Monday, September 28, 2009

Review of the Top Secret Fat Loss Program - How Effective is It? Project

Review of the Top Secret Fat Loss Program – How Effective is It? Project

Author: Paul Duncan
Category: Health & Fitness | Weight Loss
Keyword: fat loss program,weight loss,lose weight,top secret fat loss review,secret fat loss
Source: ezinearticles.com
Post Data: 26/09/2009 10:42:16
Word: 570

Dr Suzanne Gudakunst created this weight loss program which explains why so many people fail to lose weight successfully. This is my Review of the Top Secret Fat Loss program.This program approaches the subject of fat loss in a way that explains why losing fat can be so difficult. This is an approach that is often ignored by many other programs.What I liked about the Top Secret Fat Loss program is that it actually focuses on the cause of the problem, and not just on the symptoms, which is carrying excessive fat. It seems to make, Project, sense that if you can pinpoint the real cause and take steps to remove it, then there will be no symptoms.After going through this program, I have to say that I was pretty impressed with the information contained. You will now learn through this Top Secret Fat Loss Review, what I have learned through this program.The human body is one big defence mechanism. It very nature is to protect itself from attack. It does this through the immune system, by eradicating any potential harmful bacteria and substances entering the body.Problems start to surface when the resources of the immune system become so stretched that it can no longer function in the way that it was created to. You may not be aware of this but you are poisoning your body on a daily basis.These toxins come from various sources. The chemicals that are in your food. The chemicals you come into contact with when you are cleaning your house. The high levels of meat that the modern diet consists of. The pollution that you breath. All these factors put a huge strain on your immune system. This results in the body not working effectively. This leads to disease and other health problems.The body’s abilities to burn fat effectively are also reduced, and this is why so many people are struggling with their weight.The truth is that most of us carrying large amounts of toxic waste in our bodies. This waste has probably been stuck in our bodies for a number of years. The bad news is that this waste is a feeding ground for parasites and bad bacteria. While this situation is present, your body finds it impossible to lose weight successfully or to keep you in optimum health.The Top Secret Fat Loss program, explains in great detail what is going on in your body. You will learn the exact steps to take in order to start eliminating this disgusting waste, and to get your body to start working in the way that it was meant to work.The program claims that once you start to relinquish this waste, you will start to see significant benefits in your health. You will increase our levels of energy. You will find it easier to shift excessive fat. Your skin, hair, and nails will look much better.The information in this program is quite scary, but it does fall in line with other research that I have seen. I highly recommend that you take a closer look at this program for yourself. What you will learn will probably shock you.Will the program work for you? It has had some great feedback off people that have used it, and I can honestly say that, Project, everyone should be looking at a program such as this, regardless of their current situation. This ends the review of the Top Secret Fat Loss program

If you want to know this program after reading the Top Secret Fat Loss Review, then feel free to visit us to find out how you can successfully get rid of tummy fat for the long term.

The Truth About Diet Programs You Don't Know About Project

The Truth About Diet Programs You Don’t Know About Project

Author: Carrie Wilson
Category: Health & Fitness | Weight Loss
Keyword: diet progams,diet programs,diet program,lose weight,weight loss,diet programs available
Source: ezinearticles.com
Post Data: 23/09/2009 06:11:03
Word: 277

When you decide that it’s time to lose weight, you will most likely start looking at the various diet programs available. Unfortunately, the number of programs out there can be quite overwhelming – to the point where you don’t know where to start, and therefore never really, Project, get started. Are you ready to learn the truth about diet programs?The truth is that no matter whichever plan you select, you will lose weight if you stick to the program. No matter how you look at it, weight loss is a direct result of taking in fewer calories than your body is using up during the day. If you are doing that – no matter what the program is called – you will lose weight. If you don’t lose weight by taking in fewer calories than you are using up, you most likely have a health problem that is preventing weight loss, and you will need to see your doctor to determine what that problem is.You can release pounds without a prescribed weight loss strategy, providing that there are no underlying health problems, if you stick to the formula of consuming fewer calories than you are using. However, some people are better able to stick with, Project, it if there is a program that they are following.If this is your case, research the various programs that are available, and select a program that you feel will be easier to follow. Again, if you follow the program you will release extra pounds, and the only way to fail is to not follow the program, or to only follow the diet program every once in a while, as opposed to following it every single day.

Click Here! For a free trial of RezVPlus and lose weight now!

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Muscles on the Brain at Mealtime

Men’s Health has great articles that cross genders!  This article, 11 New Mealtime Muscle Boosters: Because you just can’t eat another boneless, skinless chicken breast with brown rice is one!

Click on the link to see their reasons!

  1. Shrimp
  2. Oysters, clams, mussels
  3. Quinoa
  4. Couscous
  5. Sloppy Joes (???)
  6. Baked beans
  7. Portobello mushrooms
  8. Prunes
  9. “Fried” chicken (use wheat germ rather than corn flakes!)

Friday, September 25, 2009

The 5 Keys to Stress Relief

Do you remember the last time you were so absorbed in a suspenseful movie or masterful novel that the rest of the world dropped away? For most of us, it’s even easier to get caught up in our own stories, interpretations, and emotions – becoming so identified with a mood that it completely colors our worldview. 

Consider this common scenario: You’re at work when your manager calls and asks to immediately see you in her office. Depending on your typical thought process, you may immediately begin to worry, “What did I do wrong? I wonder if my job is on the line . . . if I get fired, it could take a long time to find work in this economy.” Your dread builds and you really don’t want to go see your manager.

Or (particularly if your predominant dosha is Pitta), you may find yourself getting angry, thinking, “After all the work I’ve put in, I’m not putting up with any criticism. This company is lucky to have me here.” You head towards your manager’s office feeling belligerent and ready to defend yourself.

The 10-Ton Thought
Whether you react in fear or in anger, the thoughts in your mind create stress in your body. Your heart beats faster, your blood pressure rises, your breath becomes shallow, your adrenalin surges, and you produce higher levels of cortisol. Your ancient fight-or-flight response is gearing up, but no woolly mammoths are roaming through the office ― “just” thoughts convincing you that your survival is at stake.

While your thoughts may seem wispy in comparison with a hungry, hairy predator, they clearly have immense power. Something happens that violates your sense of how things should be, and you perceive danger, whether real or imagined. Numerous studies show that chronic stress accelerates aging and makes you more likely to develop a serious illness, including heart disease, stomach ulcers, autoimmune diseases, cancer, insomnia, migraine headaches, panic attacks, anxiety, and depression.

Choices that Relieve Stress
Fortunately, there are many valuable practices that can help you go beyond the primal fight-or-flight response. You can learn to experience a restful response ― a mind-body state that is as natural as the stress response, but infinitely more peaceful and healing.

1. Connect to Your Body. While the mind is constantly flitting to thoughts of the future and memories of the past, the body lives in the only moment that truly exists: the present. One of the best ways to relieve stress is to go out of your mind and tune in to your body. Allow yourself to feel all your bodily sensations, including ones that your mind might label unpleasant, such as tightness in your jaw, churning in your stomach, or stiffness in your neck. Your body never doubts itself and it will guide you toward the most evolutionary choices. This guided meditation podcast by davidji will help you tune in to your body’s wisdom and release stress.

2. Meditate. Meditation gives you access to the inner silence and calm that lies beneath the mind’s noisy internal dialogue. Meditation allows you to experience profound relaxation that dissolves fatigue and long-standing stresses. Studies have found that a daily meditation practice can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, decrease anxiety and depression, and reverse the biological markers of aging.
Given the numerous healing benefits of meditation, the Chopra Center offers instruction in Primordial Sound Meditation at all of our programs and events. In addition, there are certified Primordial Sound Meditation teachers throughout the world. Click here to find one in your area

3. Understand Your Unique Stress Response. Your mind-body constitution (known as your dosha) plays a great role in how stress affects you. Here are the stress patterns of the three main doshas:
Vata: Those with predominantly Vata constitutions have the greatest tendency toward anxiety and worry. Normally creative and enthusiastic, in the face of stress, Vatas tend to blame themselves for their problems and become extremely nervous and scattered.
Pitta: Pitta types are usually warm and loving, but if they’re out of balance, typically react to stress by finding fault with other people and becoming angry.
Kapha: The most even-tempered dosha is Kapha. Kapha types are usually easygoing and gentle, but when faced with overwhelming conflict or stress, they may withdraw and refuse to deal with the situation.
Ayurveda offers specific recommendations for each mind-body type, including the most effective ways to cope with stress. Take the dosha quiz here to identify your mind-body type and learn more healing techniques.

4. Practice Yoga. Yoga is another timeless healing practice for releasing stress and the damaging effects of the fight-or-flight response. Not only is yoga an excellent physical exercise that increases your flexibility and strength, but it also balances the mind and body, calming the nervous system, increasing the production of stress-relieving hormones, and releasing stored toxins.
With a regular practice, you begin to experience a sense of calm and wellbeing that extends beyond the yoga mat into your daily life. You gradually stop dwelling on stressful thoughts and feel more lighthearted and joyful, even in the face of life’s inevitable upsets and disappointments.

5. Learn the Skills of Conscious Communication. When we aren’t able to clearly communicate our needs, we experience a lot of stress and frustration in our lives. Fortunately, conscious communication isn’t an inborn gift but a learnable skill. With practice, you can learn to express your needs, ask for what you want, and create more fulfilling relationships. The skills of conscious communication are a vital component of the Chopra Center’s Perfect Health program and our emotional healing workshop, Free to Love, Free to Heal. Click here to learn a powerful conscious communication technique that you can begin using right now.

To paraphrase the master teacher Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, life sometimes feels like one insult after another. Still the goal isn’t to try to control the flow of life so that we’ll never experience stress or frustration again; the secret lies instead in giving ourselves a great deal of patience and compassion as we learn to befriend our mind. No matter how long we’ve been stuck in habitual thought patterns, we can learn to remain peaceful and joyful even when life is stressful.

* Article Courtesy of the Chopra Center

The Fitness Underground-Los Angeles are Ayurvedic Consultants and proud to be affiliated with The Chopra Center.

Visit the Chopra Center Online Store For All Your Wellness Needs:    http://store.chopra.com/?apn=AC0908020
       ** For friends of The Fitness Underground-LA – Enter code AC0908020 for free shipping on all orders!

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Eat and Think Your Way Thin

Exercise is only half of the equation; what you eat is the other half. Your attitude towards food can either make or break your weight loss regime. Follow these simple rules to lose unwanted fat.

The Way to Eat

Eat Monounsaturated fats (MUFAs for short) come from the healthy oils found in plant foods such as olives, nuts, and avocado. Include a MUFA at every meal. Incorporate a serving of one MUFA-rich food every time you eat.

Have a clear calorie goal. Consume four 400-calorie meals a day. Significant weight loss requires calorie control. For the average woman, 1,600 calories per day is ideal because it’s low enough to create weight loss while maintaining energy and preserving calorie-burning muscle.

The Way to Think

Manage stress. This emotion causes a spike in the hunger-stimulating hormone cortisol, sending you straight for the sweets. And when cortisol is high, extra calories are deposited directly as belly fat.

Ask for help. Among people who have permanent weight loss, 70% reported having strong social support, compared with only 38% of those who lost and regained weight. Recruit others to join you (or encourage you), or sign up for an online support group.

Beat emotional eating -keep a food diary, but don’t just record what and how much you eat. Journaling about your feelings can help you identify what triggers you to eat and why, so you can break unhealthy habits for good.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Raise your standards

A piece of criticism I often get is that I expect too much and that my standards are too high. Maybe this is what “Type A” personalities can achieve but for the “average person,” it is just too hard.

This is really amusing to me as I am in the same shoes as you are! I have get up at 5:00 am to start my first session at 6:00 am and many times, I finish with clients at 9:00 pm. In between sessions, there are meetings to attend, blogs to be written, new programs to develop and follow-up calls to be made. I am in the same position as everyone else.

Today, in my thirties, I have not gained body weight, eat foods that are enzyme rich, and focus on foods that provide nutrients that keep me moving through long working days. And if I don’t have time to play sports or work out outside, I work out at home .

“Stefan, you are insane”, you might be thinking, “Why would I want to do this now? Let me tell you: My clients in their 50’s, 60’s and even 70’s know how to stay youthtful, slender and athletic. The ones who have managed to stay this way all stick to high standards on how they treat themselves.

A low standard is to give in to desserts, skipping workouts, not keeping up with research on diet and exercise and basically, not caring about yourself.  Letting yourself go. Your business, your relationships, your family or your injuries might be obstacles, holding you back from activity. Yes, that might be what you tell yourself–but I honestly don’t believe it. And how about just eating what ever comes along? Stuffing your face with junk?. Stop living by such low standards. Don’t  give in your “good is good enough” rationale. Because no,  it isn’t good enough. Expect the best and receive the best. Demand it.

The only question that matters in (re)-setting your standards is this: Are you doing your best? If the answer is yes, then there is nothing to worry about.

Feel good about yourself by raising your standards and following them. And don’t measure yourself against others. The measurement should only  be against yourself: Where you started and where you want to be.

Learn the consequences of your food choices and then take full responsibility (instead of making excuses!). Recognize the impact of inactivity and take full responsibility when health issues arise later in life. Awareness is a skill that can be learned.

If you are looking to change your body, loss weight, shape your frame or changing your eating habits, just raise your standards. Live up to it. Don’t back down. And stick with what your new set standards are.

Make your body your business.

Stefan

First step - getting rid of soda

Weigh in – 184 pounds. Still bad.

I decided I am going to do this one step at a time and my first thing is drinking water. Everybody talks about it and since I don’t have it in me to revamp all the contents in my kitchen just yet – I decided to do this one thing.

I drink a few sodas a day. Diet and regular alike. You name it, I like it. I drink Dr. Pepper, Coke, Diet Dr. Pepper, Pepsi One. They’re all bad I know. I’ve heard it time and time again that even though you drink zero calorie diet drinks, it’s the sodium that gets you. Makes you retain water.

So I got rid of the soda, I’m going to try saving a few dollars – and just not buy it.

I have a liter of water in front of me, and I’m determined to drink it today.

We’ll see it how it goes.

My khakis are tight. I hate how I feel, how I look. Everything.

Meet Dr. Andersen, learn about Take Shape for Life/Health Coach business opportunity- Oct. 24-25, 2009

If you need to lose a few pounds (or a lot of lbs) and/or you’re interested in becoming a Health Coach, or want to know what the heck that exactly is…WELL, Dr. Andersen, co-founder of Take Shape for Life, and Medical Director for Medifast, will be here Friday, Oct. 23rd, and Saturday, Oct. 24th, to discuss the weight loss/Optimal Health program, and business opportunity!  So, if you are within driving distance to Marina Del Rey (Los Angeles area) then you might want to save those dates.  Contact me for more info skinnytogo@cox.net

View this document on Scribd

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Lose Weight and Feel Great!

We all want to lose weight and feel great. But how can we make our desire a reality? One reason why people don’t lose weight is because they think that they are doing enough exercise when they actually are not reaching the necessary calorie burn level. Major lifestyle changes require upheaval from normal routines. It is important for your entire body to exercise regularly. With regards to eating, diets based on nutritious foods with similar calories, but with the ratio of fat, carbohydrates, and protein varied by food group, seem to be the most successful. Food items are grouped together, allowing you to glance at the calorie count of a meal you’re creating from fresh ingredients.

Keep in mind that eating foods without carbohydrates, skipping fats, adding more protein, or consuming only good fats can lead to weight loss. Make sure you understand that you’ll do more damage to your diet efforts by skipping meals. Foods that are high in fat and sugar are not good for a successful diet strategy. The critical time to intervene to prevent the development of obesity is during the pre-school years and in early adolescence.

Fat camps are expensive, and often are not covered by insurance. As gratifying as this accomplishment is, often following bariatric surgery and resulting weight loss, skin does not shrink to firmly fit the new, smaller frame. You must keep watching your weight. If possible, stick to your diet. Fat plays a critical role in many of the processes our bodies go through each and every day. With the increased popularity of bariatric surgery procedures such as Lap-Band surgery and gastric bypass surgery, there are many alternatives. Despite this, you can have a healthy lifestyle and maintain a lean body.

Abdominal fat cells may also affect the healthy functioning of the liver. So, if you are carrying any extra fat, your body begins to produce an immune response similar to the reaction your body exhibits when you develop the flu or have an injury. While static stretching is good for muscle tension, it may not be best for an athlete where more power and speed is necessary.

Here are a few suggestions to help you be a healthy role model for your kids: Practice portion control—whether it’s in a restaurant or at home, check out the food on your plate and consider that your stomach is only about the size of your fist. Within a few months, lose 40 pounds and get your blood sugar levels down. Fat cells are critical for survival and help assist the body’s energy system. There are many different obstacles and challenges in weight loss, some of them of which are out of your control. As gratifying as this accomplishment is, often following bariatric surgery and resulting weight loss, skin does not shrink to firmly fit the new, smaller frame. The best thing to do when trying to lose weight is to drink water, and lots of it. Check out established groups. The real goal is to lose weight and never gain it back.

Surgery to correct the effects of significant weight loss by performing a variety of body contouring procedures including liposuction, tummy tucks, arm lifts, and breast lifts. When estrogen levels are too high, testosterone levels are reduced, and many men experience fatigue, muscle tone loss, decreased sexual function, and in some cases, enlarged prostates. The following among family, friends, acquaintances, and former nutrition clients including a diabetic lady who has received diabetes counseling.

Educate your whole family—a book or a class on food and nutrition will help you stay on track. There has been debate on whether or not static stretching before exercise is beneficial. A sure thing for any healthy diet. While science offers us much, we need to be aware not all studies are accurate or useful. Fat cells within the abdomen are metabolically more active than fat cells located in other areas of the body. The nutritional data of foods based on the weight of their components rather than serving size. You don’t have as much because that hunger has diminished. But when you gain weight, estrogen levels rise and other health problems occur. Given the growing problem with childhood obesity in many western societies, these findings are particularly important.

Don't Overdramatize Exercise

I’m here to tell you that including exercise as a part of your diet can be very dramatic but at the same time I ask you to save the drama for your mama. The words exercise and excuse both start with an “e” but they won’t give you the same results. If you are anything like me you hate the pain of exercise, but as it has been so eloquently stated in the past, “No pain; no gain.” In the weight loss arena pain equals gain because the pain of exercise can gain you a loss, weight loss that is.

Exercise is vital part of a weight loss program and living a healthy life but it isn’t easy. The hardest part is getting started and the second hardest part is keeping it up. Exercise not only improves your health but it is a great weight loss aid helping you to burn off the calories that want so badly to become another pound of fat on your body. You need to develop a mental vendetta against fat accumulation. When you exercise you go to war against calories that have a sole purpose of making you gain weight.

I know it is difficult to get in a regular exercise routine but it doesn’t have to be drama. All you need to do is to find easy ways to insert life-changing, fat-altering exercise into your daily or weekly routine. This can be a very dramatic change but the key is to not overdramatize it. If you already exercise on a regular basis that is great, and if you increase your exercise it can help you lose more weight by burning additional fat.

Here are some ways to start exercising without the drama and to increase exercise for those who already have a regular exercise plan:

 

  • Use regular everyday activities like climbing stairs to get exercise. If you live in a two story house make it a point to go up and down the stairs a certain amount of times.
  • When you go to work or school, park far away from the building so you will get some additional exercise by walking.
  • When you get home in the evening, make it a point to take a few laps around the block. If you have kids involve them and take them on the walk with you. Don’t procrastinate but do this as soon as you get home while you still have energy.
  • If you work or go to school near a Wal-Mart or other large store pack a pair of tennis shoes with you to work or school and on your break or lunch hour put the tennis on and walk the large isles and outer perimeters of the isles inside the store for 30 minutes to burn calories that will help you lose weight.
  • Try doing small amounts of exercise throughout the day like ten sit-ups or leg-lifts at a time.
  • Get a real bike and ride it. It is a lot more fun than an exercise bike and will get you some fresh air and fun at the same time.

Regardless of what your lifestyle is, there is a way to incorporate exercise in an easy way that will not add drama to your life. Sometimes we get so caught up in the drama of exercise we simply don’t do it when it can simply benefit us.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Beyond H2O Tip: How Do You Know If You're Dehydrated?

If you are thirsty, it means your cells are already dehydrated. A dry mouth should be regarded as the last outward sign of dehydration. That’s because thirst does not develop until body fluids are depleted well bellow levels required for optimal functioning.

Monitor your urine to make sure you are not dehydrated:
A hydrated body produces clear, colorless urine.
A somewhat dehydrated body produces yellow urine.
A severely dehydrated body produces orange or dark-colored urine.

The effects of even mild dehydration include decreased coordination, fatigue, dry skin, decreased urine output, dry mucous membranes in the mouth and nose, blood pressure changes and impairment of judgment. Stress, headache, back pain, allergies, asthma, high blood pressure and many degenerative health problems are the result of UCD (Unintentional Chronic Dehydration).

Beyond H2O delivers up to 4x faster hydration than other water helping your body maintain proper balance. Is it the right choice for you? You decide.

For more information visit our website today:
http://www.DrinkBeyondH2O.com

For Best Results Do a Gruelling Cardio Workout.

Want a more creative way to perform your cardio activity rather than on a stationary bike? Try spinning! This could be one of the most grueling cardio classes that you can take if trying to lose stomach fat.

The class usually takes place in the cardio room of your favorite gym. Some have been clever enough to even hold the classes outdoors to incorporate a sense of city and trail riding. The bikes you will ride are specially designed to simulate an outdoor biking adventure by having easily changeable tension controls to simulate hill riding. Though you will be stationary, spinning burns up to 450 calories in 45 minutes! And what makes 45 minutes go faster but upbeat music and constant encouragement from your instructor.

The whole idea is to pretend you are riding outdoors, dealing with the normal challenges of hill riding without the danger of falling or being hit by a road-raged motorist. Not only does spinning burn lots of calories, it also tones the quadriceps muscles and the muscles of the hips as well. One major drawback of riding a bike outdoors is the tremendous amount of balance and coordination that is required. Not in a spinning class! Since the bike is stationary, all you have to do is concentrate on following the course described to you by your instructor. Increasing the tension knob simulates hills.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

One Fitness Fanatic's Tale of Working Out and Running with a Broken Toe

Once upon a time, in the first week of June 2009 to be exact, a fitness fanatic named Rachel headed outside barefoot to do the most mundane of chores – take out the garbage. As she neared the trashcans, she noticed the neighbor’s soccer ball wedged between the cans. Being the excellent neighbor and caring citizen that she is, she resisted the urge to abscond with the ball and, instead, tossed it into the neighbor’s yard.

Horror of all horrors! The ball began rolling toward the street . . . just as a car was approaching. Rachel, also being of lightening quick intellect, deduced that the ball and the car would meet and the ball would suffer a terrible end. The attributes of soccer lover, good citizen, and able bodied neighbor all came together and, in a split second, Rachel was running down her driveway and along the sidewalk to intercept the ball and do her daily heroic deed.

Did I mention that our hero was barefoot? Did I mention that she had been sitting, working at her computer for the last hour?

These two components came tragically together as Rachel bounded down the sidewalk. Her left Achilles tightened up, from sitting so long. She stumbled. Her right big toe dragged on the cement and bent all the way under her right foot just as Rachel put her entire body weight on that foot. She was stopped dead in her tracks, with a burst of pain exploding in her right foot.

But what about the ball? Well, ironically enough, the stupid ball never even made it to the street. It lost its momentum and stopped as it hit a rock just before dropping into the street.

Our mighty hero crumbled to the ground in pain. At first, she thought the toe was just sprained. Then, after the pain continued to grow over the next 15 minute, she realized she had actually broken her big toe. It got nice and swollen, turned black, blue and purple, and hurt like a you-know-what!

What would this mean for this fitness fanatic’s workouts? How would she run? How would she jump? Would she take a break and let the bone heal like any normal person?

Since working out and staying fit and strong are non-negotiables for Rachel, the only other option was to find a way. She got on the internet to research how to run with a broken big toe and what activities would be okay to continue. Every site she found was too afraid to condone the notion of continuing to workout at all, let alone run, with a broken big toe. Rachel, being the stubborn, determined, slightly bull-headed girl that she is, was not giving up that easily.

She used pre-wrap and athletic tape religiously for the next 6 weeks. She buddy-taped her big toe to her second toe for every single workout. She modified her workouts and eliminated running and jumping for the first week. She still did tons of strength training, bodyweight training, bike riding, and other low impact activities.

She had plenty of well-meaning people, and every website she consulted, warn her to stop working out and just rest the foot and let the bone heal. She had others tell her the toe wasn’t broken just bruised or strained. Rachel knew better. She had broken bones in the past, toes included, and knew exactly what a broken bone felt like. She also knew that taking time off from working out was not an option, not necessary, and completely inconceivable.

She found that by buddy-taping the toe she could run a bit after the first week. She kept her distances shorter, pushed off the ball of her foot instead of her toe and took breaks when the pain got bad.

While Rachel is not a doctor, and can’t give medical advice, she can tell her story. Everything she read in medical books and on the internet warned against running for at least 4 weeks. They all said that she could and probably would cause more damage to the foot. Rachel thought that the risk was pretty over-estimated. She wasn’t naĂŻve or stupid, but she was determined. She let her running grow gradually as the pain decreased, she avoided jumping rope because that really did hurt, and she even got into using a stair-climber at home. Not only was she still working out, but during that time she even went to doing two workouts a day.

And guess what? By late August, she was running pretty smoothly with minimal pain. She is now working out with no tape, no pain, and no restrictions. She is running with no tape and the foot feels great. She still feels the toe every once in awhile, but it’s a 1 on a 10-scale. She didn’t aggravate her injury and she not only kept working out, but also lost a nagging 7 pounds and is back to her ideal fitness place. That’s pretty damn close to “and she lived happily ever after.”

The moral of the story —- if your workouts, your fitness, and your health are non-negotiables (and they should be) there’s always a way to work through or around an injury or condition.  Make some modifications, change things up, tape things together, but find a way. Make a way. Don’t just sit back and give up altogether! There is always something you can do.

Positive side-effects of focusing on your Heart's Desire

In the last 4 weeks I noticed how focusing on your Heart’s Desire can help you to be more productive, happy, lose weight, watch less tv, etc.

Okay, I’ll fess up and tell you my heart’s desire.

My true heart’s desire is to give a perfect concert as a classical guitar player, have the audience respond to it very enthusiastically, and to get paid a professional fee for it. (Which I have specified but won’t discuss here.)

Now I have graduated from the conservatory as a guitar player, but this was a long time ago and the past 10 years I have hardly played at all. Well, except for the last 4 weeks! 

Anyway, this heart’s desire came as somewhat of a surprise, because I have been filling my days with my activities as a professional tennis coach, and that’s a very nice job as well.

But that’s not what this post is all about.

I’ll give you an example of what happened today.
I got up, and after having taken a shower, shaving, etc I went downstairs where my guitar is.

I picked it up even before I had breakfast. I played for an hour. Then I had breakfast and played again. At this point I’m only about 2,5 hours into my day but I have used them very productively.

What I USED to do was: go on the internet, check my email, Twitter, Hyves (a Dutch social network), check other email addresses, click on some links in the emails, and before you know it the whole morning is gone!

So, instead of going on auto-pilot and squander my day away, I chose to do something I love and feel fulfilled by.

I also noticed I’m much happier than before. Things at work are better as well. I just received a new roster for the next 6 months and I like all the groups I’m teaching. I’m also working hard to improve the VALUE I’m giving my employer, my pupils, my private clients, and everyone else I come into contact with.

Do I still get upset sometimes? Sure, but the intensity is lower and I ‘get over it’ more quickly and easily.

Another thing is my improved eating habits. I used to do nothing, and snack on sweets while doing nothing, complaining to myself how miserable I felt doing nothing… Well, I’m exaggerating a bit here, but you get where I’m going, right?

Now I simply have less “idle time” and find myself snacking less. Hmmm … I think I just remembered my grandmother telling me that “idle time is rented out by the devil” or something. Interesting!

Note: a dietician would probably say that my eating habits have gone from completely disasterous to still pretty bad, but acceptable … for now.

What also helps to feel happier is that I’m currently paying about $1000 a month to people and companies that I still owe money to. While this may not seem like fun to you; I see it as my net worth improving by a $1000 every month. Approaching zero! I think I can see it in the distance, lol.

I’m mostly paying companies now, but in 2010 I will be paying back people, and help them to improve their net worth as well.

Can you see how this all is building momentum? And how it makes me feel happier?!

In conclusion, this post is written with the objective in mind to help you see how important it is for YOU to discover your true heart’s desire as well. You will benefit, and probably a lot of people around you.

Click here to learn how

Until next time!

………

P.S. You can also sign up as an affiliate for the Secret of Deliberate Creation Program

……..

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Q&A with Dianne Gregg

THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF SOY by Dianne Gregg

Author Dianne Gregg

1. What inspired you to write this book?

For eight years I complained to doctors that I was always nauseous, bloated, and gaining weight. The physicians I consulted said weight gain was normal at my age and not to compare myself to 30 year olds. I told the doctor – “I know my body, and something’s wrong.”

One night I had a soy burger for dinner. The next morning I was rushed to the hospital because I thought I was having a heart attack. I went into anaphylactic shock and nearly died in the ER. After four days in the intensive care unit, the medical team diagnosed food poisoning. I didn’t agree. By now, I weighed 150lbs up from 118.

On my husband’s hunch I looked up soy allergy on the Internet and had almost every symptom listed. The scary thing is, if I had died in the emergency room, the doctors would never have known the real cause. After extensive research on soy, I was amazed at what I learned and wanted to get the word out.

2. What type of research did you do for this book?

I spent several months and reviewed over 100 articles and studies on soy from a variety of sources including: The Consumer Health Organization, The Weston A. Price Foundation, The Washington Post, Soy Online Service and others.

3. What surprised you the most as you researched the book?

The negative impacts soy can have on children and adults. For example: Certain studies show that soy infant formula can cause zinc deficiency, which is important to the development of the nervous system. In fact, the aluminum content has a toxic effect on the kidneys because the amount is ten times greater than that found in milk-based formula.

In addition, Soy products are goitrogenic and can depress thyroid function in adults. Low thyroid function is associated with a host of debilitating diseases including cancer, heart disease, fatigue, and osteoporosis.

4. What’s the most important message of your book?

If you are not feeling like yourself, and have symptoms such as nausea, bloating, gastric disorders, unusual weight gain, palpitations, shortness of breath, or lack of energy, it’s worth trying to eliminate soy from your diet for a period of time to see if it’s contributing.

Not everyone will have as severe a reaction as I did, but it’s important to be aware of what foods you may be eating that are triggering a change in the way you feel. The elimination of soy is a good place to start.

5. Many people view soy as a “cure-all.” How do you feel about that?

We need to be cautious in considering any food as a miracle food. We hear so many wonderful things about soy, but the possible benefits must be balanced with the risks.

Soy conains high phytoestrogen levels and trypsin inhibitors that can increase the risk for developing thyroid disease, hormonal imbalance, osteoprosis, and may even promote the growth of tumors in cancer survivors.

6. With soy being added to so many U.S. food products, what advice do you have for consumers who are looking to avoid soy, but don’t know where to start?

In today’s market it’s challenging because over 60% of the food commericaily available contains some form of soy. Consumers need to know where the soy is hidden in such common items as prepared frozen foods, sauces, broths, canned soups and salad dressings. Because it’s not always listed as soy. I recommend reading the labels and looking for the following ingredients:

  • Vegetable oil. Soy oil, because it’s cheap, is often part of a general vegetable oil mix.
  • Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP)
  • Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HPP)
  • Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)
  • Lecithin. Often used in chocolate as an emulsifier
  • Shortening. Often contains soy bean oil

7. What are some of the most serious side effects that can result from consuming soy?

Thyroid disease, infertility, osteoporosis, early puberty, ADHD in children, and the enhanced growth of tumors in cancer survivors are all possible soy side effects. In fact, many oncologists have soy on the “forbidden” list of foods cancer patients can eat.

8. How long did it take you to notice the difference in your health?

Within a month I was feeling better and within eight months had lost 35 pounds, without dieting. To this day, I maintain my normal weight of between 115-118. I believe I accomplished this by just removing one ingredient from my diet – soy!

Could you be allergic to soy? For a quick quiz to go to: TAKE THE SOY QUIZ

To signup for a free newsletter, to get a white paper filled with soy free recipes or to download a free chapter from the book The Hidden Dangers of Soy go to:

http://www.hiddensoy.com/soy-health-risks.php

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Fat Burning Fruits: Dieters’ Best friends

You do not need to starve yourself just to lose weight. You surely will not want to lose weight and have colon problems as a consequence. Losing weight is of getting rid of the unwanted fats in your body. That means, you must still take in food.

When you are into a diet plan, fat burning fruits are your best friend. Here are just few of the long list of fruits that will help you lose weight without depriving yourself of needed vitamins and minerals.

CITRUS- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is found to be efficient in fat oxidation. There have been studies made in America which proved that those who were given Vitamin C supplement (500mg/day) have 4 times fat oxidation rate after a month.

Citrus fruits are known to contain good amounts of Vitamin C based on RDA. Lemons and limes, grapefruit, tangerine, and oranges are good sources of Vitamin C. The fat burning potential of Vitamin C is increased 30% or more if you exercise.

Normally, women need only 75mg of Vitamin C everyday and 90mg for men. If you add citrus fruits in you diet everyday, you would surely decrease your blood cholesterol level and eventually would let your system burn fats faster. Specifically, grapefruit has been proven to help reduce your insulin level.

PECTIN- most fruits are rich in pectin. Apples, peaches, strawberries, pears, apricots, cherries and raspberries are just few of the long list. These fruits are rich in pectin that naturally blocks our cell walls to prevent fat absorption. Pectin binds water that forces the cell to release fat deposits. Berries are also rich in pectin.

FIBER-it is recommended that you add fruits rich in fiber in your diet. Berries are rich in fiber that helps lower blood cholesterol level. When you consume strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and cranberries, you feel full for a longer period of time. That means you will crave for food less frequently.

The good thing about berries is that they contain extremely low amount of calories. Fiber also works in weight loss in such a way that it slows down your digestion so you would not crave for food sooner after the last meal. Fiber also helps the flush fats from our food out of the system faster. This way, our system will less absorb fats.

Other fruits that can help you burn fats and lose weight are grapes, papayas, mangoes, tangerines, prunes, pineapples and watermelon.

[Via http://healthbeautyandnature.wordpress.com]

Monday, September 7, 2009

Beginning a New Company

“To those of you, I don’t know who,

The time has come to speak.”


“You think it’s all sacredly planned in advance,

The rules and the schools erase all the chance.

You never once stop to think that you’re like is you own.”

I’m starting a new business.  I will tell my story here.

Right now I am waiting for a response from a developer, to build my site.  I found them on www.guru.com. They asked for $1200; I offered $650.00.

[Via http://edgeofthesun.wordpress.com]

What is this "Raw Food Diet" Stuff Anyway?

This may be the first in a series on the Raw Food Diet. If you like it, and want to see more, please let me know in the comments.

Do you see something wrong with this picture?

You are at a hole-in-the-wall diner. A juicy hamburger is sitting right in front of you. A large order of fries on the side, not too crispy, not too soggy. Just how you like them.

Well, if you are reading my blog, you know that something is wrong. As much as your mouth may be watering, you know you should be having at lease a nice order of cooked veggies instead of the fries, right?

Well, if you ask a raw “foodist”, even that might be bad for you.

So, what is this Raw Food Diet, and why do you care?

suzijane / CC BY-SA 2.0

Well, it is being touted these days as one of the fastest and easiest ways to get rid of belly fat. Not only that, say proponents of this lifestyle, (and believe me, it is a lifestyle… check out my raw food diet review), but our bodies were meant to eat raw foods. In fact, they point out that we (humans) are the only ones who actually cook and eat our food (an argument that has flaws, but a valid point nonetheless). They believe that eating cooked food is a fairly recent happening, evolutionarily speaking, and, as a result, your bodies generally and our digestive system specifically is more atune to eating raw foods than cooked.

Generally speaking, raw food is unprocessed and/or uncooked (those little black LeanCuisine trays you are so fond of? notsomuch). That leaves you with not only things like fresh fruits and vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains and beans. Many proponents of the raw food diet feel that cooked food has been stripped of many of the vitamines, nutrients and enzymes our body needs to function optimally. Also, some health experts believe that raw foods are easier on our digestive systems since nearly 100% of the food can be absorbed and used by the body.

A typical raw food diet is made up of about 75% raw food, and often follows a seasonal pattern. You can try a wide variety of fruits and vegetables as they come into season.

This is only the tip of the iceberg (lettuce) on the raw food diet. For more information, check out my raw food diet review now.

Heard enough and want to try the raw food diet for yourself? Click Here!

Have you tried the raw food diet? Tell us about it. What did you like? What did you hate?

Do you want more info on this lifestyle? Let me know that as well and I will do a series of posts on the subject!

[Via http://themiddlemanager.wordpress.com]

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Sexy Shoulders, Arms, and Abs

I used my Gymboss timer for this workout, but you can use a clock or stop watch as well.

I just got my Gymboss and it’s GREAT for these type workouts!

Are you Ready?
Here we Go!

Try this workout if you want to get sexy shoulders, arms, and abs!

* You will need some Dumbbells, a Jump Rope, and a clock or timer.

Jump Rope

*Jump Rope for 1 minute then rest 30 seconds. Repeat this 3 times.

1 minute Jump Ropes………………. 30 second Rest
1 minute Jump Ropes………………. 30 second Rest
1 minute Jump Ropes………………. 30 second Rest

* Move on to next exercise.

Planks
30 second Plank…………. 20 second Rest
30 second Plank…………. 20 second Rest
30 second Plank…………. 20 second Rest
30 second Plank…………. 20 second Rest

* Move on to the next exercises.

Side DB Laterals with DB Punches
30 second Side DB Lats……………….. 30 second DB Punches
30 second Side DB Lats……………….. 30 second DB Punches
30 second Side DB Lats……………….. 30 second DB Punches

* No Rest between the Side DB Laterals and the DB Punches. You are going, Non-stop, back and forth, changing every 30 seconds between the 2 exercises until you complete the sets above.

* Rest 30 seconds to 1 minute after the above exercises are done if you need to.

Alternating DB Curls with 2 Arm DB Extensions
30 second Alt. DB Curls………………… 30 second 2 Arm DB Ext.
30 second Alt. DB Curls………………… 30 second 2 Arm DB Ext.
30 second Alt. DB Curls………………… 30 second 2 Arm DB Ext.

* No Rest between the DB Curls and the DB Extensions. You are going, Non-stop, back and forth, changing every 30 seconds between the 2 exercises until you complete the sets above.

* Rest 30 seconds to 1 minute after the above exercises are done if you need to.

Scissors and Crunches
30 second Scissors………………….. 30 second Crunches
30 second Scissors………………….. 30 second Crunches
30 second Scissors………………….. 30 second Crunches

* No Rest between the Scissors and the Crunches. You are going, Non-stop, back and forth, changing every 30 seconds between the 2 exercises until you complete the sets above.

* You are finished after this!

Let me know how you do if you try this workout. It’ll give you a nice burn in your shoulders, arms, and abs and they’ll feel nice and toned when you’re done!

Thank you,
Clifta Coulter Perez
Reno Fitness Trainer
Bootcamp Instructor
Former IFBB PRO Bodybuilder

www.RenoFitnessTrainer.com
www.youtube.com/CliftaFIT

[Via http://cliftafit.wordpress.com]

Friday, September 4, 2009

How to Lose 3 Pounds in 10 Days

Lot’s of people want to know how to lose 10 pounds in 3 days. Well, the truth of the matter is that that’s probably not gonna happen… at least not the way your want it to. Sure you could starve yourself and try to sweat off 10 lbs that quickly, but at least 90% of the weight will be from lost water and glycogen stored in your muscles… not fat. You will lose some muscle tissue and possibly even mess up your metabolism.

A much more realistic goal is to lose 3 pounds in 10 days. If you do it the right way, almost all of that will be from fat loss. Follow the healthy weight loss tips below and you could easily burn off pounds of ugly and stubborn fat while making yourself look a whole lot sexier!

Cut the Starch and Sugar: If you do nothing else but cut out simple sugars and starchy carbohydrates out of your diet you could easily lose weight quickly. Give it a try for 10 days and see for yourself.

Eat Like This: Eat 6 small meals per day. Each meal should contain lean protein, a non-starch carb (preferably veggies, fruit, or beans), and a small amount of healthy fat (natural peanut butter, olive oil, avocado, etc.). This simple eating plan is probably the best diet for losing pounds quickly.

Do Smart Exercise: Exercise at least 5 or 6 days a week. Do some form of weight lifting at least 3 days a week. This will burn lots of calories, reduce fat, tone your muscle, and help you look and feel better. Also do steady-state or interval cardio (like HIIT) a few times a week to speed up fat burning.

Next time you want to lose some weight fast, be realistic. Losing 10 pounds in 3 days is something few people are going to be able to do successfully and in a healthy way. Instead focus on a realistic goal like 3 lbs in ten days and follow the tips laid out above.

[Via http://bigtings.wordpress.com]

Melt Away Calories in Less Than an Hour

It’s easy to want to count the calories when beginning a workout program, especially if it’s to lose belly fat. But, you don’t need to run 10 miles each day to effectively burn calories! It is good to consistently engage in physical activity each and every week. This will create a solid base from which you can build a successful exercise program. These simple exercises can be included as a part of that program.

The number of calories burned during an activity depends on both the weight of the person, as well as the intensity. The following are estimates for the number of calories burned for an average 150 pound person during an hour of activity.

• If you are walking briskly, expect to burn about 300 calories.

• Basketball is a great way to spend calories. We have all seen how the pro players sweat! You can burn well over 450 calories like this.

• If you have to clean your house, why not do it with optimism? Light cleaning consumes about 240 calories an hour.

• Do you have a green thumb? Well, your love might have some unexpected positive side effects. Gardening uses about 324 calories!

• Golfing on the weekends is a favorite pastime of many. 385 calories are burned if you carry your clubs! Fore!

• Put a stationary bike in front of the television. You’ll be burning 380 calories an hour while you catch up on the latest news.

• Are you a fan of the aerobics class at the local gym? You should be, because this activity uses 405 calories for just an hour of sweating.

• Also, that elliptical trainer can burn an amazing 630 an hour!!

• Even ping-pong has healthy benefits! This activity uses up 280 per hour.

• Any person with children knows that chasing after these little ones can burn calories. The number probably depends on just how wild that kid is, but that can certainly count.

• Hey, if nothing else, even sleeping burns calories. You’ll be using up 45 for just an hour! But that’s not an excuse to take a nap!

[Via http://nomorebellyfat.wordpress.com]

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Are You Taking Your Time?

Have you ever said, “I don’t have time to go to the gym?”

Have you ever opted to eat out, because you didn’t have time to cook  a healthy meal?

Sure you have. So have I.

You feel like you will never find the time.

And you know what?

You’re 100% right.

Yep, you read it. I wrote it.

“But Ben, you have spent the last few weeks talking about motivation, getting things done, managing time so that we can get more stuff done… what’s going on?”

Well, noting really.

What I mean is exactly what Charles Buxton said. But before I tell you what he said, let me tell you what he did. He was a brewer, a philanthropist, a writer, and a Member of Parliament in Britain.

In other words, he was a busy dude, who did a lot of stuff that he wanted to do.

So, how did he do it?

You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it.

And there it is.

If you keep looking for it, you will never find it. There is no extra time laying around. But…

Remember yesterday’s post. Time is given to you. Every day. In 24 hour increments. All the money in the world won’t buy you more. But remember this… time is given to you. It is yours.

That means you can make it into anything you want.

Do what you have to do, but make it work for you. Make time to exercise. Make time to plan and prepare healthy meals.

Find all of the things that are stealing your time from you… and systematically get rid of them.

Let me say it this way…

Take your time… back!

[Via http://themiddlemanager.wordpress.com]

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

10 Tips to Looking and Feeling 10 Years Younger, part 1


“How To Get Maximum Weight Loss & Fitness Results In Minimum Time”

Set realistically attainable goals. You must have tangible short-term and long-term goals for your fitness program so that you can gauge your progress and stay motivated. It’s crucial to have a “baseline” before you begin so that you can measure your success. A qualified personal trainer (like me) can give you a complete fitness analysis that will aid you in developing a personalized fitness program which addresses your particular needs. Having goals, particularly short-term goals, allow you to track your progress and keeps you motivated when times are tough and you don’t feel like exercising. Keeping a journal of your cardio and resistance training workouts, as well as tracking what you eat is truly a fitness success “secret.” Just remember that your goals should be realistic and attainable. The best way for you to understand what is realistic and attainable for you is to talk to a fitness professional – not to buy into the “hype” of infomercials or diet and fitness products that blatantly mislead.

In the beginning your fitness plan should not be overly aggressive. One of the biggest problems most people encounter when starting a fitness program is rapidly depleted motivation after only a few weeks due to an overly ambitious fitness plan. Two days per week of 20-minute low-intensity cardiovascular exercise (walking, jogging, biking, swimming); and two days per week of 30-minute light resistance training (using weights or resistance machines) is adequate in the beginning. As you become acclimated to the lifestyle “shift” you can add more days and get improved results. But beware: if you try to do too much too fast, you may end up quitting altogether. If you’ve tried and failed doing it alone then I suggest you get a training partner or personal trainer who will help you sustain your motivation and accountability.


Eat regularly throughout the day. Fasting or overly restrictive diets will enable you to lose weight – in the short run. Because the weight you lose is primarily water weight and lean muscle tone. But in the long-run it has exactly the opposite effect you want. When you restrict your diet, your body instinctively thinks it’s being starved and shifts into a protective mode by storing fat. Your body’s energy expenditures will be fueled by your lean muscles causing your body fat to remain essentially the same while you lose vital fluids and muscle. The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism becomes, and the less fat you burn. You should be eating three nutritionally balanced meals each day, and you should have at least one or two healthy snacks. Avoid fried and processed foods at all cost – talk about dead calories! Here’s a good rule of thumb: make sure that you are consistently “grazing” on health foods about every three hours. This includes at least half a gallon of fresh water every day. This keeps your metabolic furnace firing, so you burn more at a faster rate.

There you have it. Ten essential strategies for an effective weight loss and fitness program that will have you looking and feeling better than you have in years – maybe ever! I realize that starting (or re-starting) a productive and effective weight loss and fitness program is not easy. That’s why I encourage you to get help.

…because the hardest part is just getting started and sustaining your motivation until fitness becomes habitual. Once you develop the habit, which can take as little as thirty days, your whole life will change for the better.

Please visit my web site to initiate your subscription to my free health and fitness newsletter or to obtain any additional information you may need.


Thank you for reading my blog and taking an interest in your health and fitness.

[Via http://hanoverpersonaltraining.wordpress.com]