the program. The menus focus on delicious, practical dishes, many of which can be whipped up quickly and easily. It’s all about portion control, and tells you what equals what kind of portion size, and what qualifies as a helathy portion.

So what’s the deal? Why does it bother me? Easy. Even though I know that fat loss comes mostly from a reduced calorie/better choices diet, with a good exercise plan to back it up, I can sometimes still fall for the hype. I’ve seen all of the these commercials for P90X – about how it’s hard work, and hard work pays off, and all these exercise that can be done at home, exercises with minimal equipment, with the cool-looking models that all seem pretty fit, or these actual P90Xers performing the seemingly easy-to-perform moves. Oh, and a quick mention of their diet plan.

There it is, the diet plan. Well, when it comes to willpower and food, I have very little – willpower, that is. I wanted to lose 30 pounds, so I ordered the set (over $100), got the box, opened it up, and what’s the first thing I realize with this program? Yeah, I have to stick to their diet plan to see any real results. They even tell you that in their pamphlets. You can work out as much as you want, as hard as you want, but you’re gonna have to buckle up and eat X amount of food every day.

Oops, I, did it again, I fell for the hype, got lost in the game…

So there you have it. If you want to lose 30 pounds and get a ripped bod using P90X, you’re gonna have to work twice as hard due to the strict diet. If you’re thinking of going that route, just remember that the exercise alone is not going to get you there, even though you might think that from watching their commercial.

I’ve been using P90X for a little bit, and I have to say it’s awesome. I’ve never gotten a better workout. It’s perfect if you want to lose 30 pounds, just remember that “it” isn’t doing the work; you are. The P90X Peak Results package is, I’m sure, worth it, but I’m doing great with the cheaper Home Fitness Program.

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Basic Fat Loss Tips to Lose 30 Pounds

Some Useful Articles

My Beef with P90X

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