Thursday 27 December 2012

Belly Dancing for Weight Loss and Other Benefits


Since the Seventies, belly dancing has grown extremely popular around the world. Not only can the exercise be fun and stimulating, the dances are also ideal for your weight loss management. There is no question that belly dancing can help you lose weight fast, build lean muscle and become more flexible.
To enroll Bellydance with Saeeda please visit her website
Most individuals never considered that belly dancing can effectively help to quickly eliminate belly fat. However, 300 calories or more can be burned by doing the dances for 60 minutes. After all, you are exercising a number of muscle groups, both large and small. The movements make your body more coordinated; build arm and leg muscles, as well as burn fat. Of course, it is always possible to burn even more calories by speeding up your dance to make it more intense. Since most classes only meet once or twice a week, you should enrol in two or three different groups. Otherwise, find other techniques to add to your weight loss management, like running, swimming and biking, for the days you do not get to get to dance.
Every time you bellydance, your arms get a fabulous work out. After all, it is not so easy to keep your hands moving slowly and elegantly above your head, performing lifts, circles and rippling motions for a long period of time. Meanwhile, you are also working out your torso when you do the sensual dances. Not unlike ballet, tap or jazz dancing, your upper body makes wave-like movements. Meanwhile, your shoulders move back and forth, as you exercise your back muscles. As a direct result, you can improve your posture, as well as prevent back injuries.
Not only do the dances assist with weight loss management, the erotic hip movements allow you to work out your quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes. All the while, there is minimal impact, if any, on your knees and ankles. In other words, your body does not grow sore from belly dancing for an hour at a time. There is no one standard form of belly dancing music, but the sounds of the Middle East are most commonly used. Similarly, there is no special attire, despite the popular picture in most folks' minds of a belly-flaunting genie coming out of a magic lamp. A number of men and women do wear tight clothes, like leotards and hip belts, but others prefer loose fitting clothes with scarves. Basically, you should just wear whatever you are the most comfortable in when you belly dance for weight loss management.
The special dance routines make your bones stronger, and tone your body. It is also known to fight off osteoporosis. Even your mental state can benefit too from the relaxing dance moves. Injuries are minimal, and there are no guidelines for age, sex or dancing experience. You can start bellydancing to work out your body and assist with weight loss management in no time.
If you fed up with the same old aerobics class, day after day, week after week, and would like to try something new, fun and exciting to help with your weight loss management. Then bellydance is ideal for you as even doctors advise bellydance as an easy and fast way for weight loss.
To enroll Bellydance with Saeeda please visit her website

Tuesday 25 December 2012

Health Benefits of Bellydancing

Belly dancing has emerged as one of the hot new workout trends in recent years, according to the American Council on Exercise. Experts say a single belly dance session works hundreds of muscles, burns calories and reduces stress.Belly Dancing is more than just a workout; it enhances wellness as it combines the use of mind, body and spirit. It improves balance, concentration, posture and flexibility. Belly dance students have the ability to experience more graceful, coordinated movement, increased energy and quicker reflexes.
The art of belly dancing gives the student an opportunity to express themself creatively. Unlike other dance forms where the dancers must look and perform exactly alike, belly dance celebrates individuality and allows the dancer her own interpretation of the dance form. It also gives the student an opportunity to add some flare to their workout-wear. What other workout allows you the opportunity to dress up in beautifully ornate coin belts and shimmy your hips to an exotic rhythm?
Belly Dance classes give women an outlet for creative expression, self discovery and dance movement. Lessons are designed to stretch and exercise the physical body, challenge and uplift and mental body and to cultivate and express the spiritual body. When it comes to Middle Eastern Dance, it doesn't matter what size you are, what age you are, or your level of fitness. It is a form of dance that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Belly Dance is excellent for women who are looking for a more exotic method of exercise, who want to learn new ways to move and express themselves, and those looking for an exercise regimen that focuses on mind-body-spirit integration through dance.
Saeeda is a belly dance instructor and performer.  Saeeda lives in a world of dance imageryand all her free time she spends on self-improvement.In this she is actively supported, encouraged and mentored by famous dancers, great masters, choreographers and teachers, such as Fifi Abdou, Randa Kamel, Jillina, Aziza, Sadie, Ansuya, Leyla Jouvana, Shafeek and Tara Ibrahim, Khaled Makhmoud, Ozgen and Akaysha.

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Weight loss motivation

One huge reason many people struggle with losing weight is due to losing their motivation. When starting a new weight loss program, a person's motivation may start off very high. You may have your goals firmly set, you have a plan to follow, and you start off with a bang. However, after several weeks, you may feel like you are on a hamster wheel - doing the same routine with little to no progress being made.
During those times is when motivation can become very low. When you have any goal you are trying to achieve, there will be setbacks. It takes work to maintain a high motivation to want to keep going. When it comes to diet and exercise, there are some key things to keep in mind to stay on top of your game.
1. Find your heroes - There are many people who have been where you are and have managed to get into the best shape of their lives while facing incredible odds. Find out how they did it and use them as your source of inspiration.
2. Immerse yourself in the topic - Health and Fitness books, magazines, and tv shows are everywhere. Become an expert in it. Read and gain knowledge on the best food to eat and the most effective exercises to perform. When you immerse yourself in the topic, it becomes a natural part of your life.
3. Network with other health minded people - Surround yourself by others who enjoy health and fitness. They could be family, friends, or even health and fitness clubs in your area. It is much easier to stay motivated when you have others who understand and push you to stay on track.
4. Reward yourself - When you reach small milestones, reward yourself with new workout gear, clothes, or shoes. Whatever makes you happy.
5. Have fun - Don't view weight loss and getting into shape as a chore. When you do that, it just becomes more of a struggle. Take it one day at a time and do your best to stay positive. Remember that each day you eat well and/or exercise, you are doing yourself a huge favor.
Finally, do not stress over what you see on the scale. So many people worry so much about what the scale says when they step on it that they dismiss all of the other progress they have made. A good idea is not to weigh-in every day. Once a week ought to be enough and will allow you to see much greater progress from week to week.

Thursday 16 February 2012

Effective Weight Loss and Nutrition

Health Expert's Opinion About Weight Loss
Some people are of the wrong belief that diet plans for effective weight loss includes fasting. Health experts are of the opinion that fasting is a bad way of dieting and also dangerous. Good quantity of nutrients is required by the body regularly to sustain energy, health and growth. If the body is not supplied with proper supply of nutrients, then the muscles would use get weakened and start using the tissue as the source of energy.
Many people tend to go for the liquid protein plan. The health experts explain that it is ineffective as it includes huge amounts of protein with low amount of carbohydrate liquids. Such eating plans could cause serious side-effects. It can also cause major health related problems in the future and also death. it is better advised for you to take proper medical advice before implementing such plans, however, you would require constant supervision.
Some of them also select pills to lose the weight. Such pills for losing weight makes tall claims of burning, blocking or flushing the fat and might work for some extent, however, most of them do not work properly. Some of the pills are utilized to control the appetite. While some of them have side-effects. Some also might cause anxiety, while others fatigue, or become addictive.
Poor dieting, lack of nutrients also develops eating disorders.
To avoid the eating disorders like Bulimia or Anorexia, it is very important for you to consult a fitness expert to diagnose a good and nutritious diet plan that would work for you. You should also avoid some diet plans that include eating only a single food group, fasting or diets that would claim that you could simply eat as much as possible and still be able to lose weight. Health experts recommend everybody who are interesting in effective weight loss to avoid the kind of diet plans which supply lesser than 1400 calories. To set a good diet plan, you need to learn on making changes to your lifestyle in order to get permanent and effective weight loss.
There are various types of healthy 'diet plans' that effective lose weight and do not harm your body. One such type includes training and sports nutrition which are specially designed for the athletes. The other type of diet plan is for those non-athletic groups and consists of vegetarian and nutrition dense diets.

Monday 6 February 2012

Smart Exercise Ideas and Tips


Exercise is one of the important factors that keep you fit and healthy. You need to adapt a lifestyle that is suitable and convenient to you to make exercise an important component of your daily life. There are various ways and methods that you can adopt to make your exercise regime more interesting.
Aerobics
Aerobics is primarily a low intensity exercise regime. Literally the word aerobic means "with oxygen". In this form of exercise, oxygen burns the fat and glucose in your body. The interesting aspect of aerobics is that it is usually practiced with music and in a group. The exercise regimes are designed like dance exercises. You will be motivated if you workout in a group.
Other workouts, like cycling, walking and running are also part of aerobic exercises. Listed below are some ideas for aerobics.
Walking - Walking is one of the easiest and safest exercise regimes that can be done by the young and the old alike. A brisk walk for half an hour every day will yield very good results. Among the innumerable benefits, walking lowers your blood pressure, reduces the risk for heart attack, cancer and other ailments. You can reap the benefits of good health by walking a mile or two every day, without spending a penny.
Cycling - Cycling is another easy exercise that can be practiced either outdoors or indoors. You can adapt outdoor cycling into your daily routine by cycling from home to work or for other errands. In this way, without wasting much of a time you can remain fit and healthy. Indoor cycling is also another best option to keep you slim and trim. Half an hour of cycling every day will help lower your blood pressure and tone your muscles.
Running - Running is one of the best and easiest methods to lose weight quickly. When compared to walking, more calories are burnt while running. You need a good pair of shoes to run efficiently. You need to slowly increase the pace, without putting too much pressure on your body.
Boot Camp workout - In this form of workout, the capacity of your body is taken to its limit, by performing several calisthenics like crunches, pushups, jumping jacks and other exercises without taking any break. You burn calories very rapidly and achieve the desired results.
Yoga
Yoga is the one of the most ancient forms of exercise that aims at achieving both physical and mental health. There are several forms of yoga and Hath yoga is the most popular forms of yoga that is practiced. Hath yoga comprises of asanas or postures that aim to tone your body muscles, internal organs in a subtle way. You can achieve good results by practicing yoga for half an hour every day. There is no risk of injury and you can see all round improvement in yourself within few months.
Whatever form of exercise you follow there are certain basic facts you need to remember.
• Consistency is the key to yield good results.
• Discipline and commitment are essential to achieve the desired results.
• Choose a form of exercise that is suitable to your body and life style.
• A well balanced diet plays an important role along with exercise that keeps you fit and healthy.
• To break the monotony, you can try different forms of exercise every week. In this way you can stick to the exercise regime for a longer duration.

Thursday 2 February 2012

Healthy foods to boost metabolism





Metabolism is probably the most important factor when it comes to why some people are overweight and obese. 
Some people can eat as much as they want and still remain thin because of metabolism. On the other hand some people eat very little and gain weight. This is why the dilemma of how to speed up metabolism is important when trying to lose weight.
How to speed up metabolism? This is a common question among people who have slow metabolisms. There are several answers to this question. The first answer is to exercise regularly right after waking up. This will effectively increase metabolism throughout the day.
The second answer is to eat more. Eat more?! Yes, eat more. You should know which food you should be eating that will address the problem of how to speed up metabolism. Numerous researches have proven that some food significantly boost metabolism. All you have to do is get rid of the unhealthy stuff, eat these metabolism foods and you will reach your ideal weight quickly.
If you want to boost your metabolism, all you have to do is read on and include this list of foods in each of your meal.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a great breakfast staple that can help solve the problem of how to speed up metabolism. Rolled oats are the best kind of this metabolism super food. This is good in keeping you full and regulating energy stores. It also contains a high level of fiber that needs a lot of calories to be broken down properly. Fiber also sort of "cleans" our digestive tract and makes the digestive process more efficient.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit is probably the best metabolism food available. It regulates insulin levels which results to fast weight loss. Eating a serving of grapefruit with every meal (the grapefruit diet) is a great way to increase metabolism and decrease insulin levels. This great metabolism food also contains loads of vitamin c which has numerous benefits to the body.
Green Tea
Green tea is technically not food but this is known as one of the best ways to boost metabolism naturally. It contains properties that stimulate fat burning and puts the body into a high calorie burning mode. This is why green tea is now very popular among celebrities and athletes who prefer it to coffee and other teas. It also has anti-cancer properties that have been proven to prevent some kinds of cancer.
Water
Water is also technically not a food but it is one of the best natural metabolic boosters available. Researchers have discovered that after drinking about 17 ounces of water, metabolic rates increased by as much as 30%. Water is also very important for different body functions like digestion. It also "washes away" toxins and impurities in the body so don't forget to drink a glass or two throughout the day.
Most people tell themselves that they'll begin dieting "next week" or "after some future holiday" (or some other excuse) -- and that let's them procrastinate even further. Stop procrastinating and start eating - the right Metabolism Foods

Tuesday 31 January 2012

Whey Protein: How To Gain Sustained Energy, Not Just Strong Muscles

Whey has become almost synonymous with Body Building and Huge Muscles. It is impossible to miss the Mega-containers of Whey Protein at the Gym's store and you may have wondered what Whey could do for you, even if you are just working out at the Gym for Health and Fitness? The short answer is: Yes you can benefit and increase your fitness level with Whey supplementation.

However, there is much more to know than the short answer, as the devil hides in the details. Whey is a natural product with a long history in Health and Beauty. It is not clear when it was first used, but we know that Hippocrates, 2,500 years ago used Whey liberally for its natural healing qualities particularly in the treatment of liver disease and gout. In Alpine Europe after WW 2, Whey was served fresh as a health beverage in special "Molke Kurhotels", and guest would go there for recovery after serious illness. But as the shelf-live of Whey is measured in hours, not months or years, the use of Whey was limited to close proximity to the source: the pasture roaming cows.

To make Whey available to consumers everywhere, it had to be dried into a powder. That process resulted in a natural Whey product, which today is still available, albeit not where Body-Builders run their errands. Why? Because dried, unprocessed Whey contains only about 11% Protein (highly bio-available Albumin and Globulin) and 75% Carbohydrates in form of Lactose, plus abundant natural Vitamins, particularly B 2, alkaline Minerals, very little fat and therefore is low in calories.. It is known to stimulate digestion and repopulate intestinal flora and provide a noticeable energy boost. On top of all, Whey tastes naturally great!

In order to convert this product into an Instant Muscle Generator, its Protein content had to be multiplied and the Carbohydrates minimized. The process to accomplish that is fairly simple and the industry is producing Whey concentrates and isolates with Protein contents of up to nearly 100%. But, of course, as always a gain on one side means a loss on the other, Whey is not different. So if you want all Protein, you sacrifice everything else and that means you are isolating the Protein; this means the Whey's natural balance is gone and with it, its innate health benefits. It is then not surprising that Whey isolates are connected with side effects including headache, loss of appetite, fatigue, swelling, cramps and even damage to the kidneys or the liver, the development of osteoporosis or allergic reactions.

For this reason the producers usually mix Whey concentrates with Whey isolates, because the concentrates still have some of the original components. But, unfortunately the producers don't stop there; they add a multitude of adulterants for flavor enhancement, most of them toxic chemicals, many of which are hard to identify on the label, because they are disguised under benign terms like MSG in "Flavors".

So unless your one and only interest is to build huge Muscles instantly, you want to avoid a pure Whey isolate product and choose a more balanced product with all the co-factors in tact. For example, if you are engaging in the currently taught Interval exercises, you can significantly increase your results of gaining Energy and Fat-burning, when you consume Protein within a half an hour of completion. Whey is an obvious choice and if you select a Natural Whey product without all the tagalongs like artificial flavors, you will enjoy the health benefits described above and then some.

Friday 20 January 2012

Discover Why Anti Aging Nutrition Relies On Enzymes

Have you heard experts say to eat your fruits and vegetables? Well, there's a very good reason for that. It all has to do with the relationship between enzymes and aging and it all starts with food.

More specifically, it starts with food preparation. Raw foods contain enzymes that the human body needs. Without those enzymes, the body can't function properly. When food is cooked, the heat kills the enzymes. In other words, raw foods, such as fresh fruits and veggies, tend to be much healthier than cooked foods.

There are three different types of enzymes that you need to be concerned with, when it comes to eating. Those are the digestive, food and metabolic enzymes. When foods are heated to 116 degrees or hotter, all enzymes in them are killed off. The result is a diet that lacks necessary enzymes.

When enzymes are lacking, your body has to work much harder to process your food as you eat it. It causes your body to take more time absorbing necessary nutrients and it can also stress out your pancreas. You see, the pancreas has to release more metabolic enzymes to cover for the lost food enzymes.

Enzymes And Your Health

It's no secret that eating a proper diet is good for your body. In fact, nutritional experts have been singing the praises of fresh fruits and vegetables for years. Not only that, but more and more people are advocating raw foods these days.

No matter what your opinion of raw food is, one thing is clear. Having the right balance of enzymes in your body can lower your risks of certain medical issues. Those include heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. Those are certainly three medical problems that everyone wants to avoid.

Medical Advancement

The interesting thing about all of this is that it lends itself well to medical advancement. You see, despite the fact that raw foods may be healthier, a lot of people still like to cook their food. So, pharmaceutical companies have been trying to find a work around for that.

In other words, pharmaceutical companies are looking to create and bottle a sort of fountain of youth. They want to encapsulate the enzymes that would be lost from cooking foods and, in doing so, reduce the risks of certain illnesses.

More than that however, studies show that enzyme deficiencies can reduce a person's life span. So, those same pharmaceutical companies are actually looking to increase the life span. To put it another way, they want to slow down how fast people age. The implications of that could turn out to be astounding, if it works.

Stick With The Basics

For the moment, however, it's important for you to stick to basics. Now that you understand the relationship between enzymes and aging, simply eat a healthy, balanced diet. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in that diet and you can't go wrong.

Thursday 12 January 2012

Nutrition and Your Mental Health



How exactly does nutrition and mental health go together? What effect does the food we eat have on our mental well being? Can we make some changes that will positively influence our brains and the state we find ourselves in? Absolutely.
The foods we eat can greatly affect the body and its systems. The types of nutrients (or the lack of them) determines how our body and mind operates. If you find yourself dealing with anxiety, depression and other mental issues making some adjustments in your diet may help.
Mental nutrition and health related food is not something new, but has been somewhat overlooked by the public and to an extent health professionals. Diet and exercise are usually offered up as helpful tips to combat mental disorders, but the information is often general. Usually doctors go for therapy and drugs for more noticeable forms of depression and anxiety. They do so without more specifically looking at how natural substances can help without the need for drugs or other expensive options.
However, recent nutrition and mental health studies have begun to highlight specific natural substances that directly impact mood, anxiety and depression. Many of these we can get in our diet by adjusting the foods we eat. Unfortunately, most of us don't get enough of these even by eating right due to the fact that much of the food we get in stores is processed to the point of removing nutrients. Usually a person will need to both eat the right foods and use supplements to get the total amount needed to make a change in their mental state.
Mental nutrition and health experts have noticed that B complex vitamins have a role in mental function and mood. B complex vitamins have been understood to help provide energy to the body by working in the process of breaking down food into energy more efficiently, but research also shows that they work in the brain to protect and maintain nerve cells and brain function. Increasing levels of B complex vitamins brought noticeable improvement in mood, memory and mental energy for those studied over time.
The nutrition and mental health studies also noted that what was good for the heart was also good for the mind. Reducing bad fats and increasing Omega 3 fatty acids like those found in fish had a positive effect on the brain as well. Omega 3's contain DHA and EPA two fatty acids that help create healthy nerve cells and promote mood and function. There have been studies using Omega 3's to treat depression with positive results.
In addition to eating less fatty foods, increasing Omega 3's and B vitamins, mental nutrition and health experts also recommend adding some nutritional supplements to the mix. These supplements contain various natural extracts and compounds that the body needs to produce neurotransmitters and other brain chemicals necessary for proper communication between nerve cells as well as regulating things like mood.
For example, 5-HTP is a substance the body uses to create serotonin. Serotonin, is a brain chemical that is responsible for mood, appetite, sleep functions, etc. People fighting depression and insomnia often have issues with their serotonin levels. A supplement with 5-HTP can help the body to increase the level of serotonin in the brain and alleviate the symptoms of depression and sleeplessness.
Another substance recommended by nutrition and mental health research is SAM-e. SAM-e has been used in Europe and other countries for years to treat depression and other mental issues but has only recently begun to see use in the US. SAM-e is used by the brain to create a variety of brain chemicals and neurotransmitters. Studies done on SAM-e showed that some people started responding to it in literally hours, noticing positive effects. SAM-e may also be helpful to people who can't take prozac or who don't respond well to the drug.
There are other compounds too like L-Tyrosine, Acetyl L-Carnitine, choline, etc. that are helpful. However, we don't have time or space to go into all of them here. The important things is that there are natural substances out there that nutrition experts are now offering their patients in light of recent research. These substances can have a profound impact on lifting depression, anxiety and reducing stress. As with anything it is important to find a health provider who is familiar and comfortable with these things that can help you decide what might help you and what might interact with any medicines you are taking. Aside from that, making some simple adjustments in the food you eat and taking a daily supplement may be just what you need to get to a better place mentally.



Thursday 5 January 2012

Three Reasons You Should Choose Weight Loss Hypnosis To Lose Weight


Hypnosis is growing in popularity as a way to treat many different conditions. Stress, smoking cessation, emotional issues, low self esteem, fear of public speaking and the list goes on and on. One of the most successful uses of hypnosis is for weight loss. In this article, we will explore why it is gaining in popularity and the reasons you should consider it for your weight control goals.

There are three specific reasons you should choose weight loss hypnosis over other weight loss programs.

1. Any weight loss program, regardless of what it is, requires you to be successful in the mind first before you can bring that success into physical reality. A good hypnotist will teach and enable you with self hypnosis so you can always see yourself as successful and remain in a positive frame of mind concerning your weight control.

The mind is like a muscle and it takes exercise to become stronger in order to build discipline and consistency.

2. Hypnosis is inexpensive in comparison to all other methods. Consider the price for a gastric bypass surgery for instance, or even special foods or diet drugs your doctor may prescribe.

The prices for some of the various weight loss programs make the fees of a hypnotist seem like nickels in comparison. Plus you are still going to have to deal with the mind and the motivation factor. Motivation comes and goes in waves like emotions or feelings. There are times we feel super motivated to accomplish all our goals, eat nutritious foods, work out and improve ourselves. Then there are times you can hit an emotional wall where you feel unmotivated and dive for the first piece of chocolate or apple pie that crosses your path.

Why would you not want to train and discipline your mind to become motivated consistently day in and day out so that five years down the road we do not have to spend another pile of money on another program? Hypnosis is the catalyst to get us on track. It's your motivation ally and a good hypnotist will teach you self hypnosis so you can stay on track and power yourself through the trials and tribulations of life for the long run.

Self hypnosis is free and can be completed within minutes per day. Using a hypnotist to start the process is far cheaper then all other methods in comparison. Hypnosis utilizes the tools that are already in you since all hypnosis is self hypnosis. Hypnotists are basically a guide to help you utilize your own inner resources and your own inner resources are free. They exist for a specific reason, to help you succeed not only with your weight control, but with life.

3. Safety is perhaps the most important reason of all. We all know the damage that certain dietetic drugs can do in the long run and we all know the side affects of mind altering chemicals. Unfortunately, you can find a doctor to give you almost any weight loss drug you desire within a week, and the long term consequences of using these is no more healthy than being overweight in the first place.

Weight loss surgeries use anesthesia and/or various pain medications just to perform the surgery. Anesthesia has a long and well documented track record of being very unhealthy for your heart. Drugs and medications are hard on your body, unhealthy for your emotional well being and can be habit forming as well.

With hypnosis you can effectively bypass these dangerous side effects and utilize your internal gifts that have already been given to you in a safe, affective, and completely natural way. With hypnosis you can utilize these inner tools to develop consistent discipline that will not only help you lose weight permanently but will help you take those same gifts and apply them to all other areas of your life.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5846093