July 1, 2008
Try Yoga for Weight Loss
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Yoga is revered for its power to relieve stress, increase flexibility, and build muscle tone. It is not, however, well known for promoting weight loss. So you might be surprised to learn that it can actually help us burn calories.
Traditional yoga is not an extremely active pursuit. It works our muscles, but we rarely break a sweat just by holding a pose (unless it's really hot in the room). But the muscle-building effects of yoga do allow us to burn calories more efficiently. So if we participate in a good aerobic workout, we will see greater results than we would if we weren't doing yoga.
Yoga can also give us the discipline we need to stick to a diet and exercise program. It enhances the relationship between the mind and body, giving us the motivation to take better care of ourselves. Lack of motivation is a frequent problem among those who want to lose weight, so this is a very important benefit.
New Incarnations of Yoga
Those who want to lose weight solely through yoga might find what they're looking for in non-traditional yoga classes. There are a number of yoga styles that can give us the traditional benefits of yoga and a cardiovascular workout at the same time. These include:
* Vinyasa yoga - This type of yoga is based on movement from one pose to another while practicing yoga breathing techniques. Sun Salutations are frequently used, but other poses are usually included as well. This is sometimes done in a hot room to increase sweating.
* Ashtanga yoga - Ashtanga is a complex style of yoga that includes six different series of poses. Each serious is more complex than the previous one, so it is important to start at the beginning and work your way up.
* Power yoga - This is an Americanized version of yoga. It combines faster, more active movements with traditional yoga breathing techniques.
These types of yoga are more likely to increase our heart rate and work up a sweat than traditional yoga. While they may not give us as much of a workout as aerobics, they combine weight loss and cardiovascular benefits with the muscle building and flexibility training of yoga. And for those who do not have the time to participate in two separate workout programs, they can be great options.
Other than being forms of exercise, yoga and aerobics seem to have little in common. But traditional yoga can enhance the effects of more intense workouts, and these newly popular styles of yoga can give us the best of both worlds. If other workout routines have left you disappointed, adding or switching to yoga might be the answer you're looking for.
Yoga For Weight Loss - Beginner & Beyond (2007)
Filed under Weight Loss Programs
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Apple cider vinegar has been used in many ways for many years. It has been an important ingredient in numerous home remedies, and it has frequently been used for weight loss. This simple, inexpensive substance has seemingly endless uses. Here are some of them:
* For weight loss, drink two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water before each meal. This is not a quick fix, but it has been said to cause gradual weight loss with no major changes in diet. Coupled with a sensible diet and exercise routine, however, it could cause somewhat quicker weight loss and help you keep the weight off.
* For a cold or the flu, take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in water several times a day. This will help balance the body's pH, making it a less favorable environment for the germs.
* Apple cider vinegar is great for getting rid of dandruff. Applying it to the scalp and letting it stand for 30 minutes to an hour before washing will kill the fungus that causes dandruff. It also helps soothe an itchy scalp.
* Diabetics can benefit from taking apple cider vinegar in water once a day. This has been proven to help lower blood sugar.
* Apple cider vinegar is often used to relieve sinus problems and ear infections. Depending on your symptoms, you can drink it, add it to a vaporizer, inhale it, or squirt it in your ear with a syringe and let it drain back out.
* Digestive problems and diarrhea can be relieved with an apple cider vinegar tonic. The vinegar soaks up liquid and forms a protective coating in the intestines, and it activates stomach acid and enzymes. It may also relieve the symptoms of acid reflux.
* Apple cider vinegar can soothe a sunburn. You can soak a towel in it at full strength and place it directly on the burn, or you can take a bath in water with one cup of the vinegar added.
* Painful and unsightly varicose veins can benefit from treatment with apple cider vinegar. Apply it full strength twice a day, and drink two teaspoons in water twice a day. It may take a month to see results.
* Apple cider vinegar is good for a sore throat. Gargling with a vinegar and water mixture every hour can help you feel better faster. But it is important to remember not to swallow the mixture once you've gargled with it, because it draws out germs.
* Muscle soreness can be treated with apple cider vinegar. It can be applied full strength with a small amount of cayenne pepper added, or you can soak in a bath with a few cups of vinegar added.
These are just a few of the myriad ways that we can use apple cider vinegar for health. Drinking a vinegar tonic each day can improve our health in a number of ways. We can also apply it topically to rid ourselves of many more aliments. Stocking up on apple cider vinegar will put the remedy for a variety of problems right at your fingertips.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Miracle Health System
Filed under Losing Weight
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Eating disorders have been prevalent among young women for some time. But they can also affect children, older women, and men. Knowing the signs could help you or someone you care about get help before irreparable damage is done.
The most common eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia. Anorexia is a disorder in which one severely restricts calories, goes without eating for long periods of time, or uses diet pills in an attempt to lose weight. Bulimics eat normally or excessively, then purge by vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics, or exercising compulsively. It is not unusual for someone to suffer from both anorexia and bulimia at the same time.
But not all eating disorders are a form of weight control. Binge eating affects a smaller, but still significant, number of people. Binge eaters consume unusually large amounts of food. They usually try to hide it from others.
Those with eating disorders almost always display signs of their problem. By learning what these signs are, we can recognize them and encourage the sufferer to get the help they need. Here are some things to look for in anorexia and bulimia:
* Sudden weight loss
* Fatigue, dizziness, or fainting
* Dry lips, thinning hair, and brittle nails
* Menstrual abnormalities in women, including loss of menstruation
* Frequent constipation or diarrhea
* Dehydration
* Major changes in eating habits
* Refusal to eat all but a few select foods
* Frequent weighing and complaining about one's body
* Making trips to the bathroom immediately after each meal
Signs of binge eating include sudden weight gain, attempts to hide food or hide when eating, and eating very quickly. Binge eaters may go on diets, yet remain at the same weight or become heavier due to their secret binges.
The Effects of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are emotional disorders, and they are often accompanied by depression, anxiety, or panic attacks. But they can also have serious physical consequences, some of which can be life threatening. Anorexics are at risk of heart disease or heart failure, anemia, bone loss, lung problems, gastrointestinal problems, and kidney problems. Those who suffer from bulimia are at risk of many of the same problems, and are also susceptible to tooth decay and rupture of the esophagus.
Binge eating can also cause a number of complications. Binge eaters are more likely to become obese, and to develop type 2 diabetes. Other possible complications include sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Eating disorders often go untreated for a long time. If you suspect that someone you care about may have an eating disorder, it is crucial to his or her health that you discuss it with them. Getting help early can reduce the chances of long-term emotional and physical effects, and perhaps even save their life.
Overcoming Overeating: How to Break the Diet/Binge Cycle and Live a Healthier, More Satisfying Life
Filed under Losing Weight
