Top 5 Tips for Eating, Drinking and Being Merry!

The number one habit to "go south" this time of year is health. Suddenly there is no time to do your exercise program yet plenty of time to eat, drink and be merry. While eating, drinking and being merry are fun and exciting, it often reverses all of the hard work that has taken place over the course of the year. Whether you celebrate or not this holiday season, use my five tips below to keep all the success you have had so far from going down the drain.

1. Make a Plan. Planning is the number one secret to staying on your fitness plan, not gaining weight and not having to start over come January. Plan your workouts. Put your workouts in your calendar. Even though you have a standing class or training session, when you see it in your calendar you will be more likely to keep them. Plan your eating. If you have ever have said "I shouldn't have eaten all of that" you know it has the potential to happen again. So before you hit any party (or sweet tray), plan to do it differently and it will be different.


2. Write down and share with a trusted friend (or even your fitness instructor) what your plan or goal is for the holiday season. Whether it's deciding to eat festive foods in moderation or not at all, or cutting your exercise routine down by half instead of discarding it entirely, when you commit to something and share it with others, you are more likely to follow through.


3. Know your serving sizes. You know what you like to eat-and therefore might overindulge upon. Instead, plan to eat a healthy serving size. When at a party or even at home, before you fill your snack, dinner and dessert plates, look at the choices first and then choose wisely. Use http://weightloss-20.com/..../top-5-tips-for-eating-drinking-and to look up what a healthy serving size is if you are not sure. Being aware of what and how much you eat is key to staying on target.


4. Drink non-alcoholic beverages. When you overindulge in alcohol, all bets are off as you almost always will eat more. Drink a healthy non-alcoholic beverage while you enjoy your favorite food. If you wish for an alcoholic beverage, have it after you have eaten and drink it slowly and mindfully. This keeps your mind aware of your actions and easier for you to 'be good'.


5. Prepare ahead of time. Before heading out to a function, party or even the grocery store, have a small healthy meal first. This can make sure that you are not starving when you arrive and therefore you will not dive into the bowl of chips, eat a tray of cookies or buy junk food.

This time of year there are extra temptations to lure you away from your regular healthy diet and fitness routine. Do not be one of the millions of people who every year say "I need to lose the weight I gained from the holidays" or "Next year will be different". This is your year to do things differently!

Kim Ravida is a lifestyle and business coach helping women entrepreneurs, holistic health practitioners and business owners enjoy happy and healthy lives while building and leading successful and profitable businesses.

 

5 Hot New Tips for Shedding Off Those Extra Pounds

The internet is literally filled with tips and tricks to help any person lose weight. Try googling "weight loss" and see for yourself.

But if you look at most of these articles, you will find they usually same the same thing --- make the right food choices, exercise, de-stress, etc. If you have tried most, if not all, of these things and still have not noticed any significant weight loss, you might want to check out these new tricks.

1. Find New Friends

A lot of people lack the motivation to lose weight and if you cannot motivate yourself, be sure you are surrounded with people who can not only motivate you but also support you in achieving your goals.
If you unfortunately do not have any friends who can step up to challenge then there is no reason for you not to go out and look for new ones. You will be surprised at how a lot of people have gym buddies or "Zumba" mates. They will certainly be more encouraging and you will even have more fun this way.

2. Load Up on Apps

Your mobile phones are not only good for texting or emailing but they can also be converted into handy weight loss tools. Simply go to the AppStore or Play Store app on your smartphone and search for apps which you think can help you achieve your goals.
There are apps for counting calories, distance you ran and even for planning healthy meals. Instead of downloading games and whatnots, make better use of your phones.

3. Get Rid of Your Gadgets (Sort of)

If you are spending hours and hours on the couch playing games on your devices or game consoles, maybe it is about time to delete those game apps or shelve those consoles --- unless they will be helping you lose weight.

For instance, there are Wii games like tennis which can almost be the same as the real thing. You can also use your consoles as DVD players so buy exercise videos instead like basic Yoga, Pilates and the popular, Zumba.

Of course, nothing beats going out and actually playing these sports game so dust off your tennis racquet, call up a tennis body and work up a sweat.

4. Take More "Selfies"

Nothing else will motivate you more than seeing yourself online and not looking your "best". In today's world of Facebook, Instragram and Twitter, it would be better for you to take more and more selfies to motivate yourself into losing weight.

You can choose to take "before" and "after" photos for better results. Plus, the fact that your online friends can see your progress and leave encouraging comments will make you feel even more inspired. Just make sure you do not abuse the concept of selfies and watch out for privacy settings if you do not want the whole world to see these photos!

5. Check Out the Home Shopping Network

A lot of you probably ignore the home shopping network and consider them a waste of time but you will find there are actually exercise equipment being sold there that might suit your lifestyle and weight loss objectives. Just make sure you do your homework before making a purchase.

 

How to Lose Weight Fast

People ask me this question on a daily basis. If I had a pound for every time someone asked me, I would be a very rich man (or a very fat one!) In this article I am going to uncover the mystery surrounding weight, or rather fat, loss. Many people think that there is a special exercise or something slim, toned people do that is different to what you do - I'm here to spill the beans.

Losing weight is not rocket science! It just comes down to a few key points:

1) Not all foods are equal, and a calorie is not the same across the board. You might tell yourself that you're allowed a Caramel Latte; after all it's only 250 calories and you know you have a daily limit of 2,000. Right? Sorry, but no! Firstly you need to take into consideration the hormonal effect the food or liquid will have on your body. Science is only discovering now that different foods react differently when ingested. A latte has a high sugar content which causes your body to release insulin, and insulin is a fat storage hormone. (The caffeine in the coffee also leads to the release of cortisol, which is a hormone that breaks down protein.) As a result that innocent little latte has turned your body into a sponge to store all the calories as body fat. 200 calories from, for example, a sweet potato will affect your body differently. The sweet potato contains complex carbohydrates which take longer to break down than simple carbohydrates (like sugar in your latte) and, as a result, eating a potato leads to a lower insulin spike. Because the sweet potato takes longer to digest (those complex carbohydrates) insulin will be secreted over a longer period and this helps to keeping your levels stable and is less likely to cause fat storage.

So, what should you be eating? Foods that are unprocessed must be your first choice. Think of anything in its natural form and it's probably good to eat. Calories from fruit need to be treated with a little caution. Fruits contain fructose (in simple language 'fruit sugar') along with lots of other things, like fibre, vitamins and minerals. But sugar causes an insulin spike, which leads to fat storage, so it is advised that you limit your fruit intake to 3 pieces a day, preferably eaten before midday. You can eat as many vegetables as you like. Green vegetables are especially good for you; starch vegetables are less good for you.

2) New science backs the theory that meal frequency is a thing of the past. Scientific research states that the number of meals you eat in a day doesn't matter as long as you eat enough of the right kind of food and stick to your calorie limit. However, I disagree. I find that small complete meals (protein, carbohydrates and fats ) are the best and should be spaced out every 3 to 4 hours. And here's why:
- the longer you wait to eat the more prone you are of binge eating. If you are eating every 3 hours your blood sugar levels will remain constant and you won't want to binge on sweets or cakes especially in the late afternoons and evenings.

- I believe that the scientific study is flawed. The people used in the controlled study may not be sufficiently like me for the results of that study to apply. For example I am a man, I'm 25, I weigh 205lbs, with 10% body fat, I watch my diet and I train regularly. If the test subjects are middle aged men who don't train or have never dieted a day in their lives then it is arguable that the study results will not be applicable to me. Small, frequent meals have been used by body builders for decades. This method is still used, simply because it still works! I like that logic!

3) Weight training is something I believe everyone should do at least 4 times a week. It could be argued that this is too frequent and that there is a risk of overtraining. However, I don't believe there is such thing as overtraining, but I do believe that you can under rest and under eat. Your weight training program should be the core of your plan to get in to shape. Compound movements will help get rid of your flabby tummy and arms, and exercises like squat, lunges and dead lifts should be used almost daily. Remember that it's not about how much you can lift - you're not a weight lifter! It's all about engaging the muscle and keeping tension on it at all times. Commit yourself to doing your best when you train, each and EVERY session. You should be out of breath after every set; you should need to recover after every set. The intensity of your workout is what keeps you losing weight after you have dropped those first few pounds (which is usually mostly water from fluid retention).

4) Many people believe that cardio is the way to lose weight. Cardio, I'm afraid, is last on the list! The key is eating (what, how and when), then weight training, and finally cardio. However cardio is important and should be done at least 5 times a week at a minimum heart rate of 130bpm. Too much cardio can be counter-productive; 30 minutes is ideal.

Finally, as a guide for you - men should aim to lose a minimum of 2 pounds a week; anything less than this and you're probably doing something wrong. Women should expect to lose a minimum of 1 pound a week - again, anything less than this would indicate that you're doing something wrong.

 

The Key to Weight Loss Depends On How You Think

Most people, both men and women, believe that losing weight depends on dieting and your level of activity.

And that statement is true. But dieting and your level of activity are NOT the most important components of losing weight. Very few people can maintain an eating plan and exercise program solely based on willpower. It an only last so long before old habits creep back into play. Then the weight re-appears and the cycle perpetuates.

Does this sound familiar? If it does AND you are committed to break the cycle, then start at the beginning with a plan to change your habits and re-establish a lifestyle that supports your ideal weight.

The Formula to Weight Loss

The usual formula for weight loss looks like this:

Strength training + aerobic exercise + a reasonable eating plan = weight loss
It's a time-tested formula that works for most people in the short-term. Typically, people drop a few pounds using this formula, hit a plateau, and then drop out of the program. Some survive six months and then drop out. An elite few find their ideal weight and stay at that weight.

How do the elite few manage to do it - to maintain an ideal weight plus or minus a few pounds. These "lucky" few have an advantage from the start. They use the revised weight loss formula shown below.

The Revised Formula for Weight Loss

Add in a key component to the original formula:
Weight Loss =
Strength (resistance) training
Plus
Aerobic Interval Training
Plus
A Reasonable Eating Program
Plus

Thinking Thin (changing your thinking about how you eat).
Bottom line - learn how to think thin first so you can sustain lose weight, achieve an ideal weight, and then maintain the ideal weight.

Break the Vicious Cycle

The vast majority of us who want to shed weight for reasons of health and appearance need to think differently about food and our own body images. That's the only way to break the cycle of start a diet - lose a little weight - stop dieting - gain weight back - start a diet (usually a different one).
Approaching weight loss by changing the way you think about food allows you to figure out the real reasons why you are overweight. Once that's done, you can change your habits to make permanent lifestyle changes.

For example, how often do you find yourself with an empty package of snack food as you munch in front of the TV set. Eating mindlessly is clearly a bad habit that has to go before you can drop the pounds.

How Do You Think Thin?
Quite honestly, I needed help breaking bad habits. I knew it had to be done, especially snacking on candy (totally terrible for weight and health). So, I turned to an expert who wrote a number one bestseller about the topic of thinking thin. Click here to find out what best-selling author Paul McKenna says about how to eat to lose weight.

 

How To Reduce Body Fat - 4 Ways To Help You Reduce Body Fat

Being knowledgeable of how to reduce body fat fast has in all likelihood been something you've been concerned about at one time or another. Possibly, there is a special event that you want to lose weight for, such as a bridal ceremony, or perhaps, you just desire to trim your belly fat. You probably are aware that there are literally hundreds and hundreds of hyped up diet plans around the world that claim to be able to help you master how to lose fat fast.

A large number of these diets are unquestionably scams, with no real value or they are definitely unsafe, or a mixture of both of these elements. Acquiring the knowledge on how to lose unwanted fat fast is very attainable. It has been proven, that you or any person for that matter, who want to lose weight, will need to eat right, workout, and avoid being anxious over the very small stuff. You can try these simple and easy tips to help you to reach your target.
First, you will need to do a mental check. It's important to be sure that your mental state is set on losing body fat and dropping excess weight. You will need to use your mind to tell your body, that you will not indulge in unhealthy sweets, as well as anything that is made from saturated fat. You also will need to condition your mind, that you will not cheat on your diet. Ultimately, you will need a whole lot of self-control when it comes to losing excess weight quickly. Be determined and set your mind to it, because it is your only choice apart from Liposuction surgery.

Next, you will need to modify your eating habits; if you are serious about losing your unwanted pounds, it would be best for you to eat 5-6 small meals per day, instead of 3 hefty ones. These small meals should include a good deal of fruits and vegetables, as well as protein and whole grains.

Avoid starvation, going without eating, it is not the solution, it will just lead to other health complications. Your body needs to be nourished with the proper amount of fruits, vegetables and proteins, enabling you to get the weight off in a safe manner. This process will supply your body the extra fuel that it requires for your workouts and other daily activities.

As you have probably heard, cardio workouts and exercise routines are another great way for you to drop extra pounds fast in your weight loss plan. You should make an effort and push yourself as much as you can, at least once each day. There are a number of different ways you can achieve this, such as elliptical training, swimming, jogging, bike riding and so on. These activities will provide some good perspiration, which will help you shed unwanted body fat.

You may also consider weight lifting, taking walks, in addition to a not so demanding workout routine. Regardless of what kind of physical exercise you engage in, the more active you are, the more surplus weight you are certain to lose.

It is truly hard to reduce weight fast, but you can succeed with your plan to lose body fat, if you simply push yourself to the limit. You will need to focus, and be positive, with the frame of mind, "I absolutely can do it", and you will have great results.

 

How to Lose 10 Pounds in One Month (or 30 Days)

It is absolutely possible to lose ten pounds over the next month. It will take dedication, determination and a positive mental attitude. The following are not only the six steps for losing weight in the next thirty days, but they are also necessary to laying down the foundation that will turn into lasting results.

Step One - Set a Goal and Move Immediately into Action

In this moment, take time to set your ten pound goal. Write it out on a piece of paper and date it for 30 days from now. Writing it out is important when starting out. Keep it in your pocket at all times and read it at every chance you get. The most important part of this task is that if you always read over your goal - you will always have it in mind. Your statement should look something like the following:
"I will lose 10 pounds by Dec.25/2013"

Step Two - Prepare and Execute a Diet Transformation

From a realistic point of view, we should understand that it is not so much a diet that we will be getting into as it will be an overall lifestyle change.

The reason is simple; if we change our diet for the next month and choose to go back to what we consumed prior to the change, our bodies will go back to the way it was.

A simple and yet very effective daily diet would be; assorted fruits for breakfast and assorted vegetables for both lunch and dinner. If you want that extra protein kick in animal form, keep it to a minimum and only allow three to four ounces of freshly cooked fish. You can also snack on nuts and fruit when feeling a bit hungry in between meal times. Limit the portions of each snack to a handful only.

Your new way of eating should not consist of processed foods (including fast food, preserved foods, and other man packaged products), sugar, saturated and Trans fats, and all cooking oil. Also eliminate soft drinks and concentrated fruit juices completely and drink only water.

Step Three - Get Physical Daily

Make time to go for a 45 to 60 minute walk daily without "days off" in between. You can also fit in a natural weight resistance program prior to walking to step it up a notch. The best combination of physical activity for weight loss is a cardiovascular routine (walking, brisk walking, jogging) and a weight resistance routine (push ups, chins, crunches).

There are also other ways you can keep physically active on a daily basis that requires no extra time out of your pocket. When you go for groceries or to the mall, you can park at the far end of parking lot and walk. You can put more effort in cleaning the house on a daily basis. You could also find yard work around the home is you have your own residence. There are so many ways to be naturally active. All we have to do is open our mind to the opportunities.

Step Four - Get Proper Rest

Sleep is a very important time for everyone. Sleep helps rejuvenate the soul, repairs damaged body tissue, and lowers stress levels. It's important to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Another source of rest can be doing something you enjoy doing. It could be a hobby like reading a good book or even meditation if you enjoy that. When we engage in something that is relaxing and joyful it also helps eliminate stress.

Step Five - Clean Your Insides

Okay, so it does not sound like an appetizing job, but this step is also important to help aid weight loss. By keeping your intestinal tract clean, it enables your body to extract the essential nutrients that you need. It will also help keep constipation out of the way!

To do this you can add fiber rich foods in your daily diet. Foods that are high in fiber and packed full of nutrients are; apples, oranges, berries, beans, dark leafy greens. Mother Nature provides the best variety of natural foods and we should absolutely accept them.

Step Six - Eliminate Bad Habits

If you smoke to the point where it's difficult to go for a walk, then it's time to cut back or quit. Smoking should not get in the way of your health. If you spot any other bad habit that you believe is getting in your way of a healthy success - eliminate it. You can do this by replacing the bad habit with a good habit.

We are all habitual beings and no one is an exception. We have the ability to choose and mold a new habit at any given time. When we create new habits by reinforcing the new habit over and over again - we can keep it for life. Once a new habit is fully formed it is set on autopilot, meaning we don't have to attend to that specific habit anymore and we can reap better results daily.

7 Good Weight Loss Foods

A substantial part of dropping weight is regulating the number of calories that you eat. Nevertheless, good weight loss foods are not simply those which are low in calories. There are likewise foods which can kick start your metabolic rate, or help you to control your yearnings by satiating your hunger for longer. Right here are 7 of the best foods to add into your diet plan if you are trying to reduce weight.

Beans

Beans are an excellent means of adding protein into your diet. Their very high fiber content makes them slower to digest than other types of protein, which helps to keep you feeling fuller and pleased for longer. In other words, beans can avoid you sabotaging your diet plan with hunger.

Nuts

Nuts such as almonds, walnuts and pecans are packed filled with antioxidants and health enhancing vitamins. Significantly, studies have revealed that individuals who treat on nuts eat smaller sized part sizes at meal times, making them very good weight loss foods.

Dark Chocolate

Lots of chocolate enthusiasts will have heard that dark chocolate benefits people on a diet plan. This is partially since dark chocolate has health benefits, offering it is eaten in practical quantities. But scientific researches have actually likewise shown that it might lower hunger too. Participants who snacked on dark chocolate, rather than milk or white, taken in over 15 percent less at their next meal.

Soup

Having a soup starter prior to your main meal can considerably lower the total calories that you consume. This is since soup is extremely rewarding and fills you up, but tends to be reduced in calories. However, cream based soups ought to be prevented due to their high calorie and fat material.

Pureed Vegetables

Moms and dads have actually long been hiding pureed veggies in their children's food, but now researchers think that dieters ought to be doing the exact same to their own meals. Including pureed vegetables into dishes such as mac and cheese was discovered to decrease the quantity research participants consumed by approximately 400 calories. It is thought that the added fiber caused them feeling fuller quicker.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit - either whole or in juice type - can assist to kick start the metabolic process. It was discovered that individuals who consumed half a grapefruit prior to their morning meal and lunch dropped 3 pounds more, during 3 months, than people who didn't.

Yogurt

Harvard performed an extensive 10 years study into the eating practices of people, and the result on their midsection. Of all the foods, yogurt was found to have the most significant impact on the quantity of weight which was lost.

Integrating good weight loss foods into your daily diet plan can considerably boost your efforts when it comes to shedding excess pounds. Studies recommend that individuals are also more most likely to make healthier food selections throughout the rest of the day.

Video Weight Loss Secrets

Many dieters who are ready to shed the pounds are ready to sign up for a very expensive gym membership, shell out dozens of dollars for diet pills, and hire a nutritionist in order to plan diet-friendly meals. However, all of these costs are actually not necessary in order to get a tight, toned body that people love to look at. You don't need to subscribe to different diet plans to get the weight loss you want. In fact, a good work out video/fast weight loss guide can teach you all you need to know about losing weight to really succeed where other plans have failed.

With the right video, fast weight loss guide books can't even compare. Videos show you how to exercise in a visual way, making it harder to misinterpret directions given by guides. Some videos even offer dieting tips from the pros, as well as recipes, exercise advice, and encouragement. Videos are also a lot more fun to use than books, and offer viewers the ability to receive workout instruction without having to leave the home. Moreover, you can stop the video and rewind if you feel you haven't mastered a move quite yet.

When you get a good work out video/fast weight loss guide, losing fat isn't the only thing you'll learn how to do. Work out videos can provide a great way to learn new skills too. Have you ever wanted to learn how to samba? or how to hula hoop with a performance hoop? What about learning how to master a good yoga move? If you want to learn a new cool sporty skill, you need to check out one of the many work out videos out there. They will be able to teach you the moves you want to know, and they won't cost as much as classes typically run.

A very good work out video/fast weight loss guide will also explain the importance of having a good diet. You should pick up a video guide that tells you what you should eat to drop pounds, and what meals you should avoid eating at all costs. Some guides might also tell you quick weight loss tips that you can apply to meals you love. You also might end up learning some excellent new recipes, as well as advice on how to spice up otherwise bland diet foods.

If you invest in the right workout video, fast weight loss is bound to happen - but only if you actually work out while you watch it. Most of the videos out there are great to use as an exercising guide twice to three times a week. However, it's important to switch up your exercise routine otherwise you may end up getting used to it, and will not be a challenge to your muscles anymore. Because it's very easy for muscles to adapt to certain moves, it's a good idea to switch up between 2 to 4 videos every two weeks. (Don't worry, though - you can use the same four tapes from month to month!)
As a whole,really high quality video is an excellent choice for dieters who are on a budget, but want to have all the tips, tricks, and instruction of a high-end dieting coach. Great videos can unlock the secrets of weight loss just as well as a professional trainer and nutritionist but at a small fraction of the price. Best of all, you never have to worry about having to drive over to the gym to get the workout that you need when you're using a video guide. So, why not take a look at some of the great videos we have on sale?

How Do You Lose 10 Pounds or More in a Week?

So, here are the steps you need to do in order to lose 10 pounds or more in a week!
1.Watch the Calories'. Remember it takes around 3500 calories to burn one pound. So any extra calories that you may have is gonna come right back to you.

Now this doesn't mean you should starve yourself. In fact this would hamper your goal. Starving would surely not let you gain more but it wouldn't let you lose any either. An average human being requires at least 1200 calories per day and you should take that.

Secondly you need to make a diet plan and stick to it no matter what. Your breakfast should be a fruity one. Apple, watermelon and all citrus fruits are the preferred ones but you can have anything of your choice, just not bananas. Pair it up with a green tea or lemon juice with honey and you are good to go.

2. Next you need to have a low on calorie but a nutritional lunch. Try and have some fresh green salad and boiled vegetables. Cream, oil and butter is a complete no. One general misconception is that potato increases fatness. Well it doesn't and it should be a must in your diet. Egg White is another good option. Also try to eat at regular intervals.

3. Nothing after dark. That's right complete your dinner before dark and go to bed early. Have oats or sprouts for dinner paired up with a healthy drink. If you feel the hunger crunch at night, grab a glass of water or a cup of green tea.

4. Most importantly have loads of water. It would keep you full and prevent overeating. At least try to have more than 10 glasses of water each day.

Well If you want to lose that fat you need to work that muscle up. Follow a workout regime consisting of resistance exercises paired with cardiovascular workout. Jogging and brisk walking is a must. Set a goal of burning a particular number of calories each day and weigh in daily to see the results.

5. Exercise daily, at least for 30 minutes. If daily is too much for you, do it 5 times per week. This way you will tone your muscles, and build new ones. Each new gram of muscles need 30 times more calories than a gram of fat. This way you'll be sure to lose 10 pounds at least within a week.

How Does Pure Garcinia Cambogia Extract Aid Weight Loss?

There has been a lot of interest in pure Garcinia Cambogia extract and its impact on weight management. This plant extract sourced from the fruit of Garcinia Cambogia (also commonly known as brindleberry or gambooge) consists of a compound called hydroxycitric acid (HCA).

Having been the subject of comprehensive research, HCA has been clinically verified to stimulate weight management. This compound helps the body eliminate excess fat through several processes, including blocking fat production, enhancing emotional wellbeing, and reducing appetite.
So let's look at the ways in which pure Garcinia Cambogia can assist with weight management:

1. Blocks Fat:

HCA suppresses the activity of citrate lyase. Citrate lyase is involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. Citrate lyase is the connection between metabolizing carbohydrates and producing fatty acids. When HCA is present in the body, rather than transforming excess sugar into fat, this energy is used to produce glycogen in the liver and muscles. This prevents the formation of fatty tissues.

By enhancing the availability of glycogen in the muscles, the body has more energy available to help muscle growth. As a result, HCA promotes the development of lean muscle mass. Furthermore, the formation of triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL) are reduced by blocking the activity of citrate lyase. This helps to lower the risk of atherosclerosis.

2. Enhanced Emotional Well-being:

There are a couple of ways in which HCA promotes emotional well-being.
First of all, this compound assists with stimulating the production of serotonin. This feel good neurotransmitter lessens depression, anxiety and other mood disorders, which is great news for emotional eaters who seek consolation in food when they are feeling low. When mood is improved, the inclination to binge on unhealthy food items is reduced.

The 2nd way in which HCA improves emotional well-being is by lowering the concentration of the 'stress' hormone cortisol. This hormone can build up with time and have a variety of harmful effects, which includes weight gain. High levels of cortisol support the build-up of visceral fat cells in the belly area.

Excessive cortisol levels also impede the insulin-blood glucose relationship. This decreases energy availability and stimulates the brain to communicate food cravings to gain more energy. By decreasing cortisol concentrations, you'll crave less food and begin to lose weight.

3. Appetite Suppressant:

While HCA decreases food cravings by reducing cortisol levels, it also helps to suppresse appetite due to increased levels of glycogen. Increased glycogen levels stimulate receptors in the liver, transmitting messages to the brain that you've eaten enough. This lowers the amount of calories needed to feel satisfied, bringing about healthy weight-loss.

4. Choosing A Supplement:

Undoubtedly taking pure Garcinia Cambogia Extract offers a number of health benefits. However, you should beware when choosing a Garcinia Cambogia supplement. Opt for a supplement that is highly concentrated in HCA; more than 50 % if possible, and a high quality product with no extra ingredients.

Finally, one of the most crucial factors in the effectiveness of pure Garcinia Cambogia Extract has been shown to be how it is taken. It should be taken on an empty stomach approximately 30 to 60 minutes before a meal and with a glass of water. This ensures the HCA has been adequately absorbed before food consumption and will ensure maximum weight-loss benefit.

Stretch Because It's Good for You! 5 Reasons to Loosen Those Muscles

Help reduce your risk of injury

A flexible muscle is more likely to be prepared for physical activity and therefore, is less likely to become injured by extensive movements. A stretch acts as a signal to muscles that they are about to be worked, and with it comes increased blood flow that helps to warm muscles and joints in preparation for extension. This warmth acts as a "lubricant" that helps to decrease resistance on muscles throughout the following physical activity, allowing for an overall greater range of motion in both muscles and joints. Injuries happen most frequently when improper or excessive force is applied on a muscle or joint. A flexible body translates to much more efficiency in overall performance by allowing for a wider range of motion.

Relieve post-exercise aches and pains

Exercise activates the production of lactic acid in your muscles, and when it builds up too much, the result is muscle soreness and fatigue. Stretching muscles helps to diffuse this build-up of lactic acid and helps to ease the tense pains that can further result in an uncomfortable shortening and tightening effect on the muscles (think of the feeling that you have after a tough workout while, after sitting for a long period of time, you attempt to stand quickly-ouch!). When muscles are stretched while still warm from activity, circulation is also increased; meaning oxygen is increased, which translates to less pain as well. In addition to overall pain relief, stretching the hamstrings, hip flexors, and pelvic muscles can help to relieve stress on the lumbar (lower) spine. This can assist in the reduction of extremely common low-back pain.

Decrease muscle stiffness and increase range of motion

Stretching greatly improves the overall efficiency of joints by prepping the muscle for movement; when the muscle is prepared (loosened), less energy will be required to move it through a wider range of motion. Joints can essentially erode themselves when they have a limited range of motion, so this is extremely beneficial in the long run. Stretching also helps to ease tension on and within muscles, meaning that well stretched limbs assist in easing stress on the body (and person) as a whole. A stiff body can additionally translate to poor posture-so stretching the muscles of the lower back, shoulders and chest allows for better spinal alignment and overall improved posture.

Promote circulation

Stretching promotes an increased blood supply to muscles and joints, and this results in more efficient nutrient transportation and blood circulation throughout the body. When muscles are habitually tense, this efficiency is disrupted, resulting in a lack of oxygen and limited distribution of essential nutrients. This lack of nourishment can cause waste by-products to build up within muscle tissue, resulting in the familiar achy muscle stiffness. By stretching, you allow for an increase in blood circulation that enables muscles to avoid the dreaded tense, stiff and achy muscles that are common in the hours and days after strenuous activity.

Improve mind-body connection

Workouts are greatly enhanced by a strong mind-body connection, and stretching is the best way to improve upon the ability of your mind and body to sync together to your benefit. When you focus on breathing into each stretch, you allow your body to release physical tension. This translates to a release of emotional tension, and it is on this premise that the mind-body connection really thrives. Stretching can allow an individual to connect with each joint and muscle through breath and extension, maintaining a focus on correct posture, duration, and of course, that amazing feeling of release at the end.

Barefoot Running: Beneficial or Harmful?

In recent years, this fitness movement has received quite a bit of debate. If you are a runner, surely you have seen someone haul past you wearing those wacky looking "toe shoes" and it has piqued your interest in one form or another. But why would anyone run without "proper" shoes? The debatable answer is relatively simple: because it's the natural way to run. Skeptical as you might be about this, the argument does make an interesting point. For thousands of years, many cultures have practiced barefoot running, such as the Tarahumara people in Mexico and various tribes in Africa. The fact is, humans evolved from minimalist running and there are many historical documents to attest to this. But is it really the best way to run?

The theory is that when a foot is minimally protected (barefoot), it is in its most natural and neutral position, and the body is able to align itself and therefore protect itself best from injury. Each footfall allows for the entire body to better receive what is called a proprioceptor response and therefore, proper force is being applied to the foot for a minimal amount of time. When a foot is encased in a shoe, the body and foot change from their natural alignment and pressure to an unnaturally exertion on certain parts of the foot that are not designed to withstand such force. Simply put, running shoes encourage the heel to strike the ground before the rest of the foot. Studies have shown that a heel strike has a much greater impact on joints than a forefoot strike (landing on the ball of the foot). A forefoot strike is the foot's natural method of running when in its naked state.

Since the 1970's, when jogging began to increase in popularity, there has been an increased suspicion that the continuous increase in running injuries has been due to the improper foot form created by running shoes. People have turned to minimalist running as a potential solution to this growing problem. But is running completely barefoot the only answer? Not necessarily.

If running barefoot appeals to you, by all means go for it! But before quitting running shoes cold turkey, it might be a good idea to learn to run better first. Running shoes don't necessarily force you to run with a heel strike, they simply encourage that. If you are conscious of this, it can be very easy to change your running form and focus on your strides with a forefoot strike. Many people misinterpret a forefoot strike to mean that the heel never touches the ground, but this is not the case and can make for additional injury! Make sure your heel still hits the ground, just not before the ball of your foot does. This may take a bit of an adjustment, but once you have this down, you are much better equipped to run with a minimalist shoe or even barefoot if you are so inclined. Once you have a good grip on the proper foot strike, running barefoot on grass is a great way to ease into this practice.

If you are going to dive into minimalist or barefoot running, making the switch from running shoes should be a gradual progression. Your feet need time to get used to having less padding, so they are given the chance to strengthen and hold their own to the pavement. A gradual transition will also allow for your bone density to increase and for your joints and ligaments to adapt to less support. As long as you keep a proper foot strike in mind, whether you choose to keep your running shoes or phase them out, your feet (and body) will definitely thank you in the long run.

Powerful And Natural Ways to Lose Fat

Some very safe Fat Burners or 'thermogenics' contain natural extracts and stimulants, they encourage weight loss by using the process of 'thermogenesis', where the core body temperature rises, in turn boosting the metabolic rate. The metabolic rate, as we all know, helps the body to burn off unwanted fat and calories. What fat burners do is they kick-start this process even when one is not exercising, putting the body in high gear even at rest, thus making it a very attractive alternative for people who are hard-pressed for time to exercise or maybe too stressed out to incorporate an exercise-regimen into their daily life.

Of course there are natural fat burning foods like whole grains, brown rice and oatmeal... these are harder for the body to process so the body burns twice as many calories while breaking them down. Likewise- Hot Peppers boost metabolism, Lean meat and chicken breast, being high in protein, burn at least 30% of calories during digestion. But, what Fat burner supplements can do is - they help us in exceeding the results one can manage naturally from one's diet, so we can achieve our fat and weight loss goals quicker.

One of the most popular Fat burners is "Adiphene". Adiphene is a new fat burner on the market, designed as a safe and natural alternative to some prescription fat burners, which are not sold in general, because of their harmful side-effects. Among its natural ingredients are 5 stimulants-Bitter Orange, Chromium Picolinate, Guarana extract, Ginseng Panax root extract 10% and Cacao extract, 2 thermogenic boosters(Cinnamon extract 4% and Cayenne capsicum 40M HU/G).

It works very effectively by -

a: raising the core temperature of the body and thus accelerating the metabolism;
b: it has appetite suppressing qualities and also works as a fat binder, binding the fat in our diet so it can be passed through the body naturally.

Adiphene's 12 ingredients are of the finest quality, clinically proven and specifically selected to work best as a synergy, so one gets the powerful benefits of each of these individual ingredients to burn body fat. It ensures you absorb less fat, your hunger is kept in check and your body becomes a fat-burning furnace... even without diet or exercise!

Phen 375 is another popular, established and recognized fat burner, and is a very powerful appetite suppressant. It contains ingredients such as L-Carnitine and Chromium Picolinate which help promote a weight loss of between 3-5 lb a week by increasing metabolism, burning fat and reducing appetite. Phen 375 is very highly regarded with many satisfied customers.

Do You Really Need Weight Loss Motivation After Pregnancy?

Do you really need weight loss motivation after Pregnancy?

Of course that totally depends on how you wish to look!

I have never heard of any woman who fits into their pre-pregnancy clothes immediately after delivery unless they have utilized a weight loss motivation program. If there are such women, then they are very lucky since it is so rare. Personally, since my first pregnancy, I have never been lucky enough to immediately fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes without the help of such a program.


I managed to gain a little tummy during my first pregnancy and thought that it would shrink back immediately after the delivery, but I soon realized I was wrong.

I have heard of extreme cases where some women are considered to be still pregnant after delivery due to the huge size of their tummy.

Below are a few tips that help me lose and regain my initial weight every time I have undergone a delivery.

Breastfeeding and good eating habits.

Despite being the best way to keep your baby healthy, breastfeeding is also a secure way to lose extra weight. I must confess I disapproved of this method in its initial stages but came to accept it after finding how beneficial it was.

In the beginning, I realized little or no weight loss but this was because of my poor eating habits. I now understand how tempting it can be for mothers to overeat, especially after delivery, but I would advise that you develop a program that will help you avoid consuming too much.

Breastfeeding plays a big role in burning out extra fat since it can only happen when your hormones are working in the correct manner. I learned from my doctor that it takes about 500 calories for milk to be produced during the breastfeeding process.

As a result, there is the tendency to feel hungry after every breastfeeding session like I did. However, if you restrict yourself to eating at specific times, you will realize how much you can lose weight.

Teaming up with your Partner as a weight loss motivation method.

I have found it easier losing weight with the help of my partner and other family members than handling it on my own.

With team work, I found it easier taking part in exercise after pregnancy. Many women agree to the fact that exercises can, at times, be a difficult task since you constantly feel tired and worn out after being pregnant.

My husband helped me develop a program where we would occasionally give up watching television is the evening and instead go for a walk. We began by taking short walks during the first days and kept building on it as time moved.

Drink pure water regularly.

I didn't know how drinking pure water, with no extra calories, could be beneficial until I read it on one of the best weight loss websites. It also works for normal weight loss as well as losing pregnancy weight. I have adopted a method of having a glass of water next to me whenever I am in the house.
I also ensure that I carry my own bottled water whenever I go out of the house in order to avoid the temptation of drinking water that would be certainly filled with calories, i.e.; soft drinks full of sugar and caffeine.

Eat a lot of fibre and natural fats.

I managed to lose enough fat after supplementing my cooking fats and oils.
I would recommend that you make more use of olive oil, fish and nuts in your daily diet.
Fruits such as avocados will also provide you with a good deal of the natural fats needed in your body. Natural fats keep you full through a longer period of time and facilitate the process of burning down the unnecessary fats.

Through advice from health experts, I learned how to replace white flour with whole wheat flour which is healthier.

Weight loss after pregnancy is important for every woman especially if you want to regain your initial shape.

These few pointers have helped me over time and I am quite sure that you can utilize them too for your own benefit.

They are tough steps to handle but with dedication and commitment you will slowly pick up and manage the whole process. Proper combination of all these methods will give you the new shape you have desired, by slimming down your tummy.

Ashtanga Yoga - Everything You Need To Know

Ashtanga yoga is quite a famous yoga that prevails mainly in Asian countries. It has gained a lot of popularity lately given its remarkable healing abilities in consistent joint pains and back pains. Most of the athletes nowadays practice this particular yoga to get over any injury that is affecting their performance. These yoga methods are considered to be very difficult and a normal city person might not be able to perform them properly. These methods are also performed in a chronological order which means that the yoga is not going to put any positive impacts on the body if the chain is broken. For more information, you can continue reading this article.

This particular yoga deals with a chain of steps that should be performed without any breakage otherwise the results might not be very impressive. People who are suggested this yoga for healing their physical ailments often do it very fast and miss out the most important steps which is of no use.

These steps are to be performed slowly as it sufficient amount of time to the body to accept the healing powers of the postures. Unlike other postures in yoga, Ashtanga has many principles that one must take care of when performing the methods.

The methods in Ashtanga yoga are mainly helpful for making the body flexible and strong simultaneously. It strengthens the bones and makes the flesh fat free. This is the major reason why athletes are more likely to perform this yoga for the sake of their performance. Given the fact that Ashtanga yoga helps people reshape their bodies and get the kind of figure they always wanted, a lot of film stars also get involved in it just to keep their figure maintained.

If you want to make the best out of Ashtanga yoga, then you must make sure that you do it right. The first principle or this yoga method is that you don't have to break the posture chain. As said earlier, it comprises of various chains that define how the body will heal itself regarding the health related issues. This yoga is mainly for intense health problems that are not curable unless a hard medication is done and people who don't want to get those are free to switch over to Ashtanga yoga for the betterment of their health.

All in all, yoga can make your lifestyle better if you take it seriously. It is however crucial that whichever method of yoga you choose, you give it your best shot so that nothing is left to chance. If you don't want to get yourself admitted to a school, then you can also surf the web for finding out tutorials that will certainly help you out. Lots of yoga practitioners publish their videos so that more and more people could come to know about them but you can also take it to your advantage by mimicking the same steps. I am pretty certain that if you want a vigorous yoga for yourself, then you might not find any better than Ashtanga yoga.

Move to the Music: How Fast-Paced Music During Workouts Deliver Unexpected Results

Did you know that when you find the right beat for exercising, you subconsciously perform better?

Think about it. How many people do you see using their iPods, phones or MP3 players at the gym? Many gyms offer a place to plug in your music device to charge, so you can listen without draining your battery while you exercise.

What is it about audio stimulation that promotes productivity and more effective work outs?

Studies show that listening to music causes subconscious reaction, which allows you to distract yourself from the daily stressors, any physical or emotional pain, rechanneling your mindset and synchronizing with the beat in the music. A London research reviewer for Brunel Universal was quoted in a 2012 Scientific American™ [1] article noting that music can have a synonymous effect to a drug that boosts performance. Instead of being illegal and detrimental to your overall health like steroids are, music is a healthy way to get a boost.

Music and exercise work together in two ways: speed-or tempo-and rhythm response.

Have you noticed most exercise tutorials use moderate to fast beat with resonating bass, similar to that of club house music?

There is a reason why fitness gyms and clubs feature house music. Simply-it is to get you up and moving! Music's rhythm usually evokes a rhythmic response from people. For most, it is a shoulder roll, hip or head swing, foot tap or finger drum to the music's beat. When playlist slowly increases in its beat, most people will react by moving faster. Podrunner offers free mix playlists, which are popular with gym users. The DJ behind the mixes delivers high energy, hour-long workout music. He attributes this to involving your brain and how music puts an individual into a different realm of thinking. An excerpt [2] of DJ Steven Boyett's blog is below:

"Music nonstop, fixed-BPM [beats per minute]... [added to]... a psychological -- or possibly neurological -- component [is] basically inducing a trancelike state... If your attention is involved in relatively repetitious music, you aren't as concerned with fatigue or resource depletion. Naturally you don't want to ignore these things, but neither do you want awareness of them to be at the forefront of your experience."

The BPM is what helps you focus on your movement and pace. If you pace yourself to the music's beat, you will notice differences in breathing, mental clarity and reduced recognition of distractions. Using fast-paced music mixes can challenge you to participate at a higher level. Apple users will like Boyett's mixes on their iPods or iPhones because you can customize the BPM to your fitness needs by slowing it down or speeding it up. Android and MP3 users do not have this advantage yet.

How Do I Get Vitamin C?

Commonly referred to as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C is not only the safest but also among the most effective nutrients you can ever introduce in your body. Vitamins generally play a vital role in the human body; helping in formation of various body tissues and preventing illnesses of course being top on the list. Much as this vitamin might not be the exact cure for common cold; even though it prevents a range of complications, its use comes with a plethora of benefits.

The major benefits of Vitamin C include protecting the boy against any kind of immune system deficiencies, prenatal health complications, cardiovascular diseases, and skin wrinkling and eye disease. Over the past one century, the number of benefits linked to Vitamin C has been rising exponentially. This shows that enthusiasts are doing intensive research and getting to find various benefits that the human body gets from this very common natural vitamin.

Why so much attention on Vitamin C?

There is no doubt that vitamin C has gotten lots of attention in the recent times and that is for the good reasons. If your body has high levels of vitamin C in the blood stream at any time, this just means that your overall health would be much better. Research helps us to realize many more health benefits that we get from vitamin C. Essentially, this vitamin helps to protect us from cancer, cardiovascular complications, eye health issues, and stroke and low immune system responses.

How much of Vitamin C is really enough?

There is no one who can categorically state the amount of Vitamin C that should be present in the body at any one time. However, medical and wellness professionals advise that people should consider eating plenty of vegetables and fruits; these are the main sources of natural vitamin C. In case you cannot source for vitamin C in its natural form, the use of supplements is also recommended. Most dietary experts recommend 500 milligrams of Vitamin C supplements a day alongside five servings of natural vegetables and fruits in a day.

Consuming the exact amount of this vitamin which is recommended by professionals might not be a practical idea as such. However, consumption of vegetables and fruits on a regular basis helps a lot. You can add on some one-off supplements on it; they are safe and effective to use. Many adults tend to ignore the significance of Vitamin C in their body wellness. Apparently, research has shown that less than 20% of all adult population consumes the required servings of veggies and fruits.

The ideal sources of Vitamin C

Since fruits and vegetables are more vivid elements when it comes to this particular vitamin, many experts advise that they are best taken raw. Therefore, if you want to make sure that both you and your kids are safe from diseases and are growing healthily, the use of these food substances is something which you ought to treat with lots of seriousness.

Vitamin C is generally soluble in water; that is why you are advised to consume foods that are very rich in this vitamin. Most doctors recommend daily consumption for kids at 50 milligrams and 60 milligrams for adults. The main sources of vitamin C are;

• Grapefruit
• Oranges
• Red pepper
• Mango
• Broccoli
• Kiwi

Dietary sources of Vitamin C

Just like I had stated earlier, the main sources of vitamin C are two: vegetables and fruits. Among these, the camu camu fruit and Kakadu plum notably contain high concentration of this vitamin. You can also get this from some meat cuts especially the liver. Other people who cannot access vitamin C in its natural form go for supplements. The supplements come in a diverse range of forms: drink mixes, tablets naked crystals and capsules being some of these physical forms.

Once it has been introduced in the digestive system, vitamin C is then absorbed into body tissue. The absorption is driven using two main mechanisms: glucose sensitive and insensitive mechanisms. Presence of high sugar quantities in the intestines does not help absorption but rather makes it even worse.

Plant sources for vitamin C

Much as plants are a great source of this vitamin, the amount of the vitamin which you can source from existing plant depends on the variety of the plant in context. Other factors affect the amount of vitamin C that you can source from plants; they include climate, soil condition, storage condition, the time for which it was picked, and the method used in its preparation.

Animal sources of Vitamin C

A large number of animals, except man and guinea pigs synthesize this vitamin using natural means. That means that animal products as well can serve as ideal sources of vitamin C. In the case of animals, this vitamin is more of present in livers and not in the muscles. Many westerners love to consume muscle meat and thus they don't see animal meat as being a good source of vitamin C.
Human breast milk has vitamin C as well but that is not the case for raw cow milk. Excess vitamins in the body are disposed through urinary systems.

How to prepare your food

Research has proved that this vitamin decomposes in certain conditions. Most of this occurs when food is being cooked. The concentrations of vitamin C in food decrease over time depending on the temperatures of where the foods have been stored. Therefore, cooking can adversely reduce vitamin contents in food by close to 60%. This is partly as a result of the destruction of enzymatic activities. If you cook your foods for extended periods, this might also affect the amount of this vitamin which you will get in the end.

Leaching is another major cause for the loss of Vitamin C in natural food products. This is occurs where you sieve nutrients from raw foods and then throw away the water rather than drink it. Leaching is much similar to prolonged cooking since it negatively affects the amount of vitamins which the final food served at the table will contain. Therefore, if you want to enjoy the benefits of Vitamin C at its best, consuming raw foods, and especially veggies and fruits would be the best option.

Lose Weight and Improve Fitness Through Cardiovascular Exercise

Modern day lifestyle with its fast and processed foods, and the tendency to drink more alcohol than we should, has led to an epidemic of obesity. But there is one other factor that many people tend to overlook, and that is lack of exercise. Because many of us tend to live our lives in the fast lane, dashing hither and thither at 100 miles an hour, we just don't have time to exercise. But it's something that we should be making time for!

The obesity crisis and the publicity that it has received has driven many people over to the diet culture. It is well known that eating a well-balanced, low-fat diet will help us to prevent putting weight on. But in order to lose weight effectively, diet itself is not really enough. You also need to develop an exercise regime, and in terms of weight loss, the best form of exercise is cardiovascular.

Improving Your Metabolic Rate

Many exercises are designed to improve your muscles and sculpt your body. Cardiovascular exercise is primarily targeted at increasing your body's metabolic rate. Your metabolism dictates the rate at which your body burns off fat. By increasing this rate, you also increase the amount of fat you can shed.

So if you think about it you could starve yourself to lose weight, or you could train your body to burn more fat naturally. Think about it, t is almost like you are losing weight while doing nothing at all. Who does not want that?

Sleeping-off Fat

Cardiovascular exercise is aimed at the circulatory system. In other words it targets your heart, your lungs, and your blood vessels. By increasing the fitness of these body parts, your body will become much more efficient, which not only means that you will become fitter, but it also means that you will have a higher resistance to heart attack and/or stroke. But the great thing about cardio is that it not only elevates your metabolic rate, but all the time that you maintain your exercise regime, your metabolism will function at a higher rate, even while you are asleep. In other words, your body will be burning fat when you sleep!

The Secret to Health and Fitness

Cardiovascular exercises include walking, running, cycling, and swimming. In fact, doing one or more of these sizes for as little as 20 minutes every day will raise your metabolic rate. It does not have to be overly strenuous. Doing regular cardio, and following a low fat diet will help to keep you fit and healthy.

4 Unique Workout Trends

Workout routines can quickly become monotonous, and this can have an adverse affect on both mind and body. Studies have shown that one of the best ways to maximize calorie burn and keep your metabolism firing is by mixing up your fitness routine. Your body adapts to exercise over time, which causes your metabolism to fall into a lull. Adding variety to your workouts will help you break through plateaus so you continue to see results.

New workout routines can get you excited and keep you motivated, and this translates into more calories burned. For fitness enthusiasts that want to switch up their typical workout programs, here are five unique up-and-coming workout trends.

Surfset Fitness is a unique surf-inspired workout that draws from the real movements of surfing to create workouts that build balance, enhance core strength, improve agility, and build lean muscle and improve coordination. Performed on a Surfset board (an enhanced surfboard designed to simulate the physical demands of surfing without the ocean), these surf-inspired movements come together to create an engaging and energetic workout that can accommodate everyone, from the experienced surfer to a first-timer.

Pound: Rockout is a full body "jam session" that combines light resistance with consistent full body drumming. Rock, rap, dubstep, pop and old school music fuse to create the Poundtrack series, and lightly weighted drumsticks are used in conjunction with easy-to-follow (and not complex or embarrassing) cardio moves and strength training. This 45-minute class torches calories in an extremely fun way.

Cy-Yo fuses cycling and yoga, and helps cycle and yoga enthusiasts alike in efficiently blending the two popular and beneficial workouts. You warm up with 10 minutes of yoga, then get your blood pumping with 40 minutes of cycling speed, which is followed by another 10 minutes of yoga to cool you down and stretch you out. Another class called Cycle In/Yoga Out fuses the two together, but only in two parts (30 minutes of cycling followed by 30 minutes of yoga). In these fusion classes there are options, and which one you choose is all about personal preference.

Hoopnotica is perhaps one of the most nostalgic workouts around, bringing us all back to our carefree childhood hoola-huping playground time. While adulthood and fitness are most often fused together to make "workout time," Hoopnotica and other hoop fitness movements reintroduce the concept of playtime, making workouts fun and energizing. Hoop fitness aims to make a refreshing and joyful impact on fitness.

Yoga Changes Life for Good

Yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, and currently close to a billion people enjoy the health benefits that yoga offers. Yoga classes generally focus on teaching yoga poses - better known as asanas. Deep breathing exercises and meditation form an integral part of Yoga health regime.

These exercises are believed to relax body and mind. The yoga classes are designed keeping a person's requirements in mind. There are certain exercises that are followed in order to relax body and mind, and there are others that target a particular area or problem in the body. Yoga practices teach your body to move in new ways, bringing you health benefits and enabling you to develop greater flexibility, strength, and balance.

Over the years, the art of Yoga has been perfected to an extent that today it has a solution to every problem that can inflict a human body or mind. People from all over the world are turning to Yoga in order to get answers to their problems revolving around health and fitness of body. Yoga asanas are doctor recommended in most cases as this ancient art is believed to hold the key to a fit body and mind. Diseases as big as cancers, and as small as common cold, can be treated by Yoga. Common problems such as hair fall, migraine, eye defects etc. can easily be cured with the help of Yoga. Yoga is also effective in taking care of behavioral addictions as it triggers the same rush of feel-good dopamine to the brain as do drugs or alcohol.

Before starting on a Yoga regime, it is important that the person builds up stamina for the exercises. Even though Yoga is a safe and non-aerobic form of exercise, it is not risks-free. Most common Yoga injuries include overstretched or pulled muscles, strained ligaments, or body cramps from repetitive exercises. The commonly affected areas are neck, shoulders, calf muscles, legs, knees, and spine. Yoga is a wonderful form of exercise for pregnant ladies as it goes a long way in ensuring a healthy childbirth.

However, one must observe caution while practicing Yoga. It is not safe to assume or practice Yoga without a prior expert guidance. This would help you avoid injury. The exercise time should be limited and one should stop if there is pain or discomfort. Proper clothing and setting makes the exercise experience better. When done properly, Yoga can bring you innumerable benefits.