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May 3, 2011

Best Ways to Lose Stomach Fat

The best way to burn belly fat is a shock to most men and women. Even most personal trainers usually guess, "Crunches", "Sit-ups" or "Aerobic Cardio" as the best way to lose stomach fat. But none of those work best, or even work at all!
So, what is the best way to burn fat and lose my belly? Do aerobics work better than interval training? Does resistance training help at all? What should I eat to lose stomach fat? All of those are common questions…
And now here is the truth. Cardio is not the best way to burn fat. In fact, I have met very few people who have successfully used cardio to lose stomach fat. And most of those people were young men, and anything works for them when they want to burn fat.
If you want to lose stomach fat fast, you need to increase the intensity of your workout by using both resistance training and interval training to lose stomach fat.
While bodybuilders and young people without any cares in the world can spend an hour a day on cardio - and sometimes get results, men and women who only have 45 minutes, 3 times per week for exercise just can't depend on slow cardio workouts to burn belly fat.
Let's take a look at the perfect workout plan to get you maximum fat burning results in minimum workout time.
Here are the keys!
First, start with a circuit of bodyweight exercises to prepare your body for a fat burning workout. This should only take 5 minutes.
Follow that up with supersets of resistance training using multi-muscle exercises for maximum metabolism boosting. This works so much for post-exercise calorie burning than slow cardio workouts. That will lead to more belly fat burning as well.
After 15 minutes of resistance training, finish with 15-20 minutes of interval training. Use a warm-up, then do a few intervals, and then cool-down. You do not need a lot of intervals to get great fat burning results.
With that workout schedule, you'll be in and out of the gym in 45 minutes, three times per week.
Compare that to what most people do, which is run, jog and cycle, or use the cardio machines for 45 minutes straight. Sure, that will burn calories, but it does not build a better body.
Men and women love the fast fat burning results they get from short burst exercise sessions.
Your body was not meant to run marathons. Instead, it was meant to perform quick bursts of exercise, and that is why resistance training and interval training sculpt a better body than long, slow cardio.
The best way to lose stomach fat is to use the following three exercise methods:
            1. Bodyweight circuit training to warm-up the body;
2. Resistance training supersets to boost the metabolism;
3. Interval training to burn belly fat.
Put those three, short exercise methods together into one great belly fat burning workout if you want to lose stomach fat fast!
So, if you want to burn more belly fat and get a Six Pack fast, then you should take a close look at  Craig Ballantyne's Six Pack Abs Workouts.

Don't forget to subscribe and download the Craig Ballantyne FREE “4-Week Turbulence Training Program”.
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Fitness Exercises to Avoid

            Occasionally, I do my workout at an old school gym.
Some workouts are pointless and, to my surprise, I still see men and women doing useless, ineffective exercises while they try to burn off their belly fat, lose inches from their waists, and tone their muscles.
All you need are the basics. Be consistent! Stick with what is proven to work, and do not waste time in the gym. An exercise session should take much less than an hour to finish. And you only have to exercise hard 3 days per week, not 6 or 7.
Don't use these exercises, they aren't worth it...
1. Broomstick Twists.
You know this classic move, put the broomstick across your shoulders and rotate side to side, with the hopes it will whittle your waist down inch by inch.
But to what should be no one's surprise, this doesn't work. The broomstick exercise will not help you. If you really want to lose belly fat, you have to do a lot more than that.
A better option: hard cardio, and preferably interval training, is the best way to lose stomach fat.
2. Triceps Exercises.
If you're a competitive bodybuilder, than triceps and biceps exercises are fine to have in your program. But if you are a busy man or woman that needs more results in less time, doing any type of isolation exercise (such as triceps kickbacks) is a waste of your precious time.
A better option: any type of pushup. From kneeling pushups to close-grip pushups (where your hands are about shoulder-width apart), you will get so much more benefit to the rest of your body and to your fat burning, body- sculpting program if you choose pushups over triceps exercises.
3. Exercises Standing on a Ball or Other Gadget.
Lots of trainers are asking their clients to perform traditional exercises while standing on balls, half-balls, and inflatable disks, but I know this is not only a waste of time, but also dangerous! You better not crash from standing on the ball. Could you imagine trying to rationalize that in court?
Regardless, you will get stronger and even improve your balance more by training traditional exercises standing on the floor.
Strength is the key to any gains in balance, fat loss, and muscle mass. By doing exercises on a wobbly surface, you reduce the strength gains and therefore all the rest of the benefits.
I know you will get great results if you use total body exercises. The best fat loss program is the Craig Ballantyne "Turbulence Training" fat loss system. His fat burning exercises will help you lose weight in short workouts. Read my review and you will understand why.
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Home Cooking Rocks!

Studies continue to report that fewer and fewer people are cooking at home, which makes me sad. The truth is that many Americans spend more time in traffic these days than in the kitchen.
We are eating in our cars, in front of the TV, but we are not sitting down as families. I was once overweight and I know it is not easy to break old habits.
We are more sedentary than we have ever been, and we are fatter than we have ever been.
Many people say they barely have time to exercise, let alone fix dinner. The world is fast-paced today but your nutrition does not have to follow suit.
People consume 50% more calories, fat and sodium when they eat out than when they cook at home. Restaurant customers often miss out on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and other vitamin-rich "powerhouse foods”. And overeating, which is harder to avoid at restaurants, will lead to obesity.
The basic truth is that the more you eat in, the more you can control and the healthier your plate is going to be.
Clearly, we are much more interested in and knowledgeable about food these days, as reflected in the increasing popularity of cooking shows, magazines, and cookbooks; yet we seem to be cooking at home less and less... Why?
I think all the emphasis on chef-inspired food porn has skewed the reality of what home cooking is all about and may have scared people away from the kitchen.
However, home cooking recipes taste so much better, are full of nutrients and you are in charge of every ingredient used. It is quicker to prepare dishes than you might think! It is also healthier and more economical, which can be especially important these days.
Yes, it is not all sexy… It takes some planning and prioritizing so you’re don’t get caught in that vicious cycle of asking yourself at the end of a long day, “What’s for dinner?”
Basic home cooking is about shopping only once or twice a week, planning, cooking extra, creative use of leftovers, having a reasonably well stocked pantry, and easy do-ahead dishes.
It is also deeply satisfying to be able to nourish yourself and those you love with tasty simple home cooking.
Cooking does not have to be a chore. Remember you do not have to make a gourmet meal every night.
It is all about creating simple meals that comfort, nourish, and please, not trying to impress with overcomplicated dishes full of expensive ingredients that you use only once. Cooking dinner does not have to leave you feeling depleted.  Simple meals are just as well balanced and will be appreciated. This saves you energy and time.
If you keep things simple and learn some basics, it can actually be a very pleasant transition out of your workday.
You can turn it into quality time spent with your children if you let them help you. Of course, they will need to be supervised, however it can be a time where you can talk and enjoy each other's company. It will be a time that your children will remember forever, and possibly even pass down to their children. Another advantage is that children who frequently eat dinner at home with their family eat more fruits and vegetables and get better grades in school.
So, if you use cooking a family dinner as family time, you will know that your family's nutrition requirements are being looked after.
Here are a few excellent books that I use in my everyday home cooking adventure: The Paleo Recipe Book, Secret Restaurant Recipes at Home and The Diet Solution Program.
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Vanity, what a Great Motivation!

            A big self-motivation factor for many people is vanity. We want to look good! Many Americans need to lose weight. Big time!
Motivation is very funny: it always seems to leave right in the middle of a great fitness routine or a good diet program. You were doing so well….then one day, you lost your motivation and you just did not feel like working on it anymore.
It is interesting how when motivation is high, we feel driven, energized, focused and determined. Nothing gets in our way and we always have the ability to push ourselves and get things done.
But once you lose motivation, inertia takes over. You keep saying you want to change, but you cannot seem to get yourself out the door.
So how do you get back your motivation and stick with your program?
First, realize that motivation is not permanent. You do not “get it” and then never have to worry about it again. That is why being able to build your own motivation is so important. Instead of depending on an external crisis to get you started, you can create your own wake-up call. Figure out ways to generate your own excitement and energy for your goals. Look at motivation as an opportunity, not a burden, and then develop the resources you need to sustain it.
The best idea that will help you get back on track is Do It When You Don’t Feel Like It! When you do not feel like working on a diet or exercise program…is usually when you need do it the most. So unless you are physically ill, do not let your feelings determine your actions. Invent new tricks, create new methods and stay on your program especially when you don’t feel like it.
Vacation is over! School is back in session! Along with that comes a little homework. So push yourself to work hard, stay focused and aim for the top of the class.
            With renewed motivation, your efforts will pay off and you will see the results in your lifestyle and in your mirror.
I hope some of the suggestions I have given will provide motivation to get you started on your healthy eating adventure.
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Be Patient! Persevere!

            When we are on an exercise and diet program it might take a week or two before we notice any changes, but they will steadily appear. After the first month, you will be able to see the results and measure them in terms of looser fitting clothes.
Keeping your motivation up is one of the most difficult aspects of dieting. There will be days when healthy eating goes out the window, and there will be weeks where you may not lose any weight…or put a little back on.
This is normal for everyone, dieters or not, so do not let it undo your plans for a slimmer you. You are not doing anything “wrong”, but you may need to look at your plan. Do you need to increase your activity levels? Make a few more changes to your diet? Put more effort into sticking to your current plan?
The other side of this is to make sure you celebrate your goals. While there is joy enough in stepping on the scales and seeing them dip lower, be sure to mark long-term progress with a reward, such as new clothes or time off from domestic chores.
Celebrating is also a way to involve your nearest and dearest; it is up to you whether you want their encouragement in the form of gentle reminders not to eat certain foods. But support from other people can get you through the bumpy patches.
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