The Energy Drink Blog

Your metabolism is the key to burning fat and calories efficiently. As we age weight-loss can become difficult for a number of reasons but one of the most common reasons is due to a sluggish metabolism. Here are some changes you can make to help kick your fat burning furnace into high gear and keep it there.

Begin your day first thing in the morning with an intense workout of cardio.  It’s best to do this upon waking because you burn calories from stored body fat rather than calories consumed over the course of the day.  It’s also a great way to get energized for the day and keep your metabolism revved for hours.

Eat a healthy breakfast shortly after you workout but don’t eat a heavy meal. Choose sources of food that are high in fiber and protein as they will keep you satisfied longer and take longer to digest.

Eat small portions or snacks instead of sitting down to large meals. Eating frequently in smaller amounts is easier on the digestive system and prevents the stomach from being stretched. It also prevents binge eating later in the day.

Try to consume only complex carbohydrates such as slow cooked oatmeal, brown rice, or whole grain bread instead of refined starchy carbs. Complex carbs offer a high source of fiber and satisfy hunger longer because they take longer to digest. The key with consuming carbohydrates is to eat them earlier in the day when your metabolism is at its highest so they are easily converted to energy and burned off. This means that a couple servings during the day would be ok while omitting them at dinner would be a better option.

Proper elimination is very important when it comes to having a healthy metabolism. If you are not going to the bathroom daily you may want to think about doing a colon cleanse. By cleansing the body you are eliminating toxins and chemicals that can slow your metabolism down. This is also a great way to increase your energy naturally, and clear up your skin. It allows the liver to process waste more efficiently which can help boost metabolism and weight-loss.

Make sure you are drinking enough water everyday because it is required for just about every bodily function. Water is also important for proper elimination and helps with regularity by drawing fluid to the colon for waste removal.

Get adequate sleep each night and you will continue to burn calories at a rapid rate. Studies show that lack of sleep not only attributes to weight gain, but it also slows the metabolism down and inhibits the lack of growth hormone which is necessary for  rejuvenating the body and burning fat more effectively.

As we get older it becomes harder to lose weight for various reasons. Keep these healthy tips in mind and you can burn calories effectively at any age.

Scales can be really vague and a serious compulsion for some people. The need to constantly step on one can be a daily battle because we have such high expectations and base our self worth on a number. It can literally make some people spiral into depression and use food as a coping mechanism or turn exercise into a neurosis in hopes that a new number will magically appear and make everything ok.

Here’s what’s wrong with that foolish device. First, they are everywhere so that doesn’t help. We see them at the doctor’s office, on the bathroom floor, or pass one in the gym on the way to the elliptical machine. In any case, our society is obsessed with body image and we put too much emphasis on unhealthy thinking instead of teaching the fundamentals of good health. Here’s how it should be. A scale should be used on an occasion to get a general idea of how much you weigh or as a tool to track your progress for a weight-loss program. The need to jump on one every morning is simply out of compulsion and the habitual practice needs to be broken. So what does that number really represent? Here are some significant things to remember the next time you want to torment yourself.

The figure you see when you look between you feet signifies a few things. A portion of it is comprised of fat, muscle tissue, water and fluid, and bone mass. Imagine taking all 206 bones out of your body and laying them on a scale, you would be amazed at the portion of body weight they make up. Also take into consideration that the body is about 70 percent water and that you are constantly excreting and replenishing fluid so there will be a fluctuation in weight on a daily basis depending on hydration levels.  Muscle tissue is also very dense so the more muscle mass you have the higher the number you will see. This is not a bad thing however because muscle weighs more than fat and it also speeds up metabolism and helps burn calories more effectively. This should help to put things into perspective a little better.

If you are ready to begin a weight-loss program, step on the scale to track your initial starting point. Don’t make this a daily habit though as it may sabotage your efforts. Instead, pick one day a week like first thing Monday mornings to check your progress. For anyone maintaining their weight or just plain curious, don’t check obsessively, try weekly as well. There is no need to start a fixation on a gadget that is inconclusive in my opinion. When you wait longer in between weighing yourself you will notice better results and motivation will become second nature.

Having your fat percentage checked or your Body Mass Index (BMI) which is the ratio of fat versus lean body mass will tell you a lot more about your health than the total number on a scale. One thing I try to keep in mind is that if I like the way I feel in my clothes or that they are getting looser, then I know that my hard efforts are paying off and I’m on the right track. We all have good and bad days when it comes to losing or maintaining weight. The important thing is to make healthy lifestyle changes to achieve a sense of well-being instead of falling for trendy diets that don’t work. Taking care of your self should be a way of life and not a temporary solution. You won’t need to step on a scale everyday if your mind and body healthy are both healthy.

Are you tired and lacking energy?  Do you find yourself bloated and uncomfortable after eating?  Are you having trouble going to the bathroom everyday?  These are just a few things you may be asking your self each day and wondering what is going on inside that body of yours.  Usually if you’ve got to this point it’s safe to say that you may be overdue for a colon cleanse and for several reasons.  Proper elimination everyday is very crucial so the digestive process can fully take place.  We take food in, digest it and our body pulls out any nutrients that it needs and the rest gets sent to the lower intestines for removal via the colon.  In a normal healthy body elimination will take place anywhere from 1-3 times daily or shortly after each main meal.  If we were all eating healthy and leading a healthy lifestyle this process wouldn’t be interrupted but since the typical American diet consists of processed foods, refined sugars, and preservatives it is essential that we cleanse the colon about 3 times a year.

When you cleanse the colon you may be eliminating impacted fecal matter that has been sitting in the lower intestine for a long period of time. Along with the impacted fecal matter is the build up of toxins in the body that are not able to escape due to a sluggish digestive process.  By doing a good colon cleanse you are helping the colon to flush itself out naturally and to continue to do so after you have finished.  Most people find that once they have completed a quality cleanse they feel an increase in energy, have clearer skin, are able to focus better.  I think it’s important to mention that lack of fiber in the diet is also a huge contributor for constipation.  Fiber helps to bulk the stool and acts as a cleansing agent for the intestines as it goes through the digestive system.  Keeping the colon clean and getting adequate fiber intake also helps to reduce your risk of colon cancer as well.  There are just a few simple things to know before you cleanse and I should point out that anyone can safely do this from their own home.

With so many different brands and options now on the market, all you need is either internet access or a local health food store to find the one that works best for you.  The average cleanse can last anywhere from 7 days to 3 months depending on what you are trying to achieve and how bad of a condition you are in.  If you have spent years polluting your body, expect to do at least a month to fully clean out your system of waste, toxins, and possible parasites.  It is important to mention that beneficial bacteria reside in the colon that help with the digestive process so replenishing these friendly bacteria is important and can be done by supplementation or getting live active cultures from organic plain yogurt.  Usually the instructions for a colon cleanse are pretty self explanatory and consist of capsules and a fiber powder that can be mixed in either water or a low sugar juice.

It’s important to know that the healthier you eat while you cleanse the better results you get.  Generally what I think works best is to avoid any animal protein and dairy products during your cleanse and stick to leafy greens, fruits, and grains like brown rice, barley, or quinoa.  As always water is key in helping to pull toxins and waste out of the body so drink plenty of it and herb teas as well.  Stay away from all processed foods and fruit juices as these are loaded with excess sugar.  Once you are finished with your cleanse continue to eat as healthy as you can because this should be a way of life and not a quick fix or a green light to go back to unhealthy eating habits.  There is some truth to the saying “You are what you eat”.  If you eat poorly everyday you feel run down, tired, and depressed.

By cleansing a few times a year some of the positive things you will notice are an increased immune system, better concentration, more energy, clearer skin, proper digestion and elimination, weight loss, and a general sense of well being.  In today’s society we are pressured to keep the outward appearance of ourselves neatly groomed but what about the inside?  When you feel good from the inside you look good on the outside as well. 

Exercise can be a chore for some people who just can’t get motivated and stay motivated.  Some forms of exercise can be very jolting on the body and lead to sore muscles or joint pain while other forms of exercise are stress relieving and relaxing.  It’s important to stay physically fit for obvious health reasons but for many trying to lose weight, it can be very challenging.  Walking is a form of low impact exercise that can help burn fat effectively and boost serotonin levels in the brain.  Serotonin is a special neurotransmitter that helps regulate many things such as sleep, appetite, metabolism, and mood.  Walking is a great way to keep serotonin at a healthy level so losing and maintaining weight is easier.  By knowing how often, how far, and how fast you should walk, you can transform you body into a lean fat burning machine.

Some people may argue that 30 minutes a day at least 4 times a week will suffice when it comes to the frequency of exercise but what many don’t know is that, that will only maintain or prevent you from gaining weight.  You need to step it up a notch in order to melt away those unwanted pounds.  By walking at least an hour a day at a moderate to brisk pace you will put your body into a fat burning mode that will continue to burn calories long after your work out is over.  It’s always good to take at least one day off a week to rest and recover.  The body needs this down time to heal itself and get rejuvenated.  Studies show that by walking for about an hour each day you can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes while losing unwanted body fat. 

It’s not so much how far you walk as it is the intensity at which you walk that helps to burn fat, boost metabolism, and build lean muscle mass.  By walking at a brisk pace you should still be able to carry on a conversation but notice that your breathing is becoming more intense.  You can also purchase a pedometer which helps to keep track of your speed and distance. It can be a great device to always keep you in your target heart rate and fat burning zone.  Eventually you will find that by walking on a daily basis you will become accustomed to your speed and you will begin to see pounds and inches lost in no time.

Proper footwear should be mentioned because without the right support you can potentially do serious damage to your back, hips, and joints.  Fast walking requires running shoes not walking shoes as one might think and for the reason being, you need flexible support like a runner does and plenty of cushioning in your sneaker.  The reason walking shoes or cross training shoes are not the best choice is that they don’t offer as much flexibility or comfort as a running shoe.  Eventually you may be walking at a pace like a race walker does which is about a 13 minute mile and something hard and clunky on your foot can be uncomfortable, possibly painful, and may slow you down.

Remember that before you begin your brisk stroll, to always warm up by stretching first.  Getting the muscles loosened up and the blood flowing before any form of physical activity is always very important.  By doing this you reduce your chances of injuring yourself.  Another thing to mention is that exercising is only half the battle. Without incorporating a healthy diet with your walking routine, your efforts may be null and void.  Eating organic whole foods and keeping track of what you are taking in calorie wise versus what you are expending through exercise will give you an indication if you need to increase your work outs or reduce your calorie intake or both.

Staying healthy is more than a fad it’s a way of life and it can only be done by making necessary lifestyle changes.  By changing to a healthier lifestyle we can help to slow the aging process, reduce the chances of various diseases, and increase our well being here on earth.

Many of us are searching for a magic diet pill or an elixir that will take away our insatiable need to eat and lose a ton of weight.  But with so many diet products on the market today how do we know which one works best?  A few years back when ephedrine was pulled off the market, the number one weight loss supplement , we all panicked that nothing else could possibly deliver the same results and as quickly.  Then something called Hoodia Gordonii was discovered as a powerful supplement that could help to curb appetite and hunger, promote weight loss, and maintain energy levels while enhancing your mood.

South African Hoodia Gordonii dates back to prehistoric times when the San Tribe from the Kalahari Desert first discovered this rare species of a plant.  They would chew this bitter tasting plant and it would help to suppress their appetite for up to 24 hours while they would hunt for food for their families.

Hoodia is an endangered, protected plant species because it is so rare.  It can take up to 5 years to mature from the time it is planted.  There are several different kinds of Hoodia grown but the only one known to curb appetite and promote weight loss is the form known as Hoodia Gordonii.  The active molecule in Hoodia Gordonii is called p57, this is the key factor that aides in appetite suppression. 

 Today Hoodia is found in many weight loss products that claim to reduce your appetite while helping to maintain you energy levels as well.  A study done in Leicester, England on overweight individuals proved that over a 15-day period calorie consumption was reduced by about 1000 calories a day with the use of pure South Africa Hoodia Gordonii. 

There are so many companies today that claim there product contains pure South African Hoodia Gordonii but many actually don’t because it can be so hard to export.  The only way to know for sure if you are getting the real deal is to find out if the company has proper certification or what’s known as a C.I.T.E.S (Convention on international trade in endangered species) which allows them to export the Hoodia.  This is the only form of certification out there that proves you are getting pure Hoodia Gordonii. One of the only companies out there today that has this certification if a company called Strictly Health.  They carry Hoodia in either pill or elixir form.  Their Hoodia is pure right down to the capsule there are no other ingredients or fillers involved in the making of their products.  By taking just 2 capsules about an hour before meal time you will be amazed at how the urge to eat diminishes.

There are no negative side effects by using Hoodia long term either.  You can stay on it for as long as you like.  The most common side effects you will experience are a decrease in your appetite which helps to reduce calorie consumption and promote weight loss, an increase in stamina and energy, and a sense of well being.  Many people are using Hoodia Gordonii as an effective way to lose weight more efficiently than with just diet and exercise alone.