Healthy Fitness for Women

For women, getting fit and losing weight has always been difficult. There are so many life changes that happen along the way that interfere with the ability to get fit and lose weight naturally. Hormones, pregnancy, menopause, and post menopause all play a part in keeping the weight on. It is particularly hard for older women to lose weight as you get older the total amount of muscle starts to go down and the amount of body fat increases so fewer calories get burned.


Eating more fruits and vegetables

In a recent study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics which looked at eating habits in women, those that increased their intake of fruits and vegetables were able to lose weight and keep it off than women that had not made a change in their eating habits. Those that were able to let go of some of the sugary desserts and beverages and ate less meat or cheese lost even more weight.

What we should take away from this study is that even if you continue to have poor eating habits when it comes to some foods, if you add additional food and make it fruits and vegetables you might be able to maintain your weight or lose a little. This is probably due to the fact that if you are eating more fruits and veggies you are probably not consuming as much of the heavy calorie items because you are not as hungry. So get some more fruits and veggies in the house.

Good carbohydrates

The results of many studies indicate that a low carbohydrate high protein diet can result in weight loss, lower cholesterol and help prevent diabetes and heart disease. A very restrictive diet in carbohydrates is also very difficult to do. To get the best of both worlds try to restrict the amount of sugary items you eat and eat good carbs. Good carbohydrates are complex carbohydrates which include high fiber breads, oatmeal, whole wheat pasta, and brown rice.

Eat good quality protein

Eating protein should be an important part of any women's fitness and healthy diet plan. Proteins make you feel fuller so that you don't overeat and they are a source of essential amino acids. Protein includes meats, nuts, eggs, fish, soy, legumes, wheat germ, beans, and dairy products. If you are worried about the fat in foods with protein stick to lean meats, and low fat cheeses. Proteins function in the body is to repair cells and create new cells.

Exercise

Exercise has to be part of any fitness for women plan. You do not have to exercise all the time to reap the benefit of exercise. Doing some kind of aerobic exercise three times a week for twenty minutes is all you need to do to get fit. Add in some resistance work such as free weights and between eating healthier and exercising you will be on your way to a healthy body.

James Stevens is a Fitness Expert who has helped 1,000's of women reach their fitness goals. Whether it be Women's Fitness Program, Fitness Exercise, Healthy Fitness and diet, James can provide you with the expert guidance you desire to reach your Ideal Fitness goals.

Women's Health Tips

Top Ten Health Tips For Women

As you may have noticed, there are lots of things that you need to consider when trying to stay fit and healthy. More often than not this mass of information becomes overwhelming and most people start off with good intentions but give up in the long run, slipping back to old ways and habits. To help you maintain that healthy lifestyle, below are the top ten things you should be doing to keep yourself healthy and happy.

1) When trying to keep to a healthy lifestyle, the first thing you need to consider is your diet. A good balanced diet is essential in maintaining a healthy body. Remember, 'rubbish in = rubbish out'. Eating junk food, fatty food and other convenience foods will result in a feeling of lethargy, tiredness, depression and bad complexion just to name a few. Simple changes to make would be avoiding too much red meat, high fat foods and high calorie foods instead substituting this with high fibre low fat food, mixed with a regular intake of fruit and vegetables. Fibre is great for digestion whilst fruit and vegetables will help keep vitamin and mineral levels up.

2) Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day. One of the risks of not drinking enough water is the onset of kidney stones. If you know anybody who has had kidney stones, you'll know this is to be avoided! Drinking plenty of water will keep you hydrated which in the long run will help you cleanse your body of impurities. You will start to feel more alert and less tired, you may notice your skin improves with a new radiance. If you are lactating, it is vital that you keep well hydrated to ensure your milk is at its best. Most research suggests that eight glasses of water per day is a minimum.

3) Consider taking vitamin and mineral supplements, especially at the beginning of your new healthy schedule. Some of the more important ones specific to women are Calcium and Iron. Calcium is essential for women of all ages but especially menopausal women to ensure good bone strength and minimise problems from onset of Osteoporosis. Iron supplements are especially important for menstruating women and women who suffer heavier blood loss during that time of the month. Vitamin E400 is worth taking as this has been shown to reduce flushes and sweating at night. For the skin, consider Vitamin E as as a dietary supplement.

4) If you smoke, GIVE UP!! Yes, I know that is much easier said than done but any reduction in the amount that you smoke will be beneficial. If you find the idea of giving up a step too far why not try cutting down? A great way to cut down is to try and extend the time between your cigarettes. If you can maintain this, you will gradually start to smoke less without feeling the withdrawals as much. If you are pregnant, then smoking is a big 'NO-No'. The toxins in a cigarette can cross from the mothers bloodstream and into the baby. Also your chance of breast cancer is much higher if you are a smoker. Overall reducing alcohol and smoking less are great ways to a healthier happier life.

5) Try and introduce a regular exercise into your daily routine. There are simple ways to get exercise without really trying. You could try walking home from work if it's not too far, don't take the elevator all the time - try using the stairs. When your kids are outside playing, take a few minutes to go and play with them. Not only will you be getting fit but you'll be spending more time with your children. Everyone wins! Yoga is also a great way to stay toned and supple. This can be done in the home with a minimal investment in equipment. There is lots of free info. on the internet related to yoga. A simple cheap way to stay healthy.

6) Try and avoid sources of stress. Stressful situations whether at home or at work can leave you with excess amounts of adrenaline and other 'fight or flight' by-products. These can affect heart muscle, upset sleep patterns causing insomnia and much more. Exercise can help to burn off some of these stress by-products but any high stress situations should be avoided.

7) A lot of women are a sucker for a good suntan but there are hidden dangers. Recent research has indicated that over exposure to sunlight and sun tanning beds could increase your chances of skin cancer by up to 30%. A lot of the damage is done in younger life and may not show for years. Simple ways to avoid danger would be to use high factor sun creams, don't lie out in direct sunlight, consider using a tanning cream and avoid those nasty UV rays altogether.

8) Make sure you attend regular smear tests and ensure you visit your Gynaecologist on a regular basis. A lot of 'womens' problems' can be detected in the early stages and treated accordingly. Cervical cancer, chlamydia and Warts are just a few of them. Avoiding your Gynaecologist is akin to playing Russian roulette!!

9) Make sure you practice safe sex. STD's can be easily transmitted and even a long term partner could be harbouring some unknown stowaways. Sexually transmitted diseases can lie dormant for years. Until you are 100% sure you and you're partner are free from STD's practicing safe sex is the best way to stay healthy.

10) An often overlooked area of personal health is dental hygiene. Not looking after your oral hygiene may result in gum disease, tooth loss, halitosis to name but a few. Keep regular appointments with your dental hygienist and make sure you floss regularly to keep a beautiful bright smile.