Balanced Diet, Better Image

Monday, June 22, 2009

We have all been on a diet before and many of us have been off and on diets for quite some time, in fact people start a diet knowing they will go off it. However, many chose to change their eating habits alone and with no toning exercise involved. What happen in that case? The answer is a whole lot of shaky skin, flabby muscles, and cellulite that really does not reflect all the hard work that was put into losing weight in the first place.

Everyone knows the commitment one has to make to losing weight. So, while you are making a lifestyle change with your diet you might as well include an effective strength training program as well.

Working Out

Working out is important when you start new and balanced eating habit because as you lose weight you will want to improve your appearance with tighter skin and stronger muscles. This will make you look and feel much better because not only you will be thinner, but also more toned. The benefit of starting an exercise program as you begin your new lifestyle of healthy eating is that can tone as you lose. This will keep you motivated since your weight loss will appear even more dramatic because you will have a toned body.

Another benefit of working out as you begin your new lifestyle is that you can lose weight faster. This is because as you build muscle, you will burn more energy and therefore speed-up your metabolism. This results in more weight loss over the long term. Many people are confused about muscle because it weighs more than fat and therefore making their weight go up or stay the same. THE actual number on the scale is not important. Fitting in new clothes and feeling better will give you a more accurate idea about your fat loss.

Body Image: Lose FAT Not Muscles

Your overall body image, or the way you feel about yourself, will improve dramatically as you firm up and tone up. Certainly, if you have lost 20 pounds you will feel pretty good about yourself. But, how do you feel about yourself when you see your body in the mirror? Maybe not as good as you had hoped. That's because your skin is loose, your muscles aren't toned, and you don't have the body you had dreamed of even if you achieved the weight you wanted. Working out and toning up is the only way to achieve that smooth skin and tight muscles you dream of.

Many people diet and then find out that they still have not achieved their goal image even upon losing the weight and then are discouraged when they have to start an exercise program. Avoid this situation all together and include a healthy diet and workout plan in your new lifestyle. You will lose weight and tone up simultaneously giving you the body you had hoped for. And remember that losing weight does not necessarily means losing fat. Unavoidably, dieting without exercising can lead to muscle loss and decreased overall metabolism, making it worst for you to look and feel better.

© Copyright 2009 Nordine Zouareg

Labels: body image, Fitness Diet Inspiration Motivation, inspiration, mindful fitness

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5 Tips to Make Your Next Diet Succeed

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Have you been dieting as long as you can remember but you can't remember a time when you were actually successful? Obviously, none of the diets have worked long term so you are probably looking for something that will also allow you to maintain the results over time so this diet will be your last. There are some really simple things that you can do to make your next diet a long-lasting healthy living nutritional plan rather.

Stop Dieting and Start Changing Your Lifestyle

The best thing you can do is to stop thinking about dieting as a temporary state and start thinking about how you can change your entire lifestyle. When you change your lifestyle so that it represents the sort of life that you want to lead and therefore how you will look and feel, you will be much more successful in losing weight and keeping it off. For instance, if you would like to lose weight by simply stopping to eat candy bars, your diet may not last long. If you change your lifestyle so that you don't have access to candy bars and you replace your desire for them with something else you will likely be much more successful.

Envision Change

Set goals for yourself and when you do this envision the changes not only in your body but in your mind. The mind really is your most powerful tool, so use it to your advantage. When you think about your life, think about all of the healthy and helpful things that you will be doing and also think about how you will be changing your body. I often says, "If you can see it in the screen of your mind, you can have it in the palm of your hand," and this couldn't be more true.

Be Realistic

When setting your goals make sure they are something that you can actually visualize. For instance, if you have been heavy all your life and you are five foot four inches tall envisioning yourself as Heidi Klum isn't going to help you. When you set your goals and you envision changes in your life you need to make sure that you are being realistic.

Appreciation Goes a Long Way

It's easy to get down on ourselves with our hectic lives. When you are trying to lose weight you will find that it is beneficial to stay positive. Appreciate the things that you do like about your body, even if it's that you have great hair and everyone compliments your eyes. When you learn to appreciate the positives you are therefore a more positive person and this will translate into energy that you have to give to your new lifestyle and those around you.

Nurture Your Body

Make sure you are eating foods that will give you energy to be the positive and upbeat person that you want to be. Also, pamper yourself in small ways. When you nurture your body you'll instantly feel better about yourself and you'll want to continue to meet your goals.

Labels: body image, Inspiration Motivation, mindful fitness

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Mind Over Body Revolution Tip#4 (It's All In Your Head!)

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Mindful Tip: Mental reprogramming is the key to success in burning fat.Your subconscious mind is what controls 93% of your behavior. The results you are getting right now in your life, whether it is health, fitness or wealth, they are all results based on your old conditioning. Failure to reprogram your mind will get you nowhere except where you are right now.

Mindful Wisdom: watching ones thoughts and words allows one to be aware of mental conditioning.

Mindful Action: when speaking about yourself or anyone else be aware of every thought you have and every word you say; get rid of all negativity, say to yourself; next! Think of something positive.

Labels: body image, mindful fitness

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Ward-off Stress with the Mind–Body Connection

Monday, June 08, 2009

It is no surprise to see that Americans are now turning to fast food for their daily meals. As the recession persists, more and more are relying on junk food because it is cheaper and comforting. Stress has taken a toll on most of us. Being aware of the devastating effects of uncontrolled stress is therefore a vital necessity.

Stress can be positive or negative. However, too much of any stress can seriously affect mental and physical well-being. We know that there is definitely a mind-body connection. It has been estimated that over 80% of all diseases are now somehow stress related. To achieve total wellness we must address all aspects of our lives and strive for balance.

To deal with stress, first identify what is it that stresses you out. Is it a home, at work, with people, with family? Next, pinpoint your reaction to the stress. Physical responses like high blood pressure, insomnia, stomach disorders, ulcers, headaches, migraines and muscular tension can result. Withdrawing, depression and other emotional responses are also common. The next step is to remove or reduce the stress if possible. Sometimes the solution is as simple as summoning the courage to talk to someone about the problems or changes you are going through and developing a compromise.

Research has focused on “Stress Vulnerability”. Two people may have the same stressors but one gets sick and one stays well. Why is this? By eating right, exercising, minimizing use of alcohol, tobacco, and unnecessary drugs, becoming organized, and surrounding ourselves with positive and supportive friends and family we make our bodies less vulnerable to the effects of the stress. It also seems to make a difference if we take control of situations in our lives and make commitments instead of feeling helpless and hopeless or denying that problems exist.

It is impossible to get rid of all your stressors. Life would be very boring and not much of a challenge. Therefore, the final step is to learn to control the stress response to minimize mental and physical reactions to everyday problems. This is where mental and physical exercise and a good nutrition can help tremendously.

You can find all the tools you need to remove stress from your life in my book Mind Over Body.

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