Vitamins and Weight Loss

Vitamins are known as the nutrients required for regulating metabolism, and hundreds of chemical reactions taking place within our body. Some vitamins ensure proper utilization of carbohydrates and fats, or prevent their excess accumulation in order to prevent weight gain. Know more about vitamins for weight loss.

Vitamins are organic compounds required in a very small amount to carry out numerous vital life processes. They are usually classified by their biological and chemical activities within our body. They assist the enzymes to carry out the biochemical reactions within our body, and act as antioxidants to protect body cells and tissues from the damaging effects of free radicals. But only a few of us are aware of the fact that they can also help the individuals trying to shed their extra weight.

Vitamins can play a very important role in maintaining an ideal body weight. Controlling diet and exercising alone cannot ensure weight loss, if they are not assisted by vitamins, that regulate the vital biochemical processes and metabolism. The food that we consume is either converted into energy or stored as fat for future use. The crucial decision regarding whether food is to be used for producing energy, or stored as fat is determined by the rate of metabolism, and a number of biochemical reactions taking place within our body. The smooth operation of these reactions or processes requires a number of important enzymes, vitamins and minerals. In other words, vitamins and minerals determine the rate of metabolism and hence, in fat burning and weight loss. In addition to this, certain vitamins can ensure proper functioning of the thyroid gland, which is again important for preventing weight gain.

Weight Loss By Cycling

Do you know that for achieving desired weight loss, the number of calories burnt should be greater than the number of calories consumed? Do you know bicycling is ideal for weight loss, as it helps in burning a lot of calories? Read on to know every detail about cycling for weight loss.

If you desperately want to lose a few pounds and if you are struggling with 'how to get started', just dust off that bike in the garage and take it out for a spin, as riding a bike at a moderate speed of 7-8km/h, can burn nearly 235 calories, within half an hour! Isn't it the simplest way to lose weight? You can easily burn around 400-500 calories on a one hour bicycling trip. The calories burnt will depend on your body weight, genetic factors and the intensity of your ride. Especially, uphill and high intensity cycling for weight loss helps you in many ways. Let us have a look at the benefits of bicycling.

Benefits of Bicycling:-
Burning of Calories, Muscle Development, Easy to Star, Inexpensive, Safety, Cardiovascular Fitness, Stress Release, No Global Warming, Prevention of Diseases, Easy for Joints, Social Activity and No Age Bar.

To start cycling for weight loss, you just need to have a bike, bike helmet, sunglasses, water bottle, spare tubes, bike pump and a little knowledge of bicycle brake repair.

Not just cycling, any exercise, when accompanied by healthy and balanced diet, can help achieve desired weight loss. The important thing is, that make 'cycling for weight loss', a fun affair and not a routine.

Flat Abs Tips (Eating Required!)

Let's all say it together: Crunches are boring! We all hate crunches, but flatter abs would certainly be nice. We want them without doing so much to get them. This year, you can have both—the abs and the easy moves. The best part is that it will happen fast if you stick with the program. The truth is, there are so many ultra-effective tips and moves for a leaner stomach that you can swear off crunches forever, if you'd like, and still chisel your middle.

One of my favorites? The plank! For more simple, enjoyable ways to shed inches from your waist, try my favorite ab moves and tips from the last year of SELF:

1) Go on an abs spree

Grouping all your ab exercises together can deliver better results than switching back and forth between various body parts. Working your abs to the "burning" point delivers a sizzling stomach.

2) Feast on a little fat!

A smidge of fat in your diet can actually help your midsection get svelte. Studies suggest that foods rich in monounsaturated fats—including olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocado—can help prevent the accumulation of unwelcome tummy fat.

3) Try teamwork

Toning up and slimming down doesn't need to be a solitary pursuit. Grab a pal for this exercise: Lie on the floor with your legs straight up in the air, says Akin Williams, a group fitness instructor at Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York City, who created this move. Ask a buddy to command you to bring your legs up and down randomly (saying, for example, "Right leg down, left leg up" and "Both legs up") every few seconds. Use your ab muscles to follow her directions, keeping your lower back pressed into the floor. Do this for three or four 20- to 60-second sets, resting 1 minute between each set. Then switch and you be the leader. These random commands trigger a rapid contraction of your muscles, tiring the more easily sculpted areas of your abs, so "you see better results in less time," Hey, what are friends for?

4) Tone abs while you burn fat

Heart-pumping activity triggers your body to convert abdominal fat to fuel, research shows. Aim to do 30 minutes or more most days. Squeeze even more belly benefits from your stint on the treadmill by ramping up the incline, or relying on your core muscles to keep you upright on the elliptical (grip the handlebars, but don't use them to support you!) to engage your core.

5) Try the Dragonfly

Start on all fours, a weight in each hand. Extend left leg behind you in line with body; extend right arm out to side at shoulder level. Keeping left leg lifted, curl weight toward chest. Straighten arm for one rep. Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

6) Find your balance

A great way to tighten and tone your core? Give yourself a stay-steady challenge. Use a folded bath towel, a BOSU or a pair of balance pods to make it hard to find your footing for this move, called the Lunge-Up: With left foot on pod or towel, lower into lunge, knee over ankle, thigh parallel to ground, right knee bent with heel raised, hands on hips. As you straighten left leg, push off ball of right foot, bringing right thigh in front and parallel to ground, balancing on pod. Slowly return to start. Do 12 reps. Switch legs; repeat.

7) Bend those knees

Add a tummy-toning balance challenge to traditional squats by doing them on one leg, as Roxy pro surfer Kassia Meador swears by. Do two sets of 12 reps on alternate days for abs that make waves.

8) Do the ab-up

A side plank sculpts flat abs fast by focusing on obliques, the muscles that wrap around your middle and hold you in. Lie on left side, resting on left forearm and left hip, knees and feet stacked, right arm at side. Lift left hip into a side plank. Lower and touch left hip to ground, then lift back up, holding abs in tight, for one rep. Do 20 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

9) Go bananas!

The fruit contains 422 milligrams of potassium, which helps limit belly-bloating sodium in your body. Talk about peel appeal! Another source: four stalks of celery deliver 416 mg of potassium.

10) Do bench presses

Extending your arms during the pec-perking exercise causes your ab muscles to contract, toning your abs as well as your arms. Add two sets of 12 reps to your usual routine.

11) Chill out

Increased levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, can lead to excess stomach fat, research shows. Try delegating work duties, pursue a hobby you find relaxing, whether it's knitting or jewelry making, and make laid-back lunch dates with buddies to lighten your mood—and slim your middle!

Want more secrets to your strongest, slimmest stomach yet? Try "Lose To Win 2010" by My Wellness Studio. www.wix.com/mywellnessstudio/promo