A strong set of stomach muscles are one of the best and easiest ways to fight off unwanted belly fat. Often people can be in fairly good shape but have tummy fat that they just can't seem to be able to shift. Thankfully if you're one of these people there is hope on the horizon.
The first thing to do is to avoid things like ab belts that promise to strengthen your core muscles by sending electrical impulses that make your ab muscles tighten.
If you could just sit there on your sofa, drinking beer and eating burgers while your ab belt pulsated the pounds off you the world would be a better place. That is, obviously, a pipe dream that marketing companies play off.
One piece of equipment however that really will help you shed the pounds is called a swiss ball. It's also sometimes called a fit ball or an exercise ball. It was first introduced by back therapists but has since become one of the most popular fitness products in the world. Why? Because it works. The beauty of the exercise ball is that you don't need an expensive gym membership to use one.
The exercise ball will enable you to strengthen those core underlying muscles and provide a barrier against fat. This is not to say a healthy diet program is not needed. The fact of the matter is for the best results you must incorporate a healthy diet with a simple exercise program if you want to lose weight and create the ideal you for you.
One easy and convenient use of the exercise ball comes from just sitting on it. That's right. You can sit down and build muscle. When doing this you use numerous muscles through your core to stabilize yourself from falling off of it. By merely sitting on your exercise ball for thirty minutes a day you will notice a change in your core within a few weeks. Sit and watch tv, read a book, anything you want.
Stretching and relaxation techniques such as yoga and Pilates are another superb core workout. You can buy DVD's on the subjects or even take a local class. These methods are often seen as for "hippies" and new age spiritualists. However many people fail to understand just how good these are for getting into shape.
From a fat loss perspective Pilates and yoga have both one major advantage. They help your body to increase its production of endorphins which counter the effects of stress hormones such as cortisol. Cortisol increases the creation of belly fat.
Many people think that to have a flat stomach you need to work hours in the gym. The truth is that a simple healthy diet, coupled with a simple exercise program such as sitting on an exercise ball or actively getting involved in something like yoga or Pilates can get you the results you want.
Don't look at weight loss as a chore. Go out there and have some fun with it. Not only will it keep you healthy but it may just turn into a fantastic hobby for yourself.
Want to lose weight without feeling like you're on a diet? Find out how at www.herbsandbooks.com
Monday, May 24, 2010
LOVING YOURSELF WITHOUT WEIGHT LOSS
Being overweight is something that many of us suffer from. You are not alone. Whether you are a little bit overweight or obese your body and mind are affected.
While losing weight is something that should be done from a health point of view, often people want to lose weight because it will help their self esteem. The thing that most people do not understand is that your self esteem comes from what you think about yourself, not what others think.
In every day life we are greeted with pictures of stick thin models and gorgeous glamorous actors and actresses. This can make us feel inadequate and unattractive.
In this article I am going to walk you through a simple technique you can use to make yourself feel much more attractive and confident as a person. While it does not take away the fact that being overweight is unhealthy it can help you to feel more comfortable in your body.
I want you to go and stand in front of a mirror. What you are going to do is reprogram your mind to associate your reflection with positive feelings. Very soon you will be able to stand in front of the mirror and feel great rather than feeling down about your appearance.
I want you to think back to a time when you felt really good about yourself. It doesn't have to be about the way you look. It might have been a job you did well, a compliment you received. Anything which gives you that self satisfying glow in your stomach. Close your eyes and think of that moment. Really remember just how proud of yourself you felt. Remember that inner confidence. If it was from a compliment someone paid you remember their sincerity. Feel that glow and move it up from your stomach to your eyes. Feel the glow behind your closed eyes and smile to yourself remembering that moment.
When you start to feel as strongly as possible open your eyes. See yourself as other people would have seen you when you had done that great job or got that great compliment. See yourself with respect and admiration. Keep smiling at yourself and notice the confidence in your eyes. When you really feel great squeeze together your thumb and forefinger. This will create an emotional connection between the way you feel at that moment and your reflection.
I want you to practice this every day for a month. Every single day. It takes a matter of minutes and doesn't cost you a penny. Over a period of time you will start to notice a dramatic change in yourself. You will notice that you have more confidence when you look in the mirror. Your self esteem will grow and very quickly you will not worry about your weight as much as you have done before.
It is very important that you understand that this technique is not to replace your diet program. This is merely a way for you to start to feel better about yourself. As I have said often people want to desperately lose weight because it will make them feel more confident. By using this technique you can become more confident in the way you look within one month. Couple this with a diet program that works and your results will be both visible and internal resulting in a new, improved you.
Feeling down and depressed about yourself can result in comfort eating. This of course, can only end up with you putting on more weight and the vicious cycle continues. Use this technique to develop the right mental toughness and attitude. And use your dieting to get into great shape.
Want to lose weight without feeling like you're on a diet? Find out how at www.herbsandbooks.com
While losing weight is something that should be done from a health point of view, often people want to lose weight because it will help their self esteem. The thing that most people do not understand is that your self esteem comes from what you think about yourself, not what others think.
In every day life we are greeted with pictures of stick thin models and gorgeous glamorous actors and actresses. This can make us feel inadequate and unattractive.
In this article I am going to walk you through a simple technique you can use to make yourself feel much more attractive and confident as a person. While it does not take away the fact that being overweight is unhealthy it can help you to feel more comfortable in your body.
I want you to go and stand in front of a mirror. What you are going to do is reprogram your mind to associate your reflection with positive feelings. Very soon you will be able to stand in front of the mirror and feel great rather than feeling down about your appearance.
I want you to think back to a time when you felt really good about yourself. It doesn't have to be about the way you look. It might have been a job you did well, a compliment you received. Anything which gives you that self satisfying glow in your stomach. Close your eyes and think of that moment. Really remember just how proud of yourself you felt. Remember that inner confidence. If it was from a compliment someone paid you remember their sincerity. Feel that glow and move it up from your stomach to your eyes. Feel the glow behind your closed eyes and smile to yourself remembering that moment.
When you start to feel as strongly as possible open your eyes. See yourself as other people would have seen you when you had done that great job or got that great compliment. See yourself with respect and admiration. Keep smiling at yourself and notice the confidence in your eyes. When you really feel great squeeze together your thumb and forefinger. This will create an emotional connection between the way you feel at that moment and your reflection.
I want you to practice this every day for a month. Every single day. It takes a matter of minutes and doesn't cost you a penny. Over a period of time you will start to notice a dramatic change in yourself. You will notice that you have more confidence when you look in the mirror. Your self esteem will grow and very quickly you will not worry about your weight as much as you have done before.
It is very important that you understand that this technique is not to replace your diet program. This is merely a way for you to start to feel better about yourself. As I have said often people want to desperately lose weight because it will make them feel more confident. By using this technique you can become more confident in the way you look within one month. Couple this with a diet program that works and your results will be both visible and internal resulting in a new, improved you.
Feeling down and depressed about yourself can result in comfort eating. This of course, can only end up with you putting on more weight and the vicious cycle continues. Use this technique to develop the right mental toughness and attitude. And use your dieting to get into great shape.
Want to lose weight without feeling like you're on a diet? Find out how at www.herbsandbooks.com
Sunday, May 23, 2010
THE VEGAN TESTIMONY
Being a vegan, for one and a half years after being a vegetarian for 25 years has made a big difference in my relationship to food. No more dairy products. Being a vegan is much more challenging now.
I'm finding more things to cook and create, that are vegan. I have learned to use food as a tool that's diverse and healthy. But to much of a good thing can cause you problems. Like weight gain, if not handled in the moment.
THE VEGAN TESTIMONY!
You can still gain weight, if you don't eat in moderation. My test has been with vegan made biscuits, vegan pancakes, vegan cakes, vegan puddings, non-dairy ice cream, and natural potato chips.
I was using these foods as a comfort tool. Especially when I was under stress. Since I found that I can still eat them in a vegan style of cooking them, I found myself over eating them, and picked up unwanted pounds in my hips and waist. Although I exercise by walking for 1 hour 5 days a week.
I must now do the opposite to regain my comfortable weight and size, and use these comforting tools when I'm not stressed and in moderation from time to time.
The food tools I'm using to regain my comfortable weight and size within a week of daily use as an example are for (Breakfast) fresh fruit, half slice of a large avocado, and a hot cup of avocado spinach green drink.
(Lunch) a medium size raw vegetable salad with a homemade vegan salad dressing, fresh fruit, herbal tea or herbal fruit juice. (Dinner) fresh steamed or stir fry vegetables, steamed brown rice or steamed potato with a homemade vegan sauce, and a tossed green salad with a homemade vegan salad dressing, herbal tea or herbal fruit juice and fresh fruit.
Eating the foods that caused me to gain weight was my conscious choice, because they tasted good and was comforting to me at the moment. I was under stress and didn't focus on the consequence of weight gain. This does not mean I am weak minded, just because I went back to my biological programming that I missed.
The truth of the matter of weight gain or even weight loss is, we are in control of what we eat or don't eat, and how much we eat or don't eat.
THE NEGATIVE SIDE!
food insecurity, lack of appreciation for good food, fear of social change, a wrong relationship with food, unbalance food supply.
THE POSITIVE SIDE!
secure food that brings diverse and healthy thoughts, and acts is what's best for our health and well being.
QUESTION! DO YOU THINK A COMMITMENT TO HEALTHY EATING MEANS ENDURING BLAND AND BORING FOOD?
To regain your health, and lose weight without feeling like you're on a strict diet, find out how with fresh, healthy and creative food tools that will limit your stress level, save your health and affordable. Find out how at WWW.HERBSANDBOOKS.COM
I'm finding more things to cook and create, that are vegan. I have learned to use food as a tool that's diverse and healthy. But to much of a good thing can cause you problems. Like weight gain, if not handled in the moment.
THE VEGAN TESTIMONY!
You can still gain weight, if you don't eat in moderation. My test has been with vegan made biscuits, vegan pancakes, vegan cakes, vegan puddings, non-dairy ice cream, and natural potato chips.
I was using these foods as a comfort tool. Especially when I was under stress. Since I found that I can still eat them in a vegan style of cooking them, I found myself over eating them, and picked up unwanted pounds in my hips and waist. Although I exercise by walking for 1 hour 5 days a week.
I must now do the opposite to regain my comfortable weight and size, and use these comforting tools when I'm not stressed and in moderation from time to time.
The food tools I'm using to regain my comfortable weight and size within a week of daily use as an example are for (Breakfast) fresh fruit, half slice of a large avocado, and a hot cup of avocado spinach green drink.
(Lunch) a medium size raw vegetable salad with a homemade vegan salad dressing, fresh fruit, herbal tea or herbal fruit juice. (Dinner) fresh steamed or stir fry vegetables, steamed brown rice or steamed potato with a homemade vegan sauce, and a tossed green salad with a homemade vegan salad dressing, herbal tea or herbal fruit juice and fresh fruit.
Eating the foods that caused me to gain weight was my conscious choice, because they tasted good and was comforting to me at the moment. I was under stress and didn't focus on the consequence of weight gain. This does not mean I am weak minded, just because I went back to my biological programming that I missed.
The truth of the matter of weight gain or even weight loss is, we are in control of what we eat or don't eat, and how much we eat or don't eat.
THE NEGATIVE SIDE!
food insecurity, lack of appreciation for good food, fear of social change, a wrong relationship with food, unbalance food supply.
THE POSITIVE SIDE!
secure food that brings diverse and healthy thoughts, and acts is what's best for our health and well being.
QUESTION! DO YOU THINK A COMMITMENT TO HEALTHY EATING MEANS ENDURING BLAND AND BORING FOOD?
To regain your health, and lose weight without feeling like you're on a strict diet, find out how with fresh, healthy and creative food tools that will limit your stress level, save your health and affordable. Find out how at WWW.HERBSANDBOOKS.COM
HOW TO STARVE YOURSELF OF NEGATIVE DIET PATTERNS
The power of the mind has been well known to successful and fulfilled people for centuries. Experts of the sub conscious mind such as hypnotists have come up with ingenious ways that bypass the conscious mind and speak directly to the sub conscious. Often hypnosis is used to help people achieve their weight loss goals. In this article I will show you how to do that without any fancy hypnotist or high fees.
The sub conscious mind is the most powerful force in any human being. When you first learned to drive you had to think about every single thing. Gears, mirrors, indicators, steering and many other factors were constantly thought about. After a while though all of these become a habit. You repeat them so many times that your conscious mind no longer has to think about them. Your sub conscious runs you on auto pilot to carry out the maneuver.
So what does this have to do with weight loss? Well by using a concept called "auto suggestion" you can help your sub conscious mind "reprogram" yourself to stick to diets, eat healthier foods, enjoy working out (seriously) and much more.
The reason so many people fail to lose weight is because they program themselves for failure each and every time they try a new diet. Becasue of bad experiences with shoddy diet programs in the past they often tell themselves "This won't work for me" and give up a few weeks in. Think about whenever you've tried to diet in the past. How long did it last?
The technique I am to teach you now will enable you to starve yourself of these negative thought patterns that you are constantly bombarding your sub conscious mind with. Let's retrain yourself to be more positive about your weight loss and in turn develop a mind set that won't give up whenever a diet doesn't show instant and massive results.
Your emotions and thoughts are like signals. Whenever you feel bad about weight loss or dieting and have thoughts such as "I'm always going to be overweight" stop what you're doing and follow these steps.
Step One. think about what it is that makes you feel you'll always be overweight. You'll get an image come into your mind. Maybe it's you feeling down about a diet or you in the future and you haven't lost any weight.
Step Two. Pay attention to this image. This is your unconscious telling you what thought is holding you back in your quest for dieting. This is the image that you consistently put in your sub conscious. You have programmed yourself to think this way and that's why it is so easy to give up on diets when things get a little tough.
Step Three. Drain all the color out of the image. Shrink it and move it out of the way. If it happen to reappear repeat the process.
Step Four. Replace the image with an image of what you really want to be like. Fit, healthy and at your perfect weight. Get emotionally involved with the image. Think of how great it would feel to have lost all the weight you want to. Make it color and bring it closer to you.
Step Five. Hold your thumb and middle fingers together when you feel that rush of excitement about the new future you.
While this may sound a little crazy this is a good technique for programming your sub conscious. If you do this every time you feel a little down about weight loss or have any negative thoughts, soon it will become a habit.
Eventually you will have created "a mind anchor" so that you can press your thumb and middle fingers together and get the rush of excitement about your new, slim self. Any time you feel negative about weight loss you put your fingers together and your sub conscious will recognize this habit and use it to your advantage.
This is based on the science of Neuro Linguisitc Programming, and it works in reprogramming yourself. Give it a go and stick with it.
Want to lose weight without feeling like you've on a diet? find out how at WWW.HerbsAndBooks. com
The sub conscious mind is the most powerful force in any human being. When you first learned to drive you had to think about every single thing. Gears, mirrors, indicators, steering and many other factors were constantly thought about. After a while though all of these become a habit. You repeat them so many times that your conscious mind no longer has to think about them. Your sub conscious runs you on auto pilot to carry out the maneuver.
So what does this have to do with weight loss? Well by using a concept called "auto suggestion" you can help your sub conscious mind "reprogram" yourself to stick to diets, eat healthier foods, enjoy working out (seriously) and much more.
The reason so many people fail to lose weight is because they program themselves for failure each and every time they try a new diet. Becasue of bad experiences with shoddy diet programs in the past they often tell themselves "This won't work for me" and give up a few weeks in. Think about whenever you've tried to diet in the past. How long did it last?
The technique I am to teach you now will enable you to starve yourself of these negative thought patterns that you are constantly bombarding your sub conscious mind with. Let's retrain yourself to be more positive about your weight loss and in turn develop a mind set that won't give up whenever a diet doesn't show instant and massive results.
Your emotions and thoughts are like signals. Whenever you feel bad about weight loss or dieting and have thoughts such as "I'm always going to be overweight" stop what you're doing and follow these steps.
Step One. think about what it is that makes you feel you'll always be overweight. You'll get an image come into your mind. Maybe it's you feeling down about a diet or you in the future and you haven't lost any weight.
Step Two. Pay attention to this image. This is your unconscious telling you what thought is holding you back in your quest for dieting. This is the image that you consistently put in your sub conscious. You have programmed yourself to think this way and that's why it is so easy to give up on diets when things get a little tough.
Step Three. Drain all the color out of the image. Shrink it and move it out of the way. If it happen to reappear repeat the process.
Step Four. Replace the image with an image of what you really want to be like. Fit, healthy and at your perfect weight. Get emotionally involved with the image. Think of how great it would feel to have lost all the weight you want to. Make it color and bring it closer to you.
Step Five. Hold your thumb and middle fingers together when you feel that rush of excitement about the new future you.
While this may sound a little crazy this is a good technique for programming your sub conscious. If you do this every time you feel a little down about weight loss or have any negative thoughts, soon it will become a habit.
Eventually you will have created "a mind anchor" so that you can press your thumb and middle fingers together and get the rush of excitement about your new, slim self. Any time you feel negative about weight loss you put your fingers together and your sub conscious will recognize this habit and use it to your advantage.
This is based on the science of Neuro Linguisitc Programming, and it works in reprogramming yourself. Give it a go and stick with it.
Want to lose weight without feeling like you've on a diet? find out how at WWW.HerbsAndBooks. com
How To Shed The Pounds While Changing Your Lifestyle
Have you tried a number of diets and failed? Maybe even tried some exercise only to find you lose a little weight but it comes straight back again? There's a reason for that, and it happens to be (STRESS) related.
Stress, is not just a mental reaction but a physical condition. When place under stress your body will produce adrenaline but it also produces a hormone called (Cortisol). This hormone is responsible for pumping energy in the form of sugar into the body to fuel the adrenalin rush. Stress is then a natural bodily function designed to help keep us alive and reactive to things going on in the world.
unfortunately there is a negative by-product if you are not using this energy. Stress in the modern world often takes the form of money worries, issues in the office, family problems and much more. The extra blood sugar that is being released has nowhere to go except settle around your stomach to be used later as fat.
Because of this many people are keeping or gaining weight without even realizing it. Of course there are other factors, but stress is one that very few people talk about. Stress however needs to be controlled and fought against such as an unhealthy diet needs to be. It may be the one thing stopping you from losing the pounds you so desperately want to.
Stress and anxiety is in fact a double edged sword. Not only does it produce the excess blood sugars that turn to fat, but it also encourages you to use food as a comfort tool. You may choose chocolatae or fast food for that instant hit that is the culinary equivalent of a warm hug from a loved one.
Eating these foods that are bad for you when you are stressed does not mean you are weak minded. You are just following your biological programming. Tests on rats have shown that under stress organisms naturally engage in pleasure seeking behavior. In particular high calorie food.
Other tests have shown that men who only manage to get four hours of sleep a night have on average a thirty seven percent higher level of Cortisol (the hormone that is responsible for energy-sugar) than those who get a full eight hours? and what is one of the biggest reasons for lack of sleep? Stress!
On top of that it is imperative that you get a good nights sleep when trying to shed the pounds because a deep sleep leads to higher secretions of a natural occurring hormone called (Human Growth Hormone). This protects your muscle mass and it is muscle that helps to maintain a steady burning metabolism.
Of course if you are already stressed the chances are you are not getting enough sleep already and are caught in a vicious circle that is affecting your weight loss.
Stress is a silent killer. We can overcome it by not neglecting ourself. Getting a good peaceful sleep, can happen if we learn to grow spiritually, exercise, drink plenty of fluids, eat a healthy balance diet, think postive, and move forward.
Learning to accept stress and use it to work in a positive way in our life, will help us accomplish our goals.
Want to lose weight without feeling like you're on a diet? find out how at WWW.HerbsAndBooks.Com
Stress, is not just a mental reaction but a physical condition. When place under stress your body will produce adrenaline but it also produces a hormone called (Cortisol). This hormone is responsible for pumping energy in the form of sugar into the body to fuel the adrenalin rush. Stress is then a natural bodily function designed to help keep us alive and reactive to things going on in the world.
unfortunately there is a negative by-product if you are not using this energy. Stress in the modern world often takes the form of money worries, issues in the office, family problems and much more. The extra blood sugar that is being released has nowhere to go except settle around your stomach to be used later as fat.
Because of this many people are keeping or gaining weight without even realizing it. Of course there are other factors, but stress is one that very few people talk about. Stress however needs to be controlled and fought against such as an unhealthy diet needs to be. It may be the one thing stopping you from losing the pounds you so desperately want to.
Stress and anxiety is in fact a double edged sword. Not only does it produce the excess blood sugars that turn to fat, but it also encourages you to use food as a comfort tool. You may choose chocolatae or fast food for that instant hit that is the culinary equivalent of a warm hug from a loved one.
Eating these foods that are bad for you when you are stressed does not mean you are weak minded. You are just following your biological programming. Tests on rats have shown that under stress organisms naturally engage in pleasure seeking behavior. In particular high calorie food.
Other tests have shown that men who only manage to get four hours of sleep a night have on average a thirty seven percent higher level of Cortisol (the hormone that is responsible for energy-sugar) than those who get a full eight hours? and what is one of the biggest reasons for lack of sleep? Stress!
On top of that it is imperative that you get a good nights sleep when trying to shed the pounds because a deep sleep leads to higher secretions of a natural occurring hormone called (Human Growth Hormone). This protects your muscle mass and it is muscle that helps to maintain a steady burning metabolism.
Of course if you are already stressed the chances are you are not getting enough sleep already and are caught in a vicious circle that is affecting your weight loss.
Stress is a silent killer. We can overcome it by not neglecting ourself. Getting a good peaceful sleep, can happen if we learn to grow spiritually, exercise, drink plenty of fluids, eat a healthy balance diet, think postive, and move forward.
Learning to accept stress and use it to work in a positive way in our life, will help us accomplish our goals.
Want to lose weight without feeling like you're on a diet? find out how at WWW.HerbsAndBooks.Com
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