Archives August 2013

Weight Loss Challenge

New ways to overcome your weight loss challenge.

Regardless of whether you are looking at weight loss as being a one-time deal or a permanent change to your lifestyle, there is no debating about one factor: you consider it to be a challenge. Otherwise, chances are that you would have gone through with it a long time ago.

In what way does the weight loss challenge manifest itself precisely? Well, there are two main aspects to it which need to be discussed, and so let us begin with the first one, your physical capabilities.

Weight Loss Challenge #1: The Physical Factors

When talking about your physical capabilities we are not only discussing your weight, your age, how far you can run or how many push-ups you can do, although these things do play a factor. There are certain other physical factors in your life that need to be taken into account, such as time and money.

Practically everyone today is living life like a rat race, running from one place to the other, barely having enough time to catch our breath at the end of the day.

As far as money goes, the good news is that losing weight doesn’t require the purchase of fancy machines or expensive foods at the grocery store. You will probably need to invest a little on gaining information, such as a dieting guide or a workout plan, or subscribe to the My Fitness Nut Newsletter and use the free resources at http://MyFitnessNut.com – but it doesn’t have to go further than that if you don’t want it to.

When it becomes a question of time things get a bit more complicated, because after all, very few are capable of controlling when the events in their lives take place. Nevertheless, eating right doesn’t really require you to have enough time to do it (in most cases at least), and your exercising routines don’t need to be very long; two or three workouts of ten to fifteen-minute will generally suffice, at least if you are looking to maintain a natural weight loss pace.

Weight Loss Challenge #2: The Mental Factor

Now, it is time to discuss the more important factor, the mental one. The truth is that if you are really motivated to lose weight, if you have a goal in mind that is actually important to you, then rest assured, you are always going to find the time, the money and the reason to go through with it.

If you are constantly finding yourself making excuses as to why you should not or could not go through with a weight loss program, then chances are that you are simply lacking in self-confidence and motivation to lose weight.

Yes, it is true that the weight loss challenge is one of the hardest things in the world to go through with, perhaps because it is also one of the most important ones as well. If you do not take action to lose weight and get in shape right now, then chances are that you will keep on living the way you do for the next five, ten, perhaps even twenty years, at which point your body will likely have had all it could take.

In other words, if you don’t lose weight now, you are much more likely to develop ailments and pass away sooner… it’s only logical, not to mention statistically-proven. If you want to really turn your life around and make some real weight loss progress, then you better re-think your mental approach to it.

To help assist you with your personal weight loss challenge we have assemble a category of weight loss tips and strategies that you can use right now to help conquer your challenges.

 

Green Tea and Weight Loss

Studies favor the use of green tea for weight loss.

The benefits of green tea for health in general have already been discussed at great length in scientific journals, the media, and even personal blogs which revolve around the subject of maintaining a healthy of way living.

All the fuss is far from being unwarranted, considering in particular that those who drink at least one cup of green tea every day are about six to seven times less susceptible to developing most types of cancer than those who don’t.

However, it seems that many have overlooked the existing relationship between green tea and weight loss; indeed, it seems that green tea is nothing short of being magical with all the benefits it bears for the human body.

Fortunately, we will not need to go into speculations to determine whether or not green tea can help with weight loss; clinical studies have already touched on the subject.

A 90 Day Study on Green Tea and Weight Loss

There is one placebo-controlled, randomized study in particular that was of great interest. All of the test subjects were considered as moderately overweight adults, and they were divided into two groups. Both of them would be subjected to the same routine and procedures, with the only difference being that one group would also consume 1,900mgs of green tea catechins (GTC), the main antioxidant found in the tea.

The study lasted a total of 90 days, and at the end it was observed that the group who had consumed the green tea catechins lost around 2.65 lbs. on average, and three quarters of an inch from their waist.

It is true that the results do not seem impressive at all at first sight (barely 3 pounds in three months), but they do warrant some further examination. None of the study’s participants were forced to make any changes to their diet, nor were they made to exercise; they simply lived in a way as to sustain their current form, with the only difference being that some of them ingested green tea.

As such, it is actually quite impressive that the green tea alone led to the weight loss as it usually takes a lot more than ingesting one ingredient to get people to lose weight.

A few other studies were also performed in an attempt to elucidate whether green tea and weight loss should be used in the same sentence, and all of them have found the same thing: green tea improves the body’s fat oxidation abilities, consequently leading to an increase in your metabolic rate and energy expenditure levels.

Cholesterol Levels Lowered While Using Green Tea for Weight Loss

In addition to that, it was observed that green tea reduces LDL cholesterol levels (the bad type of cholesterol) while raising HDL cholesterol levels (as you can guess, the good cholesterol) as well as adiponectin, an important protein which prevents your body from becoming desensitized to insulin.

All in all, it can be said with great confidence that there exists a positive relationship between green tea and weight loss, and if you are looking for an easy to way to accelerate your journey to becoming fitter, slimmer and healthier, then you should definitely at least have a cup of it per day, or perhaps even think about investing in green tea-based supplements.

 

Quick Weight Loss Tips

Quick weight loss tips tha you can use now.

While in theory losing weight sounds like something you could do with your hands tied behind your back (metaphorically of course), in practice it just happens to be one of the hardest things to pull off, especially nowadays where we practically don’t have time to dedicate to ourselves anymore.

While there is no way to lose weight without having to make an effort, there are certain tips which you can implement in your daily life to make the process much easier. Here are a few quick weight loss tips that should help you succeed with whatever program you are currently following.

Quick Weight Loss Tip #1: Don’t Overdo It

One of the biggest mistakes many people make when trying a weight loss system is trying too hard. They take in even fewer calories than they are required to and they push themselves to the very limit when exercising.

At first glance, this approach simply ensures that you will get faster results… however, what it really does is ensure that your progress gets slowed down. The harder you try, the more you are at risk of suffering some kind of injury, especially if you become weak because you didn’t feed yourself well enough.

Simply stick with the program and don’t push yourself too hard.

Quick Weight Loss Tip #2: Have a Cheat Day

While some diets explicitly forbid any deviation from the program, the truth is that ultimately, we live for pleasure, and if we can’t get any, we’ll do whatever it takes to get some. It is better to control your cravings for pleasure rather than suppress them and see them running wild later.

Food is one of the greatest pleasures humans have come to know, and once in a while, about every two weeks, you should have a cheat day during which you want what you want, and how much you want of it. This will remind you that the weight loss process isn’t nearly that bad, not to mention it will make keeping your food cravings at bay much easier.

Quick Weight Loss Tip #3: Make it a Permanent Goal

When you think about it, losing weight isn’t just a one-time deal… what are you going to do once it’s over, put all the weight back on again? You need to make sure that on your list of goals, weight loss is something that takes up the rest of your entire life. Various studies have actually shown that instead of thinking of a weight loss program as an event or an activity, but rather as a lifetime pursuit, will dramatically increase your chances of succeeding.

Quick Weight Loss Tip #4: The Power of Walking

While it may sound like the most absurd quick weight loss tips on Earth, walking happens to be a very beneficial activity for the human body, especially when performed during the morning. Not only do regular walks contribute to building stronger legs and burning calories, but when done early in the day, they trigger a pleasant release of endorphins and even help to control your blood sugar levels, which in turn contribute to controlling your sweet cravings.

 

Easy Weight Loss

There's easy weight loss and tought weigh loss.

We are being bombarded with countless messages every day, from the television, radio, billboard and other kinds of advertisements, about how hard it is to lose weight naturally, and about how some pill or workout system will provide you with the easy weight loss ticket you were looking for all along.

However, is there really such a thing as losing weight easily? After all, many people take it for granted that nothing comes free or easily in life, and not without reason.

Easy Weight Loss is Up To You

As it happens, whether or not easy weight loss is possible depends entirely on the attitude you approach your weight problem with. In other words, if before every exercising routine you think about how hard it is and how much work you have to do to get through it, then it goes without saying that you are going to have an extremely hard time losing weight.

However, if you are motivated, if you feel that each and every move you make helps you get fitter and slimmer, you won’t so much be turned off by the pain of exercising as turned on by it. You will actually like doing things that help you lose weight, and when you are doing something that you actually enjoy, the difficulty level goes way down.

In other words, if you adopt a positive approach and maintain an optimistic outlook on your weight loss process, then you will barely experience any difficulties as you are going to be able to find joy and fulfillment in it. However, that is not to say that a bit of motivation will give you incredible powers and make your entire life a walk in the park.

You are still limited by your physical and mental capabilities, not to mention that being human, you are prone to getting distracted from your goals and principles. All in all, if you are looking for an easy weight loss method, then doing what is described above is going to be your best bet.

Is That The Only Way to Easy Weight Loss?

Can’t some external product or influence be used in order to make the process easier without having to do much of anything yourself? Well, if this is what you are looking to accomplish then without a doubt your best bet will be to look for natural weight loss supplements.

They aren’t really going to make the exercises themselves easier, nor will they make your diet any more tasty and filling than it already is. However, what these supplements can do is bring about results much faster, which means that not only will you have to follow your weight loss system for less time, but you also won’t have any trouble finding the motivation you need to keep on going; you’ll be reminded of the tremendous progress you are making every time you look in the mirror.

Unfortunately, that is really all you can do to ease the road to weight loss. As of now, there is no magical, easy weight loss method that simply makes you slim as soon as you take it, and from the looks of it, there won’t be one for a long time to come. Instead of waiting for one, you should simply make use of the methods that are already available to you and make the best of the most powerful weapon you have, your own body and mind.

 

Kelly Osbourne Weight Loss

The Kelly Osbourne weight loss success story.

Ozzy Osbourne is a man who needs no introduction in this world, being officially considered the face of heavy metal since 1969 when he and his band, Black Sabbath, released their first album. Over the years Ozzy has received a lot of coverage for his crazy antics, such as biting off the head of a bat while being on stage.

However, the media attention the rest of his family received is something to behold, especially recently when it comes to his daughter Kelly. There are a few old photos of her floating around, and the least that can be said is that she was a plentiful woman. However, it seems that a Kelly Osbourne weight loss miracle happened recently, as she followed a system thanks to which she lost fifty pounds.

The best part being that said system is now available for anyone else who wishes to duplicate her success.

Duplicate Kelly Osbourne’s Weight Loss Success

Before looking into the system itself, it has to be said that it took Kelly more than just a couple of weeks in order to lose all her excess weight. She followed the training program put in place for her by pro trainer Sara Hagaman, and it took her a lot of strength and courage to finally drop the pounds and become fit again. While the system does indeed work, you should simply know that it doesn’t offer a magical solution to the weight problem.

About the Kelly Osbourne Weight Loss System

So how precisely does her system work?

For starters, you will need to acquire a Bosu balance trainer, a nine to fifteen pound Body Bar, and some dumbbells weighing between five and eight pounds each, although depending on your strength you can change up those variables.

It has to be added that while it would be preferable to have the Bosu trainer, it is by no means mandatory as there are ways to modify the system’s exercises to be doable without one.

The Kelly Osbourne Weight Loss Exercise Routine

The exercising routine isn’t particularly hard as it only requires you to work out two to three times per week, maybe four if you are feeling particularly active. The routines start with a brisk warm-up that takes up about ten minutes of your time, and then you are going to be performing a single set of every move they teach you, one after the other.

What makes this system unique and effective is the fact that you don’t rest between sets, but you do mountain climbers, a cardiovascular exercise.

How does it make the system more effective?

Well, the longer you are performing an exercise, the more your body adjusts to it and the less calories it burns in order to go through with the required moves. By mixing up a cardio workout in between sets of muscle-building exercises you are preventing your body from adapting to anything, meaning it will constantly need to burn a lot of fat in order to keep up with the intense exercises you are performing.

The best part about the Kelly Osbourne weight loss program is that the workouts aren’t even that long, yet they still manage to make a size-able impact on the fat that you drop as well as your overall muscle development giving you strength and fitness.

 

Josh Peck Weight Loss

Here's the Josh Peck weight loss story.

Those of you who remember The Drake and Josh Show can also probably remember which one of them was the bigger boy (hint: it was Josh). As you can guess, saying that he was the bigger boy is somewhat of a euphemism. He had a real weight problem, and even though it made him look somewhat adorable as a kid, there was no question about whether it would come back to haunt him as an adult.

Nobody expected to see the Josh Peck weight loss miracle that occurred, especially because he was getting more and more used to playing the fat and chubby roles on the silver screen.

However, something amazing happened. It seems that the weight loss gods has struck once again, completely transforming Josh into a slim and fit person. Indeed, Josh Peck not only lost a bit of weight, but he actually lost enough of it to transform his entire body into something that belongs on a magazine cover. But why precisely did he do it? After all, considering the amount of fat comedians out there, he probably didn’t feel discriminated against.

The Reason Behind Josh Peck’s Weight Loss

According to Josh’s own words, he did it because of his son. He knew that for his own child, he would be the most important role model in the universe, and if he wasn’t to lose weight, he would send the wrong message to his kid. And so, he sucked up all the pain of exercising and not eating what he liked, which eventually paid off in ways he couldn’t even begin to imagine.

Josh Peck’s Weight Loss Turns Him into Role Model

On top of being a role model worth following for his son, he also inspired millions of kids around the world who have weight problems. In most cases, the obstacle which prevents them from losing weight is a lack of motivation stemming from the belief that weight loss just isn’t possible for them. By seeing Josh lose weight, they knew that it was not only possible, but that it would probably turn their lives around once it happened.

While certain comedians seem to lose their sense of humor along with their tummy, the case was far from being so for Josh Peck. Despite losing his weight and transforming his entire appearance, Josh still remains his same old self, and even after all the attention he has received, he still maintains that it doesn’t really matter how we look, only how we feel, and what we are ready to do in order to feel better.

While the Josh Peck weight loss story truly is a source of immense inspiration, it has to be mentioned that Josh wasn’t exactly the average Joe when he went on his weight loss program; he had the money and the time to have people following him around, making his food decisions for him and constantly reminding him to forgo his negative habits.

Heck, he even probably had his own fitness specialist along with him. However, it doesn’t mean making the same progress isn’t possible for you as well; you will simply have to take a more personal approach to it and harness the necessary self-discipline to get through with it.

 

Best exercise for weight loss

What is the best weight loss exercise for you?

Time is money. It seems the expression is used more and more often today, or at least it would be appropriate to do so. People seldom have free time to themselves, spending most of their lives working so that they can sleep, and sleeping so that they can work.

The problem is that the kind of work most people are doing today isn’t exactly perfect to stave off weight gain… in many cases, it actually contributes to it.

In a nutshell, people today don’t simply want to lose weight, they want to do it as fast as possible, which is why many are looking for the best exercise for weight loss and the most effective diet, hoping to combine them together and get rid of their weight problems in a couple of weeks.

So What is the Best Exercise for Weight Loss?

Well, sorry to disappoint, but there really is no such thing as one exercise that will be the best one to lose weight for every single person on Earth. It has been scientifically demonstrated that as our bodies evolve and get older, they also become more unique as they have been shaped by experiences that few others, if anyone else has had.

Different human bodies have different reactions to various types of exercises, meaning what works well for someone may be useless for someone else. While there isn’t one best exercise to lose weight, there is a way of exercising that has been observed to be extremely effective for that purpose: interval exercising.

When your goal is to lose weight, what you are really looking to do is burn as many calories as you can and sweat as much as possible. The best way to achieve that is to exercise in short intervals, meaning that your workouts will constantly have you alternative between fast-paced cardiovascular and muscle-building exercises.

The Best Exercise for Weight Loss: Interval Exercising

How precisely is it more beneficial for you? For starters, you will be required to exercise practically every muscle group you have, the pace is going be very fast, meaning your body has to burn more fat in order to make enough energy to allow you to go through with it.

The second reason as to why interval exercising is much better than traditional methods, for losing weight at least, lies in the fact that it allows you to overcome the plateau effect.

What is that?

Well, the plateau effect is basically what happens when you perform the same exercising routine for far too long and your body becomes adapted to it. When the body is adapted to something, it expands a minimal amount of energy on doing it, which results in there being practically no more results from the exercises.

When you are working out in short intervals, you are not giving your body the chance to adapt to whatever it is you are doing, ensuring that it is constantly burning fat at a high pace.

All in all, while there may not be a best exercise for weight loss, there are certain measures which you can take in order to make your exercises much more efficient in those terms, and interval exercising is one of them. As a matter of fact, it is deemed so effective that entire workout systems have been based around it, meaning it can definitely work for most people; you included.

 

Good Weight Loss Diet Plan

A weight loss diet plan that provides results.

While it is true that there are many different schools of thought on how people should go about losing weight, if there is one thing they can all agree on, it’s that you’re going to need to change up the way you eat; after all, the science of weight loss ultimately boils down to burning more calories than you are taking in via eating food.

However, what do you really know about nutrition? Unless knowing about nutrition is part of your job or your hobby, chances are you won’t know nearly enough to change your diet in a safe and healthy way. Long story short, what you need is a weight loss diet plan, and before going out there to look for one, it is important to know what factors you should pay attention to.

The Flexibility of Your Weight Loss Diet Plan

The first thing your weight loss diet plan needs to be is flexible. While practically every diet that has come out until recently required people to follow one strict way of eating, recent studies have reported that it is by far one of the least effective methods to approach the problem. We all have bodies that are wired in different ways, and what works for one person may not work for another.

Fortunately, there are a few weight loss diet programs which are flexible in the sense that they provide you with your diet plan based on your physical attributes and capabilities.

For instance, there is a program called The Diet Solution which requires you to fill out a form that contains numerous questions as to your height, your weight, age, gender, daily caloric intake, body type, and your goals, after which you are provided with a plan that is perfectly customized for you.

Your Weight Loss Diet Plan Needs to be Reliable

Regardless of what we may think right now, the fact remains that life is short, or at least short enough that we don’t want to spend our entire time going from diet to diet. You don’t really have the opportunity to give many systems a shot or make mistakes, meaning that before trying a weight loss diet plan, you need to make sure that whatever information in it is reliable.

How are you to accomplish that?

Well, there are two courses of action that you can possibly take. For starters, you can run the system creator’s name through Google to see what kind of reputation he or she has, and whether or not they actually have the proper credentials to be making dieting systems.

Another thing you can do is simply have a look at customer reviews for whatever system you are considering to buy. If you aren’t looking at something obscure that hasn’t hit the market yet, chances are that you are going to find plenty of honest customers who have taken the time to write up about their experience and depict to you the situation the way it really is.

However, you need to be careful when looking for information about a weight loss diet plan as some companies have taken on the habit of creating websites where they pose as customers, when in fact they are reviewing their own systems. All in all, simply make sure that your source of information is a reliable one, and you won’t have many problems finding a system that is right for you.

 

Safflower Oil for Weight Loss

Using Safflower oil for weight loss.

It is no secret that the world is beginning to experience a large problem, other than wars, poverty and global chaos…

The problem referred to is obesity, an epidemic that’s sweeping through more and more countries around the planet, stemming from the simple fact that cheaper foods are now less nutritious and contain many more harmful ingredients for the human body.

Unfortunately, cheaper foods are also sometimes tastier than healthy ones. In any case, it is no secret that traditional weight loss methods simply aren’t going to work for many people, which is why certain researchers are expanding their work and looking into any new methods that can help people lose weight.

As such, some people ended up looking into the safflower oil weight loss effects, and from that resulted a clinical study, and it is quite promising to say the least.

What the Study on Safflower Oil for Weight Loss was About

This clinical study being referred to took place over the course of sixteen weeks during which two groups of subjects were made to follow the exact same routine. The only difference between them was the fact that one of the groups was made to ingest conjugated linoleic acid, while the other one took safflower oil.

At the end of the study, it was noted that those who used safflower oil for weight loss had lost considerably more fat in their abdominal area than those who didn’t. While the study is indeed promising, there are certain things holding it back from being the definitive answer as to whether or not safflower oil works for weight loss.

What was Wrong with the Safflower Oil for Weight Loss Study?

First of all, the number of people who have participated in this study was actually relatively small, with there only being fifty-five subjects in total. Throughout the course of the entire study, twenty of them dropped out, leaving thirty-five actual test subjects… which actually brings us to the next drawback; the people they were doing the tests on.

As it happens, all of the subjects were postmenopausal women with type II diabetes. This means that we still do not have the data necessary to know how the oil is going to act on younger women and men in general. All in all, these facts are keeping the study from being seen as a true indicator of safflower oil’s potential.

What that Means for the Study on Safflower Oil for Weight Loss

Despite having numerous things working against it, the study isn’t exactly useless. As a matter of fact, it may serve as an important milestone which will push for the creation of new studies that will look into the safflower oil weight loss benefits in much greater detail. It has allowed us to see that at least when it was used on a certain type of person, the results were nothing but positive.

As of now, it can be conjectured that within a few years more clinical studies will appear to confirm safflower oil’s efficiency as a weight loss supplement, which in turn will give birth to a whole new line of products for dieters to make their choice from. It may not be the solution the world is so desperately in need for to help win the battle on obesity, but it will sure help our cause and is a step in the right direction.

 

Get Bulging Six Pack Abs

The way to go when you want bulging six pack abs.

Why Do My Abs Not Bulge Like a Bodybuilder’s Abs?

If you’re asking this question, then you probably already can see your abs and they are not as prominent as you want them to be. If you still can’t see your abs, you have no business worrying about this and should be busier getting your fat percentage down to 10 percent or below.

There are two kinds of looks that guys go for. The lean six pack look that Brad Pitt had in the movie Fight Club or the hard, bulging abs that professional bodybuilders have.

The difference between the two is the amount of work involved. If your diet is fantastic and your workouts great, you will attain a six pack that is lean and flat just like Brad Pitt’s. No problem at all. Most guys are able to achieve this if they stay the course.

However, to achieve the bulging look, you will have to give special attention to your abs workouts and your training must be targeted. It is best to only start targeted training once you already have a lean six pack. There is no point hitting your abs hard if you can’t even see them because of the layer of fat on your belly.

When Lean Six Pack Abs Are Not Enough

Targeted training involves working the abs with weights. You will need to do sit ups with weight plates, hanging leg raises with ankle weights, cable pull downs, medicine ball drills for the abs, etc. There are many exercises designed to hit the abs and hit them hard.

You will also need to consume adequate amounts of protein so that you will be at a slight calorie surplus. Yes, you may put on a teeny bit of weight but that’s ok. Hopefully, it will be lean muscle.

The goal of bulging abs involves bodybuilding. It is no longer about shredding the fat off and getting a lean look. Bodybuilding is a whole different game. You will need to work abs on specific days. You will need to keep an eye on your sets and reps. Of course; your nutritional intake will play a huge role.

Protein Shakes Can Compliment Your Muscle Building Goals

You may wish to invest in protein shakes and muscle building supplements to speed things up a little. The protein will help you repair and rebuild your muscles when consumed in regards to your workout schedule. Creatine can make your abs look more full and defined but some people question its use while others praise it.

We must also be aware that the bodybuilding scene is rife with steroid use and many builders also use human growth hormones (HGH) to get results that a normal person will just never see if they are not on steroids. So, it would be wise not to compare yourself with these guys.

I’d never advocate steroids under any circumstances. Some people may say that steroids can be taken safely in the right doses. My answer to this hot topic is that if it is not found naturally, it does not belong in your body.

You can build a great body naturally and have beautiful abs if you work out right and eat right. Just remember that as great as getting a ripped six pack of abs is, your overall health is what matters in the end.

Learn More about Fitness Nutrition and Developing Bulging Six Pack Abs

To help you create the six-pack abs that you’d be proud to show off, get a free subscription to the My Fitness Nut Newsletter at http://MyFitnessNut.com and receive a full body workout video series to help get you into shape fast. Get yours now while we’re still giving them away.