Weight loss articles

Fitness articles submitted by a variety of weight loss and diet experts.  Learn how to lose weight, tone muscles, build muscles, and reach your goals.

Perimenopause Signs And Symptoms

Perimenopause is a process that begins several years before menopause, when the ovaries gradually begin to produce less estrogen. As a woman reaches the end of her reproductive years, production of her ovarian hormones begins to fluctuate, causing her periods to become shorter and then more and more irregular until they stop.

This is a gradual transition, a puberty in reverse, that can take between a year and 10 years, but averages about 4 years. After a full year without a period, a woman is considered to have gone through menopause and enters what is called the postmenopausal period.

There are many signs and symptoms for perimenopause, although no two women will experience it the same way. Irregular periods, breast tenderness, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and diminished libido can all be signs of perimenopause. Women may also notice skin changes, fatigue, weight gain, depression, anxiety, difficulty in concentrating, sleep disturbance, nausea, joint paints, headaches, urinary incontinence and similar symptoms as experienced with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe.

There are many treatment options to bring relief from these symptoms. We can separate them into 3 categories: medical treatment, natural remedies and lifestyle changes. Which treatment to choose depends on the severity of the symptoms and medical history of the patient. One should always start with the least risky approach (natural remedies, lifestyle changes) and go on to riskier approaches (medical treatment) only if necessary.

Making healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, etc., can greatly ease some of the symptoms as well as promote good health and overall well-being for the future. Learning about perimenopause and what to expect from it is also very important.

Menopausal transition is not one event, but a complex process that can last for up to 10 years. By learning everything about it and how it can affect your live, you can be better prepared to manage it. Lack of education in this matter is one of the major reasons why women have so many difficulties coping with all the challenges they are faced with.

Always remember, menopause is not a disease, it's a natural transition.

About the author:
For more information on menopause and natural treatment options, visit Relieve Menopause Sleep Problems

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

10 Reasons Why Dancing Is Good For You

There are so many reasons why dancing is good for you, it's hard to know where to begin. It's great fun and good for the body as well as the mind. Besides being a good form of exercise and having a truly positive impact on our health, a recent study actually showed that it also makes us smarter (something to do with remembering the dance steps, thus exercising the brain).

So, why is it good for you to dance? Here are the top 10 reasons:


1) Great way to exercise and stay fit

Dance is a great way to stay in shape. If you don't like the gym, dancing can bring fun back into the exercise.


2) Burn calories and lose weight

Dancing is all about moving your body and moving your body is a great way to burn calories. How many will you burn depends on how vigorously you dance. In an one-hour session you can burn from 250 to 400 calories. Yes, losing weight can be fun and enjoyable.


3) Improved health

Dance can effectively promote good health by improving cardiovascular fitness, strengthening the muscles, increasing circulation, decreasing blood pressure, lowering the risk of coronary heart disease, reducing stress, and many other positive benefits.


4) Greater Coordination

Great for improving control over your body, timing and coordination skills. You will learn how to move with grace and poise.



5) Good for bones and joints

Dance is a weight-bearing activity, meaning it's great for your bones. Weight-bearing exercises has been proven to increase bone density and help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.


6) Build confidence

Dance builds confidence by giving you a sense of success and achievement when you master it.


7) Great way to meet new people

Dancing provides a natural icebreaker and is a great way to meet new people and make new friends.


8) Lifts your mood

Any exercise can raise your spirits by raising the endorphins or so called feel good chemicals. This can lighten your mood and reduce the risk of depression.


9) Good for your Mind

Dancing will keep your mind active. It will improve circulation to the brain and help stimulate the memory by remembering all the steps. Great mental exercise.


10) Improved overall well-being

Dance has an outstanding positive effect on both physical and psychological well-being.


There you have it - 10 reasons why you should dance. There are, of course, many more benefits of dancing, but we have to stop somewhere.

About the author:
Not sure how dancing can be good for you? Check out Health Benefits Of Dancing

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Are EMS Devices Safe for All Ages to Use?

However, if an EMS device is being used that has not met the requirements of the FDA; it is illegal because that means it could be potentially hazardous. Anyone of any age, with the exception of young children and those in their early teens, can use an EMS device, but it is very important that it is ensured that the device is approved by the FDA.

Nevertheless, for those looking to achieve "six-pack" abs with these devices, that is an unreasonable expectation. EMS devices simply make the muscles contract, which will stimulate the muscles, but the stimulation will not go as far as providing someone with abs that are normally a result of working out at a gym. If the intent behind using these devices is for strengthening and toning, the best results are achieved by combining the EMS device with diet and exercise. Experienced bodybuilders realize this and will still use an EMS device to increase their endurance and their range of motion to avoid injury when enjoying their sport. The electric pulses helps in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscle cells through improved circulation and various toxins are removed from the body as a result.

Despite these health advantages, again, it is not a good idea to use these devices on children unless a doctor deems it necessary for such conditions as paralysis. Furthermore, instructions from the FDA will state that EMS devices should not be used on children and should be used according to their intended use. If used otherwise, the person using the EMS device risks severe injury that could cost them in the long-run.

 

About the Author

Electronic muscle stimulators are excellent tools that get used World Wide for toning, reshaping, and firming thighs, buttocks, and for maintaining muscle definition. There are also other types of muscle stimulators available to treat pain.

The Skinny Guy's Guide To Gaining Weight

Are You Sick and Tired Of People Telling You How To Gain Weight?

It probably sounds like this:

�All you have to do is eat, eat, and eat some more to gain weight...�

�Weight gain is just a matter of eating...�

�You just gotta overload your metabolism to gain weight fast...�

�You can't build a house without the bricks and mortar for gaining weight...�

Don't throw me to the wolves quite yet. There is certainly truth to these statements and some of these analogies can prove quite powerful. I think I'm even guilty of preaching a few! But the problem with this advice is that it's usually followed up with the same old regurgitated blah, blah, blah advice that only tells you what to do and does not reveal real-world, practical how-to action-steps.

If you are someone who has struggled their entire life, trying to pack on extra muscle mass and still consider yourself underweight, then you are not alone. I was once skinny and underweight myself...

People, predispositioned to skinniness, are commonly referred to as �hard gainers.� This is the cool way to label your scrawny frame despite the fact that your body turns into a Number 2 pencil when you wear yellow!

It's Not Totally Your Fault You�re Skinny

In the skinny guy�s defense, the reality is that you have been cursed with traits like Lamborghini-type metabolism, giraffe like limbs, and the strength of a senior citizen. You have to fight with every bone in your body to do something about your small frame and to keep up to your male buddies who seem to grow muscle just by sneezing � those muscle freaks piss me off just as much you!

Even though you might think your genetic deficiencies have sentenced you to a life of frailty and surprised looks when you tell others you lift weights, I am living proof that hard gainers with very �muscle-unfriendly genes� can fight back against their genetics and gain muscle weight. I defeated my skinny genetics just after college and I am about to show you four tips that helped me climb from a 149 pound weakling to a rock hard 190 pounds in six months.

Trust me, no body has worse genetics for building muscle and gaining weight than an ex-long distance runner who abused his body with 60-80 miles of running a week (for over 10 years).

Skinny Guys Must Play By A Different Set Of Rules

If you are underweight, than your first step to gaining weight is to understand that you must play by a different set up rules. I have said this before and will say it again,

�Taking advice from someone who can gain muscle weight easilyis like taking money advice from someone who inherited a fortune or is making money illegally.�

You must think outside the box and give up the excuse of being a �hard gainer.� It is time to stop listening to all the naysayers who have told you that is impossible to gain weight because of your genetics. Regardless of what you have been led to believe, you do have the potential to build an impressive physique that turns heads and even intimidates!

If you have read this far, I am guessing you are ready to longer resemble a microphone stand! You are prepared to overload your metabolism for muscle growth, to ensure you are never referred to as 'underweight' or 'skinny' ever again. Start following these simple steps and don't be surprised if you gain an extra ten pounds of muscle weight in the next four weeks.

Simple How To Gain Weight Action Steps To Start Growing Like A Skyscraper!

1. Double It Up

One of the most practical steps you can take is to double whatever you are currently eating in the kitchen right now. If you are eating one chicken breast per meal, then cook up two. If you are only eating two slices of bread, then make it four. If you are eating one handful of nuts, then make it two. If you are using only two scoops of protein powder, then make it four.

Most likely you are only a few dozen meals short of filling out your underdeveloped body parts and attracting the attention of that sexy girl at your gym. I assume you are already in the kitchen and have the food out. So would you agree, you really have no good excuse not to shovel down a greater percentage of calories by doubling it up?

2. Live Your Life Around Food

Sure, you know that you must eat every 2-3 hours, but how well do you execute? Set your clock on a countdown timer to go off every 2 and � hours so that you reinforce the habit of eating literally not a second late for each meal! Don't turn off the damn beeper until you start chowing down.

Ensure you are eating your first meal within 15-30 minutes of waking up - absolutely no later. This first meal of the day should always consist of REAL food to flood your body with quality nutrients. I question anybody�s commitment to gaining weight if they are too lazy to wake up 15 minutes earlier to eat a real meal.

Lastly, don�t be surprised if you are not gaining weight if you do not find yourself spending more time preparing food, more time eating food and more time cleaning your kitchen. You should notice you are spending more time in the grocery store and you should also notice a larger grocery bill each week!

3. Use BIG Eating Equipment

If you want to bulk, then you have to eat like Hulk. Do you think Hulk eats out of a small plate, or a small bowel, or a small cup? If you are aiming to get big and huge, you are going to require large amounts of food, most likely close to double of what you are currently eating.

So get BIG eating equipment! Get a BIG cup, get a BIG bowel, and get a BIG plate. Surround yourself with BIG. Most of the time hard gainers are nothing more than �under eaters.� If you struggle to complete a meal, then a bigger serving on a bigger plate will look small!

4. Never Train Hungry

How many times have you woken up, whipped up a protein shake and than headed off to the gym? Or maybe you had a long afternoon and missed a few meals and then attempted a weight training workout after work?

I thought this was common sense to avoid, until a few of my skinny clients confessed that they were showing up for their workouts having only eaten a piece of fruit and some crackers within the entire day!

After dropping the 45-pound plate on my foot out of shock, they reassured me: they were not hungry. I sometimes screamed back, �Yeah, that�s because your metabolism is in starvation mode and shut right down, you skinny pencil neck!�

I understand that training in the morning is the only time for some, however, I recommend to aim for a minimum of at least three solid meals in your system prior to training. Or eat the biggest meal of your day immediately after your AM workout. Would you take your car out on a long trip with a half empty fuel tank? Not unless you wanted the car to die and you push it the rest of the way. So why would you take your body through a grueling training session on an empty stomach?

5. Eat Nutrient Dense Foods

Focus on caloric-rich foods that are loaded with nutrients. Avoid foods with empty calories, which means there is little or no nutrient value in the calories you are eating. Why would you consume a 500-calorie plus meal that is loaded with fat and sugar which does nothing but make you feel sluggish and soft? Instead, eat a high caloric meal loaded with slow releasing carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Here are some of the best choices:

Carbohydrates � Oatmeal, rice, breads, yams beans, potatoes, fruits and veggies.

Proteins � Steak, chicken, lean beef, cottage cheese, whole milk, eggs and salmon.

Fats � Olive oil, flax oil, avocados, nuts and peanut butter.

Extras (high calorie cheat food) � Ice cream, raisins, dried fruit and trail mix.

6. Drink A Carb And Protein Drink While You Workout

How hard is to sip on a calorie-rich drink during your weight training sessions? Simply mix up a 2:1 ratio of carbohydrate to protein with one liter of water and you instantly have a few extra hundred calories per day. Now have an extra workout drink before your workout and extra workout drink after your workout and that's easily an extra one pound per week. Only use this technique if you are weight training at a very high intensity.

7. Live the motto, �Never Stop Eating�

Did I hear you say, �But I'll throw up if I eat all day?� Maybe... Is it necessary? Of course not. But this is a part of pushing your body�s threshold. Don't worry, you will get used to it and your body will require more food as you gain more muscle on your body and your metabolism increases. Just think that if you are not eating, then you are not growing, and if you are not growing then you are staying the same. Is that what you want?

Conclusion

There you have it and as I promised, learning how to gain weight fast is quite simple. Executing is a whole different story. It will really come down to how truly committed you are to defeating your skinny genetics and gaining the muscular body you deserve!

Here is my promise to you. You have the ability to gain at least another ten pounds of solid weight in the next four weeks by simply applying the advice above. If you are truly committed to your goals of gaining muscle weight and no longer being known as underweight, then I believe you will rise to the challenge and take action! Are you with me?

 

About the Author

Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at www.VinceDelMonteFitness.com.He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly without drugs & supplements and training less than before.

Look and Feel Healthier and Younger

Nowadays, it is more important than ever to eat healthy. Certain healthy foods can help prevent heart disease or cause it. Healthy, wholesome foods can help you lose excess weight while junk foods cause you to get fat. Some foods nourish your hair and skin keeping them healthy and glowing while other foods don't, causing them to fall out sooner than they should. If you think genes are the only factor, consider this; your food choices and nutrition intake will cause some genes to activate while others lie dormant.

By incorporating certain changes to your daily diet, you can look younger while greatly cutting your risk for disease. As time goes on, your healthier food habits can lessen your chance of dependency on medications later in life and reduce health care costs.

Many of us know which foods to avoid, such as junk food. In fact, the more processed a food is, the less nutrition it may contain. The real question is - what can we eat? To get you going, here is a partial list of high nutrition foods to help keep you healthy and young.

Bananas are full of Vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and fiber. The high potassium can help regulate high blood pressure while other nutrients help strengthen your stomach lining against ulcers.

Barley has long been well known in the Middle East as a heart medicine. It can help reduce cholesterol levels and is full of antioxidants can help your body fight cancer. Dried barley grass is a healthy, green super-food used by many for it's high content of vitamins, minerals and proteins.

Beans are well-known to help regulate blood-sugar levels. They are high in protein and fiber, which may help reduce your cholesterol levels by as much as 10%.

Blueberries can work as a powerful antibiotic. They help keep infectious bacteria from attaching itself to the lining of your urinary tract, helping to prevent bladder infections.

Cinnamon has been shown to stimulate insulin activity so may be helpful for those with adult-onset diabetes. Other studies have proven that it may help prevent blood clots.

Chili Peppers help your blood flow freely through your circulatory system helping to lower the risk of stroke and heart attack. They contain capsaicin, a substance that fights inflammation. Capsaicin is currently used for pain relief from arthritis and even psoriasis. Fitness enthusiasts have long used chili peppers to help fight fat by speeding up metabolism.

Dates are full of fiber and minerals including calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, potassium, phosphorous and manganese. Dates also contain a natural aspirin.

Garlic has long been used to stimulate the immune system and kill off dangerous parasites. It is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral, and helps your body eliminate toxic buildup including zinc and lead. The National Cancer Institute is studying garlic for it's anti-tumor properties.

Ginger helps to relieve nausea and pain caused from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers in Denmark have found it can block the effects of certain substances that cause inflammation of the brain, which leads to migraines. It also has been found to have a similar effect as aspirin does on the thinning of blood helping to prevent blood clots.

Parsley is a great source of antioxidants that help fight carcinogens, including those found in tobacco smoke. It has long been known to cleanse the body by absorbing toxins and helping to move them out of the body.

Teas, especially green teas, are loaded with polyphenols, which help protect from free radical damage. Just 2 cups a day may lower a woman's risk of ovarian cancer by up to 46%. And it helps reduce belly fat.

It is easy to add these power foods to your daily regimen. Don't fall into the trap of disbelief or thinking they aren't powerful - there is a reason why Hippocrates called for all doctors to advocate food as medicine.

 

About the Author

Find out how to stay healthy and younger, check out the springclean-cleanse free health newsletter, also learn how to colon cleanse free.

Proven Health, Fitness and Longevity Solutions for the Body and Mind

There are also low sugar fiber cereals to choose from. Of course, some people take fiber supplements such a Metamucil and similar brands (try to take products that contain both "greens" and Psylium). But, try to limit those and get more from natural foods. Another great product that contains natural fiber is called www.CHEATmeals.com. This product has many benefits because it:

1. Blocks carbohydrates, sugars and bad fats from being absorbed from your meals (great for weight loss or when you go out to eat and want to splurge a bit and "cheat" on our diet).

2. Contains specific digestive enzymes for both sugars and fats to help digest your food properly (helps eliminate gas, bloating, acid reflux and other digestive problems).

3. The key ingredients in CHEATmeals� that help accomplish the above are TWO types of natural fibers, which help conveniently and easily add to your daily fiber count and reduce constipation. By adding CHEATmeals to your diet, especially when eating out, at parties or other times where you don't want to or it's hard to stick to your diet, you'll help prevent weight gain, aid in digestion of the meal and add essential fiber to your diet all at once!

About the Author

For nearly two decades, Dr. Sam Robbins has been passionate about the human body and mind. He believes that a person's mental outlook plays a very important role in their overall health and well-being. His areas of expertise include nutrition, exercise physiology, natural hormone re-balancing of the body and what he refers to as "real world" medical knowledge. He has dramatically changed client's health and mental well-being, allowing them to look and feel years younger. Find out how at http://www.hflsolutions.com.

 

Are All Exercise Balls the Same?

Now you're probably wondering why there are so many companies selling expensive physical therapy products when something as simple as a ball can provide results. Well, that is more or less up to companies selling these units. As for you, the exercise ball gives you another possibility toward strengthening your body. This giant inflatable ball is strong enough for a person to sit on, lie on, and lean on. The idea is for you to be able to balance yourself upon it without rolling over. What this does is put your core muscles to work, which in turn strengthens them. As for what exercises you can do with an exercise ball, there are books and videos available and even gyms conduct exercise ball classes for core training. Some of the most basic exercises involve sitting on the ball and doing what resembles sit-ups or even doing pushups against the ball while keeping it stable.

However, as simple as it sounds to buy a large rubber "ball," There is a little bit of work involved because exercise balls certainly don't come in just one size. The most common sizes are:

30 cm for those under 4'6"

45 cm for those 4'7" to 5'3"

65 cm for those 5'4" to 6'0"

75 cm for those 6'1" to 6'7"

Many of these exercise balls are burst resistant and their firmness can vary. It is up to you what kind of firmness you need because everyone's comfort level varies. Also, your height is going to determine what size you need. That means your exercise ball preference is going to be different than the person next to you. They may be of a different height and require a different firmness, so you probably won't be able to borrow their exercise ball if you need to at any time.

There are so many different variations that it can actually be a tough decision. It is also possible to find an exercise ball with feet, so not only is the selection vast, but they are actually pretty fun. The exercise ball can make exercise anything but boring when working on those external and internal obliques and the abdominal muscles. Your core muscles are what transfers power between the upper and lower portions of your body and there are so many exercises that can be done to get your body in shape. That definitely eliminates the need to call that 1-800 number to buy that super expensive piece of therapy equipment when an affordable piece of equipment like the exercise ball is so easy to obtain.

 

About the Author

Source 1 Medical is the Web's leading physical therapy equipment and massage therapy equipment supplier. Offering a wide variety of physical therapy supplies, massage tables, and medical and rehabilitation products.

How to avoid Gym rage

By performing one set to muscular failure and moving on will free up the machines for use by the next person.

� Wipe the machines down after use, try not to leave your sweat on the piece of equipment you have just used, use a towel to separate yourself from the machine while you make use of it and wipe it down thoroughly after use.

� Don't drop the weights onto the ground and don�t clang them loudly as this is very off-putting to the other members. Make sure you return the weights to there correct place on the racks when you're finished with them even though you might have found them lying on the floor.

� One thing you don't want to do is constantly ask people if they've finished using a machine when they're obviously still exercising on it. If anything the trainee will try to sit on it longer just to annoy you. Be patient; don't interrupt them while they are lifting, wait until they finish their set first.

� A gym isn't a social club don�t stand around in large groups chatting especially if you have a machine in use, do your talking in the locker room or at reception.

� Don�t leave your towel or other personal items lying around on a bench or piece of equipment if you are not using it. Leave your training space as clean as the way you found it. If the equipment is unattended for more than five minutes go ahead and use it, but be prepared to share also, let people work in with you if the difference in weight is not too large.

Leave enough space around you so that other people can approach the weight rack and get the equipment they need.

� Don�t scream when you are going for that personal best lift, remember that the others around you are concentrating on their own work out to and don't need to hear you screaming out for attention. Exhaling loudly as you contract the muscles during your set is fine.

� Don�t hog the water fountain, only take a few mouthfuls of water and then move away, don�t fill up your huge water bottle with cold water and leave warm drinking water for the rest of the members.

� Follow the gyms code of conduct usually seen on the walls of the gym or fitness centre, if trainees are not following the code report it to management don�t take it into your own hands.


Do yourself a favour and put these simple steps to use the next time you are in the gym and you will be in for a much more pleasant experience.


Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to health , exercises and other information, do please browse for more information at our websites.

About the Author

www.infozabout.com www.fitness.infozabout.com

Golf Club Uses for the frustrated

Imaging if you have children that have become board with the high tech video games. These are the same games that create a little moving, couch-based life. Give them a Golf club each and many over ripe oranges and you have a source of free entertainment. On the side of caution, this idea would most likely be applied by a father, and could result in mess to clean up afterwards and possibly a screaming wife. Also should only be done outside.

Cat Teaching

If you have even owned a cat, you will know that at times, they like to please the owner be showing how they are a great hunter. This results in the loud meow and the discovery of a dead bird or mouse. In most cases, this would need the owner to handle the almost dead creature. Never again, now take that, Golf club and send the dying creature to its next life- by airmail!

Need the exercise- but can't afford Gym fees?

A golf club would also make an inexpensive weed wacker for your lawn and the process of removing weeds with your golf club can also act as your exercise for the day. It all rolls together into one nice little package if you really let your mind go. At the same time a firm Grip would be needed on the club.

Easy home Maintenance

You can use it to remove that nasty hornet's nest from under your roof although you may want to wear long sleeves for that. It can also be handy at removing icicles from your roof as well but this requires some caution if moving above the ground.

There are many users for that high priced set of clubs sitting in the back of the garage. Put them to use before your wife or partner decides they were a bad idea, and sells them to make room for other storage items.

 

About the Author

 

Helpful FREE articles plus information on golf  like how to choose Golf Clubs are available from http://www.GolfclubReviewsOnline.com