Archive for January, 2009

Recommended Diet for A Vegetarian Bodybuilder



Body building requires a big amount of strength in order to increase muscle mass and achieve a muscular body. While many people thought that body building would require someone to eat more red meat and drink a lot of protein shakes, in reality though, there are several types of body building diets, and one of this is the vegetarian bodybuilding diet. If you do not know anything about this vegetarian diet yet, then check out the following information.

Basically, the difference between typical diets to a vegetarian diet is that vegetarian diets do not include any meat. So body builders who are into vegetarian diet would only eat mainly fruits and vegetables and avoid dishes that have meats. Their diet consists eating more fruits, vegetables and grains, as well as some dairy like cheese and yogurt and all kinds of dairy products.

Bodybuilders need to consume around 25 to 35 percent of their calories from protein due to the fact that they are working hard in order to grow muscle mass. The source of protein of a vegetarian bodybuilding diet would consist of eggs and dairy, including beans, nuts and seeds. Tofu is also considered a good source of protein for those who are into vegetarian diet because this food is made of soybeans, another healthy food to eat.

In addition protein, bodybuilders that are on a vegetarian diet must also pay extra attention to the amount of B vitamins that they consume on a daily basis. Body building experts would always emphasize the importance of B vitamins, such as B12 and B6, for their metabolic functions, since a person who is into body building must have a metabolism that works efficiently so the fats on the muscle areas must be burned and not be stored. B vitamins are mostly found on meats, but for vegetarian, their source this vitamins are miso, seaweed and soy.

When it comes to a vegetarian body builder’s workout, it is always best to aim for a short but a more intense type of workout. Doing this helps to prevent muscle mass loss from happening and this also helps the body not to rely more on protein just to survive during workout sessions. If you are doing very long workout sessions, the tendency is, your body will crave more protein which is difficult being that you are on a vegetarian diet.

Vegetarians normally lack iron, due to the fact that they don’t get to eat more red meats. And because iron is responsible for good red blood cell development, you must not fall short with this nutrient so you won’t be easily exhausted when you perform tough body building exercises. Therefore, vegetarian body builders must make sure to add iron to their diet by taking iron rich supplements regularly.

If you are into vegetarian bodybuilding diet, one important thing that you should keep in mind in order to build muscles is to be optimistic. Remember that it would take a long time before vegetarian body builders could gain muscles. But if you just stay positive and be determined on working hard towards your goals, then you will definitely get the results that you are looking for.

Easy Health Tips to Improve Health



Contrary to what other people say, you do not have to do something grand in order to stay healthy. In fact, you can simply sneak in a little bit of healthy activity every now and then in your lifestyle. Of course, doing something small is a whole lot better than doing nothing at all. Hence, here are some helpful health tips in order for you to be set on the road to a healthy lifestyle.

Let us start with your diet. Your goal here is to maintain a balanced diet, but you should not do this all in one blow. You can begin by making the switch from processed foods to natural foods. Try to be more conscious of what you are eating and make it a habit to look at the nutrition facts so that you know what you are putting inside your body. Also, add fruits and vegetables to your diet since these foods are full of vitamins and minerals that keep your body healthy. If you are not fond of eating vegetables as is, why not try eating a salad as an appetizer before dinner? This is a great way to start eating fruits and vegetables and incorporating them in your diet.

There are also health tips with regard to exercising. Not all people have the luxury of time when it comes to maintaining physical fitness. So the least you can do is to infuse a tidbit of exercise in your everyday activities. For example, when you are trying to pick up something, you can squat instead of bend over. Squatting is already a muscle-strengthening exercise for your legs, and you can already do it without breaking a sweat. Also, if your place of work is just walking distance from your home, you can opt to walk instead of bringing your car or commuting. Not only will you be able to save on gasoline; you will also be able to get your daily dose of exercise.

Health tips also involve stress management, since keeping your stress levels controlled can give a positive boost to your health. Remember that overall health is composed of not just your physical health but even your emotional and psychological health as well. You can keep your stress levels in check by doing deep breathing exercises every now and then. Also, when you have problems, do not hesitate to hug it out and have a good cry. This helps you eliminate all the negative stress in your body.

Finally, rest and sleep is also an important factor in your health. One of the helpful health tips for improving sleep is to make sure that you are comfortable with the pillow you are using. The quality of your pillow can enhance the quality of your sleep, thus leaving you in a good mood when you wake up. Also, drinking milk before going to sleep gives you a good night’s sleep.

With all these easy health tips that you can incorporate in your daily life, there is simply no reason for you not to stay healthy.

3-Day Diet Cleanse



Jump Start Your Diet!

If you’ve never cleansed before, you may not fully understand its importance. It isn’t just an easy way out to lose a few pounds. The reason to cleanse & detoxify your body is to eliminate toxins that have been sitting in your body for months, years, or even decades. The 3-Day Diet Cleanse will not only rid your body of toxins, it will help you shed a few pounds, giving you a boost in the beginning of your new diet plan.

The environment contributes many toxins that our bodies ingest on a daily basis. The air we breathe is contaminated; smoke and air rise from sewers in the streets. Car exhaust, dirty fog from factories and the list goes on and on. Recreational drugs and alcohol can also contribute. As far as our diets, unless you are eating organically, you are prone to fertilizers and pesticides sprinkled all over crops, fruits, and vegetables grown by farmers. Fast food restaurants, processed foods, fatty deep fried foods, chips, candy, sugar….These all lead to a build-up of waste in the digestive tract and colon. When waste and toxins sit in your organs, skin, and lungs, your bodily systems are slowed down and therefore are not performing at their best. Many diseases and sicknesses have been directly linked back to the colon health of the person.

Over time, toxins cause us to feel irritable, fatigued or lazy, and even a lack of mental clarity. Toxins can also be understood as free radicals. Free radicals are incomplete cells that will take from other cells to make themselves complete, in turn making the cell they stole from incomplete. It is a cycle that keeps repeating, that ends up damaging your immune system. A damaged immune system causes a number of downfalls in your health. A flu bug gains the power to knock you down because you lack the strength to fight back. The way you deal with daily stressors becomes havoc. But this doesn’t have to be. You can start cleansing your body with natural herbs to reclaim control of your life.

There are many different types of detox and cleanse products available, but this one is targeted to kick-start your new diet plan. Shedding a few pounds can give you the inspiration and confidence to want more, and to do what is necessary make that happen.

The 3-Day Diet Cleanse is designed in a quick and easy two part kit. The first is the Energize. Ginseng, vitamin B12, yerba mate, and other natural ingredients work in harmony to give you more energy and a healthier metabolism. It also has liver and kidney support from added ingredients.

The second part of the 3-Day Diet Cleanse is to Eliminate. All of the toxins and waste build up that are causing you to feel sluggish and bloated will be flushed out. Special natural herbs and minerals will aid in stimulating the bowel to release build-up, causing you to shed excess pounds! You can supercharge your energy levels and flush away toxins with the safe and natural 3-Day Diet Cleanse.

Want the Body of a Fitness Model? Here’s How!



Picture this – You’re walking in the mall and you spot out a short sexy little dress that you would just love to wear. You pick it out just hoping that it will fit. You enter into the dressing room, that little room that haunts you and always are used to leaving feeling defeated. But this time it’s different. You close the drape. You slip the dress on, and it hugs your new hard firm feminine body on all the right curves. You take a real good look at yourself in the mirror and let out a sigh of relief and of victory! It didn’t sink in till just this very moment, that you now have the body of your dreams, the body of a Fitness Model!

You can’t believe it. You’re a new women. Your body is tight and compact, yet with all the right key feminine muscles cut to perfection. Your shoulder caps are perfect, your arms defined and firm, your back strong, posture upright and confident, you have a chiseled waistline and abs of steel.

Your glutes look lifted, tight and toned. Your quads and hamstrings look like those of an athlete, muscular yet long and lean. And your calves are perfect and they pop every time you take a step. You just can’t help but to smile with pride, joy and happiness knowing that you now have the body of a fitness model.

You are feeling so great and you are oozing with sexy confidence, you decide to go for it you decide to try on a bikini ‘and Yep! You are definitely NOT dreaming!

Every where you go, where ever you are seen, you exude the new fresh healthy aura of one who has the body of a fitness model. As you head out to work or school… and realize that men are always staring at you. Little do they know that you are a mom, or a full time student, or a 9-5 business executive! And now you have a confidence that’s elegant and sexy, as you are striding and strutting with purpose! They all think you have the look of a model because your body shows it!

Imagine, for the first time… being like the woman on those fitness and health magazine covers! The woman you always dreamed of becoming, but always thought impossible! You need to arm yourself NOW with the tools you need to… Create unbelievable feminine muscle definition! Command more respect!

Become more confident! Get noticed when you walk into a room! No more wasting time and energy in the gym! No more surfing the Internet for the “latest and greatest” routine or ‘quick fix.’ Shapely. Curvy. Healthy. You’ve got it all and you’re loving it! Well it can be done, it’s just one step away! You to can have the body of a fitness model when all you need is the right program. A program that can be done in the comfort of your own home with only 5 pieces of gym equipment.

Anti Aging Vitamins – Top 5 Longevity Vitamins For Men and Women



Whilst anti aging vitamin peptide face creams which include Retinol and Resveratrol are important to how you look on the outside, along with longevity supplements that also include Resveratrol, anti aging vitamins are also highly essential.

1. Vitamin E

Available through many sources such as supplemental capsules, Vitamin E has many anti-aging qualities. Under the medical term “alpha tocopherol”, Vitamins E helps the skin retain moisture and is often added to sunscreens to guard against against UVB damage.

It’s also a fat-soluble compound that repairs dry, cracked skin when used as a cream or lotion.

A powerful antioxidant that protects your skin from harmful free radicals, free radicals are molecules that have unpaired electrons, and it’s due to these free radicals seek out electrons from other cells, and then oxidize them and damage the tissues they form.

A right intake of Vitamin E therefore prevents oxidation, whilst improving your immune system assisting in the expression of your genes.

Vitamin E Helps Prevent:

Blood from clotting Risk of stroke or heart attack LDL cholesterol from contributing to atherosclerosis Risk of some cancers Cognitive delay or decline on the brain’s neurons as we age.

Source:

Nuts Seeds Green leafy vegetables Vegetable oils (such as soybean, canola, and corn) Topical cosmetic applications.

2. Vitamin C

An important anti-aging nutrient, it’s fortunately plentiful in most people’s diets, as again it helps protect against those free radicals, which you digest or are exposed to through pollution, cigarette smoke and radiation.

Helping to regenerate other antioxidants, when applied topically, vitamin C protects your skin against damaging UV rays.

Collagen is the structural element of your skin providing shape and firmness. Vitamin C intake increases the production of collagen whilst improving firmness. This connective tissue is also important for healing wounds.

Vitamin E Helps Prevent:

Cancer-preventing qualities Development of cardiovascular disease Formation of age-related cataracts and macular degeneration.

Source:

Fruits (especially Guava and Pomegranite) Veggies (especially citrus and potatoes)

3. Vitamin K

The lack of sleep is not entirely responsible for those tired-looking dark circles around the eyes.

Those dark circles are caused by a number of factors, not just lack of sleep or aging. Vitamin K helps with one of the most common causes, the leaking of capillaries around the eyes, which inevitably results in the clotting of blood and pooling.

Therefore, research has shown that vitamin K aids in the constriction of capillaries, breaking up the tiny blood clots that form the dark circles.

It is not the ultimate cure but it should be part of your anti aging vitamin treatment plan.

Your body produces small amounts of vitamin K on its own, but consumed as a supplement or multivitamin, or a in a topical face cream will greatly benefit these dark tired looking circles around the eyes.

Vitamin K Helps Prevent:

Loss of structural strength in bones Dark circles and tired looking eyes

Source:

Kale Lettuce Spinach Broccoli Non-hydrogenated vegetable oils

4. Niacin

Specifically a B3 Vitamin, it has several anti-aging properties.

It increases your skin’s ability to retain moisture. Moist firm skin not only looks healthier, it actually helps you stay healthier by providing an unbroken barrier against bacteria, viruses and other antigens.

Dry skin is often a result of niacin deficiency. Dry skin can often lead to further problems as the cracks between your skin’s “scales” become chinks in your aging body’s armor. In addition, Niacin also acts similar to anexfoliant, helping your skin shed off dead cells promoting newer cells to move towards your skins surface.

Niacin Helps Prevent:

Effects of aging inside your skin Bad cholesterol raising “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins, or HDL) High triglycerides (fats in your blood that contribute to your overall cholesterol count) Risk and rate of atherosclerosis Hardening of your artery walls that leads to heart attack and stroke

Source:

Poultry Eggs Meat Fish Nuts Enriched breads

5. Vitamin A

Retinol found in anti-aging topical face products is a source of ready-to-use vitamin A.

Vitamin A helps aging slowdown in several ways. Again, it’s an antioxidant which neutralizes the damaging effects of oxidation which is believed to be a primary cause of age-related diseases and degeneration.

As does Vitamin K, Vitamin A intake helps with circles under the eyes.Topical solutions as mentioned with vitamin A (such as Retinol and Resveratrol creams) – working as an exfoliator whilst reducing fine lines and wrinkles, has shown to reduce signs of sun damage and skin aging.

Vitamin A Helps Prevent:

Deterioration of overall bone health Effects of osteoporosis as you get older

Source:

Eggs Fatty fish Over-the-counter supplements Topical Retinol and Rezveratrol anti-aging applications

Bottom Line:

Simple Weight Loss Tips: 7 Tips for Slimming Your Sloppy Butt!



Do you have extra weight you’re carrying around? Are you tired of avoiding the mirror and bathing suits?

Are you ready to feel better and take control over your fat?

Well okay, you asked for it…

Here is the big deal; losing weight is mainly based the following factor:

* The Total Number of Calories You Consume

Verses.

* The Total Number of Calories You Burn

Now the core formula for losing extra weight is:

** Weight Loss = Calories Burnt (Exercise) – Calories Consumed

(Exercise also builds up your metabolism which continues to help burn fat faster.)

You can try and trick this formula with fad diets; however those schemes have almost no chance of working on a long term basis. That is more than likely why you are reading this right now.

What the above formula indicates is that in order to lose weight you will have to increase the number of calories you burn and decrease the number of calories you consume.

For Example: When you burn 3,500 calories more than you take in, you lose one pound of pure fat. This is all pretty much common sense so far. However most people do not have trouble knowing what to do when it comes to losing weight, they have trouble doing what they know.

Please keep in mind that our bodies require a certain number of calories (usually around 2,000 per day) to maintain itself and stay healthy. This means that you can’t burn more than that amount of calories in a given day. This reinforces the fact that in order to achieve a healthy and guaranteed weight loss, you have to have a balance of consuming and burning calories.

Here are 7 proven tips for you to start winning the battle against your fat right now. These tips will help you to reduce the number of calories you consume, without going hungry or becoming faint. These tips will also increase the number of calories you burn during your exercises without causing you to be tired or very sore. By using these 7 tips in combination with some easy exercises, you will enable yourself to do the following two things:

1. You will stop gaining weight.

2. You will then start losing weight.

** Tip # 1 – Easy Weight Loss – CAN THE SODA!

If you drink soda regularly, you must begin to become very aware of exactly how many sodas you are drinking. Did you know if you reduce one soda can (12 oz. serving of soda) per day from your diet you can lose, or not have to deal with, an additional 14.6 pounds over the course of a year? All sodas (regular, not diet) are loaded with ton of sugar. Each (12 oz.) soda has around 140 calories.

In a year, 365 sodas = 365 x 140 = 51,100 calories

Converting that into pounds gained:

51,100 / 3,500 = 14.6 pounds… with just one 12 oz. soda.

Do not forget that the 14.6 pounds we are dealing with here only concerns 12 ounce servings of soda, which is considered a “small” with today’s mega-sized sodas of 16, 24, 32, and 44 ounces! You will definitely reduce your extra fat if you reduce your intake of soda and replace it with fruit juice, water, or seltzer whenever possible.

** Tip # 2 – Easy Weight Loss – WATER, WATER, and more WATER!

Drinking water daily is critical for weight loss. However, drinking water is the most commonly overlooked tip for those looking to lose weight. No matter how much you do in an effort to lose weight, if you are not drinking enough water you are not losing as much weight as you can.

In the best case scenario you should drink 8 glasses of water a day. However, I understand that this is very difficult to do. That is why I recommend that you at least start drinking water with all of your meals. You will be surprised at how much you won’t miss your usual sugary drink of choice while you eat. Then as time passes and you become more comfortable drinking water you will be more likely to opt for water in everyday non-meal refreshment situations

The real benefit of drinking water as it pertains to weight loss is that it is excellent for flushing the burnt fat/calories out of your body. Without drinking the right amount of water much of the fat you burn will stay in your body and will cause you to not lose as much weight as you can. Drinking water needs to be taken very seriously because it is one of the most powerful fat loss tips period. Simply drinking it in addition to anything else you do to lose weight will dramatically affect your health and weight loss..

You may ask, “How can I lose the water weight I have if I drink tons of water?” Well, the answer to that is simple. When you drink less water, your body begins storing the water you do drink for emergency purposes; just like camels do when they roam the desert and do not have access to water for many days at a time. Conversely, when you start drinking more water on a regular basis your body gets out of “emergency” mode and releases the excess water. This excess water release could result in a loss of up to 5 pounds!

** Tip # 3 – Easy Weight Loss – VEGETABLES ARE YOUR FRIENDS!

Although eating vegetables with every meal is preferable, I understand the difficultly in doing so and recommend that you make two mealtime trades as often as possible. They are:

A) Trade French fries or any other fried side dish at mealtime for any cooked vegetable with very little butter or salt.

B) Trade potato chips or any other salty lunch snack for raw vegetables with a very little amount of low-fat dip or dressing.

In addition to adding vegetables to your meals, you should also eat a small salad with very little dressing before your main dinner. By doing this your appetite will reduce and you will not overeat during your main course. Above all, vegetables are very low in calories and are also a good source of vitamins, minerals and fiber, which will help keep you healthy along with assisting you to lose weight.

** Tip # 4 – Easy Weight Loss – DO NOT STAY HUNGRY AND NEVER STARVE YOURSELF!

Staying hungry and starving yourself will only make you eat that much more when you do eventually sit down for a meal. The best way to go is to eat frequently (every four hours) in small portions.

Many people think skipping meals is a good way to lose extra pounds. However, that is a big mistake. Skipping meals affects your metabolism and will actually slow down your weight loss! I recommend that you start your day by making breakfast your biggest and healthiest mea. Then continue by eating a small lunch with a slightly bigger dinner. Finally, I encourage everyone to use meal replacement shakes midday or late-evening in rotation with veggies and salads.

** Tip # 5 – Easy Weight Loss – FAST FOOD = FAT YOU!”

Fast food is a convenient, tasty and cost effective reality; but it makes you fat every single time! Now I ask how convenient, tasty or cheap is lugging around extra fat worth to you?

Now that we have given attention to the fact that fast food is a reality that makes you fat, we can lay down some guidelines to minimize the disastrous effects of fatty fast food on your body when you find yourself at the drive thru on that very rare occasion. When you place an order at a fatty fast food restaurant, here are some phrases that will help you to minimize your fat intake. “No Mayo,” “No Cheese,” “No Soda,” “No Fries,” “No Dessert.”

You may ask how much of a difference these phrases really make. Well, as an example, when you say “No Mayo” for your chicken sandwich, you are saving around 30 grams of fat, or about 270 calories per sandwich. Now if you are a regular chicken sandwich eater, saying “No Mayo” for every sandwich you order for a year could translate into approximately 20 less pounds you have to deal with and burn off. Basically, if you can’t avoid eating fast foods on occasion you can avoid all the fatty fast extras that are included with them.

** Tip # 6 – Easy Weight Loss – YES, BOOZE MAKES YOU FATTER THAN YOU THINK!

- One 12 oz. can of beer has around 140 calories *

- One 4 oz. glass of wine has between 80 and 200 calories *

- One 1 oz shot of whiskey has between 65 to 85 calories *

Skipping one 12 ounce can of beer on a daily average can save you over 14 pounds of extra weight a year (the same as giving up one 12 oz. can of soda a day). Alcohol is highly concentrated in calories with almost no nutritional value. It is very simple…if you want to lose weight, drink less alcohol. There is no way around it.

** Tip # 7 – Easy Weight Loss – THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO BEAT THE FAT!

With all the fad diets out there, it may seem like there are easy and sacrifice-free ways to beat the fat off your body. Sadly, losing weight will always be as simple as burning more calories than you consume. The diet shakes, pills and programs are dangerous to your health and they most often only win an occasional battle in the war to against fat. Do not be taken in with the hype and the easy path of a slimmer you. It simply is not a reality that lasts.

Now that you know the 7 tips; it is time for you to start burning some calories. Visit your local gym, fitness center, health office, or Doctor so they can recommend an easy, low-impact and equipment free (if necessary) program that is perfect for you to lose the extra weight once and for all!