You can change your diet and workout so your body burns more calories. Nutritionist Joy Bauer shares tips on increasing your metabolism
In this installment of “Today’s Health,” we look at how you can boost your metabolism. Many dieters are quick to blame a sluggish metabolism for their inability to lose weight. But do you have control over your metabolism? Yes and no. Nutritionist Joy Bauer tells you how you can change your diet and your workout to increase your metabolism.
Dieters often complain that they can’t lose weight because they have a “slow metabolism.” Unfortunately, many companies capitalize on this misconception by marketing products that promise to give consumers a so called “metabolic advantage” that helps melt away the pounds. Here’s the real story:
What is metabolism?
Metabolism is the process by which your body converts calories from food into energy. People often believe that a slim person’s metabolism is high and an overweight person’s metabolism is low, but this isn’t usually the case. Metabolism alone does not determine your weight. Rather, weight is dependent on the balance of calories consumed versus the calories burned. Eat more calories than you need — you gain weight. Eat fewer calories than you need — you lose weight. Metabolism is merely the body’s engine that burns calories and regulates your caloric needs.
Three ways your body burns calories:
1. Basic body functions. Basal metabolic rate is the amount of calories your body needs to sustain vital functions — digestion, breathing, blood circulation, adjustment of hormone levels, cell growth and repair, etc. Typically, your basal metabolic rate makes up 66 percent to 75 percent of the total calories your body requires for a day.
2. Digestion and absorption of food. About 10 percent of your day’s calories are burned digesting and absorbing the food you eat. Yes, you actually need calories to burn calories.
3. Exercise. Daily physical activity accounts for the rest of the calories burned.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13910708/
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Showing posts with label Loss and Gain Weight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Loss and Gain Weight. Show all posts
Monday, July 6
Burn fat fast – speeding up your metabolism
A slow metabolism, gift or curse? Despite what people say about sluggish metabolisms being a result of low activity levels coupled with bad eating habits which makes people prone to gaining weight I can assure you this is not the full story.
Some people just have a slower metabolism than others which make there bodies prone to storing fat if they over eat the same way some people stay skinny no matter what they throw down themselves.
I have personally fought with a slow metabolism throughout the years and this has allowed me to figure out how to naturally boost my metabolism without overdoing cardio and workouts. Allowing me to keep a lean physique.
There are 3 main points to keeping your metabolism revved
1. Do weight training at least 3 times a week. Weight training is what causes you to lose body fat and turns on your body’s furnace for days afterwards.
This is due to basic recovery biology; when you breakdown muscles through a weights workout your body will go into recovery mode causing fat to be used to fuel the process of muscle repair and rebuilding which happens mainly while you sleep therefore it is important to eat a small easily digested meal before you sleep try and stay away from complex carbohydrates in this meal as they are useless before sleep. opt for something light, like a protein shake with and apple or cottage cheese with pineapple.
2. Make breakfast your biggest meal. This will really fire up your metabolism for the day as your body is in starvation mode after the nights rest. Therefore it is important to re-fuel and get your bodies engines going again.
A perfect meal would be some Eggs with lean bacon and some fruit. If you are in a rush go for fruit and raw nuts.
3. Eat when your hungry. all these meals should be small and light so you can digest them easily and keep your metabolism revved up. This is because your body burns of calories in the process of digesting a meal therefore eating a small meal every few hours will constantly kick start your metabolism as well as keeping your blood sugar levels stable which means you will have plenty of energy and feel great throughout the day. Try to focus on Lean meat, Vegetables, fruit and healthy fats.
Now I am sure you have heard this all before. And well you probably have as they are easy ways to keep metabolism fired up. Don’t worry though there are some more un orthodox tips coming up which will make your metabolism burn like its on fire!!!
—>Protein, Keeping a nice serving of protein in all your meals will do a great job of getting your metabolism going as Protein requires the most calories to burn increasing your metabolic rate, As well as this protein allows your body to build muscle and the more muscle you have the more calories your body will burn, knocking your metabolism up a gear. Whey Protein, Chicken, Tuna, eggs, Low fat cheese and milk are all great sources of protein and try and include a good serving with all your meals.
—>Green Tea, No its not only for yoga teachers, all of us should be sipping at green tea and even taking the capsuled forms as it is a great metabolic booster and can make your body burn up-to 400 extra calories a day if you drink 4-5 cups a day. If you lead a hectic lifestyle and do not have the time to drink constant green tea I recommend you buy a good green tea supplement like that of Primaforce and take one capsule in the morning with breakfast.
—>Chili’s, Add them to anything except breakfast(unless of course you enjoy it with your cereal), grab some cayenne, crushed chillies or tabasco and add it to your Pasta, salad, chicken and just about anything else, on top of making your food taste good. Hot foods will raise your heart rate which will increase your metabolism for a few hours after eating.
—>Grapefruit, personally I like to start the day with a serving of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice or half a grapefruit 20 minuted before I eat breakfast. This is because Grapefruit has been shown to regulate blood sugar levels which is essential in the morning and will stop you craving all day, give it a try its amazing! if you find it too tangy sprinkle some splenda on top, but after a few days of eating the grapefruit you will get used to the bitter taste and start to enjoy it without the extra sweetener.
—>Cinnamon, Sprinkle it on anything you like. Cinnamon helps your body metabolize sugar and therefore stop your body storing excess sugar as fat. Try it on banana’s or your cereal its delicious.
If you follow these rules your metabolism will be firing on all cylinders making you a fat torching machine
This is an old article of mine that was featured on lifespy
Source: http://nodiets.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/burn-fat-fast-speeding-up-your-metabolism/
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Some people just have a slower metabolism than others which make there bodies prone to storing fat if they over eat the same way some people stay skinny no matter what they throw down themselves.
I have personally fought with a slow metabolism throughout the years and this has allowed me to figure out how to naturally boost my metabolism without overdoing cardio and workouts. Allowing me to keep a lean physique.
There are 3 main points to keeping your metabolism revved
1. Do weight training at least 3 times a week. Weight training is what causes you to lose body fat and turns on your body’s furnace for days afterwards.
This is due to basic recovery biology; when you breakdown muscles through a weights workout your body will go into recovery mode causing fat to be used to fuel the process of muscle repair and rebuilding which happens mainly while you sleep therefore it is important to eat a small easily digested meal before you sleep try and stay away from complex carbohydrates in this meal as they are useless before sleep. opt for something light, like a protein shake with and apple or cottage cheese with pineapple.
2. Make breakfast your biggest meal. This will really fire up your metabolism for the day as your body is in starvation mode after the nights rest. Therefore it is important to re-fuel and get your bodies engines going again.
A perfect meal would be some Eggs with lean bacon and some fruit. If you are in a rush go for fruit and raw nuts.
3. Eat when your hungry. all these meals should be small and light so you can digest them easily and keep your metabolism revved up. This is because your body burns of calories in the process of digesting a meal therefore eating a small meal every few hours will constantly kick start your metabolism as well as keeping your blood sugar levels stable which means you will have plenty of energy and feel great throughout the day. Try to focus on Lean meat, Vegetables, fruit and healthy fats.
Now I am sure you have heard this all before. And well you probably have as they are easy ways to keep metabolism fired up. Don’t worry though there are some more un orthodox tips coming up which will make your metabolism burn like its on fire!!!
—>Protein, Keeping a nice serving of protein in all your meals will do a great job of getting your metabolism going as Protein requires the most calories to burn increasing your metabolic rate, As well as this protein allows your body to build muscle and the more muscle you have the more calories your body will burn, knocking your metabolism up a gear. Whey Protein, Chicken, Tuna, eggs, Low fat cheese and milk are all great sources of protein and try and include a good serving with all your meals.
—>Green Tea, No its not only for yoga teachers, all of us should be sipping at green tea and even taking the capsuled forms as it is a great metabolic booster and can make your body burn up-to 400 extra calories a day if you drink 4-5 cups a day. If you lead a hectic lifestyle and do not have the time to drink constant green tea I recommend you buy a good green tea supplement like that of Primaforce and take one capsule in the morning with breakfast.
—>Chili’s, Add them to anything except breakfast(unless of course you enjoy it with your cereal), grab some cayenne, crushed chillies or tabasco and add it to your Pasta, salad, chicken and just about anything else, on top of making your food taste good. Hot foods will raise your heart rate which will increase your metabolism for a few hours after eating.
—>Grapefruit, personally I like to start the day with a serving of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice or half a grapefruit 20 minuted before I eat breakfast. This is because Grapefruit has been shown to regulate blood sugar levels which is essential in the morning and will stop you craving all day, give it a try its amazing! if you find it too tangy sprinkle some splenda on top, but after a few days of eating the grapefruit you will get used to the bitter taste and start to enjoy it without the extra sweetener.
—>Cinnamon, Sprinkle it on anything you like. Cinnamon helps your body metabolize sugar and therefore stop your body storing excess sugar as fat. Try it on banana’s or your cereal its delicious.
If you follow these rules your metabolism will be firing on all cylinders making you a fat torching machine
This is an old article of mine that was featured on lifespy
Source: http://nodiets.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/burn-fat-fast-speeding-up-your-metabolism/
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Thursday, June 11
Losing Your Belly Fat Naturally
It wasn't all that long ago when a strong set of arms really defined the sexiness of an individual but that has changed in recent years. It has a lot to do with the fact that people are showing more of their abdominals whenever they are out in public and for that reason, a sexy stomach has really replaced arms as the definition of physical fitness. That is why people will work on this area of the body to an excessive degree.
You might not be aware of this but the fact of the matter is that many of us are working our abdominal muscles in the wrong way. We may be embarrassed to show our abs in public because of a layer of fat that is covering over our muscles and not allowing that six pack to shine through.
In order for us to truly understand what we need to do to get the abs that we want, it is often necessary for us to look at it from a new perspective. First of all, it doesn't matter how hard you work your abdominals, that is not the way for you to get the good looking abs that you're looking for. This is a truth that is often hidden under much of the misinformation that we get from infomercials and other weight loss products.
In order for you to truly get the abdominal muscles that you want, it is necessary for you to look at other areas of your body. You're never going to lose fat from one area of your body and not lose it from others. If you have a layer of fat on your stomach, you have a layer of fat on almost your entire body, although it may not be as recognizable. Losing fat from one area of your body necessitates that you lose it from other areas as well.
Another thing that is true is that the larger muscles of your body are what is going to burn the fat off of your abs, not the ab muscles themselves. The leg muscles and at times, the muscles in the core of the body are the ones that you really need to concentrate on building. If you work out your legs on a regular basis, your body is going to be leaner as a result.
There is a simple formula that you need to keep in mind in this regard. Every pound of muscle that you have on your body is going to burn 60 calories every single day without any extra effort on your part. 10 pounds of muscle in your body will burn 600 calories every day, or a little bit over 1 pound of body fat every week.
If you're working the larger muscles of your body whenever you are at the gym, you are going to notice results in the body fat composition of your body as a whole. The leg muscles are the easiest for you to bulk up, so make sure that you're working them first while you're at the gym.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Losing-Your-Belly-Fat-Naturally&id=2454426
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You might not be aware of this but the fact of the matter is that many of us are working our abdominal muscles in the wrong way. We may be embarrassed to show our abs in public because of a layer of fat that is covering over our muscles and not allowing that six pack to shine through.
In order for us to truly understand what we need to do to get the abs that we want, it is often necessary for us to look at it from a new perspective. First of all, it doesn't matter how hard you work your abdominals, that is not the way for you to get the good looking abs that you're looking for. This is a truth that is often hidden under much of the misinformation that we get from infomercials and other weight loss products.
In order for you to truly get the abdominal muscles that you want, it is necessary for you to look at other areas of your body. You're never going to lose fat from one area of your body and not lose it from others. If you have a layer of fat on your stomach, you have a layer of fat on almost your entire body, although it may not be as recognizable. Losing fat from one area of your body necessitates that you lose it from other areas as well.
Another thing that is true is that the larger muscles of your body are what is going to burn the fat off of your abs, not the ab muscles themselves. The leg muscles and at times, the muscles in the core of the body are the ones that you really need to concentrate on building. If you work out your legs on a regular basis, your body is going to be leaner as a result.
There is a simple formula that you need to keep in mind in this regard. Every pound of muscle that you have on your body is going to burn 60 calories every single day without any extra effort on your part. 10 pounds of muscle in your body will burn 600 calories every day, or a little bit over 1 pound of body fat every week.
If you're working the larger muscles of your body whenever you are at the gym, you are going to notice results in the body fat composition of your body as a whole. The leg muscles are the easiest for you to bulk up, so make sure that you're working them first while you're at the gym.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Losing-Your-Belly-Fat-Naturally&id=2454426
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How to Lose Fat and Build Muscle With Exercise - 3 Exercises That Works Fast
Here I'm going to show you how to lose fat and build muscle with exercise.
Yes losing weight is great, but we also need to build some lean muscle along the way to be healthy and to gain a good amount of strength for good health.
Check out Compound exercises. These are exercises that involves more than one muscle and are the most effective when it comes to burning fat and building muscle all over your body.
If you don't or for some reason can't go to the gym, there are simple exercises you can do at home, but you have to do them at least 3 times per week, and make sure you end them with some stretches that last at least 5 minutes so that you won't be sore the next day or so.
1. First you can do some stretches, you can call this the warmup.
2. Do some leg squats. Back up against the wall and slide down until your legs are at a 90 degree angle. Then hold yourself in that spot for at least 15 seconds, then glide back up and start the process again. Do this for about 10-15 times and you're all set until the next time.
3. Push ups are very effective when done on a regular basis, at least 3 times per week. Make sure you Google in "compound exercises" to get a better understanding about them and to find out how much and how often to do them without over doing yourself.
Doing compound exercises combined with a well balanced diet can do wonders for you if you can make the commitment to stick with it. You asked, "how to lose fat and build muscle with exercise?" and I gave you a good place to start, and it works.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Lose-Fat-and-Build-Muscle-With-Exercise---3-Exercises-That-Works-Fast&id=2455056
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Yes losing weight is great, but we also need to build some lean muscle along the way to be healthy and to gain a good amount of strength for good health.
Check out Compound exercises. These are exercises that involves more than one muscle and are the most effective when it comes to burning fat and building muscle all over your body.
If you don't or for some reason can't go to the gym, there are simple exercises you can do at home, but you have to do them at least 3 times per week, and make sure you end them with some stretches that last at least 5 minutes so that you won't be sore the next day or so.
1. First you can do some stretches, you can call this the warmup.
2. Do some leg squats. Back up against the wall and slide down until your legs are at a 90 degree angle. Then hold yourself in that spot for at least 15 seconds, then glide back up and start the process again. Do this for about 10-15 times and you're all set until the next time.
3. Push ups are very effective when done on a regular basis, at least 3 times per week. Make sure you Google in "compound exercises" to get a better understanding about them and to find out how much and how often to do them without over doing yourself.
Doing compound exercises combined with a well balanced diet can do wonders for you if you can make the commitment to stick with it. You asked, "how to lose fat and build muscle with exercise?" and I gave you a good place to start, and it works.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Lose-Fat-and-Build-Muscle-With-Exercise---3-Exercises-That-Works-Fast&id=2455056
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Mind Control to Lose Weight
We all want to lose weight, gain muscle and be healthier, but the trouble is that these things never seem to come to us. There is a reason for this and it is simply that we do not make small changes in our mindset to bring about the big changes.
For instance let's say that you want to lose weight. You try every diet for a few weeks only to fall off and fall into your old habits. Even the people on the Biggest Loser tend to gain their weight back and do you know why this is? The mind is not changed. You need to change your mind before the outward changes are going to manifest for you.
The best way to change your mind is not to one day say "I want to be thin" actually the best way to say this in your mind would be "I am thin" since your mind will accept the now but does not really understand the future and the past when making change.
The next thing that you need to do to make those changes in your life is to do the small things. To lose weight of course you need to clean out your cupboards but that is not going to help you at the grocery store, instead you have to change your mind on what you like and do not like for food. No one that I know of really likes rice cakes but they will always eat them to lose weight. What would be the point of eating rice cakes at home and then eating lots of cake when you go out for dinner?
The best way ot think of what you will eat is to change your mind from craving snacks and desserts all the time to changing to eating different fruits and vegetables in a way that is simple and really tasty. Change the way you think from wanting pie to wanting fruit salad instead.
This is the real crux of the whole diet dilemma. anyone can do a diet for a week or two but after that you are convinced that you can go back at least a little bit to those foods that you ate before so instead it is critical to change to eating the foods that are healthy, revel in that and make sure they taste good so that the lifestyle is changed to eating those instead of the food that is bad for you.
Food is not the only place where you want to make these changes in your head. When it comes to exercise often we will think that to lose weight we have to exercise. Instead the exercise mindset must be changed to "I want to exercise because it makes me feel good". So how do you make the changes to have your mind really believe that? First you need to exercise with the goal in the end not in losing weight but in feeling better, having more energy, and better stamina and concentration.
No one wants that feeling of exhaustion in the gym initially it is really uncomfortable and when the going gets tough you will want to stop since it seems like it is doing nothing anyway. If you focus instead on the idea that every workout is helping all these other parts of your life then you will see the results not only on the scale but in other parts of your life and you will continue to do those workouts for all the right reasons.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Mind-Control-to-Lose-Weight&id=2454805
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For instance let's say that you want to lose weight. You try every diet for a few weeks only to fall off and fall into your old habits. Even the people on the Biggest Loser tend to gain their weight back and do you know why this is? The mind is not changed. You need to change your mind before the outward changes are going to manifest for you.
The best way to change your mind is not to one day say "I want to be thin" actually the best way to say this in your mind would be "I am thin" since your mind will accept the now but does not really understand the future and the past when making change.
The next thing that you need to do to make those changes in your life is to do the small things. To lose weight of course you need to clean out your cupboards but that is not going to help you at the grocery store, instead you have to change your mind on what you like and do not like for food. No one that I know of really likes rice cakes but they will always eat them to lose weight. What would be the point of eating rice cakes at home and then eating lots of cake when you go out for dinner?
The best way ot think of what you will eat is to change your mind from craving snacks and desserts all the time to changing to eating different fruits and vegetables in a way that is simple and really tasty. Change the way you think from wanting pie to wanting fruit salad instead.
This is the real crux of the whole diet dilemma. anyone can do a diet for a week or two but after that you are convinced that you can go back at least a little bit to those foods that you ate before so instead it is critical to change to eating the foods that are healthy, revel in that and make sure they taste good so that the lifestyle is changed to eating those instead of the food that is bad for you.
Food is not the only place where you want to make these changes in your head. When it comes to exercise often we will think that to lose weight we have to exercise. Instead the exercise mindset must be changed to "I want to exercise because it makes me feel good". So how do you make the changes to have your mind really believe that? First you need to exercise with the goal in the end not in losing weight but in feeling better, having more energy, and better stamina and concentration.
No one wants that feeling of exhaustion in the gym initially it is really uncomfortable and when the going gets tough you will want to stop since it seems like it is doing nothing anyway. If you focus instead on the idea that every workout is helping all these other parts of your life then you will see the results not only on the scale but in other parts of your life and you will continue to do those workouts for all the right reasons.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Mind-Control-to-Lose-Weight&id=2454805
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Acai Berry - What is Acai Berry and Why Should it Bother You?
Has a previous ill encounter with the claims that accompany health products left you skeptical of trying anything new? Read on to find out why you cannot afford to miss this great way to lose weight with the acai berry supplement.
Acai Berry Is Tried And Tested
Having benefited the South American natives for centuries now, the acai berry fruit has recently found admirers across the globe owing to its miraculous properties. The claims of renowned experts like Dr. Perricone and Dr. Oz have further strengthened people's faith in it.
It Offers Amazing Benefits
This gift of nature is a must try if you are determined to get rid of those extra pounds. From helping you lose weight quickly without spending hours at the gym or living off that harsh diet regime to increasing your energy levels and fighting the aging process- this unique food does it all.
It Could Change Your Life Too
The magical effects of this product are enough to raise a plethora of doubts in the mind of a thinking soul. Having said that, if one devotes some time reviewing the wonder stories its users have to narrate; all that skepticism would vanish in thin air. After all, who wouldn't prefer a fit and healthy life over a fat one?
You too could change your life big time by incorporating this small wonder in your diet. No matter you shop for it online or at some health store, make sure that you go in for a reputed brand in order to lay your hands on a genuine enough product.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Acai-Berry---What-is-Acai-Berry-and-Why-Should-it-Bother-You?&id=2455172
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Acai Berry Is Tried And Tested
Having benefited the South American natives for centuries now, the acai berry fruit has recently found admirers across the globe owing to its miraculous properties. The claims of renowned experts like Dr. Perricone and Dr. Oz have further strengthened people's faith in it.
It Offers Amazing Benefits
This gift of nature is a must try if you are determined to get rid of those extra pounds. From helping you lose weight quickly without spending hours at the gym or living off that harsh diet regime to increasing your energy levels and fighting the aging process- this unique food does it all.
It Could Change Your Life Too
The magical effects of this product are enough to raise a plethora of doubts in the mind of a thinking soul. Having said that, if one devotes some time reviewing the wonder stories its users have to narrate; all that skepticism would vanish in thin air. After all, who wouldn't prefer a fit and healthy life over a fat one?
You too could change your life big time by incorporating this small wonder in your diet. No matter you shop for it online or at some health store, make sure that you go in for a reputed brand in order to lay your hands on a genuine enough product.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Acai-Berry---What-is-Acai-Berry-and-Why-Should-it-Bother-You?&id=2455172
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Lose Belly Fat Fast - The Magic Way to Stop Fat From Being Digested
Have you been trying to get rid of your belly fat for long without any genuine success? Unfortunately, you are not alone in this situation! The word "magic" in the title may have drawn your attention. It is not a trap! Imagine there is a natural food able to prevent fat from being digested? It would be magic, isn't it? This substance does exist! It comes from crustaceans.
Shells of Crustaceans
Chitin, a polysaccharide isolated from mushrooms, was first discovered by a French chemist Mr. Henry Braconnot about two centuries ago. Later on, chitin was discovered in the shells of aquatic crustaceans and other arthropods (lobsters and crabs). Chitin can be chemically converted into the more valuable chitosan.
Chitosan Properties
Chitosan is a natural substance (with a structure that looks like cellulose) known as "the fat magnet" because of its capacity to act as a lipid binder at the rate to 5 to 10 times its weight.
Advantages
As you probably know, human body cannot digest fiber very well. When someone takes a dietary supplement of chitosan it passes through the gastrointestinal tract with an amount of fat bound to it and finally both of them, fiber and lipid, are eliminated through feces. As the result, this dietary supplement would help its consumer to lose both weight and fat. It would have weight loss properties. Additionally, it has also been observed that this substance can lower plasma cholesterol and triglycerides.
Disadvantages
In theory, chitosan is the perfect natural product to lose fat fast. But, there are a lot of controversies about its activity. Many scientists are skeptical about its capacity to play the role of a fat-blocker. Why? Because recent clinical studies on humans were not able to corroborate its famous biochemical function! In fact, during many years, studies were just conducted on animals!
Moreover, regular absorption of high-dose chitosan supplements induces a depletion of all the liposoluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K) and some essential minerals (such as calcium and magnesium).
Are there other Losing fat programs without any disadvantages?
As we have mentioned in the introduction, it would be magic to find something natural able to stop dietary fat from being digested. It does exist, it's not a lie, but it seems to work just on laboratory animals. Are you a little bit disappointed? Don't give up! Stick with healthy eating habits and regular exercise.
Social Bookmarking
Shells of Crustaceans
Chitin, a polysaccharide isolated from mushrooms, was first discovered by a French chemist Mr. Henry Braconnot about two centuries ago. Later on, chitin was discovered in the shells of aquatic crustaceans and other arthropods (lobsters and crabs). Chitin can be chemically converted into the more valuable chitosan.
Chitosan Properties
Chitosan is a natural substance (with a structure that looks like cellulose) known as "the fat magnet" because of its capacity to act as a lipid binder at the rate to 5 to 10 times its weight.
Advantages
As you probably know, human body cannot digest fiber very well. When someone takes a dietary supplement of chitosan it passes through the gastrointestinal tract with an amount of fat bound to it and finally both of them, fiber and lipid, are eliminated through feces. As the result, this dietary supplement would help its consumer to lose both weight and fat. It would have weight loss properties. Additionally, it has also been observed that this substance can lower plasma cholesterol and triglycerides.
Disadvantages
In theory, chitosan is the perfect natural product to lose fat fast. But, there are a lot of controversies about its activity. Many scientists are skeptical about its capacity to play the role of a fat-blocker. Why? Because recent clinical studies on humans were not able to corroborate its famous biochemical function! In fact, during many years, studies were just conducted on animals!
Moreover, regular absorption of high-dose chitosan supplements induces a depletion of all the liposoluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K) and some essential minerals (such as calcium and magnesium).
Are there other Losing fat programs without any disadvantages?
As we have mentioned in the introduction, it would be magic to find something natural able to stop dietary fat from being digested. It does exist, it's not a lie, but it seems to work just on laboratory animals. Are you a little bit disappointed? Don't give up! Stick with healthy eating habits and regular exercise.
Social Bookmarking
Weight Loss the Easy Way - Creative Weight Loss Techniques
I call the following tips weight loss the easy way because they are small things that you'll do. The goal is to look and feel better and these small, easy tips are part of creative weight loss.
Chart your exercise habits and be in touch with your bodies feelings such as high or low energy points. Write all of this down to keep a record of how much progress you're making.
Bar graphs are perfect for really seeing the progress of your weight loss or inches reduced or increases in push-up or whatever it is you are doing in your weight loss program.
Being sure to get a substantial amount of sleep is an important part of weight loss the easy way. If you are exercising during the day your body will continue to burn fat while you're sleeping. Losing weight creatively means getting enough sleep and understanding the importance of feeling rested.
It's critical that you work on lessening any stress you have in your life. Stress will cause an increase in fat producing hormones. If you can get a grip on stress, you will find losing weight to be easier and you'll be happier.
Weight loss the easy way includes using techniques such as self hypnosis. There are many training manuals available and it's a cheap and effective method that you can do alone.
Let's make losing weight fun by getting into the habit of dancing at different times of the day. Put on some music you like and shake it on down. You'll fee better and be burning calories and fat.
Do some deep breathing as often as you can every day. It reduces your stress level and is a really healthy habit to get into. I hope that you will spend some time to be creative and to come up with your own ideas. Spend some time thinking and the ideas you come up with will be the most successful.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Weight-Loss-the-Easy-Way---Creative-Weight-Loss-Techniques&id=2456161
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Chart your exercise habits and be in touch with your bodies feelings such as high or low energy points. Write all of this down to keep a record of how much progress you're making.
Bar graphs are perfect for really seeing the progress of your weight loss or inches reduced or increases in push-up or whatever it is you are doing in your weight loss program.
Being sure to get a substantial amount of sleep is an important part of weight loss the easy way. If you are exercising during the day your body will continue to burn fat while you're sleeping. Losing weight creatively means getting enough sleep and understanding the importance of feeling rested.
It's critical that you work on lessening any stress you have in your life. Stress will cause an increase in fat producing hormones. If you can get a grip on stress, you will find losing weight to be easier and you'll be happier.
Weight loss the easy way includes using techniques such as self hypnosis. There are many training manuals available and it's a cheap and effective method that you can do alone.
Let's make losing weight fun by getting into the habit of dancing at different times of the day. Put on some music you like and shake it on down. You'll fee better and be burning calories and fat.
Do some deep breathing as often as you can every day. It reduces your stress level and is a really healthy habit to get into. I hope that you will spend some time to be creative and to come up with your own ideas. Spend some time thinking and the ideas you come up with will be the most successful.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Weight-Loss-the-Easy-Way---Creative-Weight-Loss-Techniques&id=2456161
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The Essential Steps For Removing Belly Fat For Men Over 40
I'm in my 50's and fight like hell every day to keep my fat level down. At one point last year I got fed up with being 260 pounds and 30 percent body fat. I was having back trouble just washing dishes. Now I was not exactly a couch potato, but I did not pay attention to the fact that I no longer worked out at the intensity or the frequency that I did when I was young, single and did not have two kids to yell at regularly.
If you are over 40 and still eat the same kinds of food and at the same quantity that you did when you were 20, you are kidding yourself, (unless you were such a freak at 20 that you ate 100% healthy foods in line with your BMI). There are a few people blessed with great genetics and monstrously good discipline. I don't know any and probably never will but here's the key, they probably never will fall off the wagon and need to figure out how to get back on. We humans who don't workout for a living or train five hours a day to look good for the camera have to find our own incentive to stay fit and healthy.
Here's my recipe for blasting your belly fat to shreds:
1. Eat like a cat - My cat eats seven or eight times a day. She waltzes over to her bowl and chows down for a few minutes and walks away. The amount of food that she eats in one sitting in very small, less than a tablespoon. She runs around all night and sleeps all day.
Unlike other cats her age, she is slim and trim. Eat meals that are no bigger than your fist.
2. Get your 30 minutes of aerobic exercise in at least five days a week.
If you are trying to lose fat, you'll need to do it every day until you reach your goal. I recommend that you get at least three days of strength training in along with your seven days of aerobic exercise. Strength training will build your muscles as you burn fat. The combination of strength training and aerobic exercise will trigger your metabolic rate and cause your body to burn fat like crazy.
3. Drink lots of water. If you are working out as much as I mentioned, you'll need to carry a gallon jug of water with you and finish it by bed time. You will need to keep your system flushed. Don't drink it in large gulps. Sip the water all day long and if possible, keep it cold.
4. Get lots of rest when you are training. Your body needs the time to break down your cells and regenerate them, making them stronger and more capable of handling the next workload.
If you want to bust your gut fat, you have to get intense about diet and exercise. Those fitness models on TV promoting the ab blasters and other consumer products spend a lot of time in the gym. That's because they make their money based on how they look.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Essential-Steps-For-Removing-Belly-Fat-For-Men-Over-40&id=2456248
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If you are over 40 and still eat the same kinds of food and at the same quantity that you did when you were 20, you are kidding yourself, (unless you were such a freak at 20 that you ate 100% healthy foods in line with your BMI). There are a few people blessed with great genetics and monstrously good discipline. I don't know any and probably never will but here's the key, they probably never will fall off the wagon and need to figure out how to get back on. We humans who don't workout for a living or train five hours a day to look good for the camera have to find our own incentive to stay fit and healthy.
Here's my recipe for blasting your belly fat to shreds:
1. Eat like a cat - My cat eats seven or eight times a day. She waltzes over to her bowl and chows down for a few minutes and walks away. The amount of food that she eats in one sitting in very small, less than a tablespoon. She runs around all night and sleeps all day.
Unlike other cats her age, she is slim and trim. Eat meals that are no bigger than your fist.
2. Get your 30 minutes of aerobic exercise in at least five days a week.
If you are trying to lose fat, you'll need to do it every day until you reach your goal. I recommend that you get at least three days of strength training in along with your seven days of aerobic exercise. Strength training will build your muscles as you burn fat. The combination of strength training and aerobic exercise will trigger your metabolic rate and cause your body to burn fat like crazy.
3. Drink lots of water. If you are working out as much as I mentioned, you'll need to carry a gallon jug of water with you and finish it by bed time. You will need to keep your system flushed. Don't drink it in large gulps. Sip the water all day long and if possible, keep it cold.
4. Get lots of rest when you are training. Your body needs the time to break down your cells and regenerate them, making them stronger and more capable of handling the next workload.
If you want to bust your gut fat, you have to get intense about diet and exercise. Those fitness models on TV promoting the ab blasters and other consumer products spend a lot of time in the gym. That's because they make their money based on how they look.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Essential-Steps-For-Removing-Belly-Fat-For-Men-Over-40&id=2456248
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Losing Belly Fat Quickly at Home
If there is one thing that more people are interested in than anything else, it's weight loss and getting as healthy as possible. Some people go through periods of time in her life whenever they consider weight loss to be important and other times at the don't think much about it. Other people, however, obsess over weight loss and weight gain and these are the ones that typically have the hardest time losing any weight at all.
There are a few reasons why people are having such a difficult time with their weight, and more than likely you are probably familiar with those reasons. We live busy lives and as a result, we tend to eat the wrong things because they are readily available. We also tend to lead lives which are rather sedentary and a lack of exercise certainly can contribute to a considerable amount of weight gain.
Fortunately, you're not left without options as far as how you can lose weight but it is necessary for you to understand the basics about weight loss before you do anything else. Weight loss is more of a science than an emotional necessity and at times, it is necessary for you to forget everything that you know about weight loss in order to fill your mind with accurate ideas. Here are a few that may have escaped you.
One of the main reasons why we gain weight is because most of us are insulin resistant to a certain extent. If our insulin is unable to take care of all of the sugar in our system or if we flood our bodies with insulin regularly because we eat sugary foods, much of that sugar is going to be stored as fat until the body can get around to assimilating it. Unfortunately, it never gets around to it.
One of the best things that you can do if you want to lose body fat is to watch the type of food that you're eating, not necessarily restricting yourself from the amount that you are eating. The reason why this is the case is because some foods that you eat are going to be released slowly into the bloodstream and this will keep your insulin levels low. These are known as low glycemic foods.
The glycemic index is an often forgotten list of foods which indicates how quickly the sugar from the food is released into your body. If you only eat foods that are low on the glycemic index, your insulin level will remain steady throughout the day and weight loss will be much easier. Not only that, you will avoid many of the highs and lows that you're probably feeling right now.
Although there is more to weight loss that eating properly, it is been proven that it is the most important aspect of it. Make sure that you stay away from the foods that you shouldn't eat but eat plenty of those that are low glycemic and healthy for you. The weight will begin to come off naturally very quickly.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Losing-Belly-Fat-Quickly-at-Home&id=2454393
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There are a few reasons why people are having such a difficult time with their weight, and more than likely you are probably familiar with those reasons. We live busy lives and as a result, we tend to eat the wrong things because they are readily available. We also tend to lead lives which are rather sedentary and a lack of exercise certainly can contribute to a considerable amount of weight gain.
Fortunately, you're not left without options as far as how you can lose weight but it is necessary for you to understand the basics about weight loss before you do anything else. Weight loss is more of a science than an emotional necessity and at times, it is necessary for you to forget everything that you know about weight loss in order to fill your mind with accurate ideas. Here are a few that may have escaped you.
One of the main reasons why we gain weight is because most of us are insulin resistant to a certain extent. If our insulin is unable to take care of all of the sugar in our system or if we flood our bodies with insulin regularly because we eat sugary foods, much of that sugar is going to be stored as fat until the body can get around to assimilating it. Unfortunately, it never gets around to it.
One of the best things that you can do if you want to lose body fat is to watch the type of food that you're eating, not necessarily restricting yourself from the amount that you are eating. The reason why this is the case is because some foods that you eat are going to be released slowly into the bloodstream and this will keep your insulin levels low. These are known as low glycemic foods.
The glycemic index is an often forgotten list of foods which indicates how quickly the sugar from the food is released into your body. If you only eat foods that are low on the glycemic index, your insulin level will remain steady throughout the day and weight loss will be much easier. Not only that, you will avoid many of the highs and lows that you're probably feeling right now.
Although there is more to weight loss that eating properly, it is been proven that it is the most important aspect of it. Make sure that you stay away from the foods that you shouldn't eat but eat plenty of those that are low glycemic and healthy for you. The weight will begin to come off naturally very quickly.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Losing-Belly-Fat-Quickly-at-Home&id=2454393
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Abs Exercise For Stomach Fat
The most effective abs exercise for stomach fat has little to do with sit-up or ab crunch(though these have a part that they play, but rather exercises that work on the entire body are by far more productive. Abdominal exercises like sit-up and crunches do not get rid of fat in the stomach it only firm up the stomach muscles but the fat still remains in the stomach.
If you are looking for abs exercises for stomach fat you will have to do exercises that will increase your body metabolism such as cardio exercises like jogging, walking,swimming, cycling etc. If you suddenly realize that your stomach is flabbier than it used to be then there is the likelihood that other parts of you body has also gathered additional fat even if you have not realized it; it just that the stomach is easily the most noticeable.
You cannot get rid of fat in just a particular part of your body in isolation of other part of the body, so if you are exercising just for the belly without doing exercises that will also involve other parts of body and reducing your fat intake then you will not experience a change.
cardio exercises with increase you heart rate and also increase your metabolism. Follow this regimen on a daily basis:
1. Do some heavy jogging or running for about 1-2 mins.
2. Then slow down to about 3-4 mins of casual jogging or walking.
3. Do this 8-10 times.
4. Take a 5 mins break and go through the entire process again.
Combined with a healthy diet, cardio exercises like jogging, walking and swimming are the best abs exercises to get rid of stomach fat because it increase you metabolism which burns excess calorie from your body.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Abs-Exercise-For-Stomach-Fat&id=2455411
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If you are looking for abs exercises for stomach fat you will have to do exercises that will increase your body metabolism such as cardio exercises like jogging, walking,swimming, cycling etc. If you suddenly realize that your stomach is flabbier than it used to be then there is the likelihood that other parts of you body has also gathered additional fat even if you have not realized it; it just that the stomach is easily the most noticeable.
You cannot get rid of fat in just a particular part of your body in isolation of other part of the body, so if you are exercising just for the belly without doing exercises that will also involve other parts of body and reducing your fat intake then you will not experience a change.
cardio exercises with increase you heart rate and also increase your metabolism. Follow this regimen on a daily basis:
1. Do some heavy jogging or running for about 1-2 mins.
2. Then slow down to about 3-4 mins of casual jogging or walking.
3. Do this 8-10 times.
4. Take a 5 mins break and go through the entire process again.
Combined with a healthy diet, cardio exercises like jogging, walking and swimming are the best abs exercises to get rid of stomach fat because it increase you metabolism which burns excess calorie from your body.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Abs-Exercise-For-Stomach-Fat&id=2455411
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Monday, February 2
Do Eye Care Vitamins Work?
I had gone to my eye doctor for my regular check up and we discovered that my left eye was showing signs of less than perfect vision. It was not bad enough to require glasses but he said that at some point I may need to look into them if my vision continues to deteriorate. It was then that I asked him about eye care vitamins. I had heard about vitamin A and Lutein, as well as others. Did these eye vitamins really do anything or was it just a scam concocted by the manufacturers. The eye doctor went on to tell me that research as indicated that certain vitamins are critical for proper eye health. Many of these are ingested through a proper diet but that taking supplements is simply an insurance policy. considering that my vision was showing signs of deterioration now was a good time for me to look into eye care vitamins for eye health.
When I got home I turned to the internet for information on the types of vitamins that are recommended for eye health. Surprizingly there are quite a few more than I realized. Vitamins such as A,C,E, Zinc, and Copper were the ones that I read about the most but there were over 20 different ones that were recommended for eye health. I wanted to find a complete supplement that did not included any dairy, gluten, salt or fillers of any kind. The eye doctor also told me that I may notice an improvement with my dry eyes. At different times of the years this dry, pain in my eyes can be a real problem. Not only are these eye care vitamins good for the eyes but many of them have other important health benefits for the body as well. All in all I thought taking a specialized supplement was a good idea and my doctor agreed. I admit it was a bit scary to have the doctor tell me that my vision was not as good as it had been in the past. It was a real wake up call for me to start to care for my eyes.
Many of us just take our good vision for granted. I fall right into that category. It is only when we begin to loose that great eye sight that we begin to consider the potential benefits of eye care vitamins. If I can keep from getting glasses and hold onto the vision that I have I am more then willing to take my vitamins.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-Eye-Care-Vitamins-Work?&id=1815119
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When I got home I turned to the internet for information on the types of vitamins that are recommended for eye health. Surprizingly there are quite a few more than I realized. Vitamins such as A,C,E, Zinc, and Copper were the ones that I read about the most but there were over 20 different ones that were recommended for eye health. I wanted to find a complete supplement that did not included any dairy, gluten, salt or fillers of any kind. The eye doctor also told me that I may notice an improvement with my dry eyes. At different times of the years this dry, pain in my eyes can be a real problem. Not only are these eye care vitamins good for the eyes but many of them have other important health benefits for the body as well. All in all I thought taking a specialized supplement was a good idea and my doctor agreed. I admit it was a bit scary to have the doctor tell me that my vision was not as good as it had been in the past. It was a real wake up call for me to start to care for my eyes.
Many of us just take our good vision for granted. I fall right into that category. It is only when we begin to loose that great eye sight that we begin to consider the potential benefits of eye care vitamins. If I can keep from getting glasses and hold onto the vision that I have I am more then willing to take my vitamins.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-Eye-Care-Vitamins-Work?&id=1815119
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Mom's obesity tied to higher infant mortality
Babies born to obese moms died more often in first 28 days of life
Research shows that babies born to obese mothers are at increased risk for dying, particularly in the first weeks of life, compared to babies born to normal-weight mothers.
Given high infant mortality rates in the US as compared to other developed nations, the researchers say, if the results are confirmed, obesity prevention should be explored as a measure to reduce infant mortality.
Obese pregnant women are known to be at greater risk of fetal death, while there is also some evidence that death rates are higher among babies born to obese women, according to Dr. Aimin Chen of Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska and colleagues.
To investigate the relationship in more detail, the researchers compared records for 4,265 babies who died in infancy and 7,293 surviving babies, using data from the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey.
Among the infants that died, 8.8 percent had obese mothers, compared to 5.9 percent of surviving infants. Babies born to obese women were at greater risk of death in their first year, and were also more likely to die in their first 28 days of life than infants born to normal-weight women.
Risk highest among heaviest mothers
While risk was increased for obese women no matter how much weight they gained, infant mortality was greatest among women who gained the most weight (0.45 kilogram or one pound and up each week), who were at nearly triple the risk of infant death. Risk was the second-highest for the obese women who gained the least weight (less than 0.15 kg or 0.33 pound a week), who were at 1.75 times greater risk of infant death.
A similar pattern was seen among overweight women, with those who gained the most weight and those who gained the least at highest risk.
A mother's pre-pregnancy body mass index had the greatest influence on neonatal death. Deaths due to complications of pregnancy, labor and delivery as well as problems related to preterm birth or low birth weight were higher among infants born to all obese women, no matter how much weight a woman gained in pregnancy; however, increased risk of death due to respiratory problems, birth defects, and SIDS was only seen for the obese women in the highest weight-gain category.
One problem with their study, Chen and colleagues point out, is that the data is "old;" since 1988, the prevalence of obesity and the average amount of weight women gain during pregnancy has increased, while infant morality rates have dropped by around 20 percent. However, they note, deaths related to prematurity or low birth weight have not seen declined and may even be on the rise, "which may be related to increasing obesity and infertility treatment
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28936421/#storyContinued
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Research shows that babies born to obese mothers are at increased risk for dying, particularly in the first weeks of life, compared to babies born to normal-weight mothers.
Given high infant mortality rates in the US as compared to other developed nations, the researchers say, if the results are confirmed, obesity prevention should be explored as a measure to reduce infant mortality.
Obese pregnant women are known to be at greater risk of fetal death, while there is also some evidence that death rates are higher among babies born to obese women, according to Dr. Aimin Chen of Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska and colleagues.
To investigate the relationship in more detail, the researchers compared records for 4,265 babies who died in infancy and 7,293 surviving babies, using data from the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey.
Among the infants that died, 8.8 percent had obese mothers, compared to 5.9 percent of surviving infants. Babies born to obese women were at greater risk of death in their first year, and were also more likely to die in their first 28 days of life than infants born to normal-weight women.
Risk highest among heaviest mothers
While risk was increased for obese women no matter how much weight they gained, infant mortality was greatest among women who gained the most weight (0.45 kilogram or one pound and up each week), who were at nearly triple the risk of infant death. Risk was the second-highest for the obese women who gained the least weight (less than 0.15 kg or 0.33 pound a week), who were at 1.75 times greater risk of infant death.
A similar pattern was seen among overweight women, with those who gained the most weight and those who gained the least at highest risk.
A mother's pre-pregnancy body mass index had the greatest influence on neonatal death. Deaths due to complications of pregnancy, labor and delivery as well as problems related to preterm birth or low birth weight were higher among infants born to all obese women, no matter how much weight a woman gained in pregnancy; however, increased risk of death due to respiratory problems, birth defects, and SIDS was only seen for the obese women in the highest weight-gain category.
One problem with their study, Chen and colleagues point out, is that the data is "old;" since 1988, the prevalence of obesity and the average amount of weight women gain during pregnancy has increased, while infant morality rates have dropped by around 20 percent. However, they note, deaths related to prematurity or low birth weight have not seen declined and may even be on the rise, "which may be related to increasing obesity and infertility treatment
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28936421/#storyContinued
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Tuesday, January 13
More workers get massage and yoga on company time (press release)
One U.S. West Coast marketing agency encourages employees to stop work and duck out for massages, while at one New York hedge fund, workers break during the day for yoga classes.
More companies are offering employees the on-site pleasures of massage and yoga, not just to make their staff happy but to be competitive and even boost the bottom line.
Such programs, once the provenance of nontraditional companies but now popular in bastions of business, help retain employees in a job market where they might easily leave to work for a competitor, companies say.
"We have to do whatever we can to keep our employees happy. There's a lot of competition right now in our industry," said Tracy Cote, head of human resources at San Francisco-based Organic Inc., a digital marketing agency that is part of Omnicom Group Inc..
"There's been an upswing in the market in the past 12 months. Business is better for us, but business also is better for our competitors," she said. "It's all about recruiting and retaining."
Organic first offered on-site massage once a month and, due to demand, increased to twice a month. Now it's grown so popular the company is considering offering it every week.
In a sign of their appeal, programs such as on-site massage -- when a company may hire a licensed masseuse to set up shop in a spare room -- typically show up as desirable factors in lists of the best U.S. places to work.
Companies are digging deeper into their pockets to pay for such benefits, said Meredith Stern, a partner at Infinite Massage in San Francisco.
ADDED PERK
"With the economy jumping up again, we have noticed that companies are adding this as a perk," she said. "They're trying to find ways to spend money on their employees to keep them, because it's harder to replace somebody."
A survey by Massage Therapy Journal found at most companies that offer massage, more than half added it in the last five years.
In or out of the workplace, some 47 million Americans got a massage in a 12-month period that ended last July, up by 2 million from the previous year, research shows.
"My argument is, you're going to do much better in terms of productivity if you allow your employees to get up and move around for a little bit, and it's better than smoking a cigarette or even having a cup of coffee," said Stern. "But I don't really have to make an argument these days."
In New York, a number of hedge funds offer employees massage or yoga during their workdays.
"It's wonderful, it's a stress reliever, it's good for employee morale," said a worker at one hedge fund.
Research shows massage can lower stress, tension and fatigue, and one study in the International Journal of Neuroscience showed people given massage therapy proved more alert and calculated math problems faster and more accurately.
Demand is on an upswing, said Michael Wald of Namaste New York, which offers anti-stress programs for offices.
"What I'm seeing is increased budgets," said Wald of his business clients. "Each year it has increased.
"I don't have a CEO saying, 'We made X amount of dollars more because of this. It's too hard to quantify," he added. "But morale and the atmosphere are better, and we're seeing a decrease in absenteeism as well as attrition."
At Organic, Cote compared the value of massage to an allegory about two people cutting down trees.
"One of them stops to sharpen their saw, and their tree is going to get cut down faster than the one who doesn't," she said. "That is true about the workplace."
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/019872.html
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More companies are offering employees the on-site pleasures of massage and yoga, not just to make their staff happy but to be competitive and even boost the bottom line.
Such programs, once the provenance of nontraditional companies but now popular in bastions of business, help retain employees in a job market where they might easily leave to work for a competitor, companies say.
"We have to do whatever we can to keep our employees happy. There's a lot of competition right now in our industry," said Tracy Cote, head of human resources at San Francisco-based Organic Inc., a digital marketing agency that is part of Omnicom Group Inc..
"There's been an upswing in the market in the past 12 months. Business is better for us, but business also is better for our competitors," she said. "It's all about recruiting and retaining."
Organic first offered on-site massage once a month and, due to demand, increased to twice a month. Now it's grown so popular the company is considering offering it every week.
In a sign of their appeal, programs such as on-site massage -- when a company may hire a licensed masseuse to set up shop in a spare room -- typically show up as desirable factors in lists of the best U.S. places to work.
Companies are digging deeper into their pockets to pay for such benefits, said Meredith Stern, a partner at Infinite Massage in San Francisco.
ADDED PERK
"With the economy jumping up again, we have noticed that companies are adding this as a perk," she said. "They're trying to find ways to spend money on their employees to keep them, because it's harder to replace somebody."
A survey by Massage Therapy Journal found at most companies that offer massage, more than half added it in the last five years.
In or out of the workplace, some 47 million Americans got a massage in a 12-month period that ended last July, up by 2 million from the previous year, research shows.
"My argument is, you're going to do much better in terms of productivity if you allow your employees to get up and move around for a little bit, and it's better than smoking a cigarette or even having a cup of coffee," said Stern. "But I don't really have to make an argument these days."
In New York, a number of hedge funds offer employees massage or yoga during their workdays.
"It's wonderful, it's a stress reliever, it's good for employee morale," said a worker at one hedge fund.
Research shows massage can lower stress, tension and fatigue, and one study in the International Journal of Neuroscience showed people given massage therapy proved more alert and calculated math problems faster and more accurately.
Demand is on an upswing, said Michael Wald of Namaste New York, which offers anti-stress programs for offices.
"What I'm seeing is increased budgets," said Wald of his business clients. "Each year it has increased.
"I don't have a CEO saying, 'We made X amount of dollars more because of this. It's too hard to quantify," he added. "But morale and the atmosphere are better, and we're seeing a decrease in absenteeism as well as attrition."
At Organic, Cote compared the value of massage to an allegory about two people cutting down trees.
"One of them stops to sharpen their saw, and their tree is going to get cut down faster than the one who doesn't," she said. "That is true about the workplace."
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/019872.html
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Massage Tips at Home
Massage is a lovely way of spending some quality time with your partner. With massage you can not only help each other to relax but also ease the aches and pains of work stress.
It can be hard to know where to begin so here are some tips to get you started:
Make sure the environment is conducive to relaxation:
1. Warm
2. Soft lighting
3. Work and household stuff out of the way
4. Some nice music
5. Scented candles or incense.
The first touch is the most important:
1. The first contact leads the way for the rest, a light gentle reassuring connecting touch lets the body know that its okay to relax and trust the massage.
2. Keep your hands soft, light and gentle rather than (heavy, hard and tense). Use your body for strength rather than your hands.
The massage itself:
1. Put very simply massage can be divided in to 3 sections:
- Warming the muscles
- Relaxing and releasing the muscles
- Integrating the part worked on back into the rest of the body
2. Strokes to experiment with:
Effleurage - this is a basic stroking movement. Using the palm of your hand, allow your hand to softly mould around the body part you are working on and with a medium pressure glide up and down the body, spreading the oil and ‘reading’ or scanning the body for tension spots. This stroke warms the muscles in preparation for deeper work.
Kneading - this is a rhythmic rolling motion with your fingers and thumbs picking up and rolling the muscle, similar to kneading bread. The slower and deeper the stoke, the more beneficial it is.
Wringing - using the whole of your hand with your thumbs close to your fingers move your hands over the area in alternate back and forth motions, in a continuous flow lifting the skin towards you with one hand and pushing it away with the other in a gentle wringing motion.
Friction - this is a stroke that is used to really release tension in muscles once they are warmed by the preceeding strokes. Find a spot that feels tight and using knuckles or your thumb gently lean into the tight spot, only moving in further as you feel the tissue release and let you in -rather than using force think of your hands melting into the muscle and gently persuading the tension to release.
Pummelling - make your hands into loose fists and let them rain and bounce off the muscle in a fast rhythmic beat, avoid bony spots, or any inflamed areas, and the area over the kidneys, adjust your strength according to body part, for example the back can take quite a bit of pressure, but the calves are often sensitive.
Feathering - this is a light touch with the finger tips running from the top of the body downwards, this stroke relaxes and calms the body and also sensitises all the nerve endings after the deeper work
1. Make sure you get feedback from your partner about what feels good and what pressure is the right amount for your partner.
2. Ensure that your own body is comfortable and relaxed, don’t worry too much about getting a technique right, rather let yourself relax into the flow of the massage, focus on making your touch as delicious as you can so your partner feels delicious too!
After the massage:
- Drink some water
- Ease yourself gently back into the world
- Enjoy the relaxed feeling in your body and the intimacy with your partner
For a more in-depth approach with specific techniques contact the BTS office, we would love to come and do a session with you showing you how to massage your partner. We can show you some tips and techniques and teach you in the comfort of your own home.
Source: http://www.bodytissue.com/library/massage-therapy-articles/massage-tips-at-home/
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Avoiding Common First Time Massage Mistakes
You can’t really make a mistake when you receive a massage. However, there are a few things that most first-timers do that can make it harder to relax and that create difficulty for the therapist. Knowing about these things in advance will help you avoid them and have a better experience.
Getting Frustrated: Receiving massage is a skill like any other. It takes time to allow yourself to fall into a comfortable rhythm with your therapist and focus on the massage. It’s easy to get frustrated with yourself for not being able to pay attention and simply relax. After you’ve received your first massage you’ll know what to expect. There are no “massage police” and no one is going to know if your mind wanders a few times or you fall asleep (unless you snore, of course!). Try focusing on your breath and on feeling the sensation of the therapist’s hands.
Helping: When the therapist is lifting or moving your head, arms, or legs, you don’t need to help unless asked. Pretend that you are a limp noodle and simply let him or her move you. Tensing up or trying to help and anticipate what they want will negate the therapeutic effects of the range of motion, stretching, or muscle positioning. Helping can even cause the therapist to work harder.
Not Communicating: It’s very important that your therapist know what your goals for the session are as well as if the pressure is comfortable. Many people complain that the massage wasn’t deep enough or it was too deep and hurt. When asked if they said something, the answer is almost always no. Take responsibility for your experience so that you can get the most out of it. And by all means, please speak up if the room is too cold!
Tough Guy/Girl: So many people think that in order to have an hour of “me time”, there has to be something uncomfortable, tedious, or downright painful to justify it. If you don’t enjoy or need deep pressure, don’t say, “you can go deeper if you want.” We only want to go deeper if YOU want. It’s up to you. Don’t ever feel that we’re holding you up to some standard and that if the pressure isn’t as deep as it was for the last guy we’re going to ridicule you. Many of our clients want a light but firm massage, and there’s nothing wrong with that! Ask for what YOU want, not what you think you should want.
Canceling: As the first massage appointment creeps up on the calendar, many new clients get nervous or suddenly feel guilty for spending time or money on themselves. Being on a massage table and trusting someone with your physical being is a little stressful the first time. This is normal. Being nervous is normal. Therapists are used to it and sometimes sharing your feelings with them helps. A variation to this theme is only making an appointment if they can take you same day. A talented therapist likely already has a steady client base and may not be able to accommodate the last minute request. Please don’t decide not to get a massage if you can’t get in immediately.
One=All Syndrome: Each massage therapist is completely different. Personality, training, talent, compassion, listening skills, and many other aspects go into the experience that is created for their clients. Keep in mind that your own state of being will impact the massage as well. Should you have a bad experience, please recognize that every massage by every therapist will be different. If you have a great experience—and you likely will—reward that therapist by rebooking (making another appointment) and telling your friends and coworkers. Referrals are the lifeblood of our business.
Harboring Unrealistic Expectations: Massage should be a part of your wellness plan, however it is not to be taken in place of medical advice. Multiple sessions are usually needed to get maximum relief, depending on your injury or pain, and sometimes maintenance treatments will also be needed. In addition, you will need to be compliant with (actually do) any homework the therapist gives you such as stretching, drinking more water, and self-treatments.
Source: http://massagetherapyarticles.com/?p=382
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Deep Muscle Therapy
Deep Muscle Therapy defines itself as a means through which the therapist would stimulate the lymphatic and circulatory systems to promote cellular repair while wading off the hazardous toxins. The toxins that are accumulated and of no designated use in the body form the toxic fluids and they in turn harm the body with their potential toxins. Deep muscle therapy is a very successful form of remedial massage that, as the name suggests works into the deeper levels of muscles. It doesn’t just hit the surface for salvation, but moves deeper to the origin of the problem and with certain subtle maneuvers and manipulations by the practitioner afford effective relief.
The basic principle of a healthy body is to have healthy blood, which can only be achieved by good circulation. If each and every cell of the body is well nourished and healthy then so too will the whole body be healthy. But the cells get sick and so the body gets sick. Surrounding each cell is Lymphatic fluid; obviously the purity of the lymph depends on the quality of the blood and the vigor of the circulation. The cleansing action of the lymph, being as important as the nourishing action. To achieve hemostasis (perfectly balanced body chemistry), the blood and the lymph must flow freely. Rich in nutrients and oxygen and free from unwanted substances and toxins.
Deep Muscle Therapy cures by softening hardened muscle fibers and releasing muscles that have adhered; lymph flow between the muscles will be restored and an improved circulation into the muscles; will result. It is apparent that working down the muscles will not open the fibers as required and working across the muscles does help, although, it is not completely successful. By working at different angles the treatment becomes very successful and this technique will help in many different conditions. By softening hardened muscle fibers and releasing the muscles that have become adhered; the lymph flow between the muscles would be restored and improved circulation into the muscles; will result. Deep Muscle Therapy uncovers the pain that is already there. It depends on the condition of the muscles. The tighter the muscles; the more pain will be felt. This may be minimized by the use of a natural analgesic cream. The first treatment is always the most intense. As muscles become free - pain decreases. Deep Muscle Therapy is an essential ingredient to achieving optimum results by improving the circulation and therefore; maintaining good health.
Source: http://massagetherapyarticles.com/
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Massage therapy is good medicine, not merely relaxation
If doctors knew the true causes of health and healing, they'd be prescribing massage therapy to most of their patients rather than prescription drugs. Massage therapy is good medicine, and it's a far more potent healing therapy than most people realize. In fact, I believe that every person, healthy or otherwise, should receive a massage therapy treatment at least once a month.
Why is massage therapy such good medicine? Because it helps move lymph, blood and oxygen to the various organs and tissues in ways that normally don't happen in the bodies of most people. This is especially true for those who don't exercise: for them, massage therapy is critical for maintaining any degree of health.
There's also the "touch factor" of massage therapy that I believe to be remarkably healing. There's something almost magical about the human touch, and its qualities can't be measured with scientific instruments (yet), but researchers know very well that it has powerful physiological effects: touch calms people. It reduces blood pressure, it boost immune system function, and it makes people feel loved. These are very important for those seeking health and healing. (And if you don't believe me, just volunteer at a nursing home some time and offer free hand massages to the patients. I've done this, and you'd be amazed to see the different it makes in the people you're touching.)
The human touch is powerful medicine, which is why I find it so bizarre that doctors seem so afraid of touching their patients. But you don't need a doctor for this kind of healing: find yourself a good massage therapist and get some healing on a monthly basis.
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/001088.html
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Massage therapy, healing touch are good medicine for the treatment and prevention of chronic disease
As more and more people are discovering, massage therapy and healing touch therapies are proving to be extremely good medicine for treating those with chronic diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, depression, and even circulatory disorders. There are several good reasons for this, such as the fact that massage therapy helps move lymph fluid around the body and oxygenate organs and tissues. Plus, there's probably something healthy going on in the fact that human touch is taking place. However, there is a widespread belief, especially among the leaders in Western medicine, that massage therapy can't possibly be considered a medical treatment. Most insurance companies still refuse to pay for massage therapies, and few doctors prescribe it, although the number of doctors recommending it has been increasing over the last few years.
I believe that massage therapy is shunned by the medical community primarily because it is considered an unsophisticated treatment -- you don't need a medical degree to give someone an effective massage. There's not a lot of equipment involved in massage therapy, it doesn't have a lot of cool technology, and it doesn't require years of training. And thus, it is looked upon as something that is below Western medicine, both by doctors and by many patients.
But all of this is a distortion -- something doesn't have to be complicated or cool to be effective as a healing treatment. Massage therapy gets to the fundamentals -- that is, the power of human touch, and the spiritual healing potential of one person's hands touching another person's body along with positive healing intent. These are timeless principles of healing that don't require technology to be effective.
Given that massage therapy and therapeutic touch are so effective in helping patients heal themselves, I find it astounding to observe the lack of physical contact between doctors and their patients in clinics and hospitals across the country. Doctors almost seem scared to touch their patients, and in fact, many doctors don't want to be touched, either. This lack of touch keeps everything at a "safe distance" - it makes their interactions non-personal and sterile. It also allows the doctor to keep patients at a distance, where they can perceive them as patients with patient IDs rather than human beings with souls and spirits and emotions. It is this distance -- this chasm between doctors and patients -- that contributes to the lack of effectiveness in modern medicine.
True healers are willing to get involved with their patients in terms of understanding them, seeing the world from their perspective, and even touching them in a healing way with positive intent. That's why our modern physicians are outstanding technicians, but terrible healers. Personally, I would much rather see a massage therapist than a physician, unless I were suffering from sort of radical, acute injury such as an accident in which case, of course, Western doctors and surgeons are the very best in the world. But when it comes to treating chronic disease and maintaining a high degree of health on a regular basis, massage therapy and healing touch offer an outstanding system of healing that I highly recommend.
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/001531.html
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A Review of Recent Research Touting the Benefits of Therapeutic Massage
The myriad health benefits of massage therapy are being validated by a number of fascinating scientific research studies. In the past, massage has been associated largely with exclusive, exotic, luxury spas and upscale health clubs. With more affordable opportunities -- along with increasing support from the medical community, massage therapy is gaining in popularity.
Exciting and proven benefits of massage begin with the very young. In one study, preterm infants gained 47% more weight, were discharged six days earlier (at a hospital cost savings of $10,000 per infant), and become more socially responsive. If the 470,000 preemies born in the U.S. each year were to receive this simple, soothing, and natural treatment, that would translate to annual savings of 4.7 billion dollars.
Preschool children who receive massage right before bedtime fall asleep sooner and stay asleep longer. In another study, preschoolers were given tests before and after receiving a 15 minute massage or spending 15 minutes reading stories with an experimenter. Performance and accuracy improvement were greater for the massage group.
Massage has also been shown to help troubled adolescents. In an interesting study, depressed, hospitalized, adolescents were divided into two groups. One group received 30-minute back massages daily for five days. Another group watched relaxing videotapes. The massaged subjects were less depressed and anxious and had lower cortisol (a stress hormone) levels after the massage. In another study, seventeen aggressive adolescents were randomly assigned to a massage therapy group or a relaxation therapy group. Each group received massage or relaxation therapy for twenty minutes, twice a week, for five weeks. The results demonstrated that the massaged adolescents had lower anxiety and reported feeling less hostile. The parents of the participants perceived their children as being less aggressive after the massage therapy. Significant differences were not found for the teenagers in the relaxation group.
Anorexia nervosa is extremely difficult to treat. Massage therapy is showing great promise with this population. In a study with women diagnosed with anorexia, the results demonstrated that after receiving a massage twice a week for five weeks, the patients reported lower stress and anxiety levels. These women also had lower cortisol levels and increased dopamine and norepinephrine (the “feel good” hormones) after the treatments. A promising result of the treatment was that they reported decreased body dissatisfaction on the Eating Disorders Inventory.
In a study exploring the role of massage therapy for treating migraine headaches, researchers designed a randomized study comparing two groups of subjects. One group received massage therapy for 13 weeks, the other did not. The subjects from both groups were asked to maintain a daily log recording their perceived stress levels and coping efficacy. They were also asked to keep a daily journal of their perceived levels of stress and sleep. Levels of anxiety, heart rate, and cortisol levels were assessed. Compared with the control group, the massage participants showed decreased heart rates less anxious moods, along with lower cortisol levels. The highlight of this study was that the massage group experienced fewer migraines during the study period.
Studies demonstrating the success of massage therapy in treating stress number over one thousand. Currently there are a vast array of theories as to why massage therapy is so successful in managing stress. One can read through extensive scientific studies focusing on measuring neurochemicals and reactions in the SNS (sympathetic nervous system) and the PNS (peripheral nervous system) in order to solve the mystery as to why massage is so effective on various stress disorders. Yet, a simple explanation might be that stress increases muscle tension, massage decreases muscle tension. When a muscle is tensed, circulation is reduced, blocking the absorption of oxygen and nutrients. Massage, on the other hand, loosens up the muscles, increasing circulation, bringing oxygen and nutrients back to the area of tension. Massage may also release stored toxins, which might explain the sense of wellbeing after a massage.
In a recent study in New Zealand involving nurses working in emergency departments, aromatherapy massages with music dramatically reduced stress levels amongst the study participants.
The researchers of this study found that sixty percent of the nursing staff in their experiment reported that they suffer from moderate to extreme anxiety due to their work. The percentage of nurses reporting anxiety dropped to just eight percent after aromatherapy massage treatments. The massages were provided by a licensed massage therapist who sprayed an aromatherapy mist above the heads of the participants. The participants were able to choose the scent. The essential oils were rose, lavender, lime, ocean breeze, or a combination of lavender, ylang ylang, bergamot and patchouli.
A reduction of anxiety from sixty to eight percent is statistically significant. This study demonstrates that massage therapy is a powerful tool with tremendous potential. Introducing such healing therapies in the workplace would be a valuable tool for employers for treating, managing and possibly preventing stress disorders.
Other recent studies have shown that massage therapy can help with pain management (including labor), aiding children with diabetes, sports-related soreness, alcohol withdrawal, immune function, and cancer treatment.
Who knows? Maybe someday, a trip to the spa may be just what your doctor orders.
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/023391.html
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