Monday, June 20, 2005

How To Out The Fat! by Alex Sharp



Most of us are looking for easy ways to loose weight. Well, here today we will talk about how to do just that. It might not be as hard as you might think. We all have friends who pack on the double patty burgers with two extra large fries each day. After they swallow this, they will go onto eating a whole bag of candy and wash it down with a half gallon of milk. Sound like some of your college buddies? Through out the day, we get thirsty. All living creatures do. What do you turn for most often? Sodas, we all do it. Why? Because they are easy to get and they taste good. Who can turn down a sweet drink after a jog in the sun? Well, you shouldn't be doing that. There is two reasons why. One is because it is wasted calories. You don't get anything back from the soda. You might get some pep from the caffeine, but that is about it. You might get a slight sugar rush, but it won't be anything that last. The second reason is, because we are slightly hungry. We aren't hungry enough to go get something to eat, but a drink will satisfy us enough to our next meal.
Instead of drinking sodas all day long, drink juice. More specifically, juice with the pulp in it. I know what you are thinking. There is more of a purpose to this than moving your bowels. We all have had a bit of a problem in the bathroom department and have ran for the juice with the pulp in it. Juice with the pulp in it will fill you up. Unlike sodas, there is something actually there to curb your hunger. You will drink less because you will get full. Try it, you will be surprised.
Always stick to wheat bread. Don't eat the white stuff. Whole wheat products are known to stabilize blood sugar levels. This mean you won't get hungry as fast. This is an easy way to curb your hunger.
Here are some tips you can use when making sandwiches.
Avoid cheese. We put way to much cheese on everything these days. I won't be surprised if some day they make a cheese covered soda can. This is a heart attack waiting to happen. There is no reason to eat this much cheese. One of the ways you can cut down on the amount of cheese you eat is by shredding the cheese. Use the shredded cheese instead of cheese slices. You can cover the same amount of area, with less cheese. You can also do this on salads as well.
Cut down on the mayo. I would suggest that you cut this completely out. I know some guys who put so much mayo on their sandwiches, I can't see how they eat them. I can't see how they can taste anything but the mayo. A good suggestion to do it, sprinkle a little of Italian dressing on the sandwich. Just enough so you can taste it. This will really cut down on the fat. Also, if you make your own, you can control how much oil is in the dressing.
Cut down on bread. If you are going out to eat and the waiter drops a bread basket on the table, push it away. Don't eat the bread. The more carbs you can get away from the better. Cut out the silly snacks. Don't fill up on potato chips between meals. Instead grab an apple or some veggie sticks. You will be amazed at how good they are once you give them a chance. I love green peppers sprinkled with a little salt. I will take these any day over potato chips.
Stay away from fatty cuts of meat. Don't go to the store and buy the most fatty cuts of pork you can get. Take it home and trim the fat off of it if you have to. There are tons of ways you can cook lean meat so that it isn't dry. That is why most people like the fat in the meat, it adds juice. Also with spices, you can fix the problem of not having the flavor that fat adds.
Stay away from too much dairy. No need to get full of ice cream that is full of fat. Instead if you must consume it, go for the low fat versions. Try to get flavors with a lot of fruit in them or add your own fruit. You won't notice the missing fat if you add some flavor to it. Avoid frying stuff. Learn how to bake, broil and steam your foods. You will be surprised at how much fat frying adds to the dish. Sure it tastes better, but it won't help your waist any.
There you have it. Those don't sound too hard do they? I'm sure after you repeat them after awhile, they will get easy to do.

If you are having trouble losing weight, please visit www.natural-stamina.com/LoseThatWeightFast.html for further articles.
About the Author
Alex Sharp is CEO of Natural-Stamina.com a program helping men with all issues of their health and sex lives.

Correcting the Top Ten Exercise Mistakes by Sherri L. Dodd



Correcting the Top Ten Exercise Mistakes

The American Council on Exercise comprised a list of the Top 10 mistakes that people tend to make when visiting (or not visiting) the gym. Following you will find the list in our own words. Take note of these errors and make sure that you are covered on all bases in regard to avoiding them. Mom Looks Great readers must be at the top of their game!

1.Feast or FamineWe are not talking about you diet in this case. When time is tight, some of you may forego your workout. Remember that you do not need a full consecutive hour to meet fitness demands. Ten to twenty minute bursts of activity can work in conjunction with one another or even alone on days when your schedule will not allow more time.

2.Balance the ScaleIn building a healthy body you want to give equal amounts of attention to all muscle groups. Visible areas such as your arms or legs may tempt you for more focus, but your stomach, back and behind are also key areas of strength in your everyday routine. When you do not work your body as a whole throughout the week, you are prone to injuries due to an overall muscle imbalance.

3.Mirror, MirrorYour eyes are beautiful and nothing is in your teeth, but most important, the mirrors in the gym are for insuring correct posture during exercise and not for aesthetic reasons. On the flipside, do not feel cocky for staring at yourself while exercising. It is imperative that you make sure your posture is correct during your training sessions. Common errors in posture include knees jutting beyond ankles when in squat or lunge positions, shoulders shrugged (even the slightest bit) while performing upper body exercises as well as butt not tucked or stomach not tightened. Make sure your form is correct and if needed, there is usually an available trainer if you have questions.

4.One Step at a Time - The whole basis of the Mom Looks Great program is gradual progression, whether you just had your baby or you have an unconditioned body after a long period of time of foregoing formal exercise. While men are usually guiltier than women of Mistake #4, we too can enter the gym and expect to pick up at the intensity where we left off, whether its the weights that we lift or the speed of which we perform cardio exercise. Do not succumb to your ego. You must re-introduce your body in a proper manner which means a gradual progression of intensity over a period of time.

5.Variety, the Spice of LifeEven exercise has its share of ruts. You find a great routine and stick to itforeverand ever. Not only could this dampen your enthusiasm for exercising, it may also cause muscular imbalance. For instance, if you find running is your ideal for dropping weight and feeling great, you need to add in weights, or a different cardio class ever so often. All that running with no alternative can lead to injury, joint and muscle over usage, training plateaus and especially burnout.

6.This Chair is Too BigSo remarked Goldilocks in Papa Bears Chair. After He-Man has left the leg press, you may feel a similar notion. Make sure to adjust weight machines according to your body size. Most exercise equipment offers instructions as to where your knees should be or how your feet should fit under pads, etc. These focus points insure that you are working the machine properly. Consequently, you will be maximizing your training and minimizing the possibility of injury.

7.RubberneckingWhile in a car, it is imperative to keep your eyes on the road. When watching a toddler, it is crucial to keep an eye on the little bugger so he doesnt pepper-toe to the nearest danger zone. As well, when you are in the gym it is important to stay focused on your workout. While the damage may not be as extensive as twisted metal or heart-wrenching tears, the point remains that when you lose focus on what you are doing, you lose efficiency. Remember, working out is seriousposture must be maintained, breathing must be controlled and the mind must be focused. This combination will insure a safe and effective workout.

8.Closing the LoopPicture your favorite dish fresh from the oven. Transferring it by pot pads to the nearest cooled burner, you gently set it down. Then, you immediately stick a fork in it to enjoy a big scrumptious bite. You are well aware that instead of a taste sensation, all you get is an impression of hellish magnitude burnt onto your tongue that will linger for a day or so. To your body, this is similar to finishing an intensive bout of exercise and heading straight for the locker room. After placing the beneficial stress of exercise on your body, you must take a few minutes to cool down. Cooling down includes catching your breath, having your heart rate return to normal and even stretching your warmed-up and worked muscles. The latter of which is known to reduce next day muscle soreness as well as improve flexibility and prepare your body for the next workout.

9.Miss Manners SaysNo makeup, baggy sweats, perspiration and loud grunting does not excuse the necessity for proper etiquette. Even the gym has its unspoken rules. Outstaying the time allotment on equipment, not cleaning up after yourself (re-racking weights or cleaning up your sweat) and loud chatting, especially on cell phones, all bring great annoyance to your fellow fitness enthusiasts. Most of the expected courtesy is common sense and can be gauged by asking yourself how you would feel if

10.Conceive and BelieveKnowing your goals and how you will achieve them is an important step in your exercise program. Aimlessly wandering about the gym without a clear plan of what you need to do in order to meet your goals is asking for trouble and the leading cause of exercise drop out. Get started on a well planned exercise program and, if needed, document your progression on a regular basis.

About the Author
Sherri Dodd is the creator and author of Mom Looks Great - The Fitness Program for Moms. She is also an ACE-certified Personal Trainer and a Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant with over fifteen years of exercise experience. She is dedicated to a life of fitness as well as encouraging others to establish healthy habits and a better quality of life.