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Is This The Best Weight Loss System?

Hello Everybody,

The best weight loss system is to keep eating. Starvation diets are a really bad idea. Your body just shuts down and slows your metabolism to conserve energy. So you lose weight at first and then the weight loss slows and you are left feeling hungry and probably ill as well.. Starvation diets, fad diets and pills are all there because people want to lose weight quickly. Never mind that it took years of dedicated eating to make them over weight - they want an instant solution. Fast weight loss is a multi million dollar industry, so there are plenty of people out there who will tell you that it is possible. It is if you are desperate to lose weight for an event or a holiday.

There are diets and pills which will help you lose weight fast. You can lose 30 pounds in three weeks but be careful, particularly with pills. Find out what is in them and where they come from. Many pills contain caffeine. This may be called guarana which seems really healthy because it is not called caffeine. Guarana contains up to three times as much caffeine as coffee beans. If you do not find yourself with heightened blood pressure, heart palpitations and anxiety you are likely to suffer from insomnia. Then you may lie awake until you think a midnight feast is just the thing to cheer you up. Don’t you just love slimming pills? But not all pills are a problem. Use them for short periods and then only if you really have to. Remember, pills are not the best weight loss system.

The best way to lose weight is to just carry on eating normally. But not what you have been eating. We all know what junk food is, we buy it at fast food outlets, maybe at superstores. If you have not thought about it just stand behind an obese person in a superstore and check out what is in their basket. That’s junk food. Maybe it looks a bit like the food in your own basket. As well as cutting out junk food you must cut out snacking; crisps, cookies, sweets, chocolates all pile on the calories. Fizzy drinks contain a lot of sugar, energy drinks contain a lot of sugar and caffeine as well.

So what should you be eating? It is nearly as simple as taking away the junk food and eating what’s left. Fruit is good for you - the World Health Organisation recommends five portions a day. Vegetables, fresh or lightly cooked are good. Then you can eat whole grains, lean meat like chicken, and oily fish like mackerel. There are hundreds of recipes you can access online, some of the French and Italian dishes make losing weight a delight. There is also no problem about drinking an occasional glass of wine, or anything else you really enjoy. Just do not eat high calorie foods too often. Make sure you drink plenty of water as well, you will not want to eat as much and it helps you cut down on portion sizes.

I must mention exercise. It is needed as part of your new lifestyle - for that is what you are doing - changing your lifestyle in order to become fit and stay fit. You probably put on weight because, as well as enjoying your food, you did not much like exercise. Struggling on treadmills and lifting weights in the gym alongside people half your age is not fun. Who needs it? You don’t. Try walking or jogging instead. This will tone your muscles and get you fit. It will not burn off all the calories in a Big Mac but it will help. People have an exaggerated idea of how many calories they can burn off walking. The idea of walking off a pub lunch with a stroll round the block just will not happen. An hour’s walking at 3mph will burn off the calories in a chocolate bar. An hour’s jogging will burn off the calories in a slice of Victoria sponge cake. This sort of exercise, best done every day, helps and is good for you, but you will not lose weight unless you change your eating habits as well.

So you can change your lifestyle, eat good food, take a little exercise and lose weight. All without starving yourself. Now that has to be the best weight loss system.

See you soon,

　

Peter Stockwell

31 October 2010

Photo. Lucas_Roberts 426 (Flickr)

Technorati Tags: best weight loss diet, best weight loss system, how to lose weight, lose weight, weight loss diet

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How to Choose Your Hiking Kit

Hello Everybody

Now evenings are getting lighter and snowdrops are sending out green shoots and probably regretting it. So those who may not have walked much during the winter will need to think of suitable clothing for the coming Spring. All the hiking kit you need to buy, if you do not already have it, is a lightweight anorak, suitable clothes to wear beneath the anorak, a rucksack and a good pair of boots.

There are many anoraks out there, but first consider your undergarments. It is better to have two or three layers of inner clothing rather than a thick jumper. That way if you get hot you just remove a layer. They should be able to absorb and wick away sweat easily and such garments are available in most sports shops.

Ideally an anorak needs to be waterproof, have tight fitting adjustable cuffs, a collar which can be well zipped up, and stays zipped up, and a hood. The hood must be big enough to be easily adjusted and it should be possible to walk into a wind with your hood up without having to hold it in place. Some have a flexible wire sewn into the peak, which can be pushed into shape to fit closely. This is worth having.

What you get may not be ideal. Your anorak will probably be shower proof, not water proof. There is a reason for this. The material needs to breath so that there will not be condensation within the garment. Your sweat absorbent undergarments work up to a point, but a fully waterproof anorak would still be unpleasant to wear. So after a few minutes of heavy rain, if you are wearing just an anorak, you will be very wet indeed. To avoid this I carry a rolled up plastic mackintosh in my rucksack. The condensation problem does not seem to occur if this is worn over an anorak and it will get you through a downpour. British country dwellers, who experience heavy downpours most of the time, wear oiled Barbour jackets. These need re-proofing each year but will last 20 years, keep the rain out and never suffer condensation problems.

Your choice of rucksack will depend on the type of walking you do. You can choose a small Daypack, with the weight transferred through shoulder straps, or big Alpine or Backpacking Packs with internal frames to help distribute the load. For everyday walking keep it simple and light. A Daypack should be all you need to carry your mackintosh, sandwiches, drink, emergency kit and a few odds and ends. Make sure the shoulder straps are wide and well padded and that the rucksack fits well without moving on your back. If possible test it loaded before you make your purchase.

It is best to have lightweight boots, but they should be suitable for the type of country you walk in. Lightweight hiking boots or trail walking shoes are fine for most day trips. They are comfortable, breathable, cushioned and with tough soles suitable for average conditions. Rougher country needs stronger boots with ankle support to avoid sprains on difficult ground. Think about what you will be doing, look at the range in your local sports shop and choose carefully.

That is really all the hiking kit you need to consider when you are getting ready for country walking. Of course in warm weather you will need fewer clothes, but you should still wear good boots and carry a suitable rucksack. Spring is coming - enjoy yourself.

See you soon,

Peter Stockwell

29 January 2010

Photo. Bretedge (Flickr)

Technorati Tags: best anoraks, choose rucksacks, hiking kit, Senior walking fitness, walking footwear, walking shoes

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Get Your Fitness Walking Program Right

Joanna Hall - The most influential woman in Fitness Cosmopolitan Magazine www.joannahall.com This first video in a series demonstrates simple techniques that are a must to

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Technorati Tags: fitness walking, fitness walking program, heart health, over fifties, senior walking exercise, Senior walking fitness, walk fit, walking fitness

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Senior Fitness with Gentle Exercise

Gentle chair yoga for hospital, hotel, office, home. Smart and easy routine to relieve stiff hips and legs. Help to stand straight, look better and feel great. Award-winning Gentle Fitness (800-566-7780)