How To Win The Weight Loss Battle

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Are you sick and tired of your yo-yo diet? Have you tried every known diet to man? Have you been exercising and yet, there seems to be nothing that can budge your weight loss regime? Well, you are not alone in this health dilemma. I have been battling the bulges for some time now. I must have tried every fad diet available to mankind, drank more weight loss products I could buy in the market, exercised like crazy, and all of those did not make me loss the weight I have intended to do.

Losing weight is just no sweating it all out or eating healthily or cutting back on portions. You have to equip yourself with these weapons in order to battle your very own demon when trying to lose weight.

Fix your mind set

This is one of the toughest hurdle I have to face when the motivation or will power to commit to a healthy lifestyle is almost non-existent.

The mind is a powerful organ in our body and it can control many things. You have to change your mind set about viewing your body, tasting food, buying food, eating out, and sweating it.  The old adage "no pain, no gain" is a perfect mantra to tell yourself to commit.

Chose what you eat

I love eating and I guess, a lot of people do. I have a good relationship with food but lately, I have been braking up with most of them, ie. the chips, sodas, sweet treats, and processed foods. Yes, I have to break up with them even if sometimes I want to give in. There are plenty of healthy snacks you can binge on like cut carrots, cucumber slices, fresh fruits, dried fruits, low fat yoghurt or healthy mix of nuts.

Do not compromise on the quality and type of food you will put in your mouth. Commit to eat healthy by clearing your cupboard of junk food. It's okay to treat yourself once in a while with a slice of cake but try not to until you have mastered the art of saying "no."

Sweat it out

I really hate exercising  because I don't like my own sweat. I am just fussy but my fussiness won't make me healthy. So, I have to embrace the sweat of my labour!

You can never be too busy to find time to commit to an exercise routine that you are comfortable with. I allocate at least half an hour each day to just walk on my treadmill. It may not be much compared to those who go to the gym and really, really sweat it out. But the point is, take baby steps in fighting your own laziness. Do not justify in your head whether you are tired or not, sleepy or not, not in the mood or not. Just do it. It's only half an hour, at least 5 days in a week. Start little but go steady.

Write it down

Write how you feel about the whole ordeal. Keep a journal of what you eat so you can track your progress. Write your body measurement at the start of your goal then compare later on when you are progressing.

Keeping a journal of your weight loss goal keeps you in tract and is a constant reminder of your journey to a healthier life.

Have a support system

It's always nice to find someone who can back you up when you're not feeling it. My hubby is my biggest challenger and motivator right now.  He's been jogging for almost 3 months straight and he is committed. Unlike me, I am still far behind. But he challenges me so I am up to that.

Find a buddy you can exercise with or share your new habit of eating clean food that are good for your weight loss and over all well being.

Tap your energy for the day

If you're usually awake before the sun even rises then you're a morning person. Some people are nocturnal. Tap into your energy for the day and try to utilize that energy productively by engaging on activities that will help burn calories like cleaning the room, dancing, walking your dog, using the treadmill.

Some people are more productive during the later part of the day so an afternoon run or exercise to use the remaining energy they have is good to incorporate exercise in the day-to-day activity.



Losing weight is never easy. Let's get very real on that one. But it's not impossible. Just be focused, steadfast with your determination, and challenge yourself to do something that is not very comfortable. It may be hard initially but you'll see the results later on. You're not alone in your weight loss battle. There are many out there who are struggling so hard to lose the weight, just like me. Keep trusting yourself that you will reach your final weight goal. And when you do, we are all going to cheer!

Share your successful weight loss stories here if you have. Leave a comment if you want to. I will be happy to read your story.

The 7-Minute Workout For The Busy People

It is hard to make an excuse when it is only to spare 7 minutes of our time in a day to engage in activities that will enhance our health and wellbeing. 7 minutes. It can't be that hard, right?

Well, good news for everyone who is always busy, always have an excuse to miss gym sessions or not to exercise, always forgetting to devote time to be physically fit, and those who just have lazy behinds like myself. I am guilty! So, when I saw this free 7-minute workout in the web and watched how easy it is to follow them, I feel so ashamed. I practically have no more excuse to make after watching it. I take more time sitting, thinking of what to eat for dinner compared to getting myself dressed for a good workout and actually engaging on the 7-minute workout.

Visit the Well Workouts (site: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/projects/workouts/) developed by the New York Times especially for busy folks like us. I am not sure if it was created by Gretchen Reynolds as her name appears on the workout diagram but I give credits to her and NYC Times for this amazing compilation of easy-to-follow movements to help me and you to get going.

There are 2 kinds of 7-minute workout available in the site. 

Scientific 7-minute workout

According to the site, it consists of 12 exercises using your body weight, a chair and a wall. I can live with that!

Advanced 7-minute workout

This is the more intense and demanding workout out of the two in the site. It requires you to have dumbbells. It also takes only 7-minutes to complete the routine.

The site comes with a choice of 2 voice overs, Phoebe, your female cheerer or Alastair, your male voice coach. And if you want silence, just the visuals, then you can disable the voice over as you please.

This 7-minute workout is a great routine and they are not complicated unlike the other fitness videos I have seen before.  Now, I don't have any reason not to exercise even for just few minutes in a day.


(Photo credit: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/projects/workouts/)

Yoga For Athletes

Seasoned athletes like runners face the risk of injury as they exert themselves to the maximum. Strenuous exercise creates an imbalance in the involved muscle groups. Yoga can help as it balances muscle and body activity. You become more conscious of your effort and movements, and try to avoid niggling injuries as much as possible. Regular yoga practice can also improve your endurance and stamina.

If you are injured, do not fret. Try to practice simple yoga poses to restore strength and flexibility to your weakened body. Yoga teaches us how to balance our mind, body, and spirit. We begin to develop inner balance which can guide us throughout our career and lifetime.

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Yoga teaches us to become aware of our body’s strengths and limitations. We learn not to over-exert ourselves, thereby minimizing the risk of injury. Repetitive motions and vigorous exercise cause overused muscles to become inflexible and hard. This tension affects blood supply and reduces elasticity. As a result, an athlete is forced to strain harder, which creates more stress. Yoga helps here by elongating and relaxing these tight muscles. The psychological aspect of yoga is important too for athletes, as they need to focus intently on their game without being distracted by the crowd, weather conditions, etc.

You can select a suitable yoga style for yourself depending on your fitness goals. Professional athletes can try power yoga, which is a demanding style that lays emphasis on strength and stamina. The holistic approach of yoga can help athletes discover imbalances and weaknesses in their body, which they can strive to eliminate. 

What Should You Know about Compulsive Exercise?

Photo credit: yahoo images

Eating disorders can be scary, whether they are characterized by a lack of proper nutrition or by overeating. One type that may be the most commonly overlooked, however, is compulsive exercising. Also known as obligatory exercise or anorexia athletica, this disorder is characterized by an individual not choosing to exercise, but actually feeling compelled to, otherwise they may experience bouts of guilt, anxiety, or depression. The person begins to prioritize exercise over everything else within their life, including friends, family, school, and careers, and may choose to work out regardless of illness or injury. In general, exercise is regarded as a healthy behavior. What many people may not realize, however, is that it can be taken too far, and serious health consequences may result. As with any eating disorder, it may be best to seek professional help from a facility like Miller Counseling Services.


Compulsive Exercise

Compulsive exercise disorder is not always recognized as its own disorder, but rather as a symptom of other disorders. This is due to compulsive exercise often occurring along with bulimia, anorexia, or OCD. There are cases, however, of the disorder existing on its own. Compulsive exercise can occur in anyone, but tends to be more common in girls between the ages of 12 and 19, and the risk generally increases for athletes. If left untreated, the disorder can lead to other eating disorders and certain health risks.


Health Risks

It is recommended that a person burns about 2,000 to 3,500 calories a week for good cardiovascular health. This equals to about 30 to 45 minutes of exercise a day for five to six days a week. Beyond 3,500 calories, however, you begin to see a decrease in the health benefits and an increase in your risk for injury. Giving your body a day or two of rest between workouts is important to allow for recuperation. In excess, exercise can begin to cause stress on tendons, joints, ligaments, and bones, resulting in possible tearing or fractures that can worsen over time. Too much exercise can also have the opposite of the desired effect, causing muscle to break down as the body fights to find more energy. Excessive exercise can also cause stress on the heart, and can disrupt hormone production. In women, this can lead to the cessation of the menstrual cycle (amenorrhea), an increased risk of bone degeneration (osteoporosis), and reproductive disorders. Receiving therapy, such as from a facility like Miller Counseling Services, may be helpful in treating compulsive exercise behaviors and in assisting to prevent many of the associated risks.

Daily Giveaway Of Jaybird Earphones And Headphones For Those On The Go

A headphone is one of the accessories of most fitness, outdoors and health enthusiasts. Why you might ask? It is because of the fun factor and engaging session it brings when one indulges in health and fitness regime. They say, music plays an integral role in making the workout effective and using a pair of earphones and listening to your favorite workout tunes heightens the intensity of the workout.

Sometimes, there are just some types of earphones and headsets that just does not work out with your fitness sessions. Some have those little rubber ends that just cannot fit into your ears as well as those nasty little wires that get tangled up in your arms and cling to you when you sweat. Wouldn't it have been nice to have a workout session without those things happening? Well, Jaybird has managed to accomplish just that feat.

From a wide range of headsets to earphones, bluetooth to properly fitted micro-buds, Jaybird has given us the best solution there is to those pesky problems. Imagine a bluetooth headphones or earphones when you are exercising or doing your usual run outdoors. It will be nice to be able to move freely without those tangling wires, right? Not to mention, top-notch sound quality to boot.

Aside from the high-quality materials used to make the Jaybird earphones, there are various modern designs to choose from that will best fit your workout style and outdoor use. The designs alone are standout. They look very sleek and contemporary without being too intrusive or bulky to make the wearer uncomfortable with ill-fitting wares.

Jaybird not only offer state-of-the-art headphones and earphones, some of the Jaybird products you will also find in the site are the following:

• BlueBuds x Bluetooth Buds
• Freedom Sprint Bluetooth Buds
• Freedom Bluetooth Buds
• Sportsband Bluetooth Headphones
• Bluetooth Adapter for iPod
• Universal Bluetooth Adapter
• Accessories/Replacement Parts

These high-quality earphones and headphones are not only meant for listening music. They can also be used for calls and high-security activities used by multi-corporations all over.  It is also compatible with almost anything like all the iPod, iPhone and iPad series, Android/Windows/Blackberry phones, Moto Actv wrist-worn sports MP3 player and GPS device, PC, Mac and gaming devices. If you are unsure whether the Jaybird headphones or earphones will be suitable for your device or gadget, you may always check in the website and ask from their live support for more information.


Now they are giving you the chance to win a pair of your own in their daily draws. As you are reading this post, there is a lucky winner out there who just won a pair to call their own and the next one could be you! And they are giving you the once in a lifetime chance to grab a set to own for free.

Head on to Jaybird, take your pick! You can also select various types of earphones and headphones you can purchase for your family and friends as gifts for special occasions.

Please join the daily giveaway too by filling "floating form" that will pop on the lower right side of my blog.  Alternatively, you may visit their site if the form does not load here.

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Please wait for it to load and fill the required info so your entry will count. You may enter the  draw daily for more chances of winning!

Open to US/Canada residents only and must be 18+ to enter. No purchase necessary to enter the draw. Terms and conditions apply.

Good luck!

Infographic - College Fitness Regimen

This is a very interesting infographic geared to the young adults in college. For sure, exercising will be the least priority when in college because of the numerous projects, presentations and other extra curricular activities a college student engages in. However, just because a college student is studying and very active in school, their fitness must suffer. Contrary to that, college students can squeeze in some fitness regimen in their already busy schedules by taking note of this infographic from TheBestColleges.org.

How To Choose The Right Gym

You want to start working out, great, but which gym to choose? This question can be a bit confusing and perhaps a little intimidating for someone considering a gym membership for the first time. It’s important to choose a gym that you are comfortable at and that will meet your needs. In order to find the best workout environment for you should consider the following:

1. Recommendations- Ask your friends which gym they go to and why they like it. Also having a  friend at the gym makes you more likely to go regularly and the support system will help you achieve your goals.
2. Location- Since getting up out of the house in of itself can be a reason we avoid going to the gym, having a membership at one near your home makes it harder for you to justify not going.
3. Hours- Do you need a gym that is open late? Or are you an early morning person? Be sure to take note of when the gym is open so you can be sure you can get there in accordance with your schedule.
4. Staff- The staff can really make or break your decision, were the staff helpful? Did they put too much pressure on you to buy a membership? In choosing my gym the staff was extremely helpful, friendly, and supportive. All the qualities you need to feel confident and keep you coming back.
5. The other members- Most likely you will get a tour of the facility before you join; you need to feel comfortable in your work out environment not intimidated. Look around and see what kind of clientele this facility caters to and whether or not you will be relaxed and comfortable there.
6. Cleanliness- This is especially important in the locker room, make sure that the showering facilities are properly cleaned and maintained. Also take note to see if towels are readily available to clean the machines.
7. Equipment- Make sure the equipment has clear instructions for use, or that the staff is available to help you. See if there are any ‘out of order’ signs on the equipment it could indicate that the gym is poorly maintained. Also be sure to check if the machines have time limits, if you like to run for an hour on the treadmill but there is a half hour limit it may not be the right gym for you.

When you take your tour of the gym remember that you should be picky and shop around, you are paying your hard earned dollars and you deserve the best gym for you!

Angie Picardo is a writer at NerdWallet, a financial literacy website where you can find information on making a host of financial decisions from gym memberships, retirement, to divorce finances.

Cashing In On Sports And Fitness

The sports and fitness business are becoming the "in" thing these days with plenty of people engaging in sports activities and fitness regimen. And these enthusiasts are willing to pay for their accessories to complement the sports and fitness program. Big gyms and other fitness centers are cashing on their programs for weight loss, muscle toning and body building as more and more people are opting for the healthier lifestyle. Aside from the usual programs offered, there are memberships and other miscellaneous fees to cover. Some fitness centers even provide their own signature drinks with special containers coming from the best custom water bottles in the country, healthy food, clothing line and bags and equipment.

Fitness centers, gyms and other sports facilities are actually thriving despite the economic crunch because there are still a big market out there. As long as people are opting to life a healthy lifestyle and engage in sports activities while patronizing their favorite hobby and team, then sports and fitness is a good business to venture to.

Flatten Your Belly With These Moves

How many do you know who does not complain about their mid-section? I know a lot and that includes me! I have been trying so hard to lose the bulge but ever since I reached the big 4-0, losing weight has become a nightmare. The girth is following my age! And I am not losing weight as much as I exercise. It could be due to metabolic issues but I am sure there are natural ways to achieve weight loss and a flatter belly by moving around - a lot.

Here are some moves I have read from RealAge.com on how to flatten your belly. It does not require gym equipment nor membership. It won't certainly take so much of your time but just spare few minutes a day to do these moves and you may see an improvement.

I have to see it for myself but no harm in trying. Now, try these steady plank moves for a great core workout.

Photo credit: yahoo.com/images

Lie face down on a carpet or yoga mat with your arms folded close to your body and hands by your ears.
Push up your body about 6 inches so only your toes and forearms touch the ground; your body rests like a plank between them.
Keep your stomach pulled in by contracting and keep your buttocks tight. Your body must be kept straight and eyes on the floor.
Hold as long as you can. If you can hold the position for more than a minute then you're a superman/superwoman! There's no need to hold it as long as 1 minute but you're encouraged if you can.

These movement will tighten your core, the very foundation of your body which are the torso muscles, abdomen and hips. Sneak in few minutes of these movements during your break time or while watching TV and you'll see results. A strong core will prevent back pains and will burn fats. When you have no belly fats then you'll have a flat stomach.

Get Fit With These Smart Phone Apps

There is no excuse now from getting fit and fabulous. Modern technology has paved way for information to be accessible at the tip of our fingertips by the creation of apps or what we commonly know as applications in smart phones.  Having said that, we practically have no reason not to get fit and healthy!

Here are some fantastic apps you can download in your smart phones. Most of these are iPhone apps which you can get from iTunes.

GYMPACT

This is a great app where you get paid for your efforts as an incentive each time you check in a gym or fitness club via your phone. The money comes from you when you fail to commit to a goal you have set in the program. It goes into a pool where others pitch in when they are derailed by other excuses not to exercise.

This is available free for iPhone and iPad.

EATERY

Eatery is like the Instagram of munchies! You get to snap pictures of what you have been eating. It is your virtual food journal which can help you track your food intake and give you insight on how bad you have been with binges or how good you have been by eating the right morsels. Tracking what you eat in a daily basis can help you lose weight and this app may just help you get near to that goal.

This is free for iPhone and iPad.

DAILY BURN

The initial app is free but if you want to get more personalized workouts from their wide selections of videos, you will have to pay monthly dues. You will be feeding detailed information about your exercise preferences and Daily Burn will offer a new tailored workout each day to keep you motivated, energized. This app will also inform you if you are making progress. The app also provides customized nutrition plan for members.

Free to Download for iPhone and iPad, on iTunes, and Android, on Google Play; $9.99 per month subscription afterwards.

IMAPMYWALK

Walking is the cheapest way to get fit because it is free! This app will help your power walking more enjoyable and effective as it records your walking workout on a map and give you records of your stats afterwards. MapMyWalk is a GPS-type of app that will let you know where your walking workout will take you and even shows you your pace. This is effective as long as you don't walk straight to the nearest McDonald's or Starbucks!

Available for iPhone, on iTunes for free, and Android, on Google Play.

NIKE TRAINING CLUB

And you think, only those Hollywood celebrities can get their own personal trainers. Well, this app can help you with that! The Nike Training Club app will let you work out like a celebrity. The app has 85 custom-built workouts, including workouts used by the Glee-fully fit Lea Michele and Dancing with the Stars champ Shawn Johnson. The Nike Training app also offers detailed instructions and audio support to guide you through your choice of 15, 30 or 45-minute sessions.

You can get this free for iPhone and iPad, on iTunes.

POCKET YOGA

Pocket Yoga is a great app for those who are followers of this ancient practice. Have mat, will travel. Take your practice with you anywhere thanks to this Gaia Flow Yoga app. You can select from 3 different levels of difficulty such as Beginner, Intermediate and Expert. It also has 3 different durations (30, 45 or 60 minutes) and 3 different classes for a total of 27 different yoga experiences that you can do at home, on the go or anywhere you can set up your smart phone.

Download it now for a fee: $2.99 for iPhone, on iTunes; $3.99 for iPad, on iTunes; $2.99 for Android, Google Play


(Photo credit: iVillage.com)

No More Cold Weather

I think the cold season here in the UAE has officially ended yesterday. It was hazy again and the past few days have been story in a sandy way. That can only mean one thing - change of season.

I am preparing myself again for the change of season because it's flu season again. We always have to check on our immune system so we are covered. We already have our fair share of bad health in the past because of seasonal changes and this year we want to be fit.

We have been eating healthy lately and exercise will be in our regular activities soon. Getting fit and healthy is one of the key to avoid any illness this season change. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

New Fitness Equipment is Healthy Enjoyment

Our building's gym equipment needs serious updating or much better, replacement of modern and current models.

I appreciate the fact that we have a free gym in the building to use. However, the optimum exercise regime is not achieved when most of the fitness equipment are malfunctioning.

I remember using the treadmill last week and was already on my peak when the machine went kaput. I almost fell but luckily was holding the side rails so I managed to hang on.

There is a reason why a successful gym requires modern and functioning equipment so that people can achieve their objectives. If the landlord hears our pleas and decides to replace or update the fitness equipment, then we, the tenants, are all going to be very happy!

Fitness Equipment

The residential building where I live has a small gym at the lobby. It is free for all the tenants of the building. I go there at least twice a week to run on the treadmill and use the stepper for my cardio routine. There are other fitness equipment there which I am not familiar. I need more Information on Exercise Equipment. So, I just stick to the common ones that I know, like the stationary bike, Tunturi treadmill and rowing machine.

I have no plans of bulking up so I do not use the dumbbells and other weight-lifting machine in the gym. The other machine look so complex and mind boggling so I leave those fitness equipment to the experts to use.

The mini-gym in our building pales in comparison to the other gyms I have been to so far. I have gone to Fitness First and Body and Soul here in Dubai. I was just a member's guest in Fitness First but I was so impressed with their equipment. They were all high-tech and serious-looking like they really meant business! Then in Body and Soul, I was a gym member for 2 years. Their fitness equipment were more simple. They also had Tunturi elliptical machine, rowing machine, body-building machine and steppers. However, their fitness equipment were more easy to operate.

I am thankful though that at least, our building provides healthy alternative to busy people's lifestyle by allocating a small gym.

Fitness First!

Oh no, not the famous fitness club. I am referring to my goal this year to give priority to fitness and healthy lifestyle.

I am lucky enough to now spend a fortune by joining a fitness club because we have a gym in our residential building. The fitness equipment may not be as fabulous as the ones you will find in Fitness First or other top rate fitness gyms and health clubs here in Dubai. They are just fine if you are aiming to do regular and light exercise like running on the treadmill, lifting dumb bells or flexing and toning your muscles.