Setting Realistic Goals When Trying To Lose Weight
December 5, 2011 by Mohamed
Filed under Exercise, Weight Loss
I get a lot of comments and e-mail from readers about how they can lose belly weight fast or how they can lose weight fast naturally, or if there are any lose weight fast diets.
News flash – YOU CAN’T.
When you’re trying to lose weight you first need to set realistic goals for yourself. For example if you plan on starting exercise, setting a goal that you’ll run 5km (or miles) every day is just not feasible if you’re overweight as your body will not cooperate. Your heart may not keep up, and you may stress your body to the point of getting very ill. So first step is to ALWAYS talk to your doctor before you start any diet program to ensure that the stress on your body (your heart, in particular and your blood pressure) won’t kill you or severely injure you.
Once you’re given the OK from your doctor. Start slow and work your way up.
My doctor initially prescribed me to start walking 15-minutes per day. That’s it. I went from 15-minutes per day for the first few weeks to 30-minutes and eventually to over 60-minutes per day. I’m probably not at the most I can do but right now my body tells me at the 60-minute mark – “that’s it”.
The same goes for dieting. If you have lose 10 pounds, or lose 20 pounds or lose 30 pounds to get into that suit/dress by Christmas and it’s now early December, I have to break the bad news – you probably will not get into that suit/dress. Trying to lose so much weight so quickly also puts stress onto your body, why do you think that people can die from starvation? Your organs start to shut down when they don’t get proper nutrition.
Pace yourself and set realistic goals. Perhaps it’s 5 pounds each month for the next 6 months. Also write this down and put it somewhere visible — the fridge or pantry is a good place since you will be reminded of it everytime you open either one.
If you set realistic goals to lose weight, I am certain that you will be able to meet those goals.
5 Reasons Why You Need A Treadmill
August 31, 2010 by Mohamed
Filed under Exercise, Exercise Equipment, Treadmills, Weight Loss
So why are treadmills the #1 home exercise machine choice among buyers? Well, here are five reasons treadmills come out on ahead of other exercise machines year after year. Here are the top 5 ways home treadmill workouts can help you lose weight and get in great shape!
Reason #1: A Treadmill is the PERFECT exercise machine for those who hate exercise!
We all know that in order to lose weight, get firm & fight gravity’s pull, exercise is a must!
But what do you do if you don’t LIKE working out?
What if your motto is “I don’t exercise. If God meant us to touch our toes, He would have put them higher on our bodies.”? What if you get bored or don’t like logging hours in the gym with all those muscle boys or short-shorts women?
One viable option is the home treadmill, because of all the things it allows you to do to FORGET that you are exercising in the first place!
You can set it up in front of the television and watch your favorite episode of ER or Oprah. An hour will fly by and you won’t even notice that you’ve been walking (or running)!
What about popping in your favorite CD and taking an invigorating power walk? You’ll be burning a truckload of calories without even realizing you’re sweating!
Many treadmills also come with a magazine or book rack.
What about walking uphill (a HUGE calorie burner) while reading the latest edition of Woman’s World? Or Time? Or your favorite novel?
How easy is that?
Treadmills are perfect for those people who get bored easily or hate exercising because they allow you to do so many things WHILE using them. (for all of us multi-tasking queens and kings!)
Reason #2: A Treadmill is Unmatched For Workout Versatility!
Most funky fly-by-night exercise gadgets out there only allow you to do one thing. One repetitive motion that your body will quickly get used to (and that means less calories burned!)
A treadmill on the other hand gives you a LOT of workout versatility!
If you’re just starting an exercise program you can start with a slow walk and then speed it up as your body gets into better shape. If you’re training for a marathon, you can run at a steady pace and even build in sprints.
You can power walk or do a slow steady jog. You can skip if you want to or build in fast-walk-slow-walk intervals. Many treadmills will let you walk uphill (which explodes the number calories burned!). Some will even let you walk downhill (a great way to cross-train).
Some treadmills come with handweights to incorporate into your workout. (Building muscle WHILE burning calories is a double weight loss whammy!)
There are countless ways you can vary your workout with a treadmill so that you continue to challenge your body and burn those calories!
Reason #3: A Treadmill Can Help You Burn MORE Calories by Increasing Your Exercise Time!
Did you know that a new 3 year study conducted by the University of Stanford’s Graduate School of Business has found that consumers are overpaying for gym services? The study concludes that most people overestimate how often they will use their gym membership and that most don’t visit the gym often enough to justify their membership costs.
I may be going out on a limb here but I suspect that the reason may be that many people just don’t have the time to go. But here’s where a home treadmill can help you actually increase your workout time and frequency (which means more calories burned…)
Did you know that experts tell us that 2 x 15-minute workouts can give us the same exercise benefits as 1 x 30-minute workout?
And did you also know that the number one obstacle that keeps people from exercising is ‘lack of time’? (that explains those gym study results above doesn’ it?)
Here’s where a home treadmill can help:
A treadmill allows you to split your workouts up into mini-workouts and still burn just as many calories! Maybe you want to go for a 15 minute wake-up walk in the morning. Maybe it’s a 20-minute light jog at lunch. What about a 10-minute power walk just before dinner to curb your appetite or fight night-time boredom?
Many of us just don’t have the time to take 45 minutes to an hour to go to the gym every day. But most people can find 15 minutes during the day. Three of those mini-15-minute workouts and you’ve just done that 45 minutes!
And remember, whether it’s 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 or 20, it all adds up in weight loss! With a treadmill, YOU’RE in charge of your workout time!
Reason #4: A Treadmill Gives You the Benefit of All-Year-Round ANY Time Exercise!
Ok, here it is: in my opinion one of the MOST IMPORTANT benefits of having a home treadmill is :CONVENIENCE, CONVENIENCE, CONVENIENCE! If you live in northern climates you know that walking or jogging in the snow and ice is NOT the definition of fun.
What about when it’s raining? Scratch exercise off the list today! What about when it’s late or really early and the gym isn’t open? Forget about that workout today!
A home treadmill can be one of the best exercise comforts around because you can use it regardless of the weather or time.
How many times have we gained some unwanted winter weight and then exercised like crazy when the weather turned fair, trying to get it off? What a pain!
With a treadmill you can look great all year round because you’re not missing those winter workouts!
AND you can also exercise any time in any type of clothing you want (no worrying about wearing that ratty t-shirt to the gym!). Call me petty but this is a huge convenience!
Reason #5: By Using the Large Muscles of the Legs, A Treadmill Is Helps You Burn MAJOR FAT Calories
A recent Woman’s World article made the startling claim that, contrary to popular belief, gentle walking is one of the BEST ways to burn fat!
Why?
It seems that gentle walking allows your body to go STRAIGHT to the fat stores for energy instead of first depleting your sugar (glycogen) stores (used by your body for quick energy).
Not only that, there’s been countless studies including one by the American Medical Association, that rank a treadmill as the number ONE cardiovascular machine for losing weight and burning calories.
By using the large muscles in your legs, you burn the maximum amount of calories. You can even increase your calories-burned by walking uphill which uses even more muscles!
Given all their benefits it’s no wonder that treadmill sales have increased by 50% over the past five years!
No matter which treadmill you choose, make sure it fits your needs and lifestyle. And ENJOY!
Source: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/ONeill9.html
We’ve done the work for you – discover the TOP TREADMILL and EXERCISE EQUIPMENT picks. We’ve also found you the lowest prices on the hottest fitness equipment. View best prices on treadmills and exercise equipment.
Sample Walking Program
August 27, 2010 by Mohamed
Filed under Exercise, Weight Loss
Losing weight, and maintaining that weight loss is all about making lifestyle changes.
If you eat, and then sit in front of the TV you will gain weight. There is no doubt about that. But if you eat, and do a little work before sitting down, you will not only feel better but you’ll not have any guilt that you sat down without doing some level of activity. The cycle is easy to get into:
- Eat
- Sit on the couch in front of the TV, or on the computer or start playing video games
- Feel guilty and promise yourself you won’t do it tomorrow
Next day…
- Eat
- Sit on the couch in front of the TV, or on the computer or start playing video games
- Feel guilty and promise yourself you won’t do it tomorrow
And it repeats itself. You need to break this cycle – nobody, not your spouse or significant other, nor your kids can break this cycle. YOU have to do it yourself for yourself.
This is like binge eating. You binge on anything you can find, only to feel guilty later on and rather than STOP EATING you keep going because you’ve already started so what the hell…
But once you break the cycle the first time, then the second and third, fourth, fifth… slowly it becomes habit to NOT sit and instead you will force (use the word lightly) yourself to not sit but remain active for about an hour afterwards.
Once you’ve gotten out of that rut – start walking. Outside. You DO NOT need a walking program, or plan. Just walk. Walk to the corner store and back. Walk to the grocery store. Walk around the block. Walk to the park. Walk on a trail. Just walk. Walking is the least expensive exercise you can do. It doesn’t cost a lot (a good pair of walking shoes will cost you between $30 and $100) and all you need is some outdoor clothing – track pants, and a light shirt and hat. You probably have all that at home already.
Walking gets your body moving. It keeps your mind active. It helps relax, and refocus.
If you’re a busy professional, walking will allow you to sort out your day and put what has happened into perspective. Even though you may be thinking about work, it’s in a stress free environment.
You don’t need a walking program. Just go outside, put one foot in front of the other and see where it takes you.
Best Rated Fitness Equipment For Weight Loss
June 24, 2010 by Mohamed
Filed under Ellipticals, Exercise, Exercise Equipment, Treadmills, Weight Loss
Most recently we took a look at 10 pieces of fitness and exercise equipment that provided the best value for the dollar, the lowest overall price and the highest quality. You can read the posts by clicking “Treadmills Best Exercise Equipment For Weight Loss“. When you read the post you’ll see that Schwinn received one of our TOP PICKS for treadmills and two TOP PICKS for elliptical trainers.
Schwinn® is an American icon, and a leading brand of bicycles, recreation products, and home and commercial fitness equipment. The brand is on the forefront of advances in fitness technology, and has been an indispensable player in revolutionizing bicycling and fitness around the world. Schwinn® knows that who we are is in direct relation to where we came from… and the vision of our founders.
The Schwinn story begins over 100 years ago, in 1895 where Ignaz Schwinn and partner Adolph Arnold incorporate “Arnold, Schwinn & Company”. The company is founded in Chicago. Lets fast forward to 1995 where Schwinn partners with fitness guru Johnny Goldberg (Johnny G) to develop the Johnny G Spinner bike. Schwinn also offers its expertise in developing a worldwide network of Spinning instructors, facilities and distributors.
Jumping ahead a few more years to 2006 where innovation again takes hold with the year-end launches of the smaller-footprint 430 Elliptical machine, and the step-through 231 Recumbent bike. Early consumer feedback has been terrific, with more to come.
Something you may not know is that Schwinn is part of the Nautilus family which includes the Bowflex brand. So while one of our top picks for treadmills was Bowflex, you’re getting Nautilus quality.
There are several pages worth of Success Stories from purchasers of Schwinn products…
The statements below are from actual Schwinn Fitness users. Once you’ve had a chance to try Schwinn Fitness products for yourself, we invite you to share your experience with us, as well. For now, you can read these real testimonials from real people.
Anyhow, great work Schwinn. If you’re on the edge about this machine, get it, you will absolutely love it.- Schwinn 840 Treadmill
- Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill
- Schwinn 420 Elliptical Trainer
- Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer
The best place to purchase these products, at the best prices is through Amazon:
![Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer [Discontinued]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41W48CJGTSL._SL75_.jpg)
Benefits of Home Exercise and Home Gyms
June 1, 2010 by Mohamed
Filed under Exercise, Weight Loss
Wouldn’t it be great if you could lose 10 lbs within 10 days and get into the suit you wore on your wedding day? Or the sexy dress you bought for your girl friends wedding? I hate to disappoint you, but you can’t lose weight that quickly safely. Weight loss is an ongoing, sustained activity especially for those individuals that are having trouble keeping the weight off — like me.
Infomercials make millions per year by promising you stunning results in no-time-flat, and to emphasize that they use models that are already slim and trim – guys with 6-packs abs, women that are size 2, 3 or 4 and are uber-sexy.
If the world worked that way you would not be here, reading what I’m writing or searching for ways to lose weight fast or about diet and exercise.
The fact that the weight loss industry – in all forms, from weight loss products like pills to surgery to exercise equipment is making billions of dollars per year shows that we’re all looking for a quick fix. There really isn’t one. But if you are serious about losing weight you’ll find some good ideas on this blog along with great practical advice in this post on the best types of home exercise equipment — and it won’t cost you a fortune!
Before even thinking about the type of equipment to buy, you want to look at what your goals are and what you enjoy. Do you enjoy walking and running? Then perhaps a treadmill is what you need. Do you like cycling? Why not consider a stationary bicycle? Do you want to build strength? Consider total home gyms that allow you to build arms, legs, chest, and back – a total body workout.
If you’re just trying to lose weight and want to get some exercise without going to a gym – then start with something small and work towards getting your daily dose of exercise by heading outside.
Once you know what your goals are, and what you enjoy the next step is looking for a place to put that equipment.
If you are space challenged – living in an apartment or townhouse, the size of the room will really dictate what type and how much equipment you can bring in. You’ll also need to consider your neighbors and the potential noise that most equipment will make.
A lot of treadmills today are designed to be space savers – that is, they either fold down flat to be stored under a bed or can be raised to minimize the amount of space they take up. When considering a treadmill, look for these features:
- Continuous duty motor, about 2.0hp
- Deck size of 18″ by 53″ – you may not be running right now, but eventually you’ll want to. A deck that is too short will not allow you to run properly. The deck should accommodate your stride.
- Incline control – while nice, not essential. Some treadmills come with computerized incline control, while others only have manual control in three or four possible inclines. Incline helps build muscle as you could be running “up hill” or “flat”.
- Computerized controls – this can provide a great experience on the treadmills, from pre-programmed sessions that provide computerized inclines to designing your own program for the ultimate walk or run. The computer will track time, distance and calories. Even the most basic treadmills will have some type of computerized controls.
Treadmills are great versatile pieces of equipment. Walking is relatively low-impact so is a perfect way to start exercising.
Treadmills can cost as little as $200 for manual (not recommended) to over $6,000 for fully computerized models that include DVD, LCD screens, fans and just about anything else you could want.
A good middle of the road treadmill can be purchased for around $400 that will satisfy most of your needs — that’s what I purchased from Sears on clearance with 5-year warranty tossed in for a little more.
Other types of equipment you should consider are:
- Elliptical trainers – take up a little more room, but simulate running with less impact on the knees. They are low-impact, and low maintenance equipment and usually small footprint (when compared to a treadmill).
- Stationary cycles – the staple of health clubs, and home gyms.
Stationary cycles come in a few flavors – recumbent cycles where you sit back in a seat and can pedal and the regular cycles that we’ve all grown up with.
As with treadmills, there are a wide range of prices available – but in all honesty when it comes to a stationary cycle you do not need to spend thousands of dollars. The last cycle I purchased with a basic computer on it was only $100.00 and I used it for over 5 years. I eventually sold it for… $100.00 and the person I sold it to is still using it.
Recumbent cycles are more expensive and are ideal for those that need back support but I found them a little more difficult to use. I preferred the traditional cycle.
I’ve not gone into home gyms as I don’t have much experience with these, but as I was starting to lose weight I kept to the traditional types of exercise equipment: treadmills, stationary exercise bicycles, and ellipticals. They helped me get the workout that I needed to boost my weight loss efforts which ultimately helped me loose 100 lbs within one year.
Here is to your health!
Top Tips For Walking
March 9, 2010 by Mohamed
Filed under Exercise, Weight Loss
Getting regular exercise can be difficult – I know. But there is something you can do for yourself that is easy, and does not take a lot of time and is good for you. Walking. But how can you get walking into your schedule?
Just look at these tips…
- Walk to work.
- Walk during lunch hour.
- Walk instead of driving whenever you can.
- Take family walk after dinner.
- Walk to your place of worship instead of driving.
- Walk kids to school.
- Get a dog and walk it.
- Replace Sunday drive with Sunday walk.
- Get off a stop early & walk.
- Go for a half-hour walk instead of watching TV.
- Make a Saturday morning walk a group habit.
- Walk briskly in the mall.
- Park farther from destination and walk.
- Walk instead of sitting around.
- Take your dog on longer walks.
- Drink lots of water.
- Walk the beach instead of sunbathing.
- Walk to a co-worker’s desk instead of emailing or calling them.
- When walking, go up the hills instead of around them.
Simple steps (excue the pun) to get you up and out walking!
Here is to your health!
Mohamed
Lose Weight From Playing Sports
October 27, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Exercise, Weight Loss
Losing weight isn’t easy – I’m the first to admit; however the health benefits of losing the weight cannot be overstated.
Losing weight is more about making lifestyle changes – changes that will benefit you in the long run. You start gradually and work your way towards a healthy lifestyle.
If you eat fast food 3, 4 or 5 times a week start by cutting down to once or twice per week, then once or twice every two weeks then finally once or twice per month and eventually cut it out entirely or limit it to a few times a year.
In order to boost your weight loss you need to become active.
I was reading an excellent article on a website called Exploratorium. I’ve reprinted parts of it below and have included a link to the article and site:
During the course of an average game, some players can lose as much as 5 to 8 pounds. This loss is mostly water, so players are concerned about making sure they keep enough fluids in their bodies. Goalies, who make it to the bench much less often than other players (who have one-minute shifts), keep a water bottle on top of their goal. Goalies can lose as much weight as a forward or defenseman.
Some players lose more than just water. Many players will lose weight during the course of the season. In an extreme case, Sharks Captain Todd Gill went from 180 pounds to 165 pounds (82 to 74 kg) over the course of the 1996 season.
Millard told us that it was typical for a player to lose 6 or 7 pounds (3 kg) in fat and lean body mass during the course of the season.
Source: http://www.exploratorium.edu/hockey/fitness1.html
Source: © The Exploratorium, www.exploratorium.edu
While these are extreme cases, it does go to show that playing sports will help you lose weight.
But that’s not all playing sports will do – it will help you tone your body and help tighten your skin so as you lose weight your skin stays tight and doesn’t sag.
Sports or regular exercise can do much for us: improves mental health, helps prevent depression, helps to promote or maintain positive self-esteem, and can even augment an individual’s sex appeal, frequent and regular physical exercise boosts the immune system.
There is an excellent summary on Wikipedia on the topic of physical exercise – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_exercise.
Can The Wii Help You Lose Weight?
October 2, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Exercise, Weight Loss
In short – no.
There is NOTHING out there that can help you lose weight.
You can only lose weight when you want to lose weight. Then you need to combine sensible eating with a healthy dose of exercise to get your body moving.
If you think that you can sit on the couch, or even jump around and lose weight – it won’t happen.
Although I’ve written about loosing weight with the Nintendo Wii in the past – it always comes down to ensuring that you are eating well, getting enough sleep and regular exercise.
Short and sweet post as my “Welcome Back” post after several weeks of not being able to post…
