Summer is about to be in full swing, and it's that time when everyone wants to look impressive in their "lack" of clothing. While I can't promise you that you'll achieve a fitness model body, I can at least give you some simple but important tips in achieving a leaner physique. Listen up! Behavioral changes guarantee your success - not just knowledge alone. You may already have drawn out your road map with your nutritional plan and your workouts, so take that strategy and ACT on it. Stay motivated and consistently remind yourself of your fitness goal. Here are 11 basic tips to get you jumpstarted!
1. CUT THE SIMPLE CARBS. It's unfortunate that the majority of society is a "carb junkie." This especially applies to overweight individuals mainly because their bodies struggle with insulin sensitivity. Our body absolutely needs carbohydrates, but one has to learn to appropriately reverse the ratio of simple carbs (high glycemic) to complex carbs (low glycemic). Most importantly reducing total sugar intake. Having a positive ratio of complex to simple carbs will allow the body to regulate blood sugar levels, burn more fat as fuel, and ultimately lose more weight.
2. EAT SMALLER, MORE FREQUENT MEALS. Smaller, frequent feedings about every 3-4 hours prevents your blood sugar levels from spiking dramatically throughout the day. This helps your hormones stay in check, while regulating hunger as well. Ultimately, it helps elevate metabolism, it's easier on your digestive system, and it can eventually provide you with more energy throughout the day.
3. CONSUME MORE FUNCTIONAL FATS. Essential fatty acids, such as omega-6 and omega-3 consumed in appropriate ratios of 2:1 or better yet at 1:1 will allow the body to regulate your hormones, calm down inflammation, and stabilize blood sugar levels. This eventually leads to greater fat loss. So suck it up, and buy your fish and flax oils at your local health food store.
4. DOWN THAT WATER. Water is often overlooked, but it's the number one nutrient for our body to survive. Staying hydrated aids with digestion, curbs your appetite, and flushes our metabolic waste. Make sure to get in at least 64 oz per day.
5. INCREASE FIBER INTAKE. This nutrient keeps food moving along your gastrointestinal tract, and like water, it aids in flushing metabolic waste. It also helps maintain consistent energy levels, slows the rate of carbohydrate digestion, which stabilizes blood sugar levels.
6. ABSTAIN FROM ALCOHOL. Not only is alcohol estrogenic (negatively affects testosterone for men), can lead to fat gain, and has a whopping nutrition-empty 7 calories per gram, but it takes precedence over fat metabolism when introduced into the body. Alcohol actually shuts down the fat burning mechanism for up to 48 hours, so avoid it as much as possible.
7. SPICY METABOLISM. Incorporating a variety of spices in your foods such as curry, cayenne pepper, cinnamon and certain herbs may help boost your metabolism. Spices also help with stabilizing blood sugar levels.
8. COMBINE WEIGHT TRAINING WITH YOUR CARDIO. While aerobic activity may burn a great deal of calories, especially when maintained at a high intensity, you'll achieve greater success by combining it with resistance training. This is because proper resistance training stresses all of your muscles fiber types (Type 1 and Type 2). When you stress your muscles effectively, you either maintain and strengthen your current muscle mass or you even gain some. For every pound of muscle you gain it equates to 50 extra calories you can burn per day. So remember to hit the weights at least three times per week along with your cardio.
9. SLOW DOWN YOUR EATING. No one truly gets to sit down and have a nice relaxing meal nowadays, especially with our busy schedules. Learning and realizing to slow down the pace at which we eat prevents compulsive overeating and assists our digestion. It takes at least 20 minutes between the time you're full and when your brain actually realizes it. Slowing your eating will also allow you to enjoy your meal.
10. WATCH FOR FOOD ALLERGIES. Many people are allergic to dairy and wheat products. Being sensitive to these two food categories have been shown to cause weight gain. If you're consuming a diet high in refined foods, these sensitivities become more evident. This causes digestive problems such as bloating, stomach pain, and water retention. If you're not sure you may want to consider an allergy test.
11. GET YOUR ANTIOXIDANTS. Getting your daily dose of antioxidants from either a good multi-vitamin, a specific antioxidant supplement combination, or even a healthy combination of fruits and vegetables is important for combating toxins held in fat cells. Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, polyphenols in green tea, etc. help your body reduce the time that toxins stay in your system.
So there it is - 11 basic tips to help you achieve a healthier and leaner physique. It's never to late to take action. Have fun and enjoy the summer!
Arnel Ricafranca
Fitness Expert/ Master Trainer
Founder of Fitness VIP
Located in Randolph and Stanhope NJ
http://www.fitness-vip.com
http://www.fitness-vip.com
To prepare ourselves for the Summer Sun we want to... Read More
One of the greatest tricks that I use to stick... Read More
Body Mass Index (bmi) A Misleading measure of ObesityMany professionals... Read More
You know what is so amazing? We get to keep... Read More
Many people think obesity means that a person is overweight,... Read More
According to the BMI chart, if you are overweight, you... Read More
Why is it so hard to lose weight and keep... Read More
Have a conversation about gastric bypass surgery with just about... Read More
Why have I allowed myself to get into this shape?... Read More
Frankie saddled up to the bar at the We-Stuff-Em-All Diner,... Read More
If you are into herbs and natural cures, you've undoubtedly... Read More
Losing weight is a tough and demanding task for most... Read More
When was the last time you focused so much on... Read More
There are certain eating habits that can make you gain... Read More
A pound of fat represents approximately 3500 calories of stored... Read More
People usually quit weightloss and exercise programs for one of... Read More
According to a recent survey by the National Health Institute,... Read More
It's really difficult for a person to socialise if he... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
CancerCoronary heart diseaseStrokeOsteoporosisMajor Depression from Brain StarvationHeadlines.WASHINGTON, Jun 22, 2004... Read More
Healthy eating has become part of your life, but you're... Read More
Axiom Number One - Nourish your body.Probably the most important... Read More
Everybody you know is on the latest weight loss bandwagon:... Read More
Let's not talk about diets. Diets are punishment ? like... Read More
Ever thought of, known someone, or gone on a diet?... Read More
Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..Some (not so) Silly Diet Tips and Why They're NotAt... Read More
Exercise Physiologists who study the effects of exercise on weight... Read More
Fat Loss Tip #3) Proper Meal FrequencyMeal Frequency (i.e., the... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight you may find... Read More
Am I missing something here? If I am, someone please... Read More
Every day, it seems, a new study pertaining to weight... Read More
Have you seen the ditty below that's roaming the Internet... Read More
A metabolism drug like ephedrine, has shown many people how... Read More
Choosing the right diet type is the most important decision... Read More
Why is it so hard to lose weight and keep... Read More
It is much safer to your long term health to... Read More
The 3 day diet mixes certain types of foods that... Read More
An ancient practice from Eastern Medicine, bowel cleansing is fast... Read More
Most people think of the Atkins diet when they hear... Read More
You know what is so amazing? We get to keep... Read More
Students today are faced with the serious reality of unwanted... Read More
If you are fighting the battle of the bulge (overweight... Read More
If you want to find a way to lose weight... Read More
One alternative method to traditional and tumescent liposuction is mesotherapy.... Read More
We've entered the Twilight Zone when it comes to the... Read More
There are several factors in winning at weight loss. Sometimes... Read More
Before you even think of taking diet pills to lose... Read More
Well, with the success of my article, "Wrinkle Remover That... Read More
1. Drink plenty of water. Our body needs a lot... Read More
Yes, there is more to the Mediterranean than sun, beach... Read More
Weight Loss |