Get Off The Phone!

Last night I went to the gym and hoped on the elliptical machine. Usually I do cardio but decide that I was going to use the fat burners option instead. Difference, well the fat burning option my heart rate is no higher than 120 and the cardio my heart rate should be no higher than 150.

So I get on my machine no one to my left and a man to my right. The guy seemed a little distracted and I couldn't figure out why. He kept looking in my direction. So I continue along and then I realize what his issue is, the lady on his right is flappin her lips on her cellphone. Are you kidding me! Your at the gym, on a machine and your talking on your phone. I really felt sorry for the person she was talking to, I mean, I wouldn't want to listen to some chic huffing and puffing on the other end! Geez, isn't there a time and a place??

Are You A People Watcher?

If you know me then you know I am fairly laid back, if something plucks my nerve then I can be a bit snarky and if something pisses me off then I can have a very vulgar mouth. Don't let the picture fool you, I am not as sweet as I look!

What I am though, is a people watcher. I love to watch people and sometimes it is much better than TV. Unfortunately it does come off as staring sometimes which does get some looks and a lot of "Honey, cut it out!" from my husband. Why and I posting about it here and not at my Nonsense blog? Answer, it has to do with the gym!

When I go to the gym I usually hit the Elliptical machine. At my gym the cardio area is right in the front and it gives you the birds eye view of the whole gym. I don't tend to judge people, especially about their weight, as I have had weight issues since I got pregnant with my son 13 years ago. What I do do is try to figure out what people are about. Like there is one woman who is super skinny and when she works out she usually has on several layers of clothing. Why? To absorb more sweat, to make more sweat? Does she have self image issues? Possibly! Honestly, I couldn't wear all those layers without feeling like I want to die.

Then there is the women who comes in and get on the cardio machines with a hat on, not a baseball hat or a winter hat but a fancy hat that's paired with weight lifting gloves! What is that one about? I can't even begin to figure it out..let me know what you think!

Then you have your typical I need a date chic, who comes in with her hair all teased up and loads of makeup on. You can tell she is not there to get all hot and sweaty. Who wears all that make up to the gym? Honey, you are not at a dance club! If I wore all that make up, I would look like an abstract water color painting with the way I sweat!

Tune in next time for the men!

Top Diet Pills?

This is a list of what is supposed to be the top diet pills. As my post below stated, If diet pills really worked, we would all be skinny and my dear, if you are reading this and taking diet pills and you are, I am going to be frank, still fat, then there is a HUGE (no pun intended) chance you are wasting your money. With all the fitness centers around, you could actually join a gym and save yourself alot of money! The gym I go to just had a special going for new members to join and pay $10.00 a month.

There are two types of diet pills:

PRESCRIPTION: Available only through your doctor; closely regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); may cause side effects; often costly.

NON-PRESCRIPTION: (fat burners, stackers, herbal pills and sports supplements) Minimal FDA regulation, may be lacking in purity or quality; some are fairly new, definitive data is lacking; may cause side effects.

This list of best diet pills covers both prescription and non-prescription diet pills. It can be noted that the dangers diet pills carry with them are just as prevalent in prescription pills as in non-prescription.

PRESCRIPTION DIET PILLS
1. Phentermine. (Fastin, Ionamin, Adipex-P, generic versions) Appetite suppressant that affects neurotransmitters in the brain; appears on our list of best diet pills for short-term obesity management.

Pros: Approved and regulated by the FDA to promote weight loss.
Cons: Short-term use only; highly addictive.
Side effects: blurred vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties, headaches, decreased libido.

2. Xenical. (Orlistat) First drug in its class to be FDA approved (1999); blocks absorption of fat in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Pros: Gained a spot on our list of best diet pills for successfully preventing up to 30% fat from being stored by the body.
Cons: Despite effectiveness, also carries several dangers diet pills frequently exhibit. May block absorption of vital fat-soluble nutrients (Vitamins A, D, E, & K and beta carotene).
Side effects: bloating, diarrhea, oily stool. <------Yuck

3. Meridia. (Sibutramine) Enhances satiety by increasing the brain’s levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that signals a full stomach; brings several dangers diet pills can cause.

Pros: In studies, achieved 5-10% weight loss in one year.
Cons: Elevated blood pressure; not for people with heart disease or stroke history.
Side effects: nausea, insomnia, constipation, headache.

NON-PRESCRIPTION DIET PILLS
1. Hoodia Gordonii. Considered the top choice on our list of best diet pills, Hoodia Gordonii works safely without causing the dangers diet pills often bring with them; suppresses appetite by telling the brain that the stomach is full.

Pros: Suppresses appetite, increases metabolism, burns fat, increases energy.
Cons: Some Hoodia Gordonii products do not contain adequate levels of Hoodia to be beneficial.
Side Effects: None.

2. Chromium picolinate. Mineral thought to boost metabolism and stabilize blood sugar.

Pros: Some studies show benefit to diabetes patients.
Cons: Not proven for fat loss or muscle growth.

3. Conjugated Linoleic Acid. Believed to decrease the body’s deposit of fat.

Pros: May increase lean tissue, in turn raising metabolism.
Cons: May increase risk for diabetes; more data needed.

4. CoQ-10. Compound found in beans and spinach, changes food into energy.

Pros: On our list of best diet pills due to its anti-oxidant properties and claims of increasing energy.
Cons: Weight loss effectiveness not proven.

5. Fat Burners. (Hydroxycut, Zantrex, Leptoprin) Stimulates Central Nervous System for increased calorie burn, usually through Ephedra or Ma huang.

Pros: May burn a few calories per day.
Cons: Dangerous; may cause coma, seizures, heart attack.
Side Effects: jitters, sweating, diarrhea.

If you have tried any of these diet pills, please do share your results. Whether they are good or bad, I would love for you to share your experience.

Still Trying To Find The Magic Pill?

Who doesn't want to be fit with little or no effort? Well, as much as we'd all love to have one, there's no magic pill for weight loss. If all of the diet pills, shakes, and supplements that claim to work really did, everyone would be thin. And even then, we'd still maintain a steady diet of ice cream, chips, pizza, and candy. Let's not kid ourselves, people.

Successful weight loss still comes down to a simple formula. You have to burn more calories than you take in. Calories are a measure of the amount of energy provided by the food you eat — the more calories you eat, the more energy you are giving your body. If you give your body more energy than it can use — well, that's stored as fat.

Let's break it down. A pound of fat is equal to 3,500 calories. If you want to lose one pound in a week, you have to create a calorie deficit of 3,500 calories a week, or 500 calories a day. To lose two pounds in a week, you have to create a calorie deficit of 7,000 calories a week, or 1,000 calories a day, and so on. Get the idea?

There are two ways to create a calorie deficit — eat less and exercise. If you want to meet your weight-loss goals, start by comparing your calorie intake against your exercise expenditure. It's not a magic pill, but it's very simple. Find a way to cut and burn more calories and the weight will come off!

Water & Exercise

So yesterday was sort of a dull day. Zach and I went to the store to find the acne treatment he wanted. Well it is more of a face wash but at least he is now happy. Other than that I went to the gym for an hour and I read about the benefits of proper hydration during exercise.

I'll give you the short version!

You should drink 8-16 oz of water 2 hours before exercise to make sure you are properly hydrated and another4-8 oz right before you begin.

Drink 4-8 oz of water every 20 minutes while you are exercising. You need to make sure that you are replenishing the water that your body is sweating out.

After exercise you need to drink enough water to replace the fluids that you lost during your workout. Easy way to figure out how much water you will need is to weigh yourself before you exercise and again after. The for every pound you lost while doing your routine you will drink 2 cups of water.