What Is Health

WHAT IS HEALTH?

Health is metabolic efficiency. Sickness is metabolic inefficiency. Nobody is totally healthy or totally sick. Each of us is a unique combination of health and sickness. And each of us has a unique combination of abilities and disabilities, both emotional and physical.


Health is generally defined as being "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". This definition is used by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1948

Overall health is achieved through a combination of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being, which, together is commonly referred to as the Health Triangle.

Yoga for Weight Loss

Yoga for Weight Loss

Yoga is often thought to be simply stretching exercises. While stretching is involved, yoga is more about creating balance in the body by developing strength and flexibility. This is achieved by performing poses. Each pose has specific physical benefits. The poses can be done in succession, creating heat in the body through movements, or more methodically to increase stamina and perfect the alignment of the poses.
The most important aspect of any diet, weight loss plan, or healthy lifestyle change is addition of daily exericse. The best approach is to lose weight gradually and for good. Yoga offers a good solution to this problem. Yoga tones the body in a uniformed manner, unlike any "weight loss program" which claims to decrease the size of certain body part such as the butt or waist by specific amounts or inches. Yoga can be practiced at any age to keep the body supple and is very low impact.

Basic, balanced nutrition is challenging to follow, but it is not complicated. What is challenging and complicated is trying to figure out long-term motivation to maintain lifestyle change. Yoga is especially good because it involves the mind, body and spirit and creates long-term passion. Find a basic food program or chose one of the inexpensive online programs for structure and support, add Yoga at your local health club or community center and you'll have all the ingredients for real success.

Curves for Women

Curves for Women Review

Curves for Women is the largest chain of franchised fitness centers in the world with over 8000 locations. They are small facilities with hydraulic resistance machines that are arrayed in a circuit where you move from machine to machine on a time interval. There are 8-12 pieces of equipment in the circuit that target specific body parts. The circuit moves you from station to station and is directed by music and taped instruction. You are meant to go at a quick pace to keep your heart rate up. Curves for Women hours of operation vary by location and are more restrictive than most health clubs. There is a $149 one-time service fee to join and it is $29-39/month for a year. Often there are specials and incentives that refund a portion of the fee. Many franchises require a one-year minimum.

Curves for Women is designed for and marketed to those who are intimidated by traditional gyms, health club beginners, older people and those with very limited time. They are trying to take the fear out of starting an exercise and weight loss program which is very important as the epidemic of obesity in America worsens.

The Curves for Women workout regimen does have some drawbacks though. The nature of the workout regimen is the main drawback, in my opinion. A 30-minute circuit in a small gym is awfully mundane, which makes it hard to stick to in the long-term. Every time you workout, it's the same. Also, a recent study published in the The American Council on Exercise's magazine (March/April 2005), showed an average of 184 calories burned during a Curves for Women 30-minute workout. That's less than one candy bar, a half a donut or a bowl of cereal. Consider the amount of food you consume that makes you overweight. That does not leave you much flexibility with your diet. Whether this study is completely accurate or not is up for debate, but it is reasonable to say that such a short, low impact workout is not an efficient calorie burner.

If you are that person mentioned earlier, Curves for Women is a good start. My main concern is sustainability of such mundane exercise. Lifestyle change, weight loss and exercise can be interesting, even fun, if you add lifestyle exercise activities that burn a lot of calories, such as tennis, hiking, cycling, climbing, dancing, power walking, etcetera... Find a basic food plan or choose one of the online programs for structure and support, add lifestyle exercise activities and you have all the ingredients of the best possible option.

Smart Technique from Mommy Style

Smart Technique from Mommy Style Review

It is refreshing to see a weight loss program that focuses on the mental battle of weight loss. Diets do not succeed or fail based on the food or exercise program, but based on whether you can deal with the mental demons of lifestyle change. The program consists of a number of audio recordings that contain information that will compensate for your cravings and your mental demons, which always seem to doom most diets. There are recordings for diet preparation, mental change, support during holidays, and support during periods when you feel vulnerable to your cravings, among other recordings. All this seems like a rational and helpful approach.

But, the Smart Technique has a number of fatal flaws without even getting into the basics of the program. The marketing is slick, having been written as a pure sales pitch and is overly optimistic. The infomercial which sells the program is peppered with the words, "easy," "automatic," and "effortless." They claim that weight loss on their program is "as easy as listen and lose," all for four easy payments of $33.95. But wait, order their program in the next "16 minutes" and they will deduct one of the payments for a total of over $100.

The informercial does not mention exercise and purely focuses on the food aspect of losing weight. The problem is, the one thing in common with the 5% of dieters who lose weight and keep it off is regular exercise.

I am a firm believer in basic common sense. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Revolutionary products don't need to resort to being sold on slick infomercials, aired late at night and on Sunday afternoons. The bottom line is, healthy long-term weight loss is not easy and it never will be. If it was, the long-term failure rate would not be 95%.

Ladies Workout Express & Lady of America

Ladies Workout Express and Lady of America

Ladies Workout Express and Lady of America are national fitness and weight loss centers for women, similar to Curves for Women and PACE.

Balanced Review: Ladies Workout Express (Lady of America) is another breath of fresh air in this industry of pill pushers and scam artists. The program consists of hydraulic resistance training and aerobic exercise. In contrast to other strength training equipment, there are no weight stacks to manage, just the safe, accommodating resistance that keeps you moving smoothly and safely around a circuit.

The program focuses on the right things: exercise and balanced nutrition, but falls into the trap of most commercial fitness and weight loss centers: in an attempt to make dull forms of exercise more interesting, they compress the workout into 30 minutes. This strategy of circuit training in a health club works in the short term but rarely beyond a dieter's initial burst of motivation. For those who have physical limitations this may be the best option over traditional health clubs and other forms of exercise. A better option for long-term success for those who are of average health in regards to exercise, are lifestyle exercise sports like tennis, hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, dancing, etcetera... These are the types of activities that you don't think of as exercise and will lead to a lasting victory over your weight problems. Find a basic food plan or choose one of the inexpensive/sensible commercial programs, add lifestyle sports and you have all the ingredients of the best possible option.

8 Minutes in the Morning

8 Minutes in the Morning Review

The rationale behind promoting "quick" and "easy" weight loss and fitness is to sell a product. Fit, healthy people with "beautifully sculpted" bodies simply do not get that way from minimal daily effort. The testimonials of "ripped" body builders and "athletes" that sell their image as easy is clearly disingenuous. What this does is give the average overweight person a false sense of reality and what it is going to take to succeed at long-term weight loss. The first step that all overweight people have to take is to be honest with themselves. You need to accept the fact the road ahead will be difficult. By doing this you lay the foundation to build the type of inner strength and mental toughness that you will need to persevere and succeed. Everyone loses weight, but few keep it off.

The marketing of programs such as " 8 Minutes in the Morning" by Jorge Cruise are not realistic for the average person with a high body mass index. A more comprehensive plan is needed to change your behaviour, eating habits and exercise patterns. Realize those who lose weight and keep it off almost always follow the same strategy: balanced nutrition with portion control, daily exercise and especially important, they find a long-term motivation to change their lifestyle.

eFitness Review

eFitness (from the folks at eDiets)

is a new online fitness program. It is basically an online virtual personal trainer. eFitness is a convenient, private and drastically less expensive alternative to personal trainers and weight loss consultants at the health club or gym. In addition, the program provides full online support with customized fitness and nutrition plans and the latest scientific information. The concept is similar to the eDiets program, but is more based on fitness than necessarily weight loss, which go hand in hand anyway. The one thing in common with all weight loss plans that work in the long term is regular exercise. And the more, the higher the success rate. There is almost no negative information out there about this new program. That's a very good sign.

The problem with online fitness and weight loss programs is that they are all online. There is not a physical person to provide support and counseling, which can be both good and bad. Bad for obvious reasons and good because it forces you to act more independently and become self-reliant, which is undoubtedly the most important trait for long-term weight loss success. Overall, this independent approach is excellent because the fitness plan and support systems are self-directed.

The biggest problem with eFitness is that it is a body toning and sculpting fitness program. For weight loss and general fitness we are much bigger fans of lifestyle exercise activities such as tennis, hiking, walking, cycling, dancing, climbing, etcetera... These are the types of activities that you don't think of as exercise and sustain themselves in the long-term. Chose a basic food program or the original eDiets for the food, stucture and support aspects of your weight loss plan, add one of these activities and you have the best possible option for success.

Bikram Yoga

Bikram Yoga:

The most important aspect of any diet, weight loss plan, or healthy lifestyle change is addition of daily exericse. The best approach is to lose weight gradually and for good. "Bikram" Yoga (aka Hot Yoga) offers a good solution to this problem. "Bikram" Yoga tones the body in a uniformed manner, unlike any " weight loss program" which claims to decrease the size of certain body part such as the butt or waist by specific amounts or inches. "Bikram" Yoga can be practiced at any age to keep the body supple and is very low impact. Basically, it is a more intensive version of traditional yoga done in a heated room up to 105 degrees, supposedly so muscles warm up quickly and stretch more easily.

Basic, balanced nutrition is challenging to follow, but it is not complicated. What is challenging and complicated is trying to figure out long-term motivation to maintain lifestyle change. "Bikram" Yoga is especially good because it involves the mind, body and spirit and creates long-term passion. Find a basic food program or chose one of the inexpensive online programs for structure and support, add "Bikram" Yoga at your local health club or community center and you'll have all the ingredients for long-term success.

Fitness & Workouts

Fitness & Workouts Reviews

We have posted reviews and information for most known fitness, workouts and exercise programs for weight loss. Our reviews are written by our editorial board, along with past visitors to our website. This page contains links to our reviews of weight loss programs whose focus is primarily on exercise. They are divided into home exercise machines, workouts and infomercial diets plans as seen on TV. Examples include Body for Life, Yoga and Power 90. We hope this list helps you in your research to find the best weight loss program for you.

We have posted reviews and information for most known fitness, workouts and exercise programs for weight loss. Our reviews are written by our editorial board, along with past visitors to our website. This page contains links to our reviews of weight loss programs whose focus is primarily on exercise. They are divided into home exercise machines, workouts and infomercial diets plans as seen on TV. Examples include Body for Life, Yoga and Power 90. We hope this list helps you in your research to find the best weight loss program for you.

In your search for the fitness workout program that is best for you, also consider lifestyle exercise activities such as tennis, hiking, walking, cycling, dancing, climbing, etcetera... These are the types of activities that you don't think of as exercise and sustain themselves in the long-term. Most people that we know of who have lost significant weight and kept it off found some form of daily exercise and fitness program that adds joy to their lives and something to look forward to. We want our visitors to come away with the knowledge and information it takes to succeed where others fail.

6 Week Body Makeover Review

The "6 Week Body Makeover" is the infomercial diet based on the theory that everyone has a different natural body shape and metabolism. By tailoring a custom diet and exercise program to your metabolism and blood type, your body will lose weight at maximum efficiency. The 6 Week Body Makeover program starts with a questionaire, which lets you know which type of metabolism you have. You then match your body size and shape "Blueprint Cards" in order to discover your problem areas.

The program directs you to a customized eating plan that is designed to "re-program" your metabolism, as well a 18-20 minute body sculpting exercise program which specifically targets those individual problem areas. 6 Week Body Makeover is supposed to be "safe and easy" and comes with step-by-step instructions and a 800 number to answer your ongoing questions.

This sounds reasonable enough to an unscientific person, but the reality is that we are all not as different as we may think. Our individual basal metabolic rates (metabolism) are determined by weight, age and physical activity and do not alter greatly between people of the same characteristics. The 6 Week Body Makeover is sold in a slick infomercial. That is never a good sign. This product was created with the marketplace in mind, knowing what emotionally appeals to frustrated, overweight people. Lets be honest, we all pretty much know why we're overweight: we eat too much unhealthy food and don't exercise enough.

The "6 Week Body Makeover" is an expensive (6 payments of $19.99 plus $19.95 shipping), gimmick-based program that basically tells you to eat healthy and exercise. Keep your money and do just that. Try to avoid weight loss programs that promise "fast," "easy," or "quick" results. If long-term weight loss was this straight-forward, The "6 Week Body Makeover" would be a house-hold name and sold in mainstream stores instead of obscure websites and infomercials.

Grapefruit Diet

Grapefruit Diet Review

"Souring on the Grapefruit Diet"

By Kelly Brownell, Ph.D.

Kelly D. Brownell, PhD, is an internationally known expert on eating disorders, obesity, and body weight regulation. He is a professor of psychology at Yale University, where he also serves as professor of epidemiology and public health and as director of the Yale Center for Eating and Weight Disorders.

Question:

What is the grapefruit diet? And what can you eat and not eat if you go on this diet?

Answer:

The Grapefruit Diet is one of the oldest and most widely discussed of the popular "fad" diets. I use the word "fad" to describe diets that are not based on solid scientific information. There are many versions of this diet, which began in the 1930s as the Hollywood Diet. This diet claims that grapefruit contains a special fat-burning enzyme, activated when you eat it at each meal, along with small amounts of other food. As an example:

Breakfast:

half a grapefruit and plain coffee or tea.Lunch: half a GF plus two eggs; cucumber and tomato salad with vinegar, lemon and herbs; 1 piece of dry melba toast; and plain tea or coffee.Dinner: half a GF; 4-6 ounces of chicken, beef, ham, or lean pork slices; half a head of lettuce and a tomato with vinegar, lemon and herbs; and plain tea or coffee.

This is but one version of the grapefruit diet. Other versions vary in calories, with some as low as 800 per day. Let's address the fundamental assumptions of the grapefruit diet. First, does grapefruit have a special fat-burning enzyme? No. There is no scientific basis to the claim that this fruit is special in this way. Grapefruit is a good food, but so are other healthy foods like vegetables and other fruits.

Does the grapefruit diet work? Of course it does -- because people cut their calories. If you consume fewer calories than your body uses, you will lose weight. There are several pitfalls to consider, however. First, it can be very difficult to live with a diet that is so restrictive and prescribes such a narrow range of foods. It does little to alter lifestyle in a reasonable and healthy manner. Remember that it matters less whether you can follow a diet for a few days or weeks than whether permanent changes are being made.

Another problem with the grapefruit diet is psychological. People on diets like this often attribute their success to the magical properties of the diet rather than their own effort. When they go off of the diet --as most appear to do at some point -- they are prone to regain weight because they feel the factor responsible for their success has been removed.

Finally, to be healthy, we need a balance of foods from different food groups. It's quite difficult to get good nutrition in as few as 800 calories (a dietitian would have trouble doing this), especially if one eats the same foods day after day.
So why has the Grapefruit Diet had such a long life? First, it seems magical and healthy to many people. "Fat-burning enzyme" sounds pretty snappy, right? Since grapefruit itself is a good food, people think they can't go wrong. Second, people lose weight on the grapefruit diet, which reinforces the impression that there is something special about the grapefruit (though the same amount of weight would be lost by creating the same calorie deficit with other foods). A good bit of the initial weight loss, by the way, can be from the body flushing out water. The water weight comes back when a normal diet is resumed.

Losing weight is like most other areas of life -- if one gets seduced by things too good to be true and looks for magical and easy solutions, disappointment is around the bend. Making sensible dietary changes is the way to go. Grapefruit can be part of a healthy eating plan, but because it's good food, not because it does anything special with burning fat.

With so many weight loss options available, it's hard to know what to do. The reality of popular diets like the Grapefruit Diet is that few work in the long term because they don't focus on the sustainable strategies of balanced nutrition, exercise and personal motivation. But don't be discouraged, there are good plans out there that can help you achieve your goals.

The preceding article was re-printed with permission from the author.

Ice Cream Diet Review

Pro Review:

New research suggests that the nutritional makeup of ice cream when eaten as part of a balanced diet may help burn fat faster than if you had not eaten the fat and calorie rich indulgence. A serving a day may help in other ways such as keeping bones strong, burning fat more efficiently, lowering high blood pressure, decreasing cravings, easing PMS symptoms, fighting colon cancer, lessening the risk of stroke, boosting immunity, preventing kidney stones. The key to the Ice Cream Diet is moderation. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing.

The Ice Cream Diet Plan:

You must stay within within your calorie budget. As long as you do, you are free to eat that ice cream. Women get 1 cup and men get 1 1/2 cups of ice cream every day. You'll still lose weight because the ice cream is factored in to a nutritious diet of 1,500 calories a day for women and 2,000 calories for men. To keep calories in check, you should choose a reduced-calorie ice cream. Options include Healthy Choice, Dreyers Light and others.

Commentary:

the "Ice Cream Diet" is simply filler and cover material for magazines (see Peanut Butter Chocolate Diet) and books. Certainly ice cream is healthy if consumed in moderation, as is milk and other calcium rich foods. If you decrease your overall daily caloric intake, you should lose weight, no matter what the diet consists of. You could eat nothing but red meat or chocolate and still lose weight if your calorie total was less than 1200 calories. I lost 75 pounds and ate ice cream every single day on the diet, but it was all about allocating calories for maximum enjoyment and to keep the mental demons at bay. Anyone can follow this sensible strategy.

Women's Health Perfect Body Diet Review

Women's Health Perfect Body Diet Review

The editors of Women's Health magazine have devised the "Perfect Body Diet" for women who want to lose 5-25 pounds. The idea is that the impact of female hormones explains the differences in food metabolism and the effects of exercise, between women and men. Women need a higher protein diet than men to increase lean body tissue and decrease body fat. The eight week program consists of two different eating plans to be consumed 5-6 times per day: after determining body shape, calculating ideal weight and doing a test for carbohydrate tolerance, dieters will know which plan to follow. .

They advocate consumption of glucomannan, a soluble fiber, which is a bulk-forming laxative, that stimulates feeling full. It is the featured ingredient in the plan's 75 recipes and you're encouraged to add it to food every time you are eating. Dieters will learn about perfect and not-so-perfect proteins, fats and carbohydrates for their body type in order to create meals that are low in sugar, high in nutrients and efficiently metabolized.

The Perfect Body Diet exercise plan is divided into two sections, one for those whose body's are shaped like "Apples" and one for those who are shaped like "Pears". The plan consists of 50 different exercises to be performed for 30 minutes per day. They are strength training and cardio exercises.

The Perfect Body Diet sounds like a pretty good weight loss plan with the exception that it's a bit hokey and is a bit of a magazine-filler-diet. People who lose significant weight and keep it off in the long term don't get bogged down in the details of "The Plan," they commit to a new life that includes basic, balanced nutrition, daily exercise that usually lasts for more than 30 minutes, and they find their own personal motivation to change their life for good.

Popular "Diets

Popular "Diets

Popular "Diets": This page contains links to our diet reviews of all the popular fad diets, low carb and glycemic index, low fat and low calorie diets, quick weight loss detox diets and juice fasts, online diets, and blood type diets. Examples include Cabbage Soup Diet, Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, Master Cleanse, Eat Right For Your Type, and eDiets.

3 Day Diet

Apple Cider Vinegar Diet

Grapefruit Diet

Ice Cream Diet

Perfect Body Diet

"3 Day Diet" Review

The "3 Day Diet" is also referred to as "The Cleveland Clinic Diet," despite having no affiliation to the prestigious clinic. The 3 Day Diet is a scheme that combines certain foods that are supposed to create a desired reaction in your digestive system and boost your metabolism for fat burning. The regimen must be followed precisely with exact portions for optimum "results." The plan does not mention or recommend exercise. The regimen lasts for three days, then repeated after two days off the diet.

The basics:

The 3 Day Diet must be eaten exactly as specified and dieters must not over-eat or under-eat otherwise you won't get your promised 10 pound weight loss.

Day 1

BreakfastCoffee or tea (artificial sweetener optional)

1/2 grapefruit or fruit juice

1 piece of toast with 1 tablespoon peanut butter

Lunch

Coffee or tea1/2 cup

tuna1 piece

toastDinner

3 ounces lean meat or chicken

1 cup green beans

1 cup carrots

1 apple

1 cup vanilla ice cream

Day 2

Breakfast

Coffee or tea

1 egg

1/2 banana

1 piece toast

Lunch

1 cup cottage cheese or tuna

8 regular saltine crackers

Dinner

2 beef franks

1 cup broccoli

1/2 cup carrots

1/2 banana

1/2 cup regular ice cream

Day 3

Breakfast

Black coffee or tea

5 regular saltine crackers

1 ounce cheddar cheese

1 apple

Lunch

Black coffee or tea

1 boiled egg

1 piece toast

Dinner

1 cup tuna

1 cup carrots

1 cup cauliflower

1 cup melon

1/2 cup vanilla ice cream

4 cups of water or diet soda are to be consummed as well.

This is a classic low calorie starvation diet and water loss scheme which is going to lead to temporary weight loss. You will probably gain the weight back quick and end up adding some additional weight as is common in fad diets. The 3 Day Diet is no miracle and certainly no solution to your weight problems.
With so many weight loss options available, it's hard to know what to do. The reality of popular diet products and programs is that few work in the long term because they don't focus on the sustainable strategies of balanced nutrition, exercise and personal motivation. But don't be discouraged, there are good plans out there that can help you achieve your goals.

Apple Cider Vinegar Diet Review

The following review was sent to chasefreedom.com by a former vistitor:

"Vinegar and Weight Loss: The Sour Truth"

A few vinegar pills probably won't hurt you or your baby, but they won't do one bit of good in helping you lose weight either. By Elizabeth Somer , MA,RD
Question:I had a baby 6 months ago and would like to lose some weight. I know that if you're nursing, you're not supposed to diet. I have been eating healthy foods high in nutrients, and I have lost a little weight. Would it be harmful to the baby if I started taking apple cider vinegar pills to help with weight loss?

Answer:

March 12, 2001 -- A few vinegar pills probably won't hurt you or your baby, but they won't do one bit of good in helping you lose weight either. This old diet fad dates back to the 1970s, when a combination of apple cider, kelp, vitamin B-6, and lecithin was touted as the miracle cure for weight loss. The rationale for this concoction was that it tricked your body's metabolism. According to the claims, lecithin emulsified body fat, B-6 metabolized the loosened fat, kelp supplied iodine to stimulate the thyroid gland to manufacture more thyroxin to speed metabolism, and vinegar supplied potassium. Like salad dressings where oil and vinegar don't mix, this was supposed to help rid the body of fat.

There is no scientific basis, or even rational reason, for any of these claims. For example, a teaspoon of vinegar contains only five milligrams of potassium, a meager amount compared to the 400 milligrams in a cup of grapefruit juice. Swallowing more iodine will jump start a thyroid gland only if you are deficient in this mineral (you'll know if you are iodine-deprived because you will have developed a goiter, or an enlargement of the thyroid gland). When people lost weight on this regimen it was because they also followed the accompanying low-calorie diet. Like all the other diet fads, from starch blockers and collagen products to herbal diet teas and hydroxycitric acid (HCA), the vinegar pills fit most or all the criteria of a useless gimmick:

They promise to melt away fat.

They promise fast and effortless weight loss.

They promise weight loss greater than one to two pounds a week.

They focus on one or a few foods and limit or exclude whole food groups.

They are based on pills or "secret formulas."

Save your money and follow the advice of thousands of people who have not just lost weight, but maintained the weight loss. Consume daily a wide variety of nutrient-packed vegetables, fruits, whole grains, extra-lean meats and beans, and nonfat milk or yogurt. Watch your portions, and, most importantly, exercise each day. You also are right about not dieting while breastfeeding. It took nine months to gain the weight during your pregnancy. Plan to begin your weight-loss plan after you've stopped breastfeeding, and give yourself at least nine months after that to regain your figure.

Diets Don't Work...

Diets Don't Work...

You WON'T lose fat or look your best by just eating low carb, low fat diets, or low calorie diets. The truth is, fat loss comes down to eating in a way that's right for you. You're going to discover an easy way to trick your body into burning more by eating more with these delicious foods that satisfy your hunger cravings...

Cardio Doesn't Work...

Long cardio or aerobic workouts several days a week are the WORST WAY to burn fat. You're going to almost triple your fat loss and fitness results by exercising in the complete OPPOSITE manner for 45 minutes a WEEK with no cardio at all...

Crunches & Situps Don't Burn Belly Fat...

1000's of crunches, sit ups, or those crappy infomercial abs gizmos WILL NOT burn your belly fat or give you a flatter stomach and certainly not six pack abs. You're going to burn belly fat 5 times faster by using certain full body exercises that don't actually target your abs at all...

Late Night Eating Is A Myth...

Going to bed hungry is actually one of the WORST THINGS YOU CAN DO. You're going to discover you can boost the super powerful fat loss hormones in your body by eating the right type of tasty little dish an hour or so before you go to sleep...

The 'Fat Burning Zone' Is A Mistake...

The "fat burning zone" you see on most cardio machines is actually the LAST THING you want to follow to burn the most body fat. You're going to burn fat and calories for up to 3 days like we do with a VERY DIFFERENT kind of quick and simple workout...

'Toning' Your Muscles Doesn't Work...

Trying to "tone" your body by using light weights or high repetitions is a BIG WASTE OF TIME. You will experience ZERO results this way. But now you're going to be sculpting a leaner and sexier body that will burn your stored body fat for energy for years to come with this 1 overlooked technique...

10 Essential Health Tips

10 Essential Health Tips (The Basics to Practice Every Day)

"He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything." -Arabian Proverb

1. Move MoreMake it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!

2. Cut FatAvoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!

3. Quit Smoking The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.

4. Reduce Stress Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.

5. Protect Yourself from Pollution If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.

6. Wear Your Seat BeltStatistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.

7. Floss Your TeethRecent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.

8. Avoid Excessive Drinking While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.

9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.

10. Choose Your Parents Well The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.

Daily Exercise

Daily Exercise Suggestions

"To climb steep hills requires slow pace at first."-Shakespeare, Henry VIII. Act I. Sc 1.

Walk 10 Minutes a Day and Increase Your Fitness Level Old thinking was to work out in a sweat-filled gym for hours a day. No pain, no gain. New studies show that even short bouts of activity can increase your fitness level, especially if you're new at working out.

Park and Walk Whenever you have an errand, park your car as far away as you can handle and walk to the store. At the mall, park at the farthest end and walk the length of the mall. Use every opportunity to walk. At the end of the day, it all adds up to better fitness.

Crunch in Bed Before you even get out of bed in the morning, do 10 stomach crunches while lying flat on your mattress. Increase daily by one until you get up to 100. Think you'll never get there? Try it. You may eventually have to set your clock to wake up 15 minutes earlier, a small price to pay for a flatter stomach.

Tracking Your Fitness Levels

Tracking Your Fitness Levels

"Health is not a condition of matter, but of Mind."

-Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health

Mind Your Belt Buckle;

Skip the Scale:In this high-tech world we live in, we sometimes forget the simple ways to do things. If you’ve already started a workout program and can’t seem to see results, check the way your pants fit. Are they slightly loose around the waist, not as tight as they were? Sometimes clothes can show you results that the scale cannot. Weight variations are subtle. Strength-training exercises can sometimes produce a temporary weight gain in the beginning due to muscles retaining more fluid. After a week or so, it quickly readjusts and the excess fluid disappears.

Skip the Math;Get Rid of the Finger;

Invest in a Heart Rate Monitor:To get the most out of your workouts, you need to reach 80% of your heart rate training zone. There are three ways to measure your heart rate. Stop your exercise, hold your index finger to the pulse in your neck and count the beats per minute. The second way is to measure your pulse rate. The third is to use a high tech device called a Heart Rate Monitor. It consists of a chest strap and a wristwatch type band that automatically measures your beats. You can pre-set it to beep when you reach your desired training zone. If you don’t want to bother with mathematical equations to figure your proper heart rate training zone, buy a Heart Rate Monitor. It may set you back upwards of $100 but it will guarantee to measure your heart rate. Most Sports Specialty stores have them. Bicycle shops usually carry them and they can be ordered through fitness catalogues and magazines.

‘Take it to the Next Level’ Circuit Training:

Incorporate circuit training into your fitness routine for a surefire way to reach the next level of endurance, strength and weight loss. Instead of spending 30-60 minutes doing aerobics and another 30-60 minutes doing strength training, combine the two for a more robust workout. Take the boredom out of your routine by spending five minutes on aerobics (standard machines such as treadmill, stair stepper, stair climber, bicycle, elliptical trainer, cross trainer) then alternate with five minutes of strength training (free weights, weight machines, rubber bands.)

Daily Health Tips

"Health Lies in labor, and there is no royal road to it but through toil." -

Wendell Phillips

Just like brushing your teeth, healthy habits should be cultivated on a daily basis. The following is a guide to daily tasks:

1. Activity should be a daily occurrence. Walk, run or jump for a minimum total of 20 minutes a day.

2. Protect your skin. Sun block should be applied on face, neck, arms and hands even in the dead of winter. It protects against climatic toxins too. Moisturize skin daily.

3. Eat fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products and small amounts of protein. Avoid sweets and other processed foods.

4. Meditate or spend a minimum of five minutes daily in quiet time.

5. Find your spiritual self. Discover what inspires you, raises your level of consciousness, motivates you, and satisfies your soul.

6. Exercise your brain. Read, study, solve problems, and learn new skills. As does the body, the brain atrophies with lack of use.

7. Hug somebody.