How Alcohol Affects Weight Loss And What To Do About It

Many of us who are trying to lose weight still want to have our alcoholic beverages. But it is important to understand how drinking affects weight loss so that we can be more effective at reaching our goals.

So before you grab your wine glass or beer mug, let's understand the facts together. First, calories from alcohol are known as "empty calories." Empty means they do not provide any nutritional value whatsoever. Most foods, like fruits and vegetables, meets, and grains provide nutritional value. That is, they supply protein, carbohydrates, and fat.

They also provide vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy body. Alcoholic beverages do have some nutrients in them. For example, there are antioxidants in red wine. However, the alcohol itself is useless nutritionally. Second, alcohol has 7 calories per gram.

This is in contrast to carbs and protein. Each respectively has 4 calories per gram. If you drink mixed drinks, you may compound the amount of calories you consume because of all the sugar in the form of juice, tonic, soda pop, and syrup in these beverages.

A piña colada can be a whopping 300 calories or more. Always count your alcoholic beverages when you are counting calories so that you can stay under your caloric limit each day. Restaurants provide this information on their nutritional literature. Third, it is important to remember that alcohol metabolizes differently in your body than the macronutrients (carbs, protein, and fat). Fat burning can slow down when too much alcohol is consumed.

When alcohol is drank with a meal, the alcohol will be metabolized first, before the other calories. The reason for this is that the human body has no natural ability to store the alcohol. Your body turns it into acetate, which the body uses for energy. This delays the body from metabolizing the food that you eat and leads to calorie storage for later use.

In other words, you store body fat- usually on the belly. Many say that if you want to drink alcohol you should drink it with a meal. Whether or not you follow that advice, just remember that when you drink you add calories. For example, a typical light beer has somewhere between 90 and 125 calories for a 12 ounce serving. Regular beers can have around 185 calories per 12 ounce serving. A frozen Daiquiri, 4 ounces, has around 215 calories. A Margarita has 270 calories, a Mai Tai has 300 calories, and a 5 oz. glass of wine has around 180 calories.

What should we do about it? First, decide whether you drink or not. If you need to lose weight, it might be better to abstain. If you just have to have your alcohol, limit yourself to one serving per day.

Most importantly, know how many calories you are consuming and do not exceed your caloric goals. Finally, make sure you are getting plenty of fat burning exercise and drinking plenty of water.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Alcohol-Affects-Weight-Loss-And-What-To-Do-About-It&id=7314914

Fast Weight Loss Mindset Reset

Benefits Of Exercise Videos For Weight Loss

I asked my sister to come to my gym with a guest pass. She replied something to the effect of "I am in no shape to go to the gym". What? I thought you go to the gym to get in shape not get in shape to go to they gym! Upon further questioning and digging I uncovered the obvious - my sister is just not comfortable in the gym.

I have found that others feel the same. I certainly do not agree with this type of thinking but I do recognize that it exists and some people will simply not go to a gym or exercise class simply because they are not comfortable in that atmosphere.

Exercise videos are perfect for this type of person! On the flip side, my wife loves to go to the gym but she is also a very busy person. Sometimes she just does not feel like packing all of her clothing in her gym bag and hauling it all day. Sometimes she just wants to exercise at home.

Exercise videos are perfect for this type of person! So what are the benefits of exercise videos and how can they help you lose weight? · Exercise videos are usually led by world class instructors. These instructors are usually the top in their field. They have pioneered a system which more than likely has proven results. · Exercise videos can keep you from getting bored in your fitness and weight loss routine.

You can get an exercise video for aerobics, kick boxing, power yoga, step aerobics, basic training, and the list goes on. You can get them in a studio format, on a beach, by a pool, with beautiful scenery - No limits! · You can perform your exercise routine on your schedule. You are not dependent on the gym hours or aerobics class hours. You may have a hard time fitting a 5:30 class into your schedule but you can always find time to play a recorded video at your convenience. ·

Exercise videos allow you to work at your own pace. If you miss a step or are just not conditioned, you can rewind or skip a certain part of the routine. · Most exercise videos are full of positive reinforcement and affirmations. It is good to hear success stories and "you can do it"! · You can more accurately measure your results. If you are doing the same video for an extended period of time you will know if you have improved either in cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility, or strength. If you are doing a different routine in a regimented class sometimes it is hard to notice your improvements. · Exercise videos are inexpensive.

You can collect them and enjoy varied workouts and instructors for very low costs. The key to losing weight is burning more calories than you consume. Exercise videos take care of the calorie burning part of this duo. The body was made to move! When you exercise and eat healthy the benefits are priceless! You feel great, are sick less often, have greater range of movement, less pain, and a better mental outlook. · Pick an exercise video for your level of fitness. · Pick a video that interests you and seems fun to you · Share videos with friends for a varied experience. ·

Set aside time to workout to your video. Make it a ritual. · If you start getting bored with a routine - Find another one! But don't quit! · Remember that moving the body is fun! · Follow the instructions and warnings that come with the video · Check with your doctor before beginning any exercise or weight loss program. Exercise videos are a fun, inexpensive way to lose weight and get in shape.

What a great way to have world class instructors helping you get in shape and lose weight all on your schedule! Keep checking back. We may from time to time review specific exercise and fitness videos. Stay healthy, keep the body moving and learn to enjoy exercise!

Wishing you the best of health and fitness, Bill Herren Bill Herren is the webmaster for weightloss-articles.com Everything weight loss related! Weight loss success stories, product reviews, exercise articles, weight loss recipes, and diet articles. All Free and all designed to help you lose weight!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Benefits-Of-Exercise-Videos-For-Weight-Loss&id=9816

Dieting Obstacle When Life Gets in the Way

Dieting Dilemma No 1: When Life Gets in the Way That pesky thing called life has a way of fouling up our the best laid plans.

First you decide you're going to start keeping your car cleaner, thinking, "I'll wash it every Saturday morning." Great, you have a plan. Saturday comes along and someone calls inviting you to go golfing. "I was going to wash the car, but I can do it when I get back," and off you go. Maybe you do wash the car later that day, maybe you tell yourself, "I'll wash it next Saturday. It wasn't that dirty anyway." Next week Saturday comes along and someone invited you camping so you're in the woods thinking, "Oh, well, I can't wash the car from here, can I?" Another Saturday rolls around and you've forgotten all about your car washing plan, so even though you're not doing anything else you're thinking, "I don't really FEEL like washing the car right now. I'll do it later," and so it goes.

"Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." -- John Lennon It happens to all of us. You join the gym and immediately get the flu. Sign up for a adult education class and you're car breaks down on the first night. When you need to water the grass there's no rain in sight, but wash the car and what always happens?

These examples aren't meant to give you a pessimistic outlook but instead to point out why persistence in the face of obstacles is what separates the haves from the have nots. It's not what happens but what you DO with what happens that matters The best approach is one-day-at-a-time, or even lesser intervals depending on what you are attempting to do. If you're trying to quit smoking, you might want to take things half-an-hour at a time. With food or eating it can be one meal at a time, one hunger pang or craving at a time, or whatever interval works for you. 

Choose your Time Interval then Make it Happen If you say you'll never do something again (smoke, overeat, over drink) it never lasts (you must build in the possibility of occasional lapse), but if you wake up in the morning and decide for that day, and only that day, that you will follow through with your plan, for just that one day, then it does happen. There's a real rush of accomplishment when you wake up and realize that yesterday you did follow-through; you accomplished what you set out to do. And that's when it's easier to decide your intention for that day (or that hour) once again. Each accomplishment builds onto the next, and it gets easier and easier.

Learning to follow-through takes practice. Let Successes Build, Lapses Pass It takes practice to get proficient no matter what you are learning, so plan to persist. Small lapses aren't failures, they are only lapses, and you then decided for the next time period. You will find that you are following through more often than not as time goes by. Doing this allows you to pre-plan when you know you'll not stick to your eating plan, thereby making it okay on occasion to over indulge.

Holidays, special occasions. People who maintain a healthy body weight do this all the time without thinking about it. When you give yourself permission to indulge, it's amazing how much less you'll feel like overdoing it.

What About Those Obstacles and Unexpected Events? What about when you decide and something comes up unexpectedly? For instance, you decided you're going to work out on Monday, Wednesday and Friday after work at 6:00 PM. This works great on Monday and Wednesday but Friday someone asks you to join them after work for drinks or dinner. Maybe that cute co-worker you've had your eye on. What do you do? Do you say, "No, thanks, I have to work out," and risk never getting to know that person, or "No, I already have plans," and sound like a jerk, or "Maybe some other time," and you know there'll never be another time, or "Yes, that sounds great," and then you berate yourself for being a whimp and not following through with your workout plan? Either way you're not going to feel good about your decision and you're setting yourself up to fail. Set Things Up So You'll Succeed - No Matter What Instead, set things up so you will succeed, no matter what.

Before you decide what you want to do, think it through completely. This is part of the "Creating a Compelling Outcome" process (included in the Ending Emotional Eating Workshop). When you decide what you'd like to do you must also consider everything else that will be affected and whether your plan is workable in the real world.

Maybe Friday night workouts are going to be interrupted often. Better then to choose a different day or time. If you thought about it before-hand you may have realized that things would often come up Friday evenings, so you decided to work out on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, or some other schedule. Thinking about what might interfere is why many people do their exercise in the early morning hours.

Working out in the morning virtually ensures nothing else will interfere. No one invites you out for 6:00 AM except maybe your running partner! If you want to get up early, think it through. Are you a night person? Early morning hours probably won't work for you, but some other time will.

Do you have a spouse who'd complain loudly? Consider them as well, but don't let everyone else's preferences keep you from doing what's best for you. Consider others and any objections they may have, and then decide in advance how to counter those objections.

It's basically a way to look at your plans from all the angles, figure out the danger zones, decide in advance on strategies to keep you on track, and then get started. Secondly, realize that once in awhile you won't be able to keep to your plan. That's okay. Holidays interfere with gym hours. I've been annoyed when the gym was closed on Christmas Day! Sometimes despite your best efforts, things come up. That's okay too. You must be somewhat flexible, but at the same time persist to make sure you have scheduled a plan that can work the majority of the time.

Use This Process on Any Change You'd Like to Make If you're making changes in your eating habits, do the same thing. I've done this successfully with many eating habits such as my old "Once a week cheese burgers and fries habit" which is now down to seldom or a couple of times a year. I did this by taking my four times a month cheese burgers and fries habit and cutting it back first to three times a month, then twice a month. Finally it was easy enough to just drop it.

The habit was broken once I broke the regular cycle. Remember too, you're not setting up a perfectionist situation, but a plan you can live with and work with. Choose one small thing to change, one habit, one event. Achieving small wins daily builds to enormous successes, and life goes on. Enjoy every moment of it. Then, when those special situations arise, you'll know what to do, because you've already planned ahead, and even if you abandon your plan, for a vacation perhaps, you just get right back on track when you return feeling refreshed and excited to get started again.

Relaxing like this on a vacation many find they eat a lot, play a lot and any weight they gain is lost within days of their return.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Dieting-Obstacle-When-Life-Gets-in-the-Way&id=5633

Jump Off the Weight Loss Plateau

Dieters dread the plateau. You're on a roll, losing weight steadily and happily for weeks. Your confidence is high and your goal is in sight. Then suddenly your scale freezes. No matter how hard you try, those extra pounds just refuse to budge. You've hit a wall and you know the frustration of seeing no progress could easily lead you to gain back what you've lost.

So how do you break through the plateau? It's perfectly normal for a dieter to reach a plateau. The trick is to use it as an opportunity to double up your efforts and get really clear on your strategy to carry you through to the finish line.

Below you'll find suggestions that can help you recommit to your program and re-ignite the weight-loss process when you feel challenged.

1. Get clear on your ultimate weight-loss goal. Be sure that your weight-loss goal is realistic and that your expected rate of weight loss is reasonable. If you are on a heath enhancing, nutritionally rich weight loss program you can expect to loss one to two pounds a week. Each body has its own ideal weight and size. Don't compare yourself to anyone else, but listen to your body and notice what feels best for you. A simple way to approximate your ideal weight is by referring to a Body Mass Index chart.

2. Go high-protein, low carbs. Unless you are eating enough protein to maintain your lean muscle mass, you are likely to have lost weight already from both your fat stores and muscle. Women need to eat approximately 100grams of protein a day and men 150 grams in order to preserve their muscle tissue during a weight loss program. If you have lost some muscle during your weight loss program so far you will need to focus on protein so your body can build muscle, which requires more calories to sustain, which will in turn, kick start your weight loss again. Needless to say, any weight loss program you choose should be one that preserves your body's muscle and this does not happen!

3. Add resistance training to your program. A wonderful way to boost your metabolism and break through to the next level of weight loss is by incorporating aerobic exercise into your program, such as 30 minutes of walking three to four times a week. (If you are 35 years or older, or haven't exercised regularly, begin with 10 to 15 minutes two to three times a week.) In addition, weight training with free weights or machines several times a week can help increase muscle mass, which in turn allows you to burn more calories faster. Studies show that weight training can increase your metabolism overnight by five to 10 percent. Working out can increase your metabolism for up to 21 hours after an intense workout.

4. Look out for hidden carbohydrates. If your weight loss progress seems slow, look out for carbohydrates that might be sneaking their way unnoticed into your diet. Sugar can lurk in the most unexpected places such as ketchup, salad dressings, teriyaki and barbecue sauces. Watch out too for cornstarch, sugar or milk solids in many processed foods such as gravies, or sauces on frozen vegetables. Be especially careful about "low-fat" foods where flavor is enhanced by sugar and other carbohydrates. Try keeping a diet journal for a couple of days of EVERYTHING you eat and drink. You may quickly discover the hidden carbs that are keeping your weight-loss progress stuck and be able to eliminate them and move past your plateau.

5. Take the "refinement" out of your diet. Try eliminating all refined sugar and refined grains from your diet. This includes white bread, pastries, pasta, white rice, white flour crackers, sugar-coated breakfast cereals, cookies and cake. This simple step can encourage a huge weight-loss breakthrough and leave you feeling more healthy and energized in the process.

6. Don't go hungry. Cutting back on how often you eat can have a negative impact on your diet plateau. Many studies show that small, frequent meals are more satisfying and produce better weight-loss results than the same number of calories consumed in three large meals. Take advantage of healthy snacking and crunch on fresh slices of raw vegetables like celery, peppers, cucumber and jicama when you're hungry.

7. Drink to burn up. It's vitally important to replenish your fluids by drinking plenty of water on your weight loss program. An inadequate supply of water in itself can slow down your weight-loss. Carry water with you wherever you go throughout the day. For additional weight-management benefits, add a high quality aloe concentrate to your water to help keep your digestion in top shape. Also, a probiotic supplement can help us maintain a healthy intestinal flora. Keeping well hydrated not only helps you burn fat efficiently, it also helps control hunger.

8. Keep your incentive strong. Remember the determination you felt when you first began your weight-loss program? Remember the excitement of watching the pounds drop one by one? Go back to whatever your initial motivation was and see whether it still works for you. It may have been the desire to lose weight for a particular event or to regain your figure after pregnancy. You may have been motivated by poor health or by the shock of just how much weight you had gained. See whether the same motivation still has juice for you. If not, choose a new one. Keep a picture of yourself looking great (or bad!) on your refrigerator as a daily reminder of where you are heading. (c) Kim Beardsmore Kim Beardsmore M.B.A., B.Sc. is a writer for the weight loss, health & fitness website Weight Loss Health. For reliable information and resources free from hype, visit Weight Loss & Health Information

http://ezinearticles.com/?Jump-Off-the-Weight-Loss-Plateau&id=5445

Children's Health - When Does Childhood Obesity Start?

Childhood obesity is a condition that afflicts the young in society, and can cause extreme health problems when cases are severe enough.

Childhood obesity is the condition of a child having too much body fat, meaning their organs are working harder to do anything such as pump blood around their body, making them tire easily and generally feel unwell.

There are many supposed causes of childhood obesity but the results are always the same, children suffering from obesity develop serious health problems later in life that affect their lives and the lives of those around them. The most common cause of obesity in children is obesity in their parents. According to studies, having obese parents sets out being overweight as normal for children, meaning anyone smaller than their parents is abnormal, which is an easy concept to grasp.

There are children with obese parents who are not themselves obese, and this can be just as common, although it is more common for parents of a standard height and weight to have children who aren't obese. The growing advancements in technology have been found to be contributing to the rate of childhood obesity as well.

With more and more games consoles being released, children have little chance of ever getting outside if they want to stay on top of what's popular and play the latest games.

Parents must factor in the increasing number of games consoles and the games for them, or they'll end up with children who sit in their room all day, every day and do nothing but play video games and suck all of the electricity out of the house in the process. Any child that develops obesity will have been influenced somewhere to do something or be a certain way that has attributed to their weight problem

As already discussed, having overweight parents is a huge factor influencing whether a child will be obese, and so is whether or not they have access to the latest technology. These are factors within a parent's control, and so is the amount of exercise a child receives on a daily basis.

Making the effort to take children outdoors or to somewhere they can play like an indoor play centre is imperative to help prevent childhood obesity. When parents don't put the time in to care for their children, they won't ever be able to say they have no idea why a child is obese, and why they haven't been getting the exercise essential to their health.

Chris Backman has seen many parents struggle with their children being or becoming obese. In his research to find the source he found that indoor play centres such as House Of Play were a great help to parents trying to keep their children fit.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Childrens-Health---When-Does-Childhood-Obesity-Start?&id=7579960

5 Tips for Starting Runners

So you've decided to take up running? Maybe you are starting back up after putting it off for years.

Here is a list of tips that I have found beneficial to the starting runner or even the seasoned pro.

1. STRETCH THOSE LEGS AND FEET -BEFORE AND AFTER - Stretching is the number one thing to remember in any running program. Keep your muscles flexible and relaxed, your joints mobile, and relieve tension and strain by doing a few gentle stretches before AND AFTER your run. I cannot stress enough how important it is to stretch after the run and to cool down. I have found most new runners miss this vital step in their exercise program. You don't want to start off doing too much too soon. Build your body up while you prepare yourself to meet the demands that you are about to ask from your body. Make sure to loosen up your hamstrings, quads, calves, iliotibial (IT) band, hips, buttocks and the plantar fascia (area at the bottom of your feet between the heel and ball of foot). Stretch until you feel tension but not pain. NEVER bounce because this can tear your muscles and cause more serious problems.

2. POSTURE! POSTURE! POSTURE! - This isn't finishing school, but the principal is the same. Running gets your whole body in motion and the proper posture and body mechanics will help reduce the strain on your body. Keep your body perpendicular to the ground. Don't lean into it. Hopefully you aren't running into wind tunnel. Swing your arms naturally and go with the flow. BREATHE! How many martial art movies do you need to see to know this is important??? Never stop breathing. Oxygenate the blood. Feed your muscles. BREATHE! Your feet should hit naturally on your heel, roll forward and push off with your metatarsals (the area we call the ball of the foot). It should just feel right. Make sure the soles of your shoes aren't worn down in the heel or on the sides. This could cause you to hurt yourself and take away from the natural progression of your stride. Don't pick your feet up too far. This is running, not a marching band tryout. By keeping your feet closer to the ground an increasing your stride, you will reduce muscle fatigue.

3. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR PROTECTION - As you start up your running routine, you are going to find out that aches and pains are a typical reality that we all must face. However, this doesn't have to be the end of your run if you just take the proper precautions. Keep these simple rules in mind when you begin your program and you should be good to go for a long time! Hydrate yourself: Drink lots of water before, during, and after your run. People perspire, it's a fact, but if you let yourself dehydrate, you will be in for a world of hurt. I like to bring a water bottle with me on my runs for those mid-stride liquid replacements. It's a good idea to drink 2-5 cups per hour during your run. Note, every person perspires at a different rate. If you happen to be someone who leaks sweat like a sieve, drink more water. Don't forget to fill up again once you are done stretching, too. If you are running in a colder climate, layer your clothing. We all know it gets hot under all those clothes, but you have to slow the rate of heat loss. You'll want to wear some sort of moisture-wicking material. I like to wear fleece. But there are other brands out there like Polartec. Also, ALWAYS wear a hat! I prefer to run on paved trails in our local park system, but if you find yourself running in areas where there is the potential for traffic, please remember to wear bright clothing and if you must run at night (which I wouldn't suggest) wear reflective garments to increase your safety.

4. REDUCE STRAIN - Running takes its' toll on a person's body. It's good to switch out different activities. Besides running, try other cardio-exercises like bicycling or swimming. Your body will thank you and it can break down on the monotony. Pain is the body's signal that something is wrong. If the pain gets worse after your run, it's time to take some time off. Don't swallow a couple of aspirin and think you are good to go.' Definitely take care of your feet! A good pair of running shoes is essential for preventing injury. You have to find the pair that's best for you. Change them out often because the soles will wear down quickly. And while you are at it, don't forget the orthotics. The insoles that come in your shoes are usually very cheap and only meant for about 20 miles of wear. If you are like me, that's one week! Proper orthotics provide cushioning and support and reduce a huge amount of strain from your whole body - not just your feet. While custom orthotics are available, I wear a brand that offers a selection for arch type and are made with a silver material that reduces blisters and athlete's foot. If you are interested, you can see them at http://www.footdefense.com.

 5. CALL YOUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL -In business, it's always best to hire a consultant. So why, when you start doing something as important as your health wouldn't you speak to an expert in the body? A medical professional can help with any injury and return you to your running program as well as advise you on hurting yourself again.

In closing, please remember that safety should come first. Be aware of your surroundings, the people that you run with, and most importantly, your own well-being?

http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Tips-for-Starting-Runners&id=40589