One Big Health Nut

June 18, 2007

How Can I Get a Flat Stomach?

Filed under: — Vicki @ 4:58 pm

For those of you that have often wondered how to obtain a flat stomach, you must understand one very important fact. You will not attain a flat stomach by just doing crunches. Abdominal exercises will strengthen your stomach muscles. But they will not reduce fat and flatten your stomach. In order to flatten your stomach, you must do cardio-vascular exercises.

A round stomach is caused by fat layering over your stomach muscles. You must burn that fat to flatten your stomach. Unfortunately, you cannot choose where your body will burn fat since your body burns fat evenly throughout your body. In order to achieve results, you have to adhere to a regular cardio exercise routine. You could have the strongest, most defined set of abdominal muscles, but if there is a layer of fat covering your stomach no one will ever know.

Be sure to exercise 3 to 4 days every week for at least thirty minutes each session. The higher the intensity of your work-out, the better and faster the results you will see. Adding weights to your work out regiment will also help enhance your results. Lifting weights has been proven to help your body continue to burn calories at an accelerate rate for up to 17 hours after you’ve completed your work out.

To actually achieve a flat stomach, you must be willing to put in the work. Adhere to a cardio work-out schedule, add weights to your exercise program, and make sure that you continue to do abdominal exercises at least 3 days a week. And don’t give up if you don’t see immediate results. All exercise programs take time to work. Give your body time to adjust to your routine and to respond to your new program.

June 15, 2007

What is Vitamin B6?

Filed under: — Vicki @ 6:04 pm

Do you know what vitamin B6 does for your body? Since your body requires B6 and 1/3 of adults are deficient, isn’t it time to find out. Vitamin B6 is also known as Pyridoxine. The primary function of B6 is as a coenzyme. It provides assistance to other enzymes in your body that need assistance in carrying out their daily tasks. It is essential in the formation of neurotransmitters, proteins, and red blood cells. And it helps prevent disease.

In addition to the aforementioned benefits, B6 also aids our bodies in metabolizing the foods we eat and turning them into energy. B6 has been found to decrease PMS and can help suffering pregnant women with their morning sickness. B6 could help treat epilepsy and depression. It even aids in preserving the health of your nerves. Nerve health is important to individuals that suffer from diabetes and carpal tunnel. B6 is even considered valuable in reducing asthma symptoms frequency and intensity.

To benefit from Vitamin B6, women should have 1.3mg each day and increase it to 1.5mg after age 50. Men should take in 1.7mg daily. This vitamin is prevalent in avocadoes, potatoes, bananas, and chickpeas. Meats and fish contain this vitamin also. Make sure you are receiving your daily recommended amounts to prevent a deficiency. Deficiencies have been linked to increased risk of heart disease and vascular disorders. Severe deficiencies, though uncommon, can produce depression, epileptic seizures, insomnia, and abnormal brain waves.

Vitamin B6 is considered one of the hardest working vitamins in your body. B6 provides multiple health benefits and is the most commonly found deficiency in our diets. Make sure that you are taking in the recommended amounts of this vitamin and enjoy your good health and an energy boost.

June 14, 2007

Is kickboxing the program for you?

Filed under: — Vicki @ 5:03 pm

Kickboxing is considered a cardiovascular exercise. Kickboxing is a fun and energetic alternative to conventional forms of cardiovascular exercise. If you have found yourself bored with your usual cardiovascular routine and need to add diversity to your work out to prevent your exercise routine from becoming mundane, consider kickboxing as a viable option.

Kickboxing is a high-intensity/impact workout that includes boxing, aerobics, and martial arts. Punches, kicks, sparring, and some traditional boxing moves are integrated into a fun, heart pumping work-out. Usually kickboxing routines average 30 to 60 minutes. Many gyms offer classes in kickboxing or you can find videos that offer kickboxing routines. The kickboxing videos offer programs geared towards every level of experience, from beginner to advanced.

Benefits from kickboxing address many of the 9 elements of health. Kickboxing increases your cardiovascular fitness, your strength, and flexibility. It helps improve your coordination, balance, and reflexes. Some studies have shown that kickboxing also helps relieve stress. On average, a typical kickboxing routine burns 350 to 400 calories per hour.

If you are looking for a new exercise program to spice up a tired routine, kickboxing could be just what you have been seeking. Try it out by substituting a kickboxing routine once a week into your current schedule. By trying new programs, you will prevent yourself from being bored and your body from experiencing a plateau in results. So try a kickboxing video and enjoy.

June 13, 2007

Getting Rid of Cellulite

Filed under: Cellulite, Exercise, Food, Skin, Weight Loss — Vicki @ 6:26 pm

Cellulite is caused by clumps of fat cells that push up against the surrounding fibrous connective tissue, resulting in dimpling of the skin usually around your butt and thighs. In lay terminology, it is fat that pushes through cell walls into the middle layer of skin and shows through to the surface. Cellulite is not caused by excess weight. That is a myth. Researchers have found that due to genetics, even skinny people are cursed with cellulite. The big question is, how do we get rid of it?

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June 12, 2007

How Much Physical Activity/Exercise Do I Need?

Filed under: — Vicki @ 5:22 pm

The amount of physical activity needed by each individual person is dependent upon many factors. A person’s weight, age, diet, and goals are all influencing factors when making the determination. Here are some guidelines to help:

  1. To maintain your weight and prevent weight gain, engage in 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. You should attempt to do this everyday.
  2. To lose weight, you need to engage in 60 to 90 minutes daily of moderate to vigorous physical activity. It may be necessary for you to first talk with your doctor to ensure this is safe for you.
  3. To reduce your risk of chronic disease, 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity is necessary every day.
  4. To achieve greater health benefits and better results remember, the more vigorous the activity and the longer the duration, the better the outcome.

Physical fitness and weight management can only be attained through an adequate exercise plan. Try to engage in physical activities that adhere to the time and intensity guidelines outlined above. You will find by balancing your caloric intake with physical activity, you will achieve results.

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