Category Weight Loss & Diet

Whether or not you’re trying to lose weight, the irresistible urge to eat the wrong foods can be bad for you. By understanding intense craving causes you can help yourself to stop them from happening in the first place, or at least overcome them in the healthiest possible way.

Getting to know the biggest intense craving causes arms you against them in a very powerful way. It helps you to narrow down the culprit and to shut it down before it can do any damage to your current waistline or your attempt to lose more weight.

Consider the following top intense craving causes so you can know how to make them stop:

• Low serotonin levels – Serotonin is a neurotransmitter – that is, a brain chemical – which is primarily produced within the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, it has a direct link to the mood, digestion and even the appetite. Consuming carbohydrates like sugar can give our serotonin levels a temporary boost. Therefore, when serotonins are low, our brains can send us huge carb cravings to overcome it. Unfortunately, that’s not the best idea for weight management. If you’re craving something sweet, skip the candy bar. Instead, grab a handful or two of your favorite berries or even a square or two of very dark chocolate (at least 70 percent cocoa). This will give your body the boost in needs without overloading your calories.

• Emotional triggers – This cause is huge and can occur regularly throughout the day if you’re not careful. Because it can be caused by anything from boredom to excitement and from sadness to low self esteem or even poor body image, you can find yourself starving for foods you don’t want or need virtually all the time. Overcoming this one can be a challenge, but consider some positive self talk, regular hydration, meditation and yoga. Don’t forget to try to get a good sleep at night, too, as that can go a long way toward emotional control.

• Leptin resistance – Leptin is a hormone naturally produced by your body. Its main job is to tell your brain when you are full so you don’t feel hungry anymore. However, when your body has stored too much fat, the leptin hormone may not function as it should. This can cause you to feel hungry much more than you should. Overcome leptin resistance by drinking lots of water and eating regularly. Have a mid morning and mid afternoon snack, as well as an evening one if you feel you need it. Just make sure you’re choosing foods that are high in fiber, nutrient dense, low in calories and that possibly contain protein, too.

As you learn about the 80/20 Diet, the first thing you’ll discover is that it began in the form of a book written by Teresa Cutter. It was created to provide dieters with an eating strategy to which they’ll adhere for six days per week. This means that 80 percent of the time, you’ll be eating according to the plan. The remaining 20 percent of the time – that is, one day per week – you’re allowed to eat pretty much whatever you want, within reason.

That said, what you should know about the 80/20 Diet day off is that you have freedom and flexibility but not as much as you want of anything at all. To help guide dieters to eat the right foods according to the rules of this strategy, the book provides more than 130 recipes. Dieters aren’t required to eat all those meals, but the recipes can help them to learn how and what they should be eating.

Another important point about the 80/20 Diet is that the author herself is a known chef and nutritionist, is considered to be among the leading healthy cooking authorities and is an Australian personal trainer. That said, just because the author knows what she’s doing in terms of nutrition, it doesn’t necessarily equate to a program that will motivate a dieter to take action and stick to it.

It is in that area that this diet falls short for many dieters, according to the customer reviews posted on sites such as Amazon where the book is sold. They suggest that despite the considerable amount of information provided within the book, it doesn’t offer the user the drive to adopt it into his or her life.

Moreover, while the book does provide information and recipes, it does not translate that information into usable step-by-step guidance that would provide dieters with the method they need to follow to use it. Without turning the information in the book into lessons and instructions for the dieter, most dieters won’t have the motivation or ability to apply it properly.

Furthermore, a closer look at the recipes provided in the book, it’s clear that this diet is based on the use of nutrient dense, whole foods. This suggests that the focus is on balanced nutrition, not just weight loss, but it also doesn’t take into account that the ingredients may be more expensive than many families are used to spending on their weekly grocery bills. This was a common complaint among the reviews left by customers who had purchased and read the book.

Did you know that breathing the wrong way could actually be holding your fitness level back? It turns out that breathing the correct way could not only help you reduce stress and anxiety throughout the day, but it could also help you improve your performance when you are working out.

Check out the helpful tips below to start changing the way you breathe for the better.

Breathe Through Your Nose

When you are exercising, if you find yourself inhaling and exhaling through the mouth, you are breathing the wrong way. To correct this mistake, you should focus on breathing in and out through your nose instead. If you do find yourself struggling and you have to breathe through your mouth, that is a sign that you are going too hard on yourself and you need to decrease the intensity of your workout until you can go back to inhaling and exhaling through your nose. As you gain strength and stamina, you will notice that you are able to breathe through your nose for longer periods of time before you have to start breathing through the mouth to get more air into your lungs.

The Problems Associated with Breathing Through Your Mouth

Why is it so important to breathe through your nose rather than through your mouth? Well, mouth breathing could actually result in an elevated heart rate and increase in your blood pressure. This, in turn, could cause you to feel dizzy or fatigued. So even though you might think that breathing through your mouth quickly and deeply can help you during a tough workout routine, the truth is that your performance will actually suffer as a result.

Practice Breathing the Right Way

In addition to focusing on your breath during your workouts in order to improve your fitness level, you can also practice deep breathing through the nose while you are at rest. Focus on extending the inhales into your diaphragm and also extending the exhales so that you can fill your lungs and strengthen them as you breathe in and out through the nostrils in a calm and relaxed state.

Now that you know that breathing the wrong way could adversely impact your fitness level and your weight loss progress, you can take the appropriate steps to ensure you are breathing the right way every time you exercise. But if you find that you still need some help with losing weight or having the energy to get through your workouts, consider taking weight loss supplements that work like Phentramin-D to give you the boost you need.

Are you searching for new recipes all the time to keep your homemade meals interesting and full of variety? Well, you don’t need to invest a lot of your money into expensive cookbooks to get the job done, as there are loads of websites that have some of the best recipes that your entire family will enjoy. Knowing which websites to use, though, is the key, as you don’t want to throw your healthy diet off course, so stick with the following sites for healthy recipes that are delicious too.

ShareFit

Check out ShareFit.com for some inspiring tools and stories related to weight loss and fitness, but also be sure to read some of the many healthy nutritionist recommended recipes that are found throughout the site while you are there as well. You can gain valuable insights into how you can eat better every day, and you can also learn about the healthiest food trends and the best ways to indulge without undoing your progress.

EatingWell

Another one of the many great sites for healthy recipes is EatingWell.com, where you will find a wide array of recipes that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can even find fast and easy recipes that will allow you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your family, and there are recipes for healthy snacks and drinks too.

Cooking Light

Check out the website for Cooking Light magazine, which is focused on everything related to leading a healthy lifestyle. You can access recipes with high quality images so you will know exactly what to expect when your dish is complete, and the recipes also include valuable nutritional information that you can use to keep track of the amount of calories and fat that you are consuming. Plus, if you are new to cooking or if you want to improve your technique, you can check out their Cooking 101 section.

Food Network

The Food Network’s website is also jam-packed with some amazing recipes, but just stick with the leaner options that are found in the Healthy Eating Section. You can find light recipes that will be just as satisfying as their unhealthy counterparts, so you won’t have to feel deprived while you are dieting.

By following the right sites for healthy recipes, you can always have access to a library of yummy recipes that you can enjoy as you work on losing weight and getting in shape. Regardless of what diet you follow or what your weight loss goals are, with the right foods and nutrients, you will feel nourished and energized every day.

Learning how to do supersets and what they are for that matter, can be a great way to give your workout a significant boost. This means that you will be able to get more out of your workout. This is good news to anyone who wants to get fit, control their weight, boost their health and do so while maximizing the impact of each minute.

The very nature of how to do supersets makes them a powerful addition to anyone’s fitness routine. Essentially, a superset is a combination of two exercises that have been paired. That said, it is quite a bit more than that. Simply jamming two exercises together does not create a superset workout.

Instead, you need to know what your goals are and how to do supersets that bring you closer to reaching those goals. For that reason, it’s likely a good idea to use a video or consult a personal trainer to guide you to choose the right exercises to accomplish the goals you want.

The right combination of supersets will boost blood flow to the muscle group you’re working. This occurs between the sets by focusing on other adjacent muscle groups. While that might sound like a bodybuilding technique, it’s important to recognize that it doesn’t stop there. Yes, bodybuilders can use this as a part of their efforts, but the truth of the matter is that anyone hoping to train and tone their muscles can use these methods.

That said, it’s also important to focus on specific muscle groups, not just the ones around your target. By alternating between the two types of supersets, you’ll make sure that you’re always giving your muscles the right amount of workout and the right amount of rest. This can seem a bit daunting for beginners to design, which is why it is still a good idea to check out a video created by someone who has experience in this area, or to consult with your own personal trainer.

Virtually any specific muscle or group of muscles can receive an effective workout by way of the proper combination of supersets. That said, if you want to make sure you’re pushing your results even further, it’s a good idea to implement a complete strategy. Consider choosing APEX-TX5 to give your body an even greater advantage toward performing at your very best. The energy boosters and fat burners it contains are unlike anything else you’ve tried until now.

Celebrities have a knack for figuring out ways to lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time. But even though some of them start an intense exercise routine and get themselves on a healthier diet, some of them end up undergoing weight loss surgery.

Continue reading to learn about five of the most incredible celebrity weight loss surgery stories.

Randy Jackson

Randy Jackson became famous as one of the judges on the hit TV show American Idol, and in 2003, he decided to have gastric bypass surgery in order to get his weight under control. He stated that he had tried just about every weight loss option out there, including the strangest ones, but he found that none of them worked because he suffered with obesity. After having the surgery, he lost 100 pounds and is in a much better state of health.

Rosie O’Donnell

Rosie O’Donnell is another successful celebrity weight loss surgery case, as she was able to lose a lot of weight. She had the surgery in 2013 after struggling with her weight for most of her life and career. Even though she was able to lose a substantial amount of weight, she does caution others that it is a serious procedure that requires you still follow a healthy diet and exercise routine for the best results.

Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Barr struggled with her weight until she decided to undergo gastric bypass surgery in the late ‘90s. After gaining weight initially, she was able to eventually slim down and get her weight under control.

Star Jones

Star Jones is one of those celebrities who went through a transformation as a result of her weight loss journey. When she realized that she was obese and that her health was in jeopardy, she decided to undergo weight loss surgery. After the surgery, she lost a lot of weight and was even able to feel more energy as a result.

Lisa Lampanelli

Lisa Lampanelli, a famous comedian, underwent weight loss surgery and lost over 100 pounds as a result. Since the surgery, she no longer eats as much because she feels fuller sooner, so it has been an effective tool on her path towards better health.

Perhaps these celebrity weight loss surgery stories will inspire you to talk to your doctor about whether or not you are the right candidate for a weight loss procedure. If not, there are other options, including prescription and over-the-counter weight loss pills, that you can try instead.

The times of day that you enjoy your meals can have a profound impact upon your body’s ability to shed pounds in a more efficient way. Continue reading to learn about the best meal timing to burn more fat so you will be able to slim down and make your healthy diet and active lifestyle even more effective.

Best Meal Timing for Maximum Fat Burning

Finish Eating by Early Afternoon

If you can manage to do it, consider finishing all of your meals by the time the early afternoon rolls around. Individuals who do this tend to have reduced fluctuations in their hunger, and they are also able to burn a bit more fat compared to individuals who eat their meals throughout the day.

The research that has been conducted shows that the timing of your calories matters when it comes to hunger and fat burning. If you can eat more food in the early part of the day, you might achieve better weight loss results. So try to eat all of your meals by 2 p.m. or 4 p.m., rather than going until 8 p.m., if you want to take advantage of meal timing to burn more fat.

Consider Going Plant-Based for Most of the Day

Another weight loss approach that you can take when it comes to planning out the timing of your meals is eating a plant-based diet until around 6 p.m. every day. For breakfast, lunch, and snacks, load your plate with whole grains, beans, legumes, veggies, and fruits so you can enjoy healthy and nutrient-dense foods that are low in calories and fat but packed with fiber and antioxidants. Then you can have whatever you want at dinner.

Plan Your Meals with Your Workouts

Because working out will boost your insulin sensitivity and enhance your muscles’ ability to use carbs, time out your meals so your muscles will end up using whatever carbs you eat to recover from exercise. For example, you can have all of your carbohydrates for the day both during and after workouts, regardless of what time of day you exercise. But for the rest of the day, you should focus on healthy, lean foods.

Now that you know some of the facts associated with meal timing to burn more fat, you can start planning out your eating schedule in a manner that will help your body slim down more easily. If you can’t quite get the timing right, though, you can also take a weight management product like Phentramin-D for extra support.

If you are trying your best to stay well by following a healthy diet, and if you are trying to lose excess weight efficiently, you might be wondering if you can enjoy a daily dessert.
The truth is that, yes, you can have dessert even if you are on a diet, but you need to be careful about how you approach your dessert. Follow the tips below so you can enjoy a sweet treat at the end of your dinner without having to worry about throwing your diet off track.

Focus on Portions
You can certainly have a daily dessert if you focus on the amount of dessert that you are indulging in. this will allow you to satisfy your craving for salt or sugar without undermining your weight loss efforts. A little treat every day that is within the 100 to 200 calorie range won’t do much damage, especially if you are focusing on controlling your portions and eating healthy whole food recipes the rest of the day.

Stay Active
Another way to enjoy your daily dessert without the guilt, even if it ends up being more than 200 calories, is by staying active. Having a fitness routine that keeps you motivated and keeps you active is a great way to burn off your dessert before it can do any harm to your figure or your health. So as long as you are exercising enough and you are not leading a sedentary lifestyle, you can have dessert and really indulge in a variety of flavors every day.

Stick with Healthy Dessert Options
There’s a wide array of healthy dessert recipes out there that you can try, or you can simply have a bit of fruit after dinner if you are hoping to satisfy your sweet tooth. The natural sugars that are found in your favorite fruits will allow you to enjoy something really tasty, but the fruit will also be packed with nutrients, water, and antioxidants that are necessary to maintaining your health.

As you can see, you can certainly have a bit of dessert every day, but the key is to focus on what you are having for dessert, as well as how much of it you are going to indulge in. With the right balance, you won’t have to feel guilty and you can continue losing weight, especially if you are also taking a weight management pill like Phentramin-D.

When hearing about HGH, or human growth hormone, most people think of the supplement that is used to increase muscle mass. A lot of bodybuilders turn to supplements like HGH to build up their strength, especially if they are hoping to enter bodybuilding competitions. But it turns out that HGH for weight loss is also quite popular. Before you start taking this supplement, though, keep reading to get to the truth regarding its safety and effectiveness.

What Is HGH and How Does It Work?
HGH is a hormone that is naturally occurring in your body. In fact, it is made by your pituitary gland, and it is used to spur development and growth in kids. On top of that, though, this hormone can work on repairing tissues, growing muscles, improving brain function, and boosting your metabolism and energy when you are a fully-grown adult.

The problem is that HGH production will peak when you are a teen and then it will start to decline slowly as you get older. Adults that are obese will have even lower levels of this hormone when compared with adults who are at a healthy weight. This is why many people think that using HGH for weight loss is a good route to take.

Can HGH Really Promote Weight Loss?
In 1990, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine stated that synthetic HGH injections produced an increase in muscle mass and a loss of body fat, and no changes had to be made to exercise routines or diets. Subsequent studies, however, proved that this was not, in fact, the case. Despite this, many people still think that HGH will work for weight loss.

Researchers have found that, in individuals who are deficient in HGH, body composition can improve slightly. There might also be a bit of a reduction in the amount of body fat that’s present. But, overall, actual body weight doesn’t change with the help of this supplement.

Even in those who are obese, HGH does not produce substantial weight loss effects, so it is not recommended. Ultimately, study after study has found that HGH is not a good option for those who wish to lose weight.

Before you decide to take HGH for weight loss, get the facts. It turns out that you won’t really gain any benefits from this supplement. Instead, you will achieve better results by taking a product like Phentramin-D while following a healthy diet and exercise routine.

Virtual reality is huge right now. Gamers, in particular, are excited to take on a whole new world of activities that make them feel as though they’re really experiencing what they’re seeing. But there are also many other areas in which virtual reality is becoming more common, including in the world of fitness.

Can a virtual reality workout really be your new fitness activity, or is it best to stick with traditional routines? Keep reading to learn more so you can make the best choices for your health and wellness.

Examples of Virtual Reality Workouts

A virtual reality workout can take on a variety of forms. For example, you can purchase a video game that will get your body moving as you become a character and use your movements to not only play the game, but also stay physically fit. You won’t even be thinking about the fact that you’re exercising.

You could also work out with a virtual personal trainer, or you could put your virtual reality headset on while sitting on a stationary bike so you can ride through various parts of the globe and feel as though you’re really traveling.

The point is that you can make yourself have fun while you do something good for your body, and that will make sticking to an exercise routine a lot easier.

A Few Things That Need Improvement

Even though you can enjoy a virtual reality workout today, the technology still needs to be improved a bit. For example, one of the main drawbacks to using a virtual reality headset while you exercise is the fact that you will sweat into it, causing it to be unhygienic, especially if you are sharing the headset with others. Headsets also tend to be quite large, and they are often too heavy to be used comfortably during an active workout. Hopefully these problems will be resolved as virtual reality technology continues to improve in the coming years.

If you would like to give virtual reality exercises a try, you might find them really engaging and a lot of fun, but they may not be enough to completely phase out the rest of your workout routine at the gym, outside, or at home. So if your aim is to lose weight and keep it off, create a balanced fitness schedule that incorporates cardio and strength training, and consider taking a product like Phentramin-D to boost your body’s ability to burn fat.