Posted in Article on January 27, 2012
The definition of obesity is having an excessive amount of body fat. It is not only a cosmetic issue it is a major health issue leading to health risks such as heart attracts, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Doctor use a formula called “body mass index” or BMI to calculate the levels of body fat. Adults with BMI’s over 30 are considered obese. Extreme obesity, which is sometimes called severe or morbid obesity, is when the BMI levels are 40 or higher. With morbid obesity, people are more likely to have serious health issues.
In America, one in three people are considered obese. The seriousness of this causes many to start a weight loss program to avoid the hazards of the excessive weight.
The symptoms associated with obesity are difficulty sleeping, snoring, sleep apnea, pain in the joints and back, excessive sweating, always feeling hot, rashes or infections in the folds of the skin, feeling out of breath with minor activity, daytime sleepiness or fatigue and depression. If you have any of these signs or symptoms, seek medical attention. Your doctor can counsel you how to decrease you risks related to the obesity. Through dietary changes and increased activity, you will be able to reduce the symptoms and health risks. In some cases, medication is prescribed as well as weight loss surgery can be performed.
The causes of obesity is directly related to the over consumption of calories compared to the amount of calorie burned with physical activity. There are genetic and hormonal influences with some people that are obese. The main causes for obesity are inactivity in the daily life. The inability to burn the excess fat consumed, leads to the body storing the fat instead of ridding the body of it. Watching television is one the leading causes to obesity.
Unhealthy diet and eating habits high in calories from fast foods, skipping breakfast, eating most of the calories at the evening meal or for a late night snack, consuming high calorie drinks, and eating too large of portions. Learning to change the eating habits will help combat obesity.
When a woman is pregnant, they gain weight yet after the birth, they find it difficult to lose the excess pounds. The weight from the pregnancy often leads to obesity when it is not lost in the future.
Getting less than seven hours of sleep at night causes the hormones to change by increasing the appetite leading to the person to crave foods high in calories and carbohydrates. This results in weight gain.
Some medications lead to weight gain when the weight is not compensated with diet and physical activity. The types of medications leading to weight gain include antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, diabetes medication, steroids, beta-blockers, and antipsychotic medication.
Medical problems can cause obesity such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome, and polycystic ovary syndrome to name a few. Arthritis can also lead to obesity due to the inactivity levels.
Posted in Video on January 26, 2012
Video: This exercise primarily targets the tricep muscle, but will also workout your chest and shoulders.
Posted in Article on January 25, 2012
In the past doctors thought, overweight patients had increased risks of developing heart failure due to complications from diabetes, coronary heart disease, and high blood pressure yet new studies show that obesity leads to heart failure without the other medical conditions present. The studies also show that even excess body weight tremendously increases the risks even when the person is not considered obese.
One study was based on 5881 people who volunteered for the case study at the institution. The people were either obese or overweight during the 14-year study. Those people that were considered overweight had a risk of developing heart failure 34greater than the non-overweight individuals. The ones considered obese had a risk factor of 104
The fact that obese individuals, had a higher risk rate, caused alarm for the doctors in the medical field, since this new study brought to light; a new medical condition previously never known. The fact proven by the study showed even healthy people are still at risk for heart disease by decreased amounts. Overweight and obese people, based on the results, began to be counselled to lose weight to lower the risk of possible heart failure.
Obesity leads to heart failure because the problems associated with obesity such as left ventricular hypertrophy known as LVH, which is the thickening of the walls of the left regions of the heart. Over time, LVH can lead to heart failure.
Obesity is associated with metabolic syndrome X that is a metabolic disorder causing the lipid abnormalities. Both LVH and metabolic syndrome lead to heart failure in obese and overweight individuals.
The treatments designed at improving the LVH and metabolic syndrome X can help with stopping heart failure. The theory has been tested in clinical studies, while it is still highly recommended individuals lose the excess weight to lower their risks of the medical conditions. Using a healthy low caloric diet and exercise, many individuals lower their risks as well as reducing the risks of hypertension, lipid abnormalities, metabolic syndrome X, and other heart diseases; they were previously considered at high risk to get.
Doctors used the studies to counsel patients on the importance of weight loss and weight management citing the study results as proof the patient was at high risk. Many patients, required the study as proof they were at risk, since in the past many had been informed differently.
The fact remains that obesity raises the risk levels for heart disease. Heart disease is an extremely serious condition, which must be recognized and taken seriously by both the doctor and the patient; so proper treatments can be used to lower the risks and prolong the life of the patients.
Posted in Recipe on January 24, 2012
Ingredients
6 cups baby spinach, rinsed and patted dry
4 tomatoes, sliced
1 English hothouse cucumber, diced
8 to 10 radishes, thinly sliced
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
cup fat-free vinaigrette
Directions
In a large bowl, toss together the spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, feta and red pepper. Top with your favorite fat-free vinaigrette.
Posted in Video on January 23, 2012
Video: A fitness professional goes through a workout that targets your triceps.
Posted in Article on January 22, 2012
Going out and exercising in order to relax might sound a little strange to you but bear with me. It has been shown that exercising produces hormones that make your feel good. So it really makes sense to do certain exercises to help you feel better and get you feeling more relaxed.
If you think about it when you are uptight and anxious you are not relaxed you are the opposite, cranky and stressed out. Finding ways to relax is very important to your well being and will make a huge difference in your life.
One of the best exercises for relaxation is to go out walking. Your choice of walking route is important too. Obviously you will start to feel more relaxed if you walk in a park or by a lake, as opposed to walking on busy city streets.
Many experts recommend walking with a dog as therapy. Great if you have a dog but if not you could offer to volunteer at your local pet shelter and walk a dog. This provides you with a reason to go out walking and your new friend will enjoy your visits.
Walking in the fresh air gives you time to think and reflect about your day. As you walk concentrate on feeling the breeze on your face and take in the smells of the trees and plants. See if you can?t hear the birds chirping. All of these things will put a smile on your face and make you feel more relaxed almost immediately.
While walking you should concentrate on your breathing and take some nice deep breathes. As you?re walking pace increases try to think of nothing but your walking and the surrounding sounds. This walking meditation method has been shown to be a wonderful stress reliever.
Other forms of exercise that can help you feel more relaxed are Yoga, swimming, dancing and even going out for a bike ride. All of these activities put you into different surroundings which affect your mood, all for the better.
Music is a great way to relax and taking up a new dance routine is an excellent idea. You could do this at home or by joining a local dance class such as a Zumba class. As well this gets you mingling with other people and provides some light recreation after a hectic day. Why not start a new exercise routine and see if it doesn?t make a difference?
Posted in Article on January 21, 2012
Are you looking for a diet to lose belly fat? Here are five tips that can help you. Remember that the key to having a flat stomach is to lose the amount of fat you have overall. The stomach fat is just the last to go, so it’s the toughest. Here’s a diet to lose belly fat.
First of all, you need to eat more fiber. The major reason women are getting fatter these days is that they do not have enough fiber in their diets. As we eat more processed foods and less whole grains and produce, the natural fibers in our diet are becoming scarcer. An average person should try to get at least 25 grams of fiber per day. People who are serious about a diet to lose belly fat should get 35 grams of fiber.
Secondly, realize that carbs aren’t the devil that some diets make them out to be, but too many calories from carbohydrates can increase your middle mass. Carbohydrates should make up no more than 60 percent of your calories when you are on a diet to lose belly fat. But, make sure that they are at least 45 percent of your diet. As you can see, balance is the key here. Most of your carbs should come from fruits and vegetables and you should avoid high carb, empty calorie foods like cupcakes.
Third, drink your water. Many people mistakenly believe that drinking a lot of water will give them puffy abs. But, water actually flushes sodium out of your system which reduces puffiness. Here’s a couple of ways to tell if you have enough water. Are you thirsty? Then you are already dehydrated. Don’t ever lack water so long that you feel it. Another way is to monitor the color of your urine. If you’re drinking enough water, your urine will be close to colorless.
Fourth, limit your sodium intake as it leads to puffiness. A woman only needs 500 mg. of sodium a day for the body’s natural functions to work. But the average American woman gets up to 6,000 grams! A Chinese take out entry can have 3000 grams by itself. You can limit your sodium by choosing fresh, natural foods. That’s one way to be on a diet to lose belly fat.
Fifth, have a small dinner and shut the kitchen down afterwards. Having your calories during the day when you are actually burning them is key to losing weight. Evening eating is often mindless eating. You sit down in front of the television with a brand new bag of chips and before you know it, half the bag is gone. Another benefit of eating light at night is that you’ll wake up hungry for a good breakfast. People who eat good breakfasts are more likely to lose weight.
If you are wondering how to get a flat stomach, monitor what you are eating. When you eat healthy, natural foods, you are going to develop the body you want. And, that’s the guidelines for a diet to lose belly fat.
Posted in Article on January 20, 2012
The diabetes obese naturist treatment that works best for losing weight and lowering blood sugar is controlled eating. Careful food choices combined with some exercise is the best natural way to fight back. A diabetes obese naturist treatment plan would include low-sugar and low-carb foods and a moderate exercise regimen.
The way of eating that works best as a diabetes obese naturist treatment is a very simple way of eating. Some say that it’s more expensive, but if you compare your grocery bills before and after there shouldn’t be much of a difference. Of course, this is only true if you’re not still buying lots of other processed foods for your family members.
The first thing to do in your new eating plan is to cut out most processed foods. Processed foods are any foods that have been processed far from their natural state. A cake, pie or any type of baked good you buy already made is highly processed, for instance.
Those types of foods are the worst kind for diabetes because not only are they processed and full of sugar, their ingredients are also processed. Flour is a processed food, made from wheat. You may not be able to eliminate all of it, but eliminating the obvious sources of flour can make a huge difference.
Baked goods like cakes, cookies, pies and breads are hard to give up. And you may not have to give up all of them for a diabetes obese naturist treatment. You can still enjoy certain baked goods occasionally that are made with whole grains and nut or soy flours instead of wheat flours. Sugar substitutes can make them palatable.
If you can give them up altogether, your recovery rate will be even faster. Other processed foods like canned foods, boxed foods, frozen foods and pre-made meals should be severely restricted or eliminated for the best results.
Even in “healthy” pre-packaged foods you’ll find flour, hidden sugars and other ingredients that are believed to contribute to weight gain, diabetes and other conditions. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) and high-fructose corn syrup are the biggest offenders. MSG is in almost every pre-packaged food, and the corn syrup is used in place of sugar because it’s cheaper.
Focus on vegetables that you cook yourself. Steam them or cook them in healthy olive oil, and add a small amount of fresh grated parmesan cheese. Add lots of seasonings and soon you won’t miss the butter, sour cream and other fattening additions.
Another part of a diabetes obese naturist treatment is to drink plenty of water. You shouldn’t force yourself to drink 80 oz a day if you’re not thirsty, but getting in 64 oz per day isn’t that hard if you choose water instead of soda or other caloric drinks.
Finally, start exercising, even if it’s just a short walk in place three or four times a week. You can build up to the recommended amounts. The important thing in your diabetes obese naturist treatment is to start where you are and keep going.
Posted in Video on January 19, 2012
Video: A fitness professional goes through 3 exercises that target your shoulder muscles.
Posted in Video on January 18, 2012
Video: Muscles targeted in the close grip bench press are the front delts, chest and triceps.
