There are two different types of workouts. For simplicity, let’s call them Full-body and Splits.  A workout that has combined exercises designed to use virtually every body part is, of course, considered a full-body routine.  A workout that splits the body in half, thirds, fourths, or even fifths is considered a split routine.

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On the internet and in magazines you will find an equal number of proponents of specific diets that work as well as advocates that diets simply don’t work, who is right?

Diets absolutely DO work! However, the real questions come down to a few you should evaluate for yourself.

What is the nature of the diet?

Is it based on one simple concept or one particular food? If so, the diet most likely won’t work. Intuitively, you already know this. Diets that fit into this category include the Cabbage Soup diet, Ice Cream diet and the Grapefruit Diet. We now understand that losing water and lean muscle tissue (even when fat is mixed in) is a sure way to guarantee you will sacrifice your health, well being and not get the long term results you seek.

What is your motivation for losing weight?

Sometimes we just get frustrated with ourselves and feel the need to lose weight. However, this just isn’t motivation enough to keep up any results. When we don’t have proper motivation or perspective, we lose interest and have trouble getting results. If you follow the stories of successful dieters, you’ll learn they were ready for a change, a big change in their lives related to weight loss. They were also in relentless pursuit of their goals. They had a list of reasons, created a plan, a timeline and then made a lasting commitment to get the job done once and for all.

What are the Best Diets?

When you throw out all the ‘fad’ diets that eliminate whole food groups or focus on singular foods or additives and you have real true motivation, then you just need to select the diet that suits your lifestyle best. Here is a list of diets that do work when you commit to both the mind and body process it takes to be successful on a diet.

South Beach Diet             Mediterranean Diet              The Zone Diet
Body for Life                    NutriSystem                        Jenny Craig
Sonoma Diet   

There’s a difference between fat loss and weight loss. These are not interchangeable phrases and they do not have the same meaning. You can lose a lot of weight and not lose much fat at all. On the other hand, you can lose fat and not see a big difference in the number on the scale. How is this possible?

Well, many factors play a role in determining what percentage of your weight loss is actual fat loss, including how fast you lose the weight. Many people start a new diet and are all jazzed about it the first week, so they stay committed to sticking to it. At the end of the week, they get even more excited to see they’ve lost several pounds. Read the rest of this entry »

You probably already know this deep in your heart, even though it may be painful to admit; most diet plans are worthless for permanent weight loss. Their effectiveness is determined by a number of factors, including your current weight, your metabolism and how much weight you need to lose, among others.

If you’re normally at a healthy weight for your body and you gain a few pounds over the holidays or while you’re on vacation, there are diet plans available that will allow you to lose weight, assuming that you return to your healthy eating and lifestyle.  Read the rest of this entry »

There are few things that turn a head quicker than a bare torso with well-defined abdominal muscles. You’ll hear them called many things; ripped abs, 6-pack abs, shredded abs, washboard stomach. Whatever you choose to call them, there’s no denying that highly developed abdominal muscles are considered sexy by both genders.

Unfortunately, with obesity on the rise globally, a great looking stomach with lots of muscle definition is eye-candy we don’t get to see very often. Too many beer guts, too many French fries, and too much overly processed foods keep many from ever experiencing the mass appeal of rock hard abs.

Further making it difficult are the myths that we’ve been led to believe. This article will put to rest the top three myths surrounding ripped abs and give you the truth about what it takes to achieve them. Read the rest of this entry »

We all know that long-lasting, body-changing results are rarely the product of only one intervention.  Permanent results are achieved by using a combination of the right nutrition and the right exercise program.  This article offers six helpful dos and don’ts to maximize the efficiency of your efforts and allow you to achieve great looking abs.

DO – Take a serious look at your eating habits. Cut out refined carbohydrates like sugar and white flour, including white bread and regular pasta. There are whole grain versions of these foods that serve the same purpose in a meal and are much better for you, abs-wise and health-wise. Read the rest of this entry »

If you look hard enough, you can find a large number of free diet plans online, along with many paid versions. You don’t necessarily have to spend money on a diet plan for it to work and be effective.  But what works for one person may not work for someone else.

The good news is there are so many diets available, you’re sure to find one just right for you. Whether you’re into low carbohydrates or low fat, high protein or high volume, there are diet plans to accommodate that. You can find free diet plans based on your age, your gender, even your blood type. But in order to have the greatest chance of successful weight loss, there are 7 things that should be included in any diet plan, free or otherwise. Read the rest of this entry »

The truth is, the number one killer of men is the same as the number one killer of women, cardiovascular disease (heart disease). One in three adults has it and it kills almost 2400 American adults daily at the approximate rate of 2 per minute.

There are many foods that will help maximize your weight loss efforts. This article lists 5 foods that are essential to successful weight loss in the least amount of time possible. Provide your body with the foods it needs to help you easily, naturally and permanently remove those unwanted pounds.

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With the exception of one year, cardiovascular disease has claimed more lives than any other cause of death since 1900. More people die from cardiovascular disease every year than from a combination of accidents, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and cancer.

A quarter of these deaths are men from 35 to 65 years of age. Men are more likely to die in the prime years of their lives because they typically develop cardiovascular disease 10 to 15 years before women.

The following five foods are known for their ability to boost heart health. Incorporating them into your daily diet will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to maintain a healthy heart and may keep you from becoming a statistic.

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I’ll bet you think I’m going to say they all ‘called Jenny’. While that would be a true statement, it’s not what I had in mind. The commonality I found most interesting was all three women use journaling as a vital part of their weight loss regime. Kirstie Alley, who lost 75 pounds and has kept if off since 2006, still journals about the foods she eats and their calorie count as well as how she’s feeling at the time.

She’s also using the Jenny Craig plan to help maintain her weight loss, usually eating at least one ‘Jenny’ meal every day. Jenny’s Cuisine is the name given to the extensive variety of pre-packaged prepared meals at the core of the program. They’re packaged in single servings to assist you in learning appropriate portion size and control.

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