Showing posts with label healthy lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthy lifestyle. Show all posts

March 6, 2009

Fitness Resolutions

The holidays are now officially over and it?s time to get back on track! January 1st is the day we all get to start over. A time to make the changes in our lives that we?ve wanted to make but got sidetracked along the way. So, you’ve had your fill of tempting treats. The holidays are always exciting and indulgent. Now that they’re over, hopefully you’ll never want to look at another piece of pumpkin pie or vat of mashed potatoes. Starting a healthy eating program will be a pleasure instead of a chore.

Maybe emotionally, you’re ready for a change. For most Americans, New Year’s is a time of new beginning and emotional rebirth. You may feel the desire to alter your way of life or spend more time focusing on yourself. There’s no better time to improve your health.

Also, there’s plenty of time to prepare for the next holiday season. You’ve got a whole year to adapt to a healthy lifestyle. The next time the holidays hit, you’ll be better prepared to enjoy yourself without overindulging.

Approximately 90 percent of Americans make at least one New Year’s resolution each year. Unfortunately, no matter how well intentioned they are, most people fail to keep their resolutions.

Here are a few ways you can ensure your success:

1. SET OBTAINABLE GOALS. It’s reasonable to lose 10 percent of your starting weight within 3 months. The goal of the EVERY BODY LOSES plan is to help you learn how to make healthy eating choices that you can carry with you for life. Rather than focusing on losing as much weight as you can as quickly as you can, realize that, if you follow the plan correctly, this could be the last program you?ll ever need.

2. SET SMALL GOALS AND REWARD YOURSELF OCCASIONALLY. With the EVERY BODY LOSES plan, you may choose to set mini-goals. Once you reach your mini-goal, you can reward yourself and move on to the next mini-goal. Do not always give yourself food as a reward. Instead, treat yourself to new clothes that flatter your new body or a DVD of a favorite movie.

3. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE. You’ll be more likely to succeed if you have friends or family offering you encouragement and praise.

TOP 10 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

Here is an interesting list of most common New Year?s Resolutions. Whether you’re starting a new diet, committing to a regular exercise routine, or promising to spend more time at home, chances are there’s someone else out there with the same idea. Does yours make this list?

1. Lose weight

2. Exercise more

3. Spend more time with family

4. Get out of debt

5. Work less

6. Quit smoking or drinking

7. Get involved in community service

8. Read more

9. Get organized

10. Live life to the fullest

Be well & stay fit!

Aimee Deak

Aimee Deak is a certified personal trainer, nutrition analyst and author of the book, “Every Body Loses”, an easy-to follow,
step-by-step guide to fat loss.

You can find more information about fat loss and exercise on her
website http://www.aim4nutrition.com

Lose Weight And Get Healthy; Can Laughter Be A Cure For Obesity?

Once there were these two Nuns and they…just kidding! Do you feel any thinner or healthier? Well, according to recent studies, you might not in the beginning but over the long haul, you could actually drop weight.

Now, if you are laughing because you are binging on some kind of pastry or you getting trashed on alcohol, this might not work for you but if you are laughing for other reasons, it could pay greatly by reducing fat around your waist and thighs.

First of all, I am going dispel a few myths regarding the Cortisol fighting snake-oils that are being advertised.

Cortisol is caused by physical and emotional stress! Cortisol is a hormone released by your adrenal glands in response to either physical or emotional stress and that is the reason it is referred to as the “stress” hormone. Whether it’s a lot of missed nights of sleep, an extremely low calorie diet or getting caught in a traffic jam, your body responds in much the same way. It secretes cortisol into your bloodstream, which can cause even more problems.

This hormone is part of the “fight-or-flight” response that we have as human beings. Faced with stressful situations and danger, we are left to either run or fight. Your body secretes this hormone as a way of defending against stress and danger. Primarily it increases the flow of glucose, protein and fat out of your tissues and into your circulation system. For example, if a bear were chasing you in the woods, your energy levels would increase because it your body’s natural response to a physical threat.

The dangers of having these high levels of the hormone have been associated with storage of visceral fat, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immune system, and chronic depression.

Now that you are a little more educated, what do you think would be the best idea for preventing these deadly, hormonal, Cortisol surges? Come-on, I know you know the answer. It isn’t in some magic Cortisol-blocking pill, is it? That’s right, you need to control your STRESS.

You can take all the Cortisol blocking stuff you want, but if you aren’t controlling your stress, you could easily be storing abdominal fat if you are a man and hip and thigh fat if you are a woman.

I am not saying that supplementation may not be required for some people. I believe that if you aren’t getting enough rest or you are unable to relax, you probably need some nutrients put back into your body. Remember though, supplementation does not mean replacement. Learning how to get your stress levels down is the most productive thing you can do.

Also, if you are suffering with anxiety and depression, your body may need some real medical help to get your stress level down to something manageable. In fact, if you are under the kind of stress that causes weight gain, learning relaxation skills are probably the first things your doctor will advise you to do. Also, if you are suffering with anxiety and depression, don’t be afraid to consult with a qualified physician because they can really help you get your stress levels under control.

Finally, I went a long way to say, ” Laughter will do wonders for your stress levels”. Relaxation doesn’t always mean just laying down watching TV so you can’t use this issue article as an excuse for being lazy. You just need to learn how to calm down and recognize stress.

Check out this research from Dr. Lee Berk.

Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter (RESEARCH)

Dr. Lee Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California have been studying the effects of laughter on the immune system. To date their published studies have shown that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, and boosts immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gamma-interferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.

Following is a summary of his research, taken from an interview published in the September/October 1996 issue of the Humor and Health Journal.

Laughter Activates the Immune System:

In Berk’s study, the physiological response produced by belly laughter was opposite of what is seen in classical stress, supporting the conclusion that mirthful laughter is a eustress state — a state that produces healthy or positive emotions.

Research results indicate that, after exposure to humor, there is a general increase in activity within the immune system, including: An increase in the number and activity level of natural killer cells that attack viral infected cells and some types of cancer and tumor cells.

An increase in activated T cells (T lymphocytes). There are many T cells that await activation. Laughter appears to tell the immune system to “turn it up a notch.”

Increases antibodies IgA (immunoglobulin A), which fights upper respiratory tract insults and infections.

An increase in gamma interferon, which tells various components of the immune system to “turn on.”

An increase in IgB, the immunoglobulin produced in the greatest quantity in body, as well as an increase in Complement 3, which helps antibodies to pierce dysfunctional or infected cells. The increase in both substances was not only present while subjects watched a humor video; there also was a lingering effect that continued to show increased levels the next day.

Laughter Decreases “Stress” Hormones:

The results of the study also supported research indicating a general decrease in stress hormones that constrict blood vessels and suppress immune activity. These were shown to decrease in the study group exposed to humor.

For example, levels of epinephrine were lower in the group both in anticipation of humor and after exposure to humor. Epinephrine levels remained down throughout the experiment.

In addition, dopamine levels (as measured by dopac) were also decreased. Dopamine is involved in the “fight or flight response” and is associated with elevated blood pressure.

Laughing is aerobic, providing a workout for the diaphragm and increasing the body’s ability to use oxygen.

Laughter brings in positive emotions that can enhance - not replace — conventional treatments. Hence it is another tool available to help fight the disease.

Experts believe that, when used as an adjunct to conventional care, laughter can reduce pain and aid the healing process. For one thing, laughter offers a powerful distraction from pain.

In a study published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing, patients were told one-liners after surgery and before painful medication was administered. Those exposed to humor perceived less pain when compared to patients who didn’t get a dose of humor as part of their therapy.

Perhaps, the biggest benefit of laughter is that it is free and has no known negative side effects.

So, here is a summary of how humor contributes to physical health. More details can be found in the article, Humor and Health contributed by Paul McGhee

Muscle Relaxation - Belly laugh results in muscle relaxation. While you laugh, the muscles that do not participate in the belly laugh, relaxes. After you finish laughing those muscles involved in the laughter start to relax. So, the action takes place in two stages.

Reduction of Stress Hormones - Laughter reduces at least four of neuroendocrine hormones associated with stress response. These are epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone.

Immune System Enhancement - Clinical studies have shown that humor strengthens the immune system.

Pain Reduction - Humor allows a person to “forget” about pains such as aches, arthritis, etc.

Cardiac Exercise - A belly laugh is equivalent to “an internal jogging.” Laughter can provide good cardiac conditioning especially for those who are unable to perform physical exercises.

Blood Pressure - Women seem to benefit more than men in preventing hypertension.

Respiration - Frequent belly laughter empties your lungs of more air than it takes in resulting in a cleansing effect - similar to deep breathing. Especially beneficial for patient’s who are suffering from emphysema and other respiratory ailments. (SIDE BAR FROM Randall Gartman: It will also help balance Oxygen and Co2 levels, which could help anxiety sufferers with hyperventilation)

—End of Research—

Now, Let me show you how you can apply what you just learned.

Sit in a chair, check your shoulders and let them relax but keep your posture straight so you can breathe properly. Imagine your butt sinking into your chair but feel yourself centered, neither leaning forward or back.

Breathe in from your diaphragm to the count of 4, hold your breath to count of 4 and release your breath to the count of 4. If you want to know how to breathe properly, watch an infant sleep because they haven’t learned how to breathe improperly yet!

As you take each breath, tighten up your toes to the count of 4, hold that tension to the count of 4 and release the tension slowly to the count of 4.

Perform that routine for each body part in this order: toes, feet, calves, thighs, buttocks, abs, chest, back, arms, hands, neck and face.

After you finish the above exercise, discover what it’s like to finally be relaxed and just sit there for a few minutes. If it is at night, you can do this lying down so all you need to do is close your eyes and get some sleep. However, if it is daytime, I want you stand up (if you can) and stretch and put a big goofy smile on your face. I mean cross your eyes and jump up and down like a crazy person. Don’t stop until you are laughing!

Now that you know that laughter is awesome medicine for fighting obesity and a variety of health issues, how often do you think you could practice putting a smile on your face? I am getting thin right now. In fact, I am exercising in public right now–LOL.

(c) 2003 - 2004 Randall T. Gartman

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Randall Gartman, “Certified Personal Trainer and NLP Practitioner,” is author of “eMpowering Physical Mastery” and “eMpowering Pain-Free Living - Life Without Obesity.” To learn more about his books and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit his site at http://www.stopbeingoverweight.com

March 1, 2009

Benefit of Yoga Part I

The practice of Yoga brings with it many physical and emotional benefits that the majority of people are unaware of. This article is quite long, so we have broken it up into two parts. The first part is an introduction to Yoga and a overview of the major physical and psychological benefits of Yoga, while the second part shows how practicing yoga daily can have a profound effect on your ability to create a healthy lifestyle for yourself.

Yoga is a science; and indeed, in many places in the world (such as India), it is referred to as a science. This is not merely playing with words; it truly is approached as a science, which means that it is understood in terms of scientific methods.

Yogic science seeks to verify cause and effect, and build principles based upon objective observations. Indeed, in many places in the world, to be a yogic master of any credibility, one must be highly educated in the sciences, including physics and the biological sciences.

This discussion on yoga as science is important for us to include because it allows us to sensibly ask the question: what are the benefits of yoga? After all, if yoga is a faith or a belief, then asking this question isn’t fair; because it’s one that yoga cannot answer in terms that we can objectively understand.

Yoga is a science; as empirical and pragmatic as kinesiology, or exercise science, which seeks to understand how the body acts and reacts to changes in the internal physical environment. And even more simply than any of this: each of us has a right to ask the basic question, “why should I bother practicing yoga and what experience or benefits can I expect?”

Indeed, while the experience of yoga cannot be reduced to words ? just as reading a book on preparing for a marathon isn’t going to actually physically prepare you to run a marathon ? the goals and principles of yoga can easily be discussed.

Here’s the Mayo Clinic’s take on the benefits of meditation:

“Meditation is used by people who are perfectly healthy as a means of stress reduction. But if you have a medical condition that’s worsened by stress, you might find the practice valuable in reducing the stress-related effects of allergies, asthma, chronic pain and arthritis, among others.”

Yoga involves a series of postures, during which you pay special attention to your breathing ? exhaling during certain movements and inhaling with others. You can approach yoga as a way to promote physical flexibility, strength and endurance or as a way to enhance your spirituality.

The Mind-Body Connection

Yoga is centered on the mind-body connection. This mind-body harmony is achieved through three things:

- postures (asanas)

- proper breathing (pranayama)

- meditation

Mind and body draw inspiration and guidance from the combined practices of asanas, breathing, and meditation. As people age (to yogis, ageing is an artificial condition), our bodies become susceptible to toxins and poisons (caused by environmental and poor dietary factors).

Yoga helps us through a cleaning process, turning our bodies into a well synchronized and well-oiled piece of machinery.

Physical Benefits

By harmonizing these three principles, the benefits of yoga are attained. And just what are these benefits?

- equilibrium in the body?s central nervous system

- decrease in pulse

- respiratory and blood pressure rates

- cardiovascular efficiency

- gastrointestinal system stabilization

- increased breath-holding time

- improved dexterity skills.

- Improved balance

- Improved depth perception

- Improved memory

Psychological Benefits

As noted above, Yoga also delivers an array of psychological benefits; and in fact, this is a very common reason why people begin practicing it in the first place. Perhaps the most frequently mentioned psychological benefit of yoga is an improved ability to manage stress. Yoga diminishes an individual?s levels of anxiety, depression, and lethargy; thus enabling him/her to focus on what?s spiritual and important: achieving balance and happiness.

In part II of the Benefit of Yoga we’ll reveal how yoga can help deal with stress, unhealthy habits and pain management. The benefits of Yoga go far beyond meditation and stretching, it is a way to release those toxic emotions that tend to stand in the way of living a healthy life.

Visit My Yoga for Life to continue reading Benefit of Yoga Part II at My Yoga for Life or visit our blog at Yoga for Life Blog.

February 24, 2009

Yoga Exercises - Healthy Lifeline With The Yoga Experience

No debate can arise from Yoga Exercises or is questionable on just how powerful yoga can be. Yoga has proven to give beneficial rewards to millions of people in helping them to keep in shape while at the same time assisting them to lead a healthy lifestyle. Your health and yoga is a match made in heaven. Yoga Exercises and the people who practice regular routines are finding it easier to cope with stress on top of easing body aches and pains.

Times have changed dramatically from the days of yesterday - in the days gone by life was a struggle for families - but some how they coped with the illnesses that plagued and terrorised their well being. In those days you never seen a jogger a treadmill or come to think of it any form of exercise like yoga. The only thing that the modern world has in common from the days of the notorious Jack the ripper is the plague. Citizens today are plagued by stress brought on by pressure from work commitments to running the home and much more. Why do we put up with the torment of coping like the people of yesterday who were a lot less fortunate than ourselves - where their options to help reduce any health risks were zilch?

Yes changes have dramatically altered but in our best interest where health matters is a major concern.

Yoga Exercises do go back to ancient times but why did so many poor unfortunate urchins die from cholera etc while trying to pick a pocket or two. The answer to that is there was no awareness programme administered on how to stay healthy and fit. (Which may have helped save lives?) Could this be the reason why so many children have been introduced to Yoga Exercises by their parents in the 21st century?

Yoga exercises for children start with simple and easy moves - yoga moves and poses for kids are normally named after animals to make it more fun as well as interesting. For example the butterfly pose is very popular among the children - this exercise includes where the child will sit with their knees bent leaning down towards the floor and the soles of the feet slightly touching. Parents are becoming more involved with health maintenance procedures in keeping their children fit and healthy.

By enlisting your kiddies to join local yoga classes you have just thrown them a lifeline where they will learn more on body awareness. One of the main reasons for introducing a child to the world of yoga is - obesity.
Some children take to yoga exercises like a duck to water and pick up quickly on the understanding as to why they are performing such exercises. But then you have those who struggle to come to terms with their exercise and have no idea to what rewards can be gained. What really matters is - as long as the kiddies are enjoying themselves then that is one rewarding result in itself.

Later in life when the child is fit and healthy - it is then that you will find the child`s perception of the whole yoga experience will answer their question as to why mummy and daddy did what they did and that was to send them to practice yoga exercises.

Yoga is helping people the natural way to ease stress/pain. Beneficial results from practising yoga is peace of mind.

100% fit in mind body and soul is what healthy living is all about. With yoga you claim what is rightfully yours control. http://www.want2yoga.com Take steps now to move on with your life http://www.allaboutonlineeducation.com
 
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