Napa Personal Trainer Warns Fitness Boot Camps are Dangerous

Fitness Boot Camps are a growing trend in the fitness industry today for good reason. They typically are much more affordable than personal training. They also offer more camaraderie and social support, are much more exciting, and have many more convenient time slots than personal training while still providing expert supervision.

Unfortunately, boot camps do have their downside. Many fitness instructors want to jump on the lucrative boot camp bandwagon without having any of the skills or experience to design custom workouts for the wide variety of fitness levels typical in large group training. Here are 10 tips on how to select a boot camp that will get you results and keep you safe at the same time:

The Top 10 Boot Camp Safety Checklist

1.) The Instructor Must Be Certified With Nationally Recognized Institutions. There are many online pay-for-certifications where people can get a certificate with little or no knowledge of proper training methods. This is a big part of what gets people hurt and gives fitness a bad name!

2.) The Instructor Must Look The Part And Walk The Walk. If the trainer takes physical fitness seriously and is on the cutting edge of new training methodologies, they will be fit themselves, plain and simple. After all, who wants to take advice from someone who is in worse shape than they are!

3.) The Instructor Must Be Experts With Exercise Progressions. Every exercise has the appropriate regression and progression based on your current fitness level. Overweight, de-conditioned beginners SHOULD NOT perform the exact same exercises as their more fit counterparts. If you ask your trainer if he/she can show an exercise modification that better suits your particular situation and they give you a blank stare, leave the class on the spot!

4.) The Instructor Must Make Themselves Available 10-15 Minutes Before and After Every Session. Although a good trainer can effectively train the group as a whole and still give that personal touch, he/she must be willing to speak with clients before AND after every workout to address any personal issues that might arise within the scope of your training or in related to other very important topics like nutrition.

5.) The Program Must Emphasize Body Weight Before External Resistance. There should be no added weight to any movements until you have mastered the key foundational body weight exercises in full ranges of motion like push-ups, squats, lunges, etc. A red flag should be raised if you are being instructed to add weight to a movement that you have yet to master with your body weight alone. This one's important because it's not a matter of if you will get hurt... it's a matter of when!

6.) The Training System Must Focus on Body Weight Circuit Training and Cardio Interval Training. High-Intensity Interval Training is scientifically proven to burn 9x more fat than the aerobic training alternative, so it is critical that both the resistance training AND cardio programs provided incorporate intervals since the goal of 99% of fitness enthusiasts is fat loss. Furthermore, most people are seeking the lean, athletic look of a men's health or women's health cover model respectively, and this is easily accomplished with 2-5+ body weight resistance training movements organized in a circuit fashion with the proper pre-programmed work to rest periods between exercises. Plus a truly skilled trainer has mastered the art of intensifying movements without the need for extra loading.

7.) The Program Must Provide Nutritional Information. Nutrition is 80% of the weight loss battle. Without it, you are joining an incomplete program and wasting your money since there is no amount of exercise that can compensate for poor dietary habits. People are too busy, and frankly too lazy, so the nutrition program needs to be clearly outlined and easy to follow. It should provide both Quick-Start Nutrition Guides for Males and Females respectively that will have you eating to support your fat loss goals in 5 minutes or less. Plus, a cookbook with a bunch of tasty and healthy done-for-you recipes should be provided to keep you on track!

8.) The Program Must Have A Website AND An Interactive Web 2.0 Social Network. Bottom line, if the boot camp program in question does not have a website in this day in age it is not worth your time and money. Personal training is not just about "training," it is a business and it needs to be approached that way. Furthermore, social support must extend outside of the boot camp workout. There are several web 2.0 interactive social networks (e.g. NING) that offer member profiles, blogging, and a forum where trainers and clients can interact with each other for FREE, so there is no excuse not to set this up for boot camp clients.

9.) The Program Must Have Social Proof And Raving Fans. If the program works, there should be proof in the form of client testimonials. Their previous clients should have results and be raving about all of the benefits that they have received from the program. Ask for before and after pictures and written or video testimonials of their services before signing up (again, this should be made available on the company website). And remember, it's NOT just about the weight loss. Benefits should include, but not be limited to, increased energy levels, dress/pant size reduction, improved health profiles, increased strength and flexibility, less joint pain, etc.

10.) The Program Must Offer A FREE Trial or Satisfaction Guarantee. If the program is confident about what they have to offer, then they will let you come in and try it for free or they will guarantee your satisfaction or your money back to completely eliminate the risk on your end. A results-based programs looks to minimize barriers of entry for prospects into their boot camps because they know that once the prospect experiences the benefits of the program firsthand they will surely buy!

Phoenix Personal Trainer Warns Fitness Boot Camps Can Do More Harm Than Good

Fitness Boot Camps. Have you heard of them? Have you ever attended one? They are a growing trend in the fitness industry today for good reason. They typically are much less expensive than one-on-one personal training, yet they offer more camaraderie and social support, are much more exciting, and have many more convenient time slots than personal training while still providing expert supervision and fantastic results.

Unfortunately, boot camps do have their downside. Many fitness instructors want to jump on the lucrative boot camp bandwagon without having any of the skills or experience to design custom workouts for the wide variety of fitness levels typical in large group training. Here are 10 important tips on how to select a boot camp that will get you great results and keep you safe at the same time:

The Top 10 Boot Camp Safety Checklist

1.) The Instructor(s) Must Be Certified With Nationally Recognized Institutions such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association or the National Academy of Sports Medicine. There are many online pay-for-certifications where people can get a certificate with little or no knowledge of proper training methods. This is a big part of what gets people hurt and gives fitness a bad name!

2.) The Instructor(s) Must Look The Part And Walk The Walk. If the trainer takes physical fitness seriously and is on the cutting edge of new training methodologies, they will be fit themselves, plain and simple. After all, who wants to take advice from someone who is in worse shape than they are!

3.) The Instructor(s) Must Be Experts With Exercise Progressions. Every exercise has the appropriate regression and progression based on your current fitness level. Overweight, de-conditioned beginners SHOULD NOT perform the exact same exercises as their more fit counterparts. If you ask your trainer if he/she can show an exercise modification that better suits your particular situation and they give you a blank stare, leave the class on the spot!

4.) The Instructor(s) Must Make Themselves Available 10-15 Minutes Before and After Every Session. Although a good trainer can effectively train the group as a whole and still give that personal touch, he or she must be willing to speak with clients before AND after every workout to address any personal issues that might arise within the scope of your training or in related to other very important topics like nutrition, supplements and general fitness questions.

5.) The Program Must Emphasize Body Weight Before External Resistance. There should be no added weight to any movements until you have mastered the key foundational body weight exercises in full ranges of motion like push-ups, squats, lunges, etc. A red flag should be raised if you are being instructed to add weight to a movement that you have yet to master with your body weight alone. This one's important because it's not a matter of if you will get hurt... it's a matter of when!

6.) The Training System Must Focus on Body Weight Circuit Training and Cardio Interval Training. High-Intensity Interval Training is scientifically proven to burn 9x more fat than the aerobic training alternative, so it is critical that both the resistance training AND cardio programs provided incorporate intervals since the goal of 99% of fitness enthusiasts is fat loss. Furthermore, most people are seeking for the lean, athletic look of a men's health or women's health cover model respectively, and this is easily accomplished with 2-5 (or more) body weight resistance training movements organized in a easy to understand circuit fashion with the proper pre-programmed work to rest periods between exercises.

7.) The Program Must Provide Nutritional Information. Nutrition is 80% of the weight loss battle. Without it, you are joining an incomplete program and wasting your money since there is no amount of exercise that can compensate for poor dietary habits. People are very busy so the nutrition program needs to be clearly outlined and easy to follow. It should provide both Quick-Start Nutrition Guides for both men and women so that will have you eating to support your fat loss goals in 5 minutes or less. In addition, a cookbook with a whole bunch of healthy and delicious done-for-you recipes should be provided to keep you on track!

8.) The Program Must Have A Website AND An Interactive Web 2.0 Social Network offered. Bottom line, if the boot camp program in question does not have a website in this day in age, it is not worth your time and money. Personal training is not just about "training," it is a business and it needs to be approached that way. Furthermore, social support must extend outside of the boot camp workout. There are several web 2.0 interactive social networks (e.g. NING) that offer member profiles, blogging, and a forum where trainers and clients can interact with each other for FREE, so there is no excuse not to set this up for boot camp clients and the program itself.

9.) The Program Must Have Social Proof And Raving Fans. If the fitness program works, there should be proof in the form of client testimonials. Their previous clients should have results and be raving about all of the benefits that they have received from the program. Ask for before and after pictures and written or video testimonials of their services before signing up (again, this should be made available on the company website). And remember, it's NOT just about the weight loss. Benefits should include, but not be limited to, increased energy levels, dress/pant size reduction, improved health profiles, increased strength and flexibility, less joint pain, etc.

10.) The Program Must Offer A FREE Trial or Satisfaction Guarantee. If the boot camp program is confident about what they have to offer, then they will let you come in and try it for free or they will guarantee your satisfaction or your money back to completely eliminate the risk on your end. A results-based programs looks to minimize barriers of entry for prospects into their boot camps because they know that once the prospect experiences the benefits of the program firsthand they will surely continue their workouts with the boot camp.

How to Come Up With a Home Fitness Nutrition Plan

So you want to get in shape, and the first thing that you are going to want to do in this case is come up with a home fitness nutrition plan. This home fitness nutrition plan is going to be a creation that shows you what to eat, when to work out, and which food and exercises are going to get you the body that you want.

Whether you are interested in incorporating specific things such as home fitness training or really don't have a clue where to start, here is some information that you are going to find very useful.

Diet

The first thing you need to start with when it comes to a home fitness nutrition plan is your diet. You need to start by eating the right foods, and more than anything this should include fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens like arugula and spinach. These are high in nutrients and will keep your energy up.

You can talk to a nutritionist about this if you need a bit more help, as they are a professional in this area and will be able to create a personalized diet plan for you. This is going to be particularly important if you have food allergies or other issues that you need to deal with and which will make it much more difficult for you to create the diet plan on your own.

Exercise

Now remember, when it comes to a home fitness nutrition plan, that you can eat all the healthy food you want, but if you are not active enough and not exercising on a regular basis, you are simply not going to be able to get the results that you are looking for. You will need to include exercises that are going to focus on the areas where you need it most.

If it is your upper body that needs the most work for instance, you may want to start weight training, which will be able to help you slim and tone your arms and chest. If it is your lower body that needs work, elliptical trainers and running are great options.

It is important that you take time and really put some serious thought into it when you are coming up with a home fitness nutrition plan. This is vital otherwise you are not going to get the results out of all this that you are looking for. It will be more than worth it in the end.

Childhood Obesity - Fitness and Nutrition Facts for Child Health Promotion

The rates of childhood obesity in Canada has tripled in the last 25-30 years. Data reports from other developing countries is quite similar. Childhood obesity is becoming a worldwide epidemic.

There can be no question that the two most significant factors in the childhood obesity epidemic are diet and exercise. The abundance of nutritionally deficient foods and a sedentary lifestyle are creating a generation poised to become adults with significant morbidity.

For the first time ever experts are calling the current generation of children an energy positive generation meaning that they have more calories going in than being expended through physical exercise and the excess energy is stored in the body as fat.

Here are the fitness and nutrition facts regarding childhood obesity:

• Childhood obesity affects children in the same ways that obesity affects adults. Children who are overweight are more likely to develop diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, lowered self esteem, and breathing disorders such as asthma and sleep apnea.
• Conditions that were once thought to be present only in adult populations are now being diagnosed in children. This would include conditions such as high cholesterol (hyperlipedemia), type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and gall bladder disease.
• Children who have overweight parents are more likely to be overweight
• Inactive children are more likely to grow up to be inactive adults
• Physical exercise is strongly influenced by family patterns. Girls with active mothers are more likely to engage in regular physical exercise and boys who are involved in community sports programs are more likely to grow up to be men who engage in regular physical exercise.
• Lower income and education levels correlate to lower physical exercise levels in developed countries.
• Portion sizes shown in print and television advertising are as much as three times larger than is needed to meet energy needs.
• Obesity during adolescence has been found to increase adult mortality.
• Childhood obesity has been linked to the consumption of soft drinks or soda pop.
• Food and beverage companies in the US spent 1.6 million dollars (2006) marketing their products to children and adolescents. The amount of money spent to market soft drinks was 43 times the amount spent to market fruits and vegetables.
• Families who eat their meals together are more likely to make healthier food choices that include the recommended daily allowances of all food groups.
• A depressed mood is strongly associated with childhood obesity. Research suggests however that the depressed mood is a result of the obesity and not the cause of it.
• Breastfeeding has been found to protect against obesity in later life.
• Inadequate sleep has been correlated to higher obesity rates in children. Even as much as an extra hour of sleep every night can lower the risk of childhood obesity by 30%.
• Television and computer screen time has been linked to childhood obesity. When screen time approaches 4 hours per day a child is more likely to be overweight.
• Children view between 12 and 21 commercials daily for food and beverage products.
• Television advertising of food and beverages directed towards children are usually for products that are high in calories, sugar, sodium, and fat.

These fitness and nutrition facts represent only a small portion of the knowledge base that is accumulating regarding the epidemic of childhood obesity. The data is clear that fitness and nutrition habits are established very early in life and are strongly influenced by marketing and the lifestyle of the family.

The best way to guard against childhood obesity is to reduce screen time, eat well, and move more. If you do these three things together as a family not only will you all become healthier, but as a result your family relationships will be strengthened.

Childhood Obesity - Fitness and Nutrition Facts for Child Health Promotion

The rates of childhood obesity in Canada has tripled in the last 25-30 years.  Data reports from other developing countries is quite similar.  Childhood obesity is becoming a worldwide epidemic.
There can be no question that the two most significant factors in the childhood obesity epidemic are diet and exercise. The abundance of nutritionally deficient foods and a sedentary lifestyle are creating a generation poised to become adults with significant morbidity.

For the first time ever experts are calling the current generation of children an energy positive generation meaning that they have more calories going in than being expended through physical exercise and the excess energy is stored in the body as fat.

Here are the fitness and nutrition facts regarding childhood obesity:

• Childhood obesity affects children in the same  ways that obesity affects adults.  Children who are overweight are more likely to develop diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, lowered self esteem, and breathing disorders such as asthma  and sleep apnea.
• Conditions that were once thought to be present only in adult populations are now being diagnosed in children.  This would include conditions such as  high cholesterol (hyperlipedemia),  type 2 diabetes,  high blood pressure, and gall bladder disease.
• Children who have overweight parents are more likely to be overweight
• Inactive children are more likely to grow up to be inactive adults
• Physical exercise is strongly influenced by family patterns.  Girls with active mothers are more likely to engage in regular physical exercise and boys who are involved in community sports programs are more likely to grow up to be men who engage in regular physical exercise.
• Lower income and education levels correlate to lower physical exercise levels in developed countries.
• Portion sizes shown in print and television advertising are as much as three times larger than is needed to meet energy needs.
• Obesity during adolescence has been found to increase adult mortality.
• Childhood obesity has been linked to the consumption of soft drinks or soda pop.
• Food and beverage companies in the US spent 1.6 million dollars (2006) marketing their products to children and adolescents.  The amount of money spent to market soft drinks was 43 times the amount spent to market fruits and vegetables.
• Families who eat their meals together are more likely to make healthier food choices that include the recommended daily allowances of all food groups.
• A depressed mood is strongly associated with childhood obesity. Research suggests however that the depressed mood is a result of the obesity and not the cause of it.
• Breastfeeding has been found to protect against obesity in later life.
• Inadequate sleep has been correlated to higher obesity rates in children.  Even as much as an extra hour of sleep every night can lower the risk of childhood obesity by 30%.
• Television and computer screen time has been linked to childhood obesity.  When screen time approaches 4 hours per day a child is more likely to be overweight.
• Children view between 12 and 21 commercials daily for food and beverage products.
• Television advertising of food and beverages directed towards children are usually for products that are high in calories, sugar, sodium, and fat.

These fitness and nutrition facts represent only a small portion of the knowledge base that is accumulating regarding the epidemic of childhood obesity. The data is clear that  fitness and nutrition habits are established very early in life and are strongly influenced by marketing and the lifestyle of the family.

The best way to guard against childhood obesity is to reduce screen time,  eat well,  and move more.  If you do these three things together as a family not only will you all become healthier, but as a result your family relationships will be strengthened.

Top 15 Easy to Implement Nutrition Tips

Do you realize that eating foods that will help you feel and look better is just a matter of choice?  Feeling more energetic or losing those extra pounds begins with what we choose to eat.  Whether your goal is to lose weight, tone up, or increase your energy, a healthier lifestyle begins with nutrition.  The following are easy to follow tips to help you begin making the choices that will get you on the road to achieving the results you desire.

1. Do not avoid or skip your meals. Instead go for five to six meals or snacks every three or four hours.  Feeding your body throughout the day keeps your furnace burning.
2. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. Not only will it help flush toxins out of the body but having a full glass of water before a meal will help fill you up so you are less likely to over eat.
3. Eat red, yellow, orange, and green vegetables. Vegetables are low in calories, loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, and a great source of fiber.
4. Include a variety of fruits in your diet. Not only will they help satisfy a sweet craving but they too are low in calories, high in water, a good source of fiber, and loaded with vitamins and antioxidants.
5. Breakfast is a must! Your body needs fuel to start both your day, and your metabolism.
6. Eat lean proteins with every meal. Choosing egg whites, white meat poultry, and fish more often than lean beef/pork will reduce the fat and calories you eat.  Eating lean protein is essential in building and keeping healthy muscles.  It also takes longer ser to digest, therefore, keeping you fuller longer.
7. Whole Grains are a store house of fuel and energy for the body.  Whole wheat/grain breads, cereal, pasta, and brown rice are just a few delicious choices.
8. Watch the FAT.  Choose low fat or fat free whenever possible but remember consuming the right fat is essential in keeping your body healthy.
9. Limit Alcohol intake. Not only can alcoholic beverages contain hundreds of calories, but it is a toxin that affects the tissues and organs in the body.
10. Portion Control. How much you eat is as important as what you eat.
11. Choose freshly prepared meal over packaged. Though convenient, many can have high calories and low nutrition.
12. Indulge yourself in a treat, but watch out for serving size and frequency of treats.  Having too many treats will sabotage your efforts.
13. Eliminate sodas. Cut down on your sugar intake in all other beverages like tea, coffee and milk.
14. Exercise daily to increase your rate of metabolism.  Maintain a journal of your daily in take.
15. Last but not least be practical, conscious and fine tune your diet to get the optimum nutrition.

By now, everyone should know the importance of physical fitness and fitness training programs, but not very many of us recognize the true value of healthy meal plans as well. Irrelevant of the types of fitness training you use, be sure you have a balanced healthy diet to go with it.

For those that need a little extra assistance, direction or motivation, visit eFitness for Life now and see how our fitness training plans and weekly diet meal plans can help you make the most of your investment, in the shortest possible time, with the greatest return. Our goal is to teach you the values of physical fitness and how to create healthy meal plans for a lifetime! All done online! All done with certified coaches! Truly, the Future of Fitness! Stop by today and we will be happy to build your starter programs to ensure you learn to live longer, healthier lives.

Learn the benfit of physical fitness and a balanced healthy diet NOW! Get started and provide you and your family with a healthy lifestyle! Risk-Free Trial, take advantage today!

The New Visualization Breakthrough: Mental Training Tactics for Health and Fitness Success

Understanding the mind's role in motivation and behavior is one of the most critical elements in fitness success. If you struggle with changing habits and behaviors or if you can't get motivated, then even the best training and nutrition program is not much help.

A fascinating fact about your subconscious mind is that it's completely deductive in nature. In other words, it's fully capable of working backwards from the end to the means. If you "program" only the desired outcome successfully into your "mental computer," then your subconscious will take over and help you find the information and means and carry out the actions necessary to reach it.

Many people are familiar with affirmations and goal-setting as ways to give instructions to your subconscious mind. But perhaps the ultimate mental training" technique is visualization. In one respect, affirmation and visualization are the same, because when you speak or think an affirmation first, that triggers a mental image, being as the human brain "thinks" in pictures.

You can use visualization to plant goals into your subconscious mind. You simply close your eyes, use your imagination and mentally create pictures and run movies of your desired results. If repeated consistently with emotion, mental images are accepted by your subconscious as commands and this helps with changing habits, behavior and performance.

Although there are some new and creative ways to use visualization, (which you are about to learn), this is not a new technique. Visualization has been used formally in the fields of sports psychology and personal development for decades and philosophers have discussed it for centuries:

"If you want to reach your goal, you must 'see the reaching' in your own mind before you actually arrive at your goal."

- Zig Ziglar

"The use of mental imagery is one of the strongest and most effective strategies for making something happen for you."

- Dr. Wayne Dyer

"Perhaps the most effective method of bringing the subconscious into practical action is through the process of making mental pictures - using the imagination."

- Claude Bristol

"There is a law in psychology that if you form a picture in your mind of what you would like to be, and you keep and hold that picture there long enough, you will soon become exactly as you have been thinking."

- William James, 1842-1910, Psychologist and Author

Despite these glowing endorsements and a long track record, some people can't get past feeling that this is just a "hokey" self-help technique. Rest assured, however, that visualization is an effective and time-tested method for increasing personal success that has been used by some of the highest achievers the world.

The Soviets started to popularize visualization in sports psychology back in the 1970's, as detailed in Charles Garfield's landmark book, "Peak Performance." They dominated in many sports during that period, which validated visualization anecdotally.

In the last 10-15 years, there has been some groundbreaking new brain research which has validated visualization scientifically. Here's something that was written recently by Dr. Richard Restak, a neuroscientist and author of 12 books about the human brain:

"The process of imagining yourself going through the motions of a complex musical or athletic performance activates brain areas that improve your performance. Brain scans have placed such intuitions on a firm neurological basis. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans reveal that the mental rehearsal of an action activates the prefontal areas of the brain responsible for the formulation of the appropriate motor programs. In practical terms, this means you can benefit from the use of mental imagery."

So much for being a "cheesy" self-help technique.

Although visualization is widely used today, even people who are familiar with it often don't realize its many applications. Arguably the most common use of visualization is by athletes, musicians and other performers as a form of "mental rehearsal." Research shows that "practicing in your mind" is almost as effective as practicing physically, and that doing both is more effective than either one alone.

A common use of visualization in the fitness context is "goal visualization." In your mind's eye, you can see yourself having already achieved your physique goal or your ideal goal weight. You can also visualize a specific performance goal such as completing a difficult workout or a heavy lift like a squat or bench press.

One creative way you can use mental imagery is called "process visualization." Once you've set your goals, it's easy to come up with a list of the daily habits, behaviors and action steps necessary to reach your goal. So write down the action steps and visualize them - the entire process, not just the end result. See yourself food shopping and grabbing fruits, vegetables and lean proteins, ordering healthy foods from restaurant menus, saying no to sodas and drinking water instead, and going to the gym consistently and having killer workouts. Some people visualize their entire "perfect day" as they would want it to unfold. When you do this as vividly, emotionally and in as much detail as you can, you will be neurologically priming your brain to carry out those behaviors.

The least known of all mental imagery techniques is called "physiology visualization." An example would be picturing the fat burning process in your body or seeing the muscle fibers growing larger and larger. Using this technique, could it be possible that you might be giving subconscious instructions to your body's cells, organs and tissues?

Well, consider the work of Dr. Carl Simonton, a physician and cancer researcher who taught his patients (as one part of a comprehensive program), how to visualize powerful immune cells devouring the cancer cells. I'm not suggesting that you can cure cancer or materialize a lean and muscular body just by visualizing, (there's a step in between thought and manifestation - it's called action - a step that many self help

How to Help your Children Achieve Ultimate Health

When it comes to our children's future, what are we planning for? When I'm asking about planning, I mean, in what are we investing our time and energy? Is it our children's college education? If it is, we better start saving early on. We will need to make some firm commitments if we want to be prepared to help our children with their future college educations. If you are hoping that maybe the fairy god mother will wave her magic wand and "Presto," four years of college education paid for…keep hoping! Most of us will have to discipline ourselves to save. How well we invest and save will not only determine where we are financially, as far as college is concerned, but will also affect everything we do in life that we deem important.

Now maybe you're one of those fortunate people not concerned for college money for your children. You already have more than you need. Your biggest concern is to figure out what are the best stocks in which you can invest. When your children do grow up, their nest egg for college will be waiting for them. That's great! Let me remind you, whatever you planned for your children, from an investment point of view, will not be worth its weight in pennies-let alone gold-if you haven't invested in your children's health.

Many people like me also invest into their children's spiritual health by bringing them into a God centered environment like a church or synagogue on a weekly basis. We do that because we know the importance of our children coming to have and to know God in their lives. We want them to succeed spiritually speaking, so like finances and their health, we take time to invest.

Take the time to map out a fitness plan for your family. I assure you it is one investment that you'll be glad you took time to invest in. If we don't invest in our families, who will?

Are we doing all we can to set good examples for our family? Do we work out consistently ourselves?

Health and Fitness Goal Achievement - the Path to Success Begins in the Mind

Summer time is upon us - but it's not too late to take some quick steps to make sure you look and feel great!

Here are four quick steps you can take to get yourself heading in the right direction. It is never too late to get yourself on your way to better shape with plenty of energy!

1) Assess your situation. Time for a quick reality check. Before you do anything, take a good look at yourself to get some direction. The mirror usually is a good place to start, and a few measurements may give you some motivation as well. Even one measurement, like your waistline, (take at the belly button level) can help you gauge your progress.

This is also the time to take a quick mental check too. Maybe you have not succeeded in the past with weight loss or fitness goals. Why?

2) Set some goals. Assessing your situation helps you decide upon your goals. Lose weight, fit into your summer clothes (the ones that somehow shrunk over winter), start exercising or re-strategize your current exercise plan. Perhaps it is time to clean up your diet a little bit, start eating a little healthier.

Get set with a positive state of mind. Great successes get set first in the mind.

Health, fitness and weight loss goal achievement requires three key items:

Proper state of mind = You will meet your goals.

Balanced and realistic nutrition program. (That is you eating healthier, making better choices)

A set minimum amount of cardiovascular exercise and some amount of resistance training.

If you want maximal results in a minimal amount of time, these three items must be an integral part of your program. Decide how you are going to meet your goals. Devise the plan to your success.

3) Time to take action. Once you have your goals and your game plan, all you have left to do is to simply put yourself into action. Time to hit the 'play' button. Don't wait one more day to start your program. Don't let yourself get sucked into a perpetual procrastination of "I'll start tomorrow".

Make your mind up that your journey of weight loss and fitness success begins today. Take action physically with your exercise, eat a healthier diet, and mentally keep a positive charge going to stay on track.

4) Plan to stick to the plan. This inevitably will require some planning. All great end results come about from a plan. Stay on track with your diet and exercise. Keep yourself in a positive state of mind with a strong and affirmative mental lock on your goals.

All you have to do is get started. Every day on the way to your goals will build on the day before. Before you know it you will have achieved success. This can be your summer to feel and look great!

To help you look and feel your best this summer, Fat Into The Fire offers a wealth of information about health, fitness, and getting in fantastic shape.

Why Nutrition Facts are Important

If you have become part of the band wagon of nutrition, you have probably caught yourself being very careful of the foods you put in your system. If this is you, there is no easier way to lose weight or become healthier than just learning about nutritional facts which are located on the backs of most food packages. Not every single item with have that nutritional facts section located on the food but you will find that most foods do provide you with those facts.

Noticing what those nutrition facts mean will help you gain a knowledge of how healthy foods are. If you pay attention to the calories and grams of fat which you are devouring and compare it to what you should take in, you may end up a little stunned.

There is nothing wrong with learning from you mistakes if you realize you have been consuming way to many calories or fat grams per meal. The important thing is that you learn from it and change it the next time you eat a meal.  Once you know what you need to look for and how much of that certain nutritional fact you need, it will become easy to find out what foods will be best for your diets.

Items Without Labels

Most foods nowadays have the nutritional facts located right on the package of the food. This is because a lot of what we eat is created or processed in one way or another, as this has become a way of eating for most people. There is always that little amount of food which does not contain that important nutritional information on the package. These foods tend to be the healthier of all foods such as our fruits and vegetables. Alot of people could care less about knowing essential nutritional facts but if you would like to know about it, searching the internet is not a bad place to start or searching further through this website.

If your diet schedule wants you to know all the nutritional information of everything you eat, you will be able to find that information on the internet or health books.

This can become a hassle very quickly because anytime you come across a new food you have never eaten, you will have to research whether or not you should be eating it. For those okay with a lot of work, these types of diet plans will work fine. If your not the researching type of person, then you will need to broaden your knowledge about nutrition to make it easier on yourself so that you will not have to do research very often.

Health and Fitness- Ever Wondered How to Shed Those Extra Pounds Which Shows it Self Even After You Try Your Best to Cover it Up?

Ever wondered how to shed those extra pounds which shows it self even after you try your best to cover it up? Those extra some things that you call 'love handles' but still hate them when you are left alone with them or even with people around. As soon as fat starts accumulating, problems starts, problems related to your health. This increases your vulnerability towards blood pressure, obesity, and there is an increased risk of getting diseases like diabetes, arthritis. A proper diet meal plan with nutrition and a weight loss program is exactly what you should be looking for, then.

Excess weight for women aggravates arthritis problems and leads to rapid joint decay. Pain and joint deterioration can be lessened by weight loss as weight loss removes the stress on the knee joint.

Diabetes is spreading worldwide as an epidemic. Diabetes is the cause for blindness, kidney failure and amputation in adults. There are 2 types of diabetes of which it is estimated that obesity is the main reason for developing the type 2 diabetes.

Clinical trials conducted to determine the effect of weight loss on controlling diabetes shows- • Modifying your lifestyle just a bit helps you tackle the type 2 diabetes by reducing the blood glucose levels. • Having a proper exercising regime and reducing the abdominal fat, helps fighting obesity and diseases related to it. An exercising regime is also essential. You don't need to tire yourself out, but being regular in your exercise and maintaining an ideal weight goes a long way in ensuring a happy, healthy and long life. So, healthy eating habits and exercising goes hand in hand.

thenewyouatl.com offers you just the same, it offers u with proper diet meal plans, nutrition, plyometrics, aerobics ,boot camp training, fitness programs, personal trainers, weight loss, a changed lifestyle to help you get in shape with useful diet tips, body building and aerobics to help you burn that extra fat.

Just make the first move and the rest is assured with just a little effort from you! We'll help you.

Sheldon

The New You

http://www.thenewyouatl.com

Your Travel Health. Nutrition for Fitness and Energy

When I visit large cities, I like to do a lot of walking. To explore and visit little back streets off the tourist tracks, inaccessible to tourist buses.

Most large cities are made for walking. How could you visit London without walking through Hyde Park and the markets of Notting Hill? When in Paris, visit the gourmet delights of the market areas around Rue De Montague. The area where the Parisians shop and live. Walking across Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Brooklyn Bridge provides views that are breathtaking. You can stop, take photos and enjoy the discoveries that only walking can provide.

To fully enjoy these walks, you need to be healthy and fit. This article focuses on the importance of boosting your immune system before you travel and nutritional supplements to keep up your energy and fitness levels while traveling.

BOOSTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM.

Up to 80% of people suffer some form of travel sickness, says Dr Jonathon Cohen, medical director of Travel Clinics Australia. Poor hygiene in eateries and a change of bugs going into your stomach are to blame. If you're in a country where you don't trust the food or water, the secret is to eat or drink it only if it has been boiled, cooked, bottled or peeled.

"Using a daily dose of a high quality acidophilus supplement while on holiday is also a great preventative treatment", says Sharon Baker of the Wholistic Medical Centre in Sydney.

Her views are shared by two doctors who are well informed in the art of traveling in good health : Dr Robert Rountree, a frequent traveler and director of Boulder Wellcare of Boulder, Colorado and Dr Mark Wise, author of "The Travel Doctor: Your Guide to Staying Healthy While You Travel".

Dr Rountree says you should start buttressing your immune system during the countdown to your trip. His main focus is improving the gastrointestinal system. Having a healthy GI tract frees up your body's resources to fight other potential problems, especially respiratory bugs. Furthermore, if you are traveling overseas, you'll have to deal with bacteria that your body is not used to.

To keep your GI system healthy, Dr Rountree recommends starting on a probiotic, containing healthy bacteria, several weeks before you travel. He suggests you take one a day starting several weeks before you leave and continue with it for the duration of your travels. For this reason, you should look for one that doesn't require refrigeration.

To keep you regular, a daily intake of oat bran, psillium husks or other high fiber carbohydrates is suggested. For minor stomach upsets, I always take with me some ginger tablets. Ginger is a great stomach soother and is excellent for problems ranging from indigestion to relief from nausea, fever and seasickness.
A brand I have found to be particularly effective is "Travel Calm Ginger".

BOOSTING YOUR ENERGY.

Dr Rountree advises travelers to get lots of antioxidants, natural viral disease fighters that help protect your immune system from potentially damaging free radicals. There are many available, but the two I take with me on my travels are also great energy boosters.

COENZYME Q10 is a powerful antioxidant present in all body cells and helps with the production of energy. It is an important for fuelling organs such as your liver and heart and is sometimes called your body's "spark plug". Both organs will be kept busy during your travels, so it is important to protect them.

KOREAN {PANAX} GINSENG is noted for improving stamina and is popular with those involved with endurance sports because of its anti fatigue effect. It is called an adaptogenic herb, as it enables the body to create more energy and vitality during the day and promotes relaxation at night. It has a tonic effect on the body and is popular in Asia primarily because of its fame for extending lifespan. It also increases resistance to stress and disease.

Health And Fitness For Kids – Ten Steps For A Healthier Life

Today more than ever it is harder to maintain a healthy lifestyle with sedentary pastimes such as watching television, playing video games and surfing the Internet competing for our kid's time and replacing more physical activities.

Combined with the easy availability and low cost of unhealthy processed foods or 'junk food', then this can have an impact on children's health, not only throughout their childhood but leading into adulthood causing serious health problems at a later date.

It is therefore important to make a concerted effort to ensure children lead a healthy lifestyle and maintain overall fitness. However it can be difficult to make a start and to inspire your kids to follow your lead, so we have compiled a list of ten tips to help you along the road to health and happiness.

1) Involve the Whole Family – Sometimes kids can be reluctant to take part in sports and games, especially if they think that they are being 'forced' to do them against their will. Children take their lead from their parents so if they see their parents taking part in sports and fitness then they are more than likely to want to copy. Ensuring that the whole family stay fit and healthy can provide the right motivation for the less reluctant child to get involved. Embracing a healthier lifestyle yourself can help teach a child that they need to do the same.

It doesn't have to be all about playing 'football'. For instance a family outing to the zoo, theme park or local attraction such as a ruined castle will keep kids on their feet, give them something interesting to see and do whilst keeping them fit at the same time. Making an effort to have days out where the whole family joins in can lead to a child having an overall healthier lifestyle.

2) Use 'Active' Transport – Ditching the car when possible and either walking or cycling instead can help keep the whole family fit and healthy. Perhaps this means walking to school instead of taking the car or maybe a trip to the local park or shops can be accomplished by cycling there instead.

Although it may not be possible for everyone to ditch the car so easily due to distance or time constraints the occasional journey can still perhaps be substituted. Not only is walking or cycling better for your health, it can save you money and help the environment- all great examples to set your kids!

3) Regular Exercise - The key to staying fit and healthy for both adults and children alike is to exercise regularly. Try to schedule exercise activities (whatever they might be) at regular intervals but do let your kids set the pace. As soon as a child feels they are being forced to take part in a 'fitness' regime then you may start to get some resistance and refusal to join in.

Pushing your kids beyond their limits may have a negative impact on them wanting to do anything at all. Forcing them to train to become better at a sport or activity can seem like the right think to do if they appear to have a talent for something, but it is important to ensure that your kids are happy and not resenting the activity, as long term this will end up becoming a problem.

4) Keep Fit Through Daily Chores – Lets be honest, no kid enjoys having to do their weekly and daily chores, but chores are a good thing to implement as they help teach a child responsibilities whilst helping them to 'earn their keep'.

If your child isn't that keen on sports and outdoor activities then a subtle way for them to get some additional exercise is by combining their chores with physical activities. For example washing the car, mowing the lawn or vacuuming the house all are great ways to burn some extra calories and to get your kid moving and keeping fit without them even realising it!

5) Keep it New and Fun!

Many of us can recall sports lessons at school when we were forced to do sports we didn't enjoy, more often than not in the freezing cold, without proper clothes. These horrible moments cement a negative impression on sports and fitness in a child's psyche. This negativity needs to be avoided so the buzz word to remember is 'fun'. If you ensure that any activity you take part in is fun for your child then fitness doesn't become a burden or a chore and soon becomes a normal, everyday part of their life.

Kids can bore easily so an activity they have enjoyed in the past may quickly loose its shine from one week to the next. Unless you are intent on turning your kid into the next sporting superstar then whatever activities they do to stay fit is unimportant as long as they enjoy it.

Introduce new sports and activities into a child's routine can be a great way of finding new active hobbies so it's worth experimenting and trying different things. How about crazy golf, trampolining, horse riding or kayaking? There are plenty of things to try!

6) Turn the TV Off – When you live a busy life and have a full time job to contend with then it's easy to let your kids entertain themselves in front of the television. Years ago kids TV was limited to a few hours in the afternoon and morning, but now with the advent of cable and satellite channels, children have dedicated stations that they can watch all day. There's nothing wrong with watching TV, it can be fun and educational, but it's a very inactive pastime.

Try to limit screen time and turn off the TV after a few hours. There may be arguments to start with but your child will start to get into a routine and will also look for other things to do whilst the TV is switched off- ideally more active things to do!

Kids also love playing computer games which are traditionally thought of as being very inactive. Lately things have changed a little- with the release of games such as Dance Dance Revolution and Wii Sports, you can now get a workout in front of the TV. Where possible steer your child towards these 'active' games and then they'll get the benefit of keeping fit and healthy, whilst doing something they really enjoy.

7) Try the Scouts & Guides – Not all kids are the outdoors types so may not suit absolutely everyone, but getting your kids involved with the Scouts, Guides or similar well organised groups can be a great way of ensuring your child lives an active lifestyle. For example the Scouts in the UK are open to young people from the ages of 6 to 25 and they take part in a wide range of activities from rock climbing, camping to sailing and hiking. Also there are a lot of creative and educational pastimes that these groups get up to making it a completely rounded experience.


8) Nutrition & Healthy Eating – To maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise needs to be combined with healthy eating and good nutrition. Good nutrition doesn't always have to be about boring foods that your child doesn't like, so try to introduce a wide range of cuisines and styles to your child's diet. You never know what they might enjoy eating.

Moderation is the buzzword for eating healthily. Minimise unhealthy snacks such as crisps, chocolate, biscuits and sweets and perhaps introduce them only as treats or for special occasions. Your child will not get used to having these 'treats' all the time and will appreciate them much more when they do have them. Unhealthy foods as listed above do not provide much if any nutritional benefit and can contain unhealthy additives which most nutritionists agree are not great for long term health.

Be wary of processed foods, they can sometimes contain unhealthy amounts of salt, sugar or other additives. Try to cook meals using raw ingredients, that way you'll always know what goes into your food. It can be more expensive and time consuming to do this but the long term benefits to the whole family can be immense.

9) Team Games – If your child is showing signs that they enjoy sports such as: football, hockey or netball, then getting them involved in a local youth squad is a great way for a child to get all the exercise they need. Not only will they have fun and get fit, they may make friends with other kids on the team providing additional reason to go to team practice sessions. Adults can also get involved, perhaps by helping out with coaching or lifts to and from training sessions.

Again, having fun is key- if your kid stops wanting to go to practice, initially some light coaxing or persuasion may be necessary to get them back in the mood. However if this reluctance persists, long term you are better off letting your child dictate what they enjoy doing. As mentioned previously in this article, kids can get bored easily and can soon go off any activity, no matter how much they previously liked it.

10) Activity Holidays – Looking to kick start a new healthy lifestyle for the whole family? Taking an activity holiday where your child can get to try a wide range of sports and activities can be a great way of getting fit and finding new and interesting things to do. Venue's such as Center Parcs offer the perfect weekend break escapes with a wide range of activities that suit all ages and they also run special offers such as 'kids eat free', which can save you money. Finding activities that inspire your children to become more active is the best way to ensure that they keep fit and healthy. Activity holidays are a great way on 'hitting the bullseye' and finding things that your child enjoys, that you may not have ever considered before.

Health and Nutrition Guide

Proven Health Tips & Advice to loose weight

Boost your nutritional intake

Select good quality food according to Mediterranean advice. Increase level of nutrition in your diet, if you want to loose weight in a very easier step.

Limit your alcohol intake

One serving of alcohol a day for women and two for men. A serving is a basic glass. No all spirits and alcohols are the same. Quality beer, especially dark beers contain unique nutrient and antioxidants. So go along with nutrient drinks.

 

Managing your dreadful calories

Calculate the calories together with your diet and judge them against the intake of carbohydrates, protein, minerals, vitamins and fats. The less you eat them the faster and easier it will be to lose fat.

 

Do not affix plenty of sugar or salt

Be aware of using lot of sugar/salt in your daily foods because Sugar practically not contains nutrient, but have a lot of calories intakes. So Appreciably decrease various heart relates problem by taking less intake of sodium Daily.

 

Add physical fitness exercise in your daily routine

Physical fitness should be beneficial towards fat loss for good health rather. Fat control can be efficiently done with a commitment to regular structured exercise.

 

Use Low Carb Diets

Consumption of accurate carbohydrate foods is the best solution for fast, easy weight loss. Get most of your carbohydrates from raw or steamed vegetables, fresh fruits, and beans.

 

Now we have another option for the people who are really frustrated with their bulky look. You need not to spend a lot of money and time. Just keep visit your own health guide. This site is a complete guide for health, nutrition, fitness and diet answers for healthy living and provides powerful tips for living the smart life. Enjoy browsing the site and benefit from the tips given by health experts.

3 Top Secret Reasons Why You have not confronted Your true Health and Fitness Potential

3 Top Secret Reasons Why You have not confronted Your true Health and Fitness Potential

How to Resolve Unfinished Business by Mastering your Weight loss Fears and Doubts

First lets start with going over all the what I call Unfinished business in your life this is a term I will be referring to often in this article. By unfinished business I mean all the messes you havn't dealt with. You may be struggling with legal, financial, relationship, organizational, health, physical fitness balance, weight loss, or career messes just to name a few. When you allow these to build up in your life, they can overwhelm you. The reason many people won't deal with this unfinished business is fear. Fear breeds doubt and , and doubt leads to a loss of confidence. It's a vicious cycle. If you leave these constant building blocks in you life and unresolved, a downward spiral begins and is soon gaining momentum. Suddenly life is out of control. This excess baggage is dead weight around your neck. It can bring you to a standstill and this my friends is not fun at all I have been there and choose never to go back.

The result is a tremendous drain on your energy. Some people have accumulated so much unfinished business over the years, it feels like they're pulling an elephant along behind them. There are three ways to handle this so lets get started:

1. You can play the denial and blame game.

Some people pretend it's not really happening. For example, a man worrying about his debt-load refuses to look at the real numbers in hope that they will somehow disappear. Rather than change bad habits, such as spending more than he makes, he finds it easier to live in fantasy world. Denial usually results in major consequences of the variety you won't like. Let us also examine this from a health point of view you continually eat fast food loaded in hidden fats and excess calories day in day out for days, weeks, months, years and then comes heart disease, obesity, diabetes, low back pain, knee problems, insomnia, and the list goes on my friends. This is real and you need to be truthful to yourself and the realities of what happens of years of abusing your health.

2. You can go into limbo the choice is yours.

Life sort of stops and you tread water. You don't fall back, but you don't make any progress either. It's frustrating, and of course the unfinished business is still there waiting to be dealt with later. Being in limbo keeps you stuck. I see this all the time and I know living a life full of constant struggles and no action is not the way to overcome your fears and doubts.

3. You can confront the Issue Head On and Never Look back.

This seems like the obvious course of action, yet so many people choose the previous two options. Why? We usually don't like confrontation-it's uncomfortable and there's and there's a certain amount of risk involved. Sometimes it can be painful, and may not work out the way you wanted it to. Here's a phrase that will help you: Step into your fear.

I hope this article will help you in your life and take the steps necessary towards your health and fitness achievment. Your road to freedom can be yours with these helpful tips, learn to be happy, visualize your dreams, learn to forgive others and yourself, keep a healthy peace of mind and stay focused on the big picture, and lastly prosperity can be yours my friends. Have a healthy and happy day!

By, Natalie pyles

Health and Fitness Expert, Nutrition Specialist, Author, and NSA Speaker

Health And Fitness Essentials - The Cardio-Vascular Workout.

To accomplish a good cardio-vascular workout all you really need is a good pair of running shoes. Most cardio-vascular exercise needs little or no third party apparatus to help you accomplish your routine. Running, dancing, walking can all be done with no equipment (well, if dancing, then maybe some music would help). Other forms of cardio are step, circuit training, bike riding, swimming, aerobics and more...

With most exercise you should always remember to warm up first and cool down afterwards. This means gently stretching and moving your muscles to start off with. Suddenly moving into full exercise without building up first will cause problems such as stiffness and cramps. Ease yourself into it. Then after exercise, the cool down is basically gently moving the muscles and joints to stretch and relax, as your body returns to its normal pace.

Running:
Make sure you have a good pair of running shoes. The technology put into these shoes nowadays is highly researched and designed to reduce shock to the feet, ankles, legs and back. So don't skimp on these - you get what you pay for.

Before you start your run, be sure to warm up first. Start with a brisk walk ensuring you move your arms vigorously gradually breaking into a slow jog. It is better to run at a speed to which you can still converse. If you find yourself losing breath, slow your pace down until you've recovered. If you are a novice runner try running and walking, until you can hold your run for 15 minutes.

Now increase the length and time of your run by a couple of minutes every other time you hit the road or treadmill, until you can run for 30 minutes without stopping. Try to increase your run time by 10% each week, remember not to over do it and don't forget to warm down at the end of each by slowing down gradually. When your run is complete stretch your legs for 30 seconds per muscle, hamstring, calf and thigh.

Cycling:
Cycling is one of the best ways to get a good cardio-vascular workout.

First of all, if you are riding on the roads safety is paramount, always use the appropriate safety equipment when road riding. You can stay fit by riding a bike to work, most people work within a five mile radius of there place of work, which is a perfect distance for a bike ride.

Exercise bikes can be used in a variety of ways, general riding for specified length of time, this is like going for a bike ride with out the dangers of road riding and the weather. Warm up riding you can use an exercise bike for warming up the legs before a leg workout. Also exercise bike classes, these classes are taken by an instructor, who will put you through various levels of pace, quite like a circuit training exercise with a bike.

You may find it surprising to find that riding a bike five miles 3 times per week will improve your heart rate, your posture, skin and weight control. Some even say that riding and running are great ways of relieving stress.

Swimming:
One of the best ways to firm up and trim your body down. Due to the resistance the water has on the body swimming involves all the major muscle groups this allows the body to burn up to 20% more calories than swimming through air. Swimming a few lengths per day will keep you fit and give you an excellent workout. Swimming also has less impact on the joints than say, running.

If you wish to take your swim a little further try picking up the pace of your swim, you can work up to a great aerobic exercise and give your body an excellent workout.

Start off by swimming 1-2 lengths at a time resting between sets if necessary, after you have swam ten lengths call it a day. The next day repeat the process until you can swim five lengths without a break. Progress to ten lengths in by adding an extra length each time you return.

You can put together your own cardio raining routing in the gym, if you have a problem with this then the staff on hand will write one for you and show you how to achieve your goal. Try to make your cardio last between an hour and an hour and a half. A good start point for cardio is always a run.

This cardio workout will work for a person of medium fitness, however adjust the times and pace according to your fitness levels.

1. Run at a light pace for 20 minutes, start off at a walking pace and gradually move to a run, this helps you get warmed up and the blood pumping.

2. Rowing machine- set the rowing machine for a countdown time of 15 minutes or keep a check on your watch or the clock. Start off with a slow rowing motion to get the pace up, maintain this steady pace throughout the full 13 minutes and use the 2 minutes to slow the pace down.

3. Move immediately on to exercise bike take a stead paced ride for 12 minutes with a sprint finish for the remaining 3 minutes.

4. After the exercise bike move directly on to the step climber for a period of 15 minutes climbing on a light level to get the legs going. Try to move at a swift pace for the full 15 minutes as this is the last of the leg work you will be doing.

5. When you have completed the step climber, move onto the abs bench for some crunches. 4 sets of crunches to failure is your target for this exercise. Try twisting your body and touching your left knee with your right elbow and vice versa.

6. The last exercise in this quick cardio workout is the leg raise apparatus. Bring your knees up to your chest for 3-4 sets for as many reps as possible (failure)

After the completion of this cardio workout, remember to do a full warm down by stretching the muscles. The full workout should take you around 1 hour 20 minutes.

Health And Fitness Franchises -- A Potential Gold Mine?

If you're interested in investing in a health and franchise opportunity, then you will want to read this article. Specifically in this article we will discuss trends in the health and fitness industry which indicate that investing in a franchise opportunity related to this field is a wise idea. Finally, we'll go over some common sense points that anyone should know about before purchasing a franchise opportunity.

Woman only exercise facilities and gym memberships have risen quite rapidly. Because of this, the weight-loss industry has also grown because more women are able to lose weight through these specialized gyms. Right now, exclusive training facilities for women account for about a third of all the fitness centers in the nation. This would indicate a potential for good investment in this kind of franchise.

Also, if you look at the sales of fitness clubs in general, you'll see that they have increased over the last few years. How much is the sales revenue at fitness clubs? Try over $14 billion. This would indicate another good potential for investment in these type of health and fitness franchises.

Finally, most women have had more success losing weight with these type of woman only training regimens than with pills, dieting gimmicks and nutritional programs. Almost every woman's biggest desire bills with her appearance. Since the trends seem to point to health and fitness memberships, specifically woman only facilities, as the best way for women to lose weight, it would stand to reason that more more women will resort to these methods. A good indicator for a potential franchise investment.

A great industry is one of the top factors you should be looking at when investing in a franchise. Sure, it might not be the franchise you have the most interest in, but in the end that's not what matters. I suggest that new franchisees make a "Top 5 List of Industries they like" and then a "Top 5 List of the Most Profitable Performing Industries Currently." After this top 5 list is made, try to see if any of the industries you like match up with any franchisors that are reporting great profits. If you find one that matches, up then you are in great shape for a successful franchise opportunity. If you cannot find one that matches up, then it's back to the drawing board. The worse mistake you can make is investing in a bad industry, in the end you will be sorry. It's better to wait for the perfect opportunity then to rush into a life long investment.

If you're interested in investing in health and fitness franchises, I cannot imagine a hotter opportunity than this specific niche. Not only are the numbers growing, but they seem to indicate they will continue growing as the word-of-mouth spreads. The best time to get on any rising trend is on the ground floor. Do the research necessary, and at the very least look into this sector for franchise opportunities. Follow the trends given in this article, and you will see for yourself the opportunities that what you.

Ballys Fitness Offers a Road to a Healthier Lifestyle

Ballys fitness has a mission to improve the health and quality of life of people through professional help and wellness programs. This goal is achievable through a three part area to wellness called the Bally's Total Fitness plan.  The program uses exercising, nutrition, and help to build a fitness program to help you get more healthy and stay that way.  Bally fitness centers can help you find the right exercise programs that fit your personal needs and requirements.

A Great Place to Exercise

Exercising is the first step in your fitness program and Bally's fitness will help provide you with plenty of workout plans to get you in the shape you want to be in and keep you there. Bally's offers top of line equipment from machines to cardio equipment and strength training options. These centers also offers a variety of classes to teach multiple ways to exercise so it will fit a customers personal needs. You will have the opportunity to create realistic fitness and weight loss goals, and also how to view your progress to meet your goals.  Ballys fitness centers provide a great place to exercise.

Support and Help

Support is a crucial step to Bally's total fitness plan, and is accomplished in multiple different ways.  You will be able to find a staff of highly trained and qualified personnel to give you information on how to use the equipment, offer workout advice and fitness programs to meet your personal goals.  You will have the opportunity to join some group classes filled with other customers who are seeking very similar goals and a chance to meet new people and making your workout program a fun experience so it is enjoyable to you. Support is crucial to a successful Ballys fitness plan, whether you are a beginner or an advanced fitness fanatic.

Nutrition

Nutrition is another crucial aspect of fitness and it can determine what kind of shape you end up in if you are not careful about what you choose to eat.  Bally's fitness centers have highly qualified nutrition experts who are there at your convenience to seek advice about how your body works and what you can do to better your physical look and stay there.  Through qualified advice from personnel on what to eat, you can really get some great information on what nutrition plans will work best for you and how it will get you closer to your fitness goals.

Having a healthy lifestyle is a very common and good goal for most of us for multiple different reasons.  A membership at Ballys Fitness will help guide you toward your goals and make your life more healthy and enjoyable.

Brainfit for Life: a User's Guide to Life-long Brain Health and Fitness

Copyright (c) 2008 BrainFit For Life

As the Brain Fitness industry continues to gain momentum, and people explore all the incredible brain-training tools being developed, we hope that enthusiasts don't take their eye off the importance of the physical health of the brain and all the systems it communicates with. The brain is unique in that it houses our cognitive and emotional capacities in the form of the mind. It is a 'cognitive' organ that hungers for stimulation from new experiences and challenges. Many brain fitness programs strive to satisfy this need. Yet the brain is also a physical organ that plays by many of the same rules as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. To stay healthy and perform optimally it requires quality nutrition, physical activity and optimal sleep. The brain, especially, relies on a healthy vascular system to efficiently deliver oxygen and key nutrients and remove waste. In fact, the brain uses approximately 20% of the oxygen we breathe to satisfy its high-energy demands. Given that the brain only weighs about 2% of the body, we can consider it an energy hog and we must cater to its needs very carefully.

Nutrients play key roles in brain function. Several have shown efficacy in clinical trials treating cases of mood disorders, cognitive decline and of course benefiting the physical health of the brain. Nutrients are both the raw materials employed in creating new neural connections and important components in regulating the activity of genes involved in these processes. Specific nutrients involved in mitochondrial efficiency, the energy factories of brain and body cells, are particularly important for many aspects of brain function. Other nutrients are involved in the inner workings of neuronal membranes, responsible for ensuring that electrochemical signals, which make up our thoughts, transmit efficiently and reliably. Finally, antioxidants, important throughout the body, are especially important in the brain due to its high energy production rates and concurrent high capacity for free radical leakage. Keeping this in mind, it is readily apparent that nutrition provides the building blocks for our brain's structure and function, and therefore cannot be ignored.

Exercise is a clearly established component for promoting brain health as well. No longer can we think that the brain is completely separate from the brawn. Human studies have shown the value of exercise in controlling stress and maintaining positive mood states; in improving cognitive function, including performance on memory and executive tasks; and in improving the brain's two-way communication streams with the rest of the body. Some of these benefits are likely due to the positive effects of exercise on neurovascular health, which parallel cardiovascular health. Other benefits seem due to increased grey matter in 'front office' functions of the cortex; and neuronal birth, or neurogenesis, in the hippocampus, a brain region that controls aspects of memory and mood regulation. Whatever the mechanism, giving your body a workout will produce substantial benefits in terms of brain health. Remember, a body in motion tends to stay in motion, and your brain and body will be together your whole life.

Mental activity is an obvious, and critical, ingredient for optimizing and maintaining brain function. Studies have established relationships between the degree of life-time mental activity and late-life cognitive function. It's clear that those who engage in intellectually challenging endeavors on a regular basis reap the benefits of a clear mind. There is, however a need for each individual to balance sufficient variety with a proper degree of challenge. Without variety and challenge, tasks become too mundane and too easy, eventually growing stale and losing their capacity to adequately stimulate the brain. We must also realize that mental activity goes beyond 'cognitive' tasks. Mental activities also include practices like meditative focus, relaxation and stress reduction techniques, as well as social interaction. These active and dynamic processes challenge the mind as well. Mixing cognitive challenges with emotional regulation provides a more complete mental workout that will help you to use it to improve it.

An often neglected component contributing to brain health is optimal sleep. On average, we sleep approximately 1.5 hours per night less than we did 100 years ago. Modern technology makes it easier to get less sleep and our busy lives encourage us to do it. Sleep is far more than a time of rest, and is too often misclassified as a period of lost productivity. It is an active metabolic period for our brains. Sleep is a time when we consolidate memories of the previous day, a time when we re-synchronize the circadian rhythm of at least dozens, if not hundreds, of hormones controlling our metabolism. Sleep loss is associated with a high percentage of mood disorders and certainly reduces our cognitive efficiencies. We must give ourselves permission to sleep by realizing that it is counterproductive to steal from it.

We encourage a equal attention on the cognitive, emotional and physical health of the brain and all of the lifestyle factors that come into play to maintain them. Today's aging population is becoming increasingly focused on the maintenance of cognitive health and the value of 'brain training' programs. But we must realize that such training is not unlike that of an athlete, who must focus on their diet, sleep needs and psychological preparation in addition to their physical skill development. We must explore specific aspects of nutrition, exercise, mental activity and sleep and discuss how they regulate emotional, physical and intellectual functions of the brain. After all, they are not separable.

"To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." - Buddha, circa 500 B.C.

Ask our Nutritionist, Herbspro Introduces Ask our Nutritionist for Fitness, Health & Nutrition Tips

Herbspro.com is very pleased to introduce a Special New Feature "Ask our Nutritionist”. Herbspro customers and the general public are invited to ask all of their Nutritional Health Questions to registered Nutritionist /Chinese Herbologist Suma G Nathan. Suma has over 28 years experience in the Nutritional Holistic Field.

All people of all ages can benefit from living a healthy life style and the right nutritional supplementation, including our beloved pets. Suma will help choose the right nutritional products for your Healthy Living Lifestyle. Often times we need help choosing the right products, the right dosages and the pure skin care for all your nutritional needs.

“We at Herbspro.com strongly believe that Fitness and Healthy Living should be everyone’s goal. We hope this new feature will help achieve our customers to achieve their goals” said Tanu Bhattacharya, Director (Operations) for Herbspro.com. “It’s my pleasure to be with Herbspro.com and work with their customers. Herbspro.com has so much more to offer than any other online retailer.  Products are top of the line and backed by many years research in the field” said Suma G Nathan, Registered Nutritionist /Chinese Herbologist.

Interested customers can go to Herbspro.com and read information on how Nutrition can help you.

For more details visit http://www.herbspro.com/ask-nutritionist/submit-question.asp">Ask - Nutritionist

 

Training Resulting in Improving Women Health and Fitness

Health and fitness is gaining importance among the people as they are developing awareness about the adverse effects of not taking care of their body properly. Despite this growing awareness, many people still ignore the importance of taking care of their body. The two most common problems faced by people are of weight gain due to fat deposits, and failing health due to malnutrition.

 

The problem of weight gain due to fat accumulation is particularly common among women in their middle ages. The main reason is that they do not take care of this problem in their youth, and thus have to suffer the consequences at a later stage. Most people are careless about their health in their early ages and do not really care about such issues. But as soon as they step into their middle ages, they realize that it would have been best for them if they had taken this matter into consideration when they had the chance.

 

There are many fitness programs for women that involve different exercises which are designed to tone the body into proper shape and to prevent certain health problems. However, most of these exercises are only mild exercises and do not involve any complex trainings to tone the body. There are differing views on resistance training exercises for women.

 

These views are established by different doctors, researchers, and appearance experts, and are based mostly on their personal opinions on fitness and beauty. Many women also have different views about these exercises as they are not clear about their benefits and are also misguided by some women who prefer a muscular body. Women who prefer muscular body make other women think that resistance training is all about building a muscular body rather than a gentle toned womanly body.

 

Most people misunderstand the concept of resistance training for women. They probably assume that resistance training for women is same as that for men. Although, the method is the same, but the object and other factors involved are entirely different from that of men's resistance training exercises.

 

They not only include complex machine exercises and weight exercises, but also include a proper diet and mild toning exercises. Although, some women overdo it which is generally due to personal preferences or improper fitness guides, resistance training for women is nevertheless very important for overall fitness and health.

 

A woman may reap the fruits of this training in their youth as well as old age. In youth, the fruit may be the great looking body shape and idealistic strength and endurance, whereas in old age the fruit would be strong bones and thus a reduced chance of breaking bones due to a simple fall. Many women who lack such exercises have very weak bones which make their old age very dangerous as they are vulnerable to breaking their bones even by a simple fall from the chair.

 

This exercise is also very important for quick weight loss as it will help women lose the extra weight and maintain their body in proper shape. It is undoubtedly true that women prefer a great looking body that is free from excess fat and is able to support their tasks well. Women who chose aerobics are particularly interested in these exercises, because it not only helps them remain fit and healthy but also helps them gain strength to perform their tasks.

Health and Fitness Magazines

Today, maintaining health and fitness have become more important than ever before. With illnesses becoming more often, we have to equip ourselves with everything necessary to maintain health and have a good quality of life. One of the best ways to jumpstart your way to better health is through reading health and fitness magazines. These magazines offer helpful tips, advice and recent discoveries about health that should come handy. Note that although fitness magazines are aimed mainly at body- and health-conscious audience, everyone will surely benefit from all the information they provide. Here are some of the most popular health and fitness magazines today:

Muscle & Fitness Magazine

This magazine was released mainly for bodybuilders. However, if you are conscious about your health and do workouts, you can use vital information on this magazine. There is a version of this magazine called Muscle and Fitness Hers aimed mainly towards health-conscious ladies. This magazine contains tons of information that can range from bodybuilding foods, diet programs, weight loss strategies, workout information, supplements, and other recent discoveries.

Shape Magazine

Shape Magazine has been edited to help you get a better understanding of fitness. It features articles from experts in the fields of nutrition, exercise, beauty and psychology. Shape is mainly geared towards fitness enthusiasts who surely will benefit from each and every bit of information that the magazine contains. It highlights news, step-by-step guidelines, recipes, and tips in beauty, fashion, style, and everything in between.

Men's Fitness Magazine

Men's Fitness is also a magazine designed for the modern health conscious men. It contains articles containing important details on maximizing workout, optimal diet and nutrition necessary for perfect fitness. Each issue is aimed at showing you how to properly workout your specific body parts, look better, unleash your sexual drive, and essentially put adventure back into your life.

Subscribing Health and fitness magazines cover everything a health and body-conscious person needs to know. If you are aware of the importance of maintaining tiptop health, and are actually doing something about it, a subscription to these types of magazines will provide you great discounts than buying them at the newsstand. Health and fitness magazines are usually offered in an attractive price package through websites like Magazineland.com.

Consider subscribing to a health and fitness magazine as an investment for your health and yourself. There is nothing more important than valuing health. Today, it may seem like an added financial burden but the long-term benefits that reading about health can give are far worth it. Besides, you can get subscriptions at rock bottom, discounted prices. However, be careful with the website you will subscribe to. Trust only the most reliable website that has a good reputation online.

How to Get Sustainable Health and Fitness Results- The Five Magic Questions

Many people want to believe that poorly designed "gimmick" machines are the way to get fast effective results in terms of health and fitness.  Further all over the world fad diets are all the craze with more and more people spending amazing amounts of money on these quick fix solutions.  "Gimmick" machines more than not prove to be both expensive and completely ineffective.  Fad diets on the other hand seem to give people short term relief from their health and fitness burdens but are not sustainable in the long term.  For an exercise and dietary regime to be effective it needs to focus on developing a long term lifestyle change.  Therefore your exercise and nutritional programs should be conducive with your work, your budget and most importantly your goals. 

To make your exercise and nutritional plans effective they must be specifically designed to how you want to live your life now and in the foreseeable future.  You must ask yourself the following five questions: 

1. How many times can I train per week?
2. How much time do I have to train during my training sessions?
3. What specifically do I want to achieve out of my training sessions?
4. Am I willing to make gradual changes to my diet over time so I can speed up the effectiveness of my training sessions?
5. How much do I want to spend on my fitness and nutritional needs knowing that I will be changing my life forever and some expenses will be recurring?

These questions should guide you away from the thought of spending an initial large sum of money to get perceived fast results.  Further the answers to these questions should provide you with information from which you can develop a plan to achieve your goals.  Fast and effective results are possible with correct guidance and with the aid of professionals you will be able to maintain these results for the rest of your life.  When budgeting for your lifestyle change, keep in mind that knowledge is often the most inexpensive yet effective tool in changing and maintaining your body.  Simple exercises performed properly with minimal equipment often lead to the best results.  In terms of nutrition, a restructuring of your existing diet, will prove most effective in ensuring you can maintain a nutritional plan in the long term.

It is no secret that a healthy and balanced nutritional plan accompanied by a tailored exercise plan is the key to any health and fitness goal.  So next time you think about that quick solution think about how long you want your results to last.  In terms of health and fitness it would appear that sustainability is better than spontaneity. 

Health and Fitness Supplements Fat Loss

This article is the result of an extensive research that has gone into the minutest detail about Health and fitness supplements fat loss available today. Health and fitness supplements fat loss are a must for people who really want to lose that extra flab, and thereby tone up their bodies. This write up will guide you through the tiring process of selecting the right Health and fitness supplements fat loss and therefore buying it later. It is very important to read this article carefully, so as to understand the concept of Health and fitness supplements fat loss. When you will be done through this article, you will be more educated and aware about the various Health and fitness supplements fat loss available today.
With the lives of people getting fatter day by day, it is becoming extremely difficult to keep their bodies fit and tones. Fast lifestyles have brought a number of problems as well. Thanks to junk food and high-fat food, obesity has invaded the lives of the people, the world over. Obesity has clutched into its strong arms, the lives of millions of people-women, men and even children. Recent surveys show that children are the worst hit by this bane called obesity. The worst part about being obese is that you are host to a number of diseases like coronary attacks; artery-blocks etc. Obese people are more prone to these diseases than normal people. Losing weight is easier said than done. Imagine yourself sweating those extra calories daily in a gym, and still after months and may be years, you find no observable change. Well, if that is the case with you, then do not worry. Because here you will find the solution of all these problems. Health and fitness supplements fat loss reduce your calorie intake without the use of caffeine or similar harmful stimulants. Health and fitness supplements fat loss work in the following way. They flip your hunger and thus prevent you from taking-in those dangerous calories. The result is that you do no take extra calories, and thereby lose fat. However, to be true, Health and fitness supplements fat loss work better if you compliment them with regular exercise. Research shows that protein can reduce hunger and thereby reduce the intake of calories. "A six-month study of 65 overweight and obese people published in 1999 in the International Journal of Obesity compared two low-calorie diets: one with 12 percent of calories from protein (which mirrors the federal recommendation for protein consumption) and one with 25 percent of calories from protein. Those who ate more protein lost more weight. Here the subjects didn't exercise during the period of research"- this was the article mentioned in one of the topmost websites. There are numerous other write-ups which show the same. Health and fitness supplements fat loss like Green tea have successfully been tested. Green tea increases your metabolism, and therefore stimulates the ability of your body to burn fat. Other Health and fitness supplements fat loss like Ephedra also help you lose weight. Health and fitness supplements fat loss will make way for you to get a beautifully toned body. There are many websites that is online stores which sell Health and fitness supplements fat loss.

Health and Fitness: Tips & Information, Live a Healthy Life

Health and fitness have become a big business and people are struggling to have best healthiest body. The people are spending money in huge value and doing something to improve their bodies and normal lifestyle. The health and fitness industries are earning millions of dollars every per year through fitness equipment, herbal supplements, gyms, and specific diets. Many media resources are promoting through different channels like TV, magazines, internet advertising they ask for spend money and make their body fit and smart.

The healthiest body required continually exercises and physical activity; if we want to stay fit we need it so much in our daily life, exercise burns fats as well as build muscles, remove stress and anxiety, decrease cholesterols, make us sleep easily. Exercises increase body temperature which helps to mobilize fats in the body used for energy and metabolic rate will be increased as well which will help to burn maximum fats and improve the ratio of the body's fat percentage in the body. Aerobic (cardiorespiratory) exercises make the ability to use oxygen efficiently and depend upon the condition of your heart, muscles and lungs, these exercises increase the percentage of oxygen that is delivered to our muscles, which allows us to work longer. Walk is one important type of aerobic exercise.

The foods are the essential part of our health and fitness, it can be the as medicine, in this regard the organic food strongly recommended for growing the ones body and make it healthy, its provides more nutrition and contain vitamins, minerals etc and no additives are present, all physical, mental, chemical, metabolic, and hormonal activities required nutrition, and it repair and rebuild the body.

Keep yourself happy because stress can damage your mental and physical health, don't be sad always try to be happy, as well as cut down smoking because its stop growing ones body as need, drinks lot of water at least 7 to 8 glass of water daily, water also one of the important tool to loss your weight. Sleep well because its changes hormone levels and ability to metabolize carbohydrates, so research shows that good and deep sleep causes cell repair and help to growing cell and burn calories by speed up the metabolism so its recommended sleep at least 8 hours in a night.

For more details visit: :
http://www.ehealthdirectory.net/health-fitness.html

"the Inner Game of Health and Fitness" Part 1

" The Inner Game Of Health And Fitness" Part 1

"There is an Inner Game to Everything said W. Timothy Gallwey. He should know, Gallwey has written several books on " Inner Game" playing. The most popular are The Inner game of Tennis, The Inner Game of Golf, and The Inner game of Skiing. My personal favorite is the one he co-authored with Bary Green, The Inner Game Of Music.

There's an inner game of Your self- Image when it comes to your Health And Fitness too, and it plays a major role in developing Your Wellness Vision. Let me prove it to you by applying the Inner Game principles to Health and Fitness.

Self One: The Belittler

When you've decided and attempted to approach a weight-loss program, diet, or tried to incorporate healthier lifestyle changes in the past and discovered  a little voice in your head judging your plan? You might hear it right now. It's the voice that tells you your plan is good or lousy (usually the latter). You may be used to this well-intended unseen companion that you don't know he's there in your head. But he's there, Believe me. And it's the inner Belittler called self one in The Inner Game that stops you from exercise, eating, and living fully to enjoy your recreational hobbies, sports, and fitness, etc. Your health and fitness should be approached with ease, flow, and add value and purpose to your life. Don't let self one the not so good buddy prevent you from exploring whats possible for you. The better you is there you just need to discover it my friend. Go for it take the leap and move towards the better you when it comes to your physical, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional self. Do that which you were born to be and live with joy!

We will explore Self Two: The Master in this two part series of "The Inner Game of Health And Fitness" Bye for now and keep those thoughts Focused on all that you are becoming that is good.

Your Friend In Health & Fitness,

Natalie Pyles

Fitness & Nutrition Expert, Author & Speaker