Archive for the 'Ab Exercises' Category

Time to Maximize Your Metabolism

February 17, 2010
Author: iopener

Maybe you do not need an expert to point out to you why you are having a tough time losing belly fat. Generally your metabolism slows with age. But middle age weight increase isn’t really inevitable: there’s a diet plan that will tackle these changes.

This specialized metabolism-boosting regimen will help you shed unwanted belly fat. Most important, you’ll create firm, lean muscle tissue, the key to a strong metabolism. Get going now and you’ll sleep better, have more energy, feel firmer, and notice your clothes are looser in as little as 2 weeks. Here’s how:

EAT ENOUGH: When you consume less than is needed for basic biological functions your body throws the brakes on your metabolism. Consume just enough so you’re not hungry.

REV UP IN THE MORNING: Having breakfast jump-starts metabolism and keeps energy high all day. It’s no coincidence that folks who skip this meal are 4 1/2 times as likely to be obese. If nothing else, pick up a yogurt.

DRINK TEA: A cup of brewed tea can increase your metabolism by over 10%, according to one Japanese study. Experts conclude that the antioxidant, catechins, in tea provide the boost.

BATTLE FAT WITH FIBER: Studies from research find that women who eat the most fiber gain the least weight over time. Aim for around 25 g a day–the quantity in about 3 servings each of fruits and vegetables.

BUY THE BIG BOTTLE: Researchers revealed that drinking about 48 ounces of cold water a day can raise resting metabolism by about 50 calories daily–enough to shed 5 pounds in a year.

THINK ORGANIC: Always choose organic when shopping for peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes, and pears; non-organic produce tend to have elevated levels of pesticides.

NEVER OMIT PROTEIN: The Human body needs protein to sustain lean muscle. Add a serving, like 3 ounces of lean meat, two tablespoons of nuts, or eight ounces of low-fat yogurt, to every snack and meal.

EAT FOODS RICH WITH IRON: Until menopause, women lose iron each month as a result of menstruation. Unless you replenish your stores, you run the risk of reduced energy and a flagging metabolism.

DRINK MILK: Research shows that consuming calcium by way of dairy foods such as fat-free milk and low-fat yogurt may cause a decline in fat absorption from other foods.

The 7-Day Cleansing Diet

January 15, 2010
Author: iopener

If the holiday season left you with a jelly-belly, feeling heavy, bloated, and ready to make a change, try this seven-day cleansing diet plan to purify your body, melt away fat, banish bloat, crush cravings and leave you feeling refreshed and energized!

Get ready!

Do Not:-

  • Add sugar, other natural sweeteners or artificial sweeteners to anything.
  • Add salt to anything. Eating foods with a lot of added salt causes you to retain water, which drives up the number on the scale and makes you feel uncomfortable.
  • Eat starches with dinner (including bread, rice, pasta, peas, beans, corn and potatoes
  • Drink alcohol. Alcohol adds a lot of empty calories to your diet, plus it lowers your inhibitions so you’re more likely to veer off plan and make unhealthy food choices.

Do:-

  • Eat on a schedule. Enjoy three meals and at least one snack each day.
  • Drink lots of water throughout the day.
  • Enjoy water alternatives in unlimited quantities at any point during the day.
  • Begin dinner with a healthy appetizer.
  • Eat fruits and veggies at any time throughout the day, particularly when you get hungry between designated meal and snack times.
  • Exercise. Engage in 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise everyday (walking is fine).

Do You Burn More Fat in Winter?

January 11, 2010
Author: iopener

So, does weather help control how many calories you burn?

Yes and no. Both warmer and colder climates have positive and negative aspects when it comes to weight loss, particularly when it comes to certain seasonal behaviors that are crucial to maintaining an ideal body weight. Consider the fact that in warmer weather, people tend to be a little more active, and are more conscious of their bodies since they’re wearing less.

But that’s not even the whole story.

Most of the frustration regarding fat loss is caused by the fact that we’re actually battling with our body’s innate ability to protect itself. This is because one of the primary protective functions of our body is to maintain a temperature close to or equal to 98.6. The body has an extraordinarily complex set of procedures to accomplish this goal, particularly by controlling the body’s metabolism.

Fat plays three major roles in regards to the metabolism:

• Fat is the preferred fuel source used for body temperature regulation.

• Fat is an insulator that helps retain heat in cold environments.

• Fat provides the whole body with a long term fuel source, which during extended cold spells, allowed our ancestors to survive and forage for food.

The metabolism slows down when it’s hot. The slower our metabolism gets, the less we use fat as a fuel source. But, as stated before, this is balanced by the idea that we tend to eat less and exercise more in warmer months.

On the flip side, the body’s ability to generate heat during cold times is done by increasing the metabolism. The metabolism requires a tremendous amount of fuel during this time and burns more fat.

So, yes, technically, colder weather does indeed help burn more fat!

Get Fit in The New Year With Five Simple Exercises

January 5, 2010
Author: iopener

The holiday office party and the New Year’s Eve festivities with family and friends will probably do nothing for your figure. Ladies, if you’re not quite ready for that new party dress–or men, if you want that shirt tucked without the jelly-belly bulge–don’t fret. Here are five simple exercises you can do at home, or even at your office, to get yourself looking spectacular in the new year.

Dancing. Dancing is an excellent cardiovascular exercise and it doesn’t require a lot of work to do.

Lower Body Exercises. These exercises are simple to do and don’t require fancy equipment. Just make some space, grab a chair, and let the lower body toning begin.

Upper Body Exercises. If you’re going to be showing those arms, these exercises are crucial.

Stretching. You can do some basic stretches at home that will give you the same calming results as yoga. Try this first thing in the morning or after a long day. You’ll love it.

Abdominal/core exercises. There are many ways to work your mid-section that are perfect for flattening your front.

Most importantly, keep in mind that the holidays are a time of good cheer. Use the merriment of the season to rejoice in your loved ones and yourself. It’s never too late to begin to change your life, so start today by adding these simple moves to your routine and jump-start your new year!

Get a Mid-Workout Energy Boost

January 4, 2010
Author: iopener

You look to the left of you and you see a man on a treadmill jogging and singing an up-tempo song that’s blaring through his Ipod. You look to your right and you see an upbeat personal trainer, ready to assist at a moment’s notice. You’re partway through your workout, and feel exhausted and unmotivated. Is it a crash in progress? Are you low in energy? Maybe just distracted?

Mid-workout slumps happen to even the most committed exercisers. Learn how to avoid these feelings so you can push through to your weight loss goal, instead of heading to the locker room early.

Eat for Energy:- A well-balanced diet is necessary for any healthy lifestyle, but it becomes increasingly important when you’re exercising.

Don’t Skimp on Carbs:- Carbs are your body’s preferred source of fuel, powering everything from your brain to your muscles.

Pump Iron:- Iron is a trace mineral that helps blood carry oxygen to the muscles throughout the body, keeping them powered up during a workout.

Drink Up:- When you exercise, sweating cools your body down, but it can also be detrimental if you’re not replenishing the fluids you lose.

Be a Planner:- Try to schedule your workouts for the times of day that your energy is at its peak.

Rest Up:- Whether you’re skimping on sleep or you’re exercising too much, a lack of rest and recovery can zap your energy levels and hurt your progress, too.

Deal with Stress:- Just as your mental to-do list can keep you awake at night, other life stressors can creep into your mind during a workout and distract you from the task at hand.

Banish Boredom:- Whether you take your indoor workouts outside or try a new fitness class, variety will keep boredom at bay and help you get better results, too.

If you feel run down all the time or exercise results in you suffering from major fatigue, make an appointment to see your health care provider to find out why.

The Best Time of The Day to Do Cardio

January 3, 2010
Author: iopener

The question is always asked. When is the best time of day to do cardio when trying to lose belly fat, and why? Well, most people do cardio “whenever they get a chance.” Sometimes during the middle of the day, sometimes before bed, sometimes directly after your weightlifting workout, sometimes directly before the weightlifting workout and sometimes first thing in the morning. The truth is, all of those times will get results. It doesn’t matter what time of day you do your cardio workout, you will be burning calories every time. BUT, the real question is, which of those times is the most effective? And the answer is…. first thing in the morning!

Doing cardio first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, before you eat anything, is by far, the most effective. Whether you run, jog, walk, swim, jump rope, take an aerobics class, ride a bike, etc., doing it first thing in the morning is the best time for maximum fat loss. Why? It’s simple. When you do cardio first thing in the morning, you haven’t eaten anything for the last 8 or so hours because you were sleeping. So, when your body sees that there are no carbs to burn, it goes directly to stored bodyfat, which is the fat that you want to lose!

Understand how it works? When you do your cardio sometime during the day other then first thing in the morning, you spend most of that time burning off carbs that you already ate that day. When you do it first thing in the morning, there are no carbs to burn, so all your body can burn is body fat!

Sit-Ups With No Pain

January 2, 2010
Author: iopener

One of the biggest complaints people have about doing sit-ups is the back pain.  Yes, it can be painful if proper form is not followed or what other exercises are incorporated.

Most people try to have an ab regimen each and every workout, especially if the intent is to lose stomach fat.  Well,if you just have to get abs in, understand that sit-ups involve your hip flexors heavily.  Hip flexors extend from the bottom of your thigh, to the top of your abdominal cavity, and attaches to your spine – which becomes especially tight when fully contracted becomes increasingly tight.  A tight hip flexor will pull on your lower back, causing pain.  Stretching hip flexors in between sets on the following day can help.

On days that you incorporate heavy cardio or on a leg day, you might want to consider an ab workout that focuses on Swiss-ball crunches, machine twists, and stomach vacuums as a healthy alternative.

Good luck!

Welcome 2010

January 1, 2010
Author: iopener

Happy New Year

From all of us at Jelly-Belly Be Gone

We’d like to extend our warmest wishes for a happy, healthy and magical New Year to you and your family.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank you for being a part of our community over the past year, as we look forward to sharing more information with you throughout 2010.

Thank you!

The Truth About Abdominal Exercises

December 30, 2009
Author: iopener

There are MANY abdominal exercises… crunches, leg raises, situps, hip thrusts, side bends, weighted situps, crunches with your legs bent, not bent, straight up in the air etc. The list goes on and on. But why do you want more information about abdominal exercises? Is it because you want to get rid of that stomach fat so you can have washboard abs?

The truth is, every one of those abdominal exercises will NOT help you have a perfect 6 pack. EVERY one of these abdominal exercises will only help to strengthen and build your ab muscles. BUT, that won’t do a thing for you if you have a layer of fat covering them! You see, no abdominal exercises burn fat. None of the ones you see in infomercials, none of the machines you see in your gym, no special ab workouts, and even good old crunches and situps, none of these abdominal exercises will burn the fat on your stomach. All they will do is help make your ab muscles stronger, and help build them. You can make your abs as strong as you want, and build them as nice as you want for as long as you want, but as long as you still have fat, even the slightest amount of fat on your stomach, your abs will not be visible.

You see, nothing will burn the fat off of your stomach to let your abs become visible except for a perfect diet and enough cardio/aerobic work. The key to getting perfect abs is having a low bodyfat. That is it right there, if you have a low bodyfat, then you have visible abs.

Best Way to Lose Belly Fat

December 24, 2009
Author: iopener

Finding the best way to lose belly fat isn’t always easy because there is so much information about and much of it is conflicting. There are some experts telling you to do one thing, another expert saying you need to do something else. Then there are all the adverts about fat burning pills that promise you’ll lose a huge amount of fat in days without doing anything

It can be very confusing for many people and all they want is to lose their belly fat. Perhaps you’re sick and tired of looking in the mirror and seeing your belly fat wobbling back at you or feel uncomfortable in clothes because you don’t feel attractive while you’re carrying this excess fat. Let me share with you the best way to lose belly fat, that doesn’t include harmful pills or difficult restrictive diets.

Ab crunches aren’t the answer.

Fat burning workouts:- To lose the fat on your stomach you need to be doing exercise that stimulates your body’s ability to burn fat.

Stop dieting:- Diets don’t work. They are too restrictive and leave you feeling deprived. When you feel deprived it becomes a huge struggle and hard to stick to. So, what can you do? Making sure that you’re eating plenty of healthy and nutritious foods is an essential step in losing belly fat.

Changing your eating habits doesn’t have to be done in one go. In fact one of the best ways to change to eating healthier is to make smaller changes and one at a time.