Healthy lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.

Mental Health

Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.

Public health

Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.

Reproductive Health

For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.

Health

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

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vendredi 3 juillet 2015

This Is How Your Face Changes After 30 Days of Drinking Water

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We've all been told before to drink more water, but maybe it hasn't stuck with us just yet. From our friends at YourTango, see how 30 days of drinking water changed Sarah Smith's face. You may want a drink after this!

WOW - what a difference.
We're told over and over again about how good water is for us. You've probably heard the "8 cups of water a day" rule, but let's face it: that's tough when you have delicious soda and coffee and whatever else tempting you everywhere you go.

So, where can we find the motivation to drink wisely? This woman's before and after photos might just do the trick.

A 42-year-old woman named Sarah Smith wasn't drinking enough water, and decided to do something about it. After drinking three liters of water a day for 28 days, she shared her amazing results:



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jeudi 2 juillet 2015

From Ranch to Hummus: Healthy Dip Recipes

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It's not really a party until the dip shows up. Good with veggies, fruit, and pita bread, the sheer variety of dips makes them an easy crowd-pleaser. If you've got a party coming up and want to get crazy with the dip but also want to keep calories and fat down, we've got 24 recipes for you to make!



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5 Minutes to a Sexy Back and 6-Pack Abs

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Having a strong and stable core is essential for every activity from standing to running, from swimming to dancing. This five-minute workout targets the front and back of your body, to create a sleek and balanced torso. Plus, it will help improve your posture, which has endless benefits as well, like looking thinner and decreasing back pain. Talk about a win-win.

Downloadable Guide



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The 10 People You Hate When Trying to Lose Weight

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Whether your hanger just makes you supercranky or your plummeting blood sugar levels are making you more sensitive, if you're trying to lose weight - and you want to stay on that path - it's best to steer clear of these people.



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WTF Is Going on at These Gyms?

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Most gym days are pretty uneventful. You get in, get out, and repeat. But then some days you see someone doing something that makes you say, "WTF?!" On days when you're just not feeling the gym, just think that you might catch one of these people, and it's sure to motivate your butt off the couch. Note that the language in some of these videos makes them NSFW.



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True Life: I Went to Pure Barre and It Was Effing Miserable

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Anyone who has attended a barre workout knows making it through an hour-long session is no easy feat. But what about those big, muscly dudes at the gym who claim to be in tip-top shape; how would they feel after 60 minutes of lifts and tucks? Read on to hear all about Matt Borucki of Dude's Digest and his first experience at a barre class. We have a feeling this guy is going to walk out of that studio saying, "What the tuck just happened?"

Source: Instagram user pure_barre

My fiancée goes to Pure Barre five times a week, apparently to look better than she already does (not possible). If you're not familiar with Pure Barre, it's basically a chick cult, which also includes a workout session where you use a barre to perform isometric movements. She comes home and talks about how "hard" class was. I pretend like I'm listening, because that's what good fiancés do, but really I'm laughing on the inside.

Last week she tells me Pure Barre is having a "Bring the Men" session, and she wants to bring me to class with her. I was knee-deep in a Destiny Crucible match, and as all men know, when your girl asks you if you want do something while you're gaming you simply respond with "yes" and hope she forgets because you will. Well let me tell you something, she didn't forget. She literally brought it up once an hour since her proposal.

I immediately regret this decision, not because the class will be hard, which it won't be because I'm a superior athlete, but because GameStop called to tell me I can pick up the video game I pre-ordered at 9 p.m. on Monday, which happens to be the same time as class. I turn this into a bargaining chip to get some unobstructed gaming time in. I'll go to class, if we go pick up the game afterwards. She responded with "yes" so quickly you would have thought I volunteered to pay for her wedding dress.

Usually when I'm doing some sort of athletic activity: brisk jog, flag football, looking for stray cats in the neighborhood to collect reward money, I get mentally focused. I didn't do any of this. Not only that but I walked into this class with my d*ck so far out I wanted people to think I was the god damn instructor. Much to my surprise, I wasn't the only male who got duped into coming to class. There are five other couples in class with us.

Upon entering we need to collect three items for class: some resistance bands, two dumb-bells, and a ball I recognize from high school dodge-ball that I used to pelt the nerds in the face with. Not sure if they are on a budget or what, but they don't have the 60 pound dumb-bells I'm accustomed to, only increments less than five. They'll do I guess.

So we go take our positions and the instructor starts playing some progressive and trance vibes, i.e. 128 to 140 BPM sh*t. I'm really getting into it now. The fun is short-lived though. We start moving. We start moving fast. I was expecting some type of warmup but no. My fiancee is firing on all cylinders. She's a natural. I on the other hand look ridiculous. You could compare my success rate in these coordination exercises to a paraplegic trying to roller-blade. Little did I know that the next 55 minutes would be the worst of my adult life.

We lay on the floor and start with aerobics. The "instructor" is "instructing" me to contort my body in ways God never intended it to. My leg is out, my arm is up, basically we are playing Twister and I spun the four corners. We are five minutes in, and I'm getting shown up by six girls with an average weight of a buck o five.

We move to abs. Abs I can handle I thought. But I thought wrong, you guys. Not sure where this workout originated but my mid-section feels like it's being ripped open by ten-grit sandpaper. After all, lift, tone, and burn is the motto of Pure Barre, I learn. We move to planks which I'm laboring through. We are 15 minutes in, and I want to quit.

Next we're doing push-ups, then arms, then shoulders. I feel like the Great Wall of China is piling on top of me. Some bro across the room has run into the backroom. I want to join him, but I'm refusing to be that guy. I didn't care if I passed the f*ck out and woke up in the hospital, I wasn't giving anyone the satisfaction of knowing I couldn't make it through this workout. The other guys have horror written all over their faces. We're gonna make it, bros.

I'm playing mental games to get through this session. 45 minutes to go. 45 divided by five is nine. BASEBALL! I'm treating every five minutes like it's an inning to give myself some way to cope with the time. Fourth inning, top of the order coming back up. Oh man, top of the sixth, bullpen is stirring. Seventh inning, need an insurance run . . .

I want to die.

My fiancée keeps looking at me and smiling. Borderline laughing. Can't wait till she's pushing out our child between her legs. I will be standing over her with a sh*t eating grin on my face.

Source: Shutterstock

We move to the barre. Instructor tells me not to lean or put too much weight onto it. If she knew that was the only thing keeping me from keeling over she wouldn't have been saying that. Every exercise I'm supposed to be violently tucking my pelvis into my abs. "And tuck, and tuck, and tuck." All I'm thinking is I want to be tucked into bed by my Mother.

I go through a 15 minute stretch (or three innings, whichever you prefer) where I have no memory. Probably blacked out. Not sure if my body was shutting down, the only thing I recall is getting flashbacks of my childhood when I played with Stretch Armstrong, because those are the movements the instructor is asking that I replicate. Eighth inning arrives! 10 minutes to go!

We went into what was called the Cobra Stretch. At this point, I would have rather been eaten by a god damn Cobra then doing this god damn stretch. F*ck me. We finish with some more ab work and I'm thankful because it involves laying down on a mat so if I passout few will notice. Strike three, closer gets the save, game over. The room is spinning. I need a beer.

Get enough women together and they can figure out what men want. We went outside the room and there are pretzels and beer waiting. I'm in no mood to field the cliche rhetorical questions from the others, "Have fun? "It's hard, right?" I grab two Bud Light bottles to-go and start walking to the car. I need an IV and a body cast.

Add Pure Barre to the list along with Instagram pressure, high-heels, night cream, and 2 1/2 hours to get ready for night out, of things women have to do to be socially acceptable. I want no part of that. Shout out to females everywhere. You're the real MVP. I'll stick to the weight room where I dictate how much time I have between sets and natural body movements.

Update: Hey guys, 600k views and five months later I went back to class a second time. WAYYYYYYYYYYYY easier.



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10 Ways to DIY the Best Fruit Water Ever

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It's no secret that soda is bad news for your health (yes, even diet soda), but you might get tired of sticking to plain water all the time. Hydrating doesn't have to be boring when you add pretty - and detoxifying - fruits to the mix. With no added sugar except the few naturally occurring grams, fruit water is a great way to ensure you're getting the daily recommended amount of H2O. Plus, adding colorful fruit to a clear bottle or jar is just so pretty, you'll want to do it just for the Instagram! Read on for 10 ways to get creative with fruit water this Summer.



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Achieve Anything With These 8 Powerful Willpower Tips

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It seems that the goals we set for ourselves, whether it be losing weight or organizing our home, can be achieved as long as we have the willpower to do it. Trouble is, willpower is not just something that can magically appear - it takes much more than talking yourself into doing something. In the book Willpower Instinct ($17), it's described as a metaphorical muscle that you can train to have more willpower. On the flip side, willpower is not an unlimited resource, and you can overexhaust it to the point where you give up. Here are some of the best strategies author Kelly McGonigal mentions in her book.

1. Meditate

Meditate for just five to 10 minutes a day, and you'll see a remarkable change in your willpower. Meditation can also help you better snap out of your cravings and bring you back to reality. And don't worry if you're having trouble meditating and focusing. McGonigal says that being "bad" at meditation is actually good for self-control. You'll be more focused after practicing, because you'll be able to better catch yourself moving away from the goal and recognize your impulses.

Get started by reading these helpful tips on meditation.

2. Relax

Relaxing will help ease stress, which in turns boosts your willpower reserve. You might think that's easy and start kicking back with your favorite TV show or a big meal. However, true relaxation, according to the book, is giving your body and mind a break to trigger the physiological relaxation response. In a relaxed state, your heart rate and breathing slow down, blood pressure drops, muscles release tension, and more.

McGonigal recommends to lie in bed, close your eyes, and take deep breaths. If your body is tense, she suggests flexing the muscle in the affected parts of your body and letting it go. Studies show that people who practice daily relaxation exercises had healthier physiological responses to stressful willpower challenges.

3. Make small deadlines

Researchers found that if participants control one small thing that they aren't used to controlling, it helps to train and strengthen the willpower muscle. You can do this by setting small deadlines and trying to tackle a task piecemeal. For example, if your goal is to eat healthy, you can set a minigoal of just browsing the produce aisle in the supermarket in the first week, then resolve to cook one healthy meal for the second week.

Keep setting these small deadlines for a few months, and without realizing it, you'll accomplish what you set out to do. The consistent act of self-control can increase overall willpower, says McGonigal.

4. Remember the reasoning

Before you give in to your impulse, try to remember why you resolved not to do it in the first place. Think of your long-term goals, and compare them to the short-term satisfaction you get from caving into temptation. You'll then realize that the "treat" is now a threat and an obstacle to your goals.

5. Be supportive of yourself, not critical

There's nothing that drains willpower faster than guilt and shame. So don't try to incentivize yourself by beating yourself up over your failures. Focus on what you can do instead of what you should not do. For example, resolve to eat more healthy meals instead of restricting desserts. McGonigal says if you berate yourself, you could trigger the "what-the-hell" effect, which basically derails you from your goal after a mistake and makes you more susceptible to temptation.

6. Precommit

Make it inconvenient to give into your temptation. It won't stop you, but it will make it harder to go against your goals. For example, schedule a session with a personal trainer, or bring a set amount of cash with you when you're on a budget, and leave your credit cards at home.

7. Associate with your future self

We often put off tasks we don't want to do and tell ourselves that we'll get it done later. However, "later" seems to get postponed, to the point where it sometimes doesn't happen. This may happen because you are disconnected with your future self. "Brain-imaging studies show that we even use different regions of the brain to think about our present selves and our future selves," writes the author. The brain has a habit of treating your future self like a stranger, which can affect your current efforts to reach long-term goals.

Think about it this way: you seem to assume that your future self will get everything done and is a superhuman who can do it all. You may be indulging in treats now, but you're letting your future self suffer the consequences. Don't treat your future self poorly; work to associate your current state to your future self. McGonigal says if you visualize your future, your brain will start to think more rationally about your current choices. Imagine yourself working out if your aim is to get fit. Another strategy that works is to write a letter or an email to your future self. Write about your hopes for the future, what you think you will be like, and what your future self will say about your current choices.

8. Don't fight your thoughts

Do you ever notice that the more you force yourself to stop thinking about something, the more it comes up in your mind? This is called the ironic rebound. To prevent it from happening, don't try to suppress your thought when it comes up. And just because you're thinking it doesn't mean it's true. If a negative thought or craving comes into your mind, think to yourself, "Oh, there it goes again. Thoughts randomly come and go in our minds, and just thinking it doesn't make it true."

Accept the thought instead of trying to fight it. Remind yourself that thoughts and feelings may not be under your control, but you can choose your actions. The author suggests an exercise in which you hold the thought, breathe in deeply, visualize the thought as a cloud passing through your mind, and imagine it dissolving.

These willpower exercises are just the tip of the iceberg, so pick up the Willpower Instinct to learn more. Another great read for developing the ability to accomplish difficult goals is The Power of Habit.



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How to Burn an Extra 200 Calories a Day

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If you find it hard to lose weight with your busy schedule, the news keeps getting better. First, just 20 minutes of exercise was proven to help increase your metabolism. Now, a study has found that working out intensely for just 2.5 minutes can spur calorie burn throughout the day - an extra 200 calories' worth.

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In the latest study, five healthy men performed sprint interval training on a stationary bicycle (five 30-second intense intervals with four minutes of easy cycling in between). Although the men were sedentary the rest of the day, they ended up burning 200 more calories during the days they did the short bout of exercise than the days they didn't exercise at all.

Even though this was a small study, the encouraging results are reason enough to add intense intervals into your workout routine. It's also good news for those of you who can never seem to fit a full workout into your day. Below are ideas on intense exercises you can do anywhere for 2.5 minutes so you too can reap the afterburn benefits. Perform these at maximum intensity; you can break them into 30-second or one-minute intervals to make it more manageable. Stick with one, or choose five to do for 30 seconds each!

  1. Jumping jacks. These do-anywhere moves pump up your heart rate in no time.
  2. Mountain climbers. This cardio move helps strengthen legs and core muscles as well. Learn how to do mountain climbers here.
  3. Burpees. Swiftly moving from standing to squatting to push-up position challenges all your muscles. Not sure how to do this classic move? Get instructions on how to do a burpee here.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Studios
  1. Running up stairs. Run up and down the stairs at home or at your office - you'll get the added bonus of a toned backside.
  2. Walking lunges. These lunges help you develop balance while strengthening your core and lower body. Do these briskly, but make sure your form stays correct to prevent knee or ankle strain. Here's how to do a perfect walking lunge.
  3. High knees: Run in place while engaging your core and pumping your arms. The goal should be to keep your knees high and maintain an upright posture as you do your speed bursts.
  4. Frogger: This plank-to-squat move seems simple, but you'll feel it as you do your 30-second bursts. Begin in a plank position. Jump your feet to the outside of your hands, coming into a deep squat and keeping your hands on the floor, then jump back to plank. Repeat in a quick succession (below).
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  1. Lateral hops: Make small jumps side to side as if you are jumping over an invisible line (below).
Image Source: POPSUGAR Studios
  1. Jump squat: Start by doing a regular squat, then engage your core and jump up explosively. When you land, lower your body back into the squat position to complete one rep. Land as quietly as possible, which requires control (below).
Source: POPSUGAR Studios
  1. Box step: Find a step, stool, or box (or aim toes at an imaginary step) and lightly tap your left toes to the box, then jump to switch feet, bringing the right toes up (below).
Image Source: POPSUGAR Studios

Don't stop at just 2.5 minutes, though. Besides upping your total calorie burn, longer exercise helps you stay healthy and prevent disease. Aim for at least 150 minutes a week; here are five ways to make sure you hit that number.



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The Ultimate Inner-Thigh Workout

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Whatever your fashion choices, toned inner thighs will help you rock your look. We have created a 10-minute workout that focuses on toning and tightening the inner thighs. But don't you worry. Your entire body will be worked. Grab a mat, press play, and get ready to work your legs like never before.



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How to Save Hundreds of BBQ Calories

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Doing a little grilling this holiday weekend? With tons of burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and beer around, you don't want to go overboard on the calories. To avoid packing on the pounds this weekend, here are some ways to add a healthy spin to your barbecue.

  • Bring a healthy dish: If you're invited to a barbecue, bring along your own healthy dish so you know you'll have something good to munch on. Wow your friends and family with one of these vegan side dishes or healthy burgers.
  • Go for homemade guacamole instead of creamy dips: Avocados offer the healthy fats your body needs, which is a much better option than the saturated fats found in dairy-based dips. If you're worried about calories, then whip up some homemade low-cal salsa, and throw in some fresh pineapple and mango for added vitamins.
  • Grill up some veggies: Use a grill basket, corn holders, or skewers, and choose a variety of veggies to grill to make these vegetarian dishes or to serve along with grilled lean meat. Load up your plate to fill you up and to help prevent you from overeating high-calorie dishes.
  • Don't always choose beef: Veggie burgers made with whole grains, legumes, and vegetables and hot dogs made of tofu are delicious low-calorie and low-cholesterol options. If you're a meat eater at heart, then go for burgers, hot dogs, or sausages made from turkey, chicken, or salmon.
  • Choose your buns wisely: Most are made with enriched flour, so you may have to check a bunch of labels before finding ones made with real whole-wheat four.
  • Make substitutions: When it comes to recipes as well as the fixings on your burgers, find healthier substitutions. Choose raw tomato or salsa instead of ketchup, and try Greek yogurt instead of mayo for potato salad recipes.
  • Go easy on the brewskis: Save calories by enjoying one of these lower-calorie beers, and for the rest of the evening, go for ice water, unsweetened iced tea, or chilled seltzer water flavored with lemon.
  • Get moving: After your meal, step away from the food to avoid noshing out of boredom, and do something active like playing volleyball, badminton, or a round of bocce ball.


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15 Deceptively Healthy Dishes to Bring to the Holiday Potluck

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It's time to start planning for your holiday potluck - the calorie fest that can be tough to navigate when you're watching your weight. Luckily, since you're toting a dish along, you can flip the attitude with a healthy option or two. Whether you've signed up for dips, chips, or dessert, there is a deceptively delicious way to whip them up guilt free. And the best part, the other guests will never know if you don't give it away. Check out these 15 deviously healthy holiday potluck treats.



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It's a Cardio Day - So Get Moving!

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It's time to do some cardio in our No-Excuses Workout Challenge. And today we are putting you in charge! You get to pick how to get your heart rate up. It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you keep moving for 30 minutes. The easiest option is running; just lace up your sneakers and hit the streets. But you can also take Zumba, hit the pool, or hop on your bike. The options are endless.

If you have access to cardio machines, like a treadmill or an elliptical, and want a plan to follow, we have you covered. Here are two options.

Treadmill


Time Speed
(MPH)
Incline Notes
0:00-5:00 4.0 2.5 Warmup
5:00-6:00 5.0 1.0
6:00-7:00 6.0 1.0
7:00-8:00 5.0 1.0
8:00-9:00 6.5 1.0
9:00-10:00 4.0 1.0
10:00-11:00 6.5 1.0
11:00-12:00 5.0 1.0
12:00-13:00 7.0 1.0
13:00-14:00 5.0 1.0
14:00-15:00 7.5 1.0
15:00-16:00 4.0 1.0
16:00-17:00 6.5 1.0
17:00-18:00 5.5 1.0
18:00-19:00 7.0 1.0
19:00-20:00 5.5 1.0
20:00-21:00 8.0 1.0
21:00-22:00 5.0 1.0
22:00-23:00 7.0 1.0
23:00-24:00 5.5 1.0
24:00-25:00 6.5 1.0
25:00-30:00 4.0 2.0 Cooldown

Elliptical


Time Resistance Incline SPM*
0:00-2:30 3.0 5.0 110-130
2:30-5:00 5.0 7.0 120-130
5:00-10:00 9.0 11.0 130-140
10:00-15:00 9.0 13.0 130-140
15:00-20:00 9.0 15.0 130-140
20:00-25:00 11.0 15.0 120-130 / Go backward
25:00-27:00 9.0 15.0 130-140 / Go forward
27:00-30:00 5.0 5.0 120-130

*SPM = Strides Per Minute



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This Track Workout Will Have You Running Like a Pro

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If you want to become a faster runner (and, after all, why wouldn't you?), logging endless miles on a leisurely run isn't going to cut it. Instead, scheduling regular sprinting workouts - the kind that leave you out of breath and dreaming of your couch - will help you pick up the pace when it counts. This workout, from Blue Benadum, head coach of Nike+ Run Club in LA, will definitely get your heart racing.

Speed workouts like these are particularly important for long-distance runners who'd like to improve on their PRs, but anyone who wants to shave seconds off their normal everyday pace should add these to their routine. "From milers up to marathoners, every runner will benefit from speed training," Blue says. Start with adding speed workouts to your regular running routine twice a week to see results.

Note: If you don't have a nearby track, Blue recommends breaking this workout into the suggested "equivalent time" segments below. For sprints, percentages are based on your all-out pace, so a sprint at 95 percent would be a perceived 95 percent of your maximum speed.

Here are some terms you need to know:
Turnarounds: Sprint 100 meters, then turn around and sprint back for one full rep.

Mile/5K pace: How long it takes you to run just one mile or a 5K (3.1 miles). Your mile pace will be faster than your 5K pace but slower than your 90-percent sprint.


Run Equivalent Time Pace
4 x 100m turnarounds 4 15-second sprints 90 percent of max
Rest 60 seconds
400m 60-second run Mile pace
Rest 60 seconds
4 x 100m (100m recovery after each) 4 15-second sprints, jog back to start after each 90 percent-95 percent of max
Rest 60 seconds
800m 2-minute run 5K pace
Rest 60 seconds
4 x 100m turnarounds 4 15-second sprints 95 percent of max


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From the Inside Out: How to Feel Confident in Any Summer Outfit

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Before you rock your bikini and expose more skin than usual, it's natural to feel a little nervous. If you can relate to this sentiment, then forget what everyone else will be thinking and start focusing on how you want to be feeling. Looking good in a bikini doesn't necessarily mean having a rock-hard body - it's all about your confidence! If you're tired of being in a cover-up all Summer long, then take these tips to heart the next time you slip your suit on.

Your Suit

While almost no one loves to go swimsuit shopping, it doesn't have to be such a painful process. Bring a close confidant or trusted friend along for advice, and take a few moments to touch up your hair, shave your legs, and add a little self-tanner. If you feel comfortable in your appearance from the start of this shopping trip, then it will be easier to keep up your confidence once the street clothes come off. Once you're in the store, grab a variety of suits in tons of sizes and styles to find the best bathing suit for your body. This will not be a quick in-and-out trip; you're going to need to spend a decent amount of time trying things on to find out what feels best.

Your Diet

A strict, unwavering diet is not sustainable for continued success. Even nutritionist Heidi Skolnik says there's "nothing pretty [about] looking four pounds thinner because [you] starved yourself the week before." Instead of keeping a rigid list of foods you can't have before you sport a bikini, focus on what you can (and should) enjoy all the time: clean, unprocessed whole foods. If you're one day out from the beach and in a bind, then try our one-day debloating meal plan full of fresh, satisfying recipes. You can't make a huge change overnight, but choosing foods that serve your body will help you feel lighter the next day.

Your Posture

Good posture is not only essential for your spine's health, but it can also help you look 10 pounds thinner. If you know you tend to slouch, then visualize your new posture not like the letter "C" but more like the letter "S." Untuck your pelvis, engage your abs, and drop your shoulders back and away from your ears. This physical shift in your stance is a great tip not only for wearing a bikini but also for looking and feeling more confident wherever you are!

Your Attitude

If you're committed to seeing big changes in your body, then start an exercise regimen at least six weeks out. But when you're not trying to take off extra pounds, that's cool, too! Bikini season is full of certain stresses, but remember that it's also a blast. So many months out of the year we're bundled up indoors, doing our best to stay warm. Summer is all about sunshine, warm weather, and taking time to relax. With so much pressure to look perfect in a bikini, the best thing you can do is take a step back and chill. Recognize that while outside sources are sending specific messages, you are the only person who can change the way you feel about your body.



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mercredi 1 juillet 2015

Study Says Vegan People Lose More Weight Than Others

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Going vegan isn't for everyone (have you ever met cheese?), but you might want to start incorporating more vegan meals into your diet if you're trying to lose weight. A new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that following a vegan diet can lead to greater weight loss compared to eating meat or being vegetarian. The study, conducted by Ru-Yi Huang of Taiwan's E-Da Hospital, followed 1,151 people for up to 74 weeks while they embarked on specific eating regimens. The groups who upheld a vegetarian diet lost "significantly more weight than dieters who ate meat and animal products." The participants who followed a strictly vegan diet lost even more weight than the dairy-eating vegetarians.

This is "the first study to combine the findings from various independent projects that weighed up the results of vegetarian diets against other eating plans," and Huang credits the difference in weight loss to the vegans' "abundant intake of whole grains, fruits and vegetables." The good news for those trying to shed some extra pounds but aren't sure if they could go completely vegan is that there are so many options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner - oh, and snacks. The healthy items don't include potato chips and soy ice cream, as one editor learned the hard way (those are vegan, after all!). The important takeaway is that eating clean foods that make you feel good and energized, like the ones the study lists, combined with a steady exercise regimen, is the key to a healthier you - vegan or not.



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The Beer Brands to Reach For When You're Watching Your Weight

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Summer wouldn't be the same without cooling off with an ice-cold beer. If grabbing a beer is your go-to beverage but you're trying to stick to a healthy diet, it's important to know the calorie counts of common brands. Check out this list of a few of the highest- and lowest-calorie beers so you can choose the one that's right for you.

High-Calorie Beers

  1. Samuel Adams Boston Lager: 180 calories
  2. Guinness Extra Stout: 176 calories
  3. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale: 176 calories
  4. Pete's Wicked Ale: 172 calories
  5. Anheuser-Busch Ice Pale Lager: 171 calories
  6. Harpoon IPA: 170 calories
  7. Heineken: 166 calories
  8. Long Trail: 163 calories
  9. Killian's Irish Red: 162 calories
  10. Molson Ice: 160 calories

Low-Calorie Beers

  1. Budweiser Select 55: 55 calories
  2. Beck's Premier Light: 63 calories
  3. Miller 64: 64 calories
  4. Amstel Light: 95 calories
  5. Anheuser-Busch Light Pale Lager: 95 calories
  6. Michelob Ultra: 95 calories
  7. Natural Light: 95 calories
  8. Miller Light: 96 calories
  9. Heineken Light: 99 calories
  10. Corona Light: 99 calories

If looking at all those calorie counts has inspired you to drink light beer, find out which light beer tastes the best here.



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How to Work Out Like a Ballerina

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Just like all athletes, dancers need to cross-train too. So when it comes to trading pointe shoes for sneakers, we wanted to know how a professional dancer stays long and lean. We asked Lauren Fadeley, a principal dancer at the Pennsylvania Ballet, to let us in on her regular workout (the one she does when she's not rehearsing for six hours a day). Her favorite? The elliptical, which she hops on during the weekends when she feels like she needs more cardio. "I like it because it's non-weight-bearing," Lauren says. "I can't really run because my metatarsals are always kind of out of place from being in pointe shoes." Lauren says she and other ballerinas like to also bike on the weekends as a way to exercise for fun - again, no running, since they shy away from the high impact that running can have on legs ("We do that all day!" she explains). When it comes to muscle toning, Lauren favors free weights and high reps - eight pounds for exercises like bicep curls, and five pounds for other moves.

Try it yourself: Go easy on your joints with these heart-pumping elliptical workouts that burn major calories without the impact, then sculpt your upper body with the best dumbbell exercises for arms.

Want to know more about what it takes to be a professional ballerina? Check out what Lauren eats every day.



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