10 great ways to get a flat stomach

Thank you Women's Health for throwing out all the diet craziness and just getting down to the basics.  Here are the top 10 ways Women's Health says to flatten your abs.

1: Eat when your hungry - 5 small meals or 3 bigger meals....it is the calories in that count
2: Eat FAT - the healthy kind (MUFA's - avocados, nuts, olive oil)
3: Eat don't count Calories - don't stress on counting calories just load up on lean protein, healthy fruits,veggies & complex carbs
4: Eat CARBS!! - yes the healthy complex whole grains not the donuts!
5: Eat WHEY Protein - this helps us lose fat and build lean muscle tissue
6: Pump some Iron - the best way to build a lean machine is to strength train 2-3 times /week
7: Drink some milk & Eat some cheese - the calcium and Vitamin D helps you to build muscle & burn fat
8: Limit sugar and artificial sweetners intake - it's time to break the sugar addiction
9: Stay away from the weight loss supplements - most of these are unproven and just want your money
10: Eat healthy after a big work out - try lean protein and complex carbs

Check out the link for the full article
flatten your stomach

101 greatest running tips

Check out this link to Women's Health if you are a runner.  Here are some fantastic tips from various experts!
101 greatest running tips

Love It - Quick glance on eating healthy!!

Here is a great recap found of healthy eating habits

Not sure of the source off the internet so let me know if you find it

DIETS DON"T WORK

Here is a great link talking about why diets don't work and why a healthy lifestyle is better.

Nourish, Move, Thrive

How to do a proper Squat

How to do a proper squat

Squats work the quads, hamstrings, and gluts all at the same time

Stand feet shoulder width apart with shoulders stacked over hips weight in your heels

bend your knees and lower as if you were going to sit in a chair

keep knees over your ankles and behind your toes

Ouch to your knees if they go past your toes

lower to 90 degrees and then stand up

practice with a real chair to master the move but do not sit in the chair

also you can try a wall squat to master the motion of going down and back

lower to 90 degrees on the wall with your toes out past your knees

Thanks to MedicineNet for this link

The Proper Squat

How to do the proper Lunge

Lunges work all major muscles of the lower body

Take a big step forward front knee is behind the front toe

Bend front knee to aprox 90 degrees

Keep weight on the back toe and drop your back knee almost to the floor

Back knee should be under the hips which are under the shoulders

Roll shoulders so weight is shifted back and your abs are engaged

This is one of the most improperly performed exercise.  Do it right so you do not hurt your knees

Thanks MedicineNet for the link the proper lunge

Hormones That make you thin

Just finished reading Jackie Warner's book - This is Why you're FAT

Here is a recap to help you understand the role your hormones play:
Hormones that make you thin

HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE (Fountain of youth)
HGH forces your body to draw fat from your fat reserves first
HGH helps you grow more muscle cells, have more energy, more sex drive and great skin & Hair
HGH decrease as we age but Diet & Strength Training can boost it
Cut Back on carbs at night
Get a good night sleep (deep sleep produces HGH)
Dont' drink caffeine past 3:00 in the day
Eat Casein rich foods like cottage cheese & Lean proteins

TESTOSTERONE (Muscle Builder)
Made in our Ovaries and adrenal glands
Boosts energy, sex drive, strengthens bones, lifts depression
Eat beta-carotene rich foods, boron containing foods (fruit, prunes, nuts legumes)
Watch your fat intake, choose mono saturated & polyunsaturated fats in nuts and fish
More than 2 cups coffee or 4 cans soda a day can drop your  levels

PROGESTERONE (Slim and Trim)
Low levels can lead to Insomnia, weight gain, high sugar food cravings
Eat lots of B6 vitamin - bananas, avocados, spinach, tomatoes, almonds, eggs, seeds, beans


Hormones that make you FAT

INSULIN (Spikes make you fat)
Insulin rises and falls according to what you eat, especially carbs, too much insulin and your body will store fat
Your goal is an even flow of insulin with out the sugar spikes
Eat 3 small meals and 2 snacks daily,  add fibre, chia seeds, oatmeal, exercise to drive insulin down


ESTROGEN (balance it to be thin)
Too much slows the metabolism and thyroid, leads to weight gain and cellulite, and fluid retention
Can cause Estrogen Dominance
Processed foods and refined sugar, alcohol and too much caffeine, some plastic containers, some dairy products that feed their animal Estrogen compounds
To get the slim down
Eliminate sugar and highly processed foods, choose organic meats, decrease your stress

CORTISOL (create stress fat)
Too high levels the body stores fat that reside around the belly
Eat casein rich cottage cheese, green leafy veggies, whole grain breads, mushrooms and berries

LEPTIN (the appetite tamer)
Appetite suppressant, stops testosterone from dropping, boosts metabolism
Avoid MSG, get at least 8 hours sleep nightly (Leptin made while you sleep)
Eat slowly (10 -20 chews) as it takes 20 mins for Leptin to kick in, eat fish and get 9 mg of Zinc


Jackie has a great diet plan in the back of her book to follow if you want to balance out your hormones