Be Fit Fitness Blog

Some people are lucky enough to stay slim all through their lives; they can eat all they want (actually, they don’t seem to want to eat like the rest of us who battle the bulge constantly), but they never seem to add a single pound. The rest of us however have to watch every single calorie if we want to fit into our clothes and not sprout unseemly bulges here and there. Unfortunately, weight loss is not an easy process – you try to work out regularly, but your crazy schedule combines with some laziness to sabotage your exercise program; you want to eat healthy food but the plethora of options available tempt and tantalize you until you give in and then feel guilty about it. So the best thing to do is adopt sneaky tactics to lose weight in every way you can – they’re pretty easy, but effective too:

Eat an adequate breakfast, a medium lunch, and very little dinner. When you limit what you eat towards the end of the day, you lose weight.

Don’t snack during the day; instead, eat six small meals rather than three big ones.

If you like your coffee with two or more spoons of sugar, use one spoon less; it’s not going to make much difference to the taste, but it does make a huge difference in your efforts to lose weight.

If you’re in the habit of drinking three or more cups of coffee (or any other beverage with sugar in it), drink one cup less.

Avoid alcohol as much as possible – it’s not only harmful to your health when imbibed in large amounts, it’s also loaded with calories. Besides, when you drink, you tend to eat salty savories like pretzels and nuts, all of which add to your daily calorific count. So if you drink every day, cut back at least one or two days of the week initially before you’re able to reduce it some more.

If you cannot resist fatty snacks, don’t keep them around the house or within easy access. When you feel the craving to eat food that’s not good for you, it’s easier to resist temptation when you don’t see them lying around.

Push up your activity level – don’t just lie on the couch when watching television; walk around your living room or just move from chair to chair; make more trips to the refrigerator if you need anything to eat or drink; avoid using the remote control; take the stairs instead of the elevator; park your car further from your office so you have to walk more; they’re all insignificant things, yet they help boost your metabolism and hasten your journey to a slimmer you. 

By-line:
This article is contributed by Susan White, who regularly writes on the subject of surgical technician schools. She invites your questions, comments at her email address: susan.white33@gmail.com.

Is being married fattening? I was listening to the radio this morning while driving to the grocery store and they were asking this question. One guy said he went from 175 lbs while dating to 250 lbs. Of course this also pertains to women. Before marriage and after pregnancy, many women put on weight or put on a lot of weight! It’s no wonder that obesity and its related health problems is a huge problem in North America these days. Plus these added health costs put on strain on the medical system financially and resource-wise. Also, don’t forget the stress on family member!

I guess the reasons for marriage being fattening are that a lot of married people figure that now that they are married they do not have to impress their spouse any longer, they may use ‘being busy’ as an excuse or family their weekend get-togethers with plenty of food. Unfortunately this is the wrong approach to take. If you are happily married, being obese can prematurely shorten your marriage. Do you want that?

But being married doesn’t have to be fattening. Since you have a life-long partner, why not exercise together? It’s a fun and enjoyable way to get fit and stay in shape. Many gyms also offer lower fees for couples or family members. You can also do a lot of exercise activities together outside.

Currently marriage is fattening, but it shouldn’t be. Exercising and staying in shape should be done before and after marriage. If you are serious about losing weight, then get your free fat loss DVD now.

There was a time when I lost a whole lot of weight over the course of a year, but the results left me far from satisfied. For one, I lost most of my hair, what was left of it was limp and dry, my skin developed a sallow appearance and lost all its glow, and I took on the gaunt and wan appearance of an invalid. Instead of congratulating me on the amount of weight I’d lost, people came up to me enquiring about my health. They wanted to know if I was ill because of my pale and insipid looks.

The reason I looked so bad was that I had literally starved myself to lose those pounds. I did work out too – I would walk, work out on the stationery cycle and play a game of racquet ball or two, but I think I sort of overdid the dieting bit by not focusing on giving my body the nutrients it needed. When I gained back more than ten pounds in the two years that followed, I realized I needed to lose weight again. And this time, I decided that I was going to be sensible about the process. After researching the weight loss procedure for a while, here’s what I knew I had to do:

• Mix cardio and strength training into my workout routines: One mistake I made in my first attempt to lose weight was to focus only on cardio routines. I hardly gave a thought to developing my muscle mass. This time round, I included squats, lunges, leg lifts and abdominal crunches in my routine three times a week and alternated them with strengthening exercises for my arms, biceps, triceps and back. I also worked out on the treadmill, cycle and rowing machine and still found time for a few games of racquetball each week. Within a matter of weeks, I was looking and feeling better. I was able to wear a smaller size and the compliments kept pouring in.
• Eat healthy food: I included more fruits and vegetables in my diet and did not miss any meal, most importantly breakfast. I ate when I was hungry and limited my portions. I reduced the amount of sugar in my coffee and reduced the number of calories I took in through liquids, the empty calories that we don’t often count towards our daily requirements. And I avoided fast and processed food as much as possible (I did eat them once in a while to indulge my cravings).
• Increase activity level: My job is sedentary, so I made it a point to get up and take a short walk every 90 minutes or so. I would walk to get a glass of water, to make a phone call, or just to talk to someone else. I started taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking to work instead of taking the car on pleasant days, and walking around in the mall when my friend shopped instead of sitting in one place and waiting for her.
• Look after hair and skin: When you diet, you need to ensure that you keep your hair and skin healthy by giving them the nutrients that they need. Include healthy protein like nuts and lean meats in your diet for healthy hair and drink lots of water to keep your skin hydrated and supple.

Remember, weight loss alone is not important; what’s more important is how you lose that extra weight – in a healthy way.

By-line:

This article is written by Kat Sanders, who regularly blogs on the topic of surgical assistant schools at her blog iScrub. She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: katsanders25@gmail.com

Forget about questionable and expensive diet pills as a means to lose weight in the short-term. The only real way for you to effectively lose weight and to keep it off for good is through exercise and proper nutrition.

Right now I have for you what I call the weight loss deal of 2009 from Fast Track to Fat Loss.

You’ll get workout plans tailored to your needs along with a personal trainer. You’ll get a nutrition plan that is right for you. Basically this program combines the two ingredients required for effective long-term weight loss: exercise and what you eat.

This weight loss program that normally costs $97 but if you sign up right now, you’ll get it for only $27! It’s only available for a limited time. Plus membership comes with many other benefits including a free weight loss DVD, member points and free contests like winning a trip to Mexico. How does that sound? You get to lose weight using a program that works and you could win a trip to Mexico.

Join Fast Track to Fat Loss or find out more.

If you are looking to lose weight or a few pounds, you have to be motivated and committed to doing it, otherwise you will fail! Losing weight really takes a lot of work, and lifestyle changes. Often you may need the help of a professional such as a fitness trainer and a nutritionist because exercise and nutrition are both critical in any weight loss program.

That’s why you should consider watching an episode or two of those losing weight types of TV shows on the health channels like Slice, Discovery Health. Once in a while, I like to tune into them. The only thing I don’t like about these channels is that they have too many commercials for the half-hour shows.

The reasons that I suggest that you watch these shows is that they will provide you with extra motivation and allow you to see how other people cope when they are trying to lose weight. How some people succeed in losing weight and how others fail to reach their targets because of lack of motivation and sticking to their fitness and nutrition plans.

A few nights ago, I watched the singing opera episode of The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp starring personal trainer Tommy Europe. The lady in this episode had at one time weighed 190 pounds. She now weighed 150 pounds and was looking to lose 10 more pounds in 4 weeks so she came to Tommy for help. He put her on a fitness plan. It was tough and she complained a lot, but she did it. Also, she changed her eating habits. Gone are the cookies and the over-eating. She now is on a nutrition program with a healthy daily menu and only consuming the calories that her body needs.

In the end, although the program was tough for her, she stuck to the plan and persevered and was able to lose 11 pounds and a lot of inches off the hips, chest and waist in just 4 short weeks. She now looks amazing!

This example shows that if you are committed, motivated and you are placed on a fitness and nutrition plan that is tailored to your needs, you can accomplish or exceed your targeted weight loss goals.

Getting one’s body into the right shape is the latest mania that is rocking American society as more and more people are getting trapped into the web of obesity. People have come to realize that our body is the only vehicle that we have to ride the journey of life. Therefore, taking good care of our body will certainly ensure a longer, happier ride.

Listed here are a few tips that contribute immensely towards achieving this objective.

Healthy food habits
Have maximum intake of fresh vegetables and fruits as these are packed with beneficial fibers, vitamins, phytonutrients and antioxidants. They are also low in calories, thus they help to keep the calorie count low and simultaneously fill up the stomach fast to make you feel full earlier. As far as possible, eat wholesome, fresh, home cooked food and avoid processed and instant foods as they are high in fats, carbohydrates and low in nutrition.

Do not skip meals
Skipping meals is the most common misconception that people have about loosing weight. Skipping any one of the three regular meals of the day is when we tend to do more with snacking. That is how the unwanted calories get into the body and you would see yourself gaining weight even while dieting. Thus the rule of thumb is that take proper, three meals in a day to keep your blood sugar level balanced. And if at all you feel hungry in between, eat light calorie foods and watch out to balance your caloric intake with your energy expenditure. 

Regular exercising
Beyond all doubts, regular exercising is the sure shot way that guarantees weight loss and also maintaining it in the long run. Experts recommend 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity in a day coupled with some weight-bearing exercises at least two times a week. Once you start exercising on regular basis, you would soon begin to enjoy its positive impacts on your psyche as well, as its one of the best stress combating mechanisms. 

Keep a positive mental outlook
Your mental disposition has an enormous impact on your physical body. Most people have enough willpower to lose weight for a few weeks but sustaining it for long term, demands change in habits and attitude. A positive outlook and happy disposition will actually help your body to avoid disease and stay healthy. Don’t be overly restrictive in your food habits, rather reward yourself with small treats once in a while. Develop hobbies that are recreational and rejuvenating. 

Stay focused on being healthy, not on becoming thin
Last but not the least, it’s your focus that matters the most. Be focused on having a healthy body and not just becoming thin as otherwise all your efforts could just bounce back and rather lead to some major medical complexities. Change your mindset to think about selecting foods that will help your body’s health rather than worrying about foods that will affect your body’s weight.

By-line:
This post was contributed by Holly McCarthy, who writes on the subject of certifications for geriatric nursing. She invites your feedback at hollymccarthy12 at gmail dot com

When it comes to weight loss and slimming, you need the help of fitness professionals who can motivate you and hold you accountable to your weight loss goals. The fitness professionals you choose should be knowledgeable and portray the image of healthiness and looking great. Again, you do not want to hire someone who is over weight to help with your weight loss goals.

Take a look at Kim Lyons at Fast Track to Fat Loss.

She’s a best selling fitness author, a fitness competitor and one of the fitness trainers in the TV reality show “The Biggest Loser”. She looks amazing, she’s got a positive attitude and she know how to get you slim and in shape. Not to mention, she’s been featured in countless magazines. With credentials like these and her looks, you know she can help you too.

A lot of people use diet pills to lose weight quickly. Diet pill may work temporarily for some people, but to lose weight and keep it off for the long-term, there are only two real ways of doing it. They are regular exercise and proper nutrition. Sure it may take more time and involve more effort but the long-lasting results you receive will be well worth it!

Danger of Diet Pills

Just recently the FDA released a warning about a number of weight loss pills that can be dangerous to your health. There could be many others not on that list which the FDA hasn’t tested yet or knows about. When you purchase these pills, you really don’t know what they contain, sometimes where they were manufactured and what side-effects they may have especially if you are already on some form of prescribed medication.

So think about it, can you really afford to sacrifice your long-term health for fast and immediate weight loss? Nothing in life is accomplished fast. Everything takes time and sometimes you need to do it in small steps.

My recommendation to long-lasting weight loss

My recommendation is that if you approach weight loss with realistic and attainable goals, you will slim down and lose weight. Sometimes you need to do it in small steps. Like they say, Rome wasn’t build in a day. So take a look at your eating habits and embark on a regular exercise program.

Eating Habits

What I suggest is that you examine your eating habits by eliminating fatty foods and foods low in nutrient value (cakes, cookies, etc…) from your diet and by eating smaller meals.

Exercise

Set up an exercise schedule for yourself and stick to it. This way, it becomes a regular part of your life and not a chore.

You can exercise outdoors or at the gym. Sometimes it’s tough to exercise at home, that’s why I prefer going to the gym. In the warmer months, there’s nothing more enjoyable than being outdoors and exercising at the same time.

Instead of just watching TV, get yourself an exercise bike and ride it while watching TV. Or, you may want to buy an exercise workout DVD and exercise along with it. There are also specialty TV channels with all-day workouts focusing on Yoga, Pilates, aerobic and strength-training.

As you can see, there are a lot of fun and enjoyable ways to get in shape and lose weight the real way!

Here’s a free weight loss DVD that I know you will find useful in the new year. 1000 copies of the new DVD “5 Simple Keys to Guaranteed Fat Loss” will be given away free. It shows you five simple steps for guaranteed fat loss.

All you have to do is to claim your free copy of Kim Lyons’ Biggest Loser Diet Plan (it’s the same plan Kim used with her contestants on the smash-hit TV show) and you’ll be put on the VIP list for the new DVD which will be available on Thursday January 1st.

Enter Here for your copy of the Biggest Loser Diet Plan and to be put on the Kim’s VIP list for your free DVD copy.

With 2008 slowly coming to an end, so are a lot of great deals. In this case three freebies. I just want to remind you that Kim Lyons Sample Diet plan, her Fat Loss Tips, and her Grocery List from The Biggest Loser TV show will be available for FREE for only a few more days.

Click now to get all 3 for free.