One of the most basic ways to get in shape is using your own bodyweight. Uou have undoubtedly done this already in the past using pushup, situps, chinups and there are lots more.

I ran across an article on CNN about some people trying to popularize working out only using your own bodyweight lathough some of the equipment may be a bit hard to come by.

The Bartendaz of New York want to serve as many young people as possible — and that’s a good thing.
One of the Bartendaz, Metaphysics, performs the flag move during a demonstration at an Atlanta-area school.

These fitness gurus aren’t promoting underage drinking. Named for the creative moves they perform on the pull-up bar, the Bartendaz are empowering youths through calisthenics. Read the rest of this entry »

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

Tags: Atlanta, Bartendaz, Bartendaz founder, CNN, founder, Hassan Yasin, Ludacris, New York, rapper, Rashad Evans, YouTube

South Beach Diet" align="left" border="0" />I have many people ask me about the South Beach Diet. The South Beach Diet is a popular diet that has led a lot of people to success but it is shrouded in mystery. No one seems to be straight about what you eat and why or why the diet works. This mini review should answer some of those questions for you.

The South Beach Diet is not a traditional low-carb plan. Instead, you’ll be encouraged to choose the right carbs, such as whole grains and certain fruits and vegetables; the right fats, such as olive, and canola oil; and lean sources of protein. You’ll find plenty of information on The South Beach Diet Online to help guide you. Explore this site for more on the diet and what you can expect.

Here is what the founder, Dr Agatston has to say about the South Beach Diet

“The real secret to The South Beach Diet is that it’s not just a diet, it’s a way to eat for life.”
Dr. Agatston.

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How does the South Beach Diet Work?

The South Beach diet works in three phases, this is pretty simple and here is what takes place in each phase.

South Beach Diet Phase 1

for two weeks kick-starts your weight loss. You’ll eat normal-size portions of lean meat, fish, eggs, reduced-fat cheese, nonfat yogurt, nuts, and plenty of vegetables. Snacks and desserts are part of the plan, as well.

South Beach Diet Phase 2

Next, you’ll move on to Phase 2, where you’ll learn to reintroduce the right carbs, such as whole grains and most fruits. Some indulgences are allowed. You should continue to lose weight on Phase 2 until you reach your goal.

South Beach Diet Phase 3

Once you’ve reached your goal weight, you’ll move to Phase 3 (the maintenance phase), where you’ll continue to make good eating choices. The plan will feel less like a diet and more like a lifestyle.

Why does the South Beach Diet work this way?

The South Beach Diet follows the same principles of other diets based on the Glycemic Index. When we’ve eaten, the carbohydrates in food get broken down into sugars, which are then absorbed into the blood causing a rise in blood sugar. In response, the hormone insulin is released from the pancreas to remove the sugar from the blood.

Carbohydrate-rich foods with a high glycemic index, like bagels, cornflakes, white bread and jacket potatoes cause a rapid rise in blood sugar, resulting in the release of a large amount of insulin to deal with this. This causes blood sugar levels to drop rapidly, leaving you lacking in energy, craving more carbs and quickly feeling hungry so that you eat again. If this pattern is frequently repeated, you’re likely to gain weight as a result a constantly overeating. But on top of this, over time the body becomes resistant to the action of insulin and when this happens, the body becomes more effective at storing fat – especially around our middle! No surprises then that to lose weight, foods with a high GI are out!

In contrast, carbs with low glycemic index such as pasta, pulses and porridge slowly release sugar into the blood, providing a steady supply of energy and leaving you feeling satisfied for longer. This means you get fewer carb cravings, don’t constantly feel hungry and so are less likely to overeat. Plus there’s less chance that your body will become resistant to the effects of insulin with the result that it continues to burn fat efficiently. Foods with a low GI are therefore recommended if you want to lose weight.

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South Beach Diet Online

The trouble that most people have with this kind of diet is that it is very hard to track the glycemic levels of all food so the online version of this diet is great and offers over a 1000 recipes so that you never get bored of the food. Also for people looking for a diet that they can just start there is no real barrier to entry. You just go to the grocery store and buy the food that you can cook at home so all you need is the recipes and support network from the website and the grocery store. Very refreshing I would say.

So there you have it. The diet seems to work quite well and in general I do like the idea of the GI index and GI types of diets. Look at the online South Beach diet site so that you can get lots of tips, recipes and tools that will help you more than just buying a book from the store. Try this diet out and let me know by giving me feedback as to how the diet has worked out for you.

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Tags: Agatston, canola oil, delicious food, diet site, energy, food, founder, gi diet, glycemic index, low carb diets, Online The trouble, online version, south beach, South Beach Diet

Fitness training is becoming more popular every year. Many health clubs ar now offering circuit training as the only way to work out in their gym. One such place is Curves, a weight loss program that includes a gym as well as a eating plan. Circuit training is good as it allows you to do weights for strength training and also you get a chance to get a good cardio workout as well because you are doing your weight sets at such a fast pace. Two for one and a quick workout too.

The boxing bell rings and Alan Katz starts pounding away at a punching bag. After 30 seconds the bell rings again and it’s off to arm curls at the next station. In 20 minutes, he’s completed a series of cardio and strength training stations that experts say is in an excellent way to stay in shape.

The Blitz in Tampa, Fla., where Katz exercises three times a week, is among the growing number of gyms promising an express circuit workout, which involves a laid-out course of about a dozen exercise stations. The concept – around for decades but popularized in the market by Curves for Women several years ago – is finding favor with the mass of Americans who say they just don’t have the time to exercise.

“What’s beautiful about it – you’re catching everything in 20 minutes. I come out of there and I know I’ve done everything. It’s a no-brainer,” said Katz, a 47-year-old suburban Tampa resident. As a working father of two teenage girls, time is a scarce commodity.

Despite the national obsession with fitness, about 85 percent of Americans do not belong to a gym, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. The most frequently cited reason for not joining a gym? A lack of time and intimidation, said Brooke Correia, the industry group’s spokeswoman.

“The majority of these people are open game for the industry,” Correia said.

It’s no surprise that circuit workouts – cheap, low-key and easy to understand – are popping up in strip malls coast to coast. About a third of the country’s estimated 30,000 health clubs are now express workout facilities, according to IHRSA. While Curves found an audience among middle-aged and older women, the spinoffs are branching out to other groups.

Cuts Fitness for Men, which opened in 2003, now has 90 locations across the country. With a tan-and-blue color scheme and “Cheers”-like camaraderie, founder John Gennaro said members are typically between 30 and 60 and often watch a baseball game together after their workouts.

The Blitz, a boxing-themed circuit gym, has 75 locations nationwide. This fall, president Scott Smith is planning a foray into the 18 to 35 market with a coed, military-themed version called “Commandos.”

Even major chains like 24 Hour Fitness and Gold’s Gym have rolled out circuit workouts.

One circuit gym in southern California invites the entire family to work out. At Family Fitness Express in LaCanada, Calif., members are encouraged to bring along the kids, or even grandma and grandpa.

“It’s a great first step into fitness. And it’s a whole lot better than sitting at home and watching TV,” said Richard Cotton, spokesman for the American Council on Exercise.

The appeal of a circuit workout is easy to understand. The cost is typically between $20 to $40 for a monthly membership. For those who have never stepped foot in a gym before, the routine takes the guess work out of exercise.

Tags: Alan Katz, American Council on Exercise, baseball, Brooke Correia, California, Florida, founder, Gold's Gym, International Health, John Gennaro, president, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, Richard Cotton, Scott Smith, spokesman, spokeswoman, Tampa, USD