Copyright (c) 2008 Phyllis Ekleberry
Do milk and weight loss go together? We have all seen the commercial where someone is drinking a glass of milk and then says ‘”It does a body good”. After that statement, the commercial goes on to say that by including milk in your every day weight loss program promotes better weight loss particularly around the waist line.
Milk and Weight Loss in the News
The Natural News had this to say about milk and weight loss, ‘”There is no evidence that dairy consumption helps people lose weight, according to a study conducted by researchers published in the journal Nutrition Review.”
Researchers Reviews On Milk and Weight Loss
The researchers reviewed the results of 49 different clinical trials that examined the connection between either dairy or calcium supplement consumption and the changes that occur when you do consume dairy products or take calcium supplements. The results were over-whelming. Out of the studies the following was recorded:
- 41 studies showed no weight
- 5 showed a correlation with weight loss
- 2 showed an actual weight gain
- 1 study found no impact on weight but a decrease in the accumulation of body fat.
This is verifiable testing that shows milk and weight loss do not necessarily go hand in hand. When you partake of dairy products, researchers have found out that you also consume more whole grains, fruits and vegetables. With these great choices, you will lose weight faster and easier. All of these things have complex carbohydrates instead of the over-processed carbohydrates that are found in white breads and bleached white grains and white rice. It also shows that women who have a higher dairy consumption or calcium intake are much less likely to drink or smoke. Those same women are also more likely to exercise and take vitamin supplements.
The Direction of a Good Weight Loss Program
This research goes a long way to point you in the direction of a good solid weight loss program instead of just picking what you think will work and hope for the best–like milk and weight loss . Instead of listening to the dairy industry, which has a vested interest in touting the supposed weight-loss benefits of milk and weight loss, you need to choose a weight loss plan that encompasses good eating habits along with exercise.
Many health experts advise that rather than expecting a single product to function as a miracle food, those wishing to lose weight should instead focus on a balanced, healthy diet with consistency.
You and Your Weight Loss Program
So what should your weight loss program possess? You should choose a weight loss program that fits your lifestyle and combines a good variety of foods. If you choose a weight loss program that has limited menu choices, then you will quickly tire of those choices and ultimately lose the battle. Generally speaking, if you can retrain your brain to eat healthy meals, stop the munching all day and eat when you are hungry instead of eating when you are bored, stressed, depressed, lonely or sad, then you will succeed!
Steps of Healthy Weight Loss Program
Following these simple steps to your weight loss program will catapult your weight loss into the double digits!
1.) Find a program that fits your lifestyle.
If you are not fond of cooking, a diet plan that requires you to cook will not work! Don’t choose a weight loss program or diet plan that requires you to eat something you can’t stand or do something you are not willing to do, this is self defeating.
Hint: this does not excuse you from exercise or improving your eating habits because without these two elements in your weight loss program, you are not going to get where you want to be very fast.
2.) Decide the “why” – you have to have a motivating reason why you want to lose weight. If your reason is not motivating enough to stop food in mid air – find another one! There will be times that your reason why will be the only thing that motivates you to exercise, eat less and eat healthy – Get a good one!
3.) Make sure you are healthy enough to go on the program you have chosen!
Please take the time to check with your doctor before you go on a weight loss program to see if there are any under lying problems that could limit your success.
4.) Choose a diet that makes sense. One that is healthy and has plenty of options If you are contemplating taking weight loss supplements – either in the form of a weight loss pill or weight loss patch.- Please take the time to check them out. Some companies have tested their products in a double blind test – look at the test results before using their products. Don’t trust the companies that have not gone through this process. The good ones have tested their products to insure their safety as well as their results.
5.Above all – carry through. You must continue along the weight loss path to succeed.
This is the hardest things to do – to carry through with your plans. How many times have you decided to do something and then dropped it like a hot potato because it did not work fast enough or it was not fun enough. Buckle down – just do it. It has to be done for your health’s sake so just do it!
6.) Enlist a support person, group or friend. With the right support you can move mountains!
7.Give yourself some praise. You are taking one of life’s hardest journeys – the weight loss journey. Losing weight just takes some time and committed dedication. You are worth it – you are worth every calorie you don’t put in your mouth – you are worth every moment you exercise. After all, if you do not take care of yourself – who is?

Can a person be both fit and fat? With a national obesity rate of nearly 30 percent, this is a question that needs to be answered. People do not seem to be actively looking for ways to be thin, and just because a person is thin does not mean they are fit either. So who, really, has a healthy and fit body and how can we get there from where we are?

First of all, most people think you have to hit the gym in order to be the healthiest you can be, and this is just not true. Although exercise does nothing but enhance your health, fitness is not the only answer. It is not always about how you look. It is not always about how you eat. Just like everything else, having a healthy and fit body has many components.

Here are 7 Tips to know, once and for all, if you have a healthy and fit body!

Healthy and Fit Body Tips #1: Proper NutritionProviding your body with the right food and liquid is the most important component to your health. If you struggling with weight loss and the inability to get yourself fit, start with a change in your diet. Eating right does not mean eating less. A soy-based meal replacement once a day works for me, along with a few targeted supplements you can not find in food.

Even people who exercise all the time can not be totally fit if they grab a bag of potato chips over an apple. No matter what you look like on the outside, your inside is what matters the most. If your body is not getting right nutrition, you can not expect it to look and feel good. You are what you eat. Never forget that.

Healthy and Fit Body Tips #2: Muscle MassOur bodies require a certain percentage of muscle to stay healthy and meet the tasks of daily living. This varies per individual, but after the age of 30, our bodies lose muscle mass each year. The key to restoring this is resistance exercise to keep muscle mass. To age gracefully by being fit, keep your muscle mass percentage high.

Healthy and Fit Body Tips #3: Body Fat This your total body weight that is composed of fat. 10 percent to 14 percent is considered good for men, and 14 percent to 18 percent is considered good for women. Being too far below it and above it both have health risks. Unless you’re a weight-dependent athlete or a fitness model, you should strive to fall into your category.

Healthy and Fit Body Tips #4: Aerobic EnduranceI bet you do not think about how well your body transports oxygen, right? From shoveling snow to running a marathon, aerobic activity is a good indicator of good aerobic fitness. Your cardiovascular goal for fitness is simple. Get your heart rate up and hold it, then bring it down without becoming short of breath.

Healthy and Fit Body Tips #5: StrengthHow much force can your muscles generate? Your body needs to be able to move stuff, and you, around. Mass protects your body, strength moves it and keeps it from falling over. Strength training requires short bouts of high-intensity outputs, much different from aerobic activity. Strength training slows the aging process, so the stronger you are, the slower you age.

Healthy and Fit Body Tips #6: BalanceLife is no fun if you’re always toppling over. Your ability to maintain control of your center of gravity is important for obvious reasons. To stay in balance your body uses smaller muscles to help keep your joints tracking properly. A person with good balance has less chance of incurring an injury. The next time you see an exercise ball, use it!

Healthy and Fit Body Tips #7: FlexibilityYour ability to move your body freely through a full range of motion does not require an advanced class of yoga. Simply start stretching your muscles more because they contract during exercise and the daily rigors of living. Keeping your muscles supple gives you a buffer against being injured and is an indicator of overall fitness. It will also help you age with less complications.

As you can easily tell, there are many components that are of equal importance in order to have a healthy and fit body. It is not just the way a person looks on the outside but rather a combination of many factors. You have the ability to change your body for the better just as easily as McDonalds can change it for the worse. The difference is developing the mindset of a person who chooses healthy over unhealthy.

Learn from our expert how to do what is called a negative pull up exercise in this free fitness video on cross fitness pulling upper body exercises. Expert: Garrett Smith Bio: Garrett Smith is a certified physical trainer and has a bachelors degree in this field. He has been training others for 13 years and is dedicating his life to the health and well being of others. Filmmaker: Louis Nathan

Obesity is now a growing concern for many people worldwide. If you are obese, you are likely to experience the health risks that go with this condition such as hypertension. That is why it does make sense that you start losing weight as early as possible. But losing weight is never easy. You have to carefully select a weight loss program that will work for you like taking natural weight loss pills.
Natural Weight Loss Pills vs. Prescription Weight Loss Pills
If you want to lose weight the natural way, then you better choose natural weight loss pills over the prescription weight loss pills. Although prescription weight loss pills are proven effective, some of these are blamed to have several side effects. These pills are found to be habit forming and some people experience dizziness, diarrhea, blurred vision, and an upset digestive system after taking these pills. That is why most people nowadays are more aware of the importance of good health and doing things the natural way.
Choosing your Natural Weight Loss Pills
So, before you choose one, you have to know exactly what you want out of your natural weight loss pills. Do you want your appetite to be suppressed? Do you want a pill that eats up excess glucose in your system after you eat? Or do you want pills that help eliminate toxins from your body? Whatever you want, you can find the appropriate natural weight loss pills that can help you achieve your weight loss goal.
Losing weight may not be an easy task. But with the right natural weight loss pills at hand, you can achieve your goal without having to worry about side effects. Losing weight the natural way is really a good option. But it is still best if you combine this with a balanced diet and regular exercise.
A latest weight loss drug pills is a true diet pills for treatment of obesity. weight loss pills is a weight loss and smoking cessation drugs which was approved in UK and Europe. For overweight patients, there are many solutions like dieting, fasting and exercise. But these solutions are difficult and not every obese person can do, so diet pills are best solution for weight loss. You may choose dieting to lose that extra pound of weight, unconscious of the fact that it makes you lose fat. Dieting is risky and makes you prone to perilous diseases. So, is there any other helpful option existing that can help you to loose weight? Yes, weight loss pills are the effective alternative for weight loss.
This statement stands true for people who want to bring about the unworkable. What all matters, is your approach towards life. The same applies to obese people, if you want to loose that extra weight then weight loss pills combined with healthy diet and exercise will provide the purpose.
There are many benefits for weight loss pills like appetite suppressant, easy and quick way to loose weight and smoking cessation drug. Currently weight loss pills helps obese people in UK and Europe to get rid from this epidemic disease. If you have made up your mind to buy weight loss pills, then you can either buy it from a nearby pharmacy shop or from the comfort of your home through internet. In case you are looking for good quality weight loss pills that too at cheap rates, then you need to do a little effort.
There are always some side effects of weight loss drugs, weight loss pills has also sole side effects like dry mouth, constipation and high blood pressure so you should read carefully all side effects before buying weight loss pills. You should read all precaution for safety and after consulting with doctor you should start taking weight loss pills diet pills.

While gym memberships have slid since 2006, home gym equipment sales continue to grow. Fitness infomercials are among the most popular TV commercials used to sell home exercise equipment. Of the six most profitable infomercial products, three are related to fitness. (1, 2)

Most of us dream about enjoying amazing workout results by investing only minimal time and effort. Fitness infomercials are designed to create this fantasy, which lulls us into purchasing products that may not live up to their claims.

The Successful Infomercial Program Profile and Fitness Products

Successful infomercial programs promote products that:

*are reasonably-priced, *are revolutionary and innovative, *cannot be found anywhere else, *can make life easier and better, and *produce immediate, transformational results. (3)

In order to fit this profile, marketers of fitness products often promote the fantasy of fast fitness. While the notion of undergoing a rapid body transformation appeals to the viewer, product claims may exceed the ability of the human body to achieve such accelerated results.

Many fitness gadgets have been taken to task by consumer groups for making unsubstantiated claims. While some products have been tested and shown to be reasonable supplements to a total exercise program, others are ineffective. (4, 5)

Despite consumer complaints and negative reviews, however, sales from fitness infomercials are booming. Why? Infomercial marketing tactics intrigue and motivate us to purchase a product regardless of its quality or effectiveness.

7 Common Marketing Tactics that Sell the Fast-Fitness Fantasy

These 7 common marketing tactics used in fitness infomercials target our emotions, establish product credibility, and offer bargains we can’t seem to refuse.

1. Emotions: Ads aim at the very core of our being–our sense of self and, perhaps, our vanity. They strike the chords of our emotions and play on our universal dreams, desires, and needs.

Our imaginations begin to mold our fantasies. Next, they establish credibility and trust, while easing skepticism about the ability of the product to fulfill our dreams of scupting a gorgeous body.

2. Testimonials: We listen to the stories of peers who profess amazing results from using the product and toy with the notion that, just maybe, it will work for us, too.

3. Endorsements: We tend to trust the word of celebrities, trainers, and elite athletes. If Oprah endorses a product, that pretty much seals the deal for many of us.

4. Scientific research: If a fitness device is based on a new scientific discovery or is university tested, isn’t that real proof that it is effective? Not necessarily!

Each of these confidence-building strategies has its shortcomings. Results claimed by compensated models may well be due to their total weight control and exercise program, rather than due to the product itself.

Scientific studies conducted or sponsored by manufacturers are often disclosed only upon request. Even results from university research may not be accurately represented in fitness infomercials, particularly if all of the findings do not support the fast-fitness profile. (5)

Nonetheless, according to one survey, viewers are more likely to trust infomercials than Congress, used car salesmen, and corporate executives! (3)

Once they have gained some reasonable level of our confidence in the product, they attempt to close the sale by:

5. Overcoming objections and upping the ante: Marketers emphasize the uniqueness of the product and urge us to accept no substitutes. They create a sense of urgency with limited-time offers and great bargains for the shopper in us.

6. Guaranteeing no risk: If you don’t get results, you will get a full refund! So, what have you got to lose?

7. Being persistent: Fitness infomercials repeat the same message frequently. Repetition, particularly late at night when our subconscious minds are more vulnerable, may well tap into the power of suggestion that prompts the buy.

Sold! Viewers will generally watch for 13 to 15 minutes before calling.

Add-On Sales For More Quick Profits

The purchase decision may be just the beginning of profits from fitness infomercials. Shipping, handling, and taxes are expected. But as a new, enthusiastic buyer, beware that you are likely to encounter a barrage of add-ons before you have completed the transaction. Pay close attention, or your credit card may automatically be charged monthly for additional products. And later, if you exercise your money- back guarantee, you may get the runaround from an automated system.

All told, you may pay the original advertised price many times over and, unfortunately, never see results. At some point you may come to realize that your fast-fitness fantasy was, from the start, the manufacturer’s quick-profit, dream-come-true at the expense of consumers.

Consumer Knowledge is Power

Do not let your emotions override patience and logic. Take a step back and research the fitness infomercial product and its claims. If you can move past the impulse buy:

*Check out user reviews on the specific product of interest. *Visit consumer-related sites before buying exercise equipment. *Ask the opinion of a fitness professional, preferably one who has formal training and an advanced degree in exercise science. *If you decide that the product is worth a try, be sure to read the fine print on the website.

Educate yourself by learning fundamental exercise and weight control principles so that unsubstantiated product claims will be more transparent to you. Fitness knowledge gives you the power to prevent falling for the fast-fitness fantasy before you make the purchase.

References:

1. Consumer Reports. (2009, January 6). Tip of the day: Choose a home exercise machine to fit your budget. Retrieved January 19, 2009, from http://blogs.consumerreports.org/health/2009/01/home-workout.html?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1

2. The Marqui Automation Company. (2005, May 7). The all-powerful infomercial. Retrieved January 18, 2009, from http://www.marqui.com/blog/the_allpowerful.aspx

3. Infomercial Marketing. (2006, April 7). The right kind of product for an infomercial is… Retrieved January 19, 2009, from http://infomercialmarketing.wordpress.com/2006/04/

4. Federal Trade Commission. (2003, November). Avoiding the muscle hustle: Tips for buying exercise equipment. Retrieved January 18, 2009, from http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt113.shtm

5. Consumer Reports. (2009, January). Assessing exercise infomercials’ claims. Retrieved January 19, 2009, from http://www.consumerreports.org/health/healthy-living/fitness/staying-fit/infomercial-exercise-2-08/how-they-tested/infomercial-exercise-equipment-how-they-test.htm

 

 

 

 

Exercise and fitness are becoming one of the best ways for staying younger and healthier. The compact exercise machine gives you the flexibility you need for your exercise program in the comfort of your home. You need not worry about leaving home in any weather condition and lose weight or just stay in shape. 

A portable exercise bicycle is just the piece of equipment for workout at home. There are several models to choose from, and you can get all the features you need for a reasonable price. You can use the exercise bikes to workout both your lower and upper body; also can be used for aerobic exercise and toning as well as for rehabilitation.

Proper usage of fitness equipment burns excess calories and maintains the overall physical well being of a person. Moreover, it improves the resistance and stamina of the body. There are both commercial and residential (home) fitness equipment designed to suit all budgets. Some of the most popular fitness equipment on the market includes treadmills, elliptical trainers, exercise cycles, rowing machines, home gyms, stair-climbing machine and exercise riders.

Home gym provides flexibility and convenience of working out in the comfort of your own home. One of the best benefits of having own fitness equipment, in addition to saving time and convenience, is that you can exercise in the privacy and comfort of your own home. 

Working out from the comfort of your house allows you to be in control of your environment, where you can listen to your choice of music or your favorite television show. Ultimately, this will result in you working out more often and will help to make the attainment of your fitness goals much easier.

The best way to ensure you make the right choice is to have a plan for finding the equipment that best suits your needs. Here are some tips on the same.

Determine your fitness goals. Decide if you are looking to build strength and muscle mass, or just loose weight and firm up, as this will help you to narrow down the types of equipment you should consider. 

Assess your experience. Specialty dealers help you assess your goals and experience, and recommend the types of home fitness equipment that will best fit your fitness needs. 

Determine the space where you wish to put your equipment. 

Determine your equipment needs. 

With a good plan, you`ll better be able to find the equipment you need – at the price you can afford. So if you don`t feel like hanging out at the gym, maybe want to watch TV while you workout, just get yours one too from the number of compact exercise bikes available in the market today! 

When you are beginning a new weight loss program (or trying to make your current weight loss program work for you) it can be a big help to have some handy tips to help you along. A weight loss program is almost always a huge undertaking for a lot of people and as such breaking down your program is going to break down your work and it’s going to make sticking to your weight loss program a lot easier for you to stick to, and thus a lot more effective!Weight Loss Tip #1: Get Real!This is the first weight loss tip you’re going to see in any article claiming weight loss tips. It’s because setting unrealistic goals in your weight loss program is the most common error that deters a lot of people from really sticking with it. While it’s good to have an ultimate goal, you want to set smaller goals for you to meet along the way. Setting smaller goals allows you to achieve them and get ever closer to your ultimate goal. Baby steps is the key to any weight loss program. You have to learn to crawl before you can walk right?Weight Loss Tip #2: Preparation! Preparation! Preparation!This is the most painful part at the start of any weight loss program, but it’s one of the best things to do to get you started on your path to weight loss. It’s time to get rid of your potato chips, your Coke, your hidden treasure trove of chocolate, and anything else you might have stashed away. Having this stuff around makes it way too easy for you to cheat while on your weight loss program, and unless you are a self-control machine then there’s no way you’re going to meet the goals you’ve set for yourself unless you take the precautionary steps to remove temptation. Make a list of the healthy foods you need and stock them in mass quantities. If you’re worried about healthy food not tasting as good, look up some health food recipes because there is good stuff out there!Weight Loss Tip #3: A Rewarding Weight Loss Program is a Successful Weight Loss ProgramIt’s something you’ll learn in any first year psychology class, human beings naturally excel at tasks when there is tangible or periodic reward. You want to buy that new CD that just came out? Well if you meet your next goal then treat yourself to your favourite music. Beware with rewards though, don’t reward yourself with junk food, you’ve gotta stick to that weight loss program!Weight Loss TIp #4: The Most Important Meal Of The Day!You’ve heard the saying so many times about Breakfast being the most important meal of the day, but why do people say that all the time anyway? It’s because it’s true. Your breakfast provides you with the energy to keep going through the day, and eating a healthy breakfast will actually help you with your weight loss. When you don’t eat breakfast it actually tricks your body in to believing that it could be starving and so it goes in to a mode which not only will hinder your self control around junk food, but it will also try and guard against the burning of precious fats and calories in your body (because you need that stuff to survive if you happen to be starving!) Always make sure to eat a complete breakfast! It really IS the most important meal of the day!Weight Loss Tip #5: Don’t Just Eat Healthy, ACT Healthy!Hopefully your weight loss program already includes something about getting plenty of exercise. It’s important to complement your weight loss program with a healthy dose of exercise. In fact, it’s one of the big factors that can make or break your weight loss program. The fact is that if you can stick to a weight loss program which involves a proper diet and exercise, no matter what program it is, you WILL lose weight! It’s what your body needs!Weight Loss Tip # 6: So You Like To Sleep? That’s Good!7-8 Hours of Sleep per night. That’s what the average adult needs each and every day. It keeps your body working in perfect order, it repairs all parts of your body and mind in tact and you need to keep both of those at your best in any weight loss program!If you can follow these six simple tips, I have no doubt that you’re going to see some results in trying to lose weight! The power to lose weight is in your hands though, you’ve got to be the one that makes you stick to both these tips and your own personal weight loss program, if you can do that then you’re going to lose weight! Good Luck!