We have proven that tracking what you eat (and move) can boost your weight loss as well as other health goals.
If you are intending to lose weight or simply improve your health, logging what you eat (and move) every day, can truly help you to achieve amazing results.
Regular activity- and food-logging, together with breaking down your calorie intake into carbs, fat and protein has been proven to be key for long-term weight loss and maintenance.
Regular exercise can not only help with weight loss and other health benefits but also improve the quality of your beauty sleep and collateral effects.
Studies show that regular exercise can not only boost weight loss, decrease anxiety, stress, and the chances of contracting any heart disease, but also can help you to fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and wake up less, which can, in turn, boost your productivity throughout the day.
Night exercise is ok, but experts suggest about 30 to 60 minutes of waiting period before going to sleep.
Slow synchronize movements and breathing, such as yoga moves or meditation, can help you to release accumulated pounds, stress, and produce relaxation.
Research shows that practising slow mindfulness moves, such as yoga, and/or slow breathing can tame sympathetic activity and balance the nervous system, which helps the body to relax and ease stress. When we practise slow movements / breathing, the parasympathetic nervous system slows the heart and sends a relaxing message to the nerves.
Studies show that simply practising 30 seconds of slow movements/breathing can help to reduce blood pressure and heart rate.
Practising slow movements can also help to tone muscles, and weight loss. Studies show that regular yoga can help overweight people to lose weight, including abdominal fat.
Regular exercise helps weight loss while strengthening the heart and lowering the heart rate over time, which dramatically reduce the risk of heart disease.
Our studies show that regular exercise not only helps weight loss but also contributes to achieving a consistent reduction of heart rate, by enrolling on regular aerobic exercise routines such as running or walking at a pace.
Our results clearly show a very positive impact of regular exercise over 3 different types of Heart Rates (HR), and we show how this trend can be maintained over time. We conclude that enrolling on routinary aerobic exercise routines can positively contribute to decreasing HR, which in turn help to increase life expectancy.
HR reduction also has a very important impact on people mindsets, contributing to the maintenance of a healthy HR over time. The implementation of effective regular aerobic exercise routines may contribute to the reduction in all-cause mortality in the population.
Bedroom ambience could impact sleep quality, which could, in turn, affect daily performance as well as weight loss.
Things like putting lights off, a warm temperature (62-70 F)(17-21 C), no noise, and phone off will help you to sleep peacefully, boost performance, and help your weight loss goals.
Sleeping well is fundamental for weight loss and reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.
Experts recommend a daily fiber target of 25 gr for women, and 38 gr for men.
As a general rule to follow, the more natural (unprocessed) the food is, the higher its fiber content.
Foods with a high-fiber content include:
- Grains, cereals, bread, pasta, and tortillas.
- Legumes.
- Veggies.
- Nuts.
- And fruits.
For example, eating a cup of: lentils contains about 16 g of fiber, bulgur 8 g, or blackberries about 8g of fiber.
Fiber is good for the heart, helps to balance the intestinal flora, and produces a greater feeling of satiety, which helps to lose weight.
Studies show that a lack of sleep is related to Ghrelin increase (the hunger hormone).
Sleep loss seems to affect the regulation of energy homeostasis which may lead to weight gain and obesity. It has been found that a lack of sleep increases the levels of ghrelin and decreases the levels of leptin, which leads to increase hunger and appetite.
It's a good practice to get enough sleep, not only if you are aiming for weight loss, but also for health matters.
It is well-known that repetitive physical activities can help and speed your weight loss goals. But there are many other benefits behind a regular exercise practice.
Exercise is known to improve general health but also strength, enhance endurance, and increase flexibility, at a muscular level. But repetitive exercise also improves our neuromuscular system and can help to generate ideas, solve problems and relax.
If you are trying to lose weight and/or feel mentally stuck or stressed, try to engage in some regular aerobic activities such as walking fast, running, cycling, or swimming for at least 30-45 mins and 3-5 times a week, the more the better.
Everyone's physical activity level varies but, in general, a very good goal to aim for is to walk 10,000 steps per day.
10,000 steps equate approx. 5 miles (~8 km), around 1 hour and 40 minutes walking, depending on your stride length and walking speed.
Walking 10,000 steps a day usually burns about 2000-3500 calories every week. One pound (~ 1/2 kg) of body fat equals approx. 3500 calories, so depending on your weight and exercise intensity, you could lose around 1 lb (~ 1/2 kg) weekly by simply routinely walk about 10,000 steps a day.
Enrolling such a daily routine will dramatically reduce your risk of suffering illness as well as improve both your mental and physical health.
Research shows that exercise and mood are related. Even a little exercise, like 30 mins walk or 10 mins of calisthenic, can boost your mood.
Furthermore, according to the latest studies, short-time workouts such as running 15 minutes per day or walking for an hour can not only help weight loss but also dramatically reduce the risk of depression.
The scientists were able to register a 26% decrease in the probability of becoming depressed for each increase in physical activity.
You can start by trying 30 mins walk or 10 mins of calisthenic to stay away from stress and anxiety and boost your mood, especially during difficult times.
If you want to feel more full and satisfied after eating, try 25-30 grams of protein per meal.
Studies have shown that protein-intake generally increases satiety, even more than carbohydrate or fat consumption, thus facilitating a reduction in energy consumption.
For example, a piece of chicken or a cup of beans with quinoa will provide the 25-30 grams of proteins required for satisfaction.
Planning ahead the amount of protein-intake to eat can help weight loss.
Lack of sleep can increase the chances of experiencing weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and even memory loss.
Sleep gives the body enough time to restore and recharge, playing a very important role in many aspects of physical health.
A lack of or fragmented sleep can raise the chance of suffering health problems related to blood pressure such as heart disease, heart attacks, diabetes, and stroke.
Importantly, people who get too little sleep have a higher risk of weight gain and overweight/obesity than people who get 7-8 hours of sleep at night. Furthermore, a lack of sleep has also been correlated to memory loss.
Are you trying to lose weight? if so, it is better to avoid having snacks before going to rest / bed.
Experts recommend waiting at least 2 hours, after you have eaten, to rest / going to bed. This gives your body enough time to digest your food so that you are not going to bed with an upset stomach, indigestion or heartburn.
Keeping food away from your bedroom, teeth brushing, chewing sugar-free gum, or an after-dinner walk can help you to stay away from cravings before going to rest.
A glass of water, sugar-free liquid, hot non-caffeinated tea, or one piece of fruit could also help if you feel extremely hungry.
Summer is still here, so is dehydration. Dehydration can severely affect your mood and focus, while being a cause of fatigue throughout the day. Keep a big glass of water near you all the time to help you remember drink water regularly.
Dehydration is a typical summer condition. Hot and humid weather can lead to body dehydration. Dehydration occurs if there is a water unbalance and the amount of water leaving the body is higher than the amount of water coming in.
Specially during summer season, keep drinking enough water. Apart from water, certain fruits and vegetables contain plenty of water in addition to healthful nutrients. Watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches, and pineapples have high water content. Water-rich vegetables include cucumbers, leafy greens, radishes, celery, zucchini, and tomatoes.
Furthermore, being well-hydrated will keep you full more time so in turn helping you to lose or maintaining your weight, improve your mood and keep you focused.
Studies show that eating three servings of whole grains a day is linked to weight loss and lower body weight.
Whole grain-rich diets have a variety of health benefits, including a favorable role in body weight regulation. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that higher intakes of whole grains are associated with lower BMI and/or reduced risk of obesity.
Aim for 3 meals of whole grain a day, such as brown rice, oatmeal, popcorn, whole-wheat bread, or pasta or crackers.
Only adding two minutes of standing / walking every one hour can increase your lifespan, according to research.
Research shows that complementing sitting with light physical activities (even only two minutes for each hour of sitting) is associated with a 33% lower chance of dying. The study clearly shows that only walking two minutes each hour may dramatically reduce all the negative effects of sitting too long.
The study suggests that engaging in low-intensity activities such as standing can offset the health hazards of sitting for long. But adding two minutes of more intensive activities such as walking each hour should be much better.
Try to walk 2-3 minutes very hour of inactivity, which is equivalent to 250 steps approx.
A regular bedtime and wake-up routine can help you not only to feel more rested, energetic, and focused throughout the day, but also can help weight loss.
Aim for a consistent regular sleep schedule. Studies show that people who stick to a regular sleep routine have a lower body fat % than those who keep irregular sleeping hours.
But a healthier body weight and a good daily performance are just a couple of the many aspects of your health that a regular sleeping routine benefits. Other studies also show that a good sleeping pattern help to detox the brain, thus helping to get rid of some proteins known to be involved in Alzheimer's and dementia. A beauty sleep can also boost immunity and lower the risk of stroke.
Fiber- and protein-rich afternoon snacks can not only boost metabolism but hold you over till dinner, preventing carbs and sugar cravings and, in return, helping your weight loss journey.
So, if you have eaten some carbohydrates at lunch, a protein- and fiber-rich afternoon snack may keep you away from sleeping, thus keeping you active. And since both fibers and proteins help to keep you feeling full longer, the afternoon snack might help you better than any sugary snack and keep you away from cravings and snacking too much throughout all the afternoon till dinner.
Include both proteins (nuts, cheese, yogurt) and fibers (fruits, veggies, whole grains) in your afternoon snacks for a healthy weight and lifestyle.
Circadian rhythm is the body's kind of 24-hour clock that regulates the sleep/wake body´s cycle in response to changes such as light and darkness. This body's rhythm translates into physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle. This circadian clock enables us to adapt and anticipate changes in temperature, radiation, and the availability of food. Research suggests that it may play a role in weight homeostasis.
Research suggests that eating time may impact the success of weight loss plans. It has been found that late meals may desynchronize the internal body clock, that causing unexpected weight changes.
In addition to building physical strength, boosting health, and weight loss, interestingly, the effects of low-to-moderately intensive exercise can last even after a single session.
Exercise and other physical activity produce endorphins (natural painkillers produced in the brain), which in turn improve sleeping time, thus helping to reduce the accumulated stress. Scientists have found that regular participation in aerobic types of exercise help to decrease the overall levels of stress and tensions, elevating and stabilizing mood, and improving self-esteem. Only 5 minutes of intensive aerobic exercise is necessary to start noticing a notable decrease in anxiety.
Studies have shown that in addition to building strength, physical activity can help you boost self-confidence, and release anxiety and stress.
In addition to building physical strength, exercise can improve mental health. Exercise has also been shown to reduce depression, anxiety, and bad mood as well as alleviating low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and social withdrawal. However, practicing regular exercise can dramatically boost self-esteem and cognitive function.
More and more studies are showing that exercise is highly beneficial for mental health. One area that has been widely studied is its impact on self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-perceptions. Exercise is strongly associated with ‘the self’ improvement.
Summer is here, so it is dehydration. Dehydration can be a major cause of fatigue throughout the day, especially if you are exposed to very hot weather. If you feel unenergetic, start by having a big glass of water.
Dehydration is a typical summer condition. Hot and humid weather can lead to body dehydration due to several reasons. Dehydration occurs if there is a mismatch and the amount of water leaving the body is higher than the amount of water being taken in.
Always drink enough water or eat water-rich fruits and vegetables. Apart from water, certain fruits and vegetables contain plenty of water in addition to healthful nutrients. Watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches, and pineapples have high water content. Water-rich vegetables include cucumbers, leafy greens, radishes, celery, zucchini, and tomatoes.
Furthermore, being well-hydrated will keep you full more time so in turn helping you to lose or maintaining your weight.
Alcohol is high in non-nutritious calories, so-called empty calories, and may interfere with weight loss/maintenance.
While
stopping,
cutting
down,
or
not
drinking
alcohol
at
all
might
not
necessarily
translate
into
an
immediate
weight
loss,
it
can
definitely
be
a
great
first
step.
Alternatives
are:
drinking
wine,
unmixed
spirits,
or
low-calorie
/
low-alcohol
drinks
or
beers
in
moderate
quantities.
It is well known that regular aerobic exercise such as running or brisk walk promotes weight loss and health. But exercise also seems to act as a cognitive enhancer promoting creativity.
In
addition
to
creativity,
exercise
enhances
brain
function
by
helping
nerve
cells
to
bind
to
one
another,
which
is
the
molecular
basis
for
learning
new
things.
For
example,
for
kids
with
behavioral
disorders
like
attention-deficit
hyperactivity
disorder
(ADHD)
and
Asperger
Syndrome,
exercise
has
become
essential
for
helping
with
appropriate
development.
A night of good sleep seems to be one of the keys to good health, and may also be key for maintaining a healthy weight. People who get too little sleep have a higher risk of weight gain and overweight/obesity than people who get 7-8 hours of sleep at night.
Back in 1998, 35 % of American adults were getting about 8 hours of sleep a night, but by 2005 the percentage dropped to 26 %. Studies conclude that a lack of sleep could be a major contributor to the current obesity epidemic in the U.S.
If you are intenging to get energy for physical activity, simple carbs such as pasta, white bread, and processed cereals work well. But if you are intending to manage your weight, you should chose high-fiber carbohydrates.
Why
is
this
happening?
Those
carbohydrates
foods
with
high
content
of
fiber
take
longer
to
break
down.
The
rate
at
which
this
happens
it
is
called
the
glycemic
index.
These
foods
also
provide
a
wide
variety
of
nutrients
such
as
vitamins
and
minerals,
which
are
beneficial
to
health.
The
high
content
of
fibre
in
these
foods
can
help
keep
your
bowel
healthy
and
adds
bulk
to
your
meal,
thus
helping
you
to
feel
full
longer
and
helping
weight
loss.
The reason being, breakfast kick-starts metabolism, helping to burn calories throughout the day. Breakfast also provides the energy needed to get things done and help to focus on your activities. Those are just a few reasons why breakfast is probably the most important meal of the day.
Studies
have
found
that
people
who
eat
breakfast
are
thinner
than
those
who
do
not.
The
reason
could
be
that
eating
foods
enriched
in
protein
and
fiber
in
the
morning
can
help
to
keep
your
appetite
in
check
for
the
rest
of
the
day.
However,
this
does
not
guarantee
that
you
will
be
fitting
into
any
skinny
jeans.
You
will
still
need
to
follow
basic
healthy
habits
guidelines.
Studies show that faster-paced music improves athletic performance when a person engages in low-to-moderate level exercise, either by increasing distance traveled, pace, or repetitions. The effects of music lead to high levels of endurance, power, productivity, or strength.
Choosing
the
music
that
you
enjoy
the
most
and
that
better
fits
your
exercise
routine
can
help
to
get
more
out
of
your
exercise
experience.
Since
everyone
has
a
different
ideal
workout
pace
and
intensity,
determining
exactly
what
tempo
works
for
you
may
be
a
trial-and-error
process,
but
studies
show
that
120-140
beats
per
minute
produce
the
best
results.
Regular self-monitoring can help you reach your health goals due to: 1) the positive reinforcement of making healthy choices, and 2) the positive benefits of creating a new habit. Virtual Personal Trainer's studies show that the choice of healthy meals and the consequent improvement of health is highly rewarding, increasing the probability of maintaining health-choice practices over time.
In
other
words,
daily
food
(and
exercise)
logging
by
app
(self-monitoring)
allows
us
to
see
more
clearly
the
right
choices
we
are
making,
quickly
correct
wrong
decisions
and
making
smarter
choices
in
the
future.
If you want to lose weight, experts say you need to get enough sleep. Specifically, researchers have shown that women who sleep less than 5 hours / night generally weigh more than women who sleep 7 hours / night. As for men, studies also have shown that a lack of sleep may affect the body’s regulation of neurotransmitters. So, men who only got 4 hours of sleep had increased ghrelin and decreased leptin compared to those who got 10 hours of sleep. The dysregulation of ghrelin / leptin may lead to increased appetite and diminished feelings of fullness in people who are sleep deprived, thus raising the chances of weight gain.
If you want to lose weight, make sure that you are getting sufficient sleep in addition to following a healthy diet and workout program. In other words, you will need approx. 7-8 hours of sleep / night.
Experts
recommend
a
daily
target
of
25
gr.
of
fiber
for
women,
and
38
gr.
for
men.
High-fiber
sources
include:
- Grains: barley, oatmeal, wheat, rice, and other cereals. Also, bread, pasta, grits, and tortillas.
- Legumes: beans, chickpeas, and green peas.
- Veggies: carrots, beets, broccoli, collard greens, swiss chard and artichoke.
- Nuts: almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, pecans, peanuts, macadamias, and brazil nuts.
- Fruits: apples, berries, citrus fruits, and pears.
Foods can contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Generally speaking, the more natural and unprocessed the food, the higher the content of fiber. Meat, dairy, and sugar ingredients do not contain fiber.
You can easily get 20 grams of protein from some of these meals:
- Crack Eggs.
- Yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Protein Powder
- Cheese
- Tofu
- Chili
- Egg
- Cereals
- Tuna
- Chia Pudding
- Toast
- Lettuce wrap
- Avocado
- Almonds
- Roeasted Chicken
- Quesadillas
- Green beans
- Brown rice
Good
fats
can
be
found
in
vegetables,
nuts,
seeds,
and
fish.
Healthy
fats
become
liquid
at
room
temperature.
There
are
2
categories
of
good
fats:
monounsaturated
and
polyunsaturated.
Monounsaturated
fats
Sources
of
monounsaturated
fats
are
olive
oil,
peanut
oil,
canola
oil,
avocados,
most
nuts,
and
high-oleic
safflower
and
sunflower
oils.
Polyunsaturated
fats
There
are
2
main
types
of
polyunsaturated
fats:
omega-3
fatty
acids
and
omega-6
fatty
acids,
both
beneficial
for
health.
Sources
of
omega-3
fatty
acids
are
fatty
fish
such
as
salmon,
mackerel,
and
sardines,
flaxseeds,
walnuts,
canola
oil,
and
unhydrogenated
soybean
oil.
Foods
rich
in
linoleic
acid
and
other
omega-6
fatty
acids
are
vegetable
oils
such
as
safflower,
soybean,
sunflower,
walnut,
and
corn
oils.
Try now.