Gaiam Yoga For Weight Loss Kit

Gaiam Yoga For Weight Loss Kit

Ignite your metabolism and increase endurance with this fat-burning yoga workout with Jill Miller. Uniquely designed 3 lb. push-up weights add resistance to help you lose weight faster. The ergonomic weights are integrated into each pose in this 60 minute workout to heat up your body for ultra-efficient toning and fat burning. The round bolster helps add support to poses and with its unique rounded shape, can be used as a comfortable seat during the post-workout meditation. Made in China. A Gaiam Exclusive!

Includes two 3lb push-up weights that add resistance for increased fat burning and weight loss. Includes multi-purpose rounded foam bolster that supports you in poses and can be used for post-workout meditation. 60 minute DVD includes workouts for functional strengthening, kinetic conditioning and BONUS core connect.

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With 23 years experience in yoga, Jill has a deep understanding of its natural ability to heal the body in emotional, spiritual and physical ways. She calls it strengthening from the inside out. Jill teaches out of Santa Monica, California and offers workshops and retreats internationally that infuse yoga with modern dance, Pilates, breathwork, shiatsu and other moving arts. She has been featured in Yoga Journal, Fit Yoga, Breathe Magazine, Yogi Times, and on NPR. Jill has also produced several high profile DVD series.

Product Features

• Ignite your metabolism and increase endurance
• A fat-burning yoga workout with Jill Miller
• Uniquely designed 3 lb. push-up weights add resistance to help you lose weight faster
• An ultra-efficient toning and fat burning workout
• A Gaiam Exclusive!

Customers' Review

This kit is an offering from lifestyle company Gaiam and yoga instructor Jill Miller. Although Miller's name may not yet be immediately recognizable, she has quickly developed a strong fan base built on both her personally-produced DVD series, Yoga Tune-Up, and her subsequent collaboration with Pranamaya. Miller is known for her knowledge of anatomy and movement and her ability to impart this knowledge while teaching yoga. Here she takes her teachings a step further than ever before by adding a strength training component designed to facilitate weight loss.

The Yoga for Weight Loss Workout Kit includes three components: the workout DVD (in a simple cardboard sleeve), two 3-pound purple handled "push-up" weights, and a round purple 8" x 3" foam yoga block (Gaiam calls this a "bolster," but Miller refers to it as the "disk" during the workouts). The DVD contains two workouts, each just over 30 minutes in length. Miller describes the first workout, Functional Strengthening, as a session to focus on toning the buttocks, core, and arms. For the second workout, Kinetic Conditioning, she states that you will be "consciously sweating." Finally, the DVD also includes "Core Connect," a bonus abs segment. All three sessions are filmed outdoors, and Miller is teaching in bare feet, with the only other equipment needed being a yoga mat.

This kit definitely offers something from Jill Miller that we haven't seen before. She does an excellent job of staying true to her yoga roots while still providing challenging, strength-focused workouts. I'm not convinced that these workouts would be likely to produce weight loss per se, but they could certainly be the foundation of a beginning strength program. Furthermore, even more advanced exercisers will likely benefit from Miller's skill in taking the body through unique ranges of motion and providing superb functional training. Although some of the moves in these workouts are probably a bit too demanding for new exercisers, overall, Miller is quite accessible, and I would recommend the Yoga for Weight Loss Kit to a fairly wide audience.




Ok so I wanted to start yoga and this is perfect ill tell u i get up everymorning at 530 and do it!! u just feel so great after i dont even want to do anything else. when i bought this i also ordered a yoga for beginners and let me tell u i hate it its so boring and most of the moves are the same except without the weights but its just not as good as this i have referred it to all my friends. ive been going at it 3 weeks already and dont plan on stopping. im toning up just nice and its a great way to start ur day also helps me relax from a stressful day as well so it doesnt say for beginers but if u cant do something she shows u another way u can do it so its just perfect if this is your first time or if uve been doing yoga for awhile.

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Healthy Snacking For Losing Weight

Healthy Snacking For Losing Weight

One of the main reason you eat is because you are hungry and you stop eating when you are full but that isn't the only reason people eat, there are many who eats junk food when they are moody or bored.

Try to lose weight is more of a mental restrain. We need to know, what to eat, when to eat and we should know how much we need to eat.

Easier said than done. Habits are hard to break. The habit of using food to make us feel better and the habit of eating when we have nothing else to do are habits that must be broken in order to lose weight.

Maybe it is two in the afternoon on a Saturday, there's nothing on TV and you have no plans, so you decide that it is a good time for snack. Are you hungry? No, but you always have a snack around two. That's fine if the snack is fruit or any other healthy snack.

Unfortunately the snack may be chips, cookies or everything else that might just be fattening. Why not have an apple or a low fat yogurt as a snack? Your mind just can't get past the idea that junk food tastes better then fruit.

Is it possible for a change of mindset? Will the change be easy?
Two things that have to change,

Firstly boredom is not a reason for eating and next healthy snacks can taste as good as junk food. You need to write a note to yourself and put it in a visible place in the kitchen saying that boredom is not a reason for eating. I know that sounds corny, but it is simple and it can remind you if you get a little forgetful.

As for the junk food, think exactly why you prefer junk food, it's the sweet or fattening taste and the habit of eating them. Oranges and apples are sweet too; give them a try or any other fruit that you want. Remember it is a habit to eat junk food; it can be a habit to eat the right foods.

Tell yourself that you are going to try it for a week. Each day write down the snacks you ate and why you ate them. At the end of the week, look over what you have written. Eating healthy snacks makes sense and you really know that. The taste of healthy foods or snacks can be as enjoyable as junk food and you know that too.

Think about it and give healthy snacks a try.

Why do I feel foggy if I only eat 800 calories a day?

Why do I feel foggy if I only eat 800 calories a day?

1. Actually it is exactly like your starving your self. Both body and mind need more that 800 calories a day to run a day to day life.... this includes brain function and energy levels (this is why you feel foggy)
   All your systems are running on half to save calories for you to keep living... as well as being very damaging to most of your body your also ruining any metabolism you might have had, and as a result you will find it very hard to lose weight or keep weight off in the future (when you start eating like a normal person).
   
2. Your body is in starvation mode. it happens when you eat less than 1200 calories a day. why are you doing this. your body is holding onto fats and will eventually eat muscle. eat more.
   
3. A normal person needs at least 1200 calories in a day. If you eat lesser than this then your body will react differently. Your body has to perform a lot of functions during the day, and if you do not give it the desired quantity, then it will also not help you. Respect your body.

Four Simple Cardio Programs to Burn Fat Super Fast

Jumping Rope

Jumping rope provides a number of health benefits: not only is it a great cardiovascular exercise that burns calories and fat, but it also develops good coordination between the hands and feet, as well as rhythm (muscle coordination). The greatest thing about jumping rope is that it is very inexpensive and you can do it almost anywhere.

Jumping rope has been proven to be a very effective method for burning fat. It has been shown to burn as many as 1,000 calories per hour. Wow, that is some serious caloric expenditure! Some of the best and leanest athletes swear by it. Movies often depict professional boxers skipping rope because it develops great cardiovascular endurance and stamina. It's no wonder that boxers are some of the best-conditioned athletes.

Grab a jump rope and try it yourself!

Stand erect, but relaxed, when you jump.
Keep your knees slightly bent.
Look straight ahead, not at your feet.
Land on the balls of your feet, not on your heels.
Keep your arms fairly still, do not flail.

Start by jumping slowly, building up your speed so you can jump rope more quickly over time. See how many times you can jump without missing. Try to do 100 skips before you have to stop – then, beat that record the next time. Do 50 super fast jumps, followed by 50 slower jumps.

Jumping rope is great for the whole family. Have even more fun by getting some friends to play Double-Dutch. Jump rope for 30 minutes, five times a week, and watch your waistline shrink. Go invest in a jump rope today, and quickly get the body you want.

Jumping on a Trampoline

Jumping on a trampoline – yes, I said jumping on a trampoline – is a great workout. It not only develops excellent proprioception (body awareness), but it also burns a ton of fat and calories. And did you know that the rhythmic bouncing has a powerful effect on the lymphatic system, which builds a stronger immune system?

A trampoline provides exercise that are easy on the joints, very low in stress, and great for the body.

It's easy to start a trampoline regimen. Buy a mini-trampoline for your living room and jump while watching your favorite TV show, or bounce to a trampoline workout video. For tons of family fun, buy a large trampoline for the backyard. Start jumping on your trampoline for 30 minutes a day and bounce away your pounds.

Outdoor Sprints

A Great workout: go outside and sprint as hard and fast as you possibly can. Once you feel like you're going to collapse, stop; walk until you're no longer huffing and puffing; then, sprint again. You might call this the 'Forrest Gump' Workout. Repeat as many times as you can, or until you complete a full 30 minutes of sprints and rest/walking.

This is a very intense workout, so you need a good level of fitness and conditioning before trying it. Sprint your butt off, walk until you catch your breath, then do it again. The harder you push yourself, combined with the faster and longer distance you run, the sooner you will get in shape and the more fat you will lose.

Outdoor sprints offer fat loss and a great body at no cost, so push harder than you ever have pushed before. If this sounds too difficult, consider the payoff. Any successful athlete will tell you they have put their bodies through this type of workout challenge.

If you are in good physical health, a sprint workout is extremely safe – so remember, just because you might feel like quitting doesn't mean you have to. In other words, keep pushing and get your butt in shape, no whining, no complaining; just results, and a happy, more confident you.

Stadium Stairs

Running up stairs is a great no-cost, outdoor workout available at your local high school or college stadium. Sprint to the top of the stadium, then walk down the stairs. Remember, safety first! As soon as you get to the bottom, sprint back up to the top, and repeat.


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Getting That Stubborn Weight Off - Start Today

By Steve Marcs

Many people have a tough time getting the weight off and keeping it off. Losing weight does not need to be hard, it can be made easy if you know how. We need to know what we are eating, how can we change something if we don't know what we are eating? What many people don't do is check the labels of food. When looking at the food are you eating sugar, fat, is there no protein in the food is the food filled with chemicals. Looking at what you are eating can tell you a lot and help you lose weight.

When trying to lose weight and you want to lose one pound the number of calories needs to be 3500 less of what is coming into your body now. When doing the calculation and you want to lose 1 pound in a week the number of calories that need to be reduced is 500 a day. There are many easy ways to do this, exercise will burn calories and fat, changing the types of foods we eat will remove the stubborn weight.

Diet programs are all over TV and on the radio, lose 20 pounds in a week, lose 30 pounds in a week and so on. Losing this much weight in one week is possible but slow and steady removes the pounds. Ask questions, if gaining weight took a year or two years how long will it take to lose the weight, almost the same amount of time when doing it the right way. According the latest medical information losing weight slowly and naturally keeps the weight off and works the best way.

The word diet has a bad stigma attached to it. When you think of a diet you think, eating special foods, not eating or doing something you normally wouldn't and when it is over its OK to go back to the other way of eating. It's all over the news, on talk shows and many doctors are realizing that losing weight is a lifestyle change. Learning how to eat the proper foods and eat well. No starvation, no strange packaged foods. This doesn't mean you can't eat sweets every once in a while.

The first and most important aspect of losing weight is learning how to read labels. When looking at labels look at the ingredients the food is made up of. If there are ingredients and you cannot pronounce them or include them in foods when cooking, this is not food, most likely chemicals. Some foods contain an ingredient called "bht", this is a preservative and it also is used as a pool cleaner. Good rule of thumb is to find foods with 5 or fewer ingredients, if there are couple more this is ok but make sure they are foods you heard of.

Did you know that 95% of people fail at losing the stubborn weight. Many have been successful at this weight loss plan, click here to start losing belly fat today.

Is Cholesterol Dangerous?

Letting you in on something shocking. Cholesterol isn't the major culprit in heart disease. This may be hard to believe after all we have heard about the dangers of high cholesterol from our doctors, and the media. But the truth is, it is not the cholesterol levels themselves or the cholesterol containing foods that are the culprits in heart disease, it is those foods and any other thing that causes inflammation in your body that is the major cause of heart disease (as well as diabetes and high blood pressure).

What is cholesterol and why do we need it?

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body’s cells. It’s an important part of a healthy body because it’s used to form cell membranes. Cholesterol also aids in the manufacture of bile (which helps digest fats), and is also important for the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K. It is the major precursor for the synthesis of vitamin D and of the various steroid hormones (which include cortisol and aldosterone in the adrenal glands, and the sex hormones progesterone, the various estrogens, testosterone, and derivatives ).

How could something so good be so bad?

Cholesterol has been wrongly accused because upon inspection of the arteries of someone at risk for a heart attack, levels of cholesterol and plaque build up are very high. Cholesterol is actually being transported to tissues as part of an inflammatory response that is there to repair damage. It will only lodge itself onto the artery and cause plaque if the artery has become damaged. Inflammation in the artery is what causes this damage. In fact, it is now known that the coronary disease that causes heart attacks is now considered to be caused mostly from chronic inflammation.

To blame cholesterol for heart attacks would be the equivalent of blaming increased police security in a high crime area. It was not the police that caused the crime, they were just placed there in response to the crimes.

A more important question to ask ourselves, is how do we decrease the amount of inflammation in our bodies so that cholesterol will not bind to our arteries?

We must decrease all of those things that we do that cause inflammation and increase things that decrease inflammation. First and foremost we must stay away from foods that cause inflammation in our bodies. Any food that causes a fast rise in blood insulin levels will quickly cause inflammation in the body. These foods are sugar, white breads, most dairy products and almost all packaged and processed foods. What does this leave you with? Fresh, wholesome foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean animal proteins, nuts, and lots and lots of water. Also, taking in lots of omega-3 rich foods will dramatically decrease inflammation in the body (salmon, organic eggs, walnuts and sardines).

What about your cholesterol medication?

Some may be thinking, it is just easier to take a pill and not have to change what I am eating. But you may want to think twice considering the side effects of statins (cholesterol lowering drugs). The most common side effects reported are fatigued, headaches, nausea and the most common of them all, severe muscular pains and muscular degeneration. If you remember that cholesterol is essential for the formation of cell membranes, taking a drug that is drastically lowering cholesterol may be causing membrane damage in neural and muscle tissue. Most people on statins complain of neck, back or leg pain.

Millions of Americans are now on cholesterol lowering drugs, but the number of people suffering from heart attacks and heart disease is only increasing. Let’s take a personal responsibility for our health and truly get to the root of the problem. Managing your diet and staying away from those foods that are causing an inflammatory response in your body is your first step to decreasing your chance of heart disease and heart attacks.

Losing Weight With The Makeover of Your Kitchen.

Losing Weight With The Makeover of Your Kitchen.

Where are our foods placed? Where else but the kitchen?

The kitchen is our land of temptation. Where to go when you’re hungry? When you need a snack? That corner of your temptation island where you have placed your treasure chest called the fridge. Open it up. Viola! Glittering treasures you shall find within.

Seriously, the best way to start losing weight, is to start by revamping your kitchen.
Face it people, if you have easier access to the food. If that food is within your radar, you would just grab it and eat it.

What we need to do is to stop making that kitchen an excuse for a temptation island.
Fast food, finger foods, alcoholic beverages, sweets, salty food these are just part of the sparkling treasures you may find in your kitchen.

Do a clean up of that fridge. A cleaner fridge, will create a cleaner mindset. Clean fridge means cleaner food.

Now, you’re starting to ask so what food is on the top 10 list of temptation island that has to go?
Honestly I can’t give you a top 10 list of that.
Food is food, there isn’t really a good food or a bad food. There will only be good and bad times to eat certain food.
Well there are “No – No” Foods which you should avoid at all cost. But I am not going to fully elaborate on that.

Let’s just provide you with a simple guideline on what are the ins, and what are the outs.

Get these out!

PROCESSED FOODS – Yes they last longer. But what are they doing to your body? Processed meat, don’t confuse this as a source for protein. Sausages, pepperoni, bacon and related foods are loaded with the type of fat that will shorten your lifespan, and are also loaded with sodium.


SODAS AND JUICES - excluding or including can be the difference between skinny and fat. Go ahead and read for yourself on your next 'healthy' fruit juice the amount of sugar. You have two ingredients- sugar and water. Seriously we rather you make your own fruit juice.



FROZEN DESSERTS AND ICE CREAM - again, adding more and more sugar, which is one of the biggest treasures you might find on temptation island.


SUGAR AND OIL LADEN SAUCES - whether it is ketchup, barbecue or chili sauce. The majority of nice packaged sauces are quick injections of spiced-up high fructose corn syrup.

You're better off spicing up your meals naturally without all the sugar and extra empty calories.


WHITE FLOUR PRODUCTS - like white bread and bagels - manufacturers first remove the wheat seed's bran, its six outer layers, and the germ, which results in more than 75% of the vitamins and minerals being lost and over 95% of the fiber being lost. It gets worse. What little is left gets bleached in chlorine dioxide to give the bread a shelf life. It is further whitened by adding chalk, alum, and ammonium carbonate to make it feel and look more improved for the customer. (Bet you didn’t know that huh?)

A few synthetic nutrients are then added back into the white flour and labeled 'enriched,' but in reality there has been no real 'enrichment' of the original product, only deception and destruction. Did you know that rats will die within seven to 10 days after being put a diet of white flour?

POTATO CHIPS - a cumulative batch of chemicals to put an enormous amount of strain on the pancreas, which is forced to protect your body from these chemicals.

Get These In

FRUIT - Always go for an assortment of colors and make sure your fridge is always stocked with fresh fruit. Shop for seasonal fruits. It’s better in quality and to save cost. If you can, go for local and organically grown produce.

Examples are apples, grapes, bananas, kiwi, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, mango, oranges, tangerines, and pineapple.


GRAINS – Here’s the grains that you might want to include: oats (not the instant oatmeal loaded with sugar), oat bran, whole flaxseed, quinoa, whole barley and wheat bran.

MEAT, POULTRY AND FISHES - There are many selections to choose from and the best advice is VARIETY! Eat a wide assortment and do not limit yourself to one shopping center. Rotate your shopping trips to farmers markets, the super-size grocery store and smaller grocery stores. Each will carry a different selection of meats.


MIXED NUTS - These are easy calories and a great source of good fat to balance out your meals. The best sources are peanuts, walnuts, cashews, almonds and pecans. (Please don't get those that are full of sodium. So called preserved nuts.)



VEGETABLES - If you know which aisle the chips and cookies are better than where the fresh produce section is then we are in deep trouble. You should be able to pick your vegetables from your local food market with your eyes closed. This should be the one section in the grocery store you are more familiar with than any other. Here are your staples: spinach, broccoli, peppers, asparagus, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, cucumbers, celery and carrots. Try and aim for the colors of the rainbow - the more VARIETY the better.


SPICES - Here is where the fun comes in. You don't have to be a gourmet chef to know how to use certain spice combination but it may take some experimentation. Focusing on just some of the basics like salt, pepper, fresh garlic, basil, oregano, chili powder, and cinnamon will bring your food to life. Consider this free food and customize your spices to your dish.

BEVERAGES - Get ready to start drinking a lot of water. Invest in filtered water and avoid tap water if you know your local area comes from poor sources.

Secret Tip When Going Grocery Shopping

You would have noticed that the majority of these good clean foods are stocked on the outskirt of the grocery store. While you are at the grocery store you will notice that your trek does not wander into the 'forbidden aisle.' These are the aisles full of the present and future physique challenged. Grocery shopping does not get easier than this once you discover that the best foods are located in the produce and refrigerated section. Avoid going into the middle of the battlefield. Shop in the 'safe zone' to avoid the ambush of pre-packaged food and processed carbs, sugar and bad fats.


Create a Nutritional Plan and Follow It

Have you heard of the saying, "Make your plan and than work the plan." It's quite powerful if taken seriously and applied wholeheartedly. Once you have decided on the plan, right for you, stop seeking and tweaking. Stop trying to 'perfect' it and simply follow what you have.

Your biggest obstacle will be keeping a 90% adherence to the program. Commit to following the program for at least 90% of the time. That means if you are eating four times a day, you will be eating a total of 28 times per week. 90% com pliancy means you don't mess up more than three times in the entire week! Puts a new perspective on why you might have not succeeded the past few years...



Follow the plan for at least 4 weeks straight. Lesser than that its just too short to come with any conclusions of whether it’s a good or a bad plan.

Want to be a Hot Sexy Female Model

Do you pass by the magazine stands in the
store and envy the bodies of the cover models? More and more women today are
coveting this body type; strong and muscular while still being feminine. Gone
are the days where strong women are seen as too masculine and unattractive.
The female fitness body is here to stay.

Now, curves are back so long as they are created with muscle mass and have a softer appearance. Hot celebrities such as Jessica Biel and Jessica Alba are now gracing the covers showing off their new curves. What's more is that these women are garnering a great deal of male attraction - much more than their thinner counterparts such as Lindsay Lohan or Victoria Beckham.

Luckily, if you make some smart changes to your workout program you can get yourself on the road to looking like the next female fitness model, maybe even covermodel!

First things first. Pink Weights.

If you want to add sexy curves to your body, you need not be afraid of heavier weights. Don't worry, you are not going to bulk up and begin bearing resemblance to Vin Diesel, as women simply do not have the testosterone in their bodies to be able to do this. In fact, in a very good situation, assuming sound training and great nutrition, a woman would be lucky to put on about half a pound of muscle mass per month. Not quite as scary as you thought right? And that is assuming everything is done right… many will experience a slower rate yet.

The problem with pink weights is that for most of you, they aren't challenging! You'd be surprised at how strong you already are if you'd just push yourself that little extra bit. So next time you're in the gym, pick up a ten pound dumbbell or if you're really ambitious, go for fifteen. You'll start noticing your body changing more in the next few weeks than in the last few years you've spent slaying away on the stairmaster.

Weights have the power to completely transform your body. They will make you a smaller, yet curvier version of your body now.

Don't be alarmed at your scale weight though as upon weight training your body weight may go up. Relax however, because one pound of muscle takes up much less space on your body than one pound of bodyfat does, therefore you may weigh more, but you will look smaller.

Next comes cardio.

Women have this tendency to just gravitate towards the cardio section of the gym. Whether it is the best place to check out the men lifting or it feels safer to them, whatever the reason, they go there and stay there - for hours at a time.

This is something that has to change. Think about how many hours of your life you've spent on that treadmill, stairmaster or elliptical machine. Do you really look that much different because of it? I'm guessing probably not.

Not only that, but how many of you put in your hour while watching TV or reading your favourite magazine? This is probably a good indicator that you aren't quite working as hard as you could be.

The truth of the matter is that your body will quickly adapt to all that cardio training that you are doing. So while before you might have burned a hundred calories running a mile, now you are only burning 80. Unless you continually add more and more time to get the same calorie burn, it is going to stop being an effective fat loss tool. And when you're already doing six hours a week, who really wants to spend MORE time doing cardio?

The secret is changing the format of your cardio from that of a comfortable steady-state session to one that's composed of high intensity intervals that will really kick you out of your comfort zone - and blast away body fat as well.

This is by far a more productive form of cardio to be doing so rather than wasting another hour of your life not really getting anywhere, next time you're in the gym for cardio, do twenty minutes, alternating thirty seconds going as hard as you possibly can with a minute and a half at a much easier pace to recover. It will be hard - I warn you. Stick with it for one month however and you will be extremely happy you did.

Now. Bring on the carbs.

Have you grown a love-hate relationship with carbohydrates? You love the way they taste but don't like the number they're doing to your waist. Understandable - many women feel this way.

The key thing to remember with carbohydrates is that they are not necessarily 'evil', so long as the portion size you eat remains under control and you are timing them properly. To have carbohydrates working most effectively for you, it is critical that you time them before and after your workouts. This is when your muscles are going to need the energy and will rapidly soak them up!

So if you're craving a bagel, have at it, but enjoy it right after you've finished a hard lifting session, as described above.

Get rid of your fat phobia.

One critical thing that many women do not understand is that in order to lose fat, they must eat fat. Women in particular actually tend to do better on a higher fat diet than males do. This has to do with their hormonal make-up and the way their body functions and responds to various macronutrient levels.

How many times have you reached for the cookies on the shelves, solely because they were 'fat-free' so you thought they'd be a safe dieting food? This was a terrible mistake.

When you remove the fat out of products, often times manufacturers will begin to add in extra sugar to make up for the taste. Newsflash. Extra sugar sends insulin levels skyrocketing and guess what insulin is? The fat storage hormone. So, what you need to do is try and minimize the amount of insulin surges you create throughout the day, while staying within your total calorie budget. Do this and you will have your best defence against warding off both hunger and fat gain.

Now, guess which macronutrient has the least effect on insulin levels? That's right - dietary fat.

So do not be so scared of consuming fat in your diet. It will help you deal with hunger and help your food taste better. Ideally you should be aiming to get no less than 25-30% of your calories coming from a combination of healthy fats (fish oil is particularly important).

Work Those Glutes

Finally, the one body part that most women usually will say they want to improve upon is their glutes. That curvy, sexy backside appearance tops the list of many gymgoers and in order to achieve this you are going to have to be doing the right exercises.

Concentrate on adding heavy-weight lunges, one legged squats, hamstring curls and ass-to-the-ground squats into your program. These are your fast track to a great behind. You can do all the cardio you want to try and get it, but unfortunately, all that might do is make you a smaller version of your exact same self. If you want to change the way you look, then you need to change the way you train.

So next time you pass by one of those covermodels and start dreaming about what it would be like to have that body - make it a reality for you. Many women are capable of making great improvements to their bodies if they would just stop with the training methods they are currently using and get on ones that are much more in tune with their goals.

The Types Of Muscle Fiber

Learning The Muscle Fiber Types

By Vince DelMonte

Choosing the best type of workout program that will stimulate the muscle fiber type that will get you the results you’re looking for is extremely important.

Unfortunately, all body building programs are not created equally when speaking in terms of muscle fiber types.

While you can’t differentiate between muscle fibers from your outside appearance, on the inside of the muscle tissue body, there are three main different fibers present.

Type A Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers

The first type of muscle fibers are known as Type A Fast Twitch and are responsible for the most forceful contractions generated, however, will fatigue the fastest.

For example, if you were to perform an all out set of 3 reps for bench press, you would predominately be using these type A muscle fibers.

They tend to have very large motor neurons and very low mitochondrial density. They also have a low oxidative capacity, meaning they will not be able to utilize oxygen very well. It is for this reason that they are not suited to endurance type of activities, because during these exercise variations, oxygen must be present in order to sustain the muscular contractions.

The major type of fuel that these muscle fibers are going to rely on is creatine phosphate and stored muscle glycogen (glucose). They will not utilize stored body fat at all due to the fact that they are only able to continually contract for between one and about 20 seconds.

Type B Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers

The next muscle fiber is also classified as a fast twitch muscle fiber but not to the extent that type A are.

This muscle fiber type is mostly utilized in activities that are relatively short in duration, but are not at an all out pace.

For example, if you were to sprint 100 meters, you’ll be using mostly type A. If on the other hand, you are to do a running interval at about 80-90% of your max capacity for 30 seconds, this would utilize the type 2A more.

Some of the characteristics of the type B muscle fibers are that they still have a large motor neuron (not as large as Type A though), they are on the intermediate scale as far as being resistant to fatigue, and they have a high degree of mitochondrial density.

These muscle fiber types are also able to use oxygen to a great extent, as demonstrated by their higher resistance to fatigue and longer duration of contraction abilities.

Slow Twitch

Finally, the third type of muscle fiber that you have in your body is classified as slow-twitch.

This is the muscle fiber type you would use if you were to run a marathon or any other extended duration, medium-to-low intensity activity.

These muscle fibers have a very high ability to resist fatigue and have a large oxidative capacity.

They are also relatively slow to contract, therefore you cannot expect a great deal of force generation from these muscles, and thus, will not be intended for exercises requiring a high degree of power.

They are very high in terms of mitochondrial density and have a large number of capillaries running throughout their bodies. This is to enable sufficient oxygen to get to the muscle tissues so that they can carry on the extended duration of muscular work they are intended to do.

These are also the muscle fibers that will also rely more on fat as fuel, as opposed to strictly using carbohydrates or creatine phosphate.

Training The Muscle Fiber Types

So, now that you’re familiar with the three major classes of muscle fiber types, it’s time to recognize how you would train each effectively.

Since type A are your primary force generators, if you wish to get a higher performance from them you’ll need to train using exercises that require you to max out your effort for a short period of time.

Think sprinting at full speed, 1-5 rep sets for lifting, and any type of plyometric activities.

Next, to train your type B muscles fibers you’ll want to slightly decrease the force with which you are to contract while simultaneously increasing the time over which you contract ever so slightly.

For example, perform 30-45 intervals repeated ten times with about a minute or a minute and a half at a low to moderate pace. For your weight training activities, aim to target the 6-10 rep range to utilize the fact these muscle fibers have a higher oxidation ability.

Finally, to improve your slow twitch muscle fibers, think endurance. This type of fiber will usually require the greatest amount of time to train for improvement because you’ll want to focus on simply going ‘longer’.

If you’re a runner, try and run longer. If you’re a biker, bike longer. If you’re a swimmer, swim longer – you get the point.

This type of muscle has the ability to go for extended periods of time so this is exactly what you want to train it to do.

So, next time you are trying to sort out your training plan make sure to take the various muscle fiber types into consideration.

Doing so will allow you to make the most out of your training program so you get the exact results you’re looking for.

Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building.

Simple Breakfast Recipes For Losing Weight

A good way to lose weight is to watch what you eat!
And a good day! Starts with a good breakfast!

So you've guessed it! We're gonna start with breakfast recipes!

Simple Omelet

• 2 eggs per/omelet
• 1 table spoon low fat milk
• 2 teaspoon butter

Beat the eggs and milk in a bowl until combined; do not allow them to become frothy. melt the butter over medium heat, tilting the skillet to coat the bottom.

Pour in the eggs; stir gently with a fork while they thicken to distribute the eggs from top to bottom. Stop stirring when the eggs begin to set. As the eggs thicken, lift the edges of the omelet and allow the uncooked eggs to flow underneath. Allow to cook until the bottom is golden and the top is set but shiny. With a long, flat spatula, gently loosen the edge of the omelet and fold the omelet in half towards you. With the help of the spatula, slide the omelet out of the pan and onto a plate.

Omelet with Anything and Red peppers!

Personally I love omelets, they could go with basically anything!

• 2 eggs
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup of anything that is cooked(personally I would put chicken or some meat, or even some leftovers from yesterday's dinner.)
• 2 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese (We all love a cheese omelet, you could try with different cheese.)
• 2 tablespoon of fresh red peppers, chopped.
• 2 teaspoon of butter
  

You could add any favorite ingredients to your omelet, just be sure to adhere to the quantities of the ingredients so as not to "overstuff" your omelet.

In a small mixing bowl, beat eggs until well combined using wire whisk or fork, melt the butter over medium heat, tilting the skillet to coat the bottom.

Add eggs to skillet and salt and pepper to taste. Cook on medium until eggs are just setting. Add anything (I chose chicken here) cheese and red peppers to center of eggs. Fold omelet over and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.

Flip omelet and cook for an additional 1 minute or until eggs are cooked.

And SERVE!

Good Food, Good Recipes.

Think of your body as an engine that needs fuel. If you drove a nice car that required unleaded fuel, would you put diesel fuel in it everyday?
No, of course not!

Naturally, it is foolish to think we are going to fuel our bodies every single day with the perfect balance of nutrients, calories, foods, and beverages to optimize our overall health. That might sound crazy! But it is true!

There are too many foods that look and taste so good!!! That they become irresistible to us.

It is human nature to want to indulge in life's culinary pleasures. Therefore, it is important to understand a few basics of good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle in order to find a balance between eating healthy and enjoying some of life's not so healthy culinary temptations.


Guess what!
From now on! From time to time, lose weight effortlessly! Will publish food recipes!
HEALTHY food recipes! and not forgetting tasty!
We will make sure it's simple to make! Cheap to make! Good to eat! And of course!!!!! ...... what else huh?

Convenience! Effortlessly! Yummy! All jam packed into one! If the food doesn't fall into all 3 categories we just mentioned! Then it won't be posted!!

How Hoodia Diet Pills Works

Hoodia Diet Pills

We've received quite a few Questions regarding Hoodia Diet Pills.
How does Hoodia works? And most importantly is Hoodia safe for consumption?

It’s true that you eat for a lot of different reasons, but feeling hungry can drive you to distraction. You know you should stick to your diet (what ever the current one is), and you know when you’re eating more than you need. But, what can you do about always feeling hungry? It’s just not fair.
Don’t make the mistake of believing that all you have to do is pop a few hoodia diet pills everyday and the fat will just melt off. While many claim that has been the case for them, the vast majority of dieters need more help than diet pills to achieve their weight loss goals. And in some cases, hoodia simply doesn’t work at all!

Hoodia gordonii diet pills can play an effective part of an
overall weight loss plan if used correctly.

Keep in mind that the only thing that hoodia gordonii does is suppress appetite. It will not improve a bad diet nor will it address overeating problems. If you have a terrible diet and tend to overeat even when you are not hungry, hoodia diet pills will do absolutely nothing for you. If this describes you, you’ll be better off tackling those issues first before turning to hoodia diet pills – or any diet pills for that matter.

Hoodia diet pills will not build muscle and it will not burn fat. Your muscles are fat burning machines. They burn fat all day long – even when you are resting. The more you have the more fat you’ll burn. Your metabolism also plays a key role in burning fat. The only way to build muscle and to get your metabolism cranking is to exercise!

Those who have the most success with hoodia and weight loss
also diet and exercise.

They understand that diet and exercise are the cornerstone of any weight loss program – NOT diet supplements – hoodia included! While hoodia diet pills may help to suppress your appetite, you still need to diet and exercise for optimal results. Don’t fall prey to the hype that all you have to do is pop some hoodia supplements and you’ll magically lose weight!

To have the most success with hoodia and weight loss, you need to
maintain a healthy diet and you need to exercise regularly.

People with diabetes should be cautious about using hoodia. One of the theories about how hoodia works is that it tricks the brain into thinking that it has enough blood sugar. Without proper feedback regulation, it's possible that a person's blood sugar could drop dangerously low while taking hoodia. And with the regular hunger mechanism turned off, the normal warning signs may be suppressed, until it's too late.

And as a general precaution, because the safety in pregnant or nursing women, children, or people with liver or kidney disease hasn’t been established, these people in particular should avoid hoodia.

More Tips On How To Lose Weight

In today's world, almost everywhere you look people are looking for weight loss tips. Weight loss has become the primary objective of those who are going to the gym. They want to lose weight and they want it NOW. Luckily, there are some weight loss tips that will make this process a great deal easier, ensuring that you can succeed without feeling like you're putting your body through torture.

Calorie Intake

The first couple quick weight loss tips are number one, be sure that your calorie intake is not too extreme. Think about it. Put yourself on a starvation diet and you are just asking for a rebound binge. Sure, you may have great will power and will be able to withhold for a few days, but you will soon cave and when you do, chances are you'll eat a vast quantity of food in response to starving for so long.

If your caloric intake is too low to begin then where will you go when you hit a plateau? For example, a male will be far more successful starting with 2800 calories and dropping 200 calories every 2 weeks as he evaluates his progress instead of starting at 2000 calories and only having one direction to go - starvation which will eventually turn off his metabolism and stall his weight loss progress.

Gradual Progression

Secondly, keep in mind current "nutrition level." Do you really need a bodybuilder pre-contest diet or do you just need to start with the basics? If you begin with a meal plan that is too extreme then you will not be able to follow it and regardless of how well the diet is designed, if you aren't able to stick with it, it isn't going to work very well. My favorite line of mine is, "The best diet that works is the one that you follow." Adopting a more gradual nutrition approach, just like your training, would help with your adherence levels, which would then translate to you being better able to maintain it. One of the best weight loss tips I gave a client who was eating 2 double cheese burgers a day was to start eating one double cheese burger! Why didn't I recommend he eat a steamed chicken breast instead since that is the superior choice? The steamed chicken breast, obviously the mores superior choice would be too much of a change and not create adherence and eventually failure.

Celebrate With a 10% Meal

Another few fast weight loss tips are that you should always be incorporate a "victory meal" to reflect your accomplishment and progress. If you have gone a few weeks without any cheat meals and are dropping consistently then kick back and have a beer or do something that is "rewarding" - just don't get too carried away and don't get back on track. You won't sabotage weeks of dieting with one "victory meal" as long as you don't adopt a mindset that this celebration represents an "ending." The key is to not get carried away and to use this as a reward, refocus and get ready for another 4-8 weeks of hard training and dieting. Consider a "celebration meal" every few weeks and then get back on track!

Smart Exercise Program

Next up, when selecting the exercise program you'll go on, again, be sure not to choose something that's overly extreme. Too much cardio can actually hinder your results, so you'll want to avoid that as much as possible. Three to four sessions a week along with a properly planned out diet should be plenty to get you seeing results. If you are having to do hours a day in order to just lose a pound, something else is off with either your diet (most likely) or your weight training program.

Clear The Clutter

Finally, the last quick weight loss tip to keep in mind is that before starting any diet program, you should rid the house of any foods that could be problematic. If the food is not readily available, it makes it sort of hard to eat it. Consider you home a "haven" and that it's one thing to have slip ups occur outside of your home but not inside of your home where you can control what is coming in and out. Sabotaging your own weight loss success, in your own home, is embarrassing.

By clearing yourself of the problem foods before you start, you overcome a huge obstacle already.

Replace these 'bad' foods with ones that are much healthier and will still taste good, so when you do get hungry, they are what you reach for rather than the old foods which caused your weight gain in the first place.

Three Easy Tips On How To Lose Weight!

Three Easy Tips On How To Lose Weight!

I know, as soon as you saw the words "easy" and "lose weight" in the headline, you were ready to write this off as another one of those gimmicks or programs sound too good to be true and usually are. But bear with me and you'll learn the 3 easy tips on how to lose weight that I guarantee will help you in your weight loss efforts.

You've probably been conditioned to believe that weight loss had to be tied to countless hours at the gym, the latest supplement breakthroughs or eating nothing but celery stalks and tofu. Fortunately, dropping a couple dress sizes doesn't take anything that drastic. What it does take is making some small changes in the behaviors that led to the addition of those unwanted pounds. Here are 3 lifestyle changes that will immediately help you lose that unwanted fat and get your body back.

First tip on how to lose weight-
Stop Eating Out. Think back to when you were growing up. Do you remember what the dinner plates looked like? Now compare that to what the "plates" look like at O'Charleys, Applebees or any of the other chain restaurants. It's no wonder we're gaining weight. There are dozens of studies about eating out and they all lead to one conclusion: if you eat out, you overeat! Not only is it almost impossible to exercise effective portion control when you eat out, but you're also compelled to get you money's worth so you eat everything you're served rather than stopping when you should.

The bottom line is that those who eat out consume more calories than those that don't. Take a break from eating out for the next six weeks and see how easily you can drop a dress size or even two. And you can use the money you saved eating at home to buy a couple of new outfits to showcase your improved body.

Second tip on how to lose weight-
Eat Smaller Portions. You don't have to avoid the foods that you enjoy – you just can't eat big servings of them. An easy way to do this is to use smaller plates for your meals. This will help you fell like you're not depriving yourself while still exercising good judgment. And don't think that just because something is on your plate, you have to eat it. As opposed to what your mother told you, you don't have to ‘clean your plate.' In fact - you shouldn't. Eat slowly and stop when you aren't hungry any more. You'll quickly find that you can enjoy your favorite foods and your skinny jeans at the same time.

And the third tip on how to lose weight -
Make Better Choices. I know I just said that you can eat the foods you enjoy and still lose weight, but that doesn't mean overindulging on processed foods, candy, sodas and chips. The key is moderation. So when you go to the supermarket, do the bulk of your shopping around the perimeter of the store and spend less time in the isles. When you're at work, keep health snacks handy so you don't have to rely on the company's vending machine for your energy boost. But most importantly, make good choices with the meals that don't really matter. Your quality of life won't dramatically improve if you choose a cheeseburger over a grilled chicken salad for lunch, so don't do it. Save the times when you are going to choose foods that might be considered unsupportive for the meals that you really look forward to. Improving your choices will accelerate your weight loss and help you save unnecessary calories without really trying.

Obviously, there is nothing magic about any of these three tips on how to lose weight other than the results that they produce. So start applying these three simple ideas and prepare to get your body back.

About the Author

Holly Rigsby is a nationally recognized women’s fitness coach, certified personal trainer (CPT) and the author of the internationally popular e-book – Fit Yummy Mummy - Burn Your Baby Fat & Get Your Body Back. Go to FitMummy to get your FREE copy of her special report: "The Five Ways To Boost Your Metabolism."

Weight Loss For Teens

Weight Loss For Teens

More and more teens are presenting as overweight and obese. It is becoming an epidemic that is putting a strain on the medical resources and the life expectancy of many young people. All of which, given the state of the average teenager's diet, is no surprise. Therefore, finding a free weight loss for teens program has become a regular quest.

With this in mind, it is important that any program of weight loss that is going to work has to be one that does not exploit or offer unrealistic goals. Instead a weight loss program that takes into account the growing and changing body and mind of the teenager should always the preferred option.

Without a doubt, any free weight loss for teens program should start with the basics. A close look should be taken at what the teenager is eating on a regular basis and also, how much physical activity the teenager is taking.

As already stated, some teenagers do not have the healthiest of diets. Many of them exist on nothing more than junk food. If this is the case, then the first thing that has to go is that junk food diet. The more junk food that can be cut out of the diet, the more weight is likely to be lost.

Instead a diet made up of fresh fruits and vegetables is what is needed. This might not sound as interesting as a diet of pizza, fries and hamburgers, but the more fruit and vegetables that are eaten, the better the all round weight management and health. Does that mean no more pizza ever? Well no, it just means that pizza, and other considered junk foods, should be eaten sparingly and not eaten as the norm.

The next step towards finding a free weight loss for teens program, is to make sure that there is plenty of regular exercise being taken. That means getting the heart and lungs pumping and working at least three or four times per week for at least twenty minutes at a time. It doesn't mean that any teen who is not gym orientated or who does not enjoy jogging has to start doing those particular activities. No, any sport or activity that is not preferred, should not be undertaken. Going for a vigorous walk a few times a week is considered adequate exercise. Whatever the exercise taken, it should be done so willingly, only then is it more likely to be continued.

Above all, a free weight loss for teens plan should be realistic and not set the teenager up for failure. Repeated failures are demoralizing and will only result in weight gain. Small, steady progress is always the way to go to see long lasting weight loss.

The Best Ab Exercise

We've received lots of Questions regarding tone abs and what's better other than getting a body builder professional to share with you "The Best Abs Exercises"


Without further ado, here's an article from Vince DelMonte our guest writer for the day.

By Vince DelMonte

When it comes to getting a solid six pack, doing the right ab exercises is crucial. You can spend hours doing needless sit-ups that aren't really going to have all that much benefit, much to your disappointment. Taking the time to choose smart ab exercises will save you not only gym time, but a great deal of frustration as well. In this article we will discuss the best lower ab exercises and the best home ab exercises as well.

The best movements for the abdominal muscles are going to be ones that reduce your overall stability. The reason for this is because this will require all your muscle tissues, even the ones deep within the core, to contract in order to maintain balance. When you perform regular sit-ups, for example, they are really only going to target the more superficial muscles; one that will still help, but not get you near the results you could be seeing.

So what ab exercises are ones that reduce your balance?

Basically, anything done on an unstable surface is going to get the job done. This would include movements such as walking across a balance beam, performing one leg squats, one arm shoulder presses, or bent over dumbbell rows standing on one leg and of course, utilizing an exercise ball for any laying abdominal movement you perform. Working on a BOSU ball and stability ball ab exercises are also excellent options. As long as you have a set of free weights and stability ball then these would qualify as your best home ab exercises as well.

By far the most effective lower ab exercises are hanging leg raises while you use your lower abs to rotate your pelvis which is the secret to performing this effectively. Lying leg raises, lying leg raises on a 45 degree incline and cable crunches are also rock hard ab exercises.

Another area you might want to venture into with your ab exercises are those that utilize heavy weights.

While this will not necessarily get you 'cut' so that all your individual muscles are showing - that takes having low levels of body fat, what weighted movements will do is help further build the muscle tissue and make your abs "pop".

The more muscle mass you have, the faster your metabolic rate will then be, so in an indirect way, that could in fact help you burn off excess body fat.

Furthermore, doing weighted movements will also increase your strength greatly, reducing the risk of injuries from any other type of exercise you may attempt. Weighted ball crunches with a stability ball on your chest is my favorite home ab exercises.

When choosing when to perform your ab exercises, if you are looking for performance, do them on a separate day from all your other work. Just like any muscle group, you want to be fresh when you do them.

If, on the other hand, you are more just doing them to help build some strength, but more to round out your exercise program, then you should be doing them at the end of your workout session. This will prevent them from fatiguing early, because they are going to be predominately used in all the other lifts you perform (heavy squats for example).

In many cases this rule can be bent though. For example, if a client comes to me and their abs are the weakest muscle group then performing them at the end of the workout makes no sense because they will be pre fatigued from the workout and you will not be able to train them as intensely so prioritizing your abs at the start of the workout can become the exception in this case.

So, next time you are creating your workout and are picking out ab exercises, keep these points in mind. Having good dedication to performing these exercises on a regular basis and then following a clean diet based around raw vegetables and proteins are the two main components to developing that six-pack you're hoping for.


About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of Your Six Pack Quest.
He specializes in helping chubby guys and gals get six pack abs without gimmicks, supplements or dieting.

Fat Loss, One A Day At A Time

Fat Loss, One A Day At A Time

By Holly Rigsby, CPT

Rome wasn't built in a day and your fat loss won't happen that way either. Don't expect to start eating perfectly and exercising religiously tomorrow. Instead set yourself up for success by implementing at least one supportive habit per week. Make an effort to adopt the premise of "progress, not perfection." By developing awareness that improvement is measured by your daily progress, you can save yourself a lot of grief and frustration from the beginning. Focusing on small, positive steps in everything you do is a vital component to change. It starts you moving in the right direction and the momentum of your amazing, transforming results will soon follow. With time, commitment and a willingness to continue to take those small steps, failure is not an option.

How to do it: Be mindful of the fact that you didn't gain it overnight so you're not going to lose it overnight. A safe and effective fat loss program will yield 1 to 2 pounds of fat loss a week, not 10. As you begin your weight loss journey, aim for 2-3 small improvements each week. Build up to eating more supportively and moving a little more than yesterday. These small changes will add up to big improvements over time.

Beware of supplements and "quick fixes" that promise accelerated fat loss. Instead, plan on losing fat weight slowly. Sure we all want instant results, but it's impossible to undo a years of inactivity and poor nutrition overnight.

Instead of only looking at the big picture, try to break it down into smaller bites. Set one-month goals, three-month goals, six-month goals and even yearly goals. Carry over each previous goal to make sure that you aren't stopping one to achieve another. Make sure goals are achievable and realistic and what you truly want. A half-hearted desire will produce half-hearted results.

Remember, life happens and we must face the challenges. Sometimes that means not getting to exercise or eat properly. The difference is we get it. We make it a point to view each situation, each setback as an opportunity to LEARN and ASK, "What could I do differently next time?" Then it becomes a matter of getting back on track as soon as possible. Leave the excuses and blame behind and forget about beating ourselves up – we're only human. Strive to do a little better today than you did the day before. The key is to stay consistent, focused and take daily action. Make goals meaningful. Our minds cannot differentiate between achieving an enormous goal or a miniscule goal it only perceives success or failure. If you set a goal that is impossible to fail you'll only be setting yourself up for tremendous victory.

Don't be too rigid. Telling your self that you HAVE to workout for a set time to feel a sense of completion is ill fated. If you set out to workout for 30 minutes and you only get in 20, you'll more apt to be disappointed regardless of how hard you worked. If you simply set a goal to go to the gym at least 2-3 days a week and complete your resistance training and cardio you'll perceive yourself as a winner.

An additional goal idea: Have you ever wanted to participate in a race or sport that you've never had the endurance for? Then use that as a goal! When the end justifies the means it's easier to make it through the rough spots. It's a win-win situation if you are able to achieve a want and a need simultaneously!

About the Author

Holly Rigsby is a nationally recognized women’s fitness coach, certified personal trainer (CPT) and the author of the internationally popular e-book – Fit Yummy Mummy - Burn Your Baby Fat & Get Your Body Back. Go to FitMummy to get your FREE copy of her special report: "The Five Ways To Boost Your Metabolism."

Author's Note

I've include an email button, "The one that looks like an envelope" So that you could share the tips & article with friends through email.

Remember to tell them bout this blog for more useful ways to lose weight.


Cheers

http://loseweighteffortlessly.blogspot.com

Two Flat Stomach Secrets For Women

Two Flat Stomach Secrets For Women

By Holly Rigsby, CPT

Have you tried everything under the sun to get a flat stomach, only to come up disappointed? Have you fallen prey to all the gimmicks, fad diets and shameless infomercials promising you that elusive flat stomach that you desire?

Well fret no more, I'm going to let you in on the two ‘secrets' that will help you shed unwanted fat and reveal your toned, flat stomach once and for all.

The first secret for a flat stomach is eating supportively. While this doesn't seem like a secret at all, most women get this wrong in spite of their best – but misguided – efforts. Women have fallen prey to low-fat, low-carb, Hollywood, grapefruit, South Beach and every other over hyped diet that marketers can dream up, all in hopes of shedding those unwanted pounds. But eating supportively is isn't about dieting or deprivation; it's about moderation and balance. While cutting carbs or fats out of your nutrition plan might give you a temporary loss of a couple of pounds, it's typically followed by a drop in metabolism and a weight gain of more than you lost in the first place once you go back to your old eating habits.

So what is eating supportively? Eating supportively is having protein and carbohydrates at every meal. It's grazing on 4-6 meals or snack each day instead of missing meals and then gorging yourself. It's enjoying a healthy breakfast and not drinking your calories. But most of all, eating supportively is enjoying the foods you love in moderation instead of in excess.

If eating supportively is the first secret to a flat stomach, then what's the second? The second flat stomach secret is resistance training. Unfortunately, just as fad diets have stood in the path of women achieving the flat stomachs they so desired, so have the myths of spot reduction and cardio being the best method for fat loss. Late night infomercials have long promoted gadgets that promised to spot reduce those trouble spots that women struggle with and sucked us in with testimonials from fitness models that undoubtedly picked up a nifty paycheck for endorsing their wares. But spot reduction is a myth. Think about it – have you ever met someone with a flat stomach and fat arms? Didn't think so. If spot reduction was possible then undoubtedly one of these happy customers would have toned and tightened their stomach, yet kept their flabby arms.

The other myth that has led women astray is the belief that cardio is the best solution for fat loss. Treadmill manufacturers have sold the virtues of the ‘fat burning zone' and led us to believe that we could plod along on a treadmill watching Oprah and before long a flat stomach would be ours. These two myths have diverted us from the path of what really does work – resistance training. Resistance training is a flat stomach's best friend because not only does an effective resistance training session burn plenty of calories while you're doing it, but it keeps you're metabolism revved long after you're done. One recent study showed that you're metabolism would stay elevated for over 36 hours after a resistance training session.

Try to get that out of an aerobics class.

And there's another benefit of resistance training when it comes to getting a flat stomach. The lean muscle that you gain will raise you're resting metabolic rate and help you burn more fat all day long, each and every day.

There you have it, two ‘secrets' that are guaranteed to boost your metabolism and give you that flat stomach you've been longing for. So ditch the diet books and the aerobics classes and start eating supportively and resistance training. Before long that flat stomach will finally be yours.

About the Author

Holly Rigsby is a nationally recognized women’s fitness coach, certified personal trainer (CPT) and the author of the internationally popular e-book – Fit Yummy Mummy - Burn Your Baby Fat & Get Your Body Back. Go to FitMummy to get your FREE copy of her special report: "The Five Ways To Boost Your Metabolism."

Start Burning Calories From Breakfast

Breakfast is easily the most overlooked solution when it comes to effective fat burning tips. Studies consistently show that people, who regularly eat breakfast, eat fewer calories throughout the day, have better nutritional habits, and weigh less than those who choose to skip breakfast.

When it comes to your fat loss, your goal is to make your body burn more calories. Your metabolism is like a burning fire, how can you make the fire burn stronger without putting something on it to burn? Our bodies are burning fat and calories 24 hours a day, however, calories are burned at the slowest rate while we are sleeping. Without something to jump-start it in the morning, your metabolism may remain in slow motion throughout the day and any extra calories – no matter how healthy - will be stored as fat.

The act of eating and digesting supportive foods frequently, increases your metabolism so you can burn more fat and calories all day long.

How to do it: Eat a supportive meal within an hour of waking. Feel like your always running late? No time to eat? The secret – get up 10-20 minutes earlier and keep it simple. Not only can you increase time spent with your family at the kitchen table, but making time to start your day off with a high protein, high fiber breakfast will boost your metabolism, your energy and your mood. Because breakfast provides you with the energy you need to get through your day, the more energy you have, the more active you'll be and the more active you are, the more calories you burn.

If you are not hungry first thing in the morning, try starting your day with a big glass of water or freshly brewed green tea. Proceed with your morning routine and plan to allow yourself about 10-15 minutes before you walk out the door to eat your breakfast.

If you like to exercise first thing in the morning, eat 30 to 45 minutes before your workout.

Try one of the following options:

1. Eat a light snack – yogurt or a piece of fruit. Eat your regular breakfast 30-45 minutes after your workout.

2. Eat half of your regular breakfast before the workout and the other half about 30-45 minutes after your workout.

3. Drink a meal replacement shake – quick and easy to make and for your body too digest.

Watch out for "Protein/Breakfast Bars". Many of these items seem appealing for they are quick and easy; however the majority of these bars are loaded with sugar and fat. Check the nutrition facts.

Here are some breakfast fat loss favorites: Cereal is a MUST. It's convenient, easy to prepare, easy to eat and full of nutrients – No…"Whole Grain Lucky Charm" does not fall into this category. Be sure to choose your cereals based on the information on the food label.

The top choices should have:

• 5 grams of Fiber or more
• 8 grams of Sugar or LESS
• Sugar not listed among the first 3 ingredients.

For all other breakfast options, be sure to include a protein, complex carbohydrate, and fresh or frozen fruit. These are some of my favorites:

• Oatmeal with natural peanut butter, cinnamon and a side of fresh berries.
• Kashi Go Lean Crunch with skim milk and a banana.
• Scrambled egg whites topped with salsa and shredded cheese wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla.
• Meal Replacement Shake with a piece of fruit.

So if you're interested in fat loss, make sure you don't forget – breakfast is the most important meal of the day.