Healthy Weight Loss
David McCormick

I am Mr. Weightless, and though I may be a superhero, and I may be immune to heart disease and cancer, still Mr. Weightless can catch a cold. Being fit means that it is very rare that I get sick, but a virus is a virus, and I caught a cold. Although I felt miserable, there came some good of it, because I came to a realization that will simplify how you can think about good health and weight loss: Take the advice for the sick, even while you’re well.

Why Is This Advice for the Ill?

All of the things we tell sick people so that they recover more quickly are exactly the things that we should be doing every day. Following that advice will not only ward off disease, but also lead to greater energy and vitality, and best of all, weight loss. How we came to ignore these positive factors in our daily lives, I don’t know.

In our society, we have a tendency to put off what is most healthy because we think it is inconvenient. When we get sick and can’t perform our “more important” jobs, then we make the decision to do what is best for the body. If we took these simple pieces of advice in our regular routines, we would be sick fewer days. So for those who think their work is more important than their health… if you take care of your health first, you’ll be able to work longer and take fewer sick days, so you’ll accomplish more work!

Prevent Disease and Lose Weight with the Best Diet for Men

Fluid Intake

“Drink plenty of fluids” is the thing everybody says whenever someone says they have a cold. Drinking water and natural fruit juices is so easy, yet most people don’t do it. There are a myriad of benefits to drinking water all day, which you can find in my article on Water. Drink a lot of water all day. The improvements to your digestion, energy balance, joint health, skin health and the function of virtually every organ will astonish you. You will start losing weight right away when you drink at least your quota of 8 glasses of water per day. And there is no danger of drinking too much water, so you don’t need to keep track or count glasses, just keep drinking it.

Natural fruit juices are also great for you. They contain sugars to give you energy, but won’t dehydrate you like caffeine will. They also contain all of the other vitamins and nutrients from the fruits themselves. In the case of citrus fruits, like oranges, vitamin C comes in high concentrations. We’ll get to the vitamins in the next section. Other juices are good for different reasons, but remember that there is no such thing as a “bad” natural fruit juice. Many natural juices are also fortified with calcium, which is another excellent nutrient that will not only strengthen your bones and prevent osteoporosis when you grow older, but it is also related to fat loss.

No matter how good the label looks, do not drink artificial fruit-flavoured juice, because those only contain sugar, water and flavouring.

Vitamins and Herbs

Many people suggest high doses of vitamin C to cure the common cold. It is such a good nutrient, it should be taken daily, whether you’re sick or not. Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is known to boost the immune system, which is why it is recommended for treatment of the common cold. But a good immune system is always beneficial; it is better to prevent getting a cold by having a strong immune system than to treat it once you’re sick. Vitamin C is also a most powerful antioxident, which means that it prevents all sorts of cellular decay and counteracts cancer-causing carcinogens. Finally, vitamin C boosts the production of adrenaline, which will boost your feeling of wakefulness, energy and speed your metabolism, supporting weight loss.

Vitamin C is not the only supplement that sick people are told to take. My mother is particularly fond of echinacea. This is an herb that also boosts the immune system. It has proven effective in treating the common cold, but unlike vitamin C, it does not show a significant effect on healthy people.

Taking a multivitamin everyday that contains high doses of vitamin C, as well as a full complement of other vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients is a positive step for anyone. It is virtually impossible to get every nutrient that you should every day unless you take a multivitamin. For those attempting to lose body fat by reducing their food intake, it becomes essential. Not only will you replace the nutrients you’re not getting from your restricted diet, you’re also packing in those nutrients that can speed up your weight loss.

The best multivitamins and nutritional supplements can be found on the Diet Products page.

Chicken Noodle Soup and Other Good Food

When you’re sick, you may have a friend who offers to take care of you and make you some chicken noodle soup. There are a lot of theories about why chicken soup may be good for you when you have a cold. Some say that it’s just the steam and hot liquid that opens up the airways; others claim that it inhibits neutrophils, white blood cells responsible for inflammation. My theory is simpler: chicken noodle and chicken vegetable soups are just good food, and should be consumed regularly. In a tasty meal, you’ve got protein from the chicken, carbs from the noodles and/or vegetables, spices and seasoning that have herbal benefits, and the chicken fat as well. A good rule of thumb is to eat simple, good food that has these properties.

An easier, faster way to get such a balanced meal (more complete than even chicken soup) is to have a meal replacement for two meals a day. These can be found on the Products page, click here.

Sleep

The final and most important ingredient to beating a cold is rest. Of everything discussed in this article, it is also the element that most modern men disregard. Even when sick, we tend to get up and do some work, rather than concentrating on getting well. Sleep is the time your body and mind recuperate from the day’s activities. Without sufficient sleep, your body cannot heal properly, and your mind cannot function properly. There have been some studies that show that sleep deprivation can lead to overeating and obesity, due to the elevation of certain hormones.

Sleep recommendations have varied tremendously in all the studies done. Most people today believe that 8 hours is the optimum duration of sleep. However, some adults can’t bring themselves to sleep longer than 6 hours, and many will sleep for 10 if not awoken by an alarm. The need for sleep steadily declines throughout your life. A baby can sleep as much as 18 hours a day, but it will come at odd times until their rhythms match their parents. So, it seems like they never sleep because they’re always crying in the middle of the night, but they’re sleeping a lot of the rest of the time. In contrast, the elderly awake early and frequently cannot fall asleep until very late. Some may nap frequently, but in all, they are awake far longer than most adults.

The amount of sleep any person needs seems to be quite individualistic. To find your perfect sleep duration, try waking up at the same time every day for work, but go to bed one half-hour earlier each night. You may not feel comfortable right away, but you’ll probably fall asleep within 10 minutes. Eventually, you will find a time that is ideal in that you will fall asleep easily and wake up feeling really energetic. On a weekend, you can test your theory by going to bed when you feel tired, and not set an alarm to wake you. When you wake up, write a note of the time you first woke up (in case you want to sleep in further). Then it is a simple matter to figure out how long your body wants to sleep.

Sleep is not the only component of rest. People will actually tell you to “take it easy” to help you recover. This is also a good idea for everyday life, not only when you’re ill. Learn to take time every day to relax. There have been many books and studies on the benefits of meditation. None that I know of relate meditation to weight loss, but it is related to a reduction of stress. Lower stress levels will reduce your risk of heart disease, and if you’re an “emotional eater”, then reducing your stress through meditation can be a big step towards weight loss.

Feeling Under the Weather?

Until you become weightless, like me, you’ll be “under the weather” because the clouds are above you. So, every day behave as if you’re under the weather: drink plenty of fluids, especially water and natural fruit juices; take a multivitamin and the proven herbal health boosters; eat natural food in good proportions; and get adequate sleep, including meditation or some form of relaxation.

Article Originally Posted: Healthy Weight Loss
About the Author

David “Mr. Weightless” McCormick is the founder of Weightless Products, the best weight loss program for men. All articles are available in full for FREE, with no banners, no pop-ups and no registration. Wait Less for Weight Loss, visit the Fast Weight Loss Diet for Men

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Advice for Healthy Living in 2006
Anna Fleet

With the New Year now upon us, it’s important to give pause and
consider making some positive changes regarding the state of
your health. As they say, there’s no time like the present.
People the world over often make resolutions to do something to
better themselves in the coming year. In 2006, consider doing
something that will benefit your overall health. The following
suggestions may just help to ensure that you’re able to make New
Year’s resolutions for many years to come.

Get a Check-up – An excellent place to start when
considering lifestyle changes is with an honest assessment of
your health. At this stage, it wouldn’t hurt to consult with
your physician. Why not make an appointment for your annual
physical exam? This way, you can begin the year with an accurate
assessment of your physical state. Your doctor will be able to
focus your attention on areas that are of immediate health
concern. This is especially important if you’re a smoker, if
you’re overweight, or if you have any significant health issues
that might prevent you from performing simple daily tasks.

Drink More Water – Make another profound difference to
your health by consuming more water. Many people make the
mistake of assuming that they’ve received enough water from the
various pop, coffee and other beverages they’ve consumed in a
day. This is not entirely accurate. Ideally, one should consume
upwards of eight, 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Water helps
the body metabolize stored fats. It can also help your body
cleanse itself of free radicals, which have been linked to
cancer and other such ailments.

Get Moving – Exercise is yet another effective way to
maintain optimal health. That’s not to say that one has to
become entirely committed to working out each and every day, but
it’s in every individual’s best interest to perform some form of
activity 3 times per week. Physical exercise can be performed in
a wide variety of ways to keep it fun and interesting. For
instance, the simple act of walking is a highly effective form
of exercise. It’s one that can be completed without supervision,
without props, and without any previous experience working out.
Joining a gym has a number of direct benefits as well. Not only
will you have access to some excellent equipment, but you will
also benefit greatly from the fitness knowledge that most
personal trainers possess.

Pay Attention to Nutrition – Diet also plays a
significant role is one’s overall health. Everyone should be
familiar with the dietary guidelines established by the leading
health agencies and authorities. The “food pyramid” is by far
the most popular set of published nutritional guidelines. The
food pyramid advises people to include all of the major food
groups – grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and meat (or protein)
– in their diets. Keep in mind that the food pyramid is merely a
nutritional guideline. The dietary needs of each individual will
vary drastically, and what’s ideal for one person isn’t
necessarily ideal for the next.

By following these few simple suggestions, you can take control
of your health and your life in 2006. Good luck!

About the author:

Anna Fleet is a certified personal trainer. When she is not
working out or helping others achieve optimal health, she is the
face and voice behind www.fitnessgear101.com – an excellent
online resource for information about Fitness Gear
Information, Aerobics
Equipment, and Workout Routines.

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The Ultimate Flat Abs Diet Plan – Six Tips For Success

Working out until your midsection burns but still not seeing enough results? If so, then you are not alone. What may surprise you is that exercise may not be the weak point in your routine. Instead, what you need is a more comprehensive flat abs diet plan. Here are six steps to six pack abs.

Ultimate Flat Abs Diet Plan Step #1 – Load up on fiber. Your daily goal for dietary fiber should be at least 25 grams. Fiber helps you feel more full so you end up eating less. It also helps digestion, allowing fat to move through your system faster. Good sources of fiber include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans.

Ultimate Flat Abs Diet Plan Step #2 – Go for high-quality carbohydrates. Not all carbs are created equal. Simple carbohydrates are digested too quickly and cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Sugar, refined flour, white bread and white rice are common examples of simple carbs. Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, are much better for you. These are found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. You should still try to limit your carbs to no more than 65% of your total caloric intake.

Ultimate Flat Abs Diet Plan Step #3 – Drink plenty of water. The idea that drinking 8 glasses of water per day will help you lose weight is mostly a myth. However, it’s still a good idea to stay well hydrated. Your cells thrive on having enough water, and this includes muscle cells.

Ultimate Flat Abs Diet Plan Step #4 – Decrease sodium intake. While having plenty of water in your system is a good thing, water retention is not. Having too much sodium will cause you to feel puffy or bloated. Also, having too much can be a risk factor for developing high blood pressure. The current U.S. dietary guidelines recommend an upper limit of 2400 milligrams of sodium per day, but you can normally go much lower than that without risking your health.

Ultimate Flat Abs Diet Plan Step #5 – Don’t eat too late in the day. You need to give your body enough time to digest its food. Therefore, the sooner before bed you eat, the better. If at all possible, try not to eat anything 3 hours prior to retiring for the evening. If you must have something, then go for a light snack of 100 calories or less and perhaps a cup of tea.

Ultimate Flat Abs Diet Plan Step #6 – Reduce stress. That’s right! Stress releases a hormone known as cortisol. The problem with cortisol is that it sends a signal to the brain to store fat (as a sort of survival mechanism). And guess where the brain tells the body to store that fat after receiving its signal? If you said around your abs, then you’re correct.

There you go, six tips to six pack abs. Of course you still need to do your ab exercises, but these tips will give you the edge in your efforts to look your best.

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