Sunday, May 3, 2009

25 Fast, New Fat-Burners!

First of all, I have to apologize for my lack of posts lately. It's been a very busy month for me with my preparing for my bootcamp class amoungst many other things. Unfortantely, it's not going to slow down these next few months, but I promise to make more of an effort to update this blog more regulary. Remember, if you have any ideas or questions that could possibly go on this blog, please send them to me!!!

Here's 25 small tricks to crank your calorie-blasting way up!!!

1. Linger in the dairy aisle. Women burn more fat and calories when they ate 1,000 to 1,400 milligrams of calcium per day. That's three to four servings of dairy.


2. Break a sweat in bursts. If you can't get an hour/day of exercise, try doing two 30-min workouts. Some studies have even shown that this method can actually burn more fat than exercising 60 continuous mintues. And it helps for those with tight schedules, kids, and whatever else keeps you from fitting in exercise.

3. Eat more meat...and eggs and beans. In a recent study, people who got 40% of their daily calories from protein lost significantly more body fat than those whose diets had only 15 % protein, even though they consumed the same number of calories.


4. Start hard, finish easy. Studies have shown that cyclists who ramped up the intensity during the first half of their workout and slowed down during the second half torched about 23% more fat than those who moved from low to high intensity. Same goes with any other kind of exercise.

5. Start with whole grain. People who down whole-grain cereal first thing in the morning burn more fat during the day and during exercise than those who eat more-quickly-digested fare, like a bagel.


6. Don't hang on for dear life. If you cling to the handrails of your stepper or elliptical, you put less stress on your larger, more powerful lower body muscles-and burn fewer calories. If needed, grip loosely for balance only.

7. Walk with Nordic poles. You'll increase your calorie-burn by 20%-plus, it'll feel less taxing.


8. Interval train. Studies have shown that women who did 20 minutes of intervals on a bike torched three times as much fat as those who stayed at one pace for 40 minutes.

9. Crank it up. Vigorous aerobic exercise for 40 minutes makes your body burn calories at a higher rate for nearly a full day afterward.

10. Pump iron. Resistance training increases your resting metabolic rate by about 7%, so you'll burn more calories throughout the day, even while sitting on your butt.


11. Two words: circuit train. My personal favorite and tried-and-true method for losing body fat. Instead of resting for 60 sec between weight-lifting sets, move straight from one exercise to another to keep your heart rate up and maximize calorie burn. Even better, combine multiple muscles into one exercise thereby maximizing time as well (I call this power circuit training).

12. Drink green tea. Testers who downed a green tea supplement boosted their metabolism by 4%, compared with those consuming a caffeine supplement or placebo.


13. Use more olive oil. People who ate a diet high in monounsaturated fats burned mroe fat over 4 weeks than they did on a diet high in saturated fats, one study found.

14. Strength train last. You'll obliterate more calories if you lift weights after cardio (not before).

15. Go for yogurt. People who included yogurt in their diet plan ditched 22% more weight and 61% more body fat than those who simply trimmed calories. My personal fave-yogurt parfait. Layer low or non-fat PLAIN yogurt with mixed berries (I buy the frozen kind) and granola in a tall glass (and then add another layer). Scrumptous, filling, and a great meal and way to ante up the calcium, not to mention the vitamins and mineral from the fruit too (without all the sugar).


16. Bring your I-Pod. Exercisers who listened to music lost more weight and body fat-and worked out more consistently-than those who didn't.


17. ...and adjust your playlist. Throw some fast-faced songs into your musci mix. You'll work out harder and faster, burning more calories and fat. Plus, it'll feel easier!

18. Wolf some protein. A calorie is a calorie, but your body burns about 25-30% of them while digesting 100 calories of protein versus only 7 of them while digesting 100 calories of simple carbs.

19. Think uphill. Forget flat treadmill walking, crank up the incline and you'll jack up the calories burned.


20. Fidget. Sounds silly, but people who jiggle their legs, talk with their hands, and incorporate small movements into their day can burn as much as 350 extra calories daily.

21. Stand when you take a call. It'll burn about 20% more calories than sitting.

22. Believe it. Take note of all your daily activities-taking the stairs, walking, holding kids, carrying groceries, etc and you're bound to do them more.


23. Add fish oil-and move. A recent study showed that people who took 6 grams of fish oil every day and exercised three times a week lost more fat than those who just took fish oil, or took sunflower oil.

24. Use your arms and legs. A workout that requires coordinating arm and leg movements, such as swimming or step aerobics, feels easier than one that uses only one major muscle group. That makes it more likely you'll do it again tomorrow-keeping the fat burning going.


25. Opt for a Wii. Playing active games on the Nintendo Wii (such as tennis and boxing) knocked out more calories than using the Xbox 360. Even better? Wii FIT.



Source: health.com

2 comments:

minna said...

Great tips! By the way, I think Nordic poles were invented in Finland! Are people using them in the US?

jill d said...

Love your tips! Thanks for posting.