Sunday, May 27, 2012

Lose Belly Fat With These Summer Drinks


Summertime is approaching and it’s time to lose belly fat and get a flat stomach to look fit for the beach. There is nothing more fulfilling than cooling off with a nice drink that will help you lose pounds of belly fat and quench your thirst at the same time. Try out these belly fat blasting drinks this summer combined with exercise to get those 6 pack abs today. 

Green Tea
Green tea contains catechins which are antioxidants that are proven to help reduce belly fat. Drinking green tea before a workout can help you burn fat faster during aerobic exercise such as jogging. 

Belly Fat Drink – Peppermint Tea
This tea is very refreshing and an excellent belly fat eliminator. Peppermint assists the stomach in processing fat, ensuring even high fat foods like steaks and burgers are digested quickly, which helps prevent bloat. 



Dark Chocolate Shake
Dark chocolate can help you lose weight because it suppresses your appetite and lessens food cravings overall. You can have one of these for breakfast to control your appetite for hours. 

Watermelon Smoothie
Smoothies that are sugar free plus a great way to stay hydrated and stay healthy at the same time. Watermelon is a great choice because it’s low in calories. According to the Journal of Nutrition, watermelon contains arginine, which can decrease body fat and increase lean muscle mass. 



Pineapple Frappe
This delicious pineapple drink tastes like paradise in a glass and includes two belly fat fighting ingredients. One tablespoon of flaxseed oil adds monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), proven belly fat blasters, and pineapple itself contains bromelain, an enzyme that helps break down protein, banish bloat, and ease digestion. 

Although these drinks will help you lose belly fat and encourage weight loss, you should always exercise daily and follow a healthy diet plan for best results. Supplements are only temporary and you still have to include diet and physical activity to keep the weight off. If you are new to weight loss you should consult with your physician first to make sure you are healthy to start a new diet and exercise routine. 

Lose Stomach Fat by Jogging

Lose stomach fat or reduce belly fat faster by jogging instead of weight lifting researchers say. Apparently, aerobic exercise is better than resistance training according to a recent study. An eight month study compared the effectiveness of aerobic exercise (jogging), resistance training (weight lifting) and a combination of both in 196 overweight, sedentary adults from ages 18-70.

 The individuals in the aerobic group did the equivalent of 12 miles of jogging per week at an 80 percent heart rate, while the resistance group did three sets of eight to 12 repetitions three times a week.

 The Duke University Medical Center researchers examined how these types of exercises reduced the fat that’s deep within the abdomen and fills the spaces between internal organs. This type of fat, called visceral and liver fat, is associated with increased risk of disease, diabetes and certain types of cancers.

 Aerobic exercises greatly reduced stomach fat (visceral fat) and improved risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, such as insulin resistance, liver enzymes and triglyceride levels. However, resistance training didn’t influence these benefits. Aerobic exercises combined with resistance training achieved results similar to aerobic exercise alone, the investigators discovered.



 According to lead author and exercise physiologist Chris Slentz who spoke in a Duke news release, “resistance training is great for improving strength and increasing lean body mass.” “But if you are overweight, which 2/3 of the population is, and you want to lose belly fat or stomach fat, aerobic exercise is the better alternative because it burns more calories.” You will lose even more calories if you maintain a healthy diet and keep your metabolism going with foods such as whole grains and fish that boost your metabolism. If you are new to weight loss and want to lose stomach fat you can start of by walking then advance to jogging when you get the energy. My favorite cardio exercises are running and boxing since they seem to burn the most calories and boxing is my favorite sport. Boxing builds endurance, speed, agility and stamina which make it one of the best sports for cardio.

 This study was published in the August 25 issue of the American Journal of Physiology.

 Make it your next to goal to start your aerobic exercise routine today to lose stomach fat and improve your health today. Don’t forget to consult with your doctor before beginning any weight loss plan to make sure it is safe plus get more tips on how to lose stomach fat.

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Saturday, May 5, 2012

Weight Loss Secrets to Eliminate Belly Fat

Aerobic activity also known as cardio, is the best exercise to lose weight and belly fat because it gets your heart beating faster than normal, causing you to breathe harder, lose fat and increase the amount of oxygen delivered to the muscles. Aerobic exercise will also decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other cancers. An adult should perform at least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity every week to benefit from the effects of cardio. 

A great way to begin your cardio routine is to try an indoor cycling class. This is a safe, low-impact form of cardio that’s easy on the knees. If you begin working out on a cycling bike, and your working hard, really sweating, remember to add electrolytes to your water or eat a banana which contains potassium. You can burn an average of 600-800 calories in a single 45 minute cycling class. 

Determination and Energy to Lose Belly Fat

When it comes to losing weight and reducing belly fat you must be determined and know your worth. Make a realistic goal that you can achieve and visualize your success. Give yourself good compliments everyday to stay motivated. Energy is very important and it comes from being positive in your life. Eat three balanced meals and drink plenty of water to stay energized throughout the day. 

Flexibility

Maintaining flexibility, especially as you get older, is very important for your overall health, increasing the range of motion throughout your joints. Learn these easy stretches to improve your flexibility:

·       Lace your fingers together and stretch them towards the sky slowly, palms up, while inhaling and exhaling. 

·       Stretch your hamstrings while on an indoor stationary bike by slightly bending both legs and leaning over the handlebars. 

Repeat each stretch 3 to 4 times, holding each for about 30 seconds a piece. 

Stretching cold muscles can damage them so make sure you warm up for five to ten minutes.

Hot Tea

When you drink hot tea 20 minutes before your meal you can control your portions and consume fewer calories. A German study found that Chinese white tea reduces growth of new fats cells and breaks down fat contained in existing cells. Do not make your tea a latte, because the proteins in cow milk neutralize the tea’s fat fighting ability and its cholesterol blocking properties. 

Ice Water

Drinking cold ice water can help reduce calories because the body uses energy to heat up the water to obtain proper hydration. Metabolically, heating water burns calories. You can burn an average of 50 to 100 calories per day by drinking 4 to 8 cups of ice water. Another German study found that drinking about 2 extra glasses of water daily can boost your metabolism by 30 percent. 



Jumping Jack and Jims

Jumping jacks are among the best forms of calisthenics – repetitive movements that use your own body to build strength. Jumping Jims can target your oblique muscles. 

Lactic Acid

Lactic acid occurs when you work out really hard and when you enter into your anaerobic zone; you no longer have enough oxygen to create energy. Little energy factors in your brain cells, mitochondria, burn carbohydrates. When they do that without oxygen, the by-product is lactic acid which builds up in your muscles. This is the reason why you get that burn when you are working out hard but the lactic acid is flushed out of your system within an hour. 

Nutrition

Consuming the correct amounts and types of nutrition is the key to weight loss. I usually eat whole grains, fish and lean white meats to boost my metabolism and help me burn calories. Six small meals a day keeps your metabolism going throughout the day to help you burn fat. 

Family Fitness

Working out as a family or participating in team sports can be fun and motivational instead of watching T.V at home all day. Sixty minutes of exercise each day can help lose weight, build stronger bones, build muscle, help your kids sleep better and reduce stress at school. 

Zero Excuses!

When it comes to weight loss or losing belly fat, you must put all those excuses to the side and take action. 

Start off by walking with a friend and make small changes to your diet today and become a healthier person tomorrow. 

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Ab Workouts for 6 Pack Abs

Ab workouts won’t help you lose belly fat alone but you will develop a strong core which keeps your body healthy and protects your spine. The most effective ab workout is the bicycle exercise because it targets the rectus abdominis or 6 pack abdomen and the obliques most effectively according to the American Council on Exercise study.

To perform the bicycle ab exercise, lie face up on your mat and place your hands behind your head, supporting it with your fingers. Bring the knees into the chest and lift the shoulders blades off the floor without pulling on the neck. Rotate to the left, bringing the right elbow towards the left knee as you straighten the other leg. Switch sides, bringing the left elbow toward the right knee. Continue alternating sides in a pedaling motion for 1-3 sets of 12-16 reps.



Next, the captain’s chair leg raise is the second most effective 6 pack ab workout for the rectus abdominis as well as the obliques. The key to keeping this move most effective is, first, to avoid swinging the legs or using momentum to bring the legs up. Second, keeping the knees bent will help you focus more on the abdominis and less on the hip flexors.

To do this ab workout, stand on the chair and grip handholds to stabilize your upper body. Press your back against the pad and contract your abs to raise the legs and lifts knees towards your chest. Don’t arch your back or swing your legs up. Slowly lower your back down and repeat for 1-3 sets of 12-16 reps.

Finally, the third most effective ab workout for 6 pack abs in a short period of time is the exercise ball crunch. The exercise ball is excellent for strengthening your abs and targeting the rectus abdominis as well. This ab exercise is more effective than regular crunches on the floor because the legs are often involved in floor crunches. On the ball, the abs do more work, but you still involve the entire body to help stabilize you throughout the movement, a great bonus that floor crunches don’t offer.

To do the exercise ball crunch, lie on the ball, positioning it under your lower back. Cross your arms over the chest or place them behind your head. Contract your abs to lift your torso off the ball, pulling the bottom of your ribcage down toward your hips. As you curl up, keep the ball stable so the ball won’t roll. Lower your back down, getting a stretch in the abs, and repeat for 1-3 sets of 12-16 reps.

These are the most effective ab workouts for 6 pack abs in a short period of time to strengthen your core or rectus abdominals. To lose belly fat fast you have to combine these ab workouts plus a healthy diet plan for best results. Don’t forget to consult with your doctor before you start any diet or exercise routines to lose belly fat.

lose belly fat

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Belly Fat Shortcuts for Six Pack Abs

“Belly Fat can be very responsive with the right strategies,” says Michele Olson, PhD, an exercise researcher at Auburn University. Here, science-proven ways to fine-tune your current healthy routine for quick results. It’s very frustrating when you fill your grocery cart with healthy foods, stay away from the ice cream while under stress, wear out your walking shoes and still the belly fat remains. Even though those healthy habits are a great start, as you get older, you need to eat smarter and workout to maintain a flatter stomach.

1.Walk with A Faster Pace

When you walk faster you will on average burn 25% more calories and target belly fat. A recent study from the University of Arkansas found that when exercisers burned the exact same amount of calories a week, those who did shorter, high-intensity workouts had a twenty percent decrease in visceral fat after three months, while those who did longer workouts at a medium pace did not change. Your goal should be two or three weekly speed sessions for about thirty minutes each. If you are not able to maintain that pace for the entire workout, practice intervals, alternating short bursts of speed followed by slower segments.

2.Weight Training

Aerobic exercises such as speed walking or jogging is excellent for blasting belly fat, but a total-body weight training routine improves results and tightens your abdominals even more. A twelve week Skidmore College study found that exercisers who performed a high-intensity total-body resistance workout combined with cardio lost more than twice as much body fat in particular, more than four times as much belly fat (compared to cardio-only exercisers). The resistance training group also ate a high protein diet, while the other group followed a traditional, moderate protein diet plan. Researchers speculate that the extra belly fat loss could be due to the increase calorie burn you receive from weight lifting and extra protein.

Extra: You will be less likely to regain lost pounds. “Whenever you lose weight, it typically comes from both fat tissue and muscle,” explains Olson. “Resistance training helps maintain or even add muscle mass, which slows down your metabolism.”

3.Use the Exercise Ball

To get hardcore abdominals from traditional crunches, use an exercise ball. Research from San Diego State University shows you will activate 40% more of your topmost abdominals (the rectus abdominis) and 47% more of your side abs (obliques). Next add some moves that target your deeper belly muscles, “Crunches are just one piece of the puzzle,” says trainer Jonathan Ross, owner of Aion Fitness in Bowie, MD. “The key to a firm midsection is to strengthen everything under your top muscles.”

Planks are a great way to target this area: Lie face down with upper body propped up by elbows and forearms. Tuck your toes and raise hips and legs off floor so body is in line from head to heels. Hold that position for 30 to 60 seconds. Try a set of side planks next: Balance on one elbow, forearm, and side of foot, with hips and legs stacked and opposite arm raised toward ceiling.

4.Get More Sleep

Eating smart and exercising on a regular basis help eliminate both stress and belly fat, but only if you are getting enough sleep. Holding back on sleep causes levels of the stress hormone cortisol to increase, along with levels of deep abdominal fat. “There’s a definite association between lack of sleep, increased stress hormones, and weight gain,” says Olson. In a six year study, Canadian researchers discovered that adults who averaged just five to six hours of sleep a night were 35% more likely to gain 10-plus pounds and were nearly 60% heavier around the midsection compared to those who slept 7 to 8 hours.

5.Balance On One Leg

If you are already strength training on a regular basis, then you are ahead of the nearly 80% who don’t. Research shows that even basic lower body moves such as squats and dead lifts are a good way to strengthen core muscles and help flatten your abs. Adding a balance challenge, such as standing on one leg, using an inflatable disk or wobble board, helps tone and target every little muscle. “When you narrow your base of support (like standing on one foot) you have less stability so your body engages all of its core muscles to stop you from falling,” says Olson. You should try adding a knee lift to lunges, do single leg squats or just Balance on one leg while you perform upper body moves such as biceps curls and overhead presses.

6.The Ultimate Belly Fat Workout

For quicker benefits, here are all the exercise-related healthy habits and flat belly-boosting tips combined into a weekly routine. If you find yourself short on time, begin with the cardio sessions. Then add total body strength training and finally some abdominal exercises.

Monday: Steady paced cardio workout (about 30 minutes)

Tuesday: Cardio speed/interval workout (at least 30 minutes); total body strength training, including at least 2 standing balance exercises (20 to 30 minutes).

Wednesday: Rest

Thursday: Cardio speed/interval exercises (at least 30 minutes); abdominal exercises (about 20 minutes)

Friday: Total body strength training, including at least 2 standing body balance exercises (20 to 30 minutes)

Saturday: Repeat Monday

Sunday: Repeat Tuesday

7.Drink Green Tea

Green tea is good for your skin and helps fight cancer and now researchers say it will help you lose belly fat. A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition discovered that exercisers who drink about 4 cups of green tea a day for twelve weeks lost over 8 times more belly fat than those who drank an ordinary caffeinated beverage (nearly 8% versus less than 1%). Researchers speculate that catechins found in green tea may help increase the breakdown of fat.



8.Eat Proven Belly Fat Foods

Watching portions, counting calories and minimizing junk food are all flat belly essentials, but some foods can make it easier to achieve your goal. Foods such as whole grains, nuts, dairy products and fish all help speed up your metabolism and reduce belly fat.

Follow these simple belly fat shortcuts today and get those hardcore abs you always dreamed of.

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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Belly Fat Secrets to Lose Belly Fat

If you want to lose belly fat, then it’s probable you demand to lose weight in other areas as well. Belly fat is the most shameful in my opinion and most difficult fat to lose. The best way to lose belly fat is to burn off more calories than you consume by exercising every day, slicing calories and pursuing a healthy diet with foods that enhance your metabolism. Weight loss is a life time process so you really have to keep exercising and eating wise to keep the weight off or else you will obtain it right back in a hurry.

You can start off by walking at least 30 minutes each day throughout the week. If you still find it complicated for you to walk for a a half-hour you can build up to it in your first week. Walking with a friend or partner is enjoyable and motivational so you may want to walk with someone you know. By walking you will boost your lung and muscle function. Make sure you bring a water bottle to keep you hydrated as you can sweat out a lot of nutrients.



Eliminating calories may be the number one secret that fad diets try to disguise, but it gets right to the point of the problem. You must eliminate more calories than you take in to lose weight and reduce belly fat. You can accomplish this by exercising every day and eating foods that elevate your metabolism such as whole grains or fish. You don’t have to hand over the foods you love just eat fewer and make more desirable food choices. Also control your portions and try to stick to fresh fruits and vegetables.

When you eat small meals throughout the day, as compared to three large meals, you keep your body working at burning calories and improving your metabolism. This will also keep your appetite in control.

Weight loss takes hard work and there is no method around it. The more determination and effort you put in, the more weight you will lose. Start by walking for at least 30 minutes a day, minimize the amount of calories you intake and choose a healthy diet plan you can stick with. Take action today with these belly fat loss tips today and lose weight for a healthier you.

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Sunday, January 22, 2012