by Judy Turner

Lets face it, we all want to be healthy and fit but getting there isn’t always easy. The idea of endless diet and exercise seems so daunting and an almost unattainable goal. Getting there may be a battle but if you can concentrate on just one goal for better health then think about reducing belly fat.

That bulge around your midsection carries many negative aspects that can lead to other potential health risks. Although numerous studies on belly fat have been done, it is unknown why this is so. Belly fat or fat around the middle of your body can lead to such risks such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and possibly even some forms of cancer. All of these risks can lead to an early death so we must take action to remedy this in our lives.

What the health experts and all these studies have told us is that our fat cells help to control our metabolic functioning. It is believed that the belly fat cells can release a great deal of fatty acids, which in turn can play a part in the metabolism of the insulin role and your blood sugar levels. The insulin in our bodies helps us to burn energy and people who carry too much excess weight around their midsection it causes a disturbance in our insulin. When our insulin levels do not work efficiently, we release more of it and our system reacts by becoming out of sorts.

With this being said we are more apt to have such problems as metabolic syndrome and thus other complications. Metabolic syndrome affects approximately 50 million people today.

The belly fat is actually visceral fat, which is the layer of fat inside your abdomen and causes intrusion into your organs. Liposuction will not fix the health difficulties. For women belly fat is even more of an issue after menopause. The weight tends to gravitate there causing a lumpy midsection. Although not impossible trimming this area is a challenge especially for women as women have less muscle than a men. A womans metabolism is not as efficient as a mans as a result of this.

Plain and simply stated, diet and exercise are key. There is no simple solution or quick fix, but setting your sights on the end results will help to motivate you. If you want to prevent belly fat exercise and eating in limited amounts without excessive overeating is key. If you already are a victim of the dreaded bulging belly complete with love handles you need to work even harder, but banishing the extra bulges can be done.

Any exercise that gets you moving is beneficial. Strength training is also helpful for increasing your metabolism. If you are new to exercise check out the variety of fitness dvds available (rent one or check your local library to try before you buy). As for your eating habits, a well-balanced diet is important. Find out how many calories you need to eat for your height and weight to achieve weight loss. There are a number of great tools to determine this on the internet or you can ask your physician for his or her advice on this. Once you have done this and checked with your primary care physician about beginning an exercise program you can get started. As for diet I have found sticking to a healthy diet and counting calories very effective but whatever works best for you, as long as it is healthy should be put into action. You might even consider a referral to a dietitian from your Dr.

Try to stay motivated and understand that you will reach plateaus in your efforts which is normal. Try to stay focused and disciplined in your efforts. Above all, try not to become discouraged if you do have any set backs. You did not gain the weight overnight so you will not lose it overnight. Through hard work and discipline you can achieve a decrease in belly fat and be on your way to a healthier lifestyle.

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Posted by Judy Turner, filed under Atkins Diet. Date: August 20, 2008, 10:02 am | Comments Off

by Dorthy Weatherbush

Everywhere you look, you’ll see the signs of an obesity epidemic in the United States. Adults struggling with their weight, levering themselves into and out of cars. Many so morbidly obese that they’ll circle a parking lot four or five times before parking rather than be forced to walk an extra hundred feet.

In reality we can all agree that having excess body fat would work to your advantage if you lived in Siberia. Why? Because there, you have to work for your food, brave the cold and brutal weather conditions just to survive. Today in America you almost don’t have to work to do anything. With the advent of remote control entertainment systems, pizza delivery and wireless telephones, the average American never has to leave the sofa.

We must not allow our children to become victims of an over active appetite. If you pay close attention to the dietary counselors, you’ll discover that a slightly overweight child soon becomes an overweight teen. As you may have already guessed, this teen now becomes an obese adult. Unfortunately, abnormal weight gain is the least of the problem. The major issues center around the many diseases associated with childhood obesity, including asthma, diabetes and some cancers.

This is troubling because young people are most impressionable during their teenage years. Think about it, going through puberty was hard enough when you were approaching puberty at a normal weight. Just imagine how difficult it must be for kids these days that now carry an additional 45 to 70 pounds around. What is really startling is the enormous growth taking place within the dieting industry. Teens are quickly become the best potential customer bases before they are able to vote.

The good news is that this trend can be stopped. In fact, you may be surprised at the simple solution.

Look back at your younger days and remember what you did as a kid before the electronic babysitters came on the scene. If you recall this time in your life, you will more than likely remember going to the park with friends, playing kick ball or soccer.

If you felt tired or felt dehydrated, you immediately reached for a glass of water or milk. Sweets were a treat for good behavior rather than your main course. Snacks did not come prepackaged but rather apples, oranges and bananas were your choice.

Contrary to the popular belief, it is possible to training children to eat healthy foods. Caffeine laced drinks are a prime example. Researchers have uncovered an alarming link between drinking diet sodas and consuming high fat luncheon meets with cases of certain brain cancers. If you gain nothing else from this article, at least follow this one tip, please, do not allow your kids to drink soft drinks. Remember, water first before any juices or milks.

As for snacks, limit their intake of high sugar and high fattening foods and increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables. This may not be as hard as you think. Consider this, if you kids are not of driving age and do not have a job, the only reason they are eating the way they are is because you as the parent purchase the unhealthy food in your kitchen. Trust me, if you don’t buy it, they will immediately decrease their over consumption. Oh yeah, they’ll complain however it is up to you to be the parent.

Also, make it a habit to make your time after meals an active one. Rather than eating a big meal and head up stairs to sleep, why not take the family for a nice walk in the park or around the block. You’ll have time to connect, the children will release a lot of their built up energy and they will learn that an active lifestyle is part of a healthy routine. Not only will you feel better, you’ll also connect with your kids.

Start early with your children. Sit down with them and honestly and directly explain why living a healthy lifestyle is important. If you are reading this today, you are the future of your family. An always remember, nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels.

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Posted by Dorthy Weatherbush, filed under Atkins Diet. Date: August 7, 2008, 8:29 am | Comments Off