Does Hypnosis Work for Weight Loss?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Hypnosis is becoming an increasingly popular therapy for helping to control appetite and encourage weight-loss. But does it work?

 

Yes – Kim

I’d tried every diet under the sun in my attempt to lose weight but nothing worked. Then a friend suggested hypnotherapy. I was sceptical at first but couldn’t face another year of being overweight and decided to give it a go. I looked online and found a hypnotherapist in my area who specialised in weight loss. I went for three sessions in total but found that it was easy to change my eating habits after just one session.

Before trying hypnosis, I constantly craved foods that were high in sugar and fat. During the sessions, my hypnotherapist reprogrammed my brain so that I wanted to choose healthy foods rather than unhealthy ones. She also helped my unconscious brain realise when I was full so that I would stop eating once I’d had enough food.

The results have been amazing. I really haven’t felt like I’ve been on a diet at all – I just naturally crave the foods that are good for me and find it easy to eat in moderation now. As a result, I’ve lost four stone in six months. I feel happier and more positive about life in general and get so many compliments about my new shape.

I thought hypnotherapy would be expensive but it’s a small price to pay compared to all the money I’ve spent on books, gym memberships, and diet drinks over the years.

I’d definitely recommend hypnotherapy to anyone who needs to lose weight but finds that traditional diets just don’t work.

 

No –Frankie

In my opinion, hypnotherapy is a lazy and expensive way to try to lose weight andthere is no proof that it actually works.

People who undergo hypnosis for weight loss may find that they lose weight in the short-term but from my experience, the results don’t last.

My friend tried hypnotherapy to lose weight because he had struggled to stick to a healthy diet. For a couple of weeks after the session, he did eat less and lost a few pounds but his old habits soon returned and he put the weight back on. I don’t think the hypnotherapy actually worked, I think he just started eating healthily because he was trying to convince himself that he hadn’t wasted his money.

There is no quick fix for losing weight – you have to change your entire lifestyle and take responsibility for losing weight yourself. My friend finally lost the weight after changing his diet completely and taking up exercise. You have to look at why you’re overweight – the underlying causes, rather than thinking that lying back and being hypnotised is going to help. At the end of the day, you will always need willpower if you want to lose weight and you can only supply that yourself – you can’t expect a hypnotherapist to find it for you.

Categories: diet, hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Lose, Lose weight, Losing Weight, weight, Weight Loss, work nbsp

Will a Vegetarian Diet Help Me Lose Weight?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Many people choose a vegetarian diet for health or ethical reasons. But when it comes to shedding the pounds, will a vegetarian diet help you lose weight?

 

Yes –Libby

When I started university I was about three stone overweight. That’s because I was brought up eating lots of meat products and would regularly tuck into burgers, hot dogs and pepperoni pizzas. But at university I shared a flat with a vegetarian. She loved to cook and made delicious vegetarian meals every day for both of us. I could see how much healthier it was than my old meat-heavy diet and my excess weight began to drop off.  I decided to become a full-time vegetarian and the result is I’m still slim almost 10 years later. Every day, I enjoy a wide range of foods and base my meals around fruit, vegetables, grains and pulses. This makes it easy to stick to a low-fat and low-calorie diet.

Many meat dishes are high in fat and cholesterol, making them bad news for anyone who wants to be healthy and lose weight. Being vegetarian forces you to think more carefully about mealtimes so you’re more likely to make healthy choices.

When I told my family that I’d become vegetarian, they were worried that I wouldn’t get all the nutrients I need. However, I believe I get a much more balanced diet now and it’s easy to make sure you’re getting protein by eating things like yogurt, cheese, eggs, beans and pulses.

 

 

No – Mitch

No one food group is to blame for weight gain, so cutting something like meat out from your diet is unlikely to have an effect on your weight, unless you are making other changes too.

Of course, some meat dishes are high in calories and fat but many vegetarian dishes are too. Think about macaroni cheese, four cheese pizza or chocolate cake – they are all vegetarian but none of them will help you lose weight. I think that vegetarian food can be just as bad for you as meat-based dishes if you make the wrong choices.

Vegetarian dishes are often high in carbohydrates or dairy products as they rely on these as a substitute for the meat. In high quantities both of these can add to weight gain. Also vegetarian diets tend to be lacking in protein. Protein actually makes us feel full, so if you aren’t getting enough then you’re likely to feel hungry more often, causing you to eat more.

The other problem is that when eating out, vegetarians have much less choice than meat eaters. This makes it harder to choose healthy options. For example, in a restaurant, a chicken salad will be much healthier and lower in both fat and calories than a rich, creamy mushroom risotto served with garlic bread.

Rather than cutting out meat entirely, it would be better to look at your overall diet and see where you can make healthy changes.

 

Categories: Lose weight, meat, meat dishes, Vegetarian, vegetarian diet, vegetarian dishes, weight, weight gain, weight nbsp

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Categories: himanshu, joining, Lose, modi, weight

Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations

 

Not only do push-ups help you with weight loss; they also improve your muscle wellness. That said, if you really want to tone and build your muscles, you need to keep challenging your body with push-up variations. These suggestions, courtesy of fitness expert Malcolm MacMillan, may not be easy, but they’ll certainly be worth it!

 

1. Weight Vest: According to MacMillan, ‘It sounds simple, but donning a five- or 10-pound weight vest while you do traditional push-ups will add an immediate challenge and help you build muscle just a little quicker. As this becomes easier, it’s fun to wear a heavier vest and see how much weight you can carry. If you don’t want to spring for a vest, just add any sort of weight to your back or have a workout partner push down on your back as you rise.’

 

2. Decline Push-Up: MacMillan notes, ‘Putting your feet on something a foot or more in the air will allow you to complete a deeper push-up, which will work your upper body and core even more. As this becomes easier, you can put your feet on higher surfaces, which can be anything from a chair or bench to a cinder block. When you master this, try using a medicine ball for your feet (holding your balance will be an added challenge).’

 

3. Dive Bomber Push-Up: ‘Start with your hands shoulder-width apart, your feet spread wide and your bum up in the air,’ MacMillan instructs. ‘Drop your head between your upper arms. Your body should be shaped like a triangle. Now, start to bend your arms and slowly slide your head toward the ground. Keep your chin an inch or two from the ground, then pull up so that your back is arched. To complete the push-up, reverse what you’ve just done until you’re back in the triangle position. It helps to imagine that you’re ducking under a fence.’

 

4. Thigh Slap Push-Up: MacMillan comments, ‘This push-up is a mix between a traditional one and a one-handed push-up. As you come up, slap your left thigh with your left hand. Do it in one fluid motion, and then descend again. Now try it with your right side. The key is to be able to do these quickly and smoothly. As you get more adventurous, you can try jumping your back feet off the ground at the same time.’

 

5. Crocodile Push-Up: ‘Picture a crocodile walking,’ says MacMillan. ‘It uses its powerful front legs to propel itself. Now, take that same movement and apply it to a push-up. Warm up by doing traditional push-ups with one hand six to 10 inches ahead of the other. Once you’re ready, take it a step further: As you come up, throw one hand forward a foot. Descend again, and as you rise, throw the other hand forward. Make sure to drag your feet rather than kick them, and suddenly you’ll be across the room – completely thanks to your arms. You can also “walk” backward for an extra exercise.’

 

6. Diamond Push-Up: MacMillan outlines, ‘To work your triceps, place your two hands on the floor in front of you with your index fingers touching and thumbs touching, forming a diamond. From the start position, arms extended and body in the plank position, lower your chest to your hands. You’ll feel a big-time burn in your triceps, and it won’t be long before you’re noticing added muscle.’

 

7. Clap Push-Up: ‘One of the toughest push-ups to master is the age-old clap push-up, in which you clap your hands at the apex of your motion,’ MacMillan asserts. ‘You’ll want to make sure you’re ready to do this before attempting it, because it’s easy to miss catching yourself and suffer a humiliating face-plant.’

The post Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations appeared first on .

Categories: clap push, Feet, macmillan, nbsp, push, Push ups, traditional push, weight, weight vest

Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations

 

Not only do push-ups help you with weight loss; they also improve your muscle wellness. That said, if you really want to tone and build your muscles, you need to keep challenging your body with push-up variations. These suggestions, courtesy of fitness expert Malcolm MacMillan, may not be easy, but they’ll certainly be worth it!

 

1. Weight Vest: According to MacMillan, ‘It sounds simple, but donning a five- or 10-pound weight vest while you do traditional push-ups will add an immediate challenge and help you build muscle just a little quicker. As this becomes easier, it’s fun to wear a heavier vest and see how much weight you can carry. If you don’t want to spring for a vest, just add any sort of weight to your back or have a workout partner push down on your back as you rise.’

 

2. Decline Push-Up: MacMillan notes, ‘Putting your feet on something a foot or more in the air will allow you to complete a deeper push-up, which will work your upper body and core even more. As this becomes easier, you can put your feet on higher surfaces, which can be anything from a chair or bench to a cinder block. When you master this, try using a medicine ball for your feet (holding your balance will be an added challenge).’

 

3. Dive Bomber Push-Up: ‘Start with your hands shoulder-width apart, your feet spread wide and your bum up in the air,’ MacMillan instructs. ‘Drop your head between your upper arms. Your body should be shaped like a triangle. Now, start to bend your arms and slowly slide your head toward the ground. Keep your chin an inch or two from the ground, then pull up so that your back is arched. To complete the push-up, reverse what you’ve just done until you’re back in the triangle position. It helps to imagine that you’re ducking under a fence.’

 

4. Thigh Slap Push-Up: MacMillan comments, ‘This push-up is a mix between a traditional one and a one-handed push-up. As you come up, slap your left thigh with your left hand. Do it in one fluid motion, and then descend again. Now try it with your right side. The key is to be able to do these quickly and smoothly. As you get more adventurous, you can try jumping your back feet off the ground at the same time.’

 

5. Crocodile Push-Up: ‘Picture a crocodile walking,’ says MacMillan. ‘It uses its powerful front legs to propel itself. Now, take that same movement and apply it to a push-up. Warm up by doing traditional push-ups with one hand six to 10 inches ahead of the other. Once you’re ready, take it a step further: As you come up, throw one hand forward a foot. Descend again, and as you rise, throw the other hand forward. Make sure to drag your feet rather than kick them, and suddenly you’ll be across the room – completely thanks to your arms. You can also “walk” backward for an extra exercise.’

 

6. Diamond Push-Up: MacMillan outlines, ‘To work your triceps, place your two hands on the floor in front of you with your index fingers touching and thumbs touching, forming a diamond. From the start position, arms extended and body in the plank position, lower your chest to your hands. You’ll feel a big-time burn in your triceps, and it won’t be long before you’re noticing added muscle.’

 

7. Clap Push-Up: ‘One of the toughest push-ups to master is the age-old clap push-up, in which you clap your hands at the apex of your motion,’ MacMillan asserts. ‘You’ll want to make sure you’re ready to do this before attempting it, because it’s easy to miss catching yourself and suffer a humiliating face-plant.’

The post Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations appeared first on .

Categories: clap push, Feet, macmillan, nbsp, push, Push ups, traditional push, weight, weight vest

Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations

 

Not only do push-ups help you with weight loss; they also improve your muscle wellness. That said, if you really want to tone and build your muscles, you need to keep challenging your body with push-up variations. These suggestions, courtesy of fitness expert Malcolm MacMillan, may not be easy, but they’ll certainly be worth it!

 

1. Weight Vest: According to MacMillan, ‘It sounds simple, but donning a five- or 10-pound weight vest while you do traditional push-ups will add an immediate challenge and help you build muscle just a little quicker. As this becomes easier, it’s fun to wear a heavier vest and see how much weight you can carry. If you don’t want to spring for a vest, just add any sort of weight to your back or have a workout partner push down on your back as you rise.’

 

2. Decline Push-Up: MacMillan notes, ‘Putting your feet on something a foot or more in the air will allow you to complete a deeper push-up, which will work your upper body and core even more. As this becomes easier, you can put your feet on higher surfaces, which can be anything from a chair or bench to a cinder block. When you master this, try using a medicine ball for your feet (holding your balance will be an added challenge).’

 

3. Dive Bomber Push-Up: ‘Start with your hands shoulder-width apart, your feet spread wide and your bum up in the air,’ MacMillan instructs. ‘Drop your head between your upper arms. Your body should be shaped like a triangle. Now, start to bend your arms and slowly slide your head toward the ground. Keep your chin an inch or two from the ground, then pull up so that your back is arched. To complete the push-up, reverse what you’ve just done until you’re back in the triangle position. It helps to imagine that you’re ducking under a fence.’

 

4. Thigh Slap Push-Up: MacMillan comments, ‘This push-up is a mix between a traditional one and a one-handed push-up. As you come up, slap your left thigh with your left hand. Do it in one fluid motion, and then descend again. Now try it with your right side. The key is to be able to do these quickly and smoothly. As you get more adventurous, you can try jumping your back feet off the ground at the same time.’

 

5. Crocodile Push-Up: ‘Picture a crocodile walking,’ says MacMillan. ‘It uses its powerful front legs to propel itself. Now, take that same movement and apply it to a push-up. Warm up by doing traditional push-ups with one hand six to 10 inches ahead of the other. Once you’re ready, take it a step further: As you come up, throw one hand forward a foot. Descend again, and as you rise, throw the other hand forward. Make sure to drag your feet rather than kick them, and suddenly you’ll be across the room – completely thanks to your arms. You can also “walk” backward for an extra exercise.’

 

6. Diamond Push-Up: MacMillan outlines, ‘To work your triceps, place your two hands on the floor in front of you with your index fingers touching and thumbs touching, forming a diamond. From the start position, arms extended and body in the plank position, lower your chest to your hands. You’ll feel a big-time burn in your triceps, and it won’t be long before you’re noticing added muscle.’

 

7. Clap Push-Up: ‘One of the toughest push-ups to master is the age-old clap push-up, in which you clap your hands at the apex of your motion,’ MacMillan asserts. ‘You’ll want to make sure you’re ready to do this before attempting it, because it’s easy to miss catching yourself and suffer a humiliating face-plant.’

The post Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations appeared first on .

Categories: clap push, Feet, macmillan, nbsp, push, Push ups, traditional push, weight, weight vest

Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations

 

Not only do push-ups help you with weight loss; they also improve your muscle wellness. That said, if you really want to tone and build your muscles, you need to keep challenging your body with push-up variations. These suggestions, courtesy of fitness expert Malcolm MacMillan, may not be easy, but they’ll certainly be worth it!

 

1. Weight Vest: According to MacMillan, ‘It sounds simple, but donning a five- or 10-pound weight vest while you do traditional push-ups will add an immediate challenge and help you build muscle just a little quicker. As this becomes easier, it’s fun to wear a heavier vest and see how much weight you can carry. If you don’t want to spring for a vest, just add any sort of weight to your back or have a workout partner push down on your back as you rise.’

 

2. Decline Push-Up: MacMillan notes, ‘Putting your feet on something a foot or more in the air will allow you to complete a deeper push-up, which will work your upper body and core even more. As this becomes easier, you can put your feet on higher surfaces, which can be anything from a chair or bench to a cinder block. When you master this, try using a medicine ball for your feet (holding your balance will be an added challenge).’

 

3. Dive Bomber Push-Up: ‘Start with your hands shoulder-width apart, your feet spread wide and your bum up in the air,’ MacMillan instructs. ‘Drop your head between your upper arms. Your body should be shaped like a triangle. Now, start to bend your arms and slowly slide your head toward the ground. Keep your chin an inch or two from the ground, then pull up so that your back is arched. To complete the push-up, reverse what you’ve just done until you’re back in the triangle position. It helps to imagine that you’re ducking under a fence.’

 

4. Thigh Slap Push-Up: MacMillan comments, ‘This push-up is a mix between a traditional one and a one-handed push-up. As you come up, slap your left thigh with your left hand. Do it in one fluid motion, and then descend again. Now try it with your right side. The key is to be able to do these quickly and smoothly. As you get more adventurous, you can try jumping your back feet off the ground at the same time.’

 

5. Crocodile Push-Up: ‘Picture a crocodile walking,’ says MacMillan. ‘It uses its powerful front legs to propel itself. Now, take that same movement and apply it to a push-up. Warm up by doing traditional push-ups with one hand six to 10 inches ahead of the other. Once you’re ready, take it a step further: As you come up, throw one hand forward a foot. Descend again, and as you rise, throw the other hand forward. Make sure to drag your feet rather than kick them, and suddenly you’ll be across the room – completely thanks to your arms. You can also “walk” backward for an extra exercise.’

 

6. Diamond Push-Up: MacMillan outlines, ‘To work your triceps, place your two hands on the floor in front of you with your index fingers touching and thumbs touching, forming a diamond. From the start position, arms extended and body in the plank position, lower your chest to your hands. You’ll feel a big-time burn in your triceps, and it won’t be long before you’re noticing added muscle.’

 

7. Clap Push-Up: ‘One of the toughest push-ups to master is the age-old clap push-up, in which you clap your hands at the apex of your motion,’ MacMillan asserts. ‘You’ll want to make sure you’re ready to do this before attempting it, because it’s easy to miss catching yourself and suffer a humiliating face-plant.’

The post Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations appeared first on .

Categories: clap push, Feet, macmillan, nbsp, push, Push ups, traditional push, weight, weight vest

Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations

 

Not only do push-ups help you with weight loss; they also improve your muscle wellness. That said, if you really want to tone and build your muscles, you need to keep challenging your body with push-up variations. These suggestions, courtesy of fitness expert Malcolm MacMillan, may not be easy, but they’ll certainly be worth it!

 

1. Weight Vest: According to MacMillan, ‘It sounds simple, but donning a five- or 10-pound weight vest while you do traditional push-ups will add an immediate challenge and help you build muscle just a little quicker. As this becomes easier, it’s fun to wear a heavier vest and see how much weight you can carry. If you don’t want to spring for a vest, just add any sort of weight to your back or have a workout partner push down on your back as you rise.’

 

2. Decline Push-Up: MacMillan notes, ‘Putting your feet on something a foot or more in the air will allow you to complete a deeper push-up, which will work your upper body and core even more. As this becomes easier, you can put your feet on higher surfaces, which can be anything from a chair or bench to a cinder block. When you master this, try using a medicine ball for your feet (holding your balance will be an added challenge).’

 

3. Dive Bomber Push-Up: ‘Start with your hands shoulder-width apart, your feet spread wide and your bum up in the air,’ MacMillan instructs. ‘Drop your head between your upper arms. Your body should be shaped like a triangle. Now, start to bend your arms and slowly slide your head toward the ground. Keep your chin an inch or two from the ground, then pull up so that your back is arched. To complete the push-up, reverse what you’ve just done until you’re back in the triangle position. It helps to imagine that you’re ducking under a fence.’

 

4. Thigh Slap Push-Up: MacMillan comments, ‘This push-up is a mix between a traditional one and a one-handed push-up. As you come up, slap your left thigh with your left hand. Do it in one fluid motion, and then descend again. Now try it with your right side. The key is to be able to do these quickly and smoothly. As you get more adventurous, you can try jumping your back feet off the ground at the same time.’

 

5. Crocodile Push-Up: ‘Picture a crocodile walking,’ says MacMillan. ‘It uses its powerful front legs to propel itself. Now, take that same movement and apply it to a push-up. Warm up by doing traditional push-ups with one hand six to 10 inches ahead of the other. Once you’re ready, take it a step further: As you come up, throw one hand forward a foot. Descend again, and as you rise, throw the other hand forward. Make sure to drag your feet rather than kick them, and suddenly you’ll be across the room – completely thanks to your arms. You can also “walk” backward for an extra exercise.’

 

6. Diamond Push-Up: MacMillan outlines, ‘To work your triceps, place your two hands on the floor in front of you with your index fingers touching and thumbs touching, forming a diamond. From the start position, arms extended and body in the plank position, lower your chest to your hands. You’ll feel a big-time burn in your triceps, and it won’t be long before you’re noticing added muscle.’

 

7. Clap Push-Up: ‘One of the toughest push-ups to master is the age-old clap push-up, in which you clap your hands at the apex of your motion,’ MacMillan asserts. ‘You’ll want to make sure you’re ready to do this before attempting it, because it’s easy to miss catching yourself and suffer a humiliating face-plant.’

The post Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations appeared first on .

Categories: clap push, Feet, macmillan, nbsp, push, Push ups, traditional push, weight, weight vest

Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations

 

Not only do push-ups help you with weight loss; they also improve your muscle wellness. That said, if you really want to tone and build your muscles, you need to keep challenging your body with push-up variations. These suggestions, courtesy of fitness expert Malcolm MacMillan, may not be easy, but they’ll certainly be worth it!

 

1. Weight Vest: According to MacMillan, ‘It sounds simple, but donning a five- or 10-pound weight vest while you do traditional push-ups will add an immediate challenge and help you build muscle just a little quicker. As this becomes easier, it’s fun to wear a heavier vest and see how much weight you can carry. If you don’t want to spring for a vest, just add any sort of weight to your back or have a workout partner push down on your back as you rise.’

 

2. Decline Push-Up: MacMillan notes, ‘Putting your feet on something a foot or more in the air will allow you to complete a deeper push-up, which will work your upper body and core even more. As this becomes easier, you can put your feet on higher surfaces, which can be anything from a chair or bench to a cinder block. When you master this, try using a medicine ball for your feet (holding your balance will be an added challenge).’

 

3. Dive Bomber Push-Up: ‘Start with your hands shoulder-width apart, your feet spread wide and your bum up in the air,’ MacMillan instructs. ‘Drop your head between your upper arms. Your body should be shaped like a triangle. Now, start to bend your arms and slowly slide your head toward the ground. Keep your chin an inch or two from the ground, then pull up so that your back is arched. To complete the push-up, reverse what you’ve just done until you’re back in the triangle position. It helps to imagine that you’re ducking under a fence.’

 

4. Thigh Slap Push-Up: MacMillan comments, ‘This push-up is a mix between a traditional one and a one-handed push-up. As you come up, slap your left thigh with your left hand. Do it in one fluid motion, and then descend again. Now try it with your right side. The key is to be able to do these quickly and smoothly. As you get more adventurous, you can try jumping your back feet off the ground at the same time.’

 

5. Crocodile Push-Up: ‘Picture a crocodile walking,’ says MacMillan. ‘It uses its powerful front legs to propel itself. Now, take that same movement and apply it to a push-up. Warm up by doing traditional push-ups with one hand six to 10 inches ahead of the other. Once you’re ready, take it a step further: As you come up, throw one hand forward a foot. Descend again, and as you rise, throw the other hand forward. Make sure to drag your feet rather than kick them, and suddenly you’ll be across the room – completely thanks to your arms. You can also “walk” backward for an extra exercise.’

 

6. Diamond Push-Up: MacMillan outlines, ‘To work your triceps, place your two hands on the floor in front of you with your index fingers touching and thumbs touching, forming a diamond. From the start position, arms extended and body in the plank position, lower your chest to your hands. You’ll feel a big-time burn in your triceps, and it won’t be long before you’re noticing added muscle.’

 

7. Clap Push-Up: ‘One of the toughest push-ups to master is the age-old clap push-up, in which you clap your hands at the apex of your motion,’ MacMillan asserts. ‘You’ll want to make sure you’re ready to do this before attempting it, because it’s easy to miss catching yourself and suffer a humiliating face-plant.’

The post Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations appeared first on .

Categories: clap push, Feet, macmillan, nbsp, push, Push ups, traditional push, weight, weight vest

Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations

 

Not only do push-ups help you with weight loss; they also improve your muscle wellness. That said, if you really want to tone and build your muscles, you need to keep challenging your body with push-up variations. These suggestions, courtesy of fitness expert Malcolm MacMillan, may not be easy, but they’ll certainly be worth it!

 

1. Weight Vest: According to MacMillan, ‘It sounds simple, but donning a five- or 10-pound weight vest while you do traditional push-ups will add an immediate challenge and help you build muscle just a little quicker. As this becomes easier, it’s fun to wear a heavier vest and see how much weight you can carry. If you don’t want to spring for a vest, just add any sort of weight to your back or have a workout partner push down on your back as you rise.’

 

2. Decline Push-Up: MacMillan notes, ‘Putting your feet on something a foot or more in the air will allow you to complete a deeper push-up, which will work your upper body and core even more. As this becomes easier, you can put your feet on higher surfaces, which can be anything from a chair or bench to a cinder block. When you master this, try using a medicine ball for your feet (holding your balance will be an added challenge).’

 

3. Dive Bomber Push-Up: ‘Start with your hands shoulder-width apart, your feet spread wide and your bum up in the air,’ MacMillan instructs. ‘Drop your head between your upper arms. Your body should be shaped like a triangle. Now, start to bend your arms and slowly slide your head toward the ground. Keep your chin an inch or two from the ground, then pull up so that your back is arched. To complete the push-up, reverse what you’ve just done until you’re back in the triangle position. It helps to imagine that you’re ducking under a fence.’

 

4. Thigh Slap Push-Up: MacMillan comments, ‘This push-up is a mix between a traditional one and a one-handed push-up. As you come up, slap your left thigh with your left hand. Do it in one fluid motion, and then descend again. Now try it with your right side. The key is to be able to do these quickly and smoothly. As you get more adventurous, you can try jumping your back feet off the ground at the same time.’

 

5. Crocodile Push-Up: ‘Picture a crocodile walking,’ says MacMillan. ‘It uses its powerful front legs to propel itself. Now, take that same movement and apply it to a push-up. Warm up by doing traditional push-ups with one hand six to 10 inches ahead of the other. Once you’re ready, take it a step further: As you come up, throw one hand forward a foot. Descend again, and as you rise, throw the other hand forward. Make sure to drag your feet rather than kick them, and suddenly you’ll be across the room – completely thanks to your arms. You can also “walk” backward for an extra exercise.’

 

6. Diamond Push-Up: MacMillan outlines, ‘To work your triceps, place your two hands on the floor in front of you with your index fingers touching and thumbs touching, forming a diamond. From the start position, arms extended and body in the plank position, lower your chest to your hands. You’ll feel a big-time burn in your triceps, and it won’t be long before you’re noticing added muscle.’

 

7. Clap Push-Up: ‘One of the toughest push-ups to master is the age-old clap push-up, in which you clap your hands at the apex of your motion,’ MacMillan asserts. ‘You’ll want to make sure you’re ready to do this before attempting it, because it’s easy to miss catching yourself and suffer a humiliating face-plant.’

The post Keep Challenging Your Muscles with These Push-Up Variations appeared first on .

Categories: clap push, Feet, macmillan, nbsp, push, Push ups, traditional push, weight, weight vest

When All Else Fails is a Gastric Band the Solution?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Having a gastric band fitted in order to lose weight may seem like a drastic step. But for many people who have repeatedly tried and failed to lose weight, it can seem like the only option.

 

As more and more overweight people investigate surgery as a solution to their weight problem, we ask is a gastric band the answer?

 

Yes – Paul

Having a gastric band fitted was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve been overweight my entire life and I’ve tried countless diets to try and get my weight under control but nothing worked. Whenever I began a new diet, I’d lose a bit of weight but after a couple of months I’d start putting it all back on until I was even heavier than before.

 

The decision to get a gastric band wasn’t one I took lightly but eventually I realised that traditional dieting simply wasn’t going to work for me. I’d got to the point where I was almost 20 stone overweight. I couldn’t work, had no social life and I was unable to walk more than a few steps at a time, so exercise was out of the question. I was completely miserable and felt ashamed of myself for being so overweight.

 

The gastric band has changed my life. Because I can only eat tiny amounts of food, I’m no longer tempted to overeat. In just over two years, I’ve lost 15 stone. I feel so much better, I’ve got a job for the first time in years and can socialise with my friends. Now that I’ve lost so much weight, I enjoy exercising and I’m happier than I’ve ever been.

 

No – Shanice

After years of dieting, I’m finally getting my weight under control by following a healthy eating plan. A couple of my friends have had gastric bands fitted and after seeing what they have gone through, it’s not an option I would consider.

 

Both of my friends have had difficulty getting used to the gastric bands. They’ve had problems with painful indigestion and often struggle to eat anything. And getting a band isn’t a miracle cure – you won’t lose weight overnight and my friends have been disappointed with how long the process is taking. Because they are eating so little, I worry that they are not getting all the nutrients they need. And of course, it’s made socialising difficult – they can no longer go out for a meal and have lost interest in cooking for their families.

 

Surgery is always dangerous but particularly if you are overweight, so the decision to have a gastric band fitted shouldn’t be taken lightly.

 

Having seen the problems my friends have faced, I decided to join a weight loss club in my local area. I’ve learnt how to eat healthily and in the past year I’ve lost 5 stone. I’m determined to show my friends that it is possible to lose weight permanently without having to resort to dangerous surgery.

 

Categories: band, band fitted, catton, Gastric, gastric band, Gastric bands, jenny, Lose weight, nbsp, ve lost, weight, written

Kate Winslet: Not Fair to Put Pressure on New Moms to Lose Weight

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Kate Winslet insists there is nothing bad if a mother takes time to shed her post baby weight.

 

The Titanic star, who gave birth to a son 15 months ago, believes the media has created an unhealthy trend for shedding baby weight as soon as possible.

 

“The media do rush to put women on the cover of a magazine, or even grab a paparazzi shot of them, eight weeks post-baby and say, ‘Oh look, eight weeks post-baby, doesn’t she look amazing?’ You know, looking amazing eight weeks post-baby is having a belly that still looks like you’ve got a baby inside it, because guess what – that’s what actually happens,” the 39-year-old actress said on a US TV show Extra.

 

“I think it’s not right and it’s not fair. Having a baby is amazing and not fitting into your jeans, it just doesn’t matter and that time of being at home with that little newborn and not having to wear a pair of jeans or slip into a red carpet dress, it’s so fantastic and I wanted it to go on and on forever,” she added.

 

Categories: Baby, baby weight, kate winslet, nbsp, post, post baby, weeks, weeks post, weight

Should I Put My Child on a Diet?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

All parents want the best for their children and this includes making sure they are physically healthy and confident about their own body image. But getting children to eat well, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle can sometimes be a challenge. Media reports are regularly suggesting that childhood obesity is increasing but if you feel your child is at risk of becoming overweight, is it right to put them on a diet?

 

Yes – Tanisha

By the time she was ten, my daughter was a lot heavier than her classmates. She was getting to the age where clothes and her appearance were becoming really important and I could tell that she was becoming upset about being bigger than all of her friends. I really didn’t want her to end up struggling with her weight all of her life – as I have and so I suggested that we both start a new diet.

By planning our diet together, I was able to supervise exactly what she ate. It gave me the opportunity to teach her about healthy foods and help motivate her not to turn to the sugary snacks that she loves. Every Friday we weigh ourselves and if we’ve hit our target for the week, we’ll reward ourselves with a trip to the cinema or some new clothes.

If your child is overweight then I think the right thing to do is put them on a diet. If you don’t, they will continue to put on weight and then it’s only a matter of time before doctors, teachers or their classmates start to make comments about their weight – and this is far more upsetting for children. Hopefully by putting my child on a diet at this age, she will grow up to eat healthily and maintain a normal weight for the rest of her life.

 

 

No – Gillian

Children are still growing well into their late teens and so putting them on a diet at a young age isn’t a good idea. Quite often a chubby child will lose their puppy fat naturally as they grow up and so diets often aren’t necessary for children.

I think it can be really harmful to talk to young children about diets and body shape. It can cause them to become obsessed about food which can then lead to eating disorders. It’s far better to encourage children to feel happy and confident in themselves, whatever their shape happens to be.

In our household, we all eat healthily most of the time. This means that our children have naturally stayed at a healthy weight and there has never been any need to suggest that they should diet. If I was worried about my children putting on weight, I wouldn’t mention it to them. Instead, I’d just change the habits of the whole family – perhaps by buying fewer treats.

Our culture is obsessed with image and it’s really sad to see young people obsessing over whether they ‘look right’. So many adults are on endless diets and encouraging children to diet just starts them on this path from a young age.

Categories: catton, Child, Children, diet, diet nbsp, eat healthily, jenny, nbsp, weight, written, young age

Losing Weight: Five Tricks With Natural Ingredients

Losing weight requires a two-fold approach using both diet and exercise to manage your weight and make permanent changes. Quick fixes that involve rapid weight loss result in a rebound effect where you could end up gaining more weight than you initially lost. Here are six tricks to improve your diet and decrease your appetite.

 

1) Coffee

Coffee contains caffeine and acts as a natural stimulant. Adding coffee to your diet can increase thermogenesis, which affects your bodies ability to burn calories to create both energy and heat. However, be careful when consuming coffee with excess sugar and sweetener.

 

2) Scents

Try using a vanilla scent to ensure that you feel full. If you smell vanilla before eating, your body naturally feels fuller and relaxes you so you take more time eating and enjoying your food. The scent of vanilla can also help you if you have a sweet tooth by reducing your cravings for chocolate and other sweets. Vanilla doesn’t have to be expensive when bought in bulk and wholesale at places like Vanilla Mart.

 

3) Green Tea

Green tea increases your metabolism because of compounds known as catechins. These antioxidants are associated with an increased metabolism and helps give you energy while making you feel fuller throughout the day.

 

4) Vegetables

Vegetables like carrots, celery and even potatoes contain large amounts of fiber and minerals that are needed to keep your body running at peak efficiency and to maintain a feeling of satiety. By incorporating vegetables in your diet, you can prevent hunger before it starts and help maintain that feeling of fullness so that you don’t gorge on fatty and empty calorie foods.

 

5) Water

When you’re hungry, try drinking a glass of water before reaching for the chips in the pantry. Water can help make you feel full and often when you’re thirsty you crave foods. The body is made up of mostly water and adding additional water to your diet can help to flush out toxins and keep you healthy. Of course, you can also overdo it, so keep your water intake to 8 to 10 glasses per day to prevent side effects.

 

Avoid the gimmicks and get started on your path to weight loss by burning more calories than you take in, exercising daily and incorporating these ingredients into your life to motivate you and make obtaining a healthy weight a part of your life.

 

Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing about health and wellness and spending time with her dog, Max.

 

Categories: ingredients, losing, Natural, Tricks, weight

10 Little Habits to Help You Lose Weight and Keep it Off

Going on a diet helps you to lose a lot of weight in the short-term, but as soon as you come off it, you end up putting it all back on again – now that’s a blow to your mental wellbeing! According to nutritional wellness expert Zoe Ruderman, ‘Losing pounds doesn’t have to be torture (we’re looking at you, cayenne-pepper cleanse).’ So how do you adopt a few simple behaviours and keep your weight down on a long-term basis? Adopt at least three of the following habits and you’ll be thinner and healthier in days.

 

1. Snack Smartly: Ruderman points out, ‘Grazing between meals used to be on the weight-loss hit list. But nutritionists now know that it’s better to satisfy a craving with healthy grub than ignore it and risk a junk-food binge later. The best picks are filling, protein-packed snacks, such as one stick of string cheese, a tablespoon of peanut butter on a piece of fruit, or a medium-size bowl of edamame.’

 

2. Turn off Your TV: Ruderman details, ‘Dining while viewing can make you take in 40% more calories than usual, reports a new study. And texting, driving, or any other distracting activity during a meal can also result in your eating too much. Instead, make each meal something you put on a plate and sit down to, even if you’re eating solo.’

 

3. Get on The Scales Every Day: ‘If your regular weight increases several days in a row, it’s a red flag letting you know you need to cut back a little or beef up your workouts slightly,’ says Ruderman.

 

4. Sculpt Three Times a Week: ‘Doing five minutes each of push-ups, lunges, and squats (in 30-second intervals) will help build and maintain muscle mass,’ Ruderman asserts. ‘The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism will be, so you’ll torch more calories as you go about your day.’

 

5. Reach For Your Mobile: Ruderman advises, ‘Next time your mind gets stuck on a certain food, call a friend and redirect your brain by asking how her day’s going. Research shows that cravings only last about five minutes, so by the time you hang up, the urge to devour junk will have subsided.’

 

6. Eat a Big, Balanced Breakfast: Ruderman explains, ‘A [morning] meal made up mostly of carbs and protein with some fat keeps blood-sugar levels steady and hunger pangs away so you’re not susceptible to pigging out come lunch, studies show. Opt for something satisfying for your stomach and taste buds — like egg whites and turkey bacon with whole-wheat toast.’

 

7. Watch the Booze: ‘One innocent-looking margarita or cosmopolitan can rack up hundreds of calories that do nothing to quench your appetite,’ Ruderman warns. ‘Treat yourself just on the weekends and cut back somewhere else or stick to a glass of wine, light beer, or vodka and soda — three drinks that each have about 100 calories per serving.’

 

8. Have Fruit Twice a Day: Ruderman notes, ‘Fruit has no fat and is mostly water, so it’ll fill you up while leaving less room on your plate (and in your stomach) for high-cal fare. Don’t freak about fruit’s carb count — we’re talking the good kind of carbohydrates that contain lots of healthy fibre.’

 

9. Sleep for Longer: Ruderman outlines, ‘Getting to bed just 30 minutes earlier and waking up 30 minutes later than you normally do can help you make better food choices, researchers report. Also, when you’re well-rested, you’re less prone to snacking out of fatigue or stress.’

 

10. Visualise it: ‘When you feel your willpower breaking, conjure up a mental picture of yourself when you looked and felt slim’ Ruderman instructs. ‘The visual motivation keeps you focused on your goal weight and reminds you that it is attainable, since you’ve achieved it before.’

Categories: fruit, minutes, nbsp, ruderman, sleep, Snacking, weight

Weighing Scales Provide Wake Up Call for Asthma Sufferer

Weighing yourself often might not work wonders for your emotional wellness, but for Sally Edwards it made all the difference to a major health concern. ‘My doctor had retired and I changed to a new surgery where they had an asthma clinic,’ says the hairdresser from Aldington in Kent. ‘They saw on my notes that I suffered from asthma, but this was the first time anyone in the medical profession had weighed me. She took a sharp breath and made a face, so I knew it wasn’t good news.’ The 5ft 2in 45-year-old was appalled to discover her weight had shot up to more than 11st, and was now officially obese.

 

According to Sally, ‘The problem was that I didn’t feel fat because the weight had crept on so gradually during and after my pregnancies. Then when the children left things on their plates, I’d pick at the leftovers…I knew that I had to do something about it or my asthma would just get worse because I would become more immobile and reluctant to exercise.’ There is a clear link between obesity and asthma attacks, says Deborah Waddell, clinical lead nurse at the charity Asthma UK. She notes, ‘Obese people find their asthma much harder to control.’ In fact, researchers from RoyalBromptonHospital in London found that having a BMI of more than 30 makes you more likely to need the steroid prednisolone – used to reduce inflammation in the airways – and to resort to your inhalers more often.

 

Dr Andrew  Menzies-Gow, a consultant in respiratory medicine at Royal Brompton, comments, ‘Unfortunately, one of the side-effects of prednisolone is increased appetite and weight gain, so patients are more inclined to find activity difficult. It’s a vicious circle, but if  an asthma sufferer can break that cycle and lose weight, the benefits will be obvious.’ Sally definitely saw the need to lose weight and improve her fitness. ‘Getting up the stairs was very scary because the wheezing was so loud,’ she recalls. ‘And it stayed at the same level in my 30s and into my 40s. I couldn’t run after the children at the park.’

 

In order to lose weight, Sally stepped up her exercise regime, taking up jogging after looking on the Asthma UK website. Now, she runs four miles three times a week, attends a weekly spinning class, and cycles short distances instead of using the car soon. ‘I lost a stone-and-a-half in eight months and it made a huge difference,’ enthuses Sally. ‘It really brought the asthma under control and made the attacks less frequent and less severe – I have just one a month instead of three a week. When I was 11st, my body was struggling to cope with the weight, especially climbing stairs, but the fitter you are, the stronger your lungs become.’

 

Waddell explains, ‘If you can exercise, this will expand the airways, and improve your lung function. Following a low-fat, low-sugar diet and getting rid of weight, especially around the middle, will make a big difference. It’s all about changing your behaviour and lifestyle.’ Dr Menzies-Gow adds ‘Weight loss and exercise are not a magic bullet for asthma, but they can help enormously.’ He recommends that you take a close look at your entire lifestyle, stop smoking and avoid pets which aggravate the condition. As for Sally, the weighing scales were a wake-up call, but they’re still not her best friend: ‘I still don’t weigh myself very often, but now I have a pair of size 12 jeans and I try them on once a week,’ she admits. ‘I know that if they don’t fit then I have to try just that bit harder to keep the weight off.’

Categories: Asthma, asthma sufferer, asthma uk, exercise, Lose weight, menzies gow, sally, weighing scales, weight, Weight Loss

Best Reasons NOT to Start Doing That New Fad Diet

Diets are all over the place. Whether they’re about improving your nutrition, losing weight or simply boosting your wellness and wellbeing, going on a diet can be really bad for your health. Fad diets are the worst for this – you’ll recognise a fad diet because everyone will be going on about it for a short period of time, and then they will find that it’s unsustainable and will move onto the next thing.

 

Fad diets tend to make all kinds of impossible claims. They seem to set themselves up as some kind of ‘miracle’ and tend to say that the dieter will lose a staggering amount of weight in a very short space of time. There is often some kind of celebrity spokesperson who illustrates how effective the detox/starvation routine can be. They are often pictured in a tiny bikini, showing off a very slender body is if to say that any of us can look like that in just six weeks, when the reality is far from being the case. This celebrity will talk about how much her life has improved since going on the diet, and there will never be any mention of the subsequent weight gain (or how all her pictures for the shoot have been airbrushed).

 

Something else to bear in mind – fad diets are boring. When you’re counting out every calorie or every gram of fat, life can become pretty dull – and unfortunately you can become pretty dull too. The only thing worse than a boring diet is a boring dieter, droning on about the calorie content of things or how they’ve cut out certain food groups or that they are having their life changed by some kind of unsustainable milkshake diet.

 

Unfortunately, it’s also the case that any weight loss through a fad diet is likely to be regained, with a few more extra pounds to keep it company!

Categories: diet, Diets, fad, fad diet, Fad Diets, kind, life, reasons, weight

How And Why You Should Lose Weight For Life

When it comes to weight, many doctors and scientists now believe that your waist measurement is the most important factor. Your fitness levels play a part, of course, but the key thing for your wellness and wellbeing is to keep the amount of fat stored around your middle to a minimum.

 

Knowing your body mass index (usually abbreviated to BMI) is a really good starting point for working out if you are overweight, but it does not represent the whole story by any means. BMI measures how healthy your weight is in relation to your height. You can work out your BMI using any number of available online calculators. If it turns out that you have a high BMI, you are likely to be carrying excess fat. Your health risk, however, could be dependent on whereabouts in your body you store that fat. Storing that fat around your tummy (as opposed to around your bottom or on your thighs) this makes you more likely to develop heart problems or diabetes in later life.

 

For men, a healthy weight circumference is less than 94cm and for women it is having a waist circumference of less than 80 cm. It can be extremely difficult to lose weight (and to keep it off once you have lost it) but it does have many benefits. It may be that you only need to make some very small changes to your general lifestyle in order to help yourself maintain a healthy weight.

 

Obesity is a massive health problem, causing over 9,000 premature deaths in England each year, and it also reduces life expectancy by an average of around nine years for every sufferer.  Obesity is linked to a number of very serious health conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Categories: BMI, cancer, fitness, Healthy, healthy weight, life, Lose weight, nbsp, weight

How to Make Sure Your Weight Loss is Healthy

 

Although all weight loss is important for your wellness and wellbeing, there are good ways to lose weight and there are bad ways to lose weight. A good way to lose weight is to eat healthier food and increase your fitness and activity levels, and a bad way is to follow a fad diet. In addition to this, there are several important things that you should bear in mind which can make or break your weight loss efforts.

 

Don’t’ skip breakfast. All research shows that eating breakfast actually helps you to control your weight. Whilst some people skip this meal, thinking that it will help them to lose weight, missing meals actually doesn’t help you to lose weight because it slows down your metabolism. It can also mean that you miss out on essential nutrients and can encourage you to snack more during the day as it leaves you feeling more hungry than you would otherwise. Just make sure that you choose a healthy, low-fat breakfast.

 

On the same note, you should eat regular meals. If you eat regularly throughout the day, you will burn calories at a faster rate and it also reduces the temptation to snack on other foods that are high in sugar or fat instead.

 

Make sure that you also eat plenty of fruit and vegetables during the day. Not only are they packed full of vitamins and minerals, but they are also high in fibre and low in calories and fat.

 

Your activity levels are also vitally important. The more active you are, the more likely you are to lose weight and to keep it off as well. Exercise helps to burn off any excess calories that you haven’t managed to cut out. Find some form of fitness that you enjoy and that you can fit into your daily routine.

Categories: activity levels, breakfast, calories, fitness, Lose, Lose weight, nbsp, weight, Weight Loss

The Exercises That Will Burn Fat and Create a Lean Body

Losing weight is certainly almost always a case of eating right and improving your fitness, but not all exercises were created equal. Whilst all exercises will improve your wellness and wellbeing in some way, you need to do certain types of exercises to ensure that you create a lean body.

 

You don’t have to go to the gym to create a blitzed body, however. There are plenty of fat-burning moves that you can do at home. You really can get your perfect body without ever even having to leave the house. It uses very little kit and very little time, because the high-powered moves (also known as plyometrics) are one of the best ways to burn calories. This is because they raise your heart rate and tone your muscles at the same time, which helps you to get fit while burning fat and getting rid of any trouble spots.

 

To stop yourself from getting any injuries, make sure that you warm up before doing any form of exercise, by doing a bit of jogging on the spot and doing some functional movements such as hip circles and arm crosses. You should then do the exercises one at a time in a circuit, then rest for a minute and do the circuit all over again.

 

Explosive press ups are one of the toughest and hard core types of exercise you can do, although they are also really simple and easy to do. They work out your chest, arms, shoulders and core at the same time. To do them, put down a yoga or Pilates mat and get into a plank position, making sure that your hands are slightly wider than your shoulders and your knees resting on the floor. Lower yourself down to the ground in a controlled way and then explosively push up so hard that your hands leave the ground.

Categories: body, burning, exercise, exercises, lean body, loss, nbsp, time, weight