Author: Nigel Slate

Is exercise essential to weight lose?

Nigel Slate Diets

If you are trying to lose weight you have a number of ways in which to do so. You could base it entirely on what you eat, cut your calories down to about 1200 (for women) 1700 (men) and try and makes sure that you drink water. But for some, a diet alone isn’t enough and even if you do lose weight, you may end up with saggy skin if you don’t tone up at the same time. If you have tried fitness classes and the gym and not got on with it, then why not try walking or running. The beauty of walking or running is you can do it pretty much anywhere and it costs nothing apart from a pair of trainers. If you are going to be doing running then I would strongly recommend investing in a good quality pair of trainers to ensure you do not injure yourself by wearing the wrong footwear.

Doing exercise along side dieting can be a very fast and effective way to lose weight and tone up but always make sure that you still eat enough calories to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Cutting down too much on calories can make your body go in to overdrive in storing fats and this will mean when you do eat, your body will simply hold on to more of the food.

 

 

What foods are really bad for us?

Nigel Slate Diets

Over time there has been many changes in the ideas of what foods are really bad for us. For example, fatty foods and sugars were not seen as a major issue fifty years a go but recent research has shown that these can cause long term effects on our health and that sugars can be especially bad for young children.

Some foods are not necessarily bad for us but can cause weight gain and bloating feeling like too much bread. For this reason many people try to cut carbs out from their diet completely or have as little as possible. Fruit and veg are always good to have, but some fruits do contain more calories than others and natural sugars, so it may be worth bearing that in mind.

Almost all of us do not drink enough water. With the average person only drinking a few glasses a day, we may well be missing out the other 4 – 6 glasses that we should be having to keep ourselves healthy. Not only is water needed for our body organs to function correctly but it can also help with improving our skin and our hair.

Do diets really work?

Nigel Slate Diets

Many of us go through stages where we want to lose weight, this may be for health reasons, for a special occasion such as a wedding or after having a baby for example. There are a huge number of diet plans out there and often it is a game of trial and error to find out which one, if any suit you. If you find that you cannot stand to be hungry, then a diet that limits your meals and involves no snacking is probably not going to be the right one for you. If however you feel that you issue is what you eat not really the quantity then you may find a diet really helpful.

To start with you need to keep a food diary for a week or so to get a true picture of what it is you are eating. For some people this is enough to allow them to see where they are going wrong and they are then able to substitute some of their unhealthy snacks for healthy ones or cut them out completely.

Two of the major dieting companies are Sliming World and Weight Watchers. Both of these companies say that they do not really do diets, it’s more of a permeant change in the way we look at food and choices we make when it comes to eating.

Taking additional vitamins

Nigel Slate Diets

Many health experts claim that we should not need to take vitamins and minerals if we are having a healthy diet, but although many of us may think we eat reasonably healthy, the chances are we are not having the daily recommended amount of vitamins and minerals as suggested.

Some people swear by taking a multi vitamin as it is not known to cause you any harm and will just top up your body with anything it is lacking. If you are finding that you are feeling tired all the time then you may need to start taking an iron supplement.

Echinacea is extracted from a plant and given in the form of a tablet. This is said to help not only get over a cold or flu virus but also prevent you getting one in the first place. If you are struggling to get your child to eat enough fruit and vegetables, then you could give them a multi vitamin to be sure that they are in taking what they need to. Always check the ages on multivitamins as babies will require one sort, older children and different sort and adults another sort of tablet or medicine again. It is always worth checking with a health advisor as to if it is recommended to give a young child vitamins.

The Different Types Of Cafetieres

Nigel Slate Food
The Different Types Of Cafetieres

A cafetiere, which is more commonly known as a French press, is a prized possession of any coffee enthusiast. French presses allow their users to boil ground coffee beans directly into the water, filter the beans by pushing them down to the bottom of the equipment and then pour the drink directly from the pot itself. The best thing about a French press is, since the grounded beans can be boiled without using a filter, the final concoction is thicker and more flavoursome than what we get after using an automatic coffeemaker. This way the beans can exert more essential oils that otherwise would have remained contained within them.

Types of French Press

Truthfully, it is not possible to classify French presses based on their designs. It is better to focus on the materials they are made from for that purpose. The four basic materials used for making a French press are glass, metal and plastic. Each of these has their own advantages and disadvantages. Let us take a clearer look at them.

Glass: A cafetiere made from glass is easy to handle and clean. They are also scratch and stain resistant and can hold on to the “new” look for longer. However, some French presses are made with thin glass which makes them unsuitable for many automatic dishwashers. Their fragility also requires some experienced handling since otherwise a single drop would mean a new replacement. Glass French presses are preferred because of their classic looks. Read more

Lose Weight Safely With Diet Pills

Nigel Slate Food
Lose Weight Safely With Diet Pills

The first step towards fitness and health is to maintain a normal BMI and low body fat levels. Many men and women today suffer from metabolic disorders such as thyroid problems, blood sugar imbalances and high cholesterol. To ensure an overall healthy lifestyle weight is one of the first things that need to be maintained. In this article we look at the use of natural diet pills for sustained weight loss.

Different Types of Weight Loss Pills

While there is a great variety of weight loss pills the ones covered in this article are those that have been extracted from natural sources. What this implies is that they are relatively safer than their chemical counterparts. However, as with all nutrition advice it is best to consult a registered medical practitioner before using any of the following. Read more

Caution at Christmas

Nigel Slate Diets
Caution at Christmas

Christmas can be one of these periods when you think it is okay to not go to the gym, eat plenty of chocolate, drink a lot of mulled wine and outdo your daily calorie allowance by a some stretch.

This shouldn’t be the case, unless of course it’s Christmas day, and you can really be doing your body some damage if you feel you can slide of the rails for ‘one month only’. It also makes it a lot more difficult to get back into the ‘normal routine’ come January, so do keep your health in check over Christmas, because it can be a lot more damage than you think.

Don’t get us wrong, Christmas is about being ‘jolly’ and a time to celebrate, but there’s always room for some discipline, and you certainly wont regret when you rejoin the gym in January.

Reheating pasta to make it Healthier

Nigel Slate Diet Tools, Food
Reheating pasta to make it Healthier

A study last month showed that cooling and reheating pasta made it less fattening, but how can that be? Well, it was basically proven that cooled and reheated pasta acts as more of a fibre, like bananas, beans or raw oats when absorbed in the stomach.

It was also found that the volunteers’ blood sugar level increased by half the usual amount, “reducing the chances of putting on weight or developing diabetes”. It’s a discovery that has certainly grabbed plenty of media attention, and there’s no doubt that many people will have started eating reheated pasta on their lunch breaks.

Reheated pasta can reduce the rise in blood glucose levels by 50 per cent, and that really is a whopping amount, but you’re essentially eating the same, meal. It’s the same on your taste buds, but a whole lot better on your belly.

Make Fish Part of your Balanced Diet

Nigel Slate Diets, Food
Make Fish Part of your Balanced Diet

Fish should always be part of a healthy balanced diet, and that’s because it’s one of the healthiest meats you can consume. The omega fats are good for your heart, while you get plenty of natural protein. Coldwater fish like tuna and salmon are really good options, whilst battered fish from a chip shop won’t do you any harm if you enjoy it on the odd occasion.

Fish can go well with potatoes, rice, pasta and steamed vegetables, and it’s a lot healthier than eating well cooked beef or chicken, and there are plenty of different types to choose between. You don’t necessarily have to be eating fish on a regular basis but if you are a meat eater then make sure you’re including fish in your diet.

Many athletes eat fish, chicken and turkey above others because of natural proteins and you’ll only be doing your body some good if you eat fish at least once a week.

All you can Eat – Getting your Money’s Worth

Nigel Slate Food
All you can Eat – Getting your Money’s Worth

If you’re going to be splashing out on an all you can eat dinner, then make rue you’re prepared for the challenge that await you. The idea is to make sure you eat more than your money’s worth, and there are many little tips and tricks that can help you achieve this.

Preparation Meals

Starting the day off with a big breakfast can stretch your stomach so that you’re ready for the challenge of the meal, and by starving yourself in the day, you may see your stomach shrink, meaning you’re unable to eat as much.

Getting into the Right Mental State

The right mental state is everything and you have to make sure you mind is ‘in the mood’ for foods you’re about to consume.

Avoid Gassy Drinks

Fizzy drinks and lagers may not be best drinks to choose if you want to eat several platefuls and it’s actually better to avoid drinking, whilst only opting for juice or water if you’re feeling a bit thirsty.