Monday, April 26, 2010

You Too Can Control Cholesterol Through Your Diet

Do you love to eat fatty foods? If so, then you could be a candidate for certain heart related problems. According to medical studies, the incidence of heart attacks and coronary artery disease is a result of an escalation of blood cholesterol levels. For that reason, people with cholesterol levels that are above the norm should protect themselves from suffering any form of degenerative disease by lowering their blood cholesterol. This can be realized by observing a low cholesterol diet, while at the same time engaging in moderate physical activities. If diagnosed with high cholesterol levels, there is also medication that can help in controlling cholesterol levels.

Having an excess of cholesterol in the blood is suggested by medical experts as the number one cause of hypertension, and heart disease. In general, the concept that cholesterol is harmful for the body is definitely a false impression. Cholesterol is an important component in our body’s complete metabolism. It functions as a vital substance in the formation of cell membranes and also is responsible in producing vitamin D and other significant hormones in the human body. However, an increase in cholesterol levels may damage our entire physical condition. For this reason, controlling cholesterol is important.

Most doctors tell their patients who suffer from high cholesterol to lower their cholesterol level. This can be achieved by following a diet that is low in fat. Watch out for foods that are high in cholesterol and fats; adding non-fat and low-fat foods to the diet also helps. Also one of the best solution in controlling cholesterol is through exercise. In some instances, your doctor may prescribe drugs that can also help lower cholesterol levels.

What kind of dietary practice should you adopt?

First and foremost, observing a diet that contains less fat and less cholesterol is the key for controlling cholesterol. Here are some tried-and-tested tips in maintaining a healthy heart:

1. Eat in moderation. Excess amounts of food can lead to an increase inweight.

2. Stay away from fatty foods.

3. Steer clear of sweets, especially pastries for they are identified as a principal source of saturated fats.

4. Eat more vegetables. Vegetables contain vitamins and minerals, which are cholesterol-lowering elements.

5. Boost your fiber intake. Fiber-rich foods are also known to lessen cholesterol in the blood.

6. Keeping active while on a low-cholesterol diet is also a contributory factor in controlling cholesterol.

7. For more effective tips in controlling cholesterol, seek advice from your physician. He or she may need to prescribe medications to lower your cholesterol.

Practicing healthful eating habits can greatly add to your overall fitness. And so, controlling cholesterol through diet really makes a difference to your whole wellbeing.

If you have high cholesterol, you should consult your primary care physician prior to making any changes in your diet or lifestyle.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Your Three-Step Fat Attack - Part One of Three

Today you are reading Part One. This is a Three-Part article.

With so many varying recommendations on how to approach losing your body fat, many crucial details tend to slip into through one ear, yet right out of the other, quick, fast, and in a hurry. Yes, it’s true that you hear so many conflicting ideas about health, diet, fitness, and weight management. Why does so much instructional or informational variation exist? Which parts are factual? What are the concepts, ideas, or truths that can really help you?

Likely, the GREATEST fact you can benefit from right away is the following: to lose body fat assuredly, you need a three-part fat attack strategy, and your methodological system needs to be a truly solid one. The three parts, of course, you already know WHAT they are. However, what you are more likely to lack is acute and chronic skill or savvy regarding exactly HOW and WHEN to mix these intricately related weight loss pieces together.

Let’s explore each one here, just a little, that is, 1) diet-foods-nutrition, 2) physical action-movement-exercise; and 3) reeducation-strategy-knowledge acquisition/enhancement/upgrading. Perhaps there’s a clue for you in the fact that the latter of these vital elements above is quite lengthy.

Here's one solid scientific fact you might observe. You are more likely to adopt and adhere to solid diet or exercise lifestyle when you educate yourself. You grow more, when you know more... about your approach, your limits, your potential, and your benefits.

Occasionally, you may tend to ignore important and crucial facts about fitness or nutrition. At times you just can't help that. It's a small part of human nature. Plus, you probably hear a lot of "crap" these days, particularly concerning “carbs – to be or not to be,” and/or the “best and only time of day to exercise.” After a while, though you don't really want them to, your ears simply become numb to the barrage of junk information. Then, you assume that no one really knows what they're talking about anymore. You might even mistakenly include accredited professionals into that stereotype, too. Perhaps, you even express your own opinion as true fitness fact without receiving support from science and community.

Time after time, you try things that don't work. Yet, once in a while, you try something that does. Is what you tried still working for you? Probably not. Consider cutting to the chase about excess, loose tissue... hanging around in places you don't want it to. Your formidable enemy is likely to be "saturated" fat. Here's a professional tip that can help you now and far into your future. Gain a thorough understanding of this "Three-Step Fat Attack" concept. It’s a relatively new concept, yet the power lies in the fact that although each area can afford you some weight loss productivity, combining the three yields geometrically improved results.

It might not be such a natural tendency for you to try new things. You may not even have the luxury of acquiring formal knowledge on nutrition, fitness, or weight management. That leaves you with trial and error as major modus operandi. Then, your weight loss solutions stem from incorrect data such as: rumors, old tales, things that you have "heard about," or just plain old advertising hype.

(Believe it or not, we’re still talking about part three – reeducation-strategy-knowledge acquisition/enhancement/upgrading – because all of the above has to do with know-how and knowledgeable approach to weight loss, avoiding unnecessary time, trouble and effort.)

Now's your time to concentrate on a focused, weight management approach that works with long-term reliability. What you need is plain and simple. However, you need to realize right now that you can easily fall into one not-so-obvious trap. This trap catches most people who are seeking solutions to a diet or exercise problem. You can avoid it from now on. That common trap is NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE INFORMATION YOU RECEIVE, underestimating it, or taking it for granted without deeper exploration, inspection, and investigation.

Yes, this is where you can place your focus... on increasing comprehension. And, how can you grasp complex details without expanding your ability to process that knowledge? Easy. Learn about it. This moves us to the very first step in your "Three-Step Fat Attack," which follows:

1. Read.

2. Apply.

3. Maintain.

Yes, it's that simple. Yet, do you really understand it? First, here's an easy way to remember it... you have to RAM this approach into your arsenal of diet exercise tools. That's right. RAM IT IN! Here's your detailed breakdown for R. A. M.:

STEP ONE - "R." = "Read accredited sources of information."

You can expect to find that these sources might be slightly "unpopular." Now, understand what "unpopular" really means. Unpopular simply means this type of news is not sitting out on the stands just waiting for you to pick it up. This is not the dazzling, interest-grabbing, highly publicized, or TV advertised gossip. Accredited, accurate, helpful, long-lasting, scientific data is not so easily located. You have to find it. You have to do your homework. Do some research. Yet, even with research, you need to have a central idea of what you are looking to explain.

We’ll explore the weight loss difficulty involved and the viable solution in Part Two.

Your Three-Step Fat Attack - Part One of Three

Today you are reading Part One. This is a Three-Part article.

With so many varying recommendations on how to approach losing your body fat, many crucial details tend to slip into through one ear, yet right out of the other, quick, fast, and in a hurry. Yes, it’s true that you hear so many conflicting ideas about health, diet, fitness, and weight management. Why does so much instructional or informational variation exist? Which parts are factual? What are the concepts, ideas, or truths that can really help you?

Likely, the GREATEST fact you can benefit from right away is the following: to lose body fat assuredly, you need a three-part fat attack strategy, and your methodological system needs to be a truly solid one. The three parts, of course, you already know WHAT they are. However, what you are more likely to lack is acute and chronic skill or savvy regarding exactly HOW and WHEN to mix these intricately related weight loss pieces together.

Let’s explore each one here, just a little, that is, 1) diet-foods-nutrition, 2) physical action-movement-exercise; and 3) reeducation-strategy-knowledge acquisition/enhancement/upgrading. Perhaps there’s a clue for you in the fact that the latter of these vital elements above is quite lengthy.

Here's one solid scientific fact you might observe. You are more likely to adopt and adhere to solid diet or exercise lifestyle when you educate yourself. You grow more, when you know more... about your approach, your limits, your potential, and your benefits.

Occasionally, you may tend to ignore important and crucial facts about fitness or nutrition. At times you just can't help that. It's a small part of human nature. Plus, you probably hear a lot of "crap" these days, particularly concerning “carbs – to be or not to be,” and/or the “best and only time of day to exercise.” After a while, though you don't really want them to, your ears simply become numb to the barrage of junk information. Then, you assume that no one really knows what they're talking about anymore. You might even mistakenly include accredited professionals into that stereotype, too. Perhaps, you even express your own opinion as true fitness fact without receiving support from science and community.

Time after time, you try things that don't work. Yet, once in a while, you try something that does. Is what you tried still working for you? Probably not. Consider cutting to the chase about excess, loose tissue... hanging around in places you don't want it to. Your formidable enemy is likely to be "saturated" fat. Here's a professional tip that can help you now and far into your future. Gain a thorough understanding of this "Three-Step Fat Attack" concept. It’s a relatively new concept, yet the power lies in the fact that although each area can afford you some weight loss productivity, combining the three yields geometrically improved results.

It might not be such a natural tendency for you to try new things. You may not even have the luxury of acquiring formal knowledge on nutrition, fitness, or weight management. That leaves you with trial and error as major modus operandi. Then, your weight loss solutions stem from incorrect data such as: rumors, old tales, things that you have "heard about," or just plain old advertising hype.

(Believe it or not, we’re still talking about part three – reeducation-strategy-knowledge acquisition/enhancement/upgrading – because all of the above has to do with know-how and knowledgeable approach to weight loss, avoiding unnecessary time, trouble and effort.)

Now's your time to concentrate on a focused, weight management approach that works with long-term reliability. What you need is plain and simple. However, you need to realize right now that you can easily fall into one not-so-obvious trap. This trap catches most people who are seeking solutions to a diet or exercise problem. You can avoid it from now on. That common trap is NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE INFORMATION YOU RECEIVE, underestimating it, or taking it for granted without deeper exploration, inspection, and investigation.

Yes, this is where you can place your focus... on increasing comprehension. And, how can you grasp complex details without expanding your ability to process that knowledge? Easy. Learn about it. This moves us to the very first step in your "Three-Step Fat Attack," which follows:

1. Read.

2. Apply.

3. Maintain.

Yes, it's that simple. Yet, do you really understand it? First, here's an easy way to remember it... you have to RAM this approach into your arsenal of diet exercise tools. That's right. RAM IT IN! Here's your detailed breakdown for R. A. M.:

STEP ONE - "R." = "Read accredited sources of information."

You can expect to find that these sources might be slightly "unpopular." Now, understand what "unpopular" really means. Unpopular simply means this type of news is not sitting out on the stands just waiting for you to pick it up. This is not the dazzling, interest-grabbing, highly publicized, or TV advertised gossip. Accredited, accurate, helpful, long-lasting, scientific data is not so easily located. You have to find it. You have to do your homework. Do some research. Yet, even with research, you need to have a central idea of what you are looking to explain.

We’ll explore the weight loss difficulty involved and the viable solution in Part Two.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Zone Diet – A New Weight Loss System

The Zone Diet works on the principle that 100,000 years ago, we were meat eaters, and our metabolism is designed to handle the demands of a meat-based diet.

Madonna, Demi Moore, and Jennifer Aniston swear by the results of the Zone Diet, which was created by Barry Sears, PhD. The Zone Diet contains 40% carbohydrate, 30% protein, and 30% fat and is known as the 40-30-30 plan.

As the food industry evolved, more carbohydrates have been introduced into our daily diet, thus causing an imbalance in our metabolism to burn fat. The reason for our extra weight can also be attributed to the many grains and starches in our diet (pasta, rice, breads, and potatoes). The Zone Diet's approach calls for a return to the diets of our ancestors where meat, fruits, and vegetables are the main dietary foods.

The Zone Diet suggests that you need the right ratio of carbohydrates to proteins and fats in order to control the insulin in the bloodstream. Too much of the hormone (insulin) can increase fat storage and inflammation in the body (conditions that are associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease). Sears asserts that by using the Zone Diet, you are actually optimizing the body's metabolic function. Through the regulation of blood sugar, you allow your body to burn excess body fat.

Although you are not prohibited from any particular food group, it is best to avoid food with high fat and carbohydrates such as grains, starches, and pastas. The ideal sources of carbs are fruits and vegetables and for monounsaturated fats olive oil, almonds, and avocados are recommended. The Zone Diet claims to use food as a drug for overall good health, weight loss and prevention or management of heart disease and diabetes.

Sears says that you can test to see whether you are 'hormonally' correct by eating following the Zone diet and see how you feel four hours later. To simplify the Zone Diet, fill one-third of a plate with low-fat protein, and then two-thirds with fruits and vegetables.

Celebrities and some health experts say that the Zone's recommendations do not stray far from the USDA's (United States Dietary Association) dietary guidelines and therefore are advocates of the Zone Diet. Others argue that the Zone Diet has flawed ratios but Sears argues that the Zone diet is a low-glycemic-load diet that has adequate protein. .

A critic of the Zone diet such as the AHA (American Heart Association) classifies the Zone Diet as high protein and does not recommend the Zone Diet for weight loss. They contend that the Zone Diet has not been proven effective in the long term for weight loss. The AHA issued an official recommendation warning against diets like the Zone Diet. They believe that the Zone Diet is hazardous as it restricts the intake of essential vitamins and minerals present in certain foods. The AHA also contends that the protein ratio in the Zone diet is too high even if the minimal fat ratio is good. Robert H. Ecker M.D of the A.H.A. finds the Zone Diet's theory on insulin flawed and argues that there is no scientific proof that the hormone insulin plays a big role in weight regulation.

Friday, April 16, 2010

CrossWalk 425 Treadmill at $350 OFF

Exercise must never have felt so light. ProForm, the world’s number 1 fitness brand proudly presents the CrossWalk 425 Treadmill, truly a one of its kind machine. Along with it, you are offered some great deals which are sure to make the product a sell-out.

With its 2 CrossWalk Calorie Workouts and CrossWalk Upper-Body Arms, you can burn upto 350 calories in addition to giving shape to your shoulders, arms and back. Additional features include Power Incline upto 10%, EKG Heart Rate Monitor, 0-10 MPH QuickSpeed Control, Tinted Blue LCD Display, Mach 1.3 CHP Drive Motor and 3 years of Motor warranty. Regarding the product specifications, it has a 17” by 50” Treadbelt and 250 lbs of weighing capacity. The ProSoft Plus Impact Reduction is a special type of cushioning which is said to reduce the work-out impact on your joints by 22%. The machine is priced at just $449! That means a good 44% discount on its retail price of $799. And that’s not all! You even get free shipping, thus making a saving of $125 for you. Add to that, a one year service warranty totally free!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

If you are carrying around a few (I use that term loosely) extra pounds like most of us are, you all know all the reasons why we should take the weight off. It will reduce stress on our heart, reducing the chance of heart disease, cancer, possibility of diabetes; feel better, look more attractive, etc.

There are 101 reasons why, but it can be a real pain to finally get that weight off. You push really hard, make a little progress, get side tracked, and bam you are heavier then you started.

It’s maddening. Enough with that hassle, I have put together 5 simple steps to actually losing weight and keeping it off. These steps can be applied to anything, but we are focusing on weight loss here.

1. Know What You Want
2. Know Where You Are
3. Track Your Results
4. Make Course Corrections
5. Being held Accountable

Now all your extra weight will effortlessly melt off. Yeah right! A simple list of 5 items is not going to do it, so let me explain the intricacies of the 5 items and where the hang up normally occurs when applied to losing weight.

1. Know What You Want

This one is dead simple. Most people that want to lose weight have an idea of how many pounds they would like to lose or how they would like their body to look.

I think we can safely say if your body started looking the way you wanted it, you would know, even if you didn’t have it completely mapped out and detailed.

2. Know Where You Are

This is the big trip up. It is almost always overlooked and is the number one reason for the up and down Yo Yo effect we experience with losing weight. We are unhappy with how our body feels and how it looks and it is painful to zoom in and get an accurate picture of where we are. Unfortunately, we have to know where we are, to be able to accurately judge the results we are getting.

You are on a trip to San Diego, California. You would like to start your trip from Phoenix, Arizona, but you really don’t know where you are. No problem. You get an Arizona/California map and find that a simple 6 hours trip west on interstate 8 will get you to San Diego.

6 hours later, you have no clue where you are and it is definitely not warm San Diego. You feel defeated and you want to give up! Do you blame the car? The stupid maps? San Diego? Yourself?

Now what if I told you, you were actually in New Your City, not Phoenix, Arizona. A 6 hour car ride west from New York City will never get you to San Diego.

If you took the time to accurately find out where you were, you would have been able to choose the appropriate means to get to San Diego and have an expectation as to how long it would take.

This is the same with weight loss and our personal physical condition. In our minds, we think we are starting in a different physical condition then we really are. When the results don’t follow the illusion in your mind, we get upset.


3. Track Your Results

This is conceptually simple. If we have no clue as to WHAT we are doing, how do we know what is working? It might be a simple to do, but is also simple not to do. In the end, most people never track their results.


4. Make Course Corrections

We love to do this one. We have it hands down. It is like step 1 of knowing what you want. We try the new food diet, the super sit up machine, and the cardio hip hop power energy yoga fat burner class.

We might be great at switching it up, but without knowing where we are starting from and a history of tracked results, we have no clue as to what we should change or even which direction we should go.


5. Being held Accountable

No, not accountability! That is an evil word. I don’t want someone to know what I am doing, or more importantly what I am not doing.

So, why do we resist accountability, your secret weapon to weight loss? Because it works! If you know someone is going to be watching, you would follow through or at least feel very uncomfortable not following through.

Accountability when used wisely is the ultimate turbo booster to your weight loss. Since you are going to be accountable anyway, you might as well get something out of it.

Using accountability up front, you can achieve the body of your dreams. If you let your body hold you accountable, it will throw on fat in places you don’t want it to be.

The biggest obstacle to weight loss is not taking any action. It doesn’t matter how good the plan is, it is worthless if you don’t follow it. So what do I do now?

First and foremost get Accountable.

Forward this article to someone you respect and care about and tell them I want to be accountable to finally taking off my extra pounds. When they agree to support you, start working through Steps 1 – 5.