Foods That Just Aren't Worth Eating

Trying to keep healthy?  Or lose some weight?  There's definitely a 'trick' to it (if you want to call it that)... and that's to keep what you put in your body only foods that help it realize your goals.  Want to be lean?  Eat healthy!  Want to be healthy?  Well... EAT HEALTHY (oh, did I say that already?).

Remember:  Health begets health.  So while you're on your mission to be healthy and lean, here's some foods that really just are NOT worth eating.  They do nothing to help your cause and will probably just sabotage your efforts.

Stay away from soft drinks.  There's nothing good about them.  Sugar, food coloring and carbonated water.  What on earth would make anyone think that combination is good for them?  And if you're thinking you can make it better by drinking the 'diet' version instead to keep your calories low, consider this:  it's calorie free but it's still sweet, therefore it's sweetened with artificial sweetener.  Excuse me but artificial sweeteners are all either made completely from chemicals or are chemically processed to remove the calories.  Either way, they are the equivalent of drinking poison.  Stay away from soft drinks.  If you absolutely must drink your fizzy treat, then stick to club soda.  Need flavor?  Add a lemon or lime wedge.

Avoid deep fried foods.  They're almost always chock full of hydrogenated oils, trans fats and all sorts of other indigestible, fattening calories.  If you want to have your fries, try sprinkling some heart-healthy coconut oil or olive oil on potatoes, sweet potatoes or yams and bake them in the oven.  This is a far healthier way to get your 'french-fry' fix.



Skip the bacon.  Bacon is full of nitrates and absolutely jammed with salt and unhealthy fat.  Want a tasty meat treat?  Try some cooked shrimp.  Or a chicken breast prepared on the grill.  You'll get a lot more nutrients for your body and a lot less complaining from your heart.

Donuts.  Deep fried white-flour dough covered in white, processed sugar.  Remind me how this could ever be considered a good thing to eat?  No nutritional quality and lots and lots of calories and bad fats makes this so called 'food' very high on the list of foods that just aren't worth eating.

Potato chips of any description are also very high on this list.  Why?  Deep fried potatoes with the skins peeled off (which is where most of the nutrition in a potato resides).  They're highly caloric and again hold little nutritional quality.  Best to keep away from this 'food' too, if you're looking to be the healthiest, leanest version of you possible.

Margarine.  All margarine happens to be is oils and food colouring with artificial flavoring added to make it resemble butter.  It's very high in calories and very devoid of nutrition.  If you want to spread something on your meals or whole grain bread, make it the real thing, good ol' natural butter.  Sure, it's high in calories but at least there's some nutrition in butter.  And usually it doesn't contain chemicals or artificial flavors.  If you can find a brand that doesn't use artificial coloring, you're golden (but your butter won't be)!

Remember what I mentioned at the beginning: Health begets health.  The healthier you can make the food you eat, the faster your body will reward you with better health and a leaner physique.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jackie_Burgmann/407519

Full Body Weight Workout For More Muscle

I've found that full body workouts are much better for increasing overall lean muscle mass than split training routines. Split training routines should be used when you have a particular body part you need to bring up.

In addition, I prefer training at home with my bodyweight and a pair of dumbbells. I've stopped going to the gym. This is because the second most important thing about gaining more muscle is to reduce distractions.

The gym can be one of the biggest distractions in your quest to build a better body. There's almost always someone trying to talk to you. Maybe they want to learn something from you, or sometimes they just want your number (or you want theirs).



The third rule of building more muscle at home is to keep your workouts challenging. People don't realize that their bodies don't really know how much weight you're lifting.

All it recognizes is stress. The more stress you place on your muscles, the more of a reason you will give it to grow. There are two ways you can place greater stress on your muscles: 1) more difficult exercises and 2) high intensity techniques.

Most people use the same exercises over and over again, especially when it comes to bodyweight training. Instead, keep switching your exercises when your body becomes stronger.

Additionally, you should incorporate high intensity techniques such as circuit and interval training to make your workouts more intense. These techniques make you work harder during your workout.

The harder you work, the more muscle you work, and the more stress you place on your body. All this translates to more muscle. It's a simple concept, but difficult to follow for most people.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Parth_Shah/266220

Easy Breakfast Idea - Delicious, Vegan Fruit Smoothies

Breakfast is undoubtedly the most crucial meal for the day. The importance of breakfast should never be underestimated, and it is necessary that the meal chosen for breakfast, supplies the required portions of vitamins and minerals. A balanced breakfast meal allows for efficient mental concentration which lasts for the entire day.

Drinking a glass or two of fresh vegan smoothies is an excellent way to start your day. Fresh fruit smoothies are ideal for breakfast, because the fruit content supplies the body with natural sugars which increase energy levels as well as heightens alertness.

Scientific studies have also shown that frequent consumption of fruits reduces the incidence of fatigue, and also reduces feelings of anxiety and subsequently depression.

Smoothies for Vegans
For vegans or vegetarians, smoothies are a superb meal substitute, as they provide much needed protein. It is essential for a vegan breakfast to be nutritious without sacrificing taste; and this is why fruit smoothies are such a wonderful idea. A fruit smoothie in the morning is a guaranteed way to give your body exactly what it needs. A fruit smoothie may not look appetizing, but it sure tastes good and your body will thank you. The natural sugars found in fresh fruit smoothies, are inarguably better than the artificial sweeteners found in most other breakfast options.



The incredibly nutritional value to be had from consuming one smoothie is far more than most persons get in an entire day's worth of various meals. By consuming the fruit raw and in their unaltered state, ensures that you receive the maximum level of nutrients from the various fruits.

Fruit Smoothie Idea
In the event that you would like something creamy and milky, a quick friendly smoothie can be prepared using rice milk as an alternative to cow's milk. This is a complete, inexpensive breakfast which is quite easy to 'throw together'. Simply combine a cup of rice milk, fruit cut in chunks (bananas, berries, etc.) in a blender and blend for 30-60 seconds. There a variety of ways to make fruit smoothies to ensure that vital nutrients are included in your daily diet. There are many variations to making fruit smoothies; you are only limited by your imagination and desire.

However, not all smoothies are created equal. To create a healthy smoothie, it is important to select the freshest fruits for best results. Done the right way, smoothies are definitely an excellent, filling way to start the day without adding inches to your waistline. If your favorite fresh fruits are not in season, frozen fruits are just as good and can be easily incorporated as well.

Drinking these smoothies each morning not only provides you with a delicious breakfast treat, but also provides invaluable health benefits. If you drink a fruit smoothie each morning for breakfast, it will feel like an elixir of health for the entire day. One smoothie a day is quite enough to allow you to begin feeling amazing improvements to your health. So, if one is that good, can you imagine what more will do? Whip up delicious fruit smoothies any time of the day in just a few minutes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Becki_Andrus/166100

Tummy Fat Exercise - It is Amazing How These Simple Exercises Will Make Your Burn Fat Like Crazy

Having a big tummy is not a nice feeling at all. It is for that reason that I want to share with you some tummy fat exercise to get rid of the belly bulge so that you can have your dream body. Now these exercises must be used in conjunction with a healthy diet if you want to achieve your goal of having a flat belly. Below are the tummy exercises for you to try.

Exercise #1- The popular ab crunches

This is a good way to work out the abdominal muscles to burn fat from around that area. If you properly and consistently can do wonders for you to getting a flat tummy fast. Here is how to do it: Lay flat on the ground. You may want to lay on a carpet or rug since the floor may be too hard. Next raise you feel so that your knees are pointing to the ceiling while the sole of your feet are still on the ground. Next you can interlock your palms behind your head for support and then raise your upper body toward your knees. Go as close as possible to your knees and while keeping your bottom on the ground then return to resting position. You can do about 3 sets of 50 repetitions per day if you are just starting out and then gradually increase as your stamina increases.



Exercise #2 - The leg lift

In this exercise you will also lay on your back on the floor. However you will keep your upper body on the floow while raising both your legs to about a 45 degree angle from the floor then returning to resting position. If you are just starting out, you can do about 3 sets of 20 repetitions and gradually increase over time.

The above two tummy fat exercises are proven to reduce belly fat fast once they are in conjunction with a proper diet plan. Use them and watch how fast the shed the excess pounds.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Casey_Gentles/174890

Extreme Fitness Through Intense Workouts

Extreme Fitness is achieved by an intense workout session in which the body is pushed to go through intense exercises like Plyometrics, heavy weight lifting etc. In order to have a toned body or to build muscles or to lose extra fat from the body, the muscles are pushed to reach the next level by applying a combination of strength training and weight training exercises.

Therefore, Extreme Fitness has multiple uses for different type of people like a body builder can get ripped and also gain lean muscles, an advanced aerobic trainer can set and control the pace of his cardiovascular system, an athlete can improve his performance incredibly etc. The basic concept of fitness is the capacity to build much more powerful and explosive muscles in less time. A higher level of fitness can be easily attained within the workout routines.



Some high intensity cardio exercises such as biking, jogging and workouts on training machines start setting and increasing the cardiovascular pace. The intensity of these workouts is very high like jogging is done for miles and not for minutes and cycling is done for climbing mountains and not the routine passive cycling. Thus, from the non intense workouts the routine is pushed to the intense workouts within the vicinity of the gyms where these exercises can be done by using treadmills, stationery cycles and elliptical trainers.

If a person wants to get ripped then Extreme Fitness involves repetitive heavy weight lifting in a more efficient and correct manner under the guidance of fitness trainers who can help in assessing the type of routine that needs to be followed for reaping maximum results per session in accordance with the type of body shape one has.

These Extreme Fitness intense workouts need to be supported by a complete nutrition balance. The diet should include low fat meals with a high intake of fresh fruits & vegetables. Protein rich foods are consumed for increasing muscle mass and foods rich in carbohydrates and calories provide energy and stamina to sustain the intense workouts. The body requires this kind of diet to obtain the desired results of Extreme Fitness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/M_Twang/585500

The Effectiveness of Bodyweight Exercises For Fat Loss

Expensive equipment is not necessary to lose weight or get a good workout. Bodyweight training is simple, effective, and easy on your wallet. You can build incredible strength using nothing more than the weight of your own body.

Bodyweight training can be accomplished by anyone regardless of experience level, age, or starting weight. A typical training regimen includes a daily workout of about twenty minutes right in your own home. You do not need any weights, benches or exercise equipment; just your own body, a little time, and commitment.

Weights can be combined with bodyweight training, if you wish, but they are not necessary. In fact, many people drop the weights all together once they realize how effective bodyweight training can be. Strength and tone do not have to be earned at the expense of your hard-earned money.

Push-ups, pull-ups, jumps, leaps, squats, lunges, and planks are all effective bodyweight training exercises that can improve your strength and stamina. These exercises also improve your ability to move through space, without focusing on any extremes. They will help you become stronger in all areas, faster and give you higher endurance for physical activities.



Bodyweight training is not only less expensive than traditional methods, it is also more effective. For example, push-ups and pull-ups work out a greater amount of muscle tissue than a bench press or lat pull-down. These exercises also more closely resemble actions we would perform in daily life.

You will burn more calories and activate more of your muscles through bodyweight training than you would if you were using expensive exercise equipment. In this case, more is definitely less. Short and intense training sessions performed at home can get you in shape quickly, without expending unneeded money or effort.

Bodyweight training targets multiple muscle groups at once, which builds muscle and a functional body. Exercise equipment and machines tend to focus on one group of muscles at a time. They take longer to create the same results you will get from simple, no-fuss bodyweight exercises.

Many athletes today, such as gymnasts, incorporate bodyweight exercises into their own training. This is because they have realized the power of using their own bodyweight to burn fat and increase strength. It can be a challenge to become accustomed to this type of exercise but it is well worth the effort. Have you ever wanted the toned, muscular body of a gymnast?

The best part of bodyweight training, aside from the financial relief, is the ability to slowly progress as you see fit. Many people misunderstand progression when it comes to bodyweight exercises. You cannot simply add more weights. Instead, you will have to increase repetitions, decrease resting time, and add new exercises. If this is done slowly, with each workout you will become stronger and your stamina will increase.

The trick is to find a balance. Do not overwhelm yourself with too many exercises or repetitions at first. Once you have mastered the basics, move on to more advanced actions. Soon you will be an advocate for bodyweight training too, as it tones and sculpts your body without expensive and unnecessary equipment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Shelly_Wyatt/41303

How to Get Ripped Doing Pull Ups

There is a wide array of different kinds of exercises you can do for your upper body. Of course you can do curls for your biceps, bench press for your chest and dumbbell raises for your shoulders. However, one form of exercise that often gets overlooked is pull ups. Pull ups can do tremendous things for your core muscles while providing you with lat strength as well.

Many people do not realize how difficult a pull up routine can be. It requires a lot of strength to pull up your entire body. This is why it takes time to develop and build up the number of repetitions you can do. You are not going to be able to do 100 your first time, but there is nothing stopping you from working up to this number.

To start, do one set of as many pull ups as you can. This will give you a basis of where you stand in the beginning. If you can only do one or two, do not get down on yourself. Remember, it takes time to work up to a high amount of repetitions. No matter how many you can do, make sure to do at least three or four different sets.

If you can only do one rep, take a couple minutes off and then do another rep. No matter what you do, make sure you are pushing yourself. You can typically do one more than you think you can, so go all out with each set. As you probably could expect, each set is going to get increasingly difficult.



You want to be doing a few more reps each week in order to build strength properly. If you are stagnant and never increase the amount of repetitions you do, you will never improve and build muscle. Even if it is just one more rep or one more set, you will notice a difference.

Something else you can do is follow a specific pull up workout. You can do a pyramid set routine where you do 10 reps your first set, 8 your second, 6 your third and so on down to two. Another option is to do a basic four sets of 10 to keep your workout consistent. Typically, people mix it up throughout the week by doing a pyramid routine on Monday and the straight sets on Wednesday. Mix and match and find what works best for you.

Another way you can mix up your pull up workout is to add weights. You will need a weight belt and plates to place on the chain. This can make your routine extremely difficult depending on the amount you put on the chain. This gives you many other options for routines and programs you put together.

You can do a pyramid routine by increasing the weight as the repetitions go down. On Wednesday you can then do straight sets maintaining a consistent weight. Finally, you can close the week off on Friday with a low amount of sets and reps and much higher weight. For instance, do three sets of four repetitions but increase your weight drastically.

The options truly are endless for what you do for a pull up routine. Just make sure you are consistent with your workout and are increasing weight every week to build muscle properly.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jake_Devenz/304420