How to Increase Your Metabolism to Stay Fit

Metabolism Basics

Weight loss is a major area of concern for modern consumers. Many of them would like to know how to drop their weight as quickly as possible for weddings, photo shoots, self-esteem and the like. Metabolism is one of the keys to rapid weight loss. Metabolism has to do with the speed at which the body burns fat. Some people have fast metabolic systems that seem to burn fat continuously no matter what they eat. Other people seem to have sadly stagnant metabolic rates. You may be wondering how to increase your metabolism. The following are a few tips that are designed to help you if you are:

Drink Cold Water

Water is essential

Drinking ice-cold water is one of the easiest and most popular ways of learning how to increase your metabolism. Ice-cold water provides a lovely jolt to the metabolic system. The activity burns about eight more calories per hour than drinking room-temperature water does. Drinking cold water first thing in the morning can get the system going rather quickly. The best thing about the water method is that it is not expensive at all.

Eat Frequent Meals

Another tip for learning how to increase your metabolism is to eat between five and six small meals every day instead of eating three huge meals. The first bit of food that you eat in the morning kick-starts your metabolism. Giving the body a boost every four hours or so keeps it burning. Drinking the recommended number of water glasses per day can help keep the metabolism going, as well. Medical experts recommend that every person drink at least eight glasses of water per day. You can also aid the boosting process by eating foods that will work with the metabolism. Nuts, vegetables and fruits are always good.

Confuse the System

Sometimes it is good to trick the body a little bit so that it can get a kick to the system. The consumer can keep the metabolism on its toes by changing the diet. For example, the person may eat fruits and vegetables for six straight days and then eat a huge helping of ice cream on the seventh day. The change will boost the metabolism.

Exercise as Much as Possible

Exercise is also a key to success

Finally, exercise always gives a boost to the metabolism. You can get exercise a number of ways. One way to get exercise is to take a brisk walk first thing in the morning. Another way that you can get exercise is by riding an old-fashioned bicycle. Just an hour of walking or bike riding can burn hundreds of calories. Stair-stepping is another way that you can get some daily exercise. Stair-stepping works the thighs, buttocks and the bottom of the legs. All previously mentioned activities are great cardiovascular activities.

You can try any or all of the previously mentioned activities to quickly boost your metabolic rate. They are inexpensive and highly successful methods that should cause a significant difference in the speed at which you burn fat.

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Fat Loss Friday - Ways on How to Lose Weight Fast

Would you trust that it's conceivable to diminish around 5 pounds from your body weight in a week without starving, assuming how to lose weight fast or even totally disposing of some nutrition class from your eating routine? Trust it or not, it's conceivable! That as well, just by making a couple gives up and tailing some particular methods. Perused on to take in the right eating and practice system you have to take after, and how to get more fit in a week.

Plain water is best

We continue letting you know on numerous occasions, you have to drink more water to get more fit. There's no point drinking any sports or caffeinated beverage, or some organic product smoothie they all include no less than 100 superfluous calories to your ordinary calorie admission. A few fluids may likewise be high in sodium and sugars and trap your body into holding water to puff you out.

In actuality, plain water has zero calories and carbs, and next to zero sodium. It's in this manner the ideal thin down beverage which likewise flushes out overabundance water while kicking off your digestion system. In the event that required, you can include some lemon wedges or mint leaves to the water to upgrade its taste with least calories!

Quit eating white bread and pasta, white rice, sandwich rolls and spaghetti. This will eaffect your weight as these basic carbs just purpose bloating, particularly close to your paunch as they are processed rapidly. This abandons you hungry rapidly, and expansions the propensity of your indulging later on.

Rather, supplant them with more beneficial entire grain bread items and vegetables. So as opposed to eating a chicken sandwich, it's better on the off chance that you eat a chicken plate of mixed greens and rather than chips, have some carrot and a plunge. As vegetables are intricate carbs, they take more time to process and in this way keep you full more. Additionally, they are for the most part water which flushes out abundance water weight from your body.

30 minutes cardio a day is an absolute necessity as it builds your heart rate to expand the quantity of calories you smoulder.

The right cardio can torch fat

However, pick your cardio routine well as you can blaze more calories if your standard uses more muscles at the same time. Great choices are training camp workouts, cardio kickboxing and Muay thai.

All you have to do is thirty minutes of these activities to condition your legs, arms and center so that your body becomes sleeker and more tightly. You can blaze considerably more calories per exercise session if your workout incorporates interim preparing, comprising of option short blasts of extreme cardio alongside slower action. In order to know more about methods to lose weight fast, check the online medium. Now!

Mark Lee is a health fitness expert having years of experience on How to Lose Weight Fast & Lose Weight Fast He writes online contents related to healthcare industry.



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Fat Loss Friday - Water Consumption Myths & Facts

Water Consumption-H2O

Is there a difference between drinking H2O and just any other form of liquid?

Make sure you keep drinking pure water

The myth is that water is the easiest and most economical fluid to keep you hydrated. But when you compare the cost today of purchasing water to drink, and purchasing other liquid products, the cost is very comparative and sometimes water can even cost more.

Does drinking H2O flush toxins from your body?

Fact: It does not necessarily neutralize toxins; the kidneys do use water to get rid of certain waste products. If you do not drink enough water, your kidneys do not have the amount of fluid thy need to do their job properly. If the body does not have enough water, then the metabolic wastes will not be removed as efficiently as they should. In essence, the body would be holding in toxins instead of expelling them, as is required for proper health.

Does drinking H2O help you lose weight?

Water can help with weight control

Fact: It will not specifically trigger weight loss, but it can aid in the process. Water replaces other calorie-laden beverages in the diet, causing you to reduce your overall number of calories. Plus, it can make you feel fuller, so you many eat less at each meal. Water. particularly cold water, may play a role in increasing your metabolism.

Does drinking H2O help to keep your skin moist?

Myth: It used to be believed that staying properly hydrated led to youthful, vibrant skin, the reality is that the amount of water you drink probably has very little to do with what your skin looks like. The moisture level of the skin is not determined by internal factors. Instead, external factors such as skin cleansing, the environment, the number of oil glands, and the functioning of these oil-producing glands determined how dry the skin is or will become. The water that is consumed internally will not reach the epidermis (top layer of the skin).

If you are thirsty, are you already beginning to dehydrate?

Myth: If you start to feel thirst, the you are headed in the wrong directions and should grab a drink of water, but thirst doesn't necessarily mean you are dehydrated. "Thirst begins when the concentrations of (substances in the) blood has risen by less than 2 %, whereas most experts would define dehydrations as beginning when that concentration has risen by at least 5 percent."

Is it possible to drink too much H2O?

Fact: People with certain health conditions can put themselves at risk of complications if they drink too much water. People with some heart conditions, high blood pressure, or swelling of the lower legs (edema) need to avoid excessive water consumption. If you have a history of kidney problems, especially if you have had a transplant, consult your doctor before increasing your fluid intake. You should not drink too much water while eating, as it dilutes your stomach acid and can cause digestion problems.

Should you save water bottles and reuse them?

Plastic is convenient but buy a proper water bottle

Fact: Plastic water bottles can present a couple of risks to people who drink their contents and then refill them up time and again. These bottle leach chemicals into your water after multiple uses. The bottle, if not properly cleaned, may also harbor bacteria from your mouth.

Water is essential to survival - You as an individual are the only one that can determine if you need to increase your intake or feel reassured that you are drinking enough.



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Wednesday Video - What If You Stopped Drinking Water?

We all know that drinking clean water is important for health and overall well-being.  A few weeks ago we looked at whether you can drink too much water and would happen if you did.

Today we look at the question of what would happen to you if you stopped drinking water? What would happen if you became de-hydrated? 

Wednesday Video - Can You Drink Too Much Water?

We know the importance of water - our bodies are literally made of it (approximately 70%). It is needed to keep us alive and healthy.

But can you actually drink too much of it? Is water intoxication a real thing?

This short video looks at this question

Wednesday Video - What if you drank only soda?

Almost everyone knows the benefits of water consumption. It helps hydrate us, allows our bodies to function, helps when trying to lose weight, helps with giving clear skin, flushes out toxins from our bodies - the list goes on and on. It's the very stuff of life itself because we cannot survive without it. But what if you decided to drink only soda? What would it do to you?

This short video looks at that very possibility

Fat Loss Friday - How to Beat the Winter Blahs and Lose Weight

Winter is hard on diets. First, you have Thanksgiving, Christmas Hanukkah, and New Year's Eve. Then, there is Groundhog Day, Mardi Gras, and Valentine's Day. Too much turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, ham, gravy, pumpkin pie, and candy.

Winter is hard on diets

You have a lot of cold, wet, snowy, miserable days where all you want to do is eat and sleep. Many times, I have wanted to go out, but it was just too cold and rainy or snowy. I ask my wife, "do you want to go out", and she'll say, nah, let's just stay in. So, by spring, you have put on an extra ten pounds and feel crummy.

How do you keep fit during the winter months? Well, I do a few small things every day. First, I watch my portions. It's easy to keep eating, especially when you cook like I do, but you need to know when to stop. If you eat slowly, your brain has time to tell your stomach that you are full. I also try not to snack all day. Three balanced meals plus one healthy snack between lunch and dinner will help you lose weight. Also, watch your carbs and fat. Finally, stay away from sugary fruit drinks and diet sodas.

Next, try to stay moving. We all have heard "an object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion stays in motion..." from Isaac Newton. Well, it works for people, too. Find a mall to walk in, or put on a coat and go outside. If it's too risky to drive, do some exercises at home, or hop on the exercycle. You can burn calories by going up and down your stairs if you have them, or just moving around your house. Stay motivated, and stay focused!

Third, drink water. Water keeps you hydrated and keeps your appetite in check.

Keep hydrated even in winter

Many people recommend drinking 8 eight ounce glasses of water per day. Just remember 8x8. You lose water through sweat and going to the bathroom, so it needs to be replenished throughout the day. Water is also good for your skin and hair. Plus, if you catch a cold, you need to drink plenty of fluids.



Dave Spencer enjoys writing about health, diet, and wellness issues


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Monday Muscle - 5 Things You Can Do Before Training

Are you getting the most out of your workout session, even if you're not training with a personal trainer? Your time is precious, and you have to know that what you do at the gym is effective and is optimizing that time and effort you invest. Work smarter, not harder, to achieve the stronger, leaner and more flexible body you want. And you can only do this by completing these 5 things before you work out. Each tip is designed to get you burning more calories, increase your capacity to build muscle and improve cardiovascular fitness.

1. Be hydrated. Drink sufficient water at 2-3 hours before you exercise.

Of course you should always keep your body well-hydrated no matter if you exercise or not, but consume a little more a couple of hours before hitting the gym. This will help your body improve the circulation of nutrients, which can have a positive affect on your ability to maximize your physical state and decrease your recovery.

2. Eat well the day before, specifically if you have low blood pressure. The last thing you need to happen is to experience that crash during your work out. You know, when you just hit that brick wall and simply cannot move any longer. Eating well prevents this from happening, so you can remain at peak performance.

3. Don't eat right before your workout. Food that's just been delivered to your stomach needs energy to digest, meaning you'll be diverting precious energy to your stomach instead of your game. It's bad for gastro-intestinal health and makes it harder to workout, plus the valsalva maneuver is compromised. If you eat anything, keep it to a light snack (e.g. banana) and eat it an hour minimum beforehand.

4. De-stress and mentally get yourself ready. Take time to relax, particularly if you're emerging from a busy or stressful environment. A positive frame of mind is crucial, especially because a negative one can tap energy from your nerves-- it should be used on your workout!

5. A little coffee won't hurt, and it may even help you to perform better. Charles Poliquin, an Olympic Strength Trainer,

recommends taking a caffeine supplement about 45 minutes before you start exercising. Research has found that it may also help you burn fat better.

While every one has their things they do to get driven to work out, these tips have all been provided as a way to optimize the results you achieve from your workout.

Now what are you waiting for? Get your sweats on and hit the gym!

Article by Mike Landon.
Article source: http://www.articlewheel.com/article/139/5-things-you-can-do-before-training.html

Weight loss tips from weight lifters

Weight loss tips and fitness tips are a focus in many people’s lives. Many people focus on how to make a lot of money and how to improve their appearance. When it comes to image improvement, top on the list of many people’s goals is how to lose weight.

If losing weight is a goal in your life, here are some things you should keep in mind:

- Start with diet

Most people think that the less they eat, the better they look. Just as you cannot build a good house with flimsy materials, you cannot build a strong and lean body without the right diet. Weight lifters always emphasize the importance of eating right to build and maintain lean muscle among their fitness tips and weight loss tips. Eating well while working out will ensure that you attain a healthy well-toned body, strong bones, and clear skin. In this way, you will not lose weight and look like a scarecrow but you will look healthy and feel energetic.

- Food Portioning

While it is important to eat right, the way you portion your food matters. Ideally, weight watchers eat small portions of food throughout the day. It’s common for weight watchers to have six small meals spread out throughout the day. This meal plan should be three main meals and three snacks between main meals. Your food portions should contain some lean protein, complex carbohydrate, vegetables, and fiber. Ensure you include a source of healthy fats such as avocado, oily fish, and olive oil among other sources of healthy fat.

- Drink lots of water

Plain pure water is important when you need to lose weight. Water helps to flush out toxins from the body. It helps prevent dehydration when working out. Most important, it can boost your metabolism by up to 3 percent.

- Do circuit training

One important workout that helps people lose weight according to weight loss tips is circuit training. This form of training will not only help you lose weight, but it will strengthen your body and improve your endurance. It is a great way of getting slim while strengthening the body and building lean muscle. The best thing about circuit training is that you only need to set aside small sections of your day to do it and maintain your fitness. A circuit training session of 30 minutes every day can do wonders for your body.

- Get enough sleep

According to fitness tips, sleep is an important tool when it comes to losing weight. Regardless of how good your diet is and how much you work out if you don’t sleep enough, it's useless. Inadequate sleep leads to storage of fat in the body due to certain hormones that are released in the body when we don’t have adequate sleep. During sleep, your body repairs worn out tissue in the body. It also regulates the production of hormones that aid in fat burning. Best of all, if you sleep well at night, you don’t have time for late night snacks.

These are a few weight loss tips from weight lifters to follow so as to attain the perfect body.

Simple Tips To Lose Weight In Just 7 Days

While most people start cycling for different reasons, two common benefits to taking part in the sport are increased fitness and staying trim. But just because you ride your bike a few times a week doesn't mean you can eat whatever you want to. In fact, most beginning cyclists make the mistake of overeating because they feel good about the exercise that they've done, making the workout counter productive to weight loss.

Considering that obesity has gone global, you can imagine how lucrative the weight loss industry must be. There is always someone coming out with the latest diet book, telling us what we should and shouldn't do to look thinner, younger, and more radiant and full of life.

Don't skip breakfast
Research shows eating breakfast helps you control your weight. Some people skip breakfast because they think it will help them lose weight, but missing meals doesn't help us lose weight and isn't good for us as we can miss out on essential nutrients. It could also encourage us to snack more throughout the day because you feel hungry.

Drink plenty of water

Our body needs a lot of water so give in to water. Water is not just way to flush out toxin but if you have more water in your body you will generally feel healthier and fitter. This it self will discourage any tendency to gorge. The best thing about water is that is has no calories at all.

Eat regular meals

Some people think missing meals will help them lose weight, but it's been shown eating regularly during the day helps burn calories at a faster rate. It also reduces the temptation to snack on foods high in fat and sugar.

Watch what you eat

Keep a watchful eye on every thing that goes in. Sometimes the garnishes can richer than the food itself. Accompaniments too can be very rich. Remember that it is the easiest thing in the world to eat something without realizing that it was something that you should not have eaten.

Quit snacking in between meals

Do not fall for snacks in between meals. This is especially true for those who have to travel a lot. They feel that the only time they can get a bite to eat is snacks and junk food. The main problem with most snacks and junk food is that they are usually less filling and contain a lot of fat and calories. Just think about French fries tempting but terribly fattening.

Read food labels

Knowing how to read food labels can help you choose healthier options, and keep a check on the amount of calories, fat, salt and sugars you eat. Use the calorie information to work out how a particular food fits into your daily calorie allowance on the weight loss plan.

Get more active

Studies show regular activity is key to losing weight and keeping it off. As well as providing numerous health benefits, exercise can help burn off the excess calories you can't cut through diet alone.



by Robert John

in Health / Nutrition

Gimmick-Free Ways To Flatten Your Belly Without Diet Or Exercise

This isn’t an infomercial, folks! We know it might sound too good to be true—like those ads that come on in the middle of the night—but there really are ways to trim your tummy that don’t require endless crunches or white-knuckling it through every craving.

Incorporate these exclusive Eat This, Not That! tricks and tips into your everyday life for a belly-slimming boost on top of your diet and exercise routine, or as a suffer-free way to flatten your belly a little bit every day.

Avoid Viewership Munching

Carolyn Brown, MS RD at Foodtrainers in New York City, says that one of the biggest pitfalls our diets encounter is eating in front of the television. “It makes you munch more!” she says. “This is partially because the unhealthy food and drink ads make you crave them, and also because of all that mindless munching.” And science agrees: A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that paying attention to your eating can aid in weight loss, while eating with a distraction (like, ahem, watching television) caused an immediate and long-term increase in eating. In fact, it’s not just watching TV in general that can up your snacking, but the type of TV show. One recent study found that action movies and talk shows both tended to cause viewers to up their food intake. Make sure you snack away from your ‘tube to be aware of what you’re eating, and how much.

Opt For Small Red Plates

Yes, you read that correctly: Small red plates. Though you might be stocking your kitchen with dining ware that clashes with your decor, the trade off is a slimmer stomach. Double down on the slimming effects by reaching for the smaller plates. “The bigger your plate, the bigger your meal,” according to Brown. Swapping dinner plates out for salad plates will help trick your brain into craving less food. And, yes, go with red. In a study published in the journalAppetite, subjects consumed less snack food and soda when their plates and cups were red. Researchers suggest the color red reduces the amount we’re likely to eat by subtly telling the mind to stop noshing. It’s worth stocking up on rouge tableware to cut some calories.

Eat Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds have a secret weapon against unwanted pounds. As Brown explains, they’re packed with linoleic acids (also known as conjugated linoleic acids, or CLAs). According to Brown, just two to three tablespoons a day may help lower your body fat composition. Subjects in a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition who were given 3.2 grams per day of CLA saw modest fat reduction compared to those given a placebo, and in a similar study published in Nutrition, overweight and obese participants given CLA supplements saw lowered body weight, BMI, total fat mass and waist-to-hip ratio after twelve weeks with no apparent adverse side effects. Brown suggests keeping some sunflower seeds in your purse or briefcase so you can sprinkle them over salad or soups whenever the opportunity arises.

Schedule In Time For Hydration

Sure, you know that water is great for you, but do know you how great? “Water is by far the most overlooked, easy way to lose weight,” Brown promises. “Water flushes your body out and gets rid of any excess bloat and salt retention, and it increases your energy and mood.” But, we know it can be difficult to remember to keep the H2O flowing throughout a busy day. Try putting in a calendar reminder or setting an alarm every few hours to remind yourself to refill that water bottle on your desk to keep yourself hydrated (and slender) all day long. Add some fresh, sliced citrus to your water pitcher for a refreshing, slimming twist. It's one of the key parts of our Ultimate One-Day Detox.

Try Some Natural Bloat Busters

When you’re trying to get on a healthy track, instant gratification is key to keep your motivation (and your mood) up. Brown suggests mixing dandelion greens, asparagus and lemon into your daily meals—though not all at once—during “flat belly-focused weeks.” They’re gentle diuretics that help combat excess water weight; you’ll start feeling slim in no time, giving you some extra motivation to make some other trimming changes.

Keep Yourself Busy

Downtime can be dangerous for your waistline. In fact, one study concluded that people eat when they’re bored to escape monotony (rather than increase satisfaction), a fact that was discovered when comparing the boredom-based urge to eat with a similar urge to electrically shock oneself. Don’t self-harm through snacking!

Instead of giving into snack cravings or boredom munchies while watching television, try out a new hobby or two to keep your hands—and your mind—occupied. In particular, Brown says that doing a puzzle, picking up knitting or doing other craft projects have proven helpful, but anything that keeps your hands away from the pantry will do! You can even keep your hands out of the chip bag by painting your nails while watching your favorite show. Whatever you do, just keep yourself busy for a short while, Brown says. “Research shows cravings usually last between 5-10 minutes, sometimes as short as 3 minutes. So take some deep breaths and a walk around the block til it passes!” When you feel the need to snack out of actual hunger, go for it guilt-free! Keep these 50 Best Snacks for Weight Loss on hand.

Let Yourself Indulge To Keep Yourself From Over Indulging

Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean depriving yourself of everything you love. According to one Stanford study, we all have a unique “taste-health balance point,” that allows us to feel satisfied with a certain ratio of indulgent food to healthy food. Specifically, the study concluded that most people only need about ¼ of their “vice-virtue bundle” to be made up of the vice (let’s say it’s ice cream) and ¾ can be the good stuff (apple and peanut butter, anyone?) to encourage people to feel satisfied and eat more of the healthy stuff. So go ahead and let yourself have some French fries with dinner, but be sure to also have a couple extra bites of salad for the perfect balance.

Close The Kitchen At Night

Limiting when you eat is, in some ways, just as important as limiting what you eat. According to a recent study published in Cell Metabolism, mice that engaged in “time-restricted feeding”—eating only during a 9-12 hour period of activity and abstaining from food for the 12 hour sedentary, overnight period—showed signs of reversing the progression of metabolic disease and Type II diabetes. In fact, the experiment showed that eating under a time-restricted feeding schedule effectively stymied weight gain even when used with high-calorie, high-fructose and high-fat diets, and still effective even when the TRF was disrupted on the weekends (which is great to know, because how many times have you given in to a late-night craving on a Saturday?). In other words, stay away from the pantry from 8pm to 8am.

By Daisy Melamed

Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions About Weight Loss - Part 2

2. What steps should I take to lose weight?

Aside from regimented diet and exercise, a few adjustments in how you live your life can create a great impact on your weight loss efforts. Try the following:

• Walk to work. 
• Use fat free milk over whole milk. 
• Drink water before a meal.
  
   
• Eat leaner red meat & poultry. 
• Eat half your dessert. 
• Avoid food portions larger than your fist. 
• Mow lawn with push mower. 
• Increase the fiber in your diet. 
• Do yard work. 
• Eat off smaller plates. 
• Don't eat late at night. 
• Skip seconds. 
• Work around the house. 
• Grill, steam or bake instead of frying. 
  
• Go for a half-hour walk instead of watching TV. 
• Use vegetable oils over solid fats. 
• Sit up straight at work. 
• Wash the car by hand. 
• Don't skip meals. 
• Pace the sidelines at kids' athletic games. 
• Take wheels off luggage. 
• Choose an activity that fits into your daily life. 
• Make time in your day for physical activity. 
• Exercise with a video if the weather is bad. 
• Keep to a regular eating schedule. 
• Take a walk or do desk exercises instead of a cigarette or coffee break. 
• Perform gardening or home repair activities. 
• Avoid laborsaving devices. 
• Take small trips on foot to get your body moving. 
• Play with your kids 30 minutes a day. 
• Dance to music. 
• Keep a pair of comfortable walking or running shoes in your car and office. 
• Walk briskly in the mall. 
  
• Choose activities you enjoy & you'll be more likely to stick with them. 
• Take the long way to the water cooler. 
• Vary your activities, for interest and to broaden the range of benefits. 
• Choose fruit for dessert. 
• Consume alcoholic beverages in moderation, if at all. 
• Take stairs instead of the escalator. 
• Conduct an inventory of your meal/snack and physical activity patterns. 
• Share an entree with a friend. 
• Grill fruits or vegetables. 
• Eat before grocery shopping. 
• Buy 100% fruit juices over soda and sugary drinks. 
  
• Stay active in winter. 
• Flavor foods with herbs, spices, and other low fat seasonings. 
• Remove skin from poultry before cooking to lower fat content. 
• Eat before you get too hungry. 
• Stop eating when you are full. 
• Snack on fruits and vegetables. 
• Top your favorite cereal with apples or bananas. 
• Try brown rice or whole-wheat pasta. 
• Include several servings of whole grain food daily. 
• If main dishes are too big, choose an appetizer or a side dish instead. 
• Park farther from destination and walk.

The Hunger Games

I am now 2 weeks info the fast and guess what? I still don’t feel hungry. Even the thirst has vanished. I wasn’t expecting this. After all the fasts this year are about 19 hours long here in Manchester and yet......

It seems it truly is mind over matter. It’s strange that every year this happens, almost as if a switch is flipped inside me that says “time to fast so no point in being hungry or thirsty”. Of course it helps that the weather this time has been kind as well. Although there have a few hot days, overall it has been fairly pleasant. In addition the rest of the household is also fasting so that too helps.

The only downside has been the lack of energy. Although I am moving around as much as usual, or some days more than that, it just seems more difficult. Getting up in the morning to start the day is also much more difficult.usually these have been the days when I have missed the alarm for the pre-dawn sehri and have had to leap out to get something in me before the fasting begins. This is approximately at 2:00am so I get generally about 2 hours sleep before waking, eating, prayers and then hope to get my head down for a couple of hours before the day properly starts.

But the hunger is totally abated. Maybe it is the fact that at iftar (the time at sunset when the fasting is over for the day) I am eating more than usual. This has been the same in the past, however, so something else is going on. Strangely I feel hungry in the minutes just before the fast breaks, maybe because I know that I will be eating soon.

It is always these last few minutes which are the hardest anyway as the stomach prepares to gladly receive the food which is on its way!

Liquid intake has been more than adequate as shown by the fact that I don’t feel thirsty at all. I am also drinking more plain water (hurray) so that cannot be a bad thing. The only exception to this is with the sehri where I am drinking a chilled drink of fruit flavour dextrose powder mixed with water. The reason is to top up my glycogen levels in my liver ASAP. Cool grapes straight from the fridge also make a delicious dessert. This has meant that my urine is almost colourless, which is the true sign of hydration. In normal circumstances you need at least 3 colourless urinations per day to show you are adequately hydrated. This is a lot more reliable indicator instead of the assertion to drink X glasses of water (what size?) or X amount (which depends on how big/old/sex you are) and so forth.

Sipping the water helps me to hold onto more of it. So after my meal and as soon as I wake at 2:00am I tend to sip instead of gulp. Every little helps as they say!

2 weeks down, another 2 to go.

The fasting continues

As expected the second and third days of fasting are not having any noticeable effect. There is no lack of energy so far, probably due to the foods being taken at iftari (the time at sunset when food can be consumed). These are traditional fare such as samosas, pakoras (baked where possible to avoid extra fat from frying) and dates. Generally I only eat these sparingly during the year, usually on special occasions, so they are a welcome treat. 

Some fruit salad is also consumed and some form of cold sweet beverage. So far this has been homemade lemonade. The reason is to top up glycogen stores without a spike in sugar levels. Fruit is naturally sweet and also provides natural vitamins and fibre.

This is kept deliberately light due to the late time it is consumed - at present, here, that time is 21.41hrs!

The main evening meal follows but due to the prolonged fast not much can be consumed. As the month progresses the food taken in will be smaller in quantity due to a feeling that the stomach is shrinking!

Water is also consumed in a slightly larger amount. This along with the extra fibre helps to keep the bowel healthy. Some years ago, when I was living abroad in a hotter climate and had started fasting, I found that this last fact was crucial. Due to lack of both I became painfully constipated!! Needless to say I don’t want a repeat of that.

I have also noticed that my fingers and toes are colder. Due to the lack of energy i suppose. This always happens when i reduce my intake. I am driving with all the cooling systems turned off and the windows up. This also saves a slight amount on fuel so it can’t be all bad i suppose. Another thing is that my leg muscles are feeling tired and drained, similar to when one is ill. Since they are the largest muscle group in the body they require the most energy which is in short supply anyway.

Overall I am feeling fairly healthy apart from a dry throat which is irritating. The only downside is having to get up at 02:00hrs in the night for a light breakfast to tide me over till 21.41hrs again. I love my sleep so this disruption to my slumber is the only downside.

How to Lose Weight Naturally

Do you know how to lose weight? This question has bothered many people and for very long times with nothing tangible coming up. It is very difficult understanding how to cut that extra pound from your body without enduring pain or strainDo you know how to lose weight? This question has bothered many people and for very long times with nothing tangible coming up. It is very difficult understanding how to cut that extra pound from your body without enduring pain or strain. Doing it naturally is the best option and you will always have home remedies for that. The good thing with doing it naturally is that no side effects are experienced and it is not too costly.

Using anti-aging weight loss diet plans can as well be an applicable option for your consideration. The most important thing is for you to make choices that are well intended and effective enough to facilitate natural loss of extra weight.

• Cinnamon tea- this one is very good at managing blood sugar in the body and that has a direct effect on weight loss. If you research widely, you will know that blood sugar affects the pattern in which one gets hungry. When you have your blood sugar imbalanced, chances of getting hungry more often are high and you will thus tend to eat more and gain weight. With cinnamon tea, that will be well taken care of.

• Green tea and ginger- green tea has some key components that have been proven to help in weight loss. They are theanine, catechins and caffeine which will address all your concerns on how to lose weight. When you add ginger to your green tea, it will spur digestion in the stomach and accelerate weight loss.

• Ginseng- this is a perennial plant and will offer you a natural remedy for losing weight without stress. Ginseng helps to speed up metabolism in the body once consumed as well as increase energy, improve mental preparedness and fight off fatigue. When added to the anti-aging weight loss diet, ginseng will be very effective as well making it a two-in-one solution. 

• Chewing gums- very many people chew gums most of the time but are not aware that it helps in losing weight. The simple logic is that chewing gums fool the stomach that it is eating something thus suppressing pangs of hunger. You will have lowered appetite for food and that is a good way to address questions around how to lose weight naturally. 

• Stay hydrated- the more water you have in the body, the higher the rate of losing weight without too much straining. Water will be good anytime for your anti-aging weight loss diet because it will speed up the metabolism rate. Ensure you have taken in enough amounts of water every day for the sake of your weight loss plan.

With that, you do not have to endure the rigorous workouts that consume a lot of your time and energy in losing weight. These natural remedies will clear all concerns you have on how to lose weight right from the comfort of your house. It does not matter whether you are under an anti-aging weight loss diet, it will be a success if you embrace any of these remedies.


By: Vikram kumar

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The diet secrets no-one talks about

Wanna know a secret? What I'm about to tell you no-one else is willing to admit. ALL DIETS WORK. That's right - all diets work at least for a time. Some work better than others. The way to truly make them effective for you is to stick to them. However there are some "secrets" that work all the time and these are the ones I lay out for you in this blog.

If you truly want that leaner body you need to follow the regular advice I give out because all the posts have research to back them up.

Sign up so that you get some great reports which I do not have time to cover in depth here. It's free (just put your details in the form at the top right hand corner).

However, when it come to diets, there are the not so well known facts, the ones that may seem counterproductive or illogical and yet have been proven to work in the real world time and time again, sometimes with science to back them up. Once you start to incorporate these into your regime you’ll be hooked.

What am I talking about? Read on.

· Cheat on your diet. That’s right – you heard me! Cheat on your diet. I know everything you may have read or heard is in total opposition to this but bear with me. I absolutely recommend that from time to time you eat what you like, even if it is not the most healthy or nutritious thing. You cannot get lean without sticking to a clean diet but at the same time occasionally straying (i.e cheating) can actually help. You see, when you diet levels of the hormone Leptin drop. Leptin keeps hunger down and metabolism up so when its levels drop you burn fewer calories and tend to eat more. Overeating bumps up Leptin so for one day, preferably for one meal, eat whatever you like such as a burger with fries, pizza, an ice-cream or whatever. As long as the overall calorie balance is fine one meal, especially a cheat meal, will not make that much of a difference. Also we live in the real world. Sticking to your diet is difficult (especially if you think of it as a diet that has to be kept). Your cheat meal gives you a mental and physical break and allows you to stick to your plan better.

· Eat before bed. Say what!! Again you heard me right. If your body is starved of fuel for too long a period (such as during the 7-8 hours you are sleeping) it breaks down muscle for fuel. Muscle is active tissue which keeps your metabolism up and continues to burn fat. So by eating a slow digesting protein food you will supply your body and its muscles with the nutrients they need. Excellent options are yoghurt, cottage cheese, natural peanut butter (not the variety with sugar added!), double strength skim milk (mix skim milk powder with skim milk instead of water) and so forth.

· Add some fat. Eating fat makes you fat, right? Not really. Healthy fats, such as omega-3 fats and monounsaturated fats, can actually help you lose body fat. Sources include salmon, trout, walnuts, olive oil, avocados, plain nuts, almonds and natural peanut butter. Whole eggs also fall into this category, and don’t worry about the cholesterol as eggs contain the “HDL” (good) cholesterol. Research has also shown that people who consume whole eggs for breakfast lose more body fat than those who do not. Just don’t go overboard by frying them or going for cheese omelettes and so on. Plain boiled, scrambled, poached or an omelette without anything added is what I am talking about

· Eat fat burning fruits. How many people do you know who have got fat from eating fruit? Thought so. However some fruits are better than others. A study from Scripps Clinic in San Diego found that people consuming half a grapefruit or 240mls of grapefruit juice three times a day lost on average 4 pounds over 12 weeks without any other changes to diet or lifestyle. So consider adding half a grapefruit to your breakfast and lunch every day.

· Drink cold water (as cold as possible). Drinking water may seam a simple way to get lean but it works. Plus it’s cheap. A study out of Germany showed that drinking 2 glasses of cold water a day could increase metabolic rate by about 30%. It is theorised that that this was due to norepinephrine release brought on by the water (the body released this to increase metabolism to heat up the water and this faster metabolism burned more fat!). Drinking extra water also helps you seem fuller so you tend to eat less at mealtimes.

· Drink black coffee without milk or sugar about 20 – 30 minutes before your cardio. The caffeine in coffee acts as a central nervous system stimulant (which is why drinking too much can make you jittery!). This results in greater fat loss. Adding milk negates the fat burning effects of caffeine and sugar simply adds calories. Add sweeteners if you want. If you have acid problems or ulcers, however, avoid this tip and stick to cold water, chilled if possible, instead.

Avoid diet drinks. Research has suggested that such drinks cause you to feel hungrier and provide a false sense of security so you stray from clean eating. Moreover they still increase insulin release, which can inhibit fat burning and cause the body to actually store fat! But if you absolutely cannot do without your Diet Coke try to limit yourself to one per day at the absolute most. If at all possible try avoid fizzy drinks altogether

10 Of The Biggest Fat Loss Furphies

#1 You can believe what you read in the magazines.

Unfortunately not. And without going on for hours here is the condensed reason why. MONEY! Take most of the major fitness magazines for example. Each of these magazines has articles, editorials and advertisements for the latest and greatest in fat burning products. Ever notice they’re all from the one company. Why? Because that magazine owns that company and all they are doing is using the magazine to promote their own product. Magazines have just become the forum by which supplement companies generate their huge revenues.

#2 The only natural weight loss method is starvation.

Starvation will actually cause you to gain weight in the long run. Yes it is true that you have to burn more calories than you eat. But this doesn’t mean starving yourself. If you drop your calorie intake dramatically your metabolic rate actually slows down and therefore you burn much less fat. Your body as a response increases your appetite to try to get you to eat more calories. Because you deplete your fat stores so quickly your body feeds off your muscles. Then when you eventually do start eating again your body, in anticipation of being starved of nutrients again will store everything it possibly can and therefore result in rapid weight gain again but this time without any muscle tissue- so you have just increased your body fat percentage.

#3 The diet pill is the secret.

People fail to realise the dangers of diet or appetite suppressing pills. Effectively they stop you from eating by making you feel full. The problem with this is that there are no nutrients entering your body. Your body’s response is to slow the metabolic rate to decrease fat burning. Prolonged use can have the same effect as starvation. And then, like starvation, as soon as you begin eating again your weight rises rapidly because your body begins to store fat again in anticipation of the next starvation period.

#4 All I need is a shake for breakfast, lunch and tea!

Meal replacement shakes are nothing more than supplements for an inadequate diet. The problem with them is that the body was never designed to live off liquid lunches. If they have been formulated correctly then they are invariably very low in calories. If your diet is too deficient in calories remember point 2- starvation. Meal replacement shakes also effectively eliminate the thermic value you get from consuming food and therefore slow your metabolism.

#5 All fat is bad.

It all depends on the type of fat. There are good and bad fats. The good fats, poly-unsaturated and mono-unsaturated fats can actually help reduce the risk of heart disease, cardiovascular problems and blood pressure problems. On the other hand, the BAD fats are the Saturated Fats and Trans-Fatty Acids which can be found in many of the deep fried, processed foods that flood today’s market. Fats are essential for our body to function correctly, you just have to know which ones to choose.

#6 Fat becomes muscle.

It is physiologically impossible to turn muscle into fat and vice versa. They are two completely separate types of tissue. If the muscles aren’t being trained then the body gets rid of the muscle tissue and therefore there is more room to store fat. The fat tends to be stored on top of your muscle tissue and therefore you lose your definition. However, when you train and build muscle you burn fat and subsequently the fatty deposits over your muscles shrink. Muscle takes up less room than fat so as you build muscle you can find that you tend to trim down. You cannot turn one into the other.

#7 Constant water consumption makes you bloated.

Water is one of the key players in metabolism, digestion and hunger control. None of these bodily systems function correctly without a sufficient level of water provided constantly to the body. The reason you feel bloated is that your body is not used to receiving the correct amount of water and so, like starvation, it retains the water and gives you that bloated feeling. If you regularly drink water then your body gets used to receiving a constant flow and therefore realises it doesn’t need to retain water, flushing your system and making the bloated feeling disappear.

#8 I am genetically fat.

It doesn’t matter what you metabolism or genetic disposition is like. The scientific facts are simple. If you burn more calories than you consume you lose weight. And if you eat less more often you keep your metabolism working at a higher rate for longer, therefore putting your body into a fat burning state for longer and giving you more energy.

#9 I have to do hours of cardio to burn fat.

Once again this is not the case. It all comes down to intensity. If you are doing very low intensity exercise (walking) then your body isn’t working hard to burn energy (fat) and therefore fat loss is very slow. If on the other hand you perform high-intensity exercise you are forcing your body to work hard, your energy stores are depleted quicker and your body subsequently enters the fat burning zone quicker. You don’t need to train for hours, 20-30 minutes of high intensity training may be all that is required.

#10 Performing a thousand crunches will flatten my stomach.

You cannot “area target” fat loss through exercise. You see the body has certain places it finds it easier to store fat. For men it is usually the stomach area whilst women it is usually the hips and thighs. But you can do no abdominal work at all and still see a reduction in your waistline. Training all parts of your body will burn fat from all those storage areas, not just one.

Article source: Expert Articles

By: Paul James
Submitted: 2007-08-06 21:47:31