4 Reasons You're Not Shedding Those Last Few Kilos

Struggling to lose those last few kilos? Here are some common weight loss saboteurs that might be getting in your way.

1. Liquid energy

Less filling and easy to over-consume. Smoothies and juices may seem like healthy options, but can be packed with sugar and kilojoules. Cut back on sweetened beverages. Think carefully about long-term alcohol habits and drink less.

2. Portion size

Eat slowly and use smaller plates. 

3. Mindless eating

We live in a culture of plenty, and food is easily available. Keep snacks out of sight to avoid temptation and overeating.

4. Inadequate protein

Inadequate fibre and/or protein can lead to overeating. Both these nutrients are filling and should be included at every meal. Protein is important also for maintenance of muscle mass.

So how can we stay on track?

Think about your core values and what you want out of life. What brings you happiness? Perhaps you rank health as a high priority and want to feel good and have more energy? Now look at small steps you can take to live in line with these values. 

Find something that suits you. Hate the gym? Then don't force yourself to go. Instead find something you enjoy (maybe yoga, bushwalking, pole dancing or underwater hockey is more your style?). If you indulge in fitness pursuits that you value and enjoy, you will be happier and more motivated. 

Be open to change. Just because running half marathons worked for you five years ago, doesn't mean that running is still the best option for you now. Listen to the needs of your body and switch to a new fitness routine if necessary.

Have realistic expectations. If you weigh under 100 kg then it’s not safe or realistic to try losing more than 0.5 kg per week. If you weigh between 100 to 150kg, then one kg per week is achievable, and if over 150 kg, then two kg per week is considered healthy.

8 Reasons Why Women Should Lift Weights

We know: You don’t want bulging biceps or thunderous thigh muscles like Lance Armstrong. No woman does. But that doesn’t mean you should skip the weight room. Lifting weights has some surprising perks that you can’t get from cardio alone. Research shows that just two strength-training sessions a week can help you burn more fat, sculpt lean muscles, feel more energized, and so much more. Here are eight reasons you should start lifting today. Before starting this or any new exercise regimen, though, always consult your doctor.

1. You’ll burn more calories. Although cardio burns more calories than strength training during your 30-minute sweat session, lifting weights burns more overall. It all goes back to building muscle. It takes more energy (calories) for your body to maintain muscle cells than it does fat cells. So by lifting weights to add more muscle mass, you’ll boost your metabolism and turn your body into a more efficient fat-burning machine.

2. You’ll maintain muscle and feel better in your clothes. Research shows that between the ages of 30 and 70, women lose an average of 22 percent of their total muscle. What’s even more upsetting is that over time, the muscle void is often filled with fat. One pound of fat takes up 18 percent more space than one pound of muscle, so even if the number on the scale goes down, your pants size might go up. The best way to stay tightly packed? Keep strength training! For best results, Tom Holland, MS, CSCS, author of Beat the Gym, recommends two to three total-body strength workouts per week for 30 minutes each session. Include three to four days of cardiovascular exercise, either on the same days or alternate days.

3. You’ll build stronger bones. Lifting weights can be your best defense against osteoporosis — a disease affecting 10 million Americans, 80 percent of which are women, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. "When you lift weights, you engage muscles that pull on the tendons which, in turn, pull on the bones," says Holland. "This added stress makes bones stronger."

4. Your heart will be healthier. It may seem counterintuitive that weight lifting can help lower blood pressure, since blood pressure actually goes up during and immediately after your strength session. But research shows it can be a powerful way to protect your ticker in the long run. “As muscles contract, blood is pushed back up to the heart,” says Irv Rubenstein, PhD, exercise physiologist and founder of S.T.E.P.S., a fitness facility in Nashville, TN. "The heart then recirculates this oxygenated blood back to the muscles, which keeps the cardiovascular system in better working order." Plus, maintaining lean muscle mass enables you to do more work overall, further enhancing this effect, Rubenstein says.

5. You’ll remember where you left the keys (and everything else). Muscles strengthen both your body and your brain. According to a new study published in the May 2012 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, a combination of mentally stimulating activities like using a computer and exercise (which included walking and other cardio as well as strength training and sports activities) helped protect brain functioning in older adults. The combination of computer use with moderate exercise can decrease the risk of memory loss more than either one activity on its own.

6. You’ll be happier and less stressed. Move over, runner’s high! Weight training also has the power to induce pleasure by releasing endorphins, the “feel-good” chemical in your brain. Research shows that resistance training can help beat the blues. One Australian study found that people who did three strength workouts a week (chest presses, lat pull-downs, and biceps curls) reported an 18 percent drop in depression after 10 weeks. In addition, exercise reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol, potentially relieving feelings of anxiety and agitation.

7. You may reduce your risk of diabetes (or improve quality of life if you already have diabetes). Lifting weights helps improve the way your body processes sugar, which can help prevent diabetes. And if you already have diabetes, research shows that extended periods of strength training improve blood sugar control as well as taking a diabetes drug. In fact, the combination of strength training and aerobic exercise may be even more beneficial than drugs.

8. You’ll improve balance. Ever try to put on one sock while standing on the other leg? Without strength training, this simple act can feel more like a circus trick over time. The reason: fast-twitch muscle fibers we use for strength training deteriorate with age. (Aerobic exercises use mostly slow-twitch fibers.) "The fast-twitch fibers assist in speed and power movements and contract quickly and with sufficient force to catch yourself when you lose your balance,” Rubenstein says. “Resistance training maintains the ability of these fibers to activate."

(Source).

5 Reasons to Start Yoga

Thinking about taking up yoga? The mental and physical rewards of yoga are well worth it -- relaxation, better sleep, increased concentration and more. If you’ve been trying to muster up the motivation to begin practicing yoga but need a bit more inspiration, read on for 5 reasons to get on board this healthy bandwagon.

1. Yoga Clears Out Mind Clutter

In today’s always-on-the-run world, your mind may be constantly spinning -- thinking about what happened previously, what’s currently going on and what’s next on your to-do list. Yoga can help you stay in the present moment and clear your head. “Things can cause us stress because we hold on to them and let them create stories in our mind, which takes up our precious time,” says Jessica Ray, yoga teacher at Back Bay Yoga Studio in Boston. She feels the practice “helps clear it all out.”

2. Yoga Improves Your Mood

If you’re feeling blue, yoga can provide a natural pick-me-up. A 2011 study from Boston University School of Medicine found that yoga improved the moods and decreased the anxiety of 19 yogis over a 12-week period. This is attributed to the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, which increase when you practice yoga. Other studies have found links between low GABA levels and depression. So pull out that yoga mat and improve your health and happiness.

3. Yoga Helps You Sleep

If you find yourself tossing and turning at night, yoga may help you sleep more soundly. A 2004 study published in the Journal of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback found that yoga reduced awakenings that contributes to insomnia. Participants reported better sleep efficiency, sleeping longer and waking less frequently during the night, among other improvements. Add some oms to your routine and you may find it easier to catch some Z's.

4. Yoga Relieves Stress

If you feel stressed from work or other demands, Jessica Ray, yoga teacher at Back Bay Yoga Studio, recommends releasing your worries through yoga. “Just the simple act of taking a few deep breaths can help ease the mind and reduce stress as your body moves through poses,” she says. “As you incorporate breath into each movement, the muscles in the body begin to relax and the places we hold our stress and tension start to release.” Have a big presentation coming up? Roll out the yoga mat and run through a few sun salutations or simply sit quietly and meditate, focusing on the in and out of each breath.

5. Yoga Teaches You to Breathe Again

Deep breathing can relax you and help you deal with stress better. A large part of yoga centers on the breath. “Yoga teaches you to breathe not only when it’s easy, but also when things are difficult,” says Laura Burkhart, San Francisco-based yoga teacher. It may sound silly, but when you are constantly on the go or in stressful situations, you sometimes forget to breathe -- at least productively. The slow, deep-breathing techniques you learn in yoga can help in tense circumstances when you might find yourself taking quick, shallow breaths.

(Source).

10 Reasons to Add Chia to your Diet

Ch-ch-ch-chia! The fuzzy green novelty items may be the first thing you think of when you hear the word chia, but these tiny superfood seeds are the reason Chia Pets get their lush coating. Nowadays, chia is becoming better known as a great source of healthy omega-3 fats and fibre, and fortunately it's an easy food to add to your diet.

Chia seeds come from a flowering plant in the mint family that's native to Mexico and Guatemala, and history suggests it was a very important food crop for the Aztecs. It's remained in regular use in its native countries, but was largely unknown in North America until researcher Wayne Coates began studying chia as an alternative crop for farmers in northern Argentina about 29 years ago.

Coates started his work on chia in 1991, and since then has become an advocate of the tiny seed's health benefits. The human trials are limited —as is often the case with food research— but the anecdotal evidence of chia's positive health effects include boosting energy, stabilizing blood sugar, aiding digestion, and lowering cholesterol

The little seed — which comes in either white or a dark brown and black colour — also has a huge nutritional profile. It contains calcium, manganese, and phosphorus, and is a great source of healthy omega-3 fats. As an added benefit, chia seeds can be eaten whole or milled, while flax seeds have to be ground before consumption in order to access their health benefits for example.

When you're buying chia, both the white and black seeds are good choices, but Coates warns to make sure you're getting a good quality product by avoiding either red seeds (immature chia seeds), or black seeds that are smaller than regular chia seeds (weed seeds). Coates sells the seeds himself, but they are available from many different health food stores and supermarkets.

So once you've got your seeds, how to you add them to your diet? "The easiest way is to add it to everything and anything," Coates says. The seeds are tasteless so they won't affect the flavour profile of your food, which makes them easy to integrate into your meals. They can be sprinkled whole on top of salads or toast or added milled to smoothies, and Coates says that some of his customers even add them to ice cream. (And yes, you can even sprout it and eat it that way too!)

LOOK — 10 reasons to add chia seeds to your diet:

Combat Diabetes

Chia is being studied as a potential natural treatment for type-2 diabetes because of its ability to slow down digestion. The gelatinous coating chia seeds develops when exposed to liquids-can also prevent blood sugar spikes.

Get More Fibre 

Just a 28-gram or one-ounce serving of chia has 11 grams of dietary fibre — about a third of the recommended daily intake for adults. Adding some chia to your diet is an easy way to make sure you're getting a good amount of fibre, which is important for digestive health.

Stock Up On Omega-3

Chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, with nearly five grams in a one-ounce serving. These fats are important for brain health. "There's better conversion of omega 3s into the plasma or into the food than with flax seed," said researcher Wayne Coates.

Stronger Teeth And Bones 

A serving of chia seeds has 18 per cent of the recommended daily intake for calcium, which puts your well on your way to maintaining bone and oral health, and preventing osteoporosis.

Don't Forget Manganese 

Manganese isn't a well-known nutrient, but it's important for our health: it's good for your bones and helps your body use other essential nutrients like biotin and thiamin. One serving of chia seeds, or 28 grams, has 30 per cent of your recommended intake of this mineral.

Plenty Of Phosphorus

With 27 per cent of your daily value for phosphorus, chia seeds also helps you maintain healthy bones and teeth. Phosphorus is also used by the body to synthesize protein for cell and tissue growth and repair.

Pack In The Protein 

Chia seeds also make a great source of protein for vegetarians and don't have any cholesterol. One 28-gram serving of these super seeds has 4.4 grams of protein, nearly 10 per cent of the daily value.

Fight Belly Fat 

Chia's stabilizing effect on blood sugar also fights insulin resistance which can be tied to an increase in belly fat, according to Live Strong. This type of resistance can also be harmful for your overall health.

Get Full. Faster

Tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey, is also found in chia seeds. While tryptophan is responsible for that strong urge to nap after a big Thanksgiving dinner for example, it also helps regulate appetite, sleep and improve mood.

Improve Heart Health 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, chia seeds have been shown to improve blood pressure in diabetics, and may also increase healthy cholesterol while lowering total, LDL, and triglyceride cholesterol. All good news for your ticker!

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Fitness Journals

By keeping a fitness journal, you create a plan for yourself. This plan can focus strictly on the workouts themselves, or you can expand and include diet, personal motivations, energy levels, amount of sleep, and anything else that may seem relevant to your success. You also then have a log of your progress. You can look back through your fitness journal and truly see how much you have pushed yourself, and how your diet and sleep patterns have impacted your weight, energy levels, and workouts.

Read more about keeping a fitness journal here.

100 Reasons You Should Work Out Today

We all have those days that we don't want to work out even though we know we should. When you need a little motivation, look no further.

Here are 100 reasons you shouldn't skip your workout today.

Print, save, pin or "like" this post so you'll have easy access to it on the days you need it most.

100 Reasons to Exercise Now:

1. Because it makes you feel confident
2. Because it helps you get stronger
3. Because exercise helps combat depression
4. Because you'll feel proud of yourself
5. Because you have goals you want to reach
6. Because you'll feel bad if you don't
7. Because you want to move forward, not backward
8. Because it burns more calories than not working out
9. Because it improves your heart health
10. Because you want a great butt
11. Because it prevents diabetes
12. Because you want to be a good example to your kids
13. Because you want to feel good in your clothes
14. Because it reduces your risk of cancer
15. Because your body was made to move
16. Because you want to be an athlete
17. Because you want to look better
18. Because it lifts your mood
19. Because you want to stand taller
20. Because it reduces back pain
21. Because it feels good
22. Because it makes you feel accomplished
23. Because you spend most of your day on your butt
24. Because swimsuit season is always coming
25. Because strong is the new skinny
26. Because dieting only works so much
27. Because it strengthens your bones, too
28. Because it helps you lose weight
29. Because it allows you to eat more food
30. Because it's the best way to spend "me" time
31. Because it helps you de-stress
32. Because it's cheaper than therapy
33. Because you want a strong core
34. Because you want to take care for yourself
35. Because you take pride in your body
36. Because it strengthens your legs
37. Because it helps your clothes fit better
38. Because you want to push yourself
39. Because you are capable of more than you ever imagined
40. Because moving your body feels good
41. Because it keeps your mind sharp
42. Because it helps you beat belly bloat
43. Because it helps you sleep better at night
44. Because it gives you energy
45. Because you want to stay healthy as you age
46. Because you want to look younger
47. Because you want toned arms
48. Because it improves your balance
49. Because it burns off last night's dessert
50. Because it boosts your immune system
51. Because sweat is sexy
52. Because you want to live longer
53. Because you want to get better at your game
54. Because you want to catch someone's eye
55. Because exercisers earn more money
56. Because you're more likely to eat better when you exercise
57. Because you want to shave time off your running pace
58. Because you want to breathe easier
59. Because you want to see the scale drop
60. Because exercise improves your sex life
61. Because you are worth it
62. Because being fit makes everything in life better
63. Because you promised yourself that you would
64. Because you deserve a better life
65. Because it'll help you drink more water
66. Because you want to do real push-ups
67. Because it reduces your health care costs
68. Because you'll miss fewer days of work
69. Because you want to create a new future for yourself
70. Because it'll help you like what you see in the mirror
71. Because it makes clothing shopping more fun
72. Because you want to look and feel incredible
73. Because exercising can be fun
74. Because it'll give your skin a glow
75. Because it's a good way to spend time with your friends
76. Because it'll help you prevent the middle-age spread
77. Because it reduces your blood pressure
78. Because you don't want to let yourself go
79. Because you don't want to squeeze into an airplane or rollercoaster seat
80. Because it strengthens your spirit
81. Because it's a cheap way to entertain yourself
82. Because you'll be able to reward yourself
83. Because you need a reason to wear those new workout clothes
84. Because you're tired of being tired
85. Because not working out is not going to get you very far
86. Because it's a great way to spend time outside
87. Because you made a commitment to yourself
88. Because you're tired of starting over
89. Because there will always be another wedding, vacation or reunion
90. Because you're not a quitter
91. Because it improves your cholesterol
92. Because it boosts your metabolism
93. Because it prevents age-related muscle loss
94. Because if you can do this, you can do anything
95. Because a fit body is a healthy body
96. Because it beats sitting on the couch
97. Because everyone has at least 10 minutes to spare
98. Because you want to be stronger than your excuses
99. Because not working out isn't working out for you
100. Because the only workout you ever regret is the one you skip

Which reason resonates with you? Do you have any reason to work out that didn't make the list? Share yours in the comments below!