Alcohol - The 5 Most Common Fitness and Fat Loss Questions Answered

One area of the alcohol debate I come across a lot is when people start a new fitness program, they always seem to ask how alcohol will affect their progress. To help you understand the affects alcohol has on your progress I've compiled a list of the most common questions I get asked about alcohol.

1. Are there calories in alcohol?

Yes, alcohol is labelled as having 7.1 calories per gram, although if you take into account thermogenesis and the thermic effect of food it comes down to about 5.7 calories.

2. What happens to me when I drink alcohol?

You get drunk, start sending drunken texts and everyone becomes your best friend. Oh wait, that's just me. When you drink alcohol (ethanol) your body and specifically your liver goes into high alert mode because one of the metabolic by products of alcohol is a toxin called acetate. Our liver starts working overtime to remove this toxin and metabolizing it takes precedence over everything else. This means any fat burning your body might have been doing or growth and repair it might have been doing comes to a standstill until the acetate is removed. This leads to the next question...

3. Will I get fat if I drink alcohol?

The easy answer here is yes and no. Let me start with the no part. At the end of the day to put on weight you have to be in a calorie surplus and to lose weight you need to be in a calorie deficit. Bearing that fact in mind, when you drink alcohol, if you were to stay below or at your maintenance level of recommended calories then no you wouldn't gain weight. Therein lies the problem however... You see it's what alcohol actually does to us that cause the problems. Alcohol been alcohol gets you drunk, when you're drunk your inhibitions are lowered way down - I mean "oh my god I can't believe I [insert your own embarrassing story here] last night" down. These lowered inhibitions lead to all kinds of crazy stories but most importantly for you and your health they lead to you overeating i.e. cue the snack-boxes, chilli fries and all the other junk food that more often than not follows a night out. It's the alcohol and the excess calories from this junk food and late night gorging that lead you to eat over maintenance and thus get fat.

The second problem here is that as calories go - alcohol calories are empty - they have no nutritional value what so ever and they have a very short term effect on satiety (how full you feel). And because the majority of alcohol is consumed in liquid form it's very easy to over consume calories by drinking alone.

4. What if I don't eat and just drink instead?

Seriously are you that stupid? Re-read the previous two questions and pay specific attention to the fact that alcohol is a toxin, contains no nutritional value and leads to overeating by reduced inhibitions and not to mention that going down this route is just plain idiotic, especially when you get the 'weight-watchers' saving all their points for the weekend and wonder why they aren't getting any healthier. Apologies, rant over.

5. Is there a way I can minimise the negative effects of alcohol?

Actually there is. Now I can't take credit for this formula. It was devised by the excellent nutritional consultant Martin Berkhan. This works on a moderate basis only once every week or every 2 weeks and is NOT free reign to get bananas every night. On the day you will be drinking limit your intake of dietary fat to 0.3g per Kg of bodyweight. Limit carb intake to 1.5g per Kg of bodyweight. Get your carbs from veggies and any accessory carbs that are in protein sources. Eat as much lean protein as you want. Limit your alcohol choices to dry wines, spirits with calorie free mixers and avoid beers, sugary drinks and high calorie cocktails. This formula focuses on elements that are least like to cause fat storage when drinking. Remember though alcohol is a toxin at the end of the day, it causes a host of other problems and should only ever be consumed in moderation, if at all. A friend mentioned to me recently that if alcohol had only been discovered today it would most definitely be banned. Remember that very true observation.

Thanks for reading. Being alcohol aware is just the first step.. For a complete plan visit my website where I can show you my complete How To Lose A Stone system.
Thanks again,
John "Social Life Friendly" Mulry

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10 Good Reasons to Use More Olive Oil

Every day there seem to be more and more reasons why extra virgin olive oil should be a part of everyone's diet.

Here are 10 good reasons to eat more olive oil:

• Wow! Exquisite taste.

Good extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is excellent when consumed raw to appreciate its aroma and taste. Its flavour extends from delicate to robust and more people are discovering its interesting taste characteristics.

• It's a great seasoning.

Think of it as essential seasoning. Like salt and pepper, always have oil on your table at mealtimes. One drop can add extra aroma and taste not just to pasta and salads but sauces, soups, stews, fresh and cooked vegetables, grilled fish and roast meat.

• It can help you lose weight.

Lowering calories in your diet and replacing bad saturated fats with monounsaturated, found in EVOO, may help your weight loss. It has been demonstrated that an olive-oil-rich diet leads to greater and longer - lasting weight loss than a low-fat diet.

• You may be healthier and live longer.

Containing a wide variety of valuable antioxidants that are not found in other oils, rich in vitamins and monounsaturated fats, olive oil has been shown to help to control blood pressure, cholesterol level, prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, some type of cancer and other illnesses and conditions.

• You will look good.

Including EVOO in your daily diet helps your skin stay healthy and beautiful. It has a large proportion of vitamins A, D, K and E and has a strong antioxidant effect, protecting against cell oxidation and the free radicals. It's a good aid to treat skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis and eczema.

• Your children may be healthier.

EVOO plays a key role in foetal development during pregnancy and a shortage may have pernicious effects on the baby's subsequent development. Studies show that the post-natal development of babies of mothers who consumed olive oil when pregnant is better in terms of height, weight, behaviour and psychomotor reflexes.

• Strengthen your immune system.

Olive oil intake helps the immune system against external attacks from bacteria, infection, micro-organisms and viruses. EVOO is high in polyphenols, chlorophyll, carotenoids and vitamin E - antioxidants key to the immune system strengthening and protection from the damaging effects of free-radicals.

• It may improve your memory.

Studies have shown that olive-oil-rich diets and monounsaturated fats, found in high amounts in olive oil, could help prevent memory loss, associated with ageing and in diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia.

• It can ease aches and pains.

Scientists have revealed that olive oil can act as a natural painkiller. It contains a natural organic compound - oleocanthal - which acts like the anti-inflammatory pain killer ibuprofen.

• It may improve the health of the entire population of the world.

The World Health Organization officially recommends that people across the world adopt the Mediterranean diet for better health and specifically suggests EVOO as the healthiest source of fat on the planet.
The information provided on our web site does not offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified medical personnel with any questions you may have regarding any medical conditions.

http://www.nelgusto.com, http://www.oliveoiltimes.com

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The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Juicing

Juicing is constantly known to be the easiest method to stay healthy as well as fit. However are you aware that it possesses its very own drawbacks too? Similar to the positive aspects associated with juicing, there are usually several negative points which should never be ignored. People think about juicing as one of the ways to protect against anything from just weight loss to curing cancer and along with this the trend has been growing since ages now.

First we can glance at the pros of juicing, why do you believe it is important to maintain and also enhance your overall health.

* Through juicing, all the nutrients are generally produced within the concentrated form which makes it an easy task to consume in more quantity.

* By bringing it within the concentrated form the absorption process that takes place within the body will become simple providing much more benefit.

* Researches have found that the antioxidants activity present in the juice will be 90% when compared to the fibers.

* Yet another studies state that people who regularly drink juice are less prone to cancer, Alzheimer's, cardiac diseases and other fatal illnesses.

* It's an easy approach to get much more vegetables and fruits straight into your body increasing your immunity and at the same time inculcating variety as well.

Now let us jump to know more about the cons of juicing that many are unaware of:

* In the event that you're juicing simply for fat loss, you need to keep in mind one thing which juicing fruits can easily add up the calories. At the same time, whole fruits as well as vegetables have comparatively fewer calories balancing it up entirely. It is said that a single orange only has 60 calories while a cup of orange juice has approximately 120 calories.

* Advantages of fiber are generally immense like the battle against cancer, improving the bowel movements as well as preventing heart illnesses as well as diabetes. Fiber is lost whenever you choose juicing thus lowering the fiber consumption drastically.

* Children are more likely prone to drinking more juice and doctors strictly advice not to induce this habit in them. This is because with increased fluid intake the solid food that must go into their diet seems to be left out thus hampering their growth and development.

* Increase more juice such as the apple juice can also lead to severe diarrhea.

* It is best to not leave your child to sleep while drinking juice from a bottle because the sugars contained in it may lead to cavity development.

There are usually both advantages as well as disadvantages of juicing but the most important thing is to include every thing in your diet to balance it for a healthy living.

Learn more about juicing and the mistakes common people make near their new route to living a nutritious life. Click here where I share my story on how I was familiarize with juicing.

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Weight Loss Success Stories - What Can We Learn?

Weight Loss Stories - Learn From The Success of Others

NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE:

As a woman, a mother and a grandmother I too have struggled with my weight at various stages in my lifetime. During menses, after childbirth, during menopause as the body goes through incredible changes. At one time I was totally obese being over 70 lbs over weight and that is when I knew I had to stop the train from leaving the station and continuing onto to Fatsville, a town in Overweightsville. Being an athlete and a runner I was marred by injury and chronic disease that had taken the use of my legs at one point, in my life, but I couldn't let that be the reason or the excuse to pile on the pounds.

I found a way to get myself mentally ready to lose the pounds. Now I believe that getting prepared and ready to take on the battle of the bulge is the hardest part of the journey. You can always give yourself the excuse of "I will start tomorrow" and then when tomorrow arrives its "I will start tomorrow" again and again as the cycle repeats itself then it never gets done. So mentally preparing yourself to shed the weight that took years to put on is a big hurdle but I tell you the truth if you get over that mental obstacle you are so ready for success! Its half the battle the mental aspect of any lifestyle adjustment and especially when it comes to food. I can't express enough to you that the mental obstacles are the biggest hurdles to most any goal in life. We have to believe we can do it no matter what. We have to place faith in our ability to adjust long standing bad habits and wrong choices. We must believe in the "WHY" of our goal. Are we doing this for our health issues and or vanity.

No matter whatever the issue you must be willing to go the distance to reach that goal weight that you have in mind. So mental preparation is more than half the battle it will be the task master that you need when you are tempted to slip back into wrong choices of food and habits. So gird your mind with steel foundations to discipline yourself to reach that weight goal. I wonder if you have had an opportunity to watch the "Biggest Loser" TV show? Well, if you have you will see the mental metamorphosis that occurs in the contestants as they shed the pounds. Their whole mentality changes as well as so we have to WANT IT BADLY enough to change for that weight loss. Because getting to the other side of the Goal and attaining it is such sweet victory and to fit into your favorite pair of skinny jeans without a struggle is sweet reward. Just the mere fact, that you are acknowledging that it is time to take a stand to lose the weight finally, for your health's sake is quite the accomplishment! Yeah that is most definitely a cause to celebrate and it is important to you that you should celebrate the victories!

What goes into our mouths is just about the only thing that we can control in our lives nowadays. So to mentally prepare for cutting back on the bad choices we must have guidance to replace those bad choices with good nutritional choices. That is why to have a weight loss coach or specialized weight loss nutritionist is a big advantage. However not everyone can afford that so there are the programs that you can utilize online or offline methods. Many weight loss programs realize that majority of clients have access to the Internet and our lives are so busy that it is the perfect complement to our schedules, so they have an online component to their weight loss programs. That is the greatest way to document our food choices and record our weight loss and to be part of the community online where others who are struggling can get together and chat about the challenges and triumphs of their weight loss journey.

As I have seen and heard wonderful success stories of weight loss by other men and women I look at that and think if they can do it so can I! But I believe that one should be patient when approaching weight loss and not expect instant success or overnight to lose 50 lbs. As it took years to gain that weight it would only be fair to approach it with patience in removing it too. So be kind and patient to yourself and especially, in your self talk while you go through this transformation. And having support online is always so beneficial to being able to chat with others who are going through the same struggles as you. It always seems to lighten the load to talk with others and you realize that you are not alone in this. We as humans need that belonging to something larger than ourselves and this is what helps us to get through the hard times and find the support online with the friends we have made in the online community in our chosen weight loss programs.

Another step in successful weight loss is keeping the goals small like you have an overall goal of losing X number of pounds but take it like in increments of 5 lbs each two weeks. That way you can celebrate your small victories along the way and before you realize it you will have lost all your weight and be at the goal weight before you know it! It's amazing how wonderful and light you it feels to even lose just 10 lbs. And the importance of celebrating this little milestones can be touted enough as you must pat yourself on the back and celebrate your victories! So important this celebration and recognition of each set of 5 lbs as they do add up and before you know it you have lost 30 pounds! That is so exciting and wonderful and you must mark those down in your online diary and hopefully your community has trophy recognitions or badges something that you are given for your fine efforts.

Keep a measurement diary and take before and after photos as they really help you to see progress because the scale might not show it but the measuring tape will tell the tale for sure. Inch loss really gives you a mental boost when you are adjusting to your healthier lifestyle. Plus sometimes we don't always remember what we put in our mouth so keeping track of our food helps us to remember our goals. There are so many weight tracking online services these days to help you with this very important monitoring. Because sometimes we really don't realize how much we are eating until we see it written down and then we can really take stock of what and how we have come to gain or lose the weight.

So let's recap what we can learn from others weight loss success stories and keep them in our journal or even post them on our fridge as a gentle reminder to ourselves when we want to overindulge..

1. No unrealistic expectations regarding weight loss
2. Patience and kindness
3. Set your goals in increments being realistic
4. Look at the Weight Loss Stories and Pictures and gain inspiration from them
5. Remember your "Why" as part of your Goal Achievement- is it your health? etc
6. Then you become the Role Model for those that love you especially your family

Please realize that some people really struggle with their weight and hopefully they can find inspiration to really get into the mode to tackle it. I myself have eating issues but I have kept it under control but I know it is hard in varying degrees and I just hope that others know that we are rooting them on and hoping they win the battle of the bulge. For more information on the Fat Loss Factor Review and other articles on weight loss Click here There are also eBooks available on different diets such as the Paleo and low fat to view more on dieting and self help Click here

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Losing Weight With Natural Fat Burners

Having problems losing those unwanted pounds? Worrying much that you might not be able to have the old slim body that you want? Worry no more because with the improvement of science and technology, a lot of companies have started manufacturing weight loss products such as raspberry Ketone. However, before you jump on that decision to buy raspberry Ketone, it would be best first to find out the different types of fat burners out in the market.

There are two types of fat burners that are currently out in the market, whether you buy them from local stores or online shops. We have natural fat burners and artificial fat burners. Both of these claim to be able to reduce and get rid of those unwanted fats in your body. However, you might have fears and doubts about selecting just any fat burner that is out in the market, and then you might want to shift your attention and go for natural or herbal fat burners.

There are currently several natural fat burning supplement products that you can choose from. To lose weight, you should be able to pick the most suitable product that would help you shed off those extra pounds on a weekly basis. Pregnant women and sometimes, in most cases, lactating mothers are being prevented from taking in these products though, they can always start using them after, just to shed the extra pounds they have gained during their pregnancy months.

Some of the fat burners have already been renowned or famous because of the effects that are being posted by the users of the said products themselves or the testimonies of those who actually lost weight using these products. One thing you may want to consider as a natural fat burner is raspberry Ketone, which has been discovered to contain not just anti-oxidants but also weight losing properties.

If you would like to lose weight, be sure to know the product first as there might be some of the contents of these products that may have effects on you. Natural fat burning products on the other hand, do not have any harmful side effect that may damage your body. What's more, if you buy raspberry Ketone, it even gives you more energy, and fights fatigue.

One effect and advantage of drinking raspberry Ketone, it would speed up your metabolism and this is something that you would easily feel because you start to feel lighter, become more active, give you better results in your daily exercise program, or allow you to lose a little bit more compared to just simply going to the gym and exercising.

However, amidst the fact that natural fat burners offer you so many promising effects and weight losing results, it would still be best to consult your doctor because only your doctor can tell you precisely why you're having problems losing weight or why you're having a very slow metabolic rate. Summing things up, if you want to feel better, prolong your aging process, you can buy raspberry Ketone now.

Tywon Flowers runs http://www.buyraspberryketone.us/ - his mission is to inform the public of weight loss methods that really do work

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Tomato Health Benefits

If only everyone were fully aware of the many amazing tomato's health benefits, then perhaps we would have more respect for this lowly fruit. Today, our culture is so concerned with convenience and comfort that we take foods like the tomato for granted. One classic example: we've failed in teaching our kids the importance of eating fresh tomatoes every day. Instead, we've allowed them to love ketchup and spaghetti sauce without really educating them about the true value of the tomato fruit itself.

Thankfully, it's never too late to make a healthy change. If you are guilty of taking tomatoes for granted, take stock of the following tomato's health benefits so you can re-orient your understanding and appreciation for what the tomato fruit brings to the table.

· Tomatoes pack a lot of vitamins which are essential for disease prevention. A 150-gram serving of fresh tomatoes is able to deliver our daily dietary requirement for Vitamin A, C and K as well as the necessary minerals potassium and folate. On top of this, tomatoes also contain generous amounts of Vitamin B6, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, niacin and thiamin which are vital for the healthy function of many organ systems. Without potassium, for example, the heart would cease to beat involuntarily disrupting the transport of the blood to the different parts of the body. The fact that we can get all these in just one serving truly emphasizes that tomato's health benefits are readily available to us on a daily basis.

· Tomatoes have a lot of beta carotene. We've always associated beta carotene with Vitamin A but even by itself, it leads to many health benefits. Beta carotene can help promote healthy skin by protecting it from harmful UV rays when you are exposed to intense sunlight during the day. Without it, your skin could easily wrinkle and age. It could even lead to the onset of serious skin conditions such as melanomas.

· The antioxidants in tomatoes lead to a plethora of tomato's health benefits. One of the most important is that it helps prevent a variety of cancers that are caused by free radical damage at the cellular level. The main antioxidant responsible for this is lycopene which is abundant in tomatoes.
The most common types of cancers addressed by the antioxidants in tomatoes include cervical cancer, prostate cancer, and cancers of the digestive tract.

· The same antioxidants also lead to other tomato's health benefits associated with lowering the risks for heart ailments. This is made possible because the antioxidants reduce the concentration of bad cholesterol in the blood. This frees up the arteries and minimizes the risk of blockages and the onset of high blood pressure. When the blood can flow freely with minimal effort from the heart, the risks of heart ailments are considerably lowered and cardiovascular diseases are kept at bay.

Tomato's health benefits abound in every serving of fresh or cooked tomatoes. We only need to consciously enjoy a serving or two of this marvelous fruit every single day. This will not be easy given our culture's love for anything "instant" but with small changes in our daily eating habits, we should be able to enjoy the full benefits of the tomato fruit one healthy serving at a time.

If you would like to learn more about the many health benefits of tomatoes be sure and check out website on the subject. We have a large number of very good articles along with some great tomato recipes.
www.tomatoeshealthbenefits.com/

Robert Perry specializes in the building of income producing niche websites, usually using Google AdSense ads. For $100 he builds a 5 article website that the search engines love.
The Niche Builders

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The Four Basic Principles Of A Detox Diet Plan

The key to a simple detox plan is to keep things, well, simple. You don't need to join an expensive program, buy lots of books, or get coaching. Eating well just comes down to common sense. You don't need to study nutrition, you just need to start thinking about what you put in your mouth, and make conscious decisions rather than eating without thinking.

A simple detox plan doesn't have to mean starvation, calorie counting, or drinking vile potions. It's simply a case of eating good, natural food and cutting out, possibly just temporarily, some items which could be negatively affecting you.

There are 4 basic principles common to any simple detox plan:

1. Cut out all the processed rubbish that is not only unnecessary but also contains harmful additives.

This rule is first for a reason - it has massive implications! When you are trying to determine if a food is allowed or not, this is the rule to consider first.

But why should we cut out processed foods? Basically because they contain ingredients that are unnatural and the manufacturing process can leave them with virtually no nutritional value to us. They also tend to contain high amounts of sugar and fat (to make them taste good) which means they are high in calories.

High in calories, and with little nutritional value? Does that make sense to eat?

Initial questions to ask are:

1. Is it in a tin, packet, bottle, polythene wrapper, jar or cardboard box?
2. Do you recognize all the ingredients as natural food items? ie could you eat each item on it's own?
3. Can you identify less than 5 steps from raw ingredients to the finished product?

Basically, do you actually know what's in what you are about to eat, do you know how it was made, and is it going to provide you with good nutritional energy?

2. Cut out the elements that have no nutritional value to you, what so ever.

Now this is where it starts to get tough for some people.

During a simple detox plan you should cut out alcohol, entirely.

The same goes for the sweets, biscuits, crisps, cakes and fizzy drinks that take up so many isles in the supermarket.

Are they giving our body good nutritional content? No, of course not. What they are providing is sugar and fat, and a large number of calories.

(Not to mention they all fail principle number 1 on avoiding processed foods!)

3. Cut out the addictive elements that our body currently craves.

Sugar

For a lot of people, sugar and sugar substitutes are consumed on a daily basis, to the point at which we could call them an addiction.

This is why during a detox you should cut out all sugar from your diet.

During a detox you can learn to listen to your body, and start to distinguish its needs from its desires!

Caffeine

No matter what your tea or coffee drinking habit, most detox plans recommend you cut out caffeine entirely.

While detoxing you should only drink water, and lots of it!

4. Cut out foods which cause common intolerances.

Common symptoms of intolerance are bloating, indigestion, spots and general lethargy.

The only way to identify intolerance is by completely detoxing the body, and then adding the suspicious items back into your diet in a controlled manner.

The two key suspects tackled in most detox plans are wheat and dairy.

Wheat

By cutting out wheat, as well as all wheat based products, you will almost certainly see improvements to your weight, your waistline and your general feeling of well being.

Most detox plans will insist you cut out all bread and pasta, even the wheat-free alternatives.

Dairy

As with wheat, many people have intolerance to dairy without knowing it. So most detox plans will recommend you cut out all dairy apart from natural (preferably organic) yogurt, free range eggs and butter.

So, that means no milk, cream or cheese.

Stick to the above principles for as long as you can. Simple!

Samantha Goodwin is the author of the popular Nutritional Responsibility Guide. This is a nutritional program for the real world where you want to look great but at the same time not feel handcuffed by an overly strict regime that you'll never see the end of. You can read more about the program at http://www.nutritionalresponsibility.com/

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