FITNESS WANTED

Many people have heard of the Atkins diet, the short name for Atkins nutritional approach. Dr. Robert Atkins invented this low-carb diet. He put on a lot of pounds while he attended medical school. He read about this diet in the medical journal. He built on that diet and eventually made it popular.

Dr. Atkins came up with new ideas, his Atkins diet, about the nature of weight gain. He disagreed that saturated fats were the problem. Instead it was carbohydrates that led to the weight problems Americans have. In Atkins theory eating too little fat make things even worse. He pointed to all the low-fat foods that were high in carbohydrates. Eating a low-fat version of foods was actually less healthy.

The Atkins diet shifts the focus. Once Carbohydrates were removed from a diet, people would burn more stored body fat. Lose the fat lose the weight. It’s not just a matter of eating less. Now it was all about what your diet can help you burn. The Atkins diet supposedly burned an extra 950 calories everyday. But the claims were not true.

Dr. Atkins also touted the positive influence this Atkins diet could have on people with type 2 diabetes. Being overweight is generally considered the major cause for type 2 diabetes. Weight loss associated with the Atkins diet, as with any diet, would therefore help people manage type 2 diabetes.

But the Atkins diet is also low in carbohydrates, which must be avoided with type 2 diabetes regardless of caloric intake, so by means of this aspect of the diet Atkins claimed those who suffer type 2 diabetes would no longer need medication such as insulin. The medical world, in general, disagrees with Atkins on this point. They agree lower carbohydrates help with type 2 diabetes, but there is no proof that carbohydrates cause the disease.

So just how does this Atkins diet work? It follows four phases - induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance. Here are more details of Induction which is the most crucial of the phases.

The first phase of the Atkins diet, Induction, is like the boot camp for the diet. Atkins is flexible as to the time period but recommends two weeks. During this phase carbohydrates are severely limited only up to 20 grams per day. The result of this phase should be ketosis, a metabolic reaction by which the body converts stored fat into fatty acids, generally prompted by a lack of glucose. Weight loss during this phase can be extreme some Atkins followers reported losses of 5-10 pounds a week.

The next three phases of the Atkins diet help establish the levels of carbs people can consume in order to lose weight and to maintain a desired weight. Millions of people are still losing weight on this diet but beware the dangers of taking in too much fat.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Yoga increases muscular strength. It reduces tension and stress. It has a low potential for injury, and it doesn’t even look like exercise. Why, then, don’t more people practice simple yoga?

Those who don’t know a lot about the practice of yoga might think that it’s a spiritual, New Age activity that doesn’t speak to daily life. Yet frequently these days, people experience emptiness in their lives because most of their activity is directed externally. And just as frequently, to return to optimal health and balance in their lives, they’re going to have to redirect their awareness inwardly, and return to the experience of self.

Yoga is an Indian discipline that has been practiced for more than 5000 years. Yet in most western societies, it still has relatively few followers. About half of the American adult population swims, while about 25% run or jog, but only 2% practice yoga.

The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit “yuj,” which means to yoke or connect. With yoga’s various techniques, you can achieve mental and physical equilibrium, inner peace, and improved health. Indeed, yoga is commonly said to provide not just a workout, but a “work-in”.

There are at least eight main branches of yoga, with several variations of each. Essentially, though, only two are concerned with exercise. Those are kundalini yoga and hatha yoga.

Hatha yoga is most properly practiced in the Western world. Slow paced, it emphasizes control breathing and has practitioners assume a variety of physical poses. Proponents say that it helps the vital organs, glands, and nervous system.

Kundalini, which was introduced to this country in 1969 by Yogi Bhajan, is more active, combining various modes of breathing, movement and meditation. It is based on the idea that body energy that is coiled below the base of the spine can be tapped so that it travels upward through different energy centers or chakras until it reaches the head. At this point one arrives at one’s highest potential.

There are 84 basic yoga positions, classically speaking, also called asanas. These are done in tandem with special breathing techniques. The asanas or yoga positions can be simple twists and bends, or can be as complicated as pretzel-like contortions that only the most advanced practitioners are capable of. These various positions help build flexibility and make muscles longer. When used with proper breathing, they can help you rid your body of tension. The utilization of static holds helps isolate and strength in particular muscles.

Asanas have evolved over the centuries so as to exercise every muscle, nerve and gland in the body. They secure a fine physique, which is strong and elastic without being muscle-bound, and they keep the body free from disease. They reduce fatigue and soothe the nerves. But their real importance lies in the way they train and discipline the mind.

There are some common misconceptions when it comes to building muscle for a solid chest. As with any area of the body it takes disciplined work of the pectorals to achieve that much desired chiseled look. Many body builders are under the impression that the best way to do this is through bench presses. To get a fully refined look on your chest there are other exercises you need to use.

To build a well defined chest you should add the exercises below to your routine.

A good inner pectoral exercise are low cable crossovers. High cable crossovers can also be used as an alternative.

Close grip bench press, this will work the inner Pecs quite well, and they also give a good workout to the triceps. Bench press-Wide grip will work the outer chest muscles.

Dumbbell Flyers works the inner pectoral muscles, but you really have to squeeze them together. Just like the bench press you can adjust the angle in which you attack the muscles. Wide gripped dips work the chest, and the angle of your elbows will determine what area of the chest you’re working out.

When you vary your routines with these exercises it will help to prevent you from reaching a plateau in your training. You must remember to add enough rest between your workouts, and eat enough to make your chest grow.

When you are building muscle, nutrition is as important as weight lifting. When you lift weights, you are actually tearing muscle tissue. The muscles are repaired with what food put into your body. Extra vitamins and minerals are essential when you’re exercising regularly.

Water is also important for any workout routine. Water keeps you hydrated, processes waste materials and transports nutrients to your cells. Your internal organs are also protected and the joints of your body are given a cushion with water intake. Muscles are also around 80% water and they will not grow if you don’t drink enough of it.

Your body regenerates and heals itself while you are sleeping, it is important that you get enough sleep in order for your muscles to properly heal or all your hard work will go to waste. Along with the fact that you will experience dehydration and fatigue and not be able to endure workouts for the future.

When you combine all of these elements your chest will soon start growing into something that you’re always wanted. Just remember you need a good workout routine, plenty of sleep and a diet filled with the right foods.

The way that you design your workout routine and how you choose to keep yourself in shape has a lot to do with your age. Some people aged above 40 use age as their excuse for unhealthy lifestyle and to skip workouts

Your age should not be used as a carte blanche permission slip not to exercise and stay fit. If you approach weight training, diet and work outs the correct way you can maintain a remarkably healthy and fit body for many years, regardless of your age. Weightlifting and bodybuilding routines can be used to increase bone density, lose weight, become healthier and more fit, and reshape your body.

Feeling better about yourself starts with keeping physically fit, as it is not a well kept secret that those that take better care of them selves are happy in life. Physical activity also releases endorphins, which induce feelings of happiness in people who exercise.

Let’s start with some basics, being over 40 means that you do need to make a few concessions in your workout routine, but it does not mean that you have to be a victim of false notions about aging. As we get older, our muscles and joints are less limber and this means that adequate stretching and warm up prior to exercising is very important.

A fifteen minute stretching and warm up period will help increase your suppleness, and lower the chance of sports injuries. Your muscles will be more conditioned the more you stretch properly and completely.

Next is a 15 minute cardio portion on a treadmill, elliptical, stairmaster, or a bike. You don’t need to strain yourself when doing this exercise; instead, you just want to increase your heart rate slightly and continue to tone and stretch like before. This exercise will let your body know that you are serious about doing some work.

You will want to follow this warm up by doing reps with the correct weights, you should consider light weights for this workout, if in addition to this you are doing circuit training or a free weight routine you will not have the stress of heavy weights.

Many bodybuilders favor the pyramid system, which means you do more reps with less weight, and as you add weights, you will begin to decrease the number of reps that you do. This method of weightlifting has great success for those who want to add muscle and bulk to their bodies. Concentrate on the proper form at all times, even if you have to cut back on the weight or the reps, having your form correct with each lift must be foremost in your mind. Not only does this maximize your results, it cuts down on the risk of injury.

Your routine with weights should not last longer than 30-45 minutes each session and you should be training at least 4 days a week. At the end of your weight session, you can again repeat a cardio session as a way to wind down, but to also strengthen your heart and lungs.