Category: Exercise & Fitness

Burn 500 Calories A Day To Lose A Pound A Week

Do you know how to balance your calories? Weight loss begins with knowing what foods to eat and in what amounts. This article will look at calories & weight loss.

The most important thing you need to know about calories & weight loss is that you need to burn 3500 more calories than you take in to lose 1 pound. You can do this by exercising, dieting, or a combination of both.

The easiest way to break this down is to think of it on a daily basis. You need to burn 500 more calories than you eat each day.

An inactive or lightly active man weighing 150 lbs, will burn roughly 2000 calories each day. If he weighed 200 lbs, he’d burn around 2300 calories each day. On the other hand, a 150 lbs. woman will burn about 1700 calories a day.

Why do men and women of the same weight burn different calories? Most of it has to do with the fact that men have more muscle mass which allows them to burn more calories at rest. This should also encourage you to put on muscle, whether you are a man or a woman.

So, going back to calories & weight loss, if you are a 150 pound woman and you don’t want to do any exercise, you need to eat no more than 1200 calories a day.

However, if you are willing to put in some work, you can eat a little bit more. For instance, even housework can increase your eating ability. Heavy cleaning burns 432 calories an hour. Do that for 70 minutes a day and you’ll have your 500 calories. Mowing the lawn for an hour (with a push mower) burns 324 calories an hour. But there are fun ways to burn calories too. An hour of singles tennis burns 549 calories an hour. And, an hour of skiing burns a whopping 740 calories.

If you are serious about controlling calories, weight loss will follow. One way to do this is to control your portion sizes. Meals, both at home and at restaurants have been growing in size for decades. For instance, in the 1930s, the average dinner plate size had an 8 or 9 inch diameter. Now, the average diameter is 10 to 12 inches. Switch to salad plates for dinner and watch the pounds disappear.

It’s no secret that restaurant portions have grown. For instance at Romano’s Macaroni Grill, a seemingly good for you Teriyaki Salmon dinner has a whopping 1240 calories. If you are eating out, either split the meal with someone else or ask for a take home box at the start of the meal. Then, place half of the food in the take home box before you start eating. That way you can still “clean your plate” without taking on the additional calories.

There calories weight loss formula is calories in-calories out. Make sure that there is a differential of 500 if you want to lose one pound.

Diet and Exercising for Weight Loss

Obesity is now being called an epidemic in the health community. In fact, it will soon be the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, even ahead of cigarette smoking. Obesity leads to type two diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke and even an increased risk of cancer. With all of these health risks, as well as the general improvement in the quality of life that can occur, losing weight is one of the best things that you can do for yourself.
No matter what we would like to believe, there simply isn’t a magic solution to losing weight. The body will shed excess fat when it needs more calories to function through the demands you place on it in a given day than the amount of calories that you feed it. It’s that simple. So, in order to lose weight, you need to decrease the number of calories that you eat as well as increase the amount that you burn.
There is a wide range of options to choose from when looking for a weight loss program. All of them often spend a lot of time explaining what to eat, in what amounts and even at what times or in what combinations. But few of them emphasize the importance of exercise – not just for losing weight, but for your general health and wellbeing. Exercise is vital when trying to lose weight for several reasons:
First, as you start to eat less, your metabolism will slow down somewhat. Exercising helps to elevate your metabolism back to an efficient level. Second, as mentioned, exercise burns more calories so that you can lose weight faster and stay motivated in your efforts. Third, exercise actually releases endorphins, chemicals that keep your mood elevated.
Exercise doesn’t have to mean spending hours at the gym or straining through exhausting workouts. In fact, in order for you to stick with it on the long run, exercising should be something that you enjoy. Start by increasing your activity level in an overall way. Take the stairs when you can. Park further from the mall door when you go shopping. Go for a walk in the park or through a neighborhood you love and bring a dog or a friend along for company. Take dance or martial arts lessons.
Once you become more active in general, you’ll find it easier and more natural to move into regular exercise. Which you’ll need to do eventually in order to get regular, noticeable health benefits. You need to raise your heart rate to a fat burning level and keep it there for at least 20 minutes, 3 times or more a week. However, if you don’t want to go to a gym, there are other options. Videos and DVDs are now available in all kinds of exercise types. That way you can change your routine whenever you want so that you don’t get bored with what you’re doing. Try a range of aerobics, kickboxing, yoga, or pretty much any activity you want right in the comfort of your own home.
If you have physical limitations that would keep you off from exercising, you can still find a way to increase your activity level. Water aerobics is a wonderful option for those who have joint problems or limited mobility because it relieves the pressure on your body that your weight provides. But you still get the resistance to challenge your muscles from the water. There are even classes and videos available that let you exercise in a seated position.
Whatever kind of exercise you choose, it’s important to stay motivated and keep it fun. Try gathering a group together to make it a social event. Or get a pedometer, a device that tracks how far you walk, and see how many miles you can walk a week. Make a competition amongst your friends or family members and treat the winner with something special (not food related!). Make the experience of exercising something that you look forward to, and it will soon become a regular part of your healthier lifestyle.

Burning Fat vs. Burning Calories

To lose weight and get in shape you must have a good diet and exercise regularly to burn fat. The first thing you must understand about exercise is that just because you are burning calories does not mean you are burning fat. Your main focus when you exercise should be losing body fat, and you can’t lose body fat just from burning calories. When we exercise, our bodies will start burning calories, but the calories that are burned are the calories from carbohydrates in our system. In order to burn calories from your stored fat, your body requires the presence of oxygen. There is a certain amount of oxygen that your body needs in order to start burning fat and the only way for you to measure the amount needed for your own body is to keep up with your target heart rate during exercise. Please understand that if you continue to only burn calories from carbohydrates, you will lose mostly “water weight” which leads to a decrease in your metabolism. Also, think of the calories that are burned from carbohydrates as your energy calories. If you lose too much energy calories then your muscles will not receive enough energy to increase your metabolism which indirectly burn fat. Therefore you must increase your calorie intake when you are on an exercise program to replace your burned energy calories.

 

Burning Fat Calories during exercise

 

During aerobic exercise, your body goes through several stages before it reaches the point where you are burning fat. You will hear people say that you are only burning sugar (carbohydrates) not fat during the first 10 minutes of exercise. This is true to a certain extent. I say this because you will continue to burn sugar past the 10 minute mark if you are not working out hard enough for your body to want more oxygen; or you are working out too hard and you can’t supply your body with enough oxygen for fat burning. When you exercise you must move at a steady pace (not too fast, not too slow) so your body will utilize your stored fat (not carbohydrates or sugar) as its energy source. Also remember that just because you reached the fat burning stage does not mean you will stay there. Staying at the fat burning stage once again depends on if you are moving at a pace that is right for your body. Make sure that you are within your target heart rate range.

 

Burning Fat Calories at rest

 

The only way for you to continue to burn fat calories hours after you have finished working out is through the anaerobic exercise of weight training. Weight training is the key to burning fat at rest. Weight training is an anaerobic activity that will cause you to burn more calories than aerobic exercise. The calories that you are burning during weight training exercises are mostly calories from carbohydrates (meaning you must eat even more calories per day for energy); but the calories you burn at rest are mostly calories from fat. The reason you are burning fat at rest is because weight training increases your metabolism which uses your stored fat as energy.

 

To make your body the ultimate fat burning machine you must do aerobic (cardio) and anaerobic (weight training) exercises.

Cycling – Push Those Pedals to Lose Weight and Get Fit

Pedal power, in all its varieties (road bike, exercise bike, or spinning bike) offers a wide range of health benefits including:

 

a.) Excellent calorie burn. (Typically 400 calories an hour for an exercise bike, 700-800 for a road bike, and 1000 for a spinning bike.)

 

b.) Superior cardiovascular conditioning. Cycling builds stamina and increases endurance while lower resting heart rate. Generally individuals who cycle regularly have a resting heart rate in the mid to low 60s.

 

c.) Lower body toning. Cycling is especially good to build leg muscles and for women, whose problem areas are often the hips and thighs, the slimming effect can be almost magical.
Many people prefer to cycle outdoors because there’s really nothing to replace the freedom and adventure to be had exploring under your own foot power.
Road bikes average $300-$400 for a correctly fitted, beginning model that includes:

 

1.) A comfortable saddle appropriate to the rider’s gender.
2.) A rack to carry a water bottle. (Drinking water is recommended every 20 minutes during a lengthy ride.)
3.) A ride computer that registers speed and distance traveled.
4.) Gears to assist with handling terrain.
5.) Appropriate illumination via reflectors and/or lights.
6.) Safety helmet.

 

These items represent the bare minimum for safe and effective operation. A ride computer is especially important as cycling is, generally speaking, an exercise in which the rider competes against himself for better speed and longer distances traveled.

 

Using a Heart Monitor

Where weight loss is the goal, it is also recommended that the cyclist use a heart monitor which includes a chest strap and a wrist unit that measures duration of exercise, time in “the zone” (your target heart rate to accomplish fat burning), average and maximum heart rate, and calories burned. One pound equals 3500 calories. If you manage a 500 calorie deficit (burn or expend more than you consume) you’ll lose approximately one pound per week.

 

Indoor Cycling

For individuals who do not like to be out in the elements, an exercise bike can be a comfortable way to cycle daily in the comfort of your own home. Many riders watch television while they pedal and cycling DVDs are available to create the illusion that you are traveling through the hills of the California wine country or perhaps the French countryside. Recumbent exercise bikes with their bucket seats are especially comfortable. For some riders, the different angle at which the recumbent bike places the body is even more effective for body slimming and overall the position is easier for the back and the backside.

 

Spinning Bikes for Indoor Cycling

Spinning bikes are a special class of exercise bikes that have weighted flywheels to simulate, as closely as is possible, the feel of riding a road bike indoors. Generally, spinning is done at a gym in a class environment or, if done at home, to directions from a DVD. The workout involves “intervals” of intense riding where the cyclist is standing in the pedals and working at maximum output balanced by seated periods of a lesser cadence. Spinning is hardcore exercise with maximum calorie burn. If you have not been working out, it’s best to get moderately in shape and to check with your physician before beginning a spinning program.

 

When to Cycle?

Almost any time of day is appropriate for cycling. Depending on the climate in your area, it may be best to ride in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler. Some fitness experts recommend riding first thing in the morning before eating to stimulate the metabolism, while others suggest “fueling up” first. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid cycling just before bedtime as the stimulation will contribute to your insomnia. Regardless of when or where you choose to cycle, keep track of the numbers so you can monitor your improvement and work out at a pace and duration that will show effective results.

 

Benefits of Cycling

As an aerobic, fat burning exercise, cycling offers multiple health benefits. Upright exercise bikes can be purchase for as little as $150 while a recumbent will run from $300 to $600. These devices allow you to exercise regardless of the weather while road bikes get you out and about exploring and having fun while you get in shape. Spinning bikes can cost as much as $1500, so that’s an activity that will most likely send you to the gym. Regardless of the type of cycling you choose, you’ll begin to see results in a month or less, putting you well on the road to those lovely words — long and lean.

Healthy Dieting – Top 5 Tips for Healthy Diet, Slimming and Fitness

Have you been wondering what healthy dieting is all about? It is a way to slim down and keep your weight within optimal limits making you fit. It is very safe and efficient. The following tips on healthy dieting will help you to get you where you should be.
You should always eat healthy foods and avoid calorie-rich foods. Healthy foods include the following: vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grain cereals, low-fat dairy products, paste and bread. Fish, chicken, and lean beef are also good for you in small portions. Avoid junk food, fast food, fried foods and sugary foods. These are the fundamentals of healthy dieting.
Downsize your portions. This healthy dieting tip has to do with calories as well. The smaller the portions you eat, the lower the calorie count, is, all other things being equal. You can enjoy smaller portions by having a three-dish meal with a small main dish, a fresh salad, and a fruit dessert. Another trick is to have a glass of water or two before sitting at the table.
Have four to five meals a day for healthy dieting and effective weight loss. When you starve for considerable periods of time, your blood sugar levels fall. In turn, you get to experience hunger pangs and strong cravings that are hard to handle. At your next meal, you tend to eat a lot more than you need to. The best solution to this problem is to enjoy one snack in the morning and one in the afternoon between meals. These can be very light. Low-fat, sugar-free yogurt, raw nuts, and fruits are among the best choices.
Cook your meals by yourself. This is essential for healthy dieting. In this way, you can choose only fresh and healthy ingredients. You will have the opportunity to use recipes that require very little oil for cooking. You will enjoy healthy dishes instead of fried foods. Cooking your meals will allow you to make any dish super delicious by using different herbs and spices. As you certainly know, delicious dishes bring you greater satisfaction and allow you to eat less.
Reduce stress in your life as much as you can. Stress makes us eat more or eats less. That is the reason why it is one of the main enemies of healthy dieting. Various stress relief methods produce excellent results and that you can readily enjoy. The most popular ones include yoga, meditation, gardening and spa treatments. In general, any exercise is good for relieving stress as well.
Exercise regularly for healthy dieting. It is not only about the calories you intake with food but also about the calories you burn. Some cardio exercises like jogging, swimming, and cycling, are the most efficient for weight loss and general fitness. It is best to work out for up to an hour every other day. In this way, you will burn fat and not protein that your body needs. You will let your body recover from the exercise stress effectively. Make sure you warm up and cool down to avoid injuries.
Now you know how to go about healthy dieting. Remember that these are the fundamentals that will give you a head start and provide for getting excellent results. By learning more about the subject, you will be able to maintain these results for good.