Fat Belly or Flat Belly

I have a sister blog to this one. It is just called Exercise. I haven't posted much to it and finally realized that I post more to the Belly Fat Blues Blog. Now I am wondering if I should keep both going.

Have you see the commercials for the new wii fit program? There is much more movement in the new one - no board you have to stand on. I can see having both and will probably get the new program when I get a little extra money.

For now I will just keep on using the board. And that is a little part of the program - you get bored. I change up the Yoga routine doing different poses alternate days. The balance program I use the same ones every day. That is more the game routine and it is fun. I am pleased to note that my balance is right on instead of being to the left as it was in the beginning.

Can you flatten that fat belly with the wii - yes because you are using up fat in the exercise and you are building muscle strength at the same time.

If I give up the wii for a few weeks for whatever reason I see the difference in how I look and how I feel.

For the beginner who wants to make that belly fat disappear, add a daily walk and 20 minutes of Yoga to see fast results.

If you want to check out the Exercise Blog feel free. I am in the process of upgrading the content and appearance so hopefully all the links work.

until next time - big smile while you are walking.
Sharon
AnswersForYourHealth.com/Shrink Belly Fat

Belly Fat is an inherited gene

New article on the web - same old story. Belly fat is dangerous. Belly fat must be lost before you can flatten your belly with exercises like sit-ups.

Belly fat, like grey hair is an inherited gene. Those with the pear shape say they would rather have the belly - grass is greener type of thinking.

Try thinking of it this way. Your belly fat is like a garbage dump. Ok a recycle center.

If you eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, the peelings go into the compost heap and recycle themselves into useful fuel for the earth - for more vegetables and fruits.

If you eat canned goods and boxed goods and frozen foods, the peelings go in the garbage to the land fill to sit for years. They sit right next to the plastic discards. Ok so you recycle - energy that could be used for something else must be used to shred those paper, plastic, alum peelings and then reform them into the same thing. They may not sit in a garbage dump but they also do nothing to nourish the earth.

The compost heap disappears over time -- the land fill just gets bigger.

If you are exercising, you are using fuel from your belly fat. Your body is engineered to pull fat from that area first. Your exercise could be as simple as taking a daily walk and doing housework or yard work.

The more exercise you do the faster you reduce your belly fat. Once it is down to a manageable level then you start the crunches. First you have to build the core muscles and that is part of the walk.

So, exercise in general reduces belly fat. But if your daily diet has too much sugar and processed foods then the incoming belly fat storage has to be increased.

Exercise alone won't do it. Restricted diet alone won't do it.

Start out with the daily walk. Start out by restricting white from your diet. (sugar,mayonnaise,bread)

The third primary ingredient in this formula - sleep. For the obese sleep is hard to get. Breathing is difficult and consequently you don't get that all important solid bank of sleep. For optimum health and weight control you need 6-8 hours of sleep every night.

Stress is a killer in any language and the lack of sleep contributes to stress. Stress contributes to the build up of belly fat. Hating yourself for the belly fat contributes to stress -- the never ending cycle.

The odds of you getting on the Biggest Loser TV show where you are forced into a good way of eating and exercise -- those odds are too big. You will have to find it in yourself - the will, the energy, the won't power, the determination to go the distance.

Most doctors now recognize that the addiction to sugar is as strong as nicotine, alcohol or illegal drugs. Replacing the sugar with artificial sweeteners is like replacing non-filtered cigarette with filtered cigarette.

Just like the reformed smoker, you will have to accept that you can never have those doughnuts again. Sure, one won't hurt you --- unless it is the one that leads to the whole box.

Sharon
AnswersForYourHealth.com/shrinkbellyfat

Too Much Exercise is a Bad Thing

Did you catch the last episode of Biggest Loser? One girl has stopped losing weight even though she is on a strict diet and working out hours a day. The trainer told her to stop - she has told her before she is doing too much on too little. Now her body has shut down and is refusing to give up any more weight.

Every action has a re-action.

Her other big big problem, she is so stressed about the weight loss, she is not sleeping. Proven fact, you cannot lose weight unless you get good sleep on a consistent basis.

I was reading something the other day about a calorie is a calorie and it does not matter when in the day or night you eat it. I guess I am just old fashioned - but I still think that eating late at night before bed time is just asking for trouble. Your body should be able to do the healing thing during sleep - not the digestion thing.

I know if I eat very late, I will gain weight. If I stop eating 5 hours before bed time, I will lose weight.

Do you know how your body is processing late night eating?

until next time
Sharon
Answers For Your Health/Shrink Belly Fat

Eat Breakfast to Lose Weight

The first calories of the day usually dictate the type of calories you will want the rest of the day. That makes a lot of sense. Think about sugar - your body will continue to try to balance itself the rest of the day by wanting frequent shots of sugar.

Eating Breakfast Is Only Half the Story

For what seems like forever, nutritionists like me have been urging people not to skip breakfast - for a number of reasons. For one thing, studies have found that people who skip breakfast are far more likely to be overweight or obese than those who eat breakfast on a regular basis. Researchers have also found that there’s a correlation between eating breakfast and better performance/concentration at school and work, more energy, and improved well-being.

But those of us who have been on the breakfast bandwagon seem to have left out one of the most important details: the breakfast menu. Because even if you eat breakfast, all bets are off if you choose the wrong foods.

In a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers confirmed that breakfast eaters, in general, eat fewer calories during the day. But the study also showed that people who eat a really high-calorie breakfast are more likely to eat more calories during the day. Plus, their average intake of important nutrients (like calcium) falls.

When you think about it, this makes sense. Breakfasts that are very high in calories are almost certain to include junk like pastries, donuts, and other “foods” that have nothing to do with reaping the benefits of a solid, high-protein, low-calorie breakfast that’s been shown to moderate cravings. In fact, a high-calorie junk-food breakfast is far more likely to lead to overeating during the day - exactly the opposite of what you want.

So don’t skip breakfast. But do skip the donuts.
This article appears courtesy of Early To Rise, For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com.

I would guess that most people eat either fruit or cereals for breakfast. The important piece of info here is protein for breakfast. Think eggs, beans or mushrooms if meat is not an option.

If you put it all together, you would get some exercise and then eat. And you should eat within an hour of getting up. Rules, rules, rules -- more like guidelines.

Sharon
Answers For Your Health/Shrink Belly Fat

Holiday Guilt

Is your holiday guilt visible for all to see? Did your middle expand just a little too much? Is your waist like the equator - bigger than any other part of your body?

OK, shake it off. Don't fall into the trap of trying to live on carrots and celery to remove the belly bulge. Just because you over did the goodies during the holidays does not mean that you starve for the next 2 months. In fact, trying the starvation thing is just going to throw your body into a slower metabolism mode.

During the winter months it is more difficult to get outside. There is the cold, the fear of falling and the gray skies. If you are sun starved it is hard to get in the mood to exercise. Since exercise is just moving your body, you may need to start making extra steps and trips in your daily chores. Stop being efficient and make 3 trips when normally you would make 1. Think of hanging up clean laundry in your closet. Make 3 trips - hang up blouses then pants then skirts -- you get the idea.

If you are lucky enough to have some home gym equipment, use it for more than a clothes hanger. Focus on weight training or growing muscle. The more muscle the easier it is to burn off calories.

The big problem with belly bulge is that there is fat both over and under the existing muscle. It is harder to build up those core muscles that are necessary for the flat trim belly. Yes it is harder but not impossible.

Your choices are live and die young with the belly bulge or start right now building those core muscles, building the muscles in your arms and legs and cutting out the sweets and fats. Before you know it, it will be New Years Again. Wouldn't you like to have a little wiggle room when faced with next season's holiday meals.

until next time -- pick up those hand weights and smile

Sharon