Can Sex Help You Lose Weight?

A look at the effect of sex on weight loss, and the effect of weight loss on sex.

Sex and weight control have to be two of the most prominent thoughts that pass through everyone's mind. One or the other or both will be considered by most people frequently. Exactly what the substance of those thoughts are will vary from person to person. If the two could be tied together, it would be a very big discovery. Someone would get rich quickly.

Men would really like sex to control weight.

Everyone would like sex to help with weight control. Men especially would like this to be the case. Since women are more likely to agonize over a few extra pounds than men , this would make women want to have sex more often. Of course, for most men, this would be the ideal situation. She could trim up. He could be more satisfied in the bedroom. From the man's perspective, all would be right with the world.

Women would see this as an easy way to get rid of extra pounds.

Women would like this too. It would be a nice simple way to shed unwanted pounds without having to starve or be tortured in the gym. She could also learn how much sex was just enough to get rid of the weight. This would let a woman be able to determine when to start a program to drop a dress size of two for upcoming events.

Sex does not lead to automatic weight loss.

Unfortunately, sex does not usually burn enough calories to rate as a great exercise program unless you're able to perform sex while doing aerobics. It is the release of hormones and not the exertion of sex that makes people tired at the end of it. The rest may offset any extra calories burned by intercourse.

If either partner were to lose weight, it would most likely be men.

Men are normally the more physically active during most sexual encounters. This is even more true in marriage where most couples settle into a his and her role routine. But, science in this area suggests that while most people assume that they have done great strenuous exertion, most of the fatigue comes from hormones and not from the exercise.

Extra weight has an effect on the quality of sex.

The truth of the matter is, sorry to say, that extra weight affects sex more than sex affects weight. It can reduce stamina, create difficulty with certain positions, and even suck up extra hormones needed for strong sexual performance and desire. If it is weight loss you want, let your desire for good sex be a motivator for diet and a real exercise regimen. You will like the results more in the long run.

by Allen Teal contributor to Health Mad

Prom & Promises for 2009

One of the local bars in town started an annual "Prom" for us older kids. Last year I didn't get the chance to go, but this year, even though the hubby wasn't into it, me and a dozen or so of my friends got all dressed up and headed out to the event this year. What a blast! (That's me posing with one of my bestest buds Barno at the little photo opt thing they had set up.) I did end up consuming some alcohol, but I didn't hit the buffet table at all, so I did save a lot of calories there. My blood sugars were actually pretty good when I got home, but I contribute that to all the dancing I did. I joked that I think there were only 5 songs in that 3 1/2 hour span I wasn't shakin' my ass too! LOL

People took pics galore, and while I'm shuffling through them, it really hit me on how just the 15 lbs I had gained since going back on insulin looked on me. I actually started crying as I was going through them. Seeing the weight back on me was horrifying to me. This photo was to me one of the more acceptable ones. My husband, hearing me sniffling from his room asked if I was okay, and I told him why I was crying. He told me he thought I looked amazing Saturday night, but he would love me no matter what size I was. To me, I felt like a failure. A failure to myself and to my health.

I've vowed to print out some of the more "unflattering" pictures people took of me dancing/posing from that night and pinning them in front of my treadmill and on the refrigerator. It may seem drastic, but I need to come up with some way to push myself harder. To want to keep going, so that I can look at pictures of myself and be proud of my accomplishments, not see what a slacker I've been. I have to promise myself that I will get back on track, and get more strict with my food intake and workout routine.

On a more positive note, we had a blast! Everyone looked so amazing, and damn do we clean up good!! hahaha! We're all getting geared up for Crusher's birthday bash this coming Friday, which I already know I can't have anything to drink because of a fasting blood test in the morning, so I'll be lil miss sober sister, and Crusher's designated driver for the evening.

I do hope this week I'll be able to see a change in my determination to get fit and love myself again. I need to do this for me! Nite folks.

Still No Magic Pill for Weight Loss

by Jillian Michaels - trainer for The Biggest Loser

Who doesn't want to be fit and fabulous 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 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.

For now (and let's face it, forever), 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, honey, 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!

JILLIAN'S TIP OF THE DAY
Too Good to Be True...

If you see some claim that is too good to be true, it probably is. All you have to do is look at the fine print on the packaging of most diet pills to see that they're completely bogus. You'll find that there is almost always a disclaimer that says something like, "This product can successfully help you lose weight when accompanied by a sensible diet and exercise program." Why does it say that? Because the product itself has nothing to do with your weight loss, and your "sensible diet and exercise program" have everything to do with it. The good news is that you're on my program, so you're already on your way to successful weight loss!

Ya Don't HAVE to Run!

How to Get a Good Workout Without Running
Tips on good exercise without running.

Running is one of the most popular exercises people undertake the world over. It became a big fad in the United States some years ago and hence the many joggers you’ll see in the public parks, streets and beaches all over with their I-pod ear phones as they jog along. But how beneficial is running? How safe is it?

Running for pleasure or competitively is indeed a good work out but certainly not for all. You need a high degree of fitness to run the distance that will result in some benefits to you and there are many who are just not up to it. So what can the ones who are unable to keep up do to keep themselves fit? Have no worries, it will please you greatly to know there are many ways of having a reasonable workout without running as many factors can disqualify you from running . Injury to the knees, ankles or any part of the leg. Being overweight and even lack of enough time.

Here are a few tips you can try to spike up your body on your way to being fit without running. If you cannot run, walk. Walking is much more gentle to the knees and ankles. It’s also kind to the heart and most can do it without serious risks. Start slowly and walk one step at a time. This means increase your distances every other day as you get fitter. If you can do the same distance but in a shorter time meaning increase your walking speed. If you live not too far away from home, leave your car at home and walk to and from work. Ensure though you have your bottle of water and I-pod if it pleases you to make the experience more pleasant.

In the office if you have a desk job, get up now and then and stretch. Walk around the office, up and down stairs whenever you have the opportunity. Avoid the lift and soon you will be able to handle the stair climb easily. If you are a housewife or work from home, do some gardening or loan mowing. These and many household chores will help you burn the calories and keep you fitter without having to run.

Include in your exercise routine some stretching to improve your flexibility. Flexibility will help you avoid injuries and that is also why one should warm up slowly before any exercise. Invest in small dumbbells to boost your strength. To start with, a thirty minute workout will be adequate three times a week. This could vary between a five kilometer walk or a brisk three kilometer one followed by cool down and stretches. Increase the intensity and sets as you get fitter. Raise the bar higher as you improve but don’t overdo anything. Be safe and do what you are able but bottom line, grow to enjoy the workouts.

http://www.healthmad.com/Fitness/How-to-Get-a-Good-Workout-Without-Running.615731

Responsible

You cannot avoid responsibility.

You can either suffer the painful consequences of ignoring it, or you can enjoy the outstanding benefits of acknowledging and accepting responsibility.

You are responsible for your life and for the world around you. When you feel the full extent of that responsibility, and connect it to your authentic purpose, you can do truly amazing things.

Why would you want to accept responsibility for circumstances that are not of your making? Because responsibility gives you the power to change things.

If something affects you, then you have the opportunity to be positively and creatively responsible for it. Even if you didn't create the situation, you can still make the very best of it.

Responsibility is not some burden that is heaped upon you. On the contrary, it is a powerful and effective tool for moving your whole world in the direction you choose.

Invest your awareness, attention, effort and commitment in the responsibility that is yours. And enjoy the dividends that come from truly making a difference in the world.

-- Ralph Marston



Read more: "The Daily Motivator - Responsible" - http://greatday.com/motivate/090326.html#ixzz0Arpo0aVV