How do you decide which system is the best weight loss program
for you?

This is a question that has been asked thousands of times and
the answer can be different every time. There are so many
choices, so many avenues to explore, so many factors to
consider. Let’s try to break this down into manageable
components.

Use these steps when deciding on a weight loss plan of action:

Goals for your best weight loss program One the most important
things to do when searching for the best weight loss program for
you is to decide on your goals. The more specific you are with
your goals, the better your chances of weight loss success
become.

Be sure to set specific, realistic expectations. Meaning, don’t
expect to lose 100 pounds in thirty days. The average amount of
weight loss using safe and healthy means is one to three pounds
per week, sometimes maybe a little more. Don’t get discouraged.
As the months fly by, you’ll definitley start to notice those
pants getting looser!

When setting goals ask yourself these questions: How much weight
do I want to lose? How much time am I giving myself to reach my
ideal weight? (Remember be realistic!)

Lifestyle- finding the best weight loss program for your schedule

When choosing the best weight loss program for you, it’s very
important to factor in the type of lifestyle you lead. This is a
crucial step that many people miss.

Your lifestyle determines what type of weight loss program will
work for you. If you work twelve hours a day or travel five days
a week, a weight loss program that requires a lot of cooking
won’t work for you so don’t even consider it.

Additionally…

You need to know your strengths and weaknesses. Are you an
exercise buff who just happens to eat poorly? If so, you may
need a food based weight loss program. On the other hand, are
you a whiz in the kitchen but you hate working out?

Also…

What qualities in a weight loss program are necessities for you?
Ask yourself these questions and be honest in your answers: How
much time daily can I devote to exercise? Cooking? How many
times a week must I be able to eat out?

What kinds of exercise am I willing to do? (ex. walking,
jogging, weight training, swimming, pilates, yoga, aerobics,
etc.) Do I need help with my eating habits? Fitness? Both? Must
I have one-on-one attention?

Do I need a plan that requires no cooking? Do I need a plan with
lots of structure or one with customization and flexibility?

Money for the best weight loss program

Another thing to factor in when choosing the best weight loss
program for you is the amount of money you’re willing to spend.
Most online membership-based weight loss programs will cost
between $15.00 - $250.00 per month while non membership-based
programs have a one-time fee of anywhere between $12.00 - $
160.00

There are a couple of things you need to be aware of when
deciding on your weight loss budget. As is true with just about
everything in today’s society, you usually get what you pay for
so when deciding on the right budget treat this like you would
something that is very important to you.

If you’re willing to spend sixty bucks on that new hair cut and
color or that great outfit, shouldn’t you be willing to spend
that much on reaching your desired weight? Having said that,
there are plenty of good weight loss programs to choose from at
reasonable prices. The key point to remember here is that the
more customization you require, the more the price of the weight
loss program will rise.

For example…

You may be able to get a weight loss program for $19.95 but
don’t expect it to be customized to fit your individual needs.
Don’t expect a lot of intricate details in this program and
definitely don’t expect ongoing personal support.

With that said…

If you’re focused on your weight loss goal, you have the
necessary will power to stay on track, you can follow a
pre-packaged plan, and all you need is a simple, effective
weight loss plan of action, you may be able to succeed with a
low cost weight loss program.

However, if you’re frustrated from past failures but determined
to succeed, you might want to shell out a few extra bucks for
customized, one-on-one support.

Safety

The next and most important issue you need to consider is the
safety of the weight loss program you’re interested in. The
first thing you should always do is discuss the weight loss
program with your doctor.

The general rule of thumb I use when giving nutritional advice
is if the program consists of losing weight solely through
eating healthier and exercise, then it’s usually safe to try. I
never recommend using supplements because many of them (even
herbal ones) can be harmful but even if they’re not they are
unnecessary.

You can lose weight safely, quickly, and effectively without
them so why waste extra money buying supplements you really
don’t need?

Having said that, it’s still your choice as to whether you want
to try supplements or not. Just always get your doctor’s
approval first and if a supplement makes you feel strange or
causes any side effects stop taking it immediately. Now get
going towards the best weight loss program!

Now it’s time to get started on your weight loss plan of action.
Get a sheet of paper and jot down answers to all of the
questions in each subtitle. Visit
best-weight-loss-program-info.com , read our reviews, and
determine if any of the programs have the qualities you need in
order to have weight loss success. If not, move on to other
programs but use the same checklist.

This weight loss plan of action should save you time and money
and help you to find the best weight loss program for you the
first time around.

Treadmills are very popular methods of exercise. These exercise machines have been helping people lose weight and get in shape for many years now. Buying a treadmill is not hard but if you have ever done it, you know that it can be expensive. It is an investment you will greatly benefit from but you need to choose carefully before you buy. There are many reasons why you would choose a treadmill for yourself. You can improve your fitness and your health. You can build and maintain your fitness level all in the comfort of your home. However, you also need to be sure that before you buy a treadmill and begin a training program that you do it in the correct way to remain safe and healthy.

Before you purchase a treadmill you need to know what features to look for to be sure you are getting the best one for you and your needs. Some things to look for are:

The Motor: A motorized treadmill has an inbuilt motor that makes the belt and lift operate. A bonus of motorized treadmills is that they let you raise and lower the incline easily. With motors you can change the pace of your workout how you need it to be.

Horsepower: The horsepower is the measure of the treadmill motor. The continuous horsepower is how well the treadmill can work without lagging. The peak horsepower is how much power the treadmill has for short bursts.

Incline: The incline is used to mimic the natural human style of walking or running. Manual incline lets you change it yourself by speeding up your pace. A power incline lets you adjust the incline while you are walking or running.

Belts and Decks: A thicker belt gives you more cushion for your legs and joints. Short belts give you a faster pace and some people prefer these.

Speed: When you think of a treadmill, you often think of the speed. Most go from 0 to 10 MPH.

Computer Controls: Treadmills all have some type of computer control to keep them going. Many have odometers and speedometers and some even have pre-programmed workouts.

Jocelyn Woodbury is the owner of DP
Treadmills which is a
premier source of information about Treadmills. For more
information, go to: http://dptreadmills.com

“Tooth decay, also known as dental cavities, or dental caries,
is a disease that is five times more common than asthma and
seven times more common than hay fever.” — Michael C. Alfano,
Dean of the New York University College of Dentistry.

As warned by the World Health Organization, tooth decay is one
of the world’s most prevalent health problems in industrialized
and especially in developing countries. An estimate of 90%
people in the United States has at least one cavity. Children
and senior citizens are the two groups of people at highest risk.

In children, it usually happens when sugar-laden foods such as
candies are frequently left on the teeth. In the mouth, there
are bacteria that live in plaque (a sticky, whitish film
produced by our saliva) that convert the sugar into acids. These
acids eat away the tooth’s protective coating also known as the
enamel. Excessive destruction of this outer surface of the tooth
results in tooth decay.

What makes adults also prone to being afflicted with tooth decay
is when aging causes gums to move back from the teeth. Combined
with gum disease, this gum recession exposes the tooth root to
plaque. This will cause the breakdown of the tooth root. People
who already have a number of dental restorations (fillings and
crowns) may also suffer from tooth decay, especially around the
teeth’s edges, or margins.

The cost of spoiling your sweet tooth. Tooth decay, particularly
in the front teeth, may become an impediment towards achieving a
pleasing appearance, thus affecting self-esteem. Cavities can
also impact an individual’s emotional and social well being by
causing pain and discomfort from toothache. In addition to this,
it can also cause some serious health problem like malnutrition
by interfering with an individual’s ability to eat certain
foods. If tooth decay is not treated early, complication from
infection could cause swelling of the face and neck, fever and
blood poisoning.

Prevention is a lot less expensive AND less painful than
treatment. Although tooth decay remains as one of the most
common chronic disease, today many people are in better oral
health than before. The consolidated effort of dental
associations and many other health organizations in raising oral
health consciousness, the support of the government, and
cooperation from the public made this improvement attainable.
Several community-based programs aimed at solving oral health
dilemmas are carried out. These include extending fluoridated
water and schools having sealant projects for children. However,
these programs cannot reach many remote areas where ethnic
minorities are and where many people are living in poverty.
Their access to formal education and dental care is very
limited. This shows the need for more community-based dental
programs to help people take care of their teeth.

The American Association for Dental Research and International
Association for Dental Research have long been collaborating to
disseminate ways of preventing tooth decay. They educate people
of how proper oral hygiene methods of brushing twice a day with
fluoride toothpaste, regular dental checkup, sealant treatment,
flossing, eating nutritious meals, and limiting in-between meals
will always be indispensable.

Dental researchers have recently discovered how the bacteria
which attack teeth, stick themselves to the enamel. This new
information could bring significant benefits to increase the
public’s knowledge on eliminating the harmful effects of the
tooth decay-causing bacteria (Streptococcus mutans). Aside from
this, they are also in the process of developing vaccines
against tooth decay and discovering other new methods on
targeting and killing the decay-causing bacteria.

Other tooth decay treatments, i.e., dental implants, Healozone
gas blast (blast that triggers the saliva to fix the teeth
naturally), and squirting genetically modified bacteria that
will not produce the decay acid, are also being developed. The
use of fiber optics and fluorescence methodologies is also being
considered to possibly detect tooth decay much sooner than
x-rays and visual inspections can.

These advancements in treating dental cavities are evidences of
the increasing attention to oral care. But relying mainly on
these discoveries does not guarantee the complete disappearance
of tooth decay from the list of the most common global health
problems. Further improvements on tooth decay treatment entails
expanded dental care education, early interception of poor oral
hygiene habits, greater parental involvement in children’s
dental health and appreciating how priceless a confident smile
is.

You’ve been thinking of working out but the thought of regular visits to a health club, spa, or gym doesn’t quite appeal? Well, you can actually save the drive time and get a fairly good workout on a home gym. In this article, we’ll discuss the different types of machines available, how they work, and some considerations to make when purchasing your own home gym.

There are three main types of home gym equipment: traditional, rod systems, and gravity resistance (Of course, there are also free weight bench sets, but these aren’t necessarily for everyone and, depending on whether or not you have small children or pets in your home, may present potential hazards).

Traditional gym machines are generally what you would find in your local gym. These machines tend to be big and heavy, and can take up a lot of space. They involve pulley assemblies
attached to weight stacks and the amount of weight a person can work with can usually range up to 300 lbs. Of course, the precise amount of weight to be used for a particular exercise may be determined by the use of a simple pin-slot system. How much do they cost? Well, they can be quite pricey, starting out in the 800 to 900 dollar range going all the way up to and exceeding 2000 dollars based on chosen options and features.

Traditional home gyms have been around for decades. However, a second type of home gym setup, the rod system, seems to be the wave of the future. These machines use rods with different resistance rates selectable with a hook and bungee system. Rod systems have the advantage of being both smaller and lighter than traditional home gyms. They have a sleeker look and are absent a heavy weight stack—definitely a consideration if you have small children in the home. Power rod machines also feature a full range of exercises, including rowing on some models. The resistance rods are usually standard at 210lbs as the max. However, these are upgradeable to a maximum of 410lbs! What’s the cost? Machines like this range from 900 to 2200 dollars.

Finally, another type of home gym that is growing in popularity is the gravity resistance gym. Gravity resistance systems are very compact and “easily stowed”, using only minimal space when
assembled. They use a system of pulleys and your own body weight to achieve a quality work out. Different settings allow your body weight to utilize greater or lesser amounts of resistance making them easy to use for both the beginner and the advanced user. Gravity resistance systems come in several different sizes and may be configured to fit neatly under a bed or in the corner of a room. Size is certainly an advantage, but here are two other advantages: a user can engage in a wide range of exercises and the machines are reasonably priced at 300 to 600 dollars.

Which home gym set up should you buy? As with most purchases, your decision should ultimately be based on the balancing of several concerns; namely, your needs, preferences, and available
finances. However, rest assured, if working out and getting into shape at home is what you desire, there are certainly more than enough choices to choose from.

The author of this article is Tim Moore, who publishes a website on Vitamins, herbs, and nutrition which features a section on Antioxidants

When you are picking out the equipment that you are going to use to
build your new home gym there are several things that you will want to
consider.

First, you will want to decide how you are you going to build your home
gym. You can either buy everything at once and start off fully equipped
right out of the gate, or you can buy the most important piece and slowly
build as you go along.

There are arguments to be made for both methods of equipping your
home for your new exercise regimen. If you buy everything at once, you
may find that you are less likely to get bored and will find yourself using
the equipment more frequently because the variety keeps you
interested. However, it can also be fun and rewarding to buy a new
piece every six months until you have everything that you need.

As you consider which option may be best for your unique situation, it is
important to point out that your first 30 days working out at home are the
most important. If you stick with your new exercise plan for 30 days
consistently, you are likely to make it a part of your everyday life and will
end up sticking with the plan long term. Therefore if you only buy one
piece to start off, and you get bored, then you may never get around to
buying the other pieces. Whereas if you buy everything at once you
may find it more exciting and more interesting and may make it through
those first 30 days.

The main deciding factor should be your budget. If you can afford to put
in multiple pieces all at once, by all means do so. However, if you are
on a tight budget you should choose that first piece carefully and
actively save for additional purchases in the future.

It can be quite rewarding to anticipate a future addition to your home
gym, and it certainly will give a burst of energy to your workouts when
you finally get that additional piece.

When deciding which method is best for you, it is important to consider
your first 30 days of working out. If you feel that you might fizzle out and
become disinterested, then you should make the investment and buy
multiple pieces at once. If you feel that you are disciplined enough to
stay consistently involved with only one piece, than you should feel
comfortable buying only the single piece to begin with.

Buying a home gym is both a commitment and an investment. It is often
tempting to want to start out with only one piece to ’see if you will stick
with it.’ I caution you on this mode of thinking because many times
people do not buy enough equipment to hold their interest and meet
their needs. When they give up on their fitness regimen, then they say ‘I
told you I would not stick with it.’

If they would have spent the money on the equipment that would hold
their interest and meet their needs, then they would have made it
passed those first 30 days and would have incorporated exercise into
their daily lives.

Make sure your equipment purchasing strategy is one that is well
thought out and takes into consideration all of the necessary factors.
After all, the reason you are buying fitness equipment in the first place is
to reach your goal. The pieces of equipment are merely the tools that
you need to reach them.

Finding The One Piece That Is Right For You

If you are starting out with one piece, then you must chose that piece
carefully. Forget all of the research about which piece will get you the
best results. Most research only considers biomechanics and other
technical information. What you need to figure out is which piece you
are likely to use most often.

Even if you buy the best treadmill on the market, if you do not get on it,
then it did not do you any good. It would be a better investment to spend
$1,000 on a bike, than $6,000 on a treadmill if you are more inclined to
use the bike. It is that simple.

With that being said you need to figure out which piece you feel most
comfortable using. You will want to pick something that you feel is
natural and something that you can see yourself enjoying. You will
often find that you will have a gut instinct about which piece is going to
be the one that you will enjoy the most. Trust this instinct, it will not let
you down.

If you are buying one piece of equipment for multiple people to share,
then this process can become slightly more complicated. It is important
to not worry so much about the people who will only be using the
equipment occasionally. You do not want to invest thousands of dollars
on something that you personally will not enjoy, regardless of who else
will be using the equipment.

The biggest caution when trying to decide on a single piece of
equipment for multiple users is having the decision put on hold while
you contemplate what is the best investment. All too often couples
will talk for months about what piece of equipment to buy. This delay
keeps both of you from working out at all. It is better to take an educated
guess, or come up with some sort of compromise that allows you both to
start working out as soon as possible.

You do not need to start big, but you do need to start!

Tom Richard is the owner of Tom Richard Marketing and specializes in
helping the fitness industry better serve their customers. For more tips
on purchasing equipment or for Tom’s list of trustworthy companies out
there please visit http://www.tomrichard.com for contact information.

Copyright 2005 Tom Venuto

Do calories matter or do you simply need to eat certain foods
and that will guarantee you’ll lose weight? Should you count
calories or can you just count “portions?” Is it necessary to
keep a food diary? Is it unrealistic to count calories for the
rest of your life or is that just part of the price you pay for
a better body?

You’re about to learn the answers to these questions and
discover a simple solution for keeping track of your food intake
without having to crunch numbers every day or become a fanatic
about your food.

In many popular diet books, “Calories don’t count” is a
frequently repeated theme. Other popular programs, such as Bill
Phillip’s “Body For Life,” allude to the importance of energy
intake versus energy output, but recommend that you count
“portions” rather than calories…

Phillips wrote,

“There aren’t many people who can keep track of their calorie
intake for an extended period of time. As an alternative, I
recommend counting ‘portions.’ A portion of food is roughly
equal to the size of your clenched fist or the palm of your
hand. Each portion of protein or carbohydrate typically contains
between 100 and 150 calories. For example, one chicken breast is
approximately one portion of protein, and one medium-sized baked
potato is approximately one portion of carbohydrate.”

Phillips makes a good point that trying to count every single
calorie - in the literal sense - can drive you crazy and is
probably not realistic as a lifestyle for the long term. It’s
one thing to count portions instead of calories - that is at
least acknowledging the importance of portion control. However,
it’s another altogether to deny that calories matter.

Yes, calories do count! Any diet program that tells you,
“calories don’t count” or you can “eat all you want and still
lose weight” is a diet you should avoid. The truth is, that line
is a bunch of baloney designed to make a diet sound easier to
follow. Anything that sounds like work - such as counting
calories, eating less or exercising, tends to scare away
potential customers! But the law of calorie balance is an
unbreakable law of physics: Energy in versus energy out dictates
whether you will gain, lose or maintain your weight. Period.

I believe that it’s very important to develop an understanding
of and a respect for portion control and the law of calorie
balance I also believe it’s an important part of nutrition
education to learn how many calories are in the foods you eat on
a regular basis - including (and perhaps, especially) how many
calories are in the foods you eat when you dine at restaurants.

The law of calorie balance says:

To maintain your weight, you must consume the same number of
calories you burn. To gain weight, you must consume more
calories than you burn. To lose weight, you must consume fewer
calories than you burn.

If you only count portions or if you haven’t the slightest clue
how many calories you’re eating, it’s a lot more likely that
you’ll eat more than you realize. (Or you might take in fewer
calories than you should, which triggers your body’s “starvation
mode” and causes your metabolism to shut down).

So how do you balance practicality and realistic expectations
with a nutrition program that gets results? Here’s a solution
that’s a happy medium between strict calorie counting and just
guessing:

Create a menu using an EXCEL spreadsheet or your favorite
nutrition software. Crunch all the numbers including calories,
protein, carbs and fats. Once you have your daily menu, print
it, stick it on your refrigerator (and/or in your daily planner)
and you now have an eating “goal” for the day, including a
caloric target.

That is my definition of “counting calories” — creating a menu
plan you can use as a daily guide, not necessarily writing down
every morsel of food you eat for the rest of your life. If
you’re really ambitious, keeping a nutrition journal for at
least 4-12 weeks is a great idea and an incredible learning
experience, but all you really need to get started on the road
to a better body is one good menu on paper. If you get bored
eating the same thing every day, you can create multiple menus,
or just exchange foods using your one menu as a template.

Using this method, you really only need to count calories once
when you create your menus. After you’ve got a knack for
calories from this initial discipline of menu planning, then you
can estimate portions in the future and get a pretty good (and
more educated) ballpark figure.

So what’s the bottom line? Is it really necessary to count every
calorie to lose weight? No. But it IS necessary to eat fewer
calories then you burn. Whether you count calories and eat less
than you burn, or you don’t count calories and eat less than you
burn, the end result is the same - you lose weight. Which would
you rather do: Take a wild guess, or increase your chance for
success with some simple menu planning? I think the right choice
is obvious.

“Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.” — Ann Landers

A year ago, almost to the day, I had an epiphany while exercising at my local gym. I was on a treadmill sweating along with about 30 other people, glued to the latest CNN horrors on the big-screen, when I glanced outside at the absolutely gorgeous spring day.

That was the precise moment when I decided to get a dog.

Okay, it wasn’t the “precise” moment…because I had been toying with the idea for almost a year. But up until that moment last year on the treadmill, I felt there was really no good reason to get a dog other than to complicate my already busy life and to add another mouth to feed along with our 2 children, 4 guinea pigs, 3 cats, 3 fish, and a then-leased horse for our daughter.

But the more I looked outside that day, the more I wanted to be out there, walking, maybe even jogging, alongside a furry devoted friend. Yes, the dog would have a purpose – it would be my walking dog! An exercise dog. A reason to get out of that stuffy gym and into the great outdoors! After all, what was the point of living in scenic New England if I rarely got outside to enjoy it? And I never walked in the woods alone – my New York mentality and paranoia would not allow it — my heart raced with every squirrel or bird that snapped a twig or rustled a leaf. My dog would be my protector – at least a deterrent — against any would-be assassin/rapist/kidnapper lurking in the woods.

Suddenly, the reason to get a dog made perfect sense.

In his insightful book, “The New Work of Dogs” John Katz makes the case for the new role of dogs. Once herders, guard and hunting dogs, now our canine friends have a new work: tending to life, love and family. Dogs need a job, and they will adapt to whatever circumstances their human companions give them. What I wanted from my dog was simple: security while walking in the woods and a reason to walk everyday.

A survey done a few years ago in Australia showed that dog owners walked an average of 18 minutes more per week than non-dog owners. Studies abound extolling the psychological benefits of dog. Plus…dogs are not afraid of the dark, are excellent listeners, they’re never critical and never gossip, they follow you everywhere, and no matter what – your dog will always love you.

Last August we got a golden retriever puppy. Much like when I became a new mother, I vastly underestimated how much work goes into raising a small being. By the 2nd week of night-crying (me and the puppy) I was beginning to rethink the merits of having a dog. I was going outside more times than I wanted to be outside. (Uh, like, 8-10 times a day). Long walks were out of the question as Sadie would plop down for a nap at the most inconvenient times (halfway through our walks). But as she grew, so did her seriousness about her “job” to take me into the woods and keep me fit. We were soon up to 3 miles a day by the winter. She also was housebroken and down to 3-4 “business walks” a day. I enjoyed our walks, and by the looks of her smile (yes, dogs do smile!) she was loving every minute of it too.

There is nothing like a dog to keep you in touch with nature. I don’t think I would voluntarily go outside in sub-freezing weather. Or take a walk around the block at night before bedtime. But I do with Sadie. And I’m grateful for that. I’m also grateful for the stars that I see most nights. For the phases of the moon, which I now notice. For the changing seasons that I witness first hand with each familiar tree around the bend. Grateful for the ever-changing Ashuelot River near our home, with its pattern of freezing and thawing. For the birds, who rarely sing in the dead of winter and who return with happy songs in April. It is an interesting world, one which I have in the past avoided due to the inconvenience of being outside in the rain, sleet, cold or snow.

Now, at 10 months old, Sadie is officially my walking dog. And thanks to a Puppy Kindergarten class she can also sit, stay, come and heel on command. She is also unbelievably devoted not only to me – but to everyone in the family, even the cats and the guinea pig. She lets me know when the mail has arrived. She keeps my feet warm when I’m at writing at the computer. She looks at me with those warm loving eyes like…she thinks I’m just wonderful! She has become more than my walking dog — she’s my, well, co-worker here at my home office. I can’t imagine life without her.

The two of us, walk — a lot. I feel good, healthy. And I no longer go to the gym. No need for that anymore — now that I have my “golden” gym.

–

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the byline is included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated — please send to editor@theheartofnewengland.com. A .jepg photo of the author and her dog are available upon request.

About The Author

Marcia Passos Duffy is a freelance writer and the publisher and editor of The Heart of New England online magazine and e-newsletter, which celebrate the unique character of Northern New England. Original stories written by New Englanders on food, travel, gardening, the arts and more. Visit our free online magazine at www.TheHeartofNewEngland.com and subscribe to our companion newsletter by sending a blank e-mail to: heartofnewengland-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, for weekly recipes, bed & breakfast specials and more!

editor@theheartofnewengland.com

There are many benefits of choosing an online fitness program over a live personal trainer. In this article, I will focus on the most important ones. I will also mention and recommend Global Health and Fitness’ online fitness program ( http://www.popularfitness.com/global-fitness.html ) because in my opinion they are the leaders in this field on the web. Not only have they been online since 1997, more importantly they have helped hundreds of people over the years achieve their fitness goals. They are associated with many well-known fitness-related professionals and have also been featured in numerous fitness articles.

Convenience.

The best thing about the Internet is that information is available when and where you want it - it is interactive and dynamic. These are the reasons why the Internet is ideal for a fitness program and trainers. A true personal trainer that has come of age and that is accessible from your home or office almost any time of the day. Most people cannot afford to have a trainer to offer them guidance and support whenever they need it. With online fitness programs you can receive advice almost any time of the day. Got a question that pops in your head while your at work? You can email the fitness program and receive a prompt reply. Something live personal trainers just cannot do.

Inexpensive and extensive area of expertise.

Most live trainers specialize in general fitness only whereas Global’s fitness program includes 30 highly qualified professionals from every fitness-related field. Not only do you receive help with your workouts, but you will receive nutrition advice, injury and rehabilitation training help for a specific sporting event or competition, your medical questions answered, motivational help and more. This is all available at a fraction of the cost that a personal trainer would charge who is limited in knowledge to only his or her field of expertise.

Fitness must be enjoyable.

For any fitness program to be a success, we all know that it needs to be enjoyable. If you are new to fitness or want to start on an exercise program, it is difficult to know where to begin and very time consuming to read and figure out your own fitness program. In the end, it could be very frustrating and boring for you resulting in you giving up. Global’s online personal trainer program cuts through all the confusion and teaches you exactly how to achieve the results you want. By eliminating the guesswork, your very own online personal trainer will help you avoid the common mistakes that can waste your time and effort. Their mission is to have you seeing great results as soon as possible. You will soon discover that you can truly enjoy healthy eating and physical activity for the rest of your life.

If you have been exercising for a while and are trying to reach new plateaus, Global can help you by creating an exercise and nutrition program that produces the best results that you are aiming for. By teaching you techniques for making your routine much more effective and personally guiding you step-by-step to achieving new results again and again!

Up-to-date

A fitness program that is frequently updated, thus offering you all the latest reliable research and discoveries in the fitness industry.

Customized and personalized for you.

Global’s online personal trainers will customize your very own program based on your fitness level, goals, personal preferences, time and equipment availability, and special limitations and requests.

Tools and Live Chat.

Various tools are also available that outside of a live personal trainer would end up costing you a lot such as video demonstrations, exercise instructions, Protrack software, healthy recipes and shopping lists, online books of the 5 components of optimal health, live chats with online personal trainers and much more. All of which will enhance your learning and assure your success.

About the author:

Peter Kudlacz is the owner of http://www.popularfitness.com where you can find online fitness and golf programs, exercise instruction guides, articles, resources, tips and newsletters.

Time Is a major factor in your bodybuilding routine. It can
cause you to focus your thought elsewhere, instead of your
training. Your mind wanders onto something else while you
perform a set of curls. Your thinking –

“Yep, I need to get this done later. Oh! What about that other
thing I’ve got goin’ on? Right, I’ll finish up here quickly and
get it done”.

Get the idea?

Do you ever find yourself having a conversation in your head,
all while you’re performing your training routine?

Time waits for no man It can interfere, especially when you
don’t have enough of it. It’s often difficult to get the time to
train, or do other things in your life. You can explain it
anyway you like. But there’s no getting away from the fact –

Everybody, Everywhere, Only Has 24 Hours A Day.

“So, how come others manage and I can’t?” I hear you say.
“Obviously they don’t have as much to do as I have.”

Like I said, we all have the same amount of time. Here’s another
comparison for you:

Look at rich people. They only have 24 hours in a day too. Yet
they’re still rich and others are working and are living on the
bread line. That’s a little extreme, I know.

But, do you get what I’m saying here?

Here¡¯s what it boils down to –

Time Management: In this scenario ‘Time Management’ is the key
to your bodybuilding routine, and your life too. If you don’t
manage your time properly, you’re setting yourself up for a fall.

If You Fail To Plan - You Plan To Fail.

So, just how do you manage your time properly?

By allotting a certain amount of time per activity in your life.
For each task, job or item you have to do in your life everyday,
you must allot a certain amount of time to each one.

Don’t just do this for your bodybuilding routine. Look at your
life right now. Determine how much you actually do with each
day. Write it down, including your bodybuilding routine.

Then count the number of activities you do on a daily basis.
Once you’ve done this, determine how much time you can afford to
all of these activities in a day.

Divide the time you have available between all the activities
you need to do. Give a little more time to the things you place
more importance on such as, your bodybuilding routine.

Then create a schedule around this. It’s that simple. My
suggestion is that you write those activities down and allot a
certain amount of time to each one. The total time for all
ativities combined shouldn’t exceed the time you have available
each day.

Now what have you done?

You have just learned to manage your time. You now have time to
do each activity each day. You can now devote the proper amount
of time to your bodybuilding routine. This means that you will
get your routine in at the appropriate times. And you will train
properly, rather than rush through it in an effort to get onto
someting else.

Copyright 2005 strength-training-woman.com

Don’t be held hostage to the obligatory holiday weight gain.
Instead, melt the fat by sculpting your own fitness and
nutrition program. If you feel that you need earmuffs and
blinders to withstand the blizzard of health and fitness
information, use these 5 simple tools from personal trainer and
sports nutritionist Lynn VanDyke to chisel your perfect body.

Tool 1- Strength Training: Every pound of muscle burns 35-50
calories per day. Adding lean muscle mass is the best way to
kick-start your metabolism, fight osteoporosis and melt the fat.
Try doing 3 sets of 12 repetitions for each major muscle group.
Sprinkle in different exercises such as bicep curls, lunges or
tricep kickbacks. Work each muscle 1-3 times per week and always
use perfect form.

Tool 2- Cardio: Cardio strengthens our heart and lungs. Anything
that gets your heart pumping qualifies. Try walking, jogging,
running, dancing, swimming, biking, or house cleaning. Cardio
should be done at varying intensity levels and session lengths.
Mix up your week with a short, high intensity session, a few
long, low intensity sessions and 1 or 2 medium intensity and
length sessions. Variation is key.

Tool 3- Nutrition: Healthy eating is usually the casualty of a
failed exercise program. Counteract the desire to eat cookies
and ice cream by fueling your body with lean proteins and
complex carbs. Snack in moderation by eating small healthy meals
throughout your day. More importantly, if you indulge a bit more
than you had planned forget the guilt and get back on track.
Guilt is not productive.

Tool 4- Rest: Take 1-2 days rest from working out each week and
grab between 7-9 hours of deep and peaceful shut eye each and
every night. Rest is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Without
proper rest our body never fully repairs from the daily wear and
tear we place on it. We can grow tired and lose energy from
irregular rest patterns. Stay on top of your game by resting
often.

Tool 5 - Grab a copy of A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Melt the
Fat & Gain a Life. This interactive program includes over 200
exercises and workout routines, over 160 daily menus and
generates loads of motivation. Knowing how to succeed with your
weight loss goals is equally as important as putting your plan
in motion. This guide shows you exactly how to eat, how to
workout and how to succeed with health.

“We can all melt the fat this winter if we follow these 5 simple
tools,” says Lynn VanDyke, personal trainer and creator of the
Melt the Fat Interactive Guide. “The trick is truly staying
motivated and ignoring all the fitness hype and diet fads. These
5 tools help you do just that.”