If you are wondering why you are keeping active and can't seem to drop
those unwanted pounds, maybe it's time to start keeping track of your intake of
calories and your output of energy. Clearly if we intake more calories than we
burn up during activity, the extra calories will only turn into extra weight. This
will also explain why, when we keep the intake of fat down, we can still gain weight.

Even if all you eat are proteins and carbohydrates and you are eating, say
2500 calories a day and just sitting watching TV all day long, you can figure
that watching TV consumes somewhere around 60 - 90 calories an hour. So the
rest of the calories will be stored in fat cells because they had no where else
to go. On the other hand, if you are eating 2500 calories a day and running,
which consumes about 100 calories every 10 min, or riding a bike a little each
day, consuming 300 - 500 calories an hour depending on intensity, you can see
why active people can eat so much more and stay a weight appropriate
for them.

Metabolism is a strange concept to grasp unless you know the principles behind
it. First of all, if you wait all day to eat, so that you don't gain weight,
you are defeating your purpose. If you let your metabolism sleep all day long
and then all of a sudden dump a bunch of food in your stomach, your system
is overloaded and it can not possibly digest all of that food before it turns
into fat. That is why the experts will all tell you it is much better to eat
small meals all day long. When I say small, I mean you have to figure out about
200 calories of food for about 6 times a day. This sounds hard and not much
fun but if you keep your metabolism going throughout the day, your system
becomes so efficient at digesting food that not much has a chance to
turn to fat.

Another word about Metabolism, muscle burns many, many, more calories
than fat. As you become more fit and your muscles become toned, you will notice
you need more calories per day and you will still be able to keep your weight
down. I am not talking about Body Builders, not that kind of bulking muscle,
I am talking about firm muscles, you don't really see but the ones that replace
those flabby areas that normally bounce when you walk. These are the kind of muscles
you build simply by getting up and walking, riding bikes, running, weight
training, jumping rope, anything that elevates you heart the slightest bit,
will start building and toning muscle and your metabolism will speed up.

Well, now it's time to digest (so to speak), the information you've just read.

Just keep those feet moving!!

Top

Vitamins, Minerals, and Other Supplements.

Part 2

The saying used to be,

"If you eat a balanced meal, you will get everything in your diet you need".

Now, more and more I find even the experts saying, "with all of the processed
food, it's impossible to get all of the nutrients you need for your body to
function normally. I have tried it both ways, with and without extra
vitamins and supplements. I have found that through the years, my body requires
more of some elements than others and do to specific activities, I require different
amounts at different times. I know that when I exercise very hard, my body needs
more calcium, magnesium, zinc and amino acids for my muscles to grow and be healthy.
One big indication is that after a big workout, if I don't replace what is used,
my muscles start cramping up and I am very tired, but if I get enough nutrients
back in my system within 2 hours, I am fine.

A lot of the reason we feel just a little off, either mentally or physically, is
because we are missing or lacking in a certain vitamin or mineral. This
could be a trial and error procedure or you could go to your doctor and have
a blood work-up done, just like you would do to find your cholesterol count
or blood sugar. Then you don't have to guess which nutrient you are missing in
your daily diet. This can mean the difference between leading a happy, healthy
life, or living a life on the edge of suicide as known in some extreme cases.
I personally am a strong believer that all people are different in their requirements
for what their body needs to function properly. For instance, I need a lot of
potassium for my muscles to keep going in a race or hard workout, but if you sit
all day and very rarely get any exercise, all extra potassium will do for you
is be potentially dangerous and overload your heart muscle.

After some of the basics I have just given you, it will be well worth your
time to investigate what your body needs to become more active, be happy,
or just feel better. (submitted by C.L.H.)
Top

Back

Top

Because the new Guestbook format does not allow for someone to post much information
I am offering the opportunity to submit comments or other items of possible interest on page linked below:

Your turn (Link to my feedback page) Posted