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The 3 Day Cardiac Diet was supposedly developed by the Birmingham Hospital in Alabama, though the hospital does not admit its role in the origin of the plan. The 3 day cardiac diet has also been attributed to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
The story is that the 3 Day Cardiac Diet was designed for patients who needed to lose up to 10 lbs weight quickly so they could have surgery.
The 3 Day Cardiac Diet has set menu plans for breakfast, lunch and dinner for three days. Each day is limited to about 800 calories. While some claim that there is a special “chemical reaction,” much of the weight loss benefit is likely obtained by the restricted calorie intake. Also, there are very few carbs on the diet which leads to water loss.
You should drink six to eight cups of water a day on the program to speed digestion.
Tuna is the featured protein on the 3 day Cardiac diet. 1/2 cup of tuna is prescribed on the first two days, and on the final day, you will increase that to 1 cup. Variety and nutrition is provided with small to medium sized portions of cheese, eggs, crackers, vegetables, grapefruit, banana, and toast. Coffee, tea, or diet soda can accompany meals but water should be the beverage of choice outside of mealtime.
Some nutritionists express concerns about the restricted levels of calories and lack of a full range of nutritional options. However, considering that the diet lasts only 3 days, these are not dispositive.
People following the 3 day cardiac diet will likely feel hunger pangs and have lower energy levels. This is especially true by the third day. But, keep in mind that the diet is of limited duration and you should be fine unless you have endurance based physical feats to perform.
Your body may start to recognize that only a limited food supply is available when you eat only 3 small meals a day. It may begin to compensate by reducing metabolism and energy levels to conserve fat reserves. This can actually make it harder to lose weight and place the body under additional stress.
The 3 Day Cardiac diet is not suitable for long term dieting. After 3 days you should start on a diet that offers more variety and more calories.
The 3 Day Cardiac Diet provides restricted calories and nutrients for its intended duration. Your body can handle a fast for 3 days, so it certainly can handle a restricted calorie diet. However, the diet is not a long term solution to your weight management concerns.
If you need to lose a few pounds in a short period of time, the 3 day cardiac diet can help to get you there. If you are trying to lose those “last 5 pounds” and nothing else seems to be working, try the 3 day cardiac diet. But follow it up with a sensible eating plan.
Organic foods are those that are classified as foods which are grown without the use of any type of chemical interference. That is no pesticides are used while the product is growing and no preservatives are added during the manufacturing process.
The organic farming movement actually dates back to the 1940?s to something known as the Green Revolution. This revolution helped to ease the numbers of people suffering from starvation and introduced new cereals and grains to many nations.
As well as spreading foods the Green Revolution spread technology around the world. Organic farming is now replacing some of the principles used during this revolutionary period. Less or no pesticides are being used to grow the same foods and this has resulted in a higher quality of product being produced.
In countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia organic foods are defined as foods that contain at least 95of their listed ingredients as natural. They must be free from chemicals and synthetic food additives. They may contain pesticides as long as they are also not synthetic.
At one time organic foods could only be purchased from local farmers. Today more organic food is showing up in your local grocery store. In addition many natural food stores are being opened that focus on natural and organic foods. This wider availability makes it much easier to purchase organic foods than ever before.
Benefits of Organic Farming
The largest benefit of organic farming is the reduction of synthetic pesticides and chemicals being released into the soil. This one practice alone has a huge environmental impact.
Organic farming also helps to protect the wildlife, insects and plants in their local areas. Plus organic farmers are actually better equipped to help sustain the ecosystem. They understand their environment and take steps to keep it healthy.
Organic farms have been shown to use less energy in their farming techniques and to produce less waste. This includes things like less packaging and creating waste from using chemical products.
Consumer Safety
The benefits to the consumer are huge in regards to organic foods. The fresh produce is normally shipped locally and arrives in stores quickly. There is less chance of diseases being passed through the foods which makes for everything being healthier to eat straight from the store!
Yes, organic foods do cost a little more but the prices are also dropping. If you look in your produce department you may find that a bag of organic carrots is only 25 ? 50 cents more than regular carrots. That small amount is worth paying to protect your families health isn?t it?
Have you ever looked at a guy with bigger, well built shoulders and wondered what is it that he does to get those amazing wide shoulders? Well the answer is quite simple; he follows a rigorous workout regimen to get those shoulder muscles. But it is easier said than done. If you hit the gym regularly you would know that it is very difficult to build muscles on your shoulder safely and effectively. But it doesn?t mean that it is impossible to get bigger and wider shoulders. It is more like a challenge than a workout and once you successfully achieve the results then you will be amazed looking at the big guy in your mirror and wonder who it is, latter realizing that it is you. Well thinking about that wonderful moment gets a smile on your face right? Then what are you waiting for, let?s just get straight away to the exercising tips that can help you get those perfect shoulders.
For fresher?s, if you are exercising for the first time on your shoulder muscles then front plate raises back is the best exercise to start with. Below are the steps to be followed to do the front plate raises back exercise effectively:
Start with warm up exercises instead of exerting pressure on those delicate joints.
Once you are done with warm ups, stand straight while you hold the barbell plates in your hands at 45 and 135 degrees position respectively( in other words at 3 o?clock and 9 o?clock position). Extend your arms completely with your palms facing each other. Keep your arms locked with a slight bend at your elbows. Hold the plate down near your waist in front of you as far as you can hold it. Always note, a thumb rule to be followed here is that your arms should remain in the same position throughout the exercise, as this will be your starting position.
As you exhale slowly, raise the barbell plate above your shoulder level and hold this position for a second or two. Then inhale and get back to the starting position. An important tip to be taken into consideration here is to always be sure that you do not swing the weight or bend at the elbows while you lift the plates. Your upper body should remain motionless throughout this movement.
Note that as you inhale and get back to the starting position, you need to bring down the weight slowly. Ensure that you do not play with weight whatsoever.
If you are performing this exercise for the first time, then begin with a 25 pound plate and do one set of 25 reps for the first two weeks, thereby increasing it to 3 sets of 10-12 reps in the 3-4 week, 3 sets of 15 reps in the 5-6 week and then 3 sets of 20 reps in the 7-8 week. Thereby increasing it as per your convenience. If you are an advanced lifter then you can straight away start by lifting a 45 to 100 pound plate.
The benefits of the front plate raise exercise is that it makes your shoulders wider and bigger, which will make your body look lean and perfect. After all, great shoulders equals a great body.
The Acai Berry is taking the world by storm. Just the mention of the berry causes many people to talk about the benefits they have heard about somewhere. Even celebrities such as Opra claims it is a wonder weight loss diet.
There are studies that show the berry is very nutritional as well as a powerful food. It is from the rainforests of Brazil. It tastes like berries combined with chocolate making it more appealing. It is high in amino acids and fatty acids that are essential in any diet. It can be found in health food stores or online.
The benefits of the Acai berry are it is a great means of detoxing and maintaining a healthy balance on the levels of pH in the body. The levels of pH are responsible for the body’s immune system to function properly. The berry also has a high concentration of antioxidants that fight aging. It has monounsaturated fats, dietary fiber, and phytosterols that promote cardiovascular and digestive health.
When adding the Acai Berry to the diet with a proper diet and exercise, people do lose weight. They are able to increase their health based on the ingredient of the berry. The berry adds to the essential nutrients and fiber needed for a healthy diet. It helps fight of diseases such as the common cold, heart disease and fatigue. With these benefits, it is no wonder many people are using the berry for their dietary needs.
Acai comes in different forms. It is available in whole berries, powders, juices, pills and food items. The easily accessible berry has found its way into many homes for both weight loss and health improvement supplements.
When using any dietary supplement, remember to add exercise to the diet as a standard routine. Exercising increases the benefits of any diet as well increases the body’s ability to function in a healthy fashion. The Acai berry will add to the balance and active life style.
Depending on the location of the product, the prices will vary. It is generally an affordable product. Make sure to verify when purchasing the product the exact quality of the contents. Some companies try to sell a diluted product that does not have the same benefits as the higher quality products. Read the labels carefully to know what you buying.
If your are serious about losing weight and improving your health, the Acai berry is one of the best options on the market. Research proves the berry is an effective method to any diet whether for weight loss or for increased health.
To gain further information on the benefits of the Acai berry, use the internet as a great resource option.
The 12 day grapefruit diet is not a new concept. The original plan was developed in the 1930′s. This fruit appears to be a dieter’s dream. It has no fat, is high in fibre and low in calories. It also carries benefits for your skin as it is high in vitamin C.
So how does this diet work? It’s very simple. You eat half a grapefruit before every meal. The enzyme it contains reduces your appetite so you consume fewer calories. It also speeds up the fat burning process helping you to shed pounds. Everyone knows that if you use more energy than you take in from the food you eat, you will lose weight. Some studies suggest that you could lose up to ten pounds in less than two weeks simply by introducing this change. Personally, I believe you would have a better chance of success if you also cut your portion sizes, ate four or five smaller meals rather than three large ones.And took more exercise.
It is completely pointless thinking that one simple change in your lifestyle is going to result in a big weight loss. You need to review all areas of your life. Do you eat food because you are bored? Upset? Do you get enough exercise? Most Americans are not active enough. You don’t suddenly need to become a gym fanatic but a little extra activity every day will help. I am sure you can think of a million ways to add some movement to your sedentary lifestyle. You could take the stairs instead of the lift; get off the metro one stop early, walk to the store etc.
In the same way, you can make progress by implementing simple changes at mealtimes. Instead of frying your food which only adds extra calories, try grilling, baking or steaming. Learn how to cook rather than relying on prepackaged meals that add dollars to your bills as well as pounds to your waistline. Use herbs and spices to flavor your meals rather than salt to help prevent fluid retention.
Eat more fruit and vegetables. They are high in fibre, low in calories and very filling. Your skin will glow from all the extra vitamins and minerals you are consuming. Don’t eat carbohydrates after 5pm in the evening as your body will not have sufficient time to use up all the energy they release. The body converts excess energy into fat.
Eat protein but chose the leaner cuts of meat and forget about sausages and other processed foods for now. Don’t exclude all treats but go for quality rather than quantity. Stop eating when you are full and not when your plate is empty.
Don’t mistake being thirsty for feeling hungry. And stop ingesting hidden calories via flavored waters, fizzy pop and perhaps the biggest culprit of all, alcohol.
You can shrink your waistline by using the 12 day grapefruit diet. but only if you combine it with a healthy eating and exercise program.
Getting a well chiselled abdomen totally depends on how you work them ? no one was born with a six pack abs. You will have to understand that just like any muscle, if you want to build definition, you will have to hit your muscles with various resistances and at various angles. Well, regular crunches will help you tone your abs, but if you really want the chiselled look, you will have to abdominal machine too.
What You Need to Perform machine Crunches
You will an abdominal crunch machine, time and dedication.
How to Perform Machine Crunches
Look for the abdominal crunch machine at the gym. This machine has a seat that is attached to a weight stack. You will also notice that a padded area is also attached to the weight stack, around the area where your chest should be when you sit down (on the seat). It is not uncommon to mistake this machine for the back extension ? this is because these two machines look very similar. The one and only difference between the abdominal crunch machine and the back extension machine is way the padded bar moves. The padded bar moves backward on the back extension machine and moves forward on the abdominal crunch machine.
Start with a light weight so that you see what you can successfully handle for repetitions. Choose a weight that you can handle for at least 10 repetitions. You should also make sure that you adjust the height of the seat and the placement of the padding according to your height. Some abdominal crunch machines have charts that provide institution for appropriate settings for both the padding and the seating.
When you sit in the machine, place both feet flat on the ground. You should place your chest on the padding and make sure you place your hands where you feel the most comfortable. You can place them on the pad or place them on the handles attached to the seat. Make sure that you keep your back and abdominal muscles tight all through the movement in order to avoid injury and to also get the best out of the exercise. As soon as you are seated in this position with your chest placed on the pad, you are ready to start this exercise ? this will be the starting position.
You should push your chest forward on the pad and ensure that your abdominal muscles do a lot of the work. When you lean face first towards the ground, you should begin to feel a tightness in your abdominal muscles. Do not over do it! Just make sure you lean as far forward as you possibly can until you feel a tightness/contraction. When you feel the tightness in your abdominal muscles, hold the position for up to a couple of seconds.
Go back to the starting position, and repeat the exercise for at least ten (10) repetitions. Stop if you feel that your abdominal muscles are beginning to cramp. It is really a great idea to warm up the abdominal muscles before, during and after the exercise in order to avoid discomfort or injury.
Finding the right exercise tips on losing weight is a lot more confusing than you might think. Everywhere you look there is a new diet and exercise plan that is guaranteed to give you good results. There are some things that you should consider before you choose a diet or an exercise routine for weight loss.
Consider the source of your exercise tips on losing weight. If you are looking at diets, make sure that the source is a reputable one and that the diet that is recommended uses common sense. Any diet that focuses on quick weight loss is not healthy and will only result in your gaining the weight back in the long run. There are a number of diets on the market that focus on eating one type of food, but it is better to eat a well balanced diet that includes a wide variety of food types.
A visit to your local bookstore will provide you with a number of books that have been written about exercise tips for losing weight. You will find cookbooks and exercise books that will show you the safe and effective way to eat a healthy diet and include exercise in your routine to lose weight and feel great at the same time. Don’t sacrifice your health for weight loss.
Videos are another resource that you can use for exercise tips on losing weight. There are a number of programs that are designed for beginners that will start you off slow and build you up at a good pace. Choose the type of program that you would enjoy to make sure that you use your video with consistency.
Joining a gym is a good way to get some exercise tips on losing weight. There are many trainers who work in the gyms that can steer you in the right direction for the exercises that will help you to burn calories and lose weight. Your new routine should help you to maximize your calories burned and help you to achieve the results that you want.
You can also take all of this advice and design your own exercise plan. Choose some aerobic activity that you will enjoy like walking, biking, running or swimming to increase your metabolism and lose weight. There are many activities that you can include in your exercise routine that are not typically thought of as exercise such as dance. Anything that you can maintain for twenty minutes at an accelerated heart rate will help you to increase your metabolism and lose weight.
Make your exercise plan personal by including things that you love to do. Exercise should be enjoyable and there is no reason that it has to be something to dread. It will improve your mood and help you to feel good immediately. Once you begin including exercise in your daily schedule, you will wonder why you hadn’t started sooner. There are some wonderful health benefits that will come with your new healthy exercise routine. All you have to do is get started.
Two thirds of our bodies are made up of water it’s no wonder then that our bodies crave and need water to survive and so the simple answer to the question, “can water help to loss weight?” Is yes!
Drinking approximately 2 liters of water per day is often the quoted ideal for anyone wondering how water help to loss weight might be beneficial. Two liters of water a day might seem like a lot to drink for anyone not used to drinking water on a regular basis, but when you put it into perspective, spacing this amount of water out over the course of a day is not going to be difficult at all. All that needs to be done is for a routine to be developed and it will become second nature.
Using water help to loss weight can be a real bonus when you think that many of the times when we think we’re hungry, we’re in fact really thirsty and dehydrated. So instead of reaching for a snack the next time you think you need some food, try drinking a glass of water instead.
Furthermore a real fact is that the more water we drink the less water our bodies feel the need to hold onto. This might sound counter-intuitive, but if you are not drinking enough water then you will have a tendency to be bloated and that will increase your weight. This is because when enough water is not being consumed, your body goes into panic mode and holds onto the water it already has because it fears dehydration.
Therefore drinking plenty of water throughout the day will stop your body from panicking and holding onto water, because your body knows that it is going to be regularly hydrated. This means your body will get to the point where it will naturally let water go from your body and you will begin to drop the pounds. This really is one of the key elements of how water help to loss weight can work.
What water can also do if you’re looking to lose weight, is to flush out the build up of toxins from the body. So start your day with a glass of water to rehydrate the body after a night’s sleep. You will feel not only refreshed, but you will instantly kick start your body’s metabolism after a night asleep.
So without a doubt, if you’re looking to lose some weight, fill up on water and keep yourself well hydrated because water is the ideal drink to drink when you’re looking to lose weight.
Posted in Article on April 26, 2012
Yoga is another exercise which doesn’t require a whole lot of equipment to start with. Basically all you need is a yoga mat. If you attend a local yoga class these may even be provided for you. Yoga is also a great exercise that can be done at home with just a DVD to follow.
Before starting any type of yoga it is a good idea to do some research and even watch a few DVD’s. There are certain poses that you will need to learn. Plus to get the most benefit you want to be assured of doing them correctly.
You will also want to learn breathing techniques as this will also enhance your performance. Your body is bound to get a little sore after your first yoga session. This is perfectly normal and the soreness can be reduced a little by stretching afterwards.
A good yoga class or video will take you through an entire yoga workout. This should include a warm up period, a breathing or meditation technique and then proceeds into the main yoga session. In between all of this you will be taught certain poses like the child pose that allows you to take a short rest period. The class or video will end with you performing a series of cool down poses along with stretching.
To get the most of your yoga class you should not wear any socks or shoes. You should also not eat a large meal before exercising and you will want to drink some water before your class.
Any good teacher will have the ability to help you adapt any of the yoga positions that you find too difficult. Remember not to compare yourself to others as they may be more advanced than you.
When first starting out with yoga you don’t have to rush out and buy yoga clothing. Just wear pants and a top that are comfortable and be sure your clothes don’t restrict your movements. Lightweight clothes are recommended as they will help keep the moisture away from your skin.
After a few yoga sessions you can decide if this is the type of exercise that you would like to continue with. If so then you can start to purchase more yoga equipment as necessary.
It is possible to find low cost alternatives for exercising. There are many low cost yoga classes that are available. If not you can get a library book or even look online for yoga videos if money really is an issue.
Posted in Article on April 24, 2012
Many would agree that we often ignore the lower back part of our body. While we strive too hard to work on all the other body parts we forget that our lower back is as important as any other part of our body and needs equal care as shoulders or middle back. The fact that most of us ignore our lower back is because we aren?t aware that it supports the upper part of our body thereby affecting almost every activity that you perform.
We often lay more importance on abs work out and forget our back workout completely. Due to this an imbalance is caused between your abs and your lower back which leads to severe back pains. So strengthening your lower back muscle is as important as strengthening your abs.
The lower back extension is the best exercise that is recommended by the doctors and the fitness experts to fight your back pain and also to strengthen your back muscles to avoid any future risks. It also helps you in loosening; tight or sore back muscles that may be caused due to over sitting or lack of back exercises. It can be done anywhere as it doesn?t require any equipment and is really simple to perform.
Lower back extension exercise:
As always, start with warm up exercises. Preferably a light aerobics exercise for 10-15 minutes. This is a very good exercising strategy to be followed before getting into your regular exercise regimen.
Lie down straight on the floor with your hands and arms kept flat at your sides and your legs extended like in a standing position. But actually lying down. This will be your starting position.
Now raise yourself slowly above the ground level. By using your lower muscles raise above your upper body part, but do not over extend. Just raise your body up to 45 degrees above the ground level, to the point where you feel comfortable and beneficial. When you raise yourself above the ground level see that you tighten your buttocks and totally exert pressure on your lower back. Hold this movement for a count of 3-5.
After holding the position for a count of 3 or so, lower your body back to the floor in the same manner as your starting position.
While performing this exercise don?t forget to breath. Breathe in as your raise your body and hold your position and then breath out when you lower yourself.
Repeat this exercise until the sets are completed. Each set should comprise of 12-15 reps. Likewise start with 2 sets for the first two weeks, increase it to 3 sets of 15-20 reps in the 3-4 week and then let it progress as per your capability. However one thumb rule to be followed here is do not overdo it, as it may increase your back pain than eliminating it completely. Perform this exercise just 2-3 times a week and the rest of the day?s work out on other body parts.
Initially you might find it difficult to do this exercise. You may not be able to raise your body very high. But that?s totally fine, as you progress you will be able to lift yourself higher. So let?s not waste anymore time, let?s get going.
