Current Fitness Trends

Spice Up Your Diet to Lose Weight

varoius spices are used for weight loss

Spices added to food are said to help you lose weight in various ways. For one thing, you tend to eat less of a food if it’s spicy, and some spices are reputed to affect your metabolism.

Other spices have a reputation for affecting your body in other ways that promote weight loss. Here are some of the better-known spices that may boost weight loss, and how they are said to do so.

1. Cinnamon

Cinnamon for weight loss

While some sources claim cinnamon lowers blood sugar, other sources tout its regulating effect. Either way, cinnamon is also said to regulate your body’s metabolism of carbohydrates reducing it’s ability to store fat.It also helps delay the passing of food from the stomach through the intestine, reducing the feeling of hunger and making you feel satisfied longer. Cinnamon also may lower cholesterol, which is helpful for those who are trying to lose weight.

2. Cayenne pepper

This fiery red pepper not only heats up your mouth when you eat it (thereby possibly reducing the amount you can eat!), but studies have shown that it also speeds up your metabolism by as much as 25 percent. Also, cayenne (or chili pepper) is hot enough to induce you to drink a lot of liquid with your meal, which also contributes to a feeling of fullness. Cayenne also has the ability to ease upset stomach, ulcers, sore throats, spasmodic and irritating coughs, and diarrhea. It’s anti-inflammatory properties makes it a great herb for arthritis, diabetes, psoriasis.

3. Black pepper

Black pepper is certainly not exotic; almost every kitchen table has a black pepper shaker sitting on it. Sometimes we might ignore the black pepper shaker a bit too often, though, or use old black pepper that has been ground a long time. A chemical in pepper, called piperine, is said to be a stimulant for the nervous system. This stimulation may boost the body’s metabolism. Freshly-ground pepper has the most piperene to benefit from and may be a great way to block the formation of new fat cells in the body.

4. Turmeric

turmeric for weight loss

If you’ve ever used turmeric, you know the golden orange glow it gives foods.

This yellow-orange spice may also help prevent fat absorption, and studies have showed that a component of turmeric, curcumin, had an inhibitory effect on fat tissue growth. Turmeric is commonly used in combination with ginger and cumin (not to be confused with the substance called curcumin found in turmeric) in “curry powder.” Some sources say that the weight-loss effects of turmeric are enhanced when combined with these other spices.Tumeric helps to break down fats in the body. In doing so, it might help to regulate the body’s metabolism and it could contribute to successful weight management.

5. Ginger

Ginger has a reputation as a diet-friendly spice. It may speed up metabolism, and it also is purported to enhance digestion. Effective weight loss and healthy digestion certainly go together, so adding a teaspoon or so of fresh, grated ginger to tea, soups, stir-fries, or other foods may be helpful for those trying to lose weight. I like to add it to my Tropical Shakeology for an added flavor and help in relieving my arthritis pain.

Shakeology with added ginger.

6. Mustard

When it comes to low- or no-calorie flavor, it’s hard to beat mustard. Even some prepared mustard’s have no calories. Studies have shown mustard may be one of those spices that, like cayenne, boosts metabolism. Mustard also contains the important substance selenium, which is implicated in blood sugar regulation. Selenium also has the reputation of enhancing weight loss.

The good thing about all these spices is that they are flavorful. They can add flavor to low-fat, low-calorie foods. And adding spice and heat to foods probably means you’ll eat less of the spicy dish which in turn will also lead to fewer calories and weight loss.

Cutting Calories – How to Cut Back the Smart Way Many experts agree that when it comes to weight loss, it really boils down to how many calories you consume and how many you burn. If you consume fewer calories than you burn, dieticians generally agree that you will lose weight. So how can you get to that ideal ratio? One idea is to exercise more and therefore burn more calories, but you still have to be conscious of how many calories you take in. After all, exercise can make you hungrier, so that your ratio of calories burned and consumed does not change much. I prefer to use the tools provided by Beachbody to ensure I am following a quality not quantity calorie program. They are simple and effective! Cutting calories is considered by many to be a necessary first step to weight loss. One thing that is generally agreed upon in this regard is, don’t “crash diet” and cut calories suddenly and severely. This may result in rapid weight loss, but it may also result in nutrient deficiency and an overall shock to your system. Here are some tips on cutting calories the smart way. 1. Keep a food diary Writing down what you eat and its caloric value is a good place to begin. The web has some great resources for the calorie-conscious. There are sites dedicated to counting the calories in an enormous variety of foods – you type in the food, and the calorie counter will show you how many calories that food contains. Talk with your doctor or a nutritionist about how many calories a person of your build should take in each day. Rather than guessing, ask about how many calories you should cut in order to lose weight.

2. Focus on nutrient-dense foods Nutrient-dense foods are foods that pack a lot of nutrition into each calorie. Unlike sugary foods and junk foods that have very few nutrients but contain a lot of calories, nutrient-dense foods have lots of nutrients and relatively fewer calories. If you’ve heard the term “empty calories,” then this refers to foods that are the opposite of nutrient-dense ones. In other words, nutrient-dense foods have more nutrition per calorie than junk foods. Examples of nutrient-dense foods include: * Vegetables such as avocados, spinach, tomatoes, and kale * Whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat, oats, and millet * Nuts and seeds including almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and walnuts * Fruits such as pineapples, strawberries, apples, oranges and bananas   3. Start small Sometimes diets fail because people try to do a major life overhaul and change everything at once. Maybe try a few things to start with, such as replacing butter and margarine with olive oil, or using a healthy sugar substitute instead of white sugar in your tea and coffee. You could cut out one food or drink, such as sugar-sweetened, carbonated beverages or French fries. 4. Restaurant tips You could order appetizers for your meal instead of a large entree. Ask for your salad dressing on the side – it’s said that you use much less dressing when you dip each forkful of salad into the dressing than if you pour the dressing over the salad. The same technique works for pancakes and syrup. In a restaurant, watch out for high-calorie beverages, like specialty coffee drinks, sugary tea and lemonade, and alcohol. Stick with water when dining out. I like to use Shakeology as a meal replacement, sometimes I use it twice a day just to get the feel good tingle that it gives me. It is the best supplement that I have tried and there were lots of them before Shakeology. I get a quick meal for my busy life and Have reduced my triglycerides by 98 points over the last    

year while using Shakeology and mild weight lifting programs by beachbody.

If you want to really see some results then try the beachbody Challenge!

Flat Stomach Myths Exposed, Get the Real Facts with This Free Beachbody Membership

There might not be more wrong information on any topic today other than getting rid of stomach fat. It’s really not as hard as most people think. Here are five common myths about this topic you need to be aware of:

MYTH #1) Doing more repetitions is better

A lot of people pride themselves on performing as many crunches or sit-ups as possible. They somehow view it as a badge of honor  thinking the more they do the flatter their stomach will be.

What they don’t realize is that doing ten to fifteen crunches the right way is much better than performing tons of them the wrong way. Quality beats quantity when it comes to exercise.

What’s the right way?

Gradually – when you attempt to do too many you will end up going faster and using bad form, which will negate the benefits.

MYTH #2)Diet really doesn’t matter

Many people get enamored with stories of athletes who eat garbage all day long and still have super ripped bodies. What they don’t realize is that athletes are far more active than the average person, and therefore can work off the food they eat and even if you are able to work it off, why burden yourself? When you just eat the right foods in the first place, it’s much easier to reach your goals.

What’s the best diet?

One that incorporates a lot of whole foods and focuses on eliminating processed foods as much as possible.

Buy Ultimate Reset Here!

MYTH #3) Starving yourself is how to get a flat stomach

You need calories to survive. While it is true that lowering your intake makes it easier to burn fat, it should not be done by drastically cutting your food intake. This will just cause you to feel lethargic and cranky all the time. It will even slow down your metabolism.

This in turn will make your workouts much less effective, and ultimately you won’t reach your goals. Instead just eat more filling low calorie foods. Examples would be rice and beans, although there are plenty others.

A Teambeachbody Membership Can Help guide you in the right direction.

MYTH #4) Cardio is the best way to burn fat

It might actually be among the least effective methods. Low intensity jogging is vastly overrated in terms of how much fat it can burn. It doesn’t burn nearly as much as body core or Pilates exercises. Strength training is also one of the best ways to burn fat.

Check out the great selection of Beachbody Products to choose from!

MYTH #5) You need expensive exercise equipment

All the best workouts can be done with very little equipment at all, except maybe an exercise ball. Using an exercise ball makes abs exercises more effective because you fully engage the core muscles. Other than that, good old walking and a few toning exercises doesn’t require expensive equipment.

MYTH #6) You can get a flat stomach without exercising

False again. The supplement companies want you to think they have the answer to your problems. But in reality there’s no supplement that will help you lose much fat if you don’t have a sound diet and workout program along with it.

Conclusion:

Losing fat is simple: eat whole natural foods and get enough exercise. It doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming either. Consistency is the key to long-term weight loss and flat abs.

Get Rid of Stomach Bloating Fat Fast

Getting rid of stomach bloating fat is simple: just combine a sound diet and exercise regime.

What about “fat loss pills?”

Don’t waste your money on them. Many TV infomercials make it sound as if you can just pop their pill and instantly start losing fat. While they might aid you in your efforts, they will make no difference at all in your quest to rid yourself of stomach bloating fat, if you don’t exercise or eat healthy.

What are they designed to do?

Most simply help you retain the water from your foods a bit better. This gives you more energy when you exercise. You might see a 5% increase in your workout performance, but that’s about it.

In other words, no pill will be the difference between success and failure. If you want results it will require exercise                     and diet makes a big difference as well.

Quite simply, you can’t eat fast food everyday and expect to get toned, even if you have the perfect workout regime. Why make it harder than it needs to be?

The only people who exercise enough to overcome their lousy eating habits are professional athletes. They are simply so active that they are able to stay in shape despite what they eat. But for most people this isn’t possible.

So what are the best workouts? Body core and Yoga are great starting points. Here are two basic core examples:

#1) Exercise ball abs crunches

This may be among one of the top exercises there is. Start with your feet firmly on the ground.

Then lay backwards on the exercise ball to the point where your thighs are parallel to the floor. You should almost be on you back at this point. Make sure your lower and middle back are being supported by the ball.

Then gradually lift your abs to forty five degrees and then back down. In other words, you are doing a standard crunch while on an exercise ball. This has proven to workout more muscles in the abs section than regular crunches, so it might be slightly more effective.

#2) Vertical leg crunch

Start out laying on your back facing upward. Then lift your legs straight up toward the ceiling. The knees don’t have to be locked; in fact they should be a little flexed. From this position, proceed to do a normal crunch.

And while your hands should be behind your head, make sure you aren’t pulling with them. Many people end up with long term neck pain from this.

What about cardio?

When added to a proper fitness program and proper nutrition it helps speed up the fat lose process.

Conclusion: make body core,Yoga and Cardio the bulk of your routine adding a proper diet and you should see fat loss quite quickly.

Please Watch The Ultimate Reset Review

For more information go to  www.21days2betterhealth.com or www.brianjoecurry.com

looks Yummy!

Image source: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/…

The Recipes for Health writer Martha Rose Shulman offers five new cauliflower recipes from Italy and its neighbor Tunisia that will make you say ‘Grazie!’ Read more…

Continue Reading

Source: Rss

Why stomach fat is dangerous fat

Everyone knows that stomach fat is unsightly to most people, but most people don’t know that it’s dangerous as well.

It can definitely have negative long term health effects if you aren’t careful. Believe it or not, while having general body fat is bad for you, stomach flab is particularly harmful. And there are two kinds of it:

#1) Subcutaneous Fat

This is located right below the skin but above the surface of the abs. It’s the less dangerous of the two.

#2) Visceral Fat

This is the more harmful variety. It’s even further down in the abs under the tissue. It completely engulfs the body organs and actually pushes the abs outward. This is the variety of stomach fat that really overweight people have.

So what are the dangers?

Down the road, stomach fat can cause all sorts of serious diseases such as heart problems, cancer, diabetes, and many more. In other words, it’s a serious condition.

So how do you get rid of it?

Fortunately it’s not as hard as you might think. It’s just a matter of making a commitment to changing your diet and exercise habits. In essence you have to make a lifestyle change!

Eating a variety of whole foods and incorporating exercise 3 to 5 times a week into your schedule is a great start.

What are the best exercises?

Body core exercises, because they target the correct muscles. Not only are they important for strengthening the midsection, but also for strengthening the back.

In fact, improving your core section will help your entire body get powerful. Which core exercises are the best? Here are two of the top ones:#1) The Plank

For this one you need to lie facing the floor. Then just boost yourself up using your toes and forearms as support. Make sure to relax your elbows while doing so.

Also be careful not to bend your back, but keep it perfectly straight. This exercise targets the abs, but is also effective for strengthening the back and hips.

#2) Superman

This is another very effective way to strengthen your core. Start out lying down, keeping both legs side by side without space in between. Do not bend them.

Then just extend your arms out and upwards, while maintaining a still midsection. Do the same with your legs.

You will look a little like superman, which is obviously where the exercise got its’ name. Try to maintain this for half a minute.

The bottom line: there are many more core workouts you can try, but these are a few to start with. The real key is to be consistent with them. Perform them at least 3-5 times a week, eat proper nutrition and you will see fast progress in reducing your stomach fat. I prefer the 10 miniute trainer for starting out. It tends to take the “I don’t have time to work out” excuse away. If you need help choosing a program that is right for you? Contact me at http://www.brianjoecurry.com or at brianjoecurry@beachbodycoach.com

Gain control of your waist at www.21days2betterhealth.com or www.brianjoecurry.com

CNN Video

Continue Reading

Source: Rss

Exercise to live longer. Try a Beachbody program at www.brianjoecurry.com

CNN Video

Continue Reading

Source: Rss

What are the best foods to eat to burn fat and help battle the midsection bulge? There are a number that work. Obviously everyone knows that exercising is important, but proper diet is just as important. You should try to always follow these three rules:

#1) Drink plenty of water.

This helps with digestion and keeps you from feeling hungry as often. Try to drink a glass a half hour before you eat to aid in digestion.

#2) Eat frequently.

This might be the most important point of all. Many find that eating 4-6 times a day speeds up the metabolism, which is critical for dropping fat and preventing the midsection bulge.  Aim for smaller meals throughout the day rather than two or three large meals.

#3) Eat carbs, protein and fat at each meal.

This is very important, because your body needs all three nutrients to survive. Without any of them you simply won’t lose the fat you want.

But not all nutrients are equal.

The protein, carbs and fat you get from processed foods is far inferior to the nutrients you get from whole foods.  Try and get the vast majority of your nutrition from whole foods.

What are the best whole foods? Here are four of the top:

#1) Oatmeal

This makes for an excellent breakfast because it’s filling and has plenty of healthy carbs. But avoid anything that’s been processed or sweetened. If you want more flavor, consider adding strawberries, raspberries or blueberries on top.

#2) Nuts

These are incredibly healthy sources of fat and they have tons of protein.

But avoid nuts that have salt added to them. Plain raw nuts are best. Try and soak them at least an hour before eating for best digestion. The soaking cuts back on the gas and bloating you might feel from eating raw nuts.

#3) Fruits and vegetables

Fruit is one of the best fat burners there is. Eating a wide variety of fruit and vegetables is recommended for optimal fat loss. I love to use fruit as a side dish with a salad for lunch.

#4) Beans

Beans have low amounts of calories, plenty of protein and are very filling. In other words, they are ideal for fat loss. But again, make sure they haven’t been processed.

By combining natural whole foods with a sound exercise routine is how to burn fat extremely fast and help you win the battle of the midsection bulge. Get started today, stay focused, and you should see serious results in 1-3 months.

Watch the Challenge Group

Explanation Video

Join My Next Challenge Group

Sign up for FREE membership

Then message me for details!

Weight loss really boils down to how many calories you consume and how many you burn. If you consume fewer calories than you burn, Doctors and dieticians generally agree that you will begin to lose weight.

So How can you get to that ideal ratio by cutting back on calories? One idea is to exercise more and therefore burn more calories, but you still have to be conscious of how many calories you take in. After all, exercise can make you hungrier, so that your ratio of calories burned and consumed does not change much. A great site to start is by joining Team Beachbody as a free member and utilize the tools provided.

Cutting calories is considered by many to be a necessary first step to weight loss. One thing that is generally agreed upon in this regard is, don’t “crash diet” and cut calories suddenly and severely. This may result in rapid weight loss, but it may also result in nutrient deficiency and an overall shock to your system. Here are some tips on cutting calories the smart way.

1. Keep a diary of the food you eat

Writing down what you eat and its caloric value is a good place to begin. The web has some great resources for the calorie-conscious. There are sites dedicated to counting the calories in an enormous variety of foods – you type in the food, and the calorie counter will show you how many calories that food contains.

Talk with your doctor or a nutritionist about how many calories a person of your build should take in each day. Rather than guessing, ask about how many calories you should cut in order to lose weight.

2. Focus on nutrient-dense foods

Nutrient-dense foods are those foods that pack a lot of nutrition into each calorie. Unlike sugary foods and junk foods that have very few nutrients but contain a lot of calories, nutrient-dense foods have lots of nutrients and relatively fewer calories. If you’ve heard the term “empty calories,” then this refers to foods that are the opposite of nutrient-dense ones. In other words, nutrient-dense foods have more nutrition per calorie than junk foods. Examples of nutrient-dense foods include:

* Vegetables such as avocados, spinach, tomatoes, and kale
* Whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat, oats, and millet
* Nuts and seeds including almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and walnuts
* Fruits such as pineapples, strawberries, apples, oranges and bananas

3. I suggest Trying Shakeology as a meal replacement or an added supplement to your diet plan. Watch the video and you decide! Shakeology comes with a bottom of the bag 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Shakeology What’s In It?

Tweet

4. Start small and be realistic with your goals

Sometimes diets fail because people try to do a major life overhaul and change everything at once. Maybe try a few things to start with, such as replacing butter and margarine with olive oil, or using a healthy sugar substitute instead of white sugar in your tea and coffee. You could cut out one food or drink, such as sugar-sweetened, carbonated beverages or French fries.

5. Restaurant tips

You could order appetizers for your meal instead of a large entree. Ask for your salad dressing on the side – it’s said that you use much less dressing when you dip each forkful of salad into the dressing than if you pour the dressing over the salad. The same technique works for pancakes and syrup. In a restaurant, watch out for high-calorie beverages, like specialty coffee drinks, sugary tea and lemonade, and alcohol. Stick with water when dining out.