Healthy Living Through Workout Routines And A Nutritious Diet

Small everyday changes to a person's eating habits and exercise rituals can make differences to both general health and body weight. Workout routines can be as simple as walking to work instead of taking the car or using the stairs in your home as an aid.

More adventurous people will opt to join a gym. This can offer more strenuous options for exercise as well as membership plans that will suit most incomes and schedules. There is the option to exercise alone with no assistance or join workout classes such as aerobics and spinning. Gyms also have dedicated personal trainers who will provide assistance, motivations and goals for physical improvement and weight loss.

For a healthy body and significant weight loss, exercise should be accompanied by healthy eating and eating the correct foods at the correct times. Eating an oat based cereal for breakfast is a great way of providing energy for a morning workout. Ideally food should not be eaten within the hour before exercise is taken. If the person is planning on eating a large meal before exercise this should be consumed at least three hours before exercise. It can be beneficial however to eat small amounts of low fat foods such as a banana during exercise.




Rice and pasta are a fantastic source of energy for workout routines as they are high in carbohydrates which supply energy, released slowly throughout the period of exercise. Five portions of fruit or vegetables should be consumed daily as they are both low in fat and high in essential nutrients. Foods high in sugar such as chocolate should be avoided or consumed at the most occasionally.

Another important part of a healthy diet is water. Drinking plenty of water can also aid weight loss when combined with a healthy diet. Water should be drank before a workout routine and at least 200ml should be consumed for every fifteen minutes of exercise. Enough water should be taken if a person is to undergo a long walk, run or bicycle ride.

For those who want faster results without a regular outlay of cash consider DVDs as the cheap and convenient alternative to gym memberships. Celebrity workout DVDs are readily available and offer someone the opportunity to exercise at home. Care should be taken however to select a DVD that does not exceed the individuals athletic ability. Consideration should also be given to the room and space within the home.

Gaming consoles also provide a fun and interactive way of getting fit. Many software packages record the progress of the individual and can offer the user advice on improving fitness. Goals can be set and the fun element of this form of workout routine can have motivational benefits.

Lifestyle changes rather than fad diets and short term workout routines will result in long term weight loss that is sustainable. A combination of healthy eating and moderate exercise are essential. Moderate exercise for a minimum of thirty minutes per day and avoiding fatty and high sugar foods will deliver steady and consistent weight loss as well as a healthier body in general.

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Best Foods to Build Muscle and Burn Fat

We all know of the importance of what you are eating if you wish to burn fat and build muscle up. You need a good variety of vegetables, fruits, carbohydrates plus healthy fats. Ingesting protein is also a crucial factor, we all know that protein is needed for muscle building but it is also important for fat loss. The reason for this is that protein has a higher thermic value than other types of food, what that means is that the body actually uses up more energy digesting the food as protein is harder to breakdown than carbs and fast.

Eating fats is also another overlooked yet important factor for losing fat off your body. This is because if you aren't consuming fat then your body will try to hang on to the fat that it already does have. What follows are ten excellent foods that achieve some or all of the above, here we go:

1. Whole eggs. The classic source of protein, cheap and healthy with around 7 grams of protein per each egg. You will also boost your testosterone levels due to the nutrients, vitamins and cholesterol that they contain.




2. Salmon. An excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids and also around 20 grams of protein for every 100g.

3. Berries. These are a fantastic source of anti-oxidants which are well known to prevent cancer and various other diseases. We are talking about kinds of berry really, common sources are: blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and so on.

4. Nuts. These are a really good source of mono and polyunsaturated fats, they are highly dense in calories and excellent for skinny guys who wish to gain weight. We are talking about hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts and such like. They are also high in protein too.

5. Red meat. An excellent source of protein, readily available and proven to aid in muscle building. Contains vitamin B12, zinc, creatine, and omega 3, steaks are king here.

6. Broccoli. Aids in fat loss as it is high in soluble fibre and low in calories whilst also being high in phytochemicals that are known to aid in the prevention of various diseases including cancers.

7. Oats. These are great in reducing cholesterol as they are high in soluble fibre and provide carbohydrates that give lots of long term energy.

8. Turkey. A really lean meat with around 4.5g of saturated fat per 100 grams.

9. Spinach. A highly alkaline food that prevents loss of muscle and bone loss and also protects against some cancers and heart disease.

10. Water. Without it your body can do very little in terms of muscle building. Water aids in muscle recovery and plays a significant role in pretty much all the chemical reactions in the body. Water also fills out your muscle more making it look better!

So, next time you go down the store take this short list with you and do your self a muscle building favor!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/T_Ryan/209520

The Best Bodyweight Exercises for Strength

In case you haven't noticed, there's a new exercise trend that's spreading like wildfire. And unlike most of the hot fads, this one has been around for a long time and isn't going away anytime soon - not like that ab gizmo you bought one time and is now collecting dust. I'm talking, of course, about bodyweight exercises.

The Best Bodyweight Exercises for Strength

Before gyms became mainstream, how do you think people stayed in shape? Most of the old-school strongmen relied on a lot of bodyweight exercises for their impressive physiques. Also, if you've ever seen a gymnastic event on TV, you'll know how unbelievably ripped those people are. Guess what? Gymnasts train almost exclusively using only their own bodyweight as resistance!

Whether you are looking to amp up your exercise program, or just trying to save a few bucks by not having a gym membership, learning these exercises will help you build a strong and attractive body.




The Push Up

If you don't know this one, you probably never showed up to gym class. Nevertheless, the push up is an important upper body exercise that cannot be neglected.

The Pull Up

Another "phy ed classic," the pull up will work all the muscles in your upper body that push ups do not. This is another must!

The Plank

The plank is the only abs exercise you'll ever need. People are used to doing crunches and may not be too familiar with this one. It resembles the "up" position of the push up, but you lower down to your forearms and hold yourself completely straight as long as you can.

The Squat

"The king of exercises" needs no additional weight to be effective. In fact, you will save your back long-term by ditching the barbell. Just make sure you squat ALL the way down to get the most of this exercise. This is one exercise that will work every muscle group in your lower body.

Putting Together a Workout Routine

Now that you know the "big four" best bodyweight exercises for strength, it's time to throw them together in a workout routine. With just these exercises, you can work every muscle in your body to ensure an even development.

1. Push ups: 3 sets of reps to fatigue.
2. Pull ups: 3 sets of reps to fatigue.
3. Planks: 3 sets of holds to fatigue.
4. Squats: 3 sets of reps to fatigue.

Notice how I don't say "reps to FAILURE." It is important you stop before failure while your form is still perfect to avoid injury. If you do this routine 2-3 times per week, you will get closer to building the body of your dreams every day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Darrin_Carlson/637303