“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—
air, mountains, trees, people. I thought,
“This is what it is to be happy.”
― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
Month: March 2016
Healthy Byte: Superhero-fy Your Push Up
Push-ups have got to be my all-time favorite upper-body exercise since they are so effective at targeting your chest and shoulders. There are so many variations to this basic exercise, so here’s another one to add to your routine – the Spider-Man push-up. This move helps define your core, especially your obliques, the muscles on the sides of your torso that cinch your waist and the suit is totally optional.
- Come into plank position (top of a push-up), with your hands under your shoulders, and your body in one straight line. If you can’t do a push-up this way, just lower your knees to the floor (as shown in the second half of the video).
- As you bend your elbows out to the side and lower your torso toward the floor, bend your left knee and touch it to your left elbow.
- As you straighten your arms, come back to plank position with your left foot next to your right. Now lower your torso down and touch your right knee to your right elbow. Then return back to plank position.
- This counts as one repetition. Complete as many as you can, then stretch out your lower back and shoulders in Child’s Pose for five breaths and then stretch out your pecs by doing Seated Heart Opener for five breaths.
Originally Posted HERE
Wednesday Wisdom
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique.”
~ Martha Graham, Modern Dancer & Choreographer and Founder of Martha Graham Dance Company
Healthy Byte: Most Addictive Foods
Pizza, French fries and ice cream may be the kinds of foods many of us love to indulge in after a night of drinking. But recent research suggest we can actually have benders on these foods all by themselves, and it may even be a sign of an addiction.
Researchers have wondered whether we can become addicted to food for more than a century. There have been reports of people losing control over how much they eat, and experiencing withdrawal when they are cut off, just like with drug and alcohol addiction. By now, many agree that food addiction can be a real problem for at least some types of foods.
For the first time, a team of researchers looked at exactly which types of foods could be the most addictive. They asked a group of 120 undergraduates at the University of Michigan, and another group of nearly 400 adults, about 35 different types of food — from pizza to broccoli — and whether they think they could have problems controlling how much they ate of each one. Eighteen of the items were processed foods, meaning they contained added sugars and fats.
Topping the list were pizza, chocolate, chips, cookies, ice cream, French fries, cake and soda, all considered processed foods. They were followed by cheese and bacon — both unprocessed fo
Pizza, French fries and ice cream may be the kinds of foods many of us love to indulge in after a night of drinking. But research earlier this year suggests we can actually have benders on these foods all by themselves, and it may even be a sign of an addiction.
Researchers have wondered whether we can become addicted to food for more than a century. There have been reports of people losing control over how much they eat, and experiencing withdrawal when they are cut off, just like with drug and alcohol addiction. By now, many agree that food addiction can be a real problem for at least some types of foods.
For the first time, a team of researchers looked at exactly which types of foods could be the most addictive. They asked a group of 120 undergraduates at the University of Michigan, and another group of nearly 400 adults, about 35 different types of food — from pizza to broccoli — and whether they think they could have problems controlling how much they ate of each one. Eighteen of the items were processed foods, meaning they contained added sugars and fats.
Topping the list were pizza, chocolate, chips, cookies, ice cream, French fries, cake and soda, all considered processed foods. They were followed by cheese and bacon — both unprocessed foods, but high in fat and salt.
Step away from the burger: Why a ‘Western’ diet is bad for your health
Fruits and vegetables (strawberries, carrots and broccoli, for example) were at the bottom of the list.
“In a similar manner that drugs are processed to increase their addictive potential, this study provides insight that highly processed foods may be intentionally manufactured to be particularly rewarding through the addition of fat and refined carbohydrates, like white flour and sugar,” said Erica Schulte, graduate student of psychology at the University of Michigan and lead author of the study, which was published in February in PLOS One.
The researchers found that the most problematic foods tended to be those with a high glycemic load, meaning they contained a lot of sugar and caused a spike in blood sugar. The authors wrote that these qualities could make foods more difficult to stop eating in a similar way as drugs that are highly concentrated and rapidly absorbed into the body are more addictive.
The researchers also found that, among the adults in their study, those with a high BMI and those who were at risk of having any kind of food addiction were most likely to have difficulty controlling themselves around a particular food item.
The researchers assessed food addiction risk using the Yale Food Addiction Scale, which was developed by the study’s lead author, Ashley N. Gearhardt. (You can test your risk of having a food addiction by taking a short version of this survey.)
Although not all foods have the potential to be addictive, “it is critical to understand which ones do,” said Mike Robinson, assistant professor of psychology, neuroscience and behavior at Wesleyan University, who was not involved in the current study.
“We are all pressed for time, and food is becoming more and more available,” but we need to think about what we are grabbing on the go, Robinson said. Although a handful of almonds and a milkshake might have the same number of calories, they will have a different effects on your brain and your reward system, and you will be much more likely to go back to get more of the milkshake, he added.
Related: Americans are cutting calories, but far from eating healthy
Many of the symptoms of food addiction look like drug addiction, including that people need more and more of the food item to get the same effect. They also accept negative consequences to obtain it and feel the anxiety or agitation of withdrawal when they can’t have it. Although food withdrawal is not as intense as heroin withdrawal, neither is cocaine withdrawal. “It varies by the drug,” Robinson said.
Just like any addiction, the first step to recovery is to acknowledge there is a problem, Robinson said. “I think in the majority of cases when we have a problem with a substance, whether it’s a food or drug…we will ignore it,” he said.
Robinson suggests avoiding foods if you have trouble controlling how much of them you eat. “We are not in a situation where we will have dietary deficiencies (and) whenever possible we should be aiming to cook foods for ourselves,” he said.
ods, but high in fat and salt.
Fruits and vegetables (strawberries, carrots and broccoli, for example) were at the bottom of the list.
“In a similar manner that drugs are processed to increase their addictive potential, this study provides insight that highly processed foods may be intentionally manufactured to be particularly rewarding through the addition of fat and refined carbohydrates, like white flour and sugar,” said Erica Schulte, graduate student of psychology at the University of Michigan and lead author of the study, which was published in February in PLOS One.
The researchers found that the most problematic foods tended to be those with a high glycemic load, meaning they contained a lot of sugar and caused a spike in blood sugar. The authors wrote that these qualities could make foods more difficult to stop eating in a similar way as drugs that are highly concentrated and rapidly absorbed into the body are more addictive.
The researchers also found that, among the adults in their study, those with a high BMI and those who were at risk of having any kind of food addiction were most likely to have difficulty controlling themselves around a particular food item.
The researchers assessed food addiction risk using the Yale Food Addiction Scale, which was developed by the study’s lead author, Ashley N. Gearhardt. (You can test your risk of having a food addiction by taking a short version of this survey.)
Although not all foods have the potential to be addictive, “it is critical to understand which ones do,” said Mike Robinson, assistant professor of psychology, neuroscience and behavior at Wesleyan University, who was not involved in the current study.
“We are all pressed for time, and food is becoming more and more available,” but we need to think about what we are grabbing on the go, Robinson said. Although a handful of almonds and a milkshake might have the same number of calories, they will have a different effects on your brain and your reward system, and you will be much more likely to go back to get more of the milkshake, he added.
Many of the symptoms of food addiction look like drug addiction, including that people need more and more of the food item to get the same effect. They also accept negative consequences to obtain it and feel the anxiety or agitation of withdrawal when they can’t have it. Although food withdrawal is not as intense as heroin withdrawal, neither is cocaine withdrawal. “It varies by the drug,” Robinson said.
Just like any addiction, the first step to recovery is to acknowledge there is a problem, Robinson said. “I think in the majority of cases when we have a problem with a substance, whether it’s a food or drug…we will ignore it,” he said.
Robinson suggests avoiding foods if you have trouble controlling how much of them you eat. “We are not in a situation where we will have dietary deficiencies (and) whenever possible we should be aiming to cook foods for ourselves,” he said.
1. Pizza
2. Chocolate
3. Chips
4. Cookie
5. Ice Cream
6. French Fries
7. Cheeseburger
8. Non-Diet Soda
9. Cake
10. Cheese
11. Bacon
12. Fried Chicken
13. Rolls
14. Buttered Popcorn
15. Cereal
16. Gummies
17. Steak
18. Muffins
19. Nuts
20. Eggs
21. Chicken Breast
22. Pretzels
23. Plain Crackers
24. Water
25. Granola Bar
26. Strawberries
27. Corn (without butter or salt)
28. Salmon
29. Banana
30. Broccoli
31. Plain Brown Rice
32. Apple
33. Beans
34. Carrots
35. Cucumbers
Wednesday Wisdom
“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful,
than a woman being unapologetically herself;
comfortable in her perfect imperfection.
To me, that is the true essence of beauty.”
~ Steve Maraboli
Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience
Healthy Byte: Cardio without the Running
Hate this?
Try these …
Unless this guy is offering to run with you …
Just kidding … keep reading
We get it. Not everyone loves to run. Common complaints: It hurts my knees, it’s boring, I’ve stopped seeing results. Thankfully, there are plenty of other ways to get a heart-pumping, calorie-crunching workout. In fact, by upping the intensity and speed of your exercise routine, you can turn almost any workout into a cardio workout, says Brian Gallagher, co-owner of Throwback Fitness. Here are 10 ways.
Jump Rope Rounds
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
Old school moves meet forward-thinking exercise routines at Throwback Fitness in New York City. With interval workouts, you can reap even more cardio benefits than you would on a treadmill, says co-owner Ryan Wilke. Try repeating this short circuit of bodyweight exercises — completing as many rounds as you can in four minutes — followed by jumping rope as many times as possible in one minute. Repeat for a total of five circuits.
Workout:
- 10 squats: Stand with feet hip-width apart and squat down as low as you can, keeping shoulders up and back flat. Press through heels to stand.
- 10 pull-ups: Start from a dead hang and pull yourself fully up to the bar, so it’s level with your collarbone.
- 10 push-ups: Keep the elbows snug to the body as you lower your chest to the ground and then raise back up.
- After completing as many rounds of squats, pull-ups, and push-ups as possible in four minutes, jump rope for one minute, then complete the circuit four more times.
Beach Volleyball
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
The next time you find yourself at the ocean, head to the nearest net. “Moving around quickly on sand takes a lot more energy than moving fast on something hard like cement,” says Scott Herman, a trainer with the BeFit Network. “The sand shifts under your feet, which means you’re constantly correcting yourself and having to generate a ton of power, especially when jumping high.” The unstable sand is also great for strengthening legs and ankles, which tend to weaken as you get older. Plus, unlike a grueling 45 minutes of running on a treadmill, volleyball is usually done with friends, so you can go for hours without noticing it.
Cycling
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
If you love the long and isolated nature of running, hop on two wheels instead. “Cycling is great because you can change your intensity depending on the terrain you choose,” says Herman. “You can go mountain biking, which is more intense and requires bursts or speed, or road cycling, which tends to be more endurance based.” If you do go out, make sure you use clip-ons so you work your hamstrings as much as your quads. And plan your route ahead of time. That way if you’ll know when a downhill is coming up and push yourself as hard as you can leading up to it.
Tabata
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
The whole point of high intensity interval training is to push yourself so hard that your heart rate goes sky high instantly. Just try a few tabata rounds and see if you don’t notice a faster pulse. “With tabata, you go at maximum effort for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, and do eight cycles,” says Iwaniuk. “The key is pushing yourself hard in those 20 seconds. If you’re willing to put yourself through the ringer, your heart is going to be pumping a ton of blood through it and you’ll stay in the zone of an elevated heart rate the whole time, even during the rests.” A good goal: Try not to slack off as the rounds go on — if you did 18 air squats in round one, get 18 in round eight.
Boxing
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
Just try hitting a heavy bag for a few minutes and you’ll quickly see why boxing counts as cardio. “With boxing, you’re constantly shuffling, twisting, keeping your arms up at a high level, and using a lot of speed and coordination to punch,” says Iwaniuk, who thinks this, as well as activities like judo and jiu jitsu, are the pinnacle of non-running cardio training. “Any time you repeatedly strike something for a set amount of time, you will work your heart big time.” If you’re at home without a heavy bag to take it out on, pick up some light weights and shadow box. “It’s tough to throw 200 punches with any kind of weight in your hand,” says Iwaniuk. “Even two pounders!”
Jumping Jacks
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
Jumping jacks don’t require any equipment, you can do them anywhere, and they are so simple they do them in elementary school gyms. “Do them the standard way — arms going overhead — or cross your arms over your chest to improve shoulder flexibility,” says Corkill “It gets the upper body involved as well as lower, whereas something like cycling only uses your leg muscles.” Corkill likes to add quick bursts of jumping jacks throughout a workout to spike your heart rate.
Swimming
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
“You end up using every bit of energy you have to get from point A to point B when you’re swimming,” says Herman. “You also kind of trick your brain because you’re tiring out your body, but the water makes it tough to feel sweaty. Plus the pool keeps your core temperature down, which means you might be able to last longer.” His suggestion is to alternate laps of easy paces and sprint paces to get your heart rate up while allowing you to stick it out in the pool.
Burpees
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
This isn’t the best form of cardio for someone just starting out — it’s way too easy to get sloppy and have bad form — but if you’re already pretty fit, burpees will get your heart rate up in no time. “These use absolutely everything,” says Corkill. “That’s why they’re so efficient—they tax a lot of muscles at once, especially if you add a push-up at the bottom.”
Walking on an Incline
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
Pump the treadmill up as high as it can go — some get all the way to 30 degrees — and start walking on it to get your heart rate soaring instantly. “It pushes your legs and lungs without the pounding of running,” says Corkill. “That means this is a great form of cardio if you need to save your knees or hips.” Don’t hold on to the side bars and when you start to get tired, make sure you don’t slouch over. Start out at a 3.2 to 4.0 speed, which will be plenty, and see if you can make it 15 minutes.
Timed Intervals
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
This routine from Wilke and Gallagher combines jump rope, dumbbells, and bodyweight exercises. Perform five rounds, trying to beat your best time. If you stop or catch your feet while jumping rope, you must complete three burpees before resuming the workout.
- 10 dumbbell push presses: With the dumbbells in front of your shoulders, bend at the knee by a few degrees to drop your hips straight down. In one strong motion, extend the knees and hips and let the momentum travel into the dumbbells to press them overhead.
- 20 push-ups: Keep the elbows snug to the body as you lower your chest to the ground and then raise back up.
- 30 crunches: Laying on your back, curl your trunk so you’re raising your shoulder blades off the ground.
- 40 lunges: Keep your front knee over your ankle and tap back knee to the ground, practicing balance and control throughout the movement.
- 50 unbroken jump rope turns.
Medicine Ball Circuit
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
Want a bigger challenge than dumbbells or kettlebells? Wilke and Gallagher of Throwback Fitness change up their routines by incorporating medicine balls into their workouts. Try completing 10 rounds of the following circuit as fast as possible.
Workout:
- 10 overhead lunges: Hold the med ball overhead. Perform five reps on each leg.
- 15 thrusters: Holding a med ball at the top of your chest, drop down into a squat, then explode upwards, pushing the ball toward the ceiling.
- 20 medicine ball sit-ups: Hold the ball against your chest for the sit-up.
Dumbbell Ladder
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
Make your next strength workout more challenging by grabbing a pair of heavy dumbbells, says Gallagher. By performing this extra effort without slowing down, you’ll turn a weight-lifting session into a weight-plus-cardio one. Set a 24-minute timer and complete as many levels of the following increasing ladder as possible. Every three minutes, stop where you are and complete five burpees. Follow the same pattern, increasing your reps by two for each round. For example:
Workout:
- Round 1: 2 renegade rows, 2 thrusters, 2 weighted lunges, 2 weighted sit-ups
- Round 2: 4 renegade rows, 4 thrusters, 4 weighted lunges, 4 weighted sit-ups
- Round 3: 6 renegade rows, 6 thrusters, 6 weighted lunges, 6 weighted sit-ups
Renegade rows: Grab a pair of dumbbells and start in a plank position with both hands gripping the weights. Your body should form a straight line from your head to your heels and your feet should be a little more than shoulder-width apart. Keeping your hips still, pull your right elbow up into a row, then return the dumbbell to the floor. Repeat this movement with your left arm for one rep.
Thrusters: Holding a pair of weights at your shoulders, drop down into a squat, then push through your heels to explode upward, pushing the dumbbells toward the ceiling.
Weighted lunges: Keep your front knee over your ankle and tap back knee to the ground. Hold the dumbbells by your waist, or for added difficulty, overhead.
Weighted sit-ups: hold one dumbbell by both ends, across your chest. For added difficulty, press the dumbbell over your head at the top of the sit-up.
Bodyweight Circuit
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
Who needs a treadmill? With this workout, from Wilke and Gallagher, all you need is your body, a little floor space, a towel to mop up with. The key: Don’t take a break. Go as hard as you can in 15 minutes, completing the maximum rounds possible.
Workout:
- 15 push-ups: Keep the elbows snug to the body as you lower your chest to the ground and then raise back up.
- 15 squats: Stand with feet hip-width apart, and squat down as low as you can, keeping shoulders up and back flat. Press through heels to stand.
- 15 cross-body mountain climbers: Start in a plank position, keeping your body in line from your head to your toes. Then, lift your right leg off the ground and pull your knee toward your left elbow. Return to the stating position and repeat on your left side for one rep.
- 15 flutterkicks: Lie face-up on the ground with your hands resting under your glutes. Keeping your body flat and your abs braced, raise your feet a few inches on the ground and kick up and down with both feet, as if you were swimming in a pool.
Kettlebell Circuit
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
Kettlebell workouts are a mix of strength training and cardio, says Tina Tang, a StrongFirst-certified kettlebell instructor and personal trainer. “It takes a lot of effort to perform weighted lifts, and by doing the exercises without stopping, you’ll also crank up your heart rate.” Tang recommends starting with a kettlebell that weighs 35 to 44 pounds (16 to 20kg). Complete as many rounds as possible within 15 minutes.
Workout:
- 10 kettlebell swings: Start in a deadlift position, grasping the handle with both hands. Then, thrust your hips forward, letting the kettlebell extend naturally until it’s in front of your chest. Keep your elbows locked through the movement and lower the weight back to the starting position. If you’re already comfortable with kettlebell swings, extend the swing to overhead.
- 10 kettlebell squats: Grip the handle of the kettlebell with both hands, holding the weight to your chest. Keeping your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width part and your back straight, drop down as low as possible, then push up through your heels to the starting position.
- 10 kettlebell overhead press: Hold a kettlebell in your right hand, with the weight resting on the back of your wrist, tucked in front of your shoulder. Extend your arm toward the ceiling, pushing the weight over your head. Return to the starting position. Perform five reps with each arm.
Rowing Pyramid
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
Rowing is a blend of cardio and strength training, but it’s low impact, so it’s easier on your knees than running, says Scott Marchfeld, a trainer at Row House studio in New York City. Follow this rowing pyramid twice as you ratchet up, and dial down, your cadence
Warm Up: Start with a five-minute light row at 20–22 strokes per minute.
Workout:
- Row hard, but not all out, for 30 seconds, maintaining a stroke rate of 24 strokes per minute. You’ll be raising and lower your pace over seven segments, and the pyramid looks like: 24-26-28-30-28-26-24.
- After 30 seconds, increase the stroke rating to 26 strokes per minute while maintaining the same power output (watts) per stroke. Hold the pace for 30 seconds. Your average split should drop at least five seconds with each jump in pace.
- Continue raising the pace by two strokes per minute every 30 seconds until you hit 30.
- After rowing at 30 strokes per minute, bring the stroke rating back down to 28 per minute for 30 seconds. Be careful not to increase your split time as you slow down the rating.
- Continue bringing down the rating, every 30 seconds, until you’re back to 24 strokes per minute.
- After your last 30 seconds, do a one-minute recovery row and repeat the pyramid workout one more time. Afterwards, do a one-minute cool down, then stretch.
HIIT Strength Workout
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts are short in time, but high in intensity. By going all-out and challenging yourself to perform the exercises in the shortest amount of time possible, you’re guaranteed to get your heart rate pumping, says Grigas.
Perform each of the movements below using a three-round, 21-15-9 rep count. For example, you’ll do 21 jumping lunges, followed by 21 push-ups, then perform 15 jumping lunges and push-ups, then a round at nine reps.
Jumping lunges: From a standing position, jump into a lunge, with your right knee bent at a 90-degree angle. Then, push up through your heel and switch sides in the air, so your left leg is bent at a 90-degree angle. That’s one rep.
Push-ups: Keep the elbows snug to the body as you lower your chest to the ground and then raise back up.
Swimming Drills
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
Talk to any swimmer, and they’ll insist that their workouts are harder than any other athlete’s. They’re probably right: Swimming laps for just 30 minutes can burn 400 calories. Plus, you’re working just about every muscle in your body, says Jamie Grigas, a coach at EVF Performance in New York City. This workout was designed for a 25-yard pool (each lap is equal to 25 yards).
Warm Up: 300 yards freestyle, 100 yards kick (use a kickboard or perform a side kick), 200 yards freestyle, 50 yards kick.
Workout: Do 25 yards of kicking, followed by 50 yards of freestyle swimming, followed by 25 yards of kicking. Repeat 10 times, then swim an easy 50 yards to recover. Perform ten 25-yard pool lengths without breathing. Take as much time as you need to between 25-yard laps. (If you are not making the whole 25 yards, just try to make it longer than the previous one.)
Cool down: Perform a low-intensity backstroke for 100 yards.
Partner Workout
(Photo Courtesy of Getty Images)
One of the best ways to push your workout to a fat-burning cardio level is to grab a friend. “Exercising with a partner motivates you to work harder because you don’t want to let your teammate down,” says Wilke, which is why at Throwback Fitness, he and Gallagher pair up clients who attend their classes. Have one partner use a rowing machine, while the other performs exercises on the floor.
Workout:
- Person 1: Row at a hard, but sustainable pace
- Person 2: Perform 10 hand release push-ups, followed by 15 kettlebell swings
Switch when the second partner completes two rounds; continue for 16 minutes (or desired workout length), keeping track of the total distance each person has rowed.
Originally Posted HERE
Wednesday Wisdom
“Although beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
the feeling of being beautiful exists solely in the mind of the beheld.”
~ Martha Beck
Healthy Byte: Metabolism Boosting Tips
The original article contained “55” metabolism boosting tips which I thought was much to much to post and the fact that some I didn’t really believe. As usual there is a link at the bottom of this post if you would like to see the full list. Below are the top 10 that I thought were the most pertinent. Enjoy
Metabolism. It’s the set of life-sustaining chemical transformations within the cells of living organisms. It’s such a big concept that it’s understandable to feel as if it’s beyond your control. Not true! There are a bunch of quick and easy diet and lifestyle changes you can make to boost your metabolism, make your body run more efficiently, and reach your weight-loss and fitness goals faster. Just follow this checklist.
1. Eat ENOUGH
If you want to weigh less, you’ve got to eat less, right? Well, if you take in too few calories, it can cause your body to lose muscle mass, which will decrease the rate of yourmetabolism. Plus, when you skimp on calories, your body slows the rate at which is burns calories to conserve the fuel it’s got. “Under-fueling is just as risky as over-fueling,” explains Carolyn Brown, MS RD at Foodtrainers in Manhattan. Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN agrees: “In an attempt for quick, noticeable weight loss, many people wrongfully believe that eating as few calories as possible is the best solution. Not only can this lead to numerous nutritional deficiencies as the body is getting less food overall, it can actually have the opposite effect on weight loss.” Instead of cutting calories like crazy, use the simple diet and exercise hacks below that can help you slim down quickly and safely without screwing up your metabolism.
3. Kick Things Up a notch
When it comes to the best workouts for weight loss, neither weights nor cardio can completely move the needle on their own. Interval training is the best way to shed pounds, increase your metabolism, improve your cholesterol profile, and improve insulin sensitivity. At the gym, sign up for a HIIT class, or turn your favorite aerobic exercise, (running, biking, even walking) into an interval workout by adding periods of intense speed (start with 30 to 60 seconds) followed by periods of rest (normal speed) for the same amount of time. Do this six to 10 times to complete a fat-slashing workout. As you get better, slowly increase the amount of time of increased intensity.
5. Put on some muscle
Even when you’re at rest, your body is constantly burning calories. In fact, 75% of the calories that you burn each day are being used up just keeping you alive. “Resting metabolic rate” is much higher in people with more muscle, because every pound of muscle uses about 6 calories a day just to sustain itself. If you can pack on just five pounds of muscle and sustain it, you’ll burn the caloric equivalent of three pounds of fat over the course of a year.
6. Drink green tea
If you always opt for coffee over tea, you could be missing out on a major metabolism boost. In a recent 12-week study, participants who drank 4-5 cups of green tea daily, then did a 25-minute workout, lost an average of two more pounds and more belly fat than the non tea-drinking exercisers. What’s its magic? The brew contains catechins, a type of antioxidant that triggers the release of fat from fat cells and helps speed the liver’s capacity for turning fat into energy. Tea is such an effective fat burner, we made it the centerpiece of our new book, The 7-Day Flat-Belly Tea Cleanse! Test panelists lost up to 4 inches from their waists!
9. Eat enough protein daily
The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn–no matter what you’re doing. Hitting the gym helps you build muscle to begin with, but eating protein keeps it from breaking down and slowing your metabolic rate as a result. Protein needs differ by individual, but typically consuming 0.8 to one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight per day should be sufficient enough to fuel weight loss, says Leah Kaufman, MS, RD, CDN, a New York City-based Dietitian. For a 130-pound (58 kilogram) person, that would equal between 46 and 58 grams of protein. Research has found that because protein is more difficult for the body to break down and digest than other nutrients, it can increase post-meal calorie burn by as much as 35 percent. Aim to incorporate some protein into every meal and snack throughout the day.
10. Choose whole grains
It takes the body extra effort to break down whole grains than more refined and processed grains, like the flour ordinarily used to make bread and pasta. You can help keep your metabolic rate elevated by consuming foods that the body has to work harder to digest. Your go-tos are whole foods that are also rich in fiber. We’re talking brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, sprouted grain breads and more of the Best Complex Carbs for Weight Loss.
13. Skip diet soda
Yeah, yeah, it has zero calories, but drinking diet soda may yet play havoc with your goal of having a flat belly. Research published in the journal Trends in Endocrinology&Metabolism shows that artificially sweetened beverages may screw up the body’s normal metabolic response to sugar, actually increasing appetite! Increasingly, diet drinks are being linked with weight gain, metabolic syndrome and a host of other ills. (Check out what happens to your body when you give up soda.) Best to give them a wide berth.
37. Drink more water
Weight loss doesn’t get easier than this: Simply drinking more water may increase the rate at which healthy people burn calories, according to a study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. After drinking approximately 17 ounces of water (about 2 tall glasses), participants’ metabolic rates increased by 30 percent. The researchers estimate that increasing water intake by 1.5 liters a day (about 6 cups) would burn an extra 17,400 calories over the course of the year—a weight loss of approximately five pounds!
52. Drink water when you wake up
For nutritionist Lisa Jubilee, one of the best and cheapest ways to give your metabolism a jolt is to drink water (she suggests 20 to 32 ounces) shortly after waking. Why? During sleep, your body’s metabolic function slowed, and unless you woke up in the middle of the night to swig some water, it didn’t receive any fluids. Jubilee suggests completely rehydrating before stressing your body with any other food or drink. “My clients who have implemented this report less bloating, more energy and a smaller appetite,” she says. Her motto for getting your inner furnace stoked and ready for the day: “Rehydrate, then caffeinate!”
53. Pack snacks
“Always be prepared for a busy or unpredictable day by keeping healthy snacks on you, at your desk, in your car,” says nutritionist Amy Shapiro. She suggests having almonds or other unsalted nuts, apples, bananas, chia bars, protein bars, or other fruit and nut bars close at hand. Shapiro says that if you have to skip breakfast, lunch, or even dinner during your quest to look your best, you can keep your energy levels up while making healthy choices. “You’ll have no reason to run to the vending machine for chips or stick your hand in the candy bowl,” she says.
Originally Posted HERE
Wednesday Wisdom
“The soul that is within me no man can degrade.”
~ Frederick Douglass, Social Reformer & Writer
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