Tuesday, May 13, 2008

A Guide to Youth Weight Loss Camps

If you want to start promoting health and wellness to a young person, a youth weight loss camp can help you with that. A youth weight loss camp is similar to boot camp except that it is more fun, less harsh, and gives importance to discipline when it comes to health and proper nutrition.

The goal of losing weight
A youth weight loss camp is usually designed based on the concept of losing weight while having fun. If a youth needs a boost in their self-esteem and self-image, the camp instructors can guide them in doing so while teaching them how to change their eating habits to something more healthy and their inactive lifestyle to something more active.

Duration
A youth can stay in this camp for at least a week. Some are overnight camps while others last for 4 to 6 weeks. If there is an opportunity for a youth to go to a youth weight loss camp, urge them to do so. There are special packages with discounts that they can surely benefit from because it is guaranteed that they can learn a lot about health and wellness from weight loss camp.

Facilities, programs and activities
Weight loss camps are located in beautiful locations and are equipped with modern facilities and manned by expert instructors and staff. The youth will be fed a variety of healthy and nutritious meals arranged and designed for them by nutritionists. The programs and activities can inspire the youth to gain better self-worth and to change their current lifestyle to a healthier and more active one while they are having fun participating in them.

Before enrolling...
Book an appointment with the doctor to check if the youth is fit for weight loss camp. An obese youth may already have some health problems regarding his heart or lungs so they should be monitored closely before sending them to camp, otherwise, it can lead to more complications.

Phillip England is a weight loss expert and Author of the popular report "The Ultimate Weight Loss Secret". To receive your free information on the secret that doctors, and health companies either don't know, or don't want you to know, please see http://www.theultimateweightlosssecret.com/secret

South Beach Diet Friendly Recipes

Many people think that being on a diet means giving up all of your old favorites. Actually, that is the number one reason that most diets fail. You cannot be expected to give up all of your old favorites, all the time. On the flip side, you cant indulge in them all of the time and expect to keep the weight off. After all, it wasnt what you avoided eating that made you gain weight.

This Diet does allow you to incorporate the occasional indulgence. But, what about those recipes or foods that you want to incorporate more than occasionally? The answer is simple modify. Here are some tips on modifying your old recipes to make them South Beach Diet friendly.

1. What kind of oil? Make sure to substitute mono- and polyunsaturated oils such as olive, peanut or canola oil for any saturated oils, such as butter or margarine, which wreak havoc on your cholesterol.

2. Another kind of sweet If your recipe calls for sugar or honey, use a sugar substitute instead. An all-natural sweetener or one made from sugar (like Splenda) is best.

3. Make it lean Take a close look at the cuts of meat or poultry required. Use lean cuts instead of fattier ones. For example, substitute chicken breasts for chicken thighs.

4. Kick up the fiber For pasta or grain recipes, make sure to use whole-grain or whole-wheat. The fiber will slow down the absorption of starches and sugars into your digestive system.

5. Check the Cheese You should use low or non-fat dairy products only. Normally, low-fat products are not recommended on the South Beach Diet because the fat is often replaced with sugar. However, non and low-fat dairy products are an exception and should be used whenever possible.

You will be surprised how many recipes will taste little to no different with these simple modifications. Of course, you will come across recipes that simply cant be or dont taste the same when modified. Those are the recipes that you are going to have to enjoy occasionally. It is important that you do not deprive yourself completely of these favorites. Youre just going to have to be more aware of when and how much you eat of these favorites. Save them for a special occasion, enjoy them without guilt and get right back to eating well the next day.

As for those that can be modified, make them a staple of your meals and forget you are on a diet!

Reggie Dunn is a long time diet enthusiast and follower of the South Beach Diet.
You can find more information on the South Beach Diet at http://www.online-diet-reviews.info/south-beach-diet.html

Does Walking Or Running Burn More Fat?

This is a question that is debated quite often. The answer might shock you.

There's no concrete answer to this question, but basically it boils down to this: You will burn roughly 100 calories per mile, no matter what speed you go.

Now, there are some caveats. For example, a person who weighs 105 pounds will burn less calories per mile than a person who weighs 205 pounds, simply because the heavier person is carrying more weight. All things being equal, however, the lighter person doesn't need to eat that many calories in a day, so it balances out.

Another factor to, ahem, weigh in, is that the human body acclimates itself to any stresses put on it. All other things being equal, the better you get at running, the less calories you will burn. So, if you're a champion runner you will burn less calories on a run than someone who's running for the first time. Again, all things being equal, the champion runner will likely be able to run a further distance, thus balancing the equation again.

There's another camp that will argue that walking will actually burn more fat because it's a lower intensity exercise that can be sustained for a longer period of time. The key to weight loss, research has shown, is that it's not the intensity of the workout that counts, it's the accumulated duration of the exercise. So, it might actually be more beneficial for some people to walk simply because they can go for a longer distance without tiring.

The good thing about running is that it's great for your health. There are great cardiovascular benefits to a moderately intense workout. The bad thing about running is that it can be hard on some people's knees.

The bottom line? Do what you enjoy. If the thought of running makes you cringe, but you enjoy a nice long stroll, then by all means stroll away. The point is choosing a workout that you will stick with, and nobody's going to stick with something they hate doing for very long.

For more information that will guide you in terms of choosing the best activities to burn fat, visit BestQuickWeightLossPrograms.com and read our Turbulence Training Review.

Fitness guru Cynthia Blake is a writer for BestQuickWeightLossPrograms.com

How Should You Go about Locating A Good Local Weight Loss Program Center?

If you are planning to shed some weight then you may well find it very helpful to join your local weight loss center where you will find not only information and advice about losing weight, but will also benefit from the assistance of others and of following a program with set goals for you to aim for. But exactly how should you go about locating a good local weight loss program center?

Before we answer this question it is important that you know precisely what you are looking for as not all weight loss programs are the same.

Some centers host regular meetings perhaps every week where members 'weigh in' to check their progress and discuss their diet plan for the following week. These meetings generally last about an hour or two and, although they give you access to advice and encouragement, you are largely left to fend for yourself between meetings.

Other centers operate seven days a week (frequently opening early and staying open until late evening) and not only give advice and information, but also give you access to an extensive range of fitness equipment and will also run various exercise classes.

Possibly the best place to start your search for a suitable local center is your local telephone directory. Start your search by looking for 'weight loss' or 'health and fitness' in the business or yellow pages section of the directory.

An alternative to using your local telephone directory is to use the online business directories and online telephone books. Just as your standard telephone directory, these online services will let you have the name, address and telephone number of your local weight loss centers, but have the benefit of also providing you with the website address of centers which also have an internet site. This will then let you find out much more about a center from the comfort of your own home and without having to call them or pop around to check them out.

As well as utilizing web-based telephone books and business directories you can also carry out a search with your preferred search engine. A basic search for phrases like 'weight loss centers' or 'weight loss programs' will bring up a list of not merely local centers but also national chains which can be helpful for determining such things as the size of the business. Generally, you can then find a local center through their main website. You can also refine your search results by adding your location and, for instance, searching for 'weight loss centers in Long Beach' or 'weight loss programs in Long Beach'.

A further very good way to find a suitable local center is by simply asking around. You can start with family members, work colleagues, friends, neighbors or your doctor. This will not only usually give you information about your local centers, but will also give you details of the personal experience of others in using such centers. Out of all the search methods this is clearly the best because you really cannot beat a personal recommendation when you are trying to find a good weight loss program.

You can learn more about Weight Loss Program Centers as well as get Free weight loss tips and much more information on dieting and losing weight at http://www.FatLoss4IdiotsReview.net

Ultimate Weight Loss Solution Tips - From Soda Sluicing To Vegetable Juicing

'The Ultimate Weight Loss Solution' by Dr. Phil McGraw has taken the diet and nutrition world by storm. His common-sense, straight-shooting approach has proven to be highly effective in the raging weight and obesity wars. If you examine and follow the seven keys to healthy nutrition he writes about in 'The Ultimate Weight Loss Solution', you are virtually guaranteed slimming success. This is especially true if you manage to stop your rampant sugar addiction in its tracks.

Imagine this: By just cutting out a 12 ounce sweetened soda fountain serving per day, 15 pounds of bumps and blubber will miraculously melt away every year! This will occur regardless of other dietary adaptations you make, or exercise programs you undertake. That single small, but vital step, will lighten your load significantly.

In fact, the benefit of ditching soda cans may be even more pronounced, as many servings these days come in humongous 20 ounce or even frightful 42 ounce containers. This translates into between 10 teaspoons and a massive 35 teaspoons of sugar guzzled down in a matter of minutes. Multiply that by 365 days per year, and you are looking at more than 250 cups of sugar! That is one scary statistic!

The worst aspect of soda sluicing is that it happens mindlessly within a few seconds. There is no chewing and no satiating bulk. It is pure sugar swallowed without even a moment's thought. Many kids grow up on this stuff. They are never taught about the ingredients and their possible detrimental effects on their health and weight management efforts. Parents set the example by opting for these sugar seductions at every opportunity.

These chemically laden beverages also have the potential to rob a robust body of its health-giving nutrients. In addition, the caffeine and sugar are likely to contribute to a sluggish digestive system. But wait, there's more, as they say in infomercials...

Soda pop creates a highly acidic environment in the body, which can become a breeding ground for all kinds of nasty ailments. A daily soda habit throws the body's PH levels, so vital for wellbeing, completely out of whack. Soda sipping is also lethal to your teeth's enamel and may lead to cavities.

Replacing sugar-laden sodas with diet soda are not the ultimate weight loss solution either. There are heated debates about the long-term health repercussions of downing large amounts of sugar replacement products. One of the safest artificial sweeteners seems to be Xylitol. Opt for this if possible, but limit your intake.

Don't just attempt to drop the soda habit. A habit change is far more sustainable if you can replace it with a workable healthy alternative. Here are some ideas you can incorporate into your diet and nutrition plan:

Ultimate Weight Loss Solution Beverage Tips

1. Water: How about starting off with a far out idea. Have you ever thought about drinking plain old water when you are thirsty? If you taste water only when you brush your teeth, your body is in serious jeopardy. There is a real possibility that you are dehydrated. This affects every aspect of your body's functioning. Drinking water truly is the ultimate weight loss solution tip. It is filling, calorie-free and provide the lubrication your body needs for optimal functioning.

By replacing soda with water, you will rehydrate your body, cut out sugar, probably even cut down on dental bills, and preserve nutrients. It is easy to add a touch of lemon for extra taste. If you need to, invest in quality water filter purification equipment to ensure better tasting and safer water.

2. Juicing For Health: Another ultimate weight loss solution tip is to invest in a quality vegetable juicer such as the Breville Juice Fountain or a Jack Lalanne Power Juicer. Your family will soon enjoy juicing to drop extra pounds, and to increase health and general wellbeing.

Fresh vegetable juice is nature's intravenous feeding - and that without the ouch of a needle stick. Your family will relish the nutrient-rich juice. Their bodies will assimilate all the vitamins, minerals and enzymes immediately and with great ease, as fresh juice is in a sense predigested food.

Even the kids will join in with enthusiasm. They love the colorful juicing concoctions and will come up with all sorts of (often fairly disgusting!) names for the cocktails. Vegetable juice acts as a natural appetite suppressant, comes at a low calorie cost and is fat free.

Another substantial benefit is that vegetable juice helps to restore the PH of your body, rectifying the high acidity levels.

3. Herbal Tea: Experiment with fragrant, fresh, healthy caffeine free herbal teas.

4. Iced Tea: A variety of delicious flavored sugar-free iced teas are on the market these days. Be adventurous and give them a try. Just remember that canned iced tea may also damage your teeth's enamel. Always read labels to ensure that you know what your are purchasing.

Don't just look for a weight loss pill to pop or another Kevin Trudeau weight loss cure. Take responsibility for your health and make a commitment to kick the soda sugar habit for good. Your body will love you for it, and you will see the gratifying results in the mirror. Add juicing to your ultimate weight loss solution tips and thrive!

Best-Juicing.com: Get the FREE Fat-Burning Secrets Series, and read the Juicing For Weight Loss article at Best-Juicing.com - by Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com, where she shows you how your day job can become something of the past. Copyright of this article: 2007 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.

Weight Loss Benefits of Massage

There is no question that having a massage makes you feel great. Even having a deep-tissue, sports massage makes you feel wonderful afterwards. Massage can relieve stress, help you recover from hard physical activity or injury and even reduce anxiety, but can it help you to achieve your weight loss goals?

Research shows that massage can have a positive effect on your muscle-building capabilities and fitness levels, which in turn increases your capacity to control or loose weight.

Healthy strong muscles burn calories and give you the freedom to participate in all sorts of sports and activities that can help you burn excess calories and improve your overall fitness and wellbeing.

Massage has the following benefits that can directly influence your ability to control or loose weight:

1. Massage has been shown to improve circulation and the supply of nutrition to the muscles. Massage increases the interchange of vital substances between the blood and tissue cells, which increases tissue metabolism. After muscles are exercised, vital nutrients must be supplied to them so that they can recover and rebuild themselves. Massage maximizes the supply of these nutrients and oxygen though increased blood flow, which helps the muscles to grow and burn more calories as a result.

2. Massage improves your muscles range of motion and their flexibility. This allows them to maintain maximum power and performance while active, and burn the maximum number of calories in the process.

Improved range of motion and flexibility also reduces muscle soreness during periods of recovery and muscle repair.

Having a wide range of motion and maximum muscle flexibility also reduces the danger of experiencing injuries during exercise which can severely limit activity, exercise and weight loss progress.

3. Massage helps to shorten the recovery time needed between your workouts. Waste products such as lactic and carbonic acid build up in muscles during and after exercise. Increased circulation to these muscles helps to eliminate toxic debris buildup caused by these waste products and in doing so shorten recovery time.

Shortened recovery time means you can safely have more workouts over a given period of time, which in turn means that you have the opportunity to burn more total calories in your effort to achieve your individual weight loss goals.

4. Massage can also help reduce the chance of you over-training. Massage has a relaxing effect on the muscles and a sedative effect on the nervous system. By helping you to rest, which is a very important element of any exercise program, massage can reduce the likelihood of you experiencing over-training syndrome, which is known to limit your ability to build strong healthy muscles and therefore loose weight with maximum efficiency.

5. In addition to all of the above, massage may directly aid in fat loss. According to some research studies, massage is thought to be able to burst the fat capsule in subcutaneous tissue so that the fat exudes and becomes absorbed. In this way, combined with proper nutrition and exercise, massage may actually help in weight loss.

6. As we have already touched upon, massage helps prevent and heal injuries. By stretching connective tissue, massage improves circulation to help prevent or break down adhesions and scar tissue that result from muscle tears and other common muscle injuries. Massage also influences the excretion of certain fluids (nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur) that aid in tissue repair. Fast and effective recovery from injuries means that you can begin exercising sooner after suffering an injury and getting your weight loss progress back on track.

So there you have it. Massage has a lot of benefits that can indirectly and possibly even directly aid you in achieving your weight loss goals.

Regular massage is just as important a component as regular workouts and correct nutrition in any comprehensive fitness and weight loss program, which is great news for those of us who thought that exercising and loosing weight was all hard work! Remember, weight loss is all about leading a balanced lifestyle and massage is an essential part of any balanced lifestyle.

If you havent had a massage lately, what are you waiting for? Get on the phone and make yourself a booking. If you havent had a massage before, just remember to have your massage done by a qualified massage therapist.

If you are unsure about a massage practitioners qualifications and experience, ask for referrals, professional training information, and make sure they are certified by reputable agency or institution.

And remember, have fun!

Scott Haywood is the editor of Australia's leading weight loss and healthy lifestyle website weightloss.com.au. Weightloss.com.au is a free weight loss resource that has healthy recipes, weight loss product reviews, a weight loss business directory and a very popular weight loss forum.

Tips On Fast Weight Loss For Special Occasions

If you are like me, you have probably been through all this before, the family wedding is coming up next month and you can't seem to fit into that suit or dress because you have put on too much weight. So you must lose at least ten or more pounds quickly.

Losing weight quickly is not advisable as most of the loss will be muscle tissue and water; you put on the weight slowly (usually over years) so normally you should take it off slowly and then you will know that the majority of the loss will be body fat.

But you have a problem here and the clock is ticking so you will have to diet pretty hard to meet your target weight loss. Let's look at that first, you all know that diets don't work; they send the body into starvation mode, a survival mechanism from long age when humans faced periods of famine.

Going too low in calories causes the body to lower its metabolic rate, which reduces its ability to burn fat. At the same time, hunger signals increase and you quickly start to crave high-energy foods loaded with fats and sugar, the same foods you are trying to do without.

Research shows repeated dieting actually makes it harder to lose weight and easier to put it on because when you dump the diet and return to normal eating habits the drop in metabolic rate caused by the diet means that your old habits actually represent an excess in calories.

Not only do you regain the fat stores just lost, but also you may even gain an extra bit.

Knowing this, you really don't want to put yourselves through this rigorous process, but for this special occasion you will. First though, you will have to boost the metabolism that has been lowered by the dieting.

To do this you will have to perform a "Strength Training" workout to generate that initial spike in your metabolism. By increasing the lean muscle on your body by using Strength Training, your metabolism will increase, burning fat along the way.

The strength training technique I use requires just twenty to thirty mins per week. Gone are the days of the five-day a week program with 6 to 12 sets per body part that, method has never worked.

One short intense strength-training workout a week will elevate your metabolism more than you ever thought possible.

While the calories expended doing exercise are important, the increase in metabolism especially after strength training continues long after the exercise is finished, burning calories at the same time.

The two main components of this technique are the intensity of the exercise and the recovery after the exercise.

Infrequent, short, high intensity weight training sessions, followed by the required amount of time to recover and become stronger is what is needed to increase functional lean muscle and lose body fat.

Small frequent meals should be consumed during the day each containing a little protein to maintain muscle mass and energy levels. A high quality broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement should also be taken on a daily basis.

As before get the calories from high quality food but if you can't, utilize a blender to make concoctions from skim milk with whatever additives you want to use, just as long as you keep count of the calories for your daily total.

Now use these blender mixtures and solid food for your daily feedings. Spread it out over many small meals a day instead of the traditional three meals a day. The way to keep track of weight loss is to buy a calorie counter and record your daily calorie intake for a week.

Now average out how many calories you consume a day with the use of a seven-day eating plan and calorie counter, once you have this figure subtract 1000 calories and this will be the target number of calories you will be aiming for.

Remembering that one-pound of fat contains 3500cals, losing 1000 calories a day will total 7000 for the week, which equals two pounds lost by dietary means alone. Another technique for low calorie eating is to watch your fat intake as this has the most calories.

Incidental activity is also very important if you want to lose this amount of weight in this short period of time, by increasing incidental activity you can burn at least another pound a week The best exercise for the purpose of fat-loss is fast walking either indoors on the treadmill or outdoors.

Walk until you are mildly puffing and hold that rate until the allotted time. If your aerobic activities leave you panting or breathless, your going too hard, your energy is coming from your carbohydrate reserves and not from your fat stores. Try fast walking for one hour a day every day of the week.

Well there you have it, as an experienced trainer I wouldn't recommend this type of program to my clients. The weight loss is just too quick and the program would be very hard to maintain owing to the very low caloric intake.

I advise my clients to decrease their calories by just 500 per day (and no more) below their maintenance levels and they will be losing 1 - 2 pounds of body fat every week, safely, without craving and without too much disruption to their lifestyle.

In conclusion remember, think long term here and that's between 30 and 50 pounds of fat lost in six months. Any faster and all you will be losing is water and precious muscle tissue.

Gary Matthews is the author of the popular fitness eBooks Maximum Weight Loss and Maximum Weight Gain. Please visit http://www.maximumfitness.com right now for your 'free' weight loss e-course.

Weight Lifting For Weight Loss

In order to lose weight you must reduce your caloric intake. But this causes a major problem. As you cut your calories your metabolic rate goes down. The metabolic rate is the rate at which the body burns calories. The higher your metabolic rate the more calories you burn even at rest.

But there is good news the more muscle you have the higher your metabolic rate. Ever wondered why younger people can eat many more calories than older people without gaining weight? Younger people generally have more muscle mass than older people and thus have a higher metabolic rate. As we age, eating the same number of calories causes us to gain weight.

Weight lifting increases your metabolism. Muscle burns more calories than fat. If we lose muscle instead of fat when dieting, we decrease our metabolic rate. When our metabolic rate decreases we plateau and cannot lose any more weight. That's why it's best to lose weight gradually to prevent a significant decrease in our metabolic rate. Weight lifting while dieting will keep your metabolic rate at a high level.

Use strength training to build muscle instead of losing it. For every one pound of muscle your body will burn 50 calories. And this happens without dieting or any more exercise. You can even lose weight while sleeping. Muscle keeps your metabolic rate higher longer. A pound of fat will not burn any calories, a pound of muscle will. Keep muscle rather that fat and you will look better too. It's a no-brainer put on some muscle.

Be sure to work your major muscle groups. Try for 30 minutes of weight bearing exercise every other day. Since muscle weighs more than fat you might see an increase in your weight at first. Don't let this bother you. If you are lifting weights and cutting calories the extra weight is muscle not fat.

In addition to the above benefits strength training is effective in improving glucose tolerance. It also helps to prevent osteoporosis. To achieve results it is not necessary to lift excessive amounts of weight. Develop a strength training program that fits your needs.

Unfortunately, as we age we lose muscle and gain fat. We lose about 20% of our muscle mass after 30 years of age. The only way to retain our muscle mass is with weight lifting. When you increase your muscle mass you burn more calories. And that means you can eat more without gaining weight. Your metabolic rate will remain elevated longer and you will burn more calories without any effort. Weight lifting will help you lose weight faster.

When you combine cardiovascular workouts with weight training you will lose fat faster and more efficiently. So opt for the weight training along with the aerobics. It will keep you leaner and more muscular.

Linda Tremer has studied nutrition, weight loss and fitness for over 30 years. She is the owner of the website The Center For Weight Loss. Her site is dedicated to helping you lose weight. Many weight loss programs and healthy diet plans are reviewed on her site.

The Secret Of How To Lose Weight Fast And Easy

Everyone goes on a diet sometime. Whether it's for a day, a week, a month, or a year, odds are that at one time or other you will need to shift a few stubborn kilos in order to feel better about yourself. That's where knowing the secret of how to lose weight fast and easy comes in.

Dieting is an industry that makes millions. Actually no, it makes hundreds of millions of pounds every year. Why? Because no-one wants to follow the age-old equation that hard work and exercise plus a good diet equals weight loss. Everyone wants to know the secret. Who wants to work for it if there is a way to shift the weight quicker and more easily?

So, fad diets, packaged foods, vitamin drinks, specially-designed clothing, weight reduction pills, and home exercise equipment (usually easily stored away) are sold on a massive scale. If there's a trick or a knack that will help shed those kilos, the masses want to know. That's where the money lies, in people's desperation to know how to do this.

However, you need not spend millions to learn the secret of how to lose weight fast and easy. In fact, it's no so much a secret as a change in attitude. It comprises five different aspects, each as important as the other and needless to say, that if you follow it rigidly, you will have learnt how to do it.

Firstly, you have to change your way of thinking. By thinking or saying "I'm on a diet" automatically you place yourself under stress and temptation to break it. It's like someone saying "Don't look down" when you're up high - as soon as the words have been said you have an overwhelming urge to look down.

Instead, you should be thinking, "I'm changing my eating habits" which is a lot less daunting and much easier to actually do. Changing your eating habits can take place immediately and provide instant results.

For example, replace salad cream with a little olive oil and lemon juice; white bread with brown; boiled vegetables with raw ones; fruit juice and soft drink with water; fried food with grilled food; and sugar with honey.

In this way, you have not deprived yourself of anything, nor cut down the amounts of food you are eating, but with very little effort, you have reduced major sources of fat and calories.

Secondly, you need to change the way you spend your energy. The idea of replacing taking a lift with walking up the stairs is unbearable if you have to go to the 30th floor, however, if it's just one floor, then chances are it's no more than 25 steps, which is not so bad.

By improving your food intake, and increasing your energy output - even by just a little - it's logical that you will lose weight. How much weight you lose and over how long a period of time will just depend on how rigidly you stick to these two criteria, neither of which is particularly difficult in its own right.

In reality, no-one wants to work really hard for a very long time, however if you know that it's going to be for less than 15 minutes, it can seem a lot more bearable. E-books such as "12 Minutes to Fit and Fabulous" available from http://www.weightlossfatburnersecrets.com are a cheap way to learn how to lose weight fast and easy.