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Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Last Sunday, we went to a gym for a one hour session. I don’t have a personal trainer but was lucky enough that one resident instructor is helping me in the proper usage of the equipments and the correct execution of some exercises.

One exercise that was taught is stomach crunching. As per the instructor, this works better compared to sit-ups in terms of helping in stomach weight loss. There are two ways to do this. One is by doing what seems to be a half sit-up by lying flat and raising your upper body without your head or elbow touching your knees. The second way is exactly the opposite. You have to lay flat, extend your arms on the floor and then raise the lower part of the body. Three sets of 15-count repetitions every other day is what you need to do.

I guess it’s worth the try.

Since visiting the gym months back, I somewhat learned something about weight gain and weight loss. There are usually two areas to that play an important role in this subject. First is the diet intake, and second is an exercise or physical activity.

Focus should be set on the right diet that fits your goal. Having a nutritionist or a good reference (ie. book) to help you with the right diet products or program for you will definitely help. Secondly, doing the right kind of exercise also helps. In this area, a personal trainer is the correct person to work with.

The point is anyone who aims to lose or gain weight will have and advantage if they work with the correct set of people

The term detox applies to removal of toxins inside the body. In most cases, a commoner would equate this to natural procedure by drinking tea or other herbal food supplements. Others would relate this to a week program that focuses on proper diet intake to reduce the toxin that enters the body.

Unknown to some, this also applies to addiction. Take for example addiction to opiate. Several centers or institutions offer rapid opiate detox that to help someone quit addiction and detoxify within hours or days. Still, the goal is to get rid of toxins within the body. However, some requires medical procedure, so it’s highly recommended to check on the safety procedures offered by such institutions.

Prior to our wedding, I’ve been spending lots of time in Fitness First. I registered in one of their packages and specifically sought for a weight gain program. I was immediately introduced to my personal trainer and nutritionist.

My personal trainer helped me with the exercises. I was advised spend very limited time on treadmills and other cardio exercises. I was told to do more strength and resistance exercises. I also have a nutritionist who helps me monitor my weight, body fat index, and calorie intake. I was given a food diary which I update regularly. This contains the required number of servings, a meal plan, and a section for me to input the actual servings that took in.

I would say that the program was effective because I was able to gain weight in just a few months. My family and friends have noticed the change and gave me praises, so I plan to continue with the program though perhaps not as frequent as before.

Several resorts are being marketed as premier location for rediscovering the value of health and wellness. Such places offer several diets, activities and facilities that promote the proper caring of the body. This include having a vegetarian diet for a week, taking in food that function as colon cleanser, doing proper exercise, having spa and other sort of relaxation, and a lot more.

The offering actually depends on the packages offered by the center. However, it’s highly recommended that you check the program very well. Note that their products, though considered healthy by many, may not exactly fit the taste of others.

For instance, there are reports that a couple who was supposed to stay in the resort for a week gave up after two days, primarily because of the food that they take in. Given that they are not used to eating pure vegetarian foods, a sudden change in diet caused dissatisfaction. Although the resort claims that the diet offered is designed for body cleansing, it still doesn’t suit the taste of the couple.

The point is, having a review of the products and services offered by the resort, through reading and first-hand feedback/comments, may help you decide which one fits your requirements.

Yahoo.com just recently published 10 weight loss tips that work in one minute or less. Two of the ten items listed are quite new to me:

4. Sip green tea before a walk
The caffeine frees fatty acids so that you burn fat more easily. And the polyphenols (antioxidant compounds) in green tea appear to work with caffeine to increase calorie burn. (If you have high blood pressure, skip this tip.)
7. Sprinkle flax on cereal
High-fiber ground flaxseed can help curb your appetite and eliminate calories. Add it to yogurt or muffin and bread mixes–it’s available in health food stores.
Source: http://health.yahoo.com/featured/83/10-weight-loss-tips-that-work-in-one-minute-or-less/
First, I didn’t know that caffeine and antioxidant compounds are found in green tea and are active elements when it comes to burning calories. In addition, I’m not sure why this is not recommended to those with high blood pressure. The other point is related to flaxseed which I didn’t know that helps restrain appetite. These are just two steps that may help anybody that wants to lose weight, though it may not be as effective as weight loss dietary supplements if done inconsistently. Note however that the key to proper weigh loss is discipline and hard work.

It’s the love month or month of the hearts as other people may call it, so it’s just the right time to discuss tips on taking care of the heart.

Here are some foods that may be consumed to prevent some heart diseases. These are taken from several health sites and magazines.

• Garlic
• Salmon, Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
• Berries and Cherries
• Quinoa
• Hot Cocoa
• Oatmeal / Oat Bran
• Walnuts, Almonds
• Foods Fortified with Plant Sterols or Stanols (margarines, orange juice and yogurt drinks, fruits and vegetables)

The ones listed above are natural sources heart-loving substances. For some people though, their issue is not just on heart ailments but on their weight as well. Some best weight loss products are out there that may also benefit your heart. It’s highly recommended that you consult your doctor or physician prior to taking in any medications.

Detox is a buzz word nowadays especially for the health conscious. Some would engage in different actions like taking in detox pills, drinking teas claiming to have detoxifying benefits, and seeking natural colon cleansing and other detox programs in general.

Here are some ways to detoxify your body naturally and start living a healthier life.

• Eat healthy diet. Eliminate fat from your meals
• Increase fiber intake
• Drink enough water a day – 8 glasses minimum
• Exercise daily. Sweating is a need to excrete some body waste.
• Minimize toxins by eating organic food and avoiding food additives and other chemicals (drugs, food additives and preservatives, etc)
• Take some Vitamins

Christmas is over. New Year is next. That’s another week of dining sumptuous meals and drinking some wine. Soon afterwards, many people will be seeking ways to lose weight fast to eliminate all those calories gained during the holiday season.

MSN has provided a list of 50 ways to cut 500 calories a day and each could be effective in one way or another. Among the listed items, my favorites are as follows:

Don’t eat in front of the TV – Whenever I eat in front of a television, I end up eating more – slowly but continuous.
Use smaller plates – My mom and dad did this when I was young but did not see the impact since I was a kid then. Whenever I go home and see the same plate that we used years ago, I realize that it takes me 2-3 platefuls to satisfy my hunger. Note that to make this effective, discipline is still the key.
Play a game of touch football or basketball – Having any sport that helps burn fats and would require physical activity is a good alternative, as long as you keep those muscles moving.

For most people, fats have been generally considered as something bad. The truth is, fat doesn’t necessarily cause disease, and can actually play an important role in its prevention. That’s something weird especially to those seeking fast weight loss solution. The truth however is that there really are good fats that benefit us.
In order to better understand, it’s nice to know some good and bad fats found in most of our diet.

The Good Fats

Monounsaturated Fats
Monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) while increasing HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). These are usually found in foods such as including peanuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios, avocado, canola and olive oil are high in MUFAs.

Polyunsaturated Fats
Polyunsaturated fats also lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and are found in seafood like salmon and fish oil, and others like corn, soy, safflower and sunflower oils. Omega 3 fatty acids is also classified under this.

The Bad Fats

Saturated Fats
Saturated fats raise total blood cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). These are typically found in animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs and seafood. Some plant foods are also high in saturated fats such as coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil.

Trans Fats
Trans fats are invented as scientists began to “hydrogenate” liquid oils so that they can withstand better in food production process and provide a better shelf life. As a result of hydrogenation, trans fatty acids are formed. Trans fatty acids are found in many commercially packaged foods, commercially fried food such as French Fries from some fast food chains, other packaged snacks such as microwaved popcorn as well as in vegetable shortening and hard stick margarine.

Source: HealthCastle.com.