Monthly Archives: January 2013

How to Lose Weight Without Dieting

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For those who battle their weight constantly the idea of being able to lose weight without having to resort to the extremes of a diet really is the equivalent for dieters of the Holy Grail.

The festive season is but a distant memory for most of us, but we will be left with the “baggage” for some time. Most of us put on five pounds over Christmas according to the British Dietetic Association. If the pattern continues we could be 3? stone heavier by January 2023. The best way to get rid of this excess weight is not, as you might reasonably imagine, by dieting. Research has shown that eight out of ten people who go on a diet end up putting the weight they?ve lost back on and what’s even worse is that five years later, half of them are heavier than ever. Instead of opting for a diet, it’s much better to try to trick your body into being accustomed to a leaner, fitter regime. Even a few small, incremental changes to your daily habits can eventually make a big difference to your weight. For example, if you are able to cut 300 calories and burn 200 through exercise each and every day, you could end up being two stone lighter this time next year without having to resort to dieting. Here are a few simple ways to help you achieve this:

Eating mostly plant-based foodstuffs to help cut down on fat and up your intake of nutrients and fibre.

Serving posh restaurant portions ? you know the kind, no bigger than your palm for meat and fish, a matchbox for cheese and a tennis ball for fruit. You’ll be surprised how soon you will get used to eating smaller servings.

Taking your glasses to the supermarket if you need them. Then you can read the small print on nfood labels and decide if that chicken korma meal (1340 cal) – however delicious it might be -? is? really worth the weight gain.

Questioning health-speak. Be a bit more suspicious of the marketing approach to food. If that ?granola? is packed with chocolate and nuts, it?s a cookie or a cake, rather than a nutrition bar or however else the manufacturers like to describe it.

Talking, texting, and phoning standing up. Sitting takes half as much energy and long spells can reduce life expectancy.

Limiting screen time. Almost two thirds of successful slimmers watch TV for less than 10 hours a week, so don’t veg out in front of the telly if you can avoid it.

Making a date with the scales. Many peopleavoid the scaleslike the plague when tey are trying to cut back, presumably out of fear of not getting the news they wanted. This is the wrong approach. Most people who have shed more than 30 pounds and kept it off, weigh themselves weekly. That way, if you have met or exceeded your target weight for the week, you can always allow yourself a (small) treat as a reward!

Is Your Perfume Safe To Apply On Your Body?

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Manufacturers of perfume are allowed to put any chemical in their fragrances without any safety assessment. These ingredients need not be revealed to customers for trade secret purposes and can make it to the sales counter without any pre-approval from the relevant government bodies. This rule has predated consumer awareness of the chemical component of perfume, which may not all be safe to apply to the body. Low dose chemical exposure can result in serious and long term effects on health.

Harmful Chemicals

The most common chemicals found in perfumes include acetaldehyde, ethanol, a-pinene acetone, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, acetone, linalool, ethyl acetate, methylene chloride, a-terpinene, styrene oxide, limonene, camphor and many others.

Allergic Reactions

Some of the chemicals used in perfumes can cause damage to the immune system. This can lead to a potential lifelong allergic reactions like wheezing and headache because of exposure to triggering perfume ingredients. Fragrances are among the top 5 allergens which is one major cause of the asthma attacks, especially for children.

Impact on Reproductive Health

One of the most common solvents used in making perfume fragrances is diethyl phthalate. This is one compound which humans must have less exposure to as it can cause hormonal disruption. Too much exposure can have a negative impact on fertility and to the abnormal development of the reproductive organs in infant males. Adults may also ?experience damage to sperm count. Pregnant women are advised to avoid exposure to these hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Physiological Damage

Some of these chemicals are also known to be neurotoxins which have poisonous effect on the nervous system and the brain. The chemical benzaledehyde is a depressant and may cause skin, mouth, eye, and lung and throat irritation. Benzyl alcohol can cause irritation in the upper respiratory tract that can lead to dizziness, nausea, headache and even respiratory failure. Ethyl acetate has been linked to kidney and liver damage and anaemia. This is just the tip of the iceberg as acetaldehyde chemicals are thought to be ?carcinogenic.

Other ingredients are linked to negative physical and emotional symptoms which include mood swings, anxiety mood and depression. If you are feeling down at times, it may be because of the perfume you are wearing.

What You Should Do?

With the myriad of negative effects of the different ingredient in perfumes, it would be a good idea to begin reading labels on personal care products. If a manufacturer is not listing the ingredient, they may be hiding something. You should also beware of those using fragrance oil and labeling it as essential oil. Fragrance oils are naturally derived from flowers and leaves, while essential oils are synthetic. It is highly advisable for consumers to select those products with no added fragrance.

When you buy perfume it is not backed with any warranty – only an assumption that they are safe. It is your personal responsibility to check if they are safe to apply on the body by considering the chemicals included in the making of the perfume that you prefer.

Author Bio: Ungerer Limited is a global market leader producing and supplying fragrances, flavours, essential fragrance oils and aroma chemicals. With facilities positioned in the UK, USA, Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, Indonesia, China and Australia, and with representation in over sixty countries, they have a truly global presence. Their expertise spans several divisions: fragrances, flavours, essential oils and aroma chemicals.

Popular Diets That Restrict Carbohydrates

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Low-carb diets such as the Atkins and Zone Diet restrict carbohydrate consumption and emphasize eating products high in protein and fat. The Zone Diet is a popular nutritional approach which recommends that dieters stick to ration and portion rules. The list of restricted foods includes bread, sweets, and red meats. The Atkins Diet limits the intake of carbohydrates so that the body starts burning fat. Dieters can have eggs, meat, and other protein-rich foods, as well as oils, fats, and low-carb vegetables.

Photograph courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net

The Caveman Diet promises that dieters will build muscle mass and will lose weight. Dieters should have 5 ? 6 meals a day and can eat all foods that were staples during Paleolithic times (e.g. raw vegetables, game, roots). The Low GI Diet incorporates popular GI foods such as strawberries, porridge, ravioli, and full-fat milk. The plan helps dieters to stabilize their blood sugar and to lose weight. The Sugar Busters Diet advises dieters to eat dairy products, vegetables, cereals, and whole grains while taboo foods include sweets and starchy foods. The South Beach Diet emphasizes controlled portions and bans foods such as pastries, pasta, crackers, and cheese. Dieters can have wine during the second phase.

Shape Your Future

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When cruising along with my shopping trolley in the local supermarket, I pass the magazines on my way to the vegetable section. The bloke’s health magazines are littered with images of these perfect torsos with almost no body fat, oiled skin and of course, the muscles, beautifully carved from hours and hours in the gym.

The ladies health magazines have airbrushed images showing the most amazing, perfect size 6-8 figure and super-slim, terrifically toned midriffs.

These images are not realistic for the majority of us, unless we spend some of our spare time in the gym and eat a lettuce-based diet, which only a snail would find appetising

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There are three main body shapes and we should embrace these and enhance them as opposed to fighting them your body will always try to return to its natural shape.

Ectomorph usually tall, with a naturally slim build, lean muscles and long limbs. You know who you are, the people that can eat what they like and rarely gain weight. Exercise should have mainly resistance training, such as weights, kettleballs, ViPR and heavy punch bags. Get some cardiovascular in there but keep this down to once or twice a week.

Endomorph usually a more athletic looking shape, think upside-down triangle with wider shoulders and smaller waist. You are usually quite strong and lay down muscle easily but on the flip side you can easily put on weight if you have a couch-sitting, crisp-munching lifestyle. Exercise should be a balanced mixture of resistance training and cardio training such as circuit classes or a weights session followed by a blast of cardio (spin, rowing, swimming and running).

Mesomorph usually rounder, softer-shaped body with slightly higher body fat levels than the other two shapes. Think hourglass figures, with curves in the right places or the cuddlier guys. Exercise should involve plenty of cardio, with muscle conditioning sessions to tone those amazing curves. The new craze of metabolic training is excellent for you and training for strength or endurance in your weights sessions works a treat.

There is no such thing as the perfect body but there is a healthy, toned look for every shape.

 

How To Pick The Best Diet for 2013

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Deciding on the diet for the New Year is often difficult because the vast choices available. The many choices suggest that not one diet fits every person. For some people a low carb diet is the best choice but for others low-fat, Weight Watchers, prepared meals, counting calories or points may be the best choice. Consumer Reports published a study in 2002 which identified 4000 people that lost weight and kept it off for 5 years. They found that the best diet and the most successful one is the plan that matched the dieter?s personal life and preferences. A single man, for example, probably would not do well on diets that required a lot of preparation. While a retired individual might be interested in saving money by doing a diet that involves a lot of cooking and shopping. The best diet is one that fits your personal preferences, desire to shop and prepare food, and also one that you can afford.

There were some patterns that successful dieters exhibited. This included a moderate amount of exercise weekly, participating in a weight loss program, and not denying one self completely of food that is enjoyed. Successful dieters also started programs that they knew from the beginning they could probably due indefinitely. You need to be in control. You need to satisfy and control cravings. You need a diet that focuses on increasing your metabolism. If you have a lot of extra weight around your belly, think about a diet designed to burn belly fat. You need to do exercise you like and eat food that you enjoy. That’s the hallmark of successful dieters.

Protein Powder And Its Benefits

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Whether it is gaining muscle or losing fat, protein is needed. This helps a person to achieve their goals in a phenomenal way, all while being a natural part of the body. While a large part of it comes from regular meals, there needs to be more when doing exercises and hoping to reach a goal much quicker. This is how protein powder can help a person. This allows a person to achieve their goals in a healthy and quick manner without sacrificing taste, time, or enjoyment. As long as there is the ability to make a drink out of the powder, there is the ability to benefit from it. They add to the healing and muscle growth, which gives a person a major boost in their workout schedule.

There are several types of proteinpulver available. Whey, soy, and casein are just a few of the popular choices available, but there are many more. While they do not all work exactly the same or at the same speed, they do each work. Protein is protein, after all, so there is no worry about one greatly underperforming because of its source. Before choosing one, it is important that a person identify their personal needs and desires. While protein is all the same, not all packages of powder are going to be and some types of protein will work at different speeds, for example. To get the desired results, the best package must be chosen.

Flavors are available for just about every protein, regardless of manufacturer or type. This is because most do recognize the need for a greater selection and the ability to enjoy the drink a little more. Having flavored, or unflavored if that is desired, powder gives someone more than the protein alone. It makes it a tasty drink that offers benefits far greater than working out alone ever could.

Once the desired powder is chosen, turning it into a drink is simple. These packages come with instructions and following those is not a difficult task at all. With the right measurements and the drinks that are suitable to a person?s specific tastes, enjoying both the drink and the benefits is quick and easy.

Before a workout, these add to a person?s ability to gain muscle and lose fat, unless the one chosen is high in fat and for gaining fat. This can decrease the amount of time spent achieving the desired results along with ensuring the body is kept in top form. After a workout, this type of drink helps recovery so that there is less pain and time spent waiting for the muscles to get back to normal. Both do help an extraordinary amount when working out, helping to keep goals on track and even meet them sooner.

Using proteinpulver can make a dramatic difference in a person?s working out. This helps to improve the body overall in far less time than working out alone does. With the selection and how easy it is to use this powder, every person has a way to benefit from what is offered.

There’s More Than One Way To Lose Weight

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Is it inevitable that in today?s society we will end up being overweight Obesity is quite common these days caused in large part by our increasing sedentary lifestyles, poor diet and general lack of exercise, but it’s not something that you must live with. The good news is that with advances in technology and our better understanding of how our bodies operate losing weight doesn’t always call for hours at the gym.

The perceived wisdom for losing weight is to exercise more and eat less. The best way to increase exercise is to try to build it into your daily routine. If you want to lose weight but don?t fancy joining the local gym then one option is to try taking a few trips up and down the stairs, rather than using the lift at work. You may think that this is no big deal, but all the extra calories that you burn will eventually add up to weight loss.

What and when you eat also matters, perhaps as much if not more than your exercise or lack of it. If you are trying to lose weight, be sure to take into account what time of day or night you eat. If you try to starve yourself in the evening, you are putting yourself at risk of ending up hungrier than normal in the morning meaning you then overeat at breakfast Its a vicious circle!

One other thing you might want to consider to give your weight loss efforts a boost are some supplements or diet pills. There are many on the market, so if you are in any doubt about the best one for your needs you should check online or with your dietician or pharmacist.

The Humble Cricket Bat And Its Evolution

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Most would agree that sport is among the most cherished leisure pursuits of many people throughout the world. Sport takes varied formats dependent upon the country, just like rugby within the UK, Basketball in the USA through to Cricket in India.

In reality cricket is among the most enjoyed recreations and is a game which is enjoyed by millions across the world. The sport necessitates two competing teams who each take it in turns to bat and field. The target of the pursuit in basic terms is actually for the batting team to get as many runs as possible against the team which is fielding as well as bowling. Among the key elements of any game of cricket is generally the cricket bat which is normally manufactured with a cane handle and a willow body or blade as it is additionally called.

The cricket bat has evolved immeasurably in recent years due partly to the breakthroughs in manufacturing technology and improved understanding of the materials used. The bat is produced from a wooden segment which is ordinarily willow wood and the handle itself is actually usually cane that is interlaced into the principal block in a way to produce a spring factor to the overall design for increased strength and robustness. The handle element then has a rubber grip put onto it. The bat is then coated with linseed oil to protect the bat, while the preference of willow wood is primarily because of its robustness and capacity to withstand shocks. The cricket bat itself must be no longer than 38 inches in length and no more than 4.25 inches in width and incorporates shoulders, which are the edges which are nearest to the handle and a toe which is the bottom of the blade or bat.

Currently there are a variety of manufacturers who produce cricket bats with names like Gray Nichols, Gunne and Moore along with Slazenger as well as Millichamp and Hall Cricket Bats, on offer to name just a few. The choice of cricket bat is an important factor and it is a fact that cricket bats are undoubtedly now attainable in varying styles, sizes and weights, all of which should be considered to guarantee the ideal accoutrement for the individual participant.

Game, Set & Match-Fit

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In the UK we have a habit of pigeon-holing tennis into two or three weeks during Queens and Wimbledon each summer. But it doesn’t need to be like that. Try the new tennis workout called Cardio Tennis which claims to be able to help you burn off up to eight hundred calories an hour. That’s a lot of mince pies!

The regime involves running and jogging around an imdoor court accompanied by a thumping beat. It is really great fun and you feel as though you are getting a great all-over workout into the bargain. And don’t worry if you have never picked up a tennis racquet before – you don’t need to be the next Steffi Graf – all you’ve got to be able to do is give the racquet a right good swing every now and then!