Exercise Beats Genes

While losing fat for some people is a piece of cake (so to speak), we are many others that have to strive and fight for each gram or ounze of fat, we lose. Many of us have inherited our obesity from our mothers, fathers, or even grandparents. "I can't help it. I have my mother's figure." That worked as a fine excuse up until now, where scientists have found a way out of your gene pool hell.

The gates of fitness heaving is opened up by exercise.

How do they know?

Searchers at the University of Maryland has studied 704 Amish men and women. Not because of their religion, but because these people tend to marry inside their group, and they become thus a genetically homogeneous group. And they showed a range of variations on the FTO gene, which is associated with obesity and high body mass index (BMI).

The searchers found that some of the Amish had two copies of the FTO variant, which - as expected - let to obesity, but only on some of the persons. Others managed to stay slim, despite the FTO genes.

What did they do differently? They exercised. They were active.

Why don't you leave the car at home and start walking?

So the next time you open your mouth to give the usual excuse about inheriting your family's obesity, think again, and then start moving.

Want to read more? http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1839708,00.html?imw=Y

Would A Photo Diary Make You Thinner?

Many people think it's a good idea to keep a diary, when you want to lose weight. Some say it's to make the participants feel guilty, if they ate something "illegal", like a bag of M&M's. In my opionion there's a better goal: To make yourself realize how many calories you eat each day, and how they are departed between fat, carbohydrates and protein. But it takes disciplin to write everything down. And there might be a better solution.

A photo diary!

Take a picture of everything, you are about to eat.

Would you eat this, if you had to take a picture first?

Most people have a camera in their phone, which makes it easy to snap a photo, nomatter where you are, at home, in a restaurant, or on the road.

If you know that everything you eat will be saved and documented with photos, you are less likely to eat those donuts, you saw in the baker's window.

Would a photo diary work for you?

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison says Yes.

They asked 43 persons on a diet to keep a diary for one week of what they ate, either written or in photos. When questioned afterwards, the persons who took pictures told that it improved the quality of their diet.

Great video about Oat Meal Pancakes

I found this great little video about Tom Venuto's Bodybuilder Oat Mean Pancake recipe.

Btw I recently made a review of his book. You can read it here: www.FatFreeAndFit.com/review/burnfatfeedmuscle.php

Been Working Out Today - Short and Intense

Last week, I didn't have the time to go to the gym. That's not a good thing.

So today, even though I had a lot to do, I decided that I HAD to go! Especially, because there would be a change of habits, here.

Instead of using two hours and attaining very little, like I used to, I would for the first time use the principles of Rob Poulos from his book "Fat Burning Furnace". And wow! I could literally feel my muscles grew, and I only used a little more than 30 minutes.

I'm not exactly the Great Hulk, and I don't intent to be. My goal is to lose fat, not to be miss Arnolda Schwarzenegresse.

During the 30 minutes of working out (and it will be less... more about 20 minutes, when I know all the exercises), I could feel that I worked on both my muscles, and doing cardio training. And best of all - I didn't have to bore myself to death on the thread mill.

When I walked on home after gym, I could feel that I walked more erect, with a good bearing. Nice, and efficient.

Second Week of Fasting

Well, no, I haven't been fasting for more than a week ;-) Actually, this is the second week that we are using the principles in "Eat Stop Eat", and it's really something I start looking forward to.

Right now, it's 1:30 PM here, and I've been fasting since 8PM yesterday. Of course, I've felt a little bit of hunger, but nothing hard to get over. I guess that when you know what's coming, and you're prepared for it, fasting is not a big deal. That is, yes, it's actually a big deal, when it comes to burning fat, looking younger and being more healthy.

Actually, I enjoy all the extra time I get, when I don't have to prepare meals, make the table, eat, and do the dishwashing. This morning, I've made a lot of things that normally would take me several days. So productive and burning fat at the same time - I like that :-)