February 2010 — Page 212

When you decide to stop smoking, you’ll bring on
other changes in your life as well. Smoking is a
very addictive habit, meaning that it is very hard
to quit. There are a lot of changes that take place,
although exercise can be a big help to you when you
decide to quit.

Try to set a new routine, such as working out or
going to the gym. If that isn’t possible, you
should try waking up earlier and going for a short
walk. If you can turn that walk into a run or a
jog, it is going to be very stimulating and the best
way that you can start your day.

Keep in mind that exercise doesn’t really mean
pumping metal. If you don’t have the time to stop
by the gym every day, then it isn’t really that big
of a problem, as you can always choose to workout
at home.

Whether you choose to workout at home or at a gym,
you should always remember that regularity is the
key. It isn’t getting started that’s the difficult
part, it’s sticking to a regular exercise program
that is difficult and proves to be stumbling block
for most people.

Some people have a great start. They will buy
track suits, gym wear, running shoes, and a lot
of other gear, so their first day at the gym is
almost like a celebration. As the days go by,
they find it very difficult to meet the demands
and their routine will slow down a lot and finally
come to a complete exercise burnout.

One mistake that several people make is choosing
the evenings to exercise. If evenings fit your
lifestyle, then it’s fine. For most people however,
the evening hours are when they are completely
pooped. By the evening most of us are drained,
and simply too tired for exercise. Therefore, it
is always best to set some time aside for exercise
in the morning.

In the morning, wake up a half an hour or so
earlier, put on your shoes, and hit the road. Most
roads are less crowded in the morning and less
polluted as well, making it a wonderful and relaxing
way to start the day.

You should also steer clear from the coffee and try
tea instead. If you are moving around in the house,
try playing music. You can also redecorate your
room by adding a few pictures around. When you
redecorate, you should get rid of everything
that reminds you of smoking.

Plan your day where you’ll have something fun to
do at the end of the day. It doesn’t need to be
something that involves money, as you don’t want
to end up bankrupt. Spending time with family,
playing games, or going for a walk with your
family are all good activities.

Watching television doesn’t really fit into the
list. The reason is because television isn’t
something that demands a lot of attention. You
can easily do something else while you are
watching television.

You should also make a list of things that build
up your stress and try to avoid them. If it
isn’t possible, you should try to find out some
some ways to bust stress and use them. Whatever
you do, you shouldn’t use stress as an excuse
to start smoking.

There are many other methods that you can use to
beat stress. You can try breathing exercises,
mediation, or even music. Another great way to
beat stress is using the distressing ball. If
you don’t have one or access to one, you can
always wiggle your fingers and toes. This too
is a great and natural method to beat stress.

People who want to lose weight commonly, and first of all, think about reducing the amount of food they eat. This may be quite a solution but not exactly the best there is. In fact, depending on the amount you reduce in your food intake, it may even be dangerous to one’s health. So how does one lose weight effectively and safely? Here are some points one should consider when trying to lose weight:

Beware of the Crash Diets

Most people think that trimming down the calories can alone shed off their unwanted excess. Probably this is because of the fad there is in advertising about low-calorie food products and beverages. What people don’t know is that this could be dangerous because when they decrease their calorie intake way to below the required levels, the body begins to digest the fats. Sounds good but it doesn’t actually. Burning fat requires a lot of energy. Since there is not much energy in the body to facilitate metabolism of fat, it will run at a very slow pace resulting to fatigue, illness and weak immune system.

Low-calorie diet is also compensated for by the body by burning muscle. People on this type of diet who revert back to their old eating habits end up gaining back some, if not all the weight they have shed off. This would consist mainly of fats. And since fats have more volume per mass than muscle, they end up having the same weight as before but more bulkier. In losing weight, one should keep in mind that they should lose excess body fats only.

However, one can try out eating small meals at more frequent intervals. This way the body will not think that it is being starved and will not store food as fat.

Eat Properly

One may have considered junking the crash diet option but he should also not forget to watch what he is eating. Variety must always be considered so that one may be able to get the necessary nutrients from his diet.It is also healthier to eat food which are roasted, steamed or broiled rather than fried. It is also important to include a lot of fiber in the diet. Frequent rehydration is also necessary.

Pump Up lean Muscle Mass

Muscles burn calories when they work; they even do so at rest. Unlike fats which just lie around, bulge around the pants and dangle beneath the sleeves, muscles burn calories all-day round. With this fact, one can start weight loss by increasing muscle mass. The more muscles, the less fat will be left. This is attainable starting with working out with resistance exercises.

Engaging in Aerobics

Aerobics are not only good for the heart by increasing cardio-vascular endurance. Aerobics also help in increasing lean muscle mass while simultaneously decreasing excess body fat. Aside from these, aerobics make the metebolic process more efficient and its rate high, even after a long while. Imagine burning fat efficiently while driving along the freeway or even while watching television.

Extra “Push”

Some people believe that smoking and caffeine can actually help in losing weight. This can perhaps be true; however, they do the body more harm than good because of their side-effects. For that extra “push”, one can try out taking food supplements. Afterall, 95% of these products out in the market actually does good.

On Taking Diet Pills

Over-the-counter diet pills affect the amount of weight one loses as well as how long one keeps that amount of weight off. However, one must be wary of the side-effects of these diet pills. As such, one must faithfully follow the instructions provided for in the packaging. It is also prudent to consult the physician anyway before trying out these drugs and also to find out which type would be best for the individual.

Losing weight does not have to mean sacrifice and suffering. It actually means opening up to a more full and healthy life where one may not have to feel bad about himself having to look the way he does or not being able to do what he wants to do. Losing weight might entail a little adjustments plus the discomforts, but as the old saying goes, “no pain, no gain.” Besides fat, what has one got to lose anyway?

Archives for February 2010

Quit Smoking With Exercise

Pointers on Losing Weight Safely