Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Heart Rate Monitors & Weight Loss!

Heart rate monitors used to be exclusively operated by physicians and nurses alone but that was soon rectified with today’s multi-tasking generation. Every person seemed to want to know about everything that was related to them and that of course included monitoring their own heartbeats.

What is a Heart Monitor

Also known as a cardiac monitor, a heart monitor is a piece of electronic equipment that can be used to track or observe heart functions continuously. It allows people to place a numerical value on their healthiness based on their heart rate and have a target heart rate to work for. The more complex versions of the heart monitor allow physicians to see any signs of deterioration or improvement and make the necessary adjustments immediately.

Types of Heart Monitors

Today, heart monitors are produced by the millions and designed to cater specific types of individuals. Some heart monitors are primarily designed for weight loss programs while others are meant for the use of athletes or fitness programs. Some are wireless or come as a built-in feature of exercise equipment like a treadmill or an exercise bike. It can be strapped to your wrist or of considerable size. It may or may not emit any electromagnetic waves, depending on its purpose. A fetal heart monitor, for instance, must not produce any waves at all as this may affect the health of the baby.

Factors on Selecting the Best Heart Monitor for You

ECG-Accurate Monitors with Chest Straps – Heart monitors that come with chest straps are more often not the most accurate of heart monitors. The chest strap is strapped around your chest, a few centimeters below your breast. It contains a device that’s able to detect electrical activity of your heart and transmit it to the brain of the machine – just like an ECG. The results are shown on the display monitor, which most of the times is attached to your wrist like a watch. Others however prefer results to be transmitted through audio messages via earphones.

Upon choosing heart monitors with chest straps, you need to remember to keep the strap constantly connected to your body lest you want the heart monitor to produce inaccurate readings.

Lastly, the only alternative against buying heart monitors with chest straps are the ones that rely on pulses on your fingertips. These however do not provide readings as accurate as those with chest straps.

Heart Monitor Features – Basic and lower end models tend to display only your heart rate and maybe the elapsed exercise time as well. This of course does not provide sufficient information if you want to know exactly how much you need to improve before you can be qualified as a completely healthy individual. Higher end models will naturally offer a wider range of features – for a price. Examples of such features are – but not limited to – heart rate zone alarms, timers and number of calories burned. It may also allow users to set pre-programmed workouts along with a targeted heart rate.

Ease of Use – Lastly, you must purchase a heart rate monitor that you will have no problems of using. What good would a high end heart monitor do if it takes you an hour to operate it? Are the numbers and words appearing in the heart rate monitor readable? Can it be used in no-light situations? Are buttons well-labeled and ergonomically positioned?

To Buy or Not to Buy a Heart Monitor

Heart monitors can be especially costly, more so if you are intent on purchasing higher-end models. If you have a limited budget, you should ask yourself whether or not you truly need to buy a heart monitor. You can of course purchase one of the lower-end models but low quality heart monitors can lead to inaccurate results and that sort of defeats the purpose of buying one.

If you are intent on purchasing a heart monitor, you need to ask yourself another question: do you need to make a solo purchase or is it alright with you to use the heart monitor that comes as a built-in feature of a treadmill? Lastly, you should remember as well that you can always pay your doctor regular visits and have him monitor your heart rate for you.


Make it a great day!

Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!

Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/



Monday, March 30, 2009

Quick Tips to Boost Your Metabolism!

There are a lot of people who would give a lot to increase their metabolism. Having a high level of metabolism enables one to maintain burn fat and lose weight fast with the least amount of activity. Metabolism is the rate by which the body produces and consumes energy and calories to support life.

There are several factors that affect the metabolism of a person, such as the amount of muscle tissue, the frequency of the meals one consumes, genetics, stress levels, personal diet and activity levels. Metabolism slows done due to the following: loss of muscle because of not enough physical activity, the tendency of the body to cannibalize its own tissue because there is not enough food energy to sustain it, and the decrease of physical activity that comes naturally with old age.

Here are several ways to fire up one's metabolism:

1. Build up on lean, mean body mass. It is only natural that metabolism decreases along with age, but it is possible to counter the effects. The amount of muscle a person has is a very strong determinant in the ability to burn calories and shed fat. So it goes without saying that exercise is essential. Build strength and resistance by working out at least twice a week, preferably with weights. Do easy exercises in between workouts. Simple tasks such as walking the dog and using the stairs in place of the elevator can already take off calories. The key is to match the amount of eating to the amount of activity one has. Here are some guidelines in getting the right exercise:

For strength training

-Increase the amount of repetitions of a particular exercise.
-Add the level of resistance
-Utilize advance exercise techniques if possible

For cardiovascular training

-Insert intervals between exercises
-Perform cross-training and combine the exercises
-Add up on resistance and speed


2. Eat breakfast. A lot of people are ignoring the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Surprisingly, the ones who eat breakfast are thinner than the ones who do not. Metabolism can slow down considerably if breakfast is taken during mid-morning or if one waits until the afternoon to eat.

3. Avoid sugar. Sugar enables the body to store fat. It is recommended that a person consumes food that helps sustain an even level of blood-sugar. Additionally, progressive execerise 2-3 times a week should be in order to stabilize blood sugar.

4. Eat spicy foods. Hot cuisine with peppers can increase metabolism.

5. Sleep more. According to research, it is riskier for people who do not get enough sleep to gain weight. Also, muscles are regenerated during the last couple of hours of slumber.

6. Increase water intake. Water flushes out toxins that are produced whenever the body burns fat. Majority of bodily functions involves water, and lack of water causes the body system's operations to decrease its speed, and produces unneeded stress as a result.

7. Eat smaller meals. It is advisable to consume 4 to 6 small meals that are timed 2 to 3 hours apart.

8. Never skip meals. People tend to skip meals in order to lose weight, which is a big mistake since it slows down metabolism.

9. Plan meals in detail. Always prepare the right amount of food to be consumed at the designated intervals. Do not commit the mistake of eating meals in sporadic patterns.

9. Ditch the stress! Stress, be it physical or emotional, triggers the release of a steroid called cortisol, which decreases metabolism. Also, people tend to eat excessively when stressed.

10. Guzzle up on green tea. It can be used as a substitute for coffee. Tea has the ability to stimulate metabolism, and unlike coffee, it has no undesirable side effects when too much is consumed.

11. Include more energy foods in the diet, such as fruits and vegetables, beans and whole grains.

Achieving the desired body weight is never impossible if one has the determination and patience needed to stabilize the metabolism level, which plays an important role in weight loss. A person needs to realize that eating right and working out is not just a passing fancy, but a way of life.


Make it a great day!

Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!

Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/

Friday, March 27, 2009

Alcohol and Weight loss!

Let's be temperate about temperance. Alcohol as a moral problem. But alcohol as a food, or at least as an article of diet, is a big subject to the weight reducer.

It must be conceded that a great many alcoholics are spindling and cadaverous. They get that way because they use alcohol instead of food. Normal persons, to whom drink is only an occasional accessory to food, must look upon alcohol as a potential builder of corpulence.

Alcohol is funny stuff, as the night-clubber said when he found two wives waiting up for him. It provides plenty of calories and burns with a lovely light, especially on plum pudding. It burns within you with the same intensity-at the rate of 7 calories per gram, nearly twice the output of protein or carbohydrate and within a couple of calories of the high-heat level of fats.

Alcohol provides a fourth kind of calories.
Practically alone among food materials, alcohol can be absorbed directly from the stomach without the intervention of digestion. Once it is in the blood it has no place to go. There are no friendly storehouses to welcome it, as is the case with other foods. Consequently it has to be burned, liberated as heat and energy. It takes about 31/2 hours for the average person to burn i ounce of alcohol, the amount you or someone else gets from two ounces of 100 proof whiskey.

Number among the virtues of alcohol the fact that its energy is rapidly available and that it has its place in medical practice. It also encourages a tautly nervous person to relax and for that reason, especially among the elderly, it is sometimes an aid to digestion.

For most of us, however, alcohol goes to work so fast producing energy that other foods we have eaten aren't given a chance. They aren't needed while alcohol is taking over the whole job and they hate to cross the picket line. They can be stored in the body if alcohol can't, so the food that isn't needed just transforms itself to fat in the hope that it will be appreciated at a later date.

If your daily calorie count takes due notice of the energy value of alcohol, however, you can see that all your food is assimilated by keeping it within maintenance limits. Alcohol calories count just the same as any other, even though they aren't very good calories.

One way around this problem that some people have used successfully is to do some extra exercise at some time in the week to make up for a good night out with a few drinks.

Alcohol tends to make you feel hungry and so you are more likely to eat more, when you are drinking. You can also notice yourself feeling more hungry the next day, as alcohol burns sugar. So you can find yourself bingeing the day after you have had some alcohol. So if you want to drink alcohol and you are on a diet, you need to be very careful!

Make it a great day!

Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!

Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Kitchener/Waterloo Boot Camp 5K Run!

Hi, Chris Walker here, I hope you're enjoying the spring season! I just have one quick announcement, if you missed the opportunity to do the 5k run last year, your in luck, you now have another chance to participate in the boot camp 5k run.

We're gonna kick off the spring/ summer season with a 5 k run from kitchener to Waterloo along the Iorn Horse Trail.

The boot camp run will commence on the 25th day of April at 10:00AM so you still have some time to prepare and get your cardio up!

The purpose of the run is to get beginner runners to do their first 5k run and before you ask you don't have to be apart of the boot camp to join.

The cost is free! So come on out and support the beginner runners if you're an experienced runner or just give it a try even if you're a beginner.

Even if you walk/run you have nothing to lose just come on out and have fun!

Just send me a message or a blog post and say I'm coming!

I'll be running as well!

There will also be sign up sheets at my fitness studio.
(50 Ontario St S. Unit D)


I'll be sending more info on this shortly.


Make it a great day!

Chris

P.S. If you haven't signed up for the Women's Only Fitness Boot Camp yet don't delay it's gonna be busy this year and spots are going fast. Click the link below to register now:

http://www.fitnesstrainingformenandwomen.com/BCQuestionaire.html



Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!

Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Find Your Motivation to Exercise & Keep It!

We’ve all started an exercise program, gotten all excited about it, but then gave up on it a week or two later. While we start out super motivated, that excitement fades quickly. They key to sticking to an exercise program is finding a way to keep that original motivation. Here are a few tips for getting for getting and staying motivated.

Find a role model. Many women get motivated to diet and work out by taping up pictures of models or actresses. This is actually a great way to remind yourself what your goals are and keep a visual of them fresh in your mind. Just be sure to pick an appropriate role model and not someone with unhealthy eating and exercise habits or an unachievable image.

Set small goals. If you start out setting tough goals, you probably won’t achieve them and will then become discouraged. The key is to set smaller, easy to achieve goals and work your way up. Start with “I will work out three days this week”. Once you get yourself into a routine, get yourself to work out harder and do more during each session.

Reward yourself. Setting goals is good way to get yourself into a workout program. If you have trouble keeping yourself going, try rewarding yourself when you reach a goal. Don’t go with big rewards, just small rewards for reaching small goals. For example, I can go to that movie if I work out three times this week. If you’re working out to lose weight, don’t reward yourself with food.

Get a buddy. Having someone to workout with can help keep your mind off the work and keep you entertained. That means you’re more likely to want to go work out. Having a buddy also makes it harder for you to skip your workout because you’ll be letting someone else down and they’ll be there to talk you into going even if you don’t feel like it. If you can’t find a buddy to go with you, you can always hire a personal trainer to keep you going.

Make it fun. Exercise doesn’t have to be boring a repetitive. If you don’t like your exercise routine, change it. Keep looking until you find something you enjoy doing. This way, you’ll end up looking forward to exercise instead of dreading it.

Mix it up. Even the most exciting workout can get boring if you do it over and over every day. Find several exercises you like to do and alternate. Try swimming Mondays, dance class Wednesdays, and a Pilates tape on Saturday. Any time you find yourself getting bored with a workout, replace it in your rotation for a while and start it again in a few months.

Don’t take it too seriously. If you start acting like exercise is hard work, it will become hard work. Make your exercise a light, fun, activity rather than a chore you have to do. This will keep you from getting a bad attitude and make you less likely to give up.


Make it a great day!

Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!

Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/

Friday, March 13, 2009

The Trend Of Getting Six-Pack Abs Among Women!

Getting six-pack abs has become one of the popular choices to keep the body fit and healthy among women. This is because it does not only guarantee a fast way of improving muscle but also the body’s endurance and strength as well.

Experts say that for a woman to develop six-pack abs, she must undergo workout training where the exercises are designed to develop the muscles in the torso area. Here, the woman’s muscles exert force against different forms of resistance like free weights, which greatly aids to the development of wonderful six-pack abs.

Strength training as the key to six-pack abs

Women who are looking forward to having six-pack abs must undergo strength training so she can endure all the physical requirements of her goal. To start with, it is ideal to do strength training exercises at least 3 times a week for at least 20 minutes or so to prepare the muscles for more rigorous physical movements.

Aside from preparing your body’s muscle for more extreme physical exercises, strength training can also give a woman firm muscles for a great looking physique in the future. Studies show that strength training is very important for women who are gearing towards having six-pack abs because it can increase the endurance and strength of the developed muscles that can allow women perform tasks daily with lesser exertion and effort. This can also improve the working capacity of the muscles buts also aid the body’s coordination, balance, and blood circulation as well as the strength of the joint, ligaments, and bones.

Experts say that to be able to develop muscle and achieve six-pack abs through strength training, women should always make it a practice to stretch before she starts and after she has performed some weight exercises to prepare the joints for the pending motion during the weight lifting. Stretching is very important for beginners because it can reduce soreness after the exercises and can help prevent cramped muscles while increasing the range of your motion.

Women who are doing workouts to get six-pack abs can do common stretching exercises such as warm-ups that include flexibility and stretching exercises to keep the muscles supple, increase the joints’ range of motion, heart rate and body temperature, and blood flow to muscles, enhance flexibility, and improve coordination. Cool-downs are also important to return the heart rate as well as the blood pressure to resting mode gradually. Since they are composed of slow walking and stretching, it can relax the sore muscles during and after the exercise.

After stretching, the strength-training exercises can help women who are into the trend of getting six-pack abs:

- side shoulder raise which focuses more on arms, thighs, elbows, and palms to give more strength to the shoulder;

- front shoulder raise which highlights the arms using thighs and palms during weight lifting repetitions;

- upright row which is good for the shoulders, neck, and upper back because it strengthens a woman’s upper back to endure more activities;

- biceps curl which is good for strengthening the biceps or the front arm by curling it upward using repetitive motions up to the shoulders; and the

- one-arm dumbbell triceps curl which is the most ideal strength training for women who are looking forward to perfect six-pack abs because the effort exerted here benefits almost all parts of the body.


Make it a great day!

Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!

Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Women Preparedness For Six-Pack Abs Training

Women who undergo rigorous training just to get six-pack abs is now becoming a popular trend worldwide because it promotes an effective means of keeping the body fit, sexy, great looking, and healthy. Although many women who are benefiting from this, there are still those who refuse to consider the idea because they think that having a six-pack abs is a guy thing only.

What hinders women from getting six-pack abs

Despite the advantages it brings to make bodies of women sexier, there are so still things that hinder women from getting six-pack abs. If you were one of those who are planning to achieve six-pack abs but still have hesitations, it is a must that you conduct a simple research first on the advantages and disadvantages of training to get six-pack training.

One of the things that hinder women from getting six-pack abs is that the training makes the woman’s muscles bulky and the overall appearance masculine. If truth to be told, women—despite training for six-pack abs—would not have a bulky physique since her body cannot produce enough amount testosterone that is needed to have huge muscles like those in men. Women who are muscular did not get those from training but from having excessive amounts of testosterone in their bodies.

Preparing through diet

For women to achieve six-pack abs, the key formula for success is good and proper nutrition. This is because it provides the basic things such as energy for growth and sustenance can be derived from proper diet.

According to nutritionists, proper nutrition should include proper sets of foods. For people who are planning to develop six-pack abs, this should be a major factor to consider because it will make the training more successful. The following are some eating tips to prepare women get that six-pack rips and muscles in no time:

1. Make sure that you eat at least six times everyday. For beginners in developing six-pack abs, this is the most basic rule because this will ensure that you have the energy to endure weight lifting. Eating meals once every 2 to 3 hours will ensure the stability of blood sugar. This will also ensure satisfaction of cravings, maximization of metabolism and energy, and constant need to feed the building muscles.

2. Enough amounts and significant types of protein should be consumed properly. Indeed, protein plays a big role in developing six-pack abs because it makes up the person’s tissues. To know how much protein you need to get that much-coveted six-pack abs, multiply your total bodyweight by 1.2. The result will be the amount of protein—in grams—is the ideal amount that should be consumed everyday.

3. Ensure that you consume the right types and amounts carbohydrates. In women who are training for six-pack abs, carbs are very important to supply the energy your body needs. To figure out how much carbs you need daily, multiply the lean body mass of your body by 0.8 and the result is the total amount of carbs—in grams—is what you need. Remember that since getting six-pack abs has something to do with losing fats, you must only consume the foods with low carbs such as brown rice, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes.

4. Always include veggies into your diet. Women who are looking forward to having six-pack abs should ensure that green leafy veggies like green beans, broccoli, and lettuce have a place on their diet. These types of foods will ensure that cravings can be suppressed without getting hungry. While training, veggies can also aid metabolism which will make the absorption of protein easier and faster.


Make it a great day!

Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!

Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Women Health Supplements Needed To Achieve Six-Pack Abs!

More and more supplements for women are becoming available in the market especially for those who are looking forward to having six-pack abs. These women health supplements usually include vitamins, minerals and other acids that aim to provide the body with the nutrients it needs for the rigorous work out or to supply the amount of nutrients the body lacks.

As defined, health supplements refer to products that intend to supplement a person’s need for nutrients that contain one or more ingredients like vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals. These are usually taken orally and come in the form of pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid. Health supplements can easily be recognized because they are usually indicated on the label of the container along with information on nutrient contents and other claims.

For women who are gearing towards having six-pack abs, the most common supplements include products that aim to boost health and energy levels. These supplements are usually composed of vitamins including Vitamin A, B, C, D, E, K, and “X”; minerals that include calcium, magnesium, potassium, boron, zinc, copper, manganese, and chromium among others that are beneficial for women’s health; and a set of amino acids that are said to be vital to women’s physical and emotional being.

Finding the best supplements for six-pack abs

If you are training to get six-pack abs and you feel that you need health supplements, your must look for products that are complete multi-vitamin, mineral, and herbal formulas especially created and formulized for women’s needs. Experts say that a good women health supplement to aid the development of six-pack abs should also have a quality formula that is composed of the most natural ingredients as well as food factors available and should not use synthetic chemicals and substitutes that can be harmful to the body.

To find the right health supplements needed to achieve six-pack abs, women should:

- consult a health care professional first before trying on a specific supplement to know if there would be possible complications if you are dieting;

- educate one’s self through simple research which can help you be familiarized with the essentials of women supplements and what they must contain and read about different minerals and vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E to make sure that you know what kind of nutrients that enter your body.

- only use the supplements appropriate for one’s age to adapt to the different physical, intellectual, and emotional changes along the way;

- get feedback from people who have tried it to get first hand information about its effects and possible side effects;

- follow the instructions on the label carefully and religiously so you will not have greater risks of getting side effects and will more chances in getting the desired results.

The market is now full of supplements for women who are looking forward to having six-pack abs. But before trying any of which, it is very important for you to determine quality of the health supplements by buying only to companies that are pharmaceutical GMP compliant. Also, always check the label intently to see if the health supplement is made up of cheap additive fillers like cornstarch, rice, sugar, silica, artificial colors, and flavorings. It is also of high importance to buy a health supplement with a local consumer product help line so you can for inquire about the product anytime you need to.


Make it a great day!

Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!

Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Easy Six Pack Abs-Tips for Easy Workout

You are always busy. You don’t have enough time to go to the gym. You don’t even have time to stand up away from your computer. But you have a dream. A model’s body. A six pack abdominal glory. Want to get that dream?

There are some easy abdominal exercises that you can do even at home. Here are some exercises that can easily be done:

• Crunches

Almost all people know how to do this. This exercise targets the upper abdomen. It’s one of the basic but effective exercises. To perform crunches, you need to lie on a flat surface with your hands in your chest or behind you head. Contract your abs, then hold for 2 seconds, then return to your lying position. Proper crunches are in a continuous and controlled fashion. Concentrate on your abdominal muscles to pull your upper body up. Avoid using the neck or shoulders to push yourself up. This incorrect practice will cause stress and strains.

• Side Crunches

They are basically the same as regular crunches, except that the main focus is on the oblique muscles which are also called love handles. It also uses the same technique, only that you are crunching to either side of our abs. This would burn the sides of your abs.

• Lying Leg Lifts

This exercise targets the lower abs. with this kind of exercise, you are on the same position as with the crunches, you lie flat on your back and lift your legs six to twelve inches of the ground. This would exercise the muscles in the lower part of the abdomen. When performing leg lifts, place your hand under your buttock. It adds leverage and helps you get your feet elevated.

If you want to add more weight into the exercise, attach padded weights into your ankles. These weights can be purchased at the local sports store. If you do not want to buy weights, you can simply fill up old tube socks with enough clean, unused cat litter to make one or two pound weight.

• V- Crunches

It’s almost like lying leg lifts except your chest is at a 45 degree angle starting out. Sit at the edge of a bench and reach back just enough to support yourself from completely lying on the bench. Once you’ve stabilized, bring your knees toward your chest. You would be creating a V motion. The base of the V would be your abs.

• Cat stretch

It’s the same with the movements made by a cat when they stretch their back. This simple action is a quick and easy exercise. Get down on the floor with your hands and knees, with muscles relaxed and looking straight ahead. Next, tighten your abdominal muscles while thrusting you back upward as far as you can. Maintain the position for five counts before lowering your back.

• Bicycle Crunch

To do this, start y lying flat on the floor. Put your hand beside your head then raise knees up to 45 degrees angle and them perform a pedaling motion like what you do when you ride the bicycle.

• Standing Side Bends

Standing side bends encourages the loss of fats in the oblique muscles. To start, stand up straight with the stomach sucked in, legs straight and hands on the sides. Simply lean the body from left to right being careful not to rotate the hips and while keeping body facing front. There is a variety of side bends, this is the torso twists. Instead of bending side to side twist or rotate the upper body from left to right while keeping the legs straight.

You can remove your flabby stomach and replace it with six pack abs, as long as you have disciplined and of course the will to do so.


Make it a great day!

Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!

Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/

Friday, March 6, 2009

Are the health supplements safe?

Health supplements are now a common addition to our diet and in many situations they are the only solution to our health problems. However the Internet is simply flooded by SPAM and pop-up advertisements promising a quick relief from various illnesses if only we take (put a name here) health diet supplement and they are treated more and more like some kind of wonder pills. On the other hand, the benefits and dangers of using them are more and more discussed among physicians. The use of various supplements in bodybuilding process and the dangers of abusing them do not help.

The point is that health supplement really do work, but not for everybody and certainly they're not for every occasion.

Nutritional deficiencies

Basically dietary health supplements were originally developed to help people overcome their nutritional deficiencies. If, for any reason, an individual is unable to follow a balanced diet, health supplements help them to keep your organism intact. However in most cases when an individual eats healthy food (a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables. For example), health supplements are no longer needed and taking them will have only little effect (and not always a positive one).

Bodybuilding/fitness

Another common reason of taking health supplements is bodybuilding. When we want more than to be fit, the normal diet is not enough and we need to take something more serious if we hope to keep up the unhealthily quick pace of the muscles grow. That's where the health supplements come. However as they are often taken without any medical knowledge (and they need to be taken in large quantities if they are to have a visible effect), their final effects may no longer be positive.

Conclusion

In short, health supplements are OK, but only as long as people use them for the reasons they were made for - to fight nutritional deficiencies. Bodybuilding or the general need of feeling healthy are not good reasons for taking those pills (even herbal ones). Our body is a delicate mechanism and we shouldn't tinker in it too much without a serious reason.


Make it a great day!

Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!

Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/

Thursday, March 5, 2009

3 Bad Diet Mistakes To Avoid At All Cost!

Even though there is so much information available about weight loss, the same diet mistakes are being made over and over every day. We are not talking here about little slipups where you ate a slice of pie that was not on the plan, but big mistakes that lead to failure to lose the weight that you want to lose. Understanding these errors can help you develop the attitude that will lead to permanent weight loss for you.

1. The All Or Nothing Attitude

All or nothing dieters will often pick out a complicated diet that is almost impossible for them to maintain. Before beginning, they will search the kitchen for anything that does not fit the plan and throw it in the garbage. They are planning to be the perfect dieter, and so they will be, for one day, three days, seven days or even a couple of weeks. Then, inevitably, something happens that means they cannot keep to the diet one time. Immediately the whole thing is ruined in their eyes and the diet is over. They go to the store and buy all the things that went into the garbage last week and proceed to gain back all the weight that they lost, as fast as possible.

If you are this kind of dieter you need to ask yourself some tough questions. Do you really want to lose weight permanently, or just lose a few pounds so that you can enjoy putting them back on again? The way forward is to make small changes to what you eat so that you have a slow but steady weight loss.

2. The Attitude of Sacrifice

Another common mistake is to view your diet as a period of sacrifice. You do not allow yourself the foods that you enjoy most while you are on your way to your target weight. You may have a great diet plan and be very successful in losing weight, but what happens when you reach your goal? You have not learnt to eat 'bad foods' in moderation so as soon as you start, you are likely to go out of control. It is better to include a little of everything in your diet and learn to enjoy it in small quantities. Yes, even chocolate!

3. Goal Failure

Setting achievable goals is vital in any weight loss plan. Goals should be clear, realistic and set out in writing. While you probably do have an ideal weight in your mind, unless you are only very slightly overweight it is probably too distant to be useful. A more useful goal would be to lose two pounds per week for the first five weeks and then one pound per week after that. Some weeks you will lose more and some less, some weeks you may even gain, but if you track your progress on a graph you will see that ups and downs are natural and do not stop you progressing steadily toward your major goal.

If you have been making these mistakes, do not worry. The most important point in dieting as in so many other things is to move on. Learn from your failures as well as your success and do not use a mistake as an excuse for giving up. The only way to achieve your goal permanently is to make a commitment to become a healthier person. Remember that eating normally includes eating more some days and less others. Learn to enjoy food in moderation and you have every chance of avoiding these bad diet mistakes.


Make it a great day!


Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!



Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Acidophilus May Cure Yeast Infections and Vaginitis!

Lactobacillus acidophilus may cure different diseases according to some experts. It is a lactic acid producing bacteria that it is thought to have beneficial effects on digestion and overall health. Under some experts, yogurt with acidophilus culture and acidophilus on its own has been shown to clear up yeast infections and vaginitis in children and adults, among other properties.

Acidophilus –experts explain- is a nutritional supplement product, which is often added to milk or sold as a capsule. It contains one or more bacteria which aid in digestion. Among these bacteria, you can find Lactobacillus acidophilus (A); Lactobacillus casei (C); Lactobacillus bulgaricus; Bifidobacterium bifidus (B) and Streptococcus thermophilus.

L. acidophilus, however, is not present in all brands of yogurt. So, you will have to check the labels of products. Acidophilus supplements usually work quickly and effectively. This occurs because they contain as many as one billion individual friendly bacteria per gram.

However, for those who cannot use milk products, acidophilus is also present in carrots, soybeans, rice starch, garbanzo beans and other sources. Health food stores carry a variety of acidophilus supplements in capsule, liquid and powder form. Some of the formulas contain bifidobacteria, another helpful bacterium, as well as vitamin C and other nutrients.

With the powder, you can make your own yogurt-type drink. For best results, acidophilus supplements should be taken on an empty stomach before breakfast, one hour before other meals. Many who have difficulty digesting ordinary dairy products often have success with cultured milk products, such as yogurt or acidophilus milk.


Make it a great day!


Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!

Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/

Monday, March 2, 2009

About Vitamins - Everything you need to know!

Learning about vitamins can be confusing, especially when you are trying to figure out just what type of supplements you should be taking. We’ve all been told at one time or another, that if we ate a nutritionally balanced meal three times a day we wouldn’t need dietary supplements or need to know about vitamins, but of course, this just isn’t realistic in our society.

A huge number of us are stressed out on a routine basis, and don’t always have time to eat at all let alone a nutritionally balanced meal (and three of them?!). Vitamins should never be substituted for good nutritional intake. Your body needs fuel to accomplish all the tasks you have to attend to in a day. A good diet is one with plenty of calcium, protein, fats, carbohydrates, and fiber supplemented by vitamins as needed for specific health concerns.

Many food items are enriched with vitamins and minerals, like breads, pastas, and cereals. Information about vitamins listed on packaging includes the percentage of the daily recommended allowance of each, which will give you a pretty good idea how much you are getting of a certain vitamin or mineral. Calcium is an important mineral for women, and most sources about vitamins state that women should consume at least 1200-1500 mg of calcium daily. Most calcium supplements only contain 30-50% of the recommended daily amounts and must be supplemented by diet intake of other sources, such as cheese, yogurt, milk, and ice cream. About vitamin D, this is an important vitamin and is essential to bone health, and is included in some calcium supplements as well. Vitamin D can be absorbed through the skin via sunlight as well, but for people living in northern states, or for the elderly, this is not always an option, therefore a vitamin supplement is the answer.

Part of taking care of yourself is learning about vitamins and minerals that our bodies require for optimal health. Many sources are available to you to learn more about vitamins and how certain vitamin deficiencies as well as excess intake can be detrimental to your health. It’s important to take an active role in your health, and be knowledgeable about vitamins in your cabinet and which are right for you. In addition to searching on the web, you can find an abundance of information about vitamins in various health publications, or you can even consult a nutritionist or naturopathic physician for advice about vitamins and supplements, and how you can implement them into your diet. Here’s to your good health!


Make it a great day!


Chris Walker

Kitchener's Weight Loss expert!Chris Walker has helped thousands obtain " permanent weight loss, quick and easy everytime!" To download a free copy of "Why Can't I Lose Weight? How to lose 10 pounds in 30 days visit http://www.chriswalkersfitness.com/

Who the hell is Chris Walker?

My photo
Chris Walker is the founder of Fitnesstrainingformenandwomen.com located in Kitchener, Ontario. Chris manages several certified trainers, (CFT) within his organization and actively works with medical doctors and health care professionals in helping their patients to reduce bodyfat restore musculoskeletal strength and gain control over their blood sugar readings, good and bad blood fats and blood pressure readings, among other critical fitness issues. Chris has helped people to get in shape for their wedding day as well as people battling severe obesity. Chris likes to focus on functional training and likes to incorporate his martial arts background into his programs. Chris is a firm believer of a strong mind and guarantees results for those who don't mind a little hard work. Chris is a member of International Sports Sciences Association, (ISSA) and Canfitpro Organization. Chris has made media appearances on Global Television, Rogers Daytime, The Record News Paper and is a published author of many health and fitness related articles and books.