As is rightly said, losing weight is much tougher than to gain it. The reason behind this fact that you don’t have to work hard to gain weight but may have to bring a dramatic change in your lifestyle to get back to your desired body shape. You may have spent countless number of hours in the gym, followed a healthy diet plan, or hired a personal fitness trainer to shed extra flab from your body, but the truth is that you can very easily gain few pounds again if you fail to maintain and sustain your Weight Loss Encino.

You can maintain your weight if you choose to follow the instructions of your personal trainer in your daily routine. This article is composed with intention of providing useful information to readers about how they can maintain their weight loss by following simple instructions.

1. Build Lean Muscle. You can continue to build lean muscle for maintaining or even improving your metabolism. Muscle has been reported to have a higher metabolism as compared to body fat. You can add weight training to your weight management program, and add to the amount of weight you’re working with to make your training more challenging.

2. Reduce Your Food Cravings. You should learn to effectively deal with your hunger quotient. Focus on consuming more �filling� foods which can make you feel fulfilled for a longer period of time, which will reduce your food cravings considerably. At the same time, your body will not be deprived of essential nutrients that it requires to keep functioning normally. Protein shakes are healthy and delicious meal replacements which nourish your body as well as keep it filled for a longer duration of time. Food with high content of fiber can keep you filled for longer durations. Water also is a natural source which you should drink regularly to satiate your hunger quotient in between the meals. It will keep your Weight Loss Encino in check.

3. Don’t Give In To Temptation. It’s very easy to give in to temptation even when you’re on weight loss management program. A study has revealed that how people with normal weight are more successful in resisting temptation against forbidden treats. That is not to say that you shouldn’t enjoy a gooey desert again, but you have to be very selective and restrictive about the moments that you will be having this type of food.

4. Keep A Calorie Count. Don’t assume anything; rather keep an account of your calorie intake regularly. Regular calorie count can keep you updated about your daily calorie intake. You should know very well if you are consuming more calories than your body requires or you are well within the limits. When you have a clear picture with you, your life will be much more easier.

5. Add Minutes To Your Exercise Plan. You should avoid relaxing during your exercise plan just because you have achieved desired weight. Add minutes to your exercise plan to challenge yourself after every few days.

Staying fit is a matter of concern for many and the most effective thing to do to maintain health fitness is to undertake training sessions. This can be done at home or at a commercial gym. However, you would require the best gym equipment to make the most of it.

For those who prefer guidelines from a trainer, it is recommended for them to visit a commercial gym. While selecting a gym, make sure it has the necessary commercial gym equipment to exercise all body parts. Some of the most popular pieces are adjustable gym bench, bench and squat rack and calibrated weight discs. There are some things to keep in mind while selecting each workout equipment. This is necessary because while working out, you need to hit the targeted muscles as effectively as possible which can only be achieved if the equipment you are using is of high quality.

What to consider before choosing an adjustable gym bench?

If you wish to set up a small gym at your home, one of the first pieces of equipment you should invest in is an adjustable gym bench. Some things to consider while choosing an adjustable gym bench are:

You should first consider the number of positions you want the bench to have. Some adjustable gym benches allow the users to workout at a handful of positions while others offer a dozen positions. So make sure that you buy the one that meets your need.
If you need a decline position on the bench, make sure that the bench you select provides this option. This is necessary because not every bench out there offers this.
The capacity of the bench should also be considered by you. If you are a person who works out with heavy weights then selecting a low capacity gym bench will not be suitable
The size of the bench is also an important factor. The height of the user and the space the bench provides should be considered.

What to consider before buying a bench and squat rack?

Another very commonly used piece of gym equipment is the bench and squat rack. These are very sturdy and versatile machines meant for the workout of the upper and lower body of the user. These machine are popular amongst power lifters as they have a dual purpose rack enabling them to both bench press and squat using one piece of kit.

Some things to consider while buying a bench and squat rack are:

It should be of the ideal size so that it suits every user.
The safety bars should be there so that the weights do not fall over the user, causing injury.
High-end racks come with accessories like a weight bench, so buy those

Every individual has a different body composition, hence a different metabolism. Energy needed by the body to survive and function comes from the food that we eat. The process by which our body converts food to energy is known as Metabolism. Metabolism impacts each and every act of our body. A fast metabolism uses calories very quickly whereas a slow metabolism uses very few calories. Generally, it is slow metabolism which is blamed for weight related issues. However there are ways to boost your metabolism and maintain optimal health and weight.

There are many myths and facts spinning around metabolism. It has been a topic of hot discussion. However, with all the fad diets intended to speed up one’s metabolism, the facts often get distorted with fiction. We help you sort out the fact from the fiction here.

Myth 1: Metabolic rate cannot change

Fact: While it’s true that genetics help determine our metabolic rates, we can boost our metabolism by increasing lean muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories compared to fat, which directly states that people with lean, high muscle mass need more calories to function than people with a higher percentage of body fat. Our muscle mass decreases as we age, and this contributes to a slower metabolic rate. This process can be counteracted by:

Incorporating strength training which increases muscle mass and thus helps increase the metabolic rate

Getting enough sleep and rest so that you feel energetic and have good productivity the
next day. Studies have shown that not getting enough sleep and rest also slows down your
metabolism. Also, individuals who are sleep-deprived tend to eat more at night especially carbohydrate rich foods. So, more sleep is important for a healthier metabolism.
Simple dietary modifications and physical activity can make big changes in how fast someone can utilise calories at rest.

Myth 2: Green tea & spicy foods will boost metabolism

Fact: A study found that caffeinated green tea improved weight loss and maintenance but there are other studies that do not show this effect. Another study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition stated that decaffeinated green tea extract could potentially help people to lose weight, however, one would need to drink 6-7 cups a day and also exercise to see the benefits. And for people suffering from heart problems, high blood pressure or anxiety it would be advisable to consult a doctor before you brew the first cup of the caffeinated tea.

Similarly, eating spicy foods can also bump up the metabolism a little. However, the bump isn’t significant enough to constitute weight loss.
So, the fact still remains that exercise and eating a balanced diet packed with nutrients is the key to weight loss

Myth 3: Slow metabolism is the result of eating late night meals.

Facts: Late night eating has always been blamed for weight gain. But, it is not the late night snacking rather the extra calories that lead to weight gain. Factors like hormones, food quality and energy expenditure impacts how our body stores fuel. There is little scientific evidence to back the claim that eating late at night causes weight gain. It is actually the mindless eating throughout the day – especially eating calories higher than energy expenditure that can lead to weight gain. Rather than being concerned about the time of eating, one should be more concerned about the total calorie intake vs the expenditure.

Myth 4: Starvation or low calorie diets can contribute to weight loss

Facts: As discussed earlier, creating an energy deficit leads to weight loss. This means ingesting fewer calories than the total body energy expenditure. Eating frequent and small meals with quantity and quality of food in check helps many people keep hunger level and cravings in control. This makes sure the intake of calories is in check. Often, low calorie diets and starvation have rebound effects on weight loss and hence additionally slow down the metabolism. This happens when on a low calorie or a starvation diet the body goes into a starvation mode and refuses to let go of the fat since the body is programmed for survival.

A large number of people are dealing with the problems of weight gain and obesity and most of them are not sure how they can deal with these conditions which have caused them to feel embarrassed and develop a sense of inferiority complex. Both of these conditions are typically caused due to two reasons- eating in excess and eating unhealthy food and drinks. It has been found that eating in excess has a primary role to play in people gaining excess weight.

Over-eating is a main contributor to obesity problems across the globe, not just western world. Portion sizes are much larger than now they used to be in the past, making people eat in excess amounts than their body really needs. Some people have this perception that if they eat more of a nutritional food, it will help them in Weight Loss Encino. But that’s far from truth because even too much a good can do bad to you. This article is composed with intention to provide useful information pertaining to reducing portion size to people who are concerned about increasing weight. Read on to know more about it.

– If you don’t have any idea of how to judge portion sizes, try to weigh your food on a good quality food scale. Also, you can scoop the rice or pasta with a half-cup measuring cup before you dish it out on your plate. Remember, it’s more convenient to put less than required amount of food and adding more to it if required instead of putting more than what is required in your plate and putting the leftovers to trash bin.

– In case you are dining out, remember that restaurants and hotels tend to serve 2-3 times more the amount of food than you otherwise eat in a single sitting. Divide your meal and take only the amount you can eat. If you cannot eat the whole meal, you can get it packed and take it to your home for the next day.

– If you are using a regular or large dinner plates or bowls, it’s high time you replace these with small sized ones. By doing this, you can really cut down on your portion intake. Also, avoid eating till you fill fulfilled; rather finish your meal while you are still feeling hungry to some extent.

– You can replace your regular meal with meal replacements which are very popular with people who are striving to achieve Weight Loss Encino. Nutritious shakes are ideal meal replacements as they tend to nourish your body with a right balance of nutrients while blocking your hunger for a longer period of time. Moreover, they are delicious in taste, affordable to buy, and feeds your body with more liquid which is always good to stay hydrated.

– Last but not least, drink pure water as much as you can to satisfy your cravings. Drinking water will also make you feel fulfilled for a longer duration of time. In addition, you can also increase intake of fresh fruits, dry fruits, and fruit juices.

Naturally thin people may be the way they are on account of their genetics or their low food intake which means they feel fuller faster thus prompting them to eat less or a hormonal imbalance or a high metabolism which metabolizes the food that they eat instantaneously thus increasing the overall requirement of the calories and other nutrients. According to the BMI (Body Mass Index) range, a BMI of less than 18.5 is qualified as being under weight. Though a growing minority, the underweight people may be at risk for health concerns like nutrient deficiencies, osteoporosis especially in women, lowered immune system and fertility issues in women to name a few.

‘Eat as much as you can’ is a common advice one gets when one is trying to gain weight, especially for someone who has always been lean and lanky. You may gain weight but it may not be the best indicator of how healthy you are. The body composition is a better tool to ascertain your health and fitness along with the weight. It is a measure of how much of your weight comes from lean mass, which includes muscle, bone, connective tissue and water, and how much comes from fat. It is commonly noticed that in spite of the weight and BMI being well within the normal range, the fat composition is very high suggesting that the fitness levels are not appropriate and this makes the individual susceptible to various metabolic diseases.

It may sound odd, but it’s possible to get thinner without actually seeing a change in your weight. This happens when you lose body fat while gaining muscle. Your weight may stay the same or even increase, even as you lose inches, a sign that you’re moving in the right direction. Similarly, while gaining weight it is again possible that the individual is gaining weight with an increase in the fat mass and not the muscle mass indicating that the weight gain is not happening in the right manner.

Here are some healthy ways to gain weight if you are underweight:

1. Eat more frequently: If you feel that you cannot eat more food at a time then it would be wise to eat five to six smaller meals rather than three main meals.

2. Increase the calorie intake: Determine your daily calorie needs with your BMR and gradually increase the number of calories (watch where you get them from).

3. Snack smart: Calorie dense snacks like nuts, cheese, dried fruits, hummus or guacamole with whole wheat breads, peanut or almond butter with bread, smoothies and milkshakes will help you get calories with other nutrients.

4. Pay attention to the fat: Avoid the saturated fats from butter, margarine, ghee, salad dressings like mayonnaise and thousand island dressing and full fat dairy and dairy products. They are not good for your heart. Instead use vegetable oils which contain the good fats. You could drizzle extra olive oil on salads, soups and breads (do not overdo it).

5. Don’t overdo the protein: Medical research shows that consuming more of protein could actually harm your body. Eating more protein and increasing the calorie intake will add up to the fat mass in the body and cause stress on the other body systems. So, consume proteins in moderation (15% of your total daily caloric intake). Lean chicken and fish are your best choices when it comes to animal proteins.

6. Chuck the junk: Avoid the sweet and processed foods. Your weight gain will be mainly fat gain which will increase your risk to the diseases that result from their consumption.

7. Remember to exercise: Exercise, especially weight training helps in building muscle and thus gain weight. Exercise also helps stimulate the appetite.

No matter what the reason is to put on weight, it is important to focus on the nutrient profile of the calorie dense foods and not just the quantity of calories in them. Eating more calories should not give one a license to binge on the junk foods that have only empty calories and no other nutrients in them. Eating more calories from the right foods along with a monitored exercise program will ensure that the weight you gain is the muscle weight and not from fat.
A qualified nutritionist plays an important role in formulating a good weight gain diet. She would be able to provide the right body building nutrition with appropriate percent of the macronutrients carbohydrates, proteins and fats in order to maintain the desired body composition. If one does not have means to visit a qualified fitness and sports nutritionist in and around their place there are various nutrition companies offering online nutrition services for the same.