It is no secret that obesity is a huge problem in America and that includes children as well as adults. One of the biggest defenses against this killer is knowledge. The experts say that an obese person will live 20 years less than a person that has a healthy weight. So, knowing the most common causes of obesity is going to help you eliminate it in children.

Genetics does play a part in being overweight. It is not uncommon to see obese adults with overweight children, but the reason for this can also be that both parties are living the same lifestyle. Overweight children should be checked by a physician to ensure that there is not a medical reason that they are overweight and then they can begin to make healthy changes in their lifestyle.

Environment is partially to blame for children being overweight. Most schools do not serve the most nutritious meals and many of them have cut back on physical education requirements. Although this is beginning to change, the process is slow. Packing your child a nutritious lunch at least 3 days a week will go a long way in eliminating the foods that lead to obesity. You can also have a big impact the amount of exercise that child.

Diet is a big factor in being overweight. We eat fast food much more than we used to and it is no secret that many of these foods are loaded with fat and calories. Fast food may be convenient, but unless you make healthy choices you are setting yourself up to gain weight if you eat at a fast food restaurant very often. There are now many convenience foods available that are healthy and they cost no more than a fast food meal.

Lack of physical activity is a huge contributing factor to our children being overweight. In recent years, children have spent more time in front of the screen (TV, computer, video games). They do not spend the time playing outside, riding bikes or any number of other physical activities that used to be enjoyed by children. The best way to fight this is to plan fun activities that you can enjoy with your kids.

In 95% of all childhood obesity cases, changing the way we live will change the weight and the health of our children. Small changes can go a long way in improving the health of a child. If you have an overweight child or relative, make it a priority to make the necessary changes to help them live a healthier life.

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There is no shortage of ways to exercise and workout your body to keep it healthy. The experts tell you that a variety of aerobic exercise, strength exercises and stretching exercises will give you the most benefit. And if you are trying to lose weight, it is important that you vary the exercises in each of the categories. Your body tends to become used to a patterned routine and does not want to shed the pounds as quickly.

Water aerobics is one of my favorite types of exercise. The class I take actually offers aerobic, strength and stretching exercises in the same class. More and more classes are starting to go this route. They will give you a complete workout all in the same hour. Water aerobics benefits the beginner, as well as the well toned person that exercises regularly. You can vary the intensity by increasing the amount of resistance you create with the equipment that you are using when you workout.

I have taken these classes off and on for a number of years, but the big difference now is the water aerobics equipment that has become available to enhance your workout. One of my favorite items is the “noodles” that many children play with in the pool. These can be used as flotation devices or they can be tied into knots and dragged through the water for resistance. This piece of water aerobics equipment is used regularly in the class I take.

They also make weights for strength training, kick boards for leg workouts and belts that can keep you afloat during deep water aerobics workouts. These classes are popular because they are well suited for any age or body type. People that are morbidly obese normally begin their exercise program in the water because it is easy on the joints. The same can be said for older participants or individuals with arthritis. I find these classes to be populated by a large variety of people, but it is more common to see the over 40 crowd in these classes.

One of the best exercises is water walking. I know individuals who have lost over 100 pounds and water walking is where they started. This exercise will burn calories and is very therapeutic. If you are looking to add variety to your fitness routine, you should consider a workout in the water. This a great beginning and it also works well for seniors looking for a workout that is fun.

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Do you have a spring weight loss plan? It is no secret that spring and summer are the easiest times to lose weight and the reasons are obvious. In the winter, when it is cold and things look dead outside, it is difficult to get motivated to exercise. Then there are the holidays and in this country a big part of a holiday is high calorie foods.

So, the summer is the best time to develop healthy habits and make changes to your lifestyle. After you have been following your new lifestyle for a few months, it will be easier to make healthy choices during difficult times, such as; the holidays and parties.

The summer is great for weight loss. It is hard not to want to get out and go for a walk or a bike ride. Swimming is another great exercise that is something that requires summer weather. The park system in this country is great for many activities that will help lose weight or just enjoy the beauty of nature. Your summer weight loss plan should include 3 things; a food plan, an exercise plan and plan for getting to the root of why you gained weight.

In today’s market, you can have a weight loss plan that can meet all your needs. If you need something strict and structured, that is available. If you need choices and portability, there is no shortage of food plans that offer these options. There are also sources that can help you customize a healthy diet that will meet any special needs you may have.

Exercise is the same way. There are options available to meet every need and desire. There is no shortage of health clubs in this country and if you are a home body there are also low cost options that can help you exercise in your home. There are a number of good exercise tapes. Exercise bands and the stability ball are some of the newer exercise options available today. Here again, you have a lot of choices. Choose something you enjoy. You are more likely to follow through with the plan.

If you have a lot of weight to lose, you should also think about a plan for getting to the root of the weight gain. There are a lot of people that medicate themselves with food and it will be hard to lose the weight and keep it off, if you do not work on getting to the root of why you eat. If you use these 3 simple concepts for getting healthy, there is no reason you should not notice changes in your health within a short amount of time.

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You have to eat frequent, balanced meals to lose weight and be fit for life. There’s just no way around it. If you’re not shouting out “Yay! That’s fantastic!”, please take a minute to do so and then read on.

Starving yourself may produce results in the short term but your body will soon adjust to the lower calorie intake and anything you consume above that will immediately trigger the body mind to hang onto it for dear life!

Furthermore, it takes a severe toll on your organs and can very detrimental long term. I’ve personally experienced these dramatic ups and downs and I’m here to tell you, it’s not necessary nor it is worth it. It’s bad drama and very unhealthy for your body and your mind.

Besides, life and fitness and nutrition are not about punishing or restricting yourself. They are about finding balance and figuring out a system that works for you. So without getting too technical or obsessive, accept that you have to eat to to lose weight and stay in shape. Hopefully, that is exciting news!

The key is in eating the right things and in the right portions. You’ve most likely heard this numerous times but are you putting it into practice? And how much of a portion is enough? And what do I eat?

OK, let’s take each factor one at a time. I’ll keep it simple.

1. Shoot for 5-6 meals/snacks a day: That means you will be eating every 2.5 hours or so. Hang in there with me until factor 3. It’s not as overwhelming or complicated as it may seem. That’s why I added snacks.

It helps me from thinking I have to prepare this elaborate “meal” every few hours. Good heavens. That would be nutty. After all, there are other things that one must get done every day!

2. OK, next is Portion Size: The simplest visual I’ve come up with that is quite effective and accurate is to take your fist and use it as a guide for your protein and carbohydrates portions.

You also need a bit of healthy fat in this mix so use your thumb as a guide. This may not sound like much but you will be amazed that if you eat correctly, it will fill you up – and besides you get to eat again in a few hours!

3. And finally, What are you going to Eat! This is a general and overall guide. We will get into more details down the road and in some of the more customized programs.

However, if you use this as your foundation for your 5-6 “snacks”, you will be well on your way to health and fitness for life.

Carbohydrates: Stick to fruits and vegetables. Stay away from anything processed or make that portion very small relative to the rest of your carbs.

Proteins: Fish, Chicken, Lean Meats, Eggs. I am not a vegetarian but completely respect that decision. There are some great sources for protein so don’t let this stop you!

Fats: Avocado, Olive Oil, Nuts. (Keep in mind that if your protein source is high in fat i.e. salmon, you do not need to add an extra thumb of fat!)

That’s it! Each of these areas can be broken down even further and get much more specific and technical but for now, just start to be aware and shoot for building that foundation with the 3 key factors.

This is a huge step so be proud of taking it and enjoy the process. And please let me know how it goes! It would be great to have you share your story and inspire others.

Here’s to you!

Visit Kass at http://www.balanceact.com to receive your FREE Top 10 Tips to Fitness For Life and more training and nutrition tips. If you would like to reach Kass directly in Waialua, North Shore, Hawaii, for a fitness, nutrition, or lifestyle consultation, please give her a call at 415-350-7500.

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So many of us live in the dream of what will happen for us when our bodies look, feel or do exactly as we want them to. ‘When I lose ten pounds, then I’ll love my body.’ Or ‘When I get through this injury then I’ll feel good about being in my body again.’ The truth is that there really is no time like the present. We can’t get to loving our bodies by hating them until they perform a certain way. We have to start with the loving part now. That old expression ‘you can’t get there from here’ really is true.

Try an exercise I do with clients in my groups. Close your eyes and picture your ideal body, whatever that means for you: lighter, free of injury or diagnosis, vibrant, healthy. Get a really clear picture, feeling all of the feelings and sensations there. Look around you, feel your breath moving in and out. Then notice not just the outside, but the inside: what are you feeling about your body in this picture? If you could turn up the volume on your thoughts about your body, what are you saying to it? Also, think about how you would describe the way you feel in this picture. What kinds of qualities are present? Write down five words that describe how you feel and the kinds of qualities or aspects of life this picture gives you. Some examples might be free, alive, sexy, uninhibited, joyous, calm.

Then slowly come out of the visualization. Ask yourself : with or without the outside changing, how could I bring more of those qualities into my life now? Imagine the qualities you wrote down as if they were in you right now, in the present moment. What are some choices you would make from those places that you’re not making now? What would happen if you lived a day from those qualities?

When we’re not feeling good in our bodies, we can still use the vision of how we think we want to be on the outside to connect us to what’s really missing on the inside. As you find ways to feed those qualities back to your soul, your body relationship automatically begins to shift as well. Use the list of qualities you came up with to make a list of activities that best connect you to those qualities. Be creative. There is no right answer, just what’s true for you. One woman in a weight loss group found that ‘reading a book‘ connected her to the quality of ‘peace’ she was seeking; for others that might be a walk in the forest, a nap or a phone call with a friend.

Once you have your list, make a commitment to do atleast 2-3 of these activities a week as a way of honoring your ability to live into the body you want from the inside out. Stop waiting for the ‘someday’ to live the qualities you and your body most celebrate and enjoy.

Anna Stookey is a psychotherapist & bodymind coach who helps people move into their highest vision of health and wellness by partnering with their bodies rather than working against them. Ongoing blog at http://www.bodyreunion.blogspot.com or sign on to the website: http://www.bodymindguide.com

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Can the ever increasing weight gain problems in the United States be controlled with the help of these hoodia diet pills? Almost half of the American populations are trying their level best to get rid of this excess fat. Hoodia diet pills are effective but they cannot do magic. You cannot expect to lose weight just by consuming a diet pill unless you indulge yourself into some kind of physical activities along with proper diet. You will find plenty of diet pills available in the market. Half of the people who consume these pills do not lose considerable amount of weight. But why is it so? The American obesity can turn out to be a big threat to its own people. You have to handle this delicate situation very carefully.

I think in spite of many innovative ideas, Americans are finding it difficult to lose weight and keep the weight under control. Sometimes we give too much stress to obesity. Happiness in life is not at all related to your body weight. But many people fail to understand the basic fact and as a result they get hooked onto any diet pills blindly. The perfect body of the movie star or the soccer player lures us. We easily get fascinated by their images on films, TV and magazines. But we fail to understand that there are many people involved in the backstage to make them look attractive and being slim is a part of their profession.

However, in our busy lives, we hardly get time for physical exercises and activities. The matter becomes worse with the addition of junk food. Our increasing body weight makes us desperate to get rid of the excess fat from the body. We always look for a quick remedy to our problems. We do not generally want to work hard and get involved in physical exercises, which are considered to be the best method of losing weight without any side effects. This goal can only be achieved when you have full determination and patience. Control your food and exercise daily.

On the other hand, hoodia, the African weight loss supplement helps to reduce weight efficiently. The ingredients of hoodia create a sensation in the cell of brain, which let you think and feel that you are not hungry. Now if you don’t eat much, how can you gain calories? Hoodia works in a very simple manner.

If taken properly, hoodia can do wonders. Several diet plans like the Zone Diet, Low Carb Diet, Atkins Diet etc. have been tremendously benefited by the hoodia. You can decrease your calorie intake by 1,000 calories daily with the help of hoodia. Moreover, this does not cause any kinds of side effects. The process is completely natural.

To get the maximum benefit from any diet pills, you have to additionally involve yourself with proper diet and physical exercises. Rather than eating junk foods and late night meals, it is better to adopt yourself with nutritious diet. Hoodia provides lots of benefits. But before consumption of hoodia, you should be totally aware of all the pros and cons of it. If you know what you are taking, I am sure you will have a better result.

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