Substantial Weight Loss in Days NOT Months Stubborn belly fat melts from love handles, thighs, arms and more

Can you determine body fat percentage with a simple measuring device?

Weight Loss Coach

There are a variety of factors to take into consideration if you are worried about your health and looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

While sustaining a healthy weight is imperative, keeping track of the number on the scale will only give you a glimpse at your level of health.

Your body fat percentage, the number tells you what portion of your body weight is fat, is another important factor in determining health.

Knowing that information can help you to design and implement an effective fitness program and track the results better.

Testing for your body fat percentage will produce a number that tells you what percentage of your current body weight is fat versus muscle.

The higher the percentage of your overall weight that is fat, the greater your risk for chronic disease.

Excessive body fat can heighten your likelihood of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Body fat percentage is important in gauging health since someone may possess a low/healthy body weight, but have an elevated percentage of body fat, increasing their risk of disease.

Measuring Body Fat- according to Northwestern Health Sciences University, there are multiple ways that body fat can be measured.

A common way of testing body fat utilizes skin calipers. With this method, several zones on the body are grasped with the calipers…

The tester notes how much flesh is caught by the calipers and then uses a formula or body fat calculator to determine your body fat percentage.

Another prevalent method is bioelectrical impedance, which uses a very low electrical current to determine the percentage of fat.

Hydrostatic weighing, another popular method, is more comprehensive than the pervious options and typically done at a hospital or university.

You are momentarily submerged in a shallow pool of water, from there your weight on solid ground is compared to your weight underwater to determine your body fat percentage.

You should not expect 100 percent accuracy from any of these methods.

Yet, they will give you a general concept of your current body fat percentage and allow you to track your progress as you progress through your fitness program.

Participating in fitness testing, tracking of your weight, knowing your body mass index (BMI), and scheduling regular medical checkups will help you to manage your health in a more complete manner.

Being aware your body fat percentage will aid you in determining if your weight loss efforts are proceeding properly.

Desired Levels – aiming for 20 to 21 percent body fat is deemed acceptable for women according to the National Institutes of Health.

A woman is considered obese when her body fat percentage reaches 30 percent or higher.

The University of California claims that while 20 percent is acceptable, healthy body fat readings can be as low as 10 percent, which is considered an “athletic” level.

However, anything below 10 percent is regarded as underweight and unhealthy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn individuals take several issues into consideration when determining health.

Excess weight around your midsection increases your risk for health problems more than additional weight around other portions of the body.

If you are female, your waist circumference should be no greater than 35 inches (unless you are pregnant).

Finally, being physically inactive and poor eating habits will damage your health.

Weight Loss Coach

If you remember the following formulas…

You can discover how to lose weight, healthy weight loss and keep it off!

Formula #1:

Calories out is greater than Calories in = Weight Loss

This formula is as basic as weight loss gets.

If you exercise and burn more calories than you eat…at the end of the day you will lose weight. Plain and simple!

To lose weight fast is all about calorie intake or creating  “calorie deficiency.”

At the end of a day that does not mean you have to starve yourself.

In fact, decreasing your calories too much can have the opposite effect on your body causing shut down or “starvation” mode.

The human body is built for survival…

When you consume too few calories and not enough water, your body can actually shut down your metabolism to a point where you’ll not burn fat.

Actually your body will store water (called water retention).

So, you definietly will not lose weight and you could in fact gain weight by increasing water retention.

This is where Formula #2 comes into play:

Water + Oxygen = Fat burning

When you breathe, you move the rivers and streams of internal water within your body.

Your physical body is over 70% water and your blood is 90% water.

This water is filled with electro-conductive metals such as sodium, potassium, iron, manganese, magnesium, etc.

This is how bio-electricity is conducted through your physical body.

Basically, your body needs water with increased oxygen to burn fat as an energy source.

Water intake can be anywhere from 1/2 gallon for women.

As you drink water, your body will be able to use the retained water for excretion or detox (elimination of toxins) prompting healthy weight loss.

This is not the same as sitting in a sauna and sweating which actually dehydrates your system.

Drinking water will rehydrate your system and enable your body to burn more fat.

As long as you increase your oxygen intake by doing some form of exercise:

• Walking
• Swimming
• Biking
• Jogging
• Calisthenics
• Gardening
• Lifting weights can help with fat loss and working your cardiovascular system…

Here are some sample calorie expenditures (calories burned) for a variety of exercises for women who weigh 130 – 190 lbs.

If you weigh more than 190 lbs you will actually burn calories, more calories at a faster rate than a lighter woman:

Aerobics:  130 lbs – 300 Calories Per Hour
                     190 lbs – 500 Calories Per Hour

Basketball:   130 lbs – 475 Calories Per Hour  
                        190 lbs – 675 Calories Per Hour

Pushups:  130 lbs – 480 Calories Per Hour  
                   190 lbs – 690 Calories Per Hour

Child Care:  130 lbs – 210 Calories Per Hour  
                       190 lbs – 300 Calories Per Hour

Gardening:  130 lbs – 290 Calories Per Hour  
                        190 lbs – 400 Calories Per Hour

Jogging:  130 lbs – 410 Calories Per Hour  
                  190 lbs – 600 Calories Per Hour

Pushing Stroller:  130 lbs – 150 Calories Per Hour  
                                   190 lbs – 210 Calories Per Hour

Jumping Jacks or Rope:  130 lbs – 450 Calories Per Hour  
                                                  190 lbs – 650 Calories Per Hour

Swimming:    130 lbs – 550 Calories Per Hour  
                          190 lbs – 890 Calories Per Hour

Tennis:   130 lbs – 400 Calories Per Hour  
                  190 lbs – 600 Calories Per Hour

Walking 3 mph:  130 lbs – 250 Calories Per Hour  
                                 190 lbs – 350 Calories Per Hour

These are just a few of the popular exercises you can use to burn calories.

In fact, everything you do (breathing, sitting, standing) burns calories even while sleeping!

As you can see from the above exercise list, any activity that help you burn calaories more are the most rigorous or can be done for several hours.

Take a look at my other health related articles for information on calories as part of the weight loss equation.

It is never a good idea to limit your calories under 1500 calories per day.

In fact, you should consult a nutritionist or dietician if you plan to go under 1500 calories.

The main reason is you can lose weight but become unhealthy due to lack of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from a lower calorie diet.

Remember, the key to lose weight with any weight loss program is drinking water.

You want to eat health food and drink water while developing a fitness plan that helps you add oxygen to burn calories, fat or excess fat.

This will produce the “caloric deficiency” needed if you want to lose weight.

Lose weight and enhancing women’s health…what’s the secret?

Weight Loss Coach

It’s a question many women deal with on a daily basis.

What’s the best way to lose weight and keep it off?

Pointers on Losing Weight Safely…

Women who want to lose weight commonly, and first of all think about reducing the amount of food they eat.

This may be a quick solution, not exactly the best choice.

In fact, depending on the amount you reduce in your food intake, it may even be dangerous to your health.

So how do you lose weight effectively and safely?

Here are some points to consider as a lose weight guide:

Beware of the Crash Diet…

Most women think trimming down calories alone can shed their unwanted excess fat.

Probably this is because of the low carb fad there is in advertising about low-calorie food products and beverages.

What a lot of women don’t know is this could be dangerous because when they decrease their calorie intake way below daily required levels, the body’s organs begin to shut down.

Burning fat requires a lot of energy.

Since there is not much energy to facilitate metabolism of fat, the body will run at a very slow pace resulting in fatigue, illness and weak immune system.

Researchers at California Polytechnic State University say the answer may rest in how your home environment supports you in your weight loss success.

The new study, appearing in The Annals of Behavioral Medicine, has found predictable factors like exercise and control over eating and over eating play a vital role…

So do factors in the home like fewer TV sets and more exercise equipment.

Researchers say people with fewer TV sets have better weight loss success.

Researchers compared people who had lost over 10 percent of their body weight and kept it off for at least five years.

They compared overweight or obese individuals who have been unsuccessful with long-term weight loss.

They found people successful at weight loss:

• Have a strong commitment
• Exercised more often
• Made healthy food choices
• Healthy eating habits
• Healthier homes (fewer televisions)
• More exercise equipment
• Better quality food…

“You have to pay attention to your home environment if you want to succeed. Do you have a TV in every room? When you walk into your kitchen, do you see high-fat food or healthy food?”

Asked the study’s lead author Suzanne Phelan.

Dr. David Katz from the Yale University School of Medicine says the study proves some markers of success are self-explanatory.

For example: Exercising more and eating more sensibly.

It also highlights the importance of changing your environment to promote a healthier lifestyle rather than just having willpower.

Some health practitioners have suggested an alkaline diet for people trying to shed extra pounds.

It is based on citrus fruits, vegetables, tubers, nuts and legumes.

Remember, as your weight loss coach I’m committed to helping you get better results and enjoy a happier quality of lifestyle success.

The reality is, success weight loss stories only happen as you succeed, so that’s another reason why I’m motivated to help you every step of the way.

If you have any weight loss questions or need help with weight loss, feel free to email: hookedonfood (at) gmail.com

 Weight Loss Study of Home Environment Important For Your Success!