…What’s Hidden from the Eyes: 5 Truths and Myths about Losing Weight…

Being overweight can lead to many serious health problems, like heart disease and stroke, and
can contribute to things like osteoporosis, arthritis, and more. For this, and many more reasons,
people often strive to lose weight. However, weight loss is big business, which means that you
may see lots of myths, conflicting information, and downright strange or even dangerous
suggestions concerning the best way to lose weight.

In fact, so much is said about losing weight that it can be hard to distinguish truth from fiction.

Here are 5 of the top myths (and truths) we’ve seen about losing weight:

1. The only way to lose weight is with rigorous exercise

While exercise is a very important component of a healthy lifestyle, many people mistakenly
believe that a rigorous and demanding exercise schedule is the only way they will successfully
lose weight. In fact, losing weight comes down to making small changes to your lifestyle with
one of the most important being food consumed. This refers not only to the amount of food
consumed, but also the type of food consumed.

To successfully lose weight, you should look to get about 150 minutes of moderate activity a
week, and eat mostly vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and lean protein, and cut back on fat, salt,
and added sugar. To get an added boost, consider adding one of these supplements, which are
some of the best fat burners for men.

2. There is no benefit to BMI

BMI or Body Mass Index is a mathematical formula that uses height and weight to determine
whether a person is overweight or not. It gets a bad rap because it doesn’t consider muscle mass
on a person’s frame. For example, according to BMI calculators, Serena Williams would be
considered borderline obese. That being said, the BMI is an important tool for many physicians
to gauge where your weight is at initially and—while it shouldn’t be the only thing taken into
consideration—it still plays an important role is gauging healthy weights.

3. Avoiding carbohydrates is a good way to lose weight

Many diets advocate for cutting out carbohydrates from one’s diet to facilitate weight loss. Diet
plans like the Atkins Diet or the Keto Diet both function on the principle of heavy carb cutting.
However, carbs are an incredibly important part of a person’s diet and should never be cut out
entirely. Even severely limiting the intake of carbohydrates can be dangerous. Instead, people
should look to cut out added salt, fat and sugar, and avoid “fat free” or artificially sweetened
foods instead.

4. Losing weight means never eating foods you love again

Many diets fail to work because they are too restrictive when it comes to permitted foods. If a
diet makes it difficult for a person to enjoy their life, they will often simply stop following that
diet. Instead, dieticians see the most success when people follow a balanced lifestyle that permits
them to enjoy parties, nights out, and snacks in moderation.

5. A calorie is a calorie

Your body processes and metabolizes foods in different ways. Proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
all have different effects on your feelings of satiety, blood sugar, insulin spikes, and hormonal
responses. Because of this, a calorie of, say, protein versus a calorie of sugar will be dealt with
very differently in the body. For example, 100 calories from turkey breast can boost metabolism
and reduce appetite, while 100 calories from soda pop can spike blood sugar and negatively
affect your mood and energy levels.

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…Stay Fit With These Extreme Sports…

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Are you sick of doing the same old workouts and exercises to try and keep on top of your fitness? If so, then you might want to try and turn your attention to some sports that are considered a little more adventurous. Of course, I’m talking about extreme sports! You won’t be able to try out any of these in the gym, and you might have to seek out a specialist instructor who can show you the ropes, but it will certainly be worth it. These sports get your blood pumping, adrenalin shooting through your body, and, most of all, get all those calories burning very quickly!

Wondering which extreme sports are the best ones for keeping fit? Read on to find out more!

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing may look super easy but, believe me, it is anything but! Thankfully, though, all of that hard work that you need to put into it will pay off as it is a great way to increase your upper-body and core strength. Before you start climbing any rock faces, though, you need all the right safety gear. You can find out about the best rock climbing harness by checking online, and it’s also worth visiting your local mountaineering shop to see what kind of gear they currently have in store.

Do you think you need to work on your leg strength a bit more? If so, then it’s worth thinking about buying a bike so that you can go mountain biking. Sure, it will get you a bit dirty and will be extremely tiring, but it is so worth it! Riding up big hills and along tough terrain will require you to pump the pedals more, which is a great way to work your leg muscles. Once you are at the top, you get to enjoy the exhilarating ride back down again!

Zorbing

Zorbing is great fun and it gives you the chance to workout without actually feeling like you are exercising! In order to take part in this fun sport, you will need to get strapped into a large inflatable ball. You are then in control of the giant ball, and can roll around. If you are in a hilly area, you will burn quite a large number of calories trying to run over all the hills, but zorbing in a flat area is also a mean way to burn off some fat!

 

Bungee Jumping

We all know that working out is a great way to blow off any stress that you may have in you. Well, want to try and get rid of all that stress for good? If so, you just need to try bungee jumping! It’s a fabulous stress reliever, and also stretches all the muscles in your body. As a result, it will help you stay supple and flexible!

 

So, which of these extreme sports do you think you will try out first? Just remember to get all the necessary safety equipment and gear before you do!

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…Fitness for a Cause…

Photo Credit: @run2heal

For just a moment I would like for you to take  a run in someone else’s shoes…

Tonight when you lay comfortably in bed, in the morning when you get to hit the snooze button and snuggle close to your loved ones and furry family members, and during the day when you are enjoying your comfy work chair and Starbucks Latte you should take a moment to embrace those simple comforts that you are getting to enjoy because not everyone is able to do so.  Christian Griffith is a person that is not able to enjoy life’s simple comforts right now because he is running… and running… and running.   He has gotten up out of his bed (which is in a RV), refueled with some food, tied up his sneakers and hit the pavement (or gravel road) each and every day.  He breaks up his days by running 15-20 miles twice a day.

This journey started in March of 2018.  He plans to keep running until he has run across America to help raise awareness and to encourage, inspire, and motivate individuals who have been affected by child abuse. He started his journey in New York City and in August he will conclude his run in California.  You can read more about his journey by CLICKING HERE.

I did have the pleasure of getting to join Christian on a portion of his journey in Iowa.

I am not sure if you or anyone can understand the magnitude of what kind of event this is and how tedious and difficult it may be.  Every day, Christian wakes up (away from his girlfriend Lindsay and his new baby girl Kai) and has to mentally get motivated to run.

He has to run no matter how hot or cold the temperature out side may be.  He has to run regardless if it is raining, snowing, windy, or just plain hot.  He has to run even if his feet and legs hurt.  He has to run even if he is tired.  He made a pledge to run across America.  So each day he wakes up and runs! A lot of the miles he has done alone and on back roads, gravel roads, and sometimes even grass lands.

I realized exactly how mentally and physically tough this kind of event was when I found myself in the middle of Iowa’s rolling hills.  I was semi lost on a small winding county road (because Christian was running in front of me and I was not 100% sure if I knew where he was) that was turning into gravel with the sun beaming down on me, and I was all alone. I did not have any music or people to preoccupy me. I had the chance to get lost in my thoughts (and in the Iowa rolling hills) for 15 miles. That is when it really hit home for me.  It was at that moment that I was able to truly understand the sacrifice and dedication that this kind of event takes to endure.  It was at that moment I grew a stronger appreciation for what Christian was doing and why he was doing it.

Why am I sharing this with you? Because I want to give people a different perspective on what Christian is doing.  I want people to understand how difficult it is to be completely selfless and to dedicate months of his life to fight for a cause that is close to his heart. So yes, if you have any extra spare money I urge you to donate it to Christians cause and his efforts to help people all across our country who need help with the inner mental demons that were created when they were abused.

You can donate to Christian via clicking HERE 

Also, feel free to follow his journey on social media via CLICKING HERE and CLICKING HERE

I also write this to encourage people to find a cause that they can fight for! I try my best to find local and national charities to do work for each year.  My current favorite charity is The Pink Fund.

I am a huge fan and advocate of giving back to the community. I love to find organizations and people that are needing help and doing what I can to help (no matter how big or small that help may be).

So again, while you sit comfortably reading this there are people out there pushing their bodies to the limit and making sacrifices to help being awareness and raise money for causes they believe in.  What to do you believe in and are you willing to put yourself (your time, money, and resources) to help that cause?

Keep running Christian! So close to the finish line! So proud and lucky to know someone like you (and Lindsey and baby Kai!). See you guys SOON!

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…Top Exercises to Tone Your Butt…

You might be scrolling through Instagram and seeing plenty of swimwear pictures over the summer. And if you’re left green with envy over the toned and roundness of someone’s butt, the good news is that you can do something about it. Genetics will only get you so far, but there are plenty of ways to tone your butt and get the shape that you are looking for. The even better news is that they are all things that you can do from home, if hitting the gym isn’t your thing. Here are some of the best exercises to do, to get buns of steel that even Kim Kardashian would be proud of.

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Squats

You knew this was going to be up on the list, right? But there are plenty of variations on a squat that you can do, if you’re bored of just doing a standard squat. If you have a squat rack at home or at the gym, you could do some weighted squats to make the impact greater on them. But if you don’t, you could try squats with a kick back, as well as pulse squats or squats and a sidekick. These are all great to tone your butt, and should be done in reps of 15, with two or three sets.

Plié

It is back to ballet with the plié, as it is a no-fuss exercise that really does work. It really is as simple as you may have remembered it, but it does plenty of toning along the way. In fact, if you’ve ever done the Brazilian Butt Lift workout, you will have seen it included on there. A nice wide stance is the key, with your toes pointed out. Reach up, arms out in front, and down into a front squat, trying to go as low as you can. Hold it for around 40 seconds, and then pulse for around 20 seconds. Repeat several times each day.

Yoga

Many fitness enthusiasts can write off yoga as it can be seen as a pretty low impact and low energy exercise. But depending on the kind of yoga that you choose to do, you can really get a lot out of it and get your pulse raised. There are plenty of moves that are great for toning your butt, from sun salutations to downward dog and kickbacks. Yoga can also help your flexibility and recovery, so including it as part of your workout routine can be a great thing to be doing.

Single-Leg Raises

This exercise is a good thing for several different reasons. Not only does it target your glutes, but it helps to stretch your legs and also helps with balance. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and then bend your right leg, raising it around 3 inches off the floor. You can hold it there for around a minute before switching legs, or you can double up and hold some dumbbells, to do some chest presses or shoulder raises while you are there.

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