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Simplest way to Lose abdominal Fat - Losing abdominal Fat The Simple Way

10:25 AM


by Sebastian Grey

When talking about the best way to lose abdominal fat, the most vital fact that you must know about losing abdominal fat is that there's no enchanting formula that can make your abdominal fat disappear in a jiffy. Losing abdominal fat permanently needs patience and dedication to some beginners tips. But don't lose heart. It's an attainment anybody can do the simple way if one understands the reasons why abdominal fat develops and why it appears so frustratingly impervious to all those exercise plans you have tried out but given up too shortly to see results.


When you burn fat for energy, as in an aerobic activity, fat loss will occur systemically, i.e, from all over the body. So don't compare your abdominal fat loss graph with others.






Another thing when talking about the best way to lose abdominal fat, doing numerous sit-ups and leg-raises or toiling out day in and day out on the most recent abs plant without paying heed to your diet and an aerobic activity is not going to make your abdominal fat go away. That is why the formed and toned muscles remain slippery to the eye.


The secret for the best way to lose abdominal fat comes here : there's one and only one way of losing abdominal fat the straightforward way, and that is with the mix of a balanced and nutritive diet, aerobic activity, and bolstering exercises for abdominal and other muscles. The best sort of workout as the best way to lose abdominal fat is to burn the layers of abdominal fat along with overall fat comprises a cardiovascular or aerobicise like brisk walking, jogging, cycling, dancing, swimming or stair climbing, mixed with abdominal exercises like crunches and hip lifts, and also weight training for other muscle groups. So the best way to lose abdominal fat is a mixture of those activities.




Glycogen (stored carbohydrates) is the first fuel source in the first 10 mins of an aerobicise. Important fat burning starts only after stored glycogen is exhausted. Thus, the key to fat loss is working out at moderate power steadily for approximately forty five to one hour. The remaining 50% contribution comes from diet control. Intestinal exercises will help fortify the muscles and give definition to the reducing midsection.


Ideally, spread your calorie intake into five small meals per day rather than two or three gigantic ones. One best way to lose abdominal fat is to plan out your meals.


There are absolutely no shortcuts. A surgical shortcut like liposuction also becomes meaningless if you are not going to control to your diet, because removing fat cells from the abdomen by liposuction will lead to excess fat storage somewhere else; maybe under the chin or on knees or shoulders; where it may look much worse than at the abdomen.


Lastly, here is a fact that isn't really what you would wish to hear: even if you are on a holistic exercise-cum-diet fat loss plan, abdominal fat is most likely going to be the last fat to leave your body. So the best way to lose abdominal fat is to be persistent. 

Sebastian Grey is a passionate writer and active exercise trainer and loves to provide his insights for the public. Please enjoy his articles and provide feedback about what you think about it. Thank you for reading.


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The Psychology of Food Cravings and Emotional Eating

8:34 PM

By Peta Stapleton
Why Do We Have Food Cravings?


One important factor which may influence appetite control is the notion of food cravings. This overwhelming urge to consume a particular food appears strong in overweight dieters, and many theories has posited why this is so. The nutritional and homeostatic role of food cravings is described by physiological theories and explains why cravings might be more present in people who are deprived of food. The psychoactive abilities of certain foods to trigger cravings are likened to a self-medication behaviour and thought to relieve a central serotonin deficits. Psychological theories stress the role of negatives emotions (e.g. anger) as triggers for cravings and learning theories claim that cravings are a positive learnt response to cues (sensory, situational) and giving into a craving results in a pleasurable consequence. What is evident here is that food cravings are a multi-dimensional and complex occurrence, one which possibly involves aspects of all of the proposed theories.




Whatever the reason, it is suggested that food cravings frequently lead to consumption of the craved food and elevated Body Mass Index is associated with food intake and preference for high fat foods. Even in non-clinical samples, food craving has been found to be related to body weight, suggesting the significant role of craving in food consumption. Early identification of elevated body mass indexes (BMI), medical risks, and unhealthy eating and physical activity habits may be essential to the future prevention of obesity. One crucial question is the role food cravings may play in maintaining excessive eating patterns observed in other problems with eating behaviours: binge eating, bulimia, and obesity.




Food Cravings and Weight Gain: The Missing Link


There is thorough and outstanding evidence regarding the increase in worldwide rates of obesity and the projected outcomes if this is not addressed. Children in particular are noted as being especially at risk of future long term health problems. While dietary restraint, more nutritious eating habits and physical exercise have always been purported to be the answer to the obesity crisis in adults, adolescents and children, long term meta analysis and follow-up studies indicate that weight loss is not maintained (and indeed the more time that elapses between the end of a diet and the follow-up, the more weight is regained). Unfortunately, several other studies indicate that dieting is actually a consistent predictor of future weight gain.


A recent study conducted by Patricia Goodspeed Grant (2008) involved investigating the psychological, cultural and social contributions to overeating in obese people. She found that eating for comfort for the morbidly obese is rooted in using food to manage experiences of emotional pain and difficult family and social relationships. Her participants reported that what had been missing from all treatment programs they had tried was the "opportunity to work on the psychological issues concurrently with weight loss".


It appears that a missing link in the treatment of overweight and obesity is this concept and issue of addressing the psychological contributors or emotional drivers that are leading people to overeat. Relying on willpower and education is clearly not enough.


Motivation Issues




Humans are only motivated by feelings (i.e. sensations). There are basically three types of feelings; pleasant, neutral and unpleasant. The motivation we get from the unpleasant feeling is to move towards a feeling we do not have, but do want. We move away from the unpleasant feeling by replacing it with a different pleasant (or neutral) feeling.


Hunger, is an unpleasant sensation (for most people) and is relieved by the pleasant sensation (for most people) of eating and the taste of food. Like other basic functions, this is so that we can survive, individually and as a species. Most of us prefer pleasant sensations over unpleasant sensations. But pleasant sensations are not always matched with the outcome that they were designed for. Many people eat, not because they need nutrition, but because they feel an unpleasant emotion, like rejection, loneliness, distress, depression, fear, betrayal, worthlessness, defeat, helplessness or hopelessness. This emotional over-consumption of food often leads to fat-gain and other health problems. This can then create a vicious cycle of more emotional eating to manage the emotional consequences of becoming overweight and unhealthy.


For children, excessive eating and binging are often a consequence of boredom and habit behaviours. Food or drinks are used to relieve the monotony. They can also be used as a coping strategy to deal with problems arising from anxiety, depression, stress and conflicts. Although they may feel comforted after consuming an amount of food, the person has not dealt with the underlying cause of these problems. This sets up a reward cycle of using food to get a better feeling. Consequently, there is no reason why they will not reoccur in the future. This can become a vicious cycle.


If a parent deals with their own emotional issues by eating and or over eating it is highly probable that the child will also do so. This pattern for coping is being modelled. Parents often find it difficult to tolerate their child's disappointment or pain and are motivated to take this away. If food is used regularly as a means of doing this, for example, "Never mind not getting invited let's go get a chocolate sundae," a parent can be setting up a cycle of soothing uncomfortable feelings with the pleasure of food. This again can set up a pattern of eating to manage feelings. This is particularly a problem when there is no real discussion of the child's pain or disappointment and instead food is just offered.


Have a think right now: why is it that you want to stop emotionally eating? You might immediately know, or you might have to think for some time. Finish this sentence out loud:


When I stop eating in response to my emotions, I will...


Your answer/s will give you some insight into how you are motivated.


If you are motivated towards pleasurable outcomes, you might have said things like: 
• When I stop eating in response to my emotions I will be able to buy clothes 'off the rack' in the shops 
• When I stop eating in response to my emotions I will be happy


If you are motivated away from negative outcomes your answers may reflect: 
• When I stop eating in response to my emotions I will not be uncomfortable in my clothes anymore 
• When I stop eating in response to my emotions I will be able to throw away my 'fat' clothes


You have probably noticed the patterns here. Moving towards pleasurable outcomes or away from a negative one, affects how we think, feel and behave. You might find that you have a combination of moving towards some outcomes and away from others. This is fine too. More often than not, we are primarily subconsciously motivated in one direction.


Motivation has also been shown to exist either as an internal characteristic or as an external factor in people in general. Internal motivation is linked to neurological circuitry in the left prefrontal lobe; the feelings of accomplishment, passion for work, excitement in our day all link to the left prefrontal cortex. It is this area of the brain, which governs motivating behaviour. It discourages pessimistic feelings and encourages action. The reality is that some people naturally possess a high level of this internal motivation; those who focus on the internal feelings of satisfaction they will attain despite any difficulties they face along the way. However others require more than this.


External motivation is any external influence or stimuli to generate positive behaviour. These might include monetary rewards such as bonuses, tangible recognition or honour, prizes, or other incentives. The reality is, despite such rewards motivating behaviour in the short term, it has been shown that no amount of bonuses or acknowledgment will inspire people to use their fullest potential to keep moving towards their goals. So what does it take?


You might have already noticed with exercise that no matter how many personal trainers you hire, how many motivational exercise tapes you purchase or classes you attend, eventually you lose interest and go back to your old behaviour. This is because all of those things are forms of external motivation. There is nothing wrong with them - some people thrive on external motivation and do very well with it. However, sometimes your behaviour does drop off when you cease getting the drive from an external source. Let's face it, if you had a personal trainer at your door every single day for the rest of your life and a personal chef in the kitchen preparing nutritious balanced meals forever, then yes, you would be motivated to lose weight and become fitter. Such full time assistance is not a reality for most of us.


Sometimes people FIND the internal source of motivation they need to lose weight from an external source and this can help them get started. Here's Mercedes' story.


Mercedes had tried to lose weight for years. She was a clerk in the local library and thoroughly enjoyed her work and her food. She noticed over years of living a fairly sedentary lifestyle, with little exercise and a whole lot of reading in her spare time that the pounds had crept on. She was an accomplished cook and took pleasure in preparing meals for herself out of gourmet magazines from the library. She wasn't really worried about her weight but it was always in the back of her mind that she should do something about it. It wasn't until she noticed a regular visitor to the library every evening that she paid attention.


Jon was studying for his final exams in accountancy and because he still lived at home with his rowdy younger brothers and sisters, he began taking to the library every evening for the peace and quiet. He found Mercedes to be very knowledgeable and helpful with finding him necessary reference programs and they struck up a friendly rapport. Mercedes noticed that she started to look forward to her time every evening chatting to Jon and after the first compliment he made about her hair, she proceeded to take more time with her appearance. Jon was really the first man who had ever noticed her as a woman. Unbeknown to him, Mercedes began watching her meals and even started parking her car further from work to get some exercise each day, in the hope of slimming down.


Mercedes and Jon remained good friends and while nothing particularly romantic ever happened between them, Mercedes felt inspired to continue her grooming routine and eventually met her future husband while power walking on the weekend. He had lived two doors from her for years and they had never noticed each other!


Are you motivated toward a reward? Or away from a painful outcome?


Your subconscious mind is actually equipped to lead you towards something you want, rather than away from something you don't want.


The same happens when we need to achieve a goal such as weight loss - we need to look where we are going. When focusing on losing weight most people are focused on wanting to move away from what they don't want, or the negative situation. Rather than focus on wanting to loose weight to move away from your current position, focus on the positives of becoming slim, healthy or fitter. This is moving towards the positive rather than moving away from the negative.


Here is a simple exercise which will prove to you your subconscious is on the alert 24 hours a day: on the way home today, choose a make, model and colour of vehicle- anything will do. Start to think about it consciously. And then start to look around and see how many you can count on the way home. Really look hard - you will find them everywhere! How was it that on the way to work you didn't notice any? You were not tuned in, that's all.


What's Driving Your Eating?


Many people suffer from food cravings at times when they are having a strong feeling. Others report a history of feeling criticized and judged by important others for their choices or the way they look, eat or feel. Feelings of shame and guilt about eating behaviours, looks or perceived lack of control are also common for people. Others report anger and annoyance that to be the shape they want, they have to eat differently to others and feel deprived (victimized/ not normal). Many are afraid to change their shape because this has helped them hide or protected them from hurt or intimacy. Many have tried changing their body shape so many times they do not believe they can succeed, or feel undeserving of success because they have a deeper sense of unworthiness.


Emotional Eating


Emotional eating is the practice of consuming quantities of food -- usually "comfort" or junk foods -- in response to feelings instead of hunger. Experts estimate that 75% of overeating is caused by emotions. Many of us learn that food can bring comfort, at least in the short-term. As a result, we often turn to food to heal emotional problems or take away discomfort. Eating to self soothe becomes a habit preventing us from learning skills that can effectively resolve our emotional distress.


Depression, boredom, loneliness, chronic anger, anxiety, frustration, stress, problems with interpersonal relationships and poor self-esteem can result in overeating and unwanted weight gain. There are 2 types of emotional eating in which people engage:


1. Deprivation-sensitive binge eating: appears to be the result of weight loss diets or periods of restrictive eating (yoyo dieters) 
2. Addictive or dissociative binge eating: process of self-medicating or self-soothing with food unrelated to prior restricting (have you ever eaten a whole packet of something, before you realised it was gone?)


By identifying what triggers our emotional eating, we can substitute more appropriate techniques to manage our emotional problems and take food and weight gain out of the equation. Situations and emotions that trigger us to eat fall into five main categories:




1. Social. Eating when around other people. For example, excessive eating can result from being encouraged by others to eat; eating to fit in; arguing; or feelings of inadequacy around other people. 
2. Emotional. Eating in response to boredom, stress, fatigue, tension, depression, anger, anxiety, loneliness as a way to "fill the void" or in response to feelings arising from memories of past negative experiences. 
3. Situational. Eating because the opportunity is there. For example, at a restaurant, seeing an advertisement for a particular food, passing by a bakery. Eating may also be associated with certain activities such as watching TV, going to the movies or a sporting event. 
4. Thoughts. Eating as a result of negative self-worth or making excuses for eating. For example, scolding oneself for looks or a lack of will power. 
5. Physiological. Eating in response to physical cues. For example, increased hunger due to skipping meals or eating to cure headaches or other pain.


Some useful questions to ask yourself that might help you find some of your beliefs or issues include: 
• Do you remember any times you were ashamed about your body or had others say things about you that you felt ashamed of yourself? 
• When was the last time you were at your goal weight/shape? What was happening at that time? 
• What are your attitudes about overweight people? What were the attitudes of important others about overweight people? 
• What patterns exist in your family about food? Was it used to show love or as a punishment? 
• What statements do you say to yourself that are self defeating, hurtful and holding you back from getting what you want. Some examples include: 
- It's in my genes, 
- I've never been slim so I can't be 
- I'll always be fat 
- I'm the fat funny one 
- If I let anyone get close to me they will hurt me 
- My friends/family won't like me anymore


It is useful to ask yourself: 
1. What are the benefits of staying overweight? 
2. What do you have to give up to achieve your goal? 
3. Do you use food as your main reward either for yourself or your children?


Read these questions out loud then sit quietly and listen to what you say to yourself. Write down your answers. Remember, the more honest you are with your thoughts and feelings, the more profound change you are able to achieve.









Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4766307

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Losing Weight This Winter - Diet and Exercise Secrets to Boost Your Metabolism and Fat Burning

9:48 PM






By Dr. Becky Gillaspy


Losing weight this winter is easier when you learn how to use your favorite foods to help speed fat loss and you learn how to cut your exercise time in half and actually boost your fat burning. The winter season is very busy with additional parties and the holidays but it is also a time of less activity because of the longer nights and colder weather. If you feel you need a change in your diet and exercise strategies this winter then I encourage you to take just a couple of minutes right now to read on.


Losing Weight This Winter


You may find yourself more focused on food when the winter sets in. This can be for a combination of reasons but the truth is this added focus can lead you to feel like you are depriving yourself or missing out on your favorite foods.




But you don't have to give up your favorite foods to lose weight in fact your favorites can become your secret weapon for weight loss especially during the holiday meal season.








Here is the problem...when you diet you keep your calories low and in a very short time your body adapts to this lower food intake by lowering your metabolism. This is not good because your slower metabolism means slower weight loss.




You want to keep your body from adapting and you can do this by feeding your body more calories on one day of your dieting week. So for instance if you have a holiday meal next weekend simply diet as you had been for 6 days up to the party and then take the party off and boost your metabolism by eating more.






Now let's shift our thoughts to exercise. Exercise over the winter tends to move indoors and let's face it spending an hour on the treadmill can be mentally tough. But you can cut that workout in half by adding burst of high intensity.







Simply warm up at a comfortable pace and then vary your pace between that comfortable pace and a high intensity pace and you will stimulate your metabolism and burn fat more efficiently all day long.




Losing weight this winter is easier when you have the right diet and exercise strategies that allow you to make eating and exercising more enjoyable and more efficient.








Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3241838

Posted in

Lose Weight While You Sleep: The Dream Diet

11:37 AM


By Lois Sciligo
Have you ever experienced a sleepless night and the next day you felt ravenous, all day? No matter how much or what you ate, you never felt full or satisfied? You were experiencing the effects of two very important hormones that control appetite: leptin and ghrelin.


So how do they work? Leptin is the hormone that tells the brain you are full, satisfied, had enough food. When you get too little sleep, leptin levels drop. You can eat and eat and not feel satisfied. Ghrelin is the hormone that tells the brain that you are hungry and need to eat more food; it increases our appetite. When you get too little sleep, ghrelin levels increase and you want to eat everything in site. You will generally reach for the high-carb, calorie dense foods to give you energy.


This was recently explored in two studies conducted at the University of Chicago and Stanford University in California. In both studies it was revealed that the level of body fat seemed to correlate with sleep patterns. The less sleep, the higher the body fat. Those who got the least sleep weighed more.




However, it's not just the number of hours that you sleep that affects your leptin and ghrelin levels, it is also the quality of your sleep and other life factors like our diet, amount of exercise, personal stress levels and even our genetics.




Getting enough sleep...you can't go wrong there. If you are dieting, sleeping a few extra hours a night is not a bad deal. Especially if you tend to only get six hours or less a night.




So it seems that sleep loss appears to effect us in several ways:






1. You feel hungry even when you are full. Therefore, you will tend to overeat. Making it more difficult for you to adhere to a diet.




2. Increases fat storage by interfering with the metabolism of carbs, leading to higher blood sugars. Which promotes the over production of insulin, which then leads to storage of body fat...and insulin resistance. A step towards developing diabetes.




3. Slows the loss of fat, speeds up the loss of lean body mass (muscle) which in turn decreases energy and the burning of calories.


Getting a good night's rest if vital to any weight loss plan you are on. But you can't substitute sleep for a healthy diet and exercise. These remain important to your weight loss efforts too.




When you find that you don't get the rest you need, and you have that "hungry" feeling the next day, avoid the high carb snacks and opt for healthy. Cut up some apples, have some carrots and celery handy. Put some nuts in a small bag and have some chewing gum available. If you work at a desk, get up and move around about every hour or so, do some deep breathing and drink plenty of water (not sugary sodas or juice, just water).




Once you've started getting enough rest at night, you will notice the difference in your appetite, your energy level, and your waistline!




Lois Sciligo promotes a healthy and happy lifestyle for persons of all ages. Her primary mission is provide information that will help others make informed choices and support their journey toward health. Her involvement in the development of a number of wellness programs during her 30+ year career as an Activity Professional in long term care has made her aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle at every stage of life.






Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5320941

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