Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Get swimming

Recently i have discussed the positive impacts of trying out different exercises other than simply going to the gym. I never really enjoyed swimming as a teenage as I was always one of the shy kids who did not want to be seen in my swim suit!
As I have got older my attitude has certainly changed dramatically, as I am a lot happier in my own skin!
Swimming is a really good exercise for someone who does not have a lot of time on their hands, as it is an exercise which uses practically every muscle in your body. It is also good for people who are slightly heavier than most as it is non weight bearing.
If you have not been swimming for a while and you are wanting to get in shape and lose some weight, get to your local pool!

Dancing

A friend of mine recently started attending a dance class at here local community centre. At first she was very apprehensive about the whole thing, but once she had been going for a couple of weeks and she managed to pick up some of the basic dance moves, she really started to enjoy herself.
I love dancing…. mainly going out with my friends at the weekend. I had never really thought about the positive impact it can have on your health and how enjoyable it could be as a form of exercise!
My friend has certainly inspired me to go out and try something new!

Try and choose the slightly healthier option…

I am one of those people who are always on a diet! I envy those people who can eat what they want (and tons of it!) and never put on an oune of weight. I only have to look at a chocolate bar and I gain three pounds!!
I am usually very good when it comes to selecting the healthy option, which I feel helps me keep my weight under control, but recently I have been making the wong decisions and worse of all I know I am doing it and I can not help myself!
You will be surprised to learn how many calories you can save simply by choosing the slightly healthier option comapred with the full fat version of many foods. Try it, you might be surprised at how good the lighter option tastes!

Get Fit Whilst Raising Money for Sports Relief

Sports Relief is all over the TV at the moment, with lots of celebrities taking up challenges such as ‘Let’s Dance’ and jet skiing across the English channel, but we can also play our part, and what better motivation for doing exercise than raising money for charity.

The good news is that you don’t have to do anything as challenging as swimming across the Channel (unless you want to of course), and instead you can take part in the Sainsbury’s Sports Relief Mile. The mile event is taking place across the country in hundreds of locations and any sponsorship money that you raise will go towards helping those who need our help both at home and in some of the poorest countries in the world.

Forgetting the Gym and Exercising at Home

If you’re anything like me, going to the gym is the last thing you want to do after a busy day at work and joining the gym can often be expensive. An alternative, which I often choose to do, is going for a jog near my home, however, with these dark nights that can often be dangerous especially if you don’t have reflective clothing. However now that I have a Nintendo Wii the problem is solved. The games available with the Wii enable you to exercise while having a fun. There’s the typical exercise games such as Wii sports where you can play games such as tennis, bowling and boxing, but other games such as Just Dance enable you to follow the moves to your favourite songs and without even realising it you’ve done a full work out. Exercising without realising it is definitely my kind of exercise.

How Can You Combat Holiday Weight?

We all love going on holiday; It enables us to get away from the day to day stresses of normal working life as well as helping us to relax. However one thing which does not benefit from a holiday is our weight. During holidays we tend to over indulge on food which usually means that we not only return back with a tan but also with a little extra fat.

So how can you combat this, whilst still enjoying and making the most of your holiday? Some tips include asking for food dressings to be served separately from your main meal; That way you can decide how much to use. Another tip is to incorporate exercise into your holiday. This might enable you to try something different, such as snorkelling or jet skiing. Above all try to relax and enjoy yourself as when we are stressed it is easy to reach for sugary treats to pick us up.

Can You More Sleep Really Help You to Lose Weight?

In our hectic lives we often find less and less time for sleep, but scientists have now discovered that lack of sleep could lead to weight problems. The obvious response would be that, of course those who sleep more are thinner, because they have less time awake in which to eat, but what the studies actually show is that lack of sleep, or broken sleep can upset our metabolism and hormones, which leads us to be more prone to overeating.

The statistics show that those who sleep four or less hours per night are 73% more likely to be obese compared to those who sleep 7 to 9 hours a night. So if you ever needed a reason to sleep in on morning what could be a better excuse?

Giving up Those Treats for Lent

Going on a diet is always tough, so rather than cutting out on all those lovely things that you enjoy, why not try doing things one step at a time, and what better time to do this than lent. Lent lasts for 6 weeks from Pancake Day to Easter day and if you can last that long going without something you really enjoy such as chocolate then you will be well on your way to success. Obviously, losing weight involves a lot more effort, such as eating healthily and taking regular exercise, but if you struggle with will power, giving something up for lent can be a great way to help improve this, which will hopefully make it easier to stick to your next diet.

Reward yourself!

It is hard enough losing weight and finding the motivation to exercise, eat healthily and avoid those delicious cakes and nibbles, especially as it comes up to Christmas. Temptation is around every corner and with parties and family visits in abundance; it’s not only the calories in food that you need to count, but calories in your Christmas tipple.

So, how do I keep my temptation at bay and be a Christmas angel, not a naughty devil? The answer is to reward yourself and you can do this by taking advantage of internet shopping and promotional codes. And what is the best present you can buy yourself when you have lost a few pounds? A pair of jeans…being able to fit snugly in a new pair of jeans will make you feel super sexy (teamed with a pair of killer heels) and give you the confidence boost to resist that last mince pie!

So you have your new jeans and want to keep on with the healthy eating you can also find superb offers in the web for slimming food, recipes and ingredients; and if that doesn’t appeal, how about going down the natural route and purchasing vitamins and supplements to assist slimming and boost your natural defences.

It is Christmas after all, go on treat yourself, you deserve it.

Flat Tummy Top Tips

The tummy area is one of the hardest places to lose weight and tone up, and it is the first place where weight piles on or you end up feeling bloated after a big meal or the wrong food – think bread and pasta!

Here are 5 top tips to assist you in the flight to battle the tummy bulge!

  1. Eat a balanced diet
  2. Burn calories with cardio work 3 times a week for 20 minutes
  3. Alternate your training – it will be more effective and give your metabolism a kick
  4. Sorry but you knew it was coming – sits ups (and plenty of them)
  5. Get help – it is hard to stay motivated especially when the nights are dark and cold, get a personal trainer; they won’t let you off with any excuses!