Archive for June, 2008
Why the Starvation Diet Does Not Work
By now, all of you know starving yourself is a bad idea.
The size of muscles in your body and how you use them determines how many calories you burn each day. When you starve yourself, your body goes into emergency mode. To conserve fat reserves (energy), your body starts to break down lean muscle instead. Sure, you are losing weight but your body is focusing on burning your muscle instead of fat stores. This results in smaller muscles in your body, the same amount of fat, and burning less calories.
A better option is to continue eating but choosing healthier foods.
Eating healthy, less calorie dense food fills your stomach with “good” calories. At the end of the day you will have eaten less calories and never starve.
I like to use a very basic eating method:
1. Eat less calorie dense foods. – I try to find the largest food to eat that has the most nutrition and the least amount of calories for each meal and snack. For example, an average size candy bar has the same amount of calories, as 3.5 medium sized bananas. The bananas are much larger size-wise and will fill your stomach faster. You probably will stop eating after the 2nd banana.
2. Spoil your dinner. – Always eat a snack 15 to 30 minutes before a meal. Again the idea is fill your stomach with calorie light foods that will curve your meal appetite. I suggest raw fruits and vegetables. You eat less at meal time and tend not to overeat “bad” calories.
I consider this advice a lifelong practice rather than a diet. A diet is a short term and in the end when you go back to the way you used to eat prove ineffective in your weight loss quest.
NOTE: Do not always eat what tastes the best because you have to keep your health in mind. Of course healthy foods are not always desirable but no weight loss goal is ever achieved without effort and dedication. Sure it is okay to eat small portions of cake, pizza, or ice cream from time to time but never forget about your weight loss goal. It might even be a good idea to reward yourself with these foods upon reaching certain goals. Be strong and be healthy!
Exercise Video – 14 Swiss Ball Exercises for Abdominals
Need a few new abdominal exercises and own a swiss ball? Try these variations to put some fun back into your ab routine.
Wii Fit Game – Video Review
Wii Fit Game – Video Review
I do not recommend using the Nintendo Wii Fit game as your main form of exercise. However, you benefit from playing it instead of watching tv or surfing the internet for an hour. You could also use it on your rest days for active recovery.
Belly Dancing – 30 Minute Cardiovascular and Stretching Routine Exercise Video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-760367489621499009
If you like to shake your hips this workout is for you. Dancing adds variety to weekly workouts and burns lots of calories for your weight loss goal. Some of the exercises appear challenging so beginners ease into this one.