Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Solution For Joint Pain



The cure for joint pain

I've got to mention this too: If you engage in Pilates, you may experience one of the benefits that almost everybody experiences when they do this for a couple of months: their joint pain begins to disappear. People always complain about their joint pain, it seems. When I'm at the gym, I hear guys in their 40s -- they're only 45 years old! -- and they're complaining and whining about how much everything hurts. They say, "Oh, wait 'til you're my age, everything's gonna hurt!" And I respond with, "I don't think so!" I've experienced chronic pain, and I know what that feels like. But now I do Pilates and engage in outstanding nutrition and the pain is gone.The body is designed to be healthy, it's not supposed to hurt. If you feed your body right and if you use and mobilize all those joints, they will not hurt, even to the age of 100. There's no reason why we can't live to 100 in a state of perfect health with outstanding cognitive function, free of chronic pain. But to do that, you have to use it. I firmly believe in the concept of "use it or lose it." If you're not using those joints, then you're going to lose their range of motion.
Just ask any physical therapist, they will tell you much the same. You have to have range of motion in order to be free of pain. The difficulty is that as we get older, we tend to stop using all of those muscles and joints in their full range of motion. A lot of people who say that chronic pain is related to aging are really confusing cause and effect. It's not related to aging, it's related to the number of years that they've stopped using their body.
For example, take a person who is a dancer or someone engaged in yoga, Pilates or flexibility well into their 80s or 90s, and they won't have joint pain. If aging causes joint pain, then how is it that these people have no pain? The answer is because they keep mobilizing those joints, they keep using their body. They engage in Tai Chi or other gentle body movements. And they are free from pain. By the way, Tai Chi is another outstanding way to get range of motion, but it won't do quite the same thing for you in terms of muscle mass as Pilates training or other weight bearing exercises. (Tai Chi has many other energetic benefits, though, which are beyond the scope of this article.)

What's missing from all diets

The bottom line is if you are attempting to lose weight, or more specifically to lose body fat, then engaging in some form of strength training is crucial to your success. I know there are a lot of books out there that say well, you can just change your foods, or you can consume this one particular food like grapefruit or cabbage, or you can go on the popular low-carb diet. I know some people have success with that, but I think the vast majority of people don't really meet their weight loss goals just by changing their foods.What's missing is that body component, the strength training, the movement, the flexibility, and also the cardiovascular training. What I'm suggesting is that you seriously consider finding a way to get some form of strength training into your life. It could be as easy as buying a floor mat or a DVD video on Pilates. Those videos are as little as $15 or $20. So your total investment, including the mat, could be only $40 or $50. And then you can engage in strength training.
But the catch is that you actually have to do it -- right? That's the catch. People want a system that requires no effort. Sure, we all want that. I've even written a book on this called The 5 Habits of Health Transformation -- you'll find that at truthpublishing.com - that lists the 5 most effective health strategies that require the least amount of effort. And people have been downloading that book like crazy! It's been a huge hit, because people want to know what's going to give them the best results for the least amount of time or money or effort. I think it's been successful because everybody's so busy these days; they really want the most effective and high impact strategies. But the point is, none of this is going to happen for you automatically. You can't just buy a Pilates video and gain muscle mass; you actually have to do it.
Some of these Pilates moves, when you get into the advanced stages of it, are not so easy. You know, lifting weights, even just for 15 seconds with high intensity, isn't always easy, either. When I do it, sometimes I feel like I'm about to pass out. It's such high intensity. When I do a leg press with a 15 second high intensity static contraction system -- and I'm really not even anywhere near what some of the founders are -- I'm pushing at least 1500 lbs. I'm out of breath after that. I'm wiped out. This is hard stuff! It takes effort.
None of it is going to happen automatically, and if you whip through a strength training routine, and you don’t feel like you've done any work, then you probably haven't. You're not going to get any benefit from that. At some point, it's going to require some effort to get these results. A lot of the information out there that claims you can lose weight without any effort is just flat out wrong. Certainly, there are some shortcuts. There are some strategies that can make it a lot easier for you, no doubt about that. There are some nutritional supplements that can help -- I agree. But the bottom line is, if you don't engage the physical body, if you don't do some strength training and some cardiovascular training, you're not going to get the results you want.

Finding a workable system

Most people who are really committed to losing body fat are okay with the effort part. That hasn't been the problem. The problem has been finding a strategy that really works. What's a system that works? People tried the Atkins Diet or the low carb diet, and for many people that didn't work. People tried the low fat diet years ago -- well that didn't work, because everybody just loaded up on carbohydrates and cookies. People tried all kinds of other things -- they tried stimulants, things that make you shake all day long because you have a lot of caffeine in your system. And gee, they found out that didn't work either, because it just made them hungrier.So, typically, it's not the effort that stops people. It's the reliability of the system. Finding out what really works is the hardest part. Unfortunately, this particular narrative here isn't about food strategies that work for dieting, although I have many -- those that I've used and those that I've shared with others have really worked well. I'll be sharing those in another segment or another book.
But I can tell you that no system will work without the physical body movement component. You've got to engage in strength training, you've got to engage in cardiovascular exercise, even if it's just walking for 5 minutes a day. If you can't walk, even just lifting your arms for 10 minutes a day, or lifting a 1 lb dumbbell over your head 50 times will benefit you. I don't care what it is, if you can move something, then you can engage in cardiovascular exercise. There is no excuse, unless you happen to be paralyzed from the neck down, in which case obviously you can't engage in strength training. But for everybody else, there's no excuse. If you can move a limb, you can do this.
Find a way to start strength training today, and your body will immediately start showing results.



Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Anastasia Weight Loss : How Lodine Can Accelerate Weight Loss

Anastasia Weight Loss : How Lodine Can Accelerate Weight Loss: if adjusting your diet and exercising more hasn't helped you reach a healthy body weight, you may have hypothyroidism, or an underactive th...

How Lodine Can Accelerate Weight Loss


if adjusting your diet and exercising more hasn't helped you reach a healthy body weight, you may have hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland. In addition to weight gain, other symptoms of hypothyroidism include a bad complexion, fatigue, forgetfulness, loss of sex drive, impotence, irritability and unhealthy hair, nails and teeth. Fortunately, you can help normalize an underactive thyroid gland by increasing your intake of the mineral iodine.
"The healthy functioning of the thyroid is essential to maintaining metabolism and preventing the accumulation of body fat," writes Burton Goldberg in Alternative Medicine. An underactive thyroid gland slows your metabolism; you thus burn dramatically fewer calories and feel sluggish. In addition, in Asian Health Secrets, Letha Hadady explains that an underactive thyroid gland promotes excess weight and cellulite by causing water retention.
After-effects observed following thyroid removal surgery helped prove the connection between the thyroid gland and metabolism to the medical community. For example, according to Gayle Reichler's book Active Wellness, thyroid removal caused one patient to gain weight daily and feel that her "system had slowed down considerably." Unless your thyroid has been completely removed or damaged, your symptoms will not be quite so severe; however, even moderate hypothyroidism can make you gain weight and body fat.
Iodine makes up less than a hundred thousandth of a percent of your body weight, but your thyroid cannot function without this trace mineral. If you have too little iodine in your diet, hypothyroidism and weight gain will occur. "I believe that an insufficient intake of organic iodine in today's modern diet has led to a serious and chronic form of low-grade hypothyroidism," writes Donald R. Yance, Jr. in Herbal Medicine, Healing and Cancer. Increasing your iodine level will allow your thyroid function and metabolic rate to return to normal.
You can add iodine to your diet by taking supplements, but beware: Excessive thyroid function resulting from excess iodine is just as detrimental to the human body as hypothyroidism. You should have normal, moderate amounts of iodine in your body. In Food and Healing, Anne Marie Colbin provides a caution: "Considering that we are already ingesting large qualities of this mineral because of its presence in fertilizers and table salt, the situation (your iodine level) definitely bears watching."
Because of this danger, Earl Mindell recommends kelp, which naturally contains iodine, as an alternative to iodine supplements in pill form. "Kelp has a normalizing effect on the thyroid gland. In other words, thin people with thyroid trouble can gain weight by using kelp, and obese people can lose weight with it," Mindell writes in hisVitamin Bible for the Twenty-First Century. Whichever form of iodine supplementation you choose, however, you must also be sure to get enough vitamin A in your diet. According to Goldberg, without sufficient vitamin A, your thyroid gland cannot produce thyroxin, a hormone that helps the thyroid absorb iodine.
If you believe that you have a thyroid problem, then by all means, go to a doctor or other medical professional. On the other hand, if you just haven't been exercising enough or following a healthy diet, don't put blind faith into iodine supplements as an easy and effortless way to lose weight. "Iodine itself will not help with weight loss if there is normal thyroid function," writes Dr. Elson M. Haas in Staying Healthy with Nutrition. Unless you do indeed have abnormal thyroid function, there is no substitute for exercise and a healthy diet.



Monday, December 10, 2012

Anastasia Weight Loss : Suppressing Foods To Boost Weight Loss

Anastasia Weight Loss : Suppressing Foods To Boost Weight Loss: The hunger associated with losing weight can seem daunting, and may even discourage many people from maintaining their weight loss program....

Suppressing Foods To Boost Weight Loss


The hunger associated with losing weight can seem daunting, and may even discourage many people from maintaining their weight loss program. There are many foods, however, that can suppress appetite. This makes dieting much easier, and increases the probability of weight loss success.

There are many weight loss products on the market, but there are also many natural foods that can avert hunger. Choose foods that are filling, yet contain few calories. In addition, take care to try new food combinations. Unfortunately, many people on a calorie deficit suffer from diet boredom because they fail to incorporate variety into their meal plan.

Try the following appetite suppressing foods to help boost weight loss:

Celery

According to research conducted by the Mayo Clinic, choosing foods with a low energy density can help control hunger. The energy density of a particular food refers to the number of calories contained within a given volume. So, for example, a small piece of candy may contain a large amount of calories. It is said to have a high energy density.

Celery, conversely, contains few calories for a large amount, so it has a low energy density. In fact, an entire cup of celery only provides 16 calories. These are the kinds of foods to include to suppress hunger. In addition, the subtle saltiness from the sodium content, as well as the crunchiness of celery, can provide satisfaction while dieting.

Lemon Psyllium Cocktail

Psyllium is a soluble fiber that originates from the Plantago ovata plant. Fiber adds bulk to the diet and provides a sense of fullness. Including more fiber can facilitate weight loss.

An easy way to utilize psyllium is to make a cocktail. Add a serving of psyllium powder, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and a couple of drops of stevia to a large glass of cold water. Mix thoroughly and drink immediately.

Lentils

Lentils have a long list of outstanding qualities that can enhance weight loss and general health. They have a large amount of fiber, which helps dieters with satiety. Lentils boast 8 grams of fiber per serving. Much of this fiber is soluble and aids in the stabilization of blood sugar. This helps prevent spikes in blood sugar, as well as subsequent fat accumulation.

The nutritional content of lentils is remarkable. In addition to the fiber, they also have a large of amount of protein, folic acid, iron, and magnesium. Protein can suppress hunger by its slower rate of travel through the digestive system. Nine grams of healthy proteins are in every half cup serving of lentils.

Lentils come in a variety of colors, including brown, green, and red. They require no presoaking and are delicious and filling in soups, spreads, and dips.

Zucchini

Zucchini is another useful low density food that can help suppress hunger. A cup of zucchini contains a mere 20 calories. One interesting way to use zucchini is to prepare it as a pasta substitute. It can be processed through a spiral slicer to resemble thin spaghetti noodles. Add low calorie tomato sauce or salad dressing for flavor. This quick meal also provides protein and fiber, and is very low in cholesterol, making it a highly beneficial food that can assist healthy weight loss efforts.


Sunday, December 9, 2012

Anastasia Weight Loss : Fish Oil In Omega-3 Can Promote Healthy Body Weig...

Anastasia Weight Loss : Fish Oil In Omega-3 Can Promote Healthy Body Weig...: New Australian research has shown that consuming fish oil high in omega-3 fatty acids and exercising moderately can result in significan...

Fish Oil In Omega-3 Can Promote Healthy Body Weight



New Australian research has shown that consuming fish oil high in omega-3 fatty acids and exercising moderately can result in significant weight loss.A team of researchers from the University of South Australia studied 68 obese and overweight people who were at risk of cardiovascular disease and showed signs of metabolic syndrome, which often results in diabetes. The subjects were split into four groups: The first consumed fish oil and walked or ran for 45 minutes, three times a week; the second only consumed fish oil and did not exercise; the third consumed sunflower oil, which does not contain omega-3s, and exercised; and the fourth group only consumed sunflower oil and did not exercise.
The researchers found that the only group that lost any weight at all was the first group, which exercised and took fish oils, resulting in an average weight loss of 4.5 pounds over three months. The other three groups experienced no weight loss at all.
"If you take the omega-3 each day and exercise moderately, our studies show your weight will drop," says researcher Alison Hill, a PhD student. "We were very surprised to see it was so effective, especially since these people were still eating whatever they wanted."
As world levels of obesity reach epidemic levels, overweight and obese people can easily drop a few pounds by eating fish oils -- but only when combined with moderate exercise, as the oil itself doesn't automatically lead to weight loss. An added incentive to consume fish oils and exercise is the marked change in body shape and composition that the researchers noted in the successful weight loss group.
Foods rich in omega-3s include fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, halibut and tuna, as well as flaxseeds and walnuts.