by Alfa - Losing Weight Zone
03-12-2010

0
Comments

The Benefits of a Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is not a diet per se. It is different than other dieting routines in that it has more to do with eating healthy, fresh, non-processed foods versus depriving oneself of fat and calories. The Mediterranean diet focuses on eating the right types foods as well as the right intake of each food group. There are so many food choices that it keeps you engaged and won’t bore you down the road. Furthermore, you can easily go out to a restaurant and find these foods on the menu. The key is knowing the right intake and keeping it “fresh.”

The “diet” is not a short term program. Rather, it is a lifestyle change which benefits you for the rest of your life. The main components to this “diet” are:

-High Consumption of non refined carbohydrates which varies based on your level of physical activity
-High consumption of fresh fruits and veggies
-Moderate consumption of beans, legumes and nuts
-Moderate consumption of olive oil as a monounsaturated fat source
-Low to Moderate consumption of dairy, fish, poultry, eggs and sweets
-Lower consumption of red meat
-Moderate consumption of wine, preferably red wine
-Consistent daily physical activity and an active lifestyle is also crucial to this diet

Not only will you notice the weight loss, you will also have more energy and feel great. If you have other unhealthy habits, like smoking, you will find more motivation and liekly be more successful in kicking the habit since you are making postive and rewarding changes that you can see and feel. Other likely health benefits include a reduction in blood cholesterol levels, lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes and reduced risk of heart disease…Truly it reduces your risk of developing a whole host of chronic diseases.

It is important to note that you must be mindful of portion sizes. Some of the foods in this diet are high in fat and even if it is the good kind of fat, it must be consumed in moderation. In America, we are obsessed with “super sizing” our meals which can counteract all the good that this diet does. So you will need to really focus on this guideline of the diet in order to be successful. Again, it is a lifestyle change.

The other benefit of adapting this lifestyle is that we will pass it on to our children who will learn to have healthy relationships with food and make better choices in their food consumption. This can help us turn around the childhood obesity epidemic, which is increasing the number of chronic illnesses in our kids.

by Alfa - Losing Weight Zone
03-09-2010

0
Comments

P90X Extreme Home Fitness

What is P90X?
P90X is an extreme fitness program designed for those who are already in good physical shape. It is a fitness and nutritional program that promises to get you in the “best shape of your life in just 90 days.” P90X is not for everyone. There are strict warnings from the “parent” company, Beach Body. There is a fitness test within the guidebook which is recommended before starting the program. If you meet the requirements, P90X guarantees (There is a 100% 90-day satisfaction guarantee) that you can expect the following:
-To get in the best shape of your life.
-To develop skills, coordination and flexibility you never dreamed possible.
-To sharpen your knowledge of smart eating and discover health diet choices.

How Does It Work?
P90X consists of 12 separate workout routines, a 3-phase nutrition plan, supplement options, a fitness guide, a progress calendar and online support. The workout routines are said to promote “muscle confusion.” Essentially, the hundreds of movements within each exercise routine challenge the body’s muscles into new growth. Furthermore, the muscles do not get used to the routines and they continue to develop.

The P90X system includes the following 12 extreme training routines:
-Chest and Back
-Shoulders and Arms
-Yoga X
-Plyometrics
-Legs and Back
-Kenpo X
-Chest
-Shoulders and Triceps
-Back and Biceps
-Core Synergistics
-Ab Ripper X
-Cardio X
-X Stretch.

Most of the routines take about an hour to an hour and a half. You will also need resistance bands or dumbbells, a pull-up bar, heart rate monitor and a yoga mat.

During the 90 days you will go through three phases. Each phase is one month long and consists of three weeks of intensity followed by one week of recovery. Well, that one week of recovery is truly a full week of cardio type workouts.

You will also go through a three phase nutrition plan during these 90 days which will teach you how to shed fat, boost your energy and maximize endurance. There are personalized meal plans to teach you portion control and help you lose weight and build your metabolism.

Also included is the access to the message boards which will give you answers to qustions about the exercise or nutrition routine as well as to provide motivation, workout tips, etc.

This workout system is so comprehensive and unlike most of the other weight loss diets out there, it is promoting diet and exercise as the way to achieving your weight loss goals. It costs about $120 but well worth the cost in my estimation as you would pay that much going to the gym. This can be done in the comfort of your own home and once you finished the 90 days, you can move on to another one of the routines that is listed in the P90X fitness guide.

by Alfa - Losing Weight Zone
03-03-2010

Pills and Gears

0
Comments

Resveratrol – Health Benefits and Weight Loss

What is Resveratrol:
Resveratrol is an antioxidant mainly found in the skin of red grapes, grape seed extract, red wine, peanuts, some berries (blueberries, for example) and Japanese Knotweed (which helps produce the supplement we can buy in stores). Also, newer research seems to mention significant levels of resveratrol in cocoa powder and dark chocolate.

Research studies and Health Benefits:
Animal and human studies have revealed some exciting results, thus the excitement that has ensued since these reports have been published.

Here are some of the reported benefits:

Increased levels of energy and better muscle health
Better heart health
Improved brain and kidney health
Improved prostate health and a more regular urine flow
Improved breast health in women
Improved cell protection
Antioxidant supplement
Anti aging supplement
Resveratrol may be protective against lung cancer
Resveratrol may reduce liver disease
Resveratrol could reduce colon cancer risk

Potential Side Effects:

Long term effects are unknown. One study theorized that it may stimulate the growth of human breast cancer cells. However, other studies have found that it actually acts to slow the progression of breast cancer. Another study suggested that resveratrol can slow the healing process and may interfere with oral contraceptives. Finally it is advised that resveratrol should not be taken by children or young adults under eighteen, as no studies have shown how it affects their natural development.

by Alfa - Losing Weight Zone
02-27-2010

Pills and Gears

0
Comments

Weight Loss with Acai Berry

For the last several years, the West has been craving the small Acai Berry that’s imported from Brazil. The little black berry has been given credit for curing just about everything under the sun – while this is not true, the Acai Berry has been shown to help people lose weight.

The Acai Berry helps people lose weight by increasing that persons metabolism. It’s also supposed to be a really good supplement.

You can purchase the Acai Berry in a variety of forms, stores and restaurants across the country are making shakes, juice, and smoothies out of the little fruit. You can also order the berry in the form of a tablet, which is extremely popular right now.

As a precaution, be sure you know or can check the background of the company you’re ordering from. This particular industry, since the demand is so high, has recently been plagued with scammers, rebilling people for product they didn’t order or didn’t want. Just cover yourself.

The Acai Berry does provide a lot of what the advertisers claim, that’s why it’s so popular, but beware of the ones out to take your money.

Common Uses for the Acai Berry:

Supplement
Anti-Aging
Beauty Products
Food & Drinks
Weigh Loss
Antioxidant
Increases Energy Levels
Fights Fatigue

Things it can not do:

Cure Cancer
Cure Diabetes
Enlarge the Penis
Cure Chronic Illnesses

When ordering, check for:

The concentrate level, the higher the better
Should come from South America
The rebilling contract – beware of scams
Should not be extremely cheap (it’s hand picked, intense manual labor)

Known Side Effects:

Pollen, Sinus Issues

If you’re someone sensitive to berry’s or similar type fruit, you may find the same with the Acai Berry