Posts Tagged ‘High Blood Pressure’

Beer Belly – Are Crunches a “Waist” of Time?

Monday, March 22nd, 2010
Beer Belly
Beer Belly on the Beach

Beer belly, beer gut, or spare tire…

It really doesn’t matter what you call it, because I’m sure you know what I am talking about. The belly bulge that hangs over the belt loops of many men.

Carrying extra weight in the mid-section is a problem that is increasing drastically over the last few years.

Believe it, or not, two-thirds of American men are either obese or overweight. Excess belly fat is unsightly to be sure, but more importantly, it can be extremely dangerous.

Losing belly fat is extremely important but it is a difficult task because as you may or may not know, all fat is created equal, and spot reduction doesn’t work. The only way to see smaller numbers on the tape measure is through the combination of a healthy diet and exercise.

You have probably all heard of pear and apple shaped bodies.

Pears tend to carry excess fat in their hips, bottoms, and thighs. Where as apple shaped bodies, tend to carry their extra weight in their mid-section, and many over weight men fit into this category.

The human body is “extremely intelligent” by design.

It protects itself when it perceives danger—hunger and starvation—by storing extra body fat. This is the body’s way of rescuing itself in times of need. Unfortunately, when there is too much fat, it interferes with the body’s metabolism and the production of insulin, which can lead to severe health risks.

Diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, some types of cancer, and sleep problems have all been scientifically linked to obesity.

How big is too big when it comes to a beer belly?

A general rule of thumb for men is that a waist size of over 40 inches should immediately begin an exercise and diet regime to lose excess belly fat. If you fall into this category, please make an appointment with your family physician to discuss your health and weight loss.

One of the easiest ways to start losing weight is to add movement to your daily routine.

When this becomes a natural part of your life, you can increase your activity by adding aerobic exercise. You need to get your heart rate up to burn fat.

Schedule exercise into your life just like you schedule meetings at work. Jot it on the calendar or program it into your Blackberry, and as Nike says, “Just Do It!”

Ideas for adding movement:
yard work…digging, raking, planting, mowing etc..
start taking the trash out again(your teenager will appreciate it!)
walk to the mailbox
park your car at the end of the parking lot
take the stairs instead of the elevator
walk your dog (walk your neighbor’s dog!)
shovel snow

Ideas for aerobic exercise that will get rid of your beer belly:
jogging
walking
kickboxing
biking
swimming

Will crunches do the trick to get rid of a beer gut?

Sit ups and crunches will firm the abdominal muscles but the fat layer that sits on top remains unchanged. They aren’t a “waist” of time, but it’s important to understand why you are doing them, which is tone muscles, not burn fat.

Men do tend to be “lucky” in their weight loss and many report that with increased exercise and improved eating habits, they lose weight in their mid-sections first. Women tend to lose belly fat later in the weight loss process.

As far as diet, you need to burn more calories than you take in. You should avoid eating foods with too much sugar, high in carbohydrates, and high in fat. Eat smaller portions several times a day. Strive for 5-6 small meals rather than the traditional three meals a day that most of us are accustomed to eating.

Is a beer belly really caused by drinking too much beer?

There is a link between alcohol and increased belly fat but it is important to note that an expanding mid-section is more likely caused by overall increased calorie consumption of fat and carbs in both food and drinks. If you do choose to drink, do so in moderation, your belly will thank you for it.

Beer Belly to Great Looking Abs! Exercise and Eating Healthy…Find out more!

Are There Gender Differences in Weight Loss? Beer Belly vs. Belly Fat

Lose Beer Belly Fat…Is Beer Really to Blame?

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Dark Chocolate and Avocados Contain MUFA’s Too!

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Easy ways to add MUFA’s to your diet: Try an Avocado

True, avocados are high in fat—approximately 30 grams—but the good news is that 20 of those grams come from monounsaturated fats, oleic acid specifically, known for its health benefits. Avocados are also loaded with dietary fiber, vitamin K, vitamin B6, vitamin C, copper, folate, and potassium.

Great ideas for adding avocados to your diet:

~mash and spread on whole-wheat toast; top with low-fat mozzarella cheese and place under the broiler until cheese melts. Tastes great without the cheese too!

~cut into slices and drizzle with olive oil, add chopped tomato and fresh basil for a special treat.

~avocados make a great addition to any salad

~create a quesadilla with flair: use sliced avocado, salsa, and low-fat mozzarella cheese

~whip up a bowl of home-made guacamole



Enter the Yummiest MUFA of All: Dark Chocolate

Several scientific studies have shown that eating dark chocolate (in moderation) is actually good for you. Consuming dark chocolate, known to lower high blood pressure, is also high in antioxidants, which destroy free radicals throughout the body.

When picking dark chocolate…the darker the better…this is the easiest way to remember which kind to buy.

Great Ideas for adding dark chocolate to your diet:
~drizzle melted dark chocolate over whole-wheat waffles and top of strawberries

~Mix a ¼ semi-sweet chocolate chips & 2 TB of peanuts for a tempting treat

~Melt 1 serving of dark chocolate and pour over hot air-popped popcorn

~Splurge and buy yourself a special bar of European dark chocolate…the European’s know how to make chocolate…Enjoy!

~Dip strawberries into melted dark chocolate for a decadent dessert


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Flat Belly Diet Book Review

Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Flat Belly Solution
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The Flat Belly Diet consists of several phases. Phase I includes what is referred to as, the “four-day anti-bloat” jumpstart.

The jumpstart is followed by a 28 days of healthy eating that includes a “MUFA” for each of the four, 400 calorie meals consumed daily.

Also included in the plan are optional fat burning walks, belly toning, and a metabolism boost that are designed to burn calories and build muscles.

Chapter I offers a brief description of the authors, their credentials, and also includes information about how the flat belly solution came into existence.

Chapter II , entitled,“The Skinny on Belly Fat” is where the “meat” of the book begins. It also explains why fat, especially belly fat can be so dangerous. Did you know that fat, visceral fat in particular, is linked to many serious health problems?

High blood pressure, breast cancer, dementia, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes are some of the conditions associated with the kind of fat that lies deep within your body. I found this section to be extremely interesting, because the authors took the time to explain exactly why and how belly fat is dangerous. I always knew about the problem but I didn’t know the particulars.

The chapter also explains the difference between “good” and “bad” fats, and it even explains in simple terms how fat cells in the body work. Interesting! The right amount of fat stored in the body is needed for maintaining hormone levels, energy, regulating temperature, fertility, bone growth, and cushioning vital organs.

Remember: Fat is important for optimal health…too much is deadly!

Chapter III , entitled,“The Magic of MUFAS” describes the perfect solution to battling belly fat…monounsaturated fatty acids, known by the moniker, MUFAS for the remainder of the book. The flat belly MUFAS fall into five categories…oils, olives, nuts and seeds, avocados, and my favorite; dark chocolate. The chapter goes into more depth about good vs. bad fats and even discusses what they coin as the, “Eat Less Fat” backlash from years past, where people cut their fat intake, as recommended by their doctors and members of the healthy community, but the obesity rate in America continued to soar.

Enter MUFAS!

Keep reading to find out why they are looked upon as the perfect flat belly solution in the field of healthy eating.

MUFAS:
~protect your heart
~ward off Type II Diabetes
~cut Metabolic Syndrome Risk
~reduce inflammation
~lower the risk of breast cancer
~maintain healthy brain function
~extend life expectancy
~target belly fat!

Pretty amazing, huh?

Chapters 1-3–>Home Page

Please keep reading about the Flat Belly Diet (Chapters 4-5) This chapter is loaded with great ideas for battling belly bloat & stress, the kind that often leads to increased belly fat.

This is what you’ve been waiting for! (Chapters 6-7) This chapter contains the “nuts-and-bolts” of the program…Recipes! Delicious! (Chapter 8)

The “Write Way” to Lose Weight (Chapter 9)

~(Chapter 10) ~Exercise! Boost Your Metabolism!

~Does the Flat Belly Solution Really Work? Find Out!

~Good Morning America: Video Clip There are five of Them… (opens in new window)

Read More about Flat Belly Foods

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Walking and Weight Loss “Just Put One Foot in Front of the Other…”

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Walking аnԁ Weight Loss:

Physical activity іѕ nοt οnƖу аn іmрοrtаnt factor іn losing weight, bυt plays a key role іn overall ɡοοԁ health. According tο thе Centers fοr Disease Control аnԁ Prevention (CDC), regular physical exercise wіƖƖ hеƖр maintain weight, reduce thе risk οf osteoporosis аnԁ falls, reduce thе symptoms οf depression аnԁ anxiety, hеƖр control high blood pressure, reduce arthritis pain, аnԁ reduce risk fοr heart attack, diabetes, stroke, аnԁ several forms οf cancer.

Thе Surgeon General’s Call Tο Action Tο Prevent аnԁ Decrease Overweight аnԁ Obesity, recommends:

~Keep physically active tο balance thе calories уου consume.
~Bе physically active fοr аt Ɩеаѕt 30 minutes (adults) οr 60 minutes (children) οn mοѕt days οf thе week.
~Limit TV time tο less thаn 2 hours per day

Hοw Much Physical Activity Dο Adults Really Need?

Yου need tο mονе уουr body tο stay іn shape AND lose weight. According tο thе 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines fοr Americans, уου need tο thіnk аbουt two different types οf movement tο stay healthy—aerobic аnԁ muscle-strengthening.

Check out thіѕ іntеrеѕtіnɡ page аbουt physical activity аnԁ come rіɡht back tο read more аbουt walking аnԁ weight loss.


Thіѕ іѕ a picture οf one οf thе typical walks I take…

Walking іѕ a ɡrеаt activity bесаυѕе іn mοѕt instances, уου саn step out уουr front door аnԁ bеɡіn immediately. Anԁ thаt’s whаt’s іmрοrtаnt isn’t іt? Beginning. Before starting a walking program, οr аnу οthеr type οf exercise program, іt’s always best tο check wіth уουr doctor, especially іf уου hаνе specific health concerns. Aѕ soon аѕ уου ɡеt thе thumbs up, mаkе sure уου hаνе thе proper equipment, аnԁ іn thе case οf walking, very ƖіttƖе іѕ needed.

~Walking shoes аnԁ sneakers: Look fοr a pair designed especially fοr walking. AƖѕο, mаkе sure tο replace уουr foot gear approximately еνеrу 3-6 months, οr whеn уου reach thе “500 mile mаrk.”

~Consider purchasing a quality pedometer: Thіѕ tool wіƖƖ hеƖр track hοw far уου’ve walked. Thе 10,000 steps a day rule fοr ɡοοԁ health іѕ much easier tο track whеn hаνе a pedometer clipped tο уουr belt.

~Wear Comfortable Clothing: Nothing саn rυіn a walk fаѕtеr thаn nοt being dressed well fοr thе elements!

~I wear a hip pack thаt fits two water bottles, ѕο mу hands саn stay free. Whеn I ɡο out tο walk, I always bring along: water, mу cell phone, a few dollars, a couple band aids, аnԁ mу iPod.

Hοw Far ShουƖԁ I Walk tο Lose Weight?

Thе Easy Anѕwеr: Walk 30 minutes daily аt a moderate (brisk) pace tο maintain уουr weight, аnԁ walk 60 minutes daily аt a moderate pace tο lose weight.

Uѕе уουr body аѕ thе perfect gauge. If уου hаνе tο, ѕtаrt out slowly, аnԁ build intensity аnԁ distance аѕ уου feel уου саn handle іt.
Walking fοr weight loss іѕ nοt οnƖу possible bυt іt’s FUN tοο, аnԁ thаt’s nοt even taking іntο account thе multiple health benefits associated wіth іt! Once уου’re used tο walking daily, try bumping up уουr walking workout bу using walking sticks!

Walking аnԁ Weight Loss…Mаkе іt Work fοr YOU!

Walking аnԁ Weight Loss–>Best Abdominal Exercises

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Waist to Hip Ratio Are you an Apple or a Pear? And is it Important?

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

Knowing your waist to hip ratio will help you understand your overall health risk factors.

Apple-shaped bodies, those with weight concentrated in their mid-section, are at higher risk for developing health related problems (diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure) than their pear-shaped peers. Pear-shaped bodies carry the majority of their weight in their hips, thighs, and bottom.

Use a tape measure to measure your waist circumference at its natural thinnest spot(typically right above the belly button), and your hips at their widest point. (this will catch your lower abdomen as well)

Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement and use the chart below to determine your health risk factor.

Male:
.95 or below (Low or No Risk)
.96 to 1.0(Moderate Risk)
Above 1.0 (High Risk)

Female:
.80 or below (Low or No Risk)
.81 to .85 (Moderate Risk)
Above .85 (High Risk)

Remember, these are only guidelines. Eat healthy and get plenty of exercise for optimal results!

My friend Troy explains the BMI Index very well, understanding this chart is another way to determine your ideal weight and track your weight loss progress.

Waist to Hip Ratio–>Lose Belly Fat

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