Easy Ways for Women to Lose Weight

Yo-yo dieting is bad for you; it can lower your good cholesterol levels, decrease the function of your immune system and slow your metabolism. The easiest way for women to lose weight and to keep the weight off is to eat healthy, exercise regularly and set realistic goals that are easy to live with. Here are some tips for losing weight easily.

Plyometrics
Plyometrics is a type of training that involves jumping, hopping and bounding. It uses the principals of interval training--short, high-intensity cardio exercise alternated with longer periods of low-intensity cardio--to help women lose weight. This type of training was developed by the Eastern Europeans in the 1970's to build greater strength for the Olympics. Their program was based on scientific evidence showing that if you stretch your muscles before contracting them, it helps enhance your muscles' power. This high-intensity cardio training helps you lose weight and strengthens your muscles.

Pyramid Weightlifting
Pyramid weightlifting involves using a light set of weights for a warm-up round, then progressively increasing the weight in each set thereafter. For example, perform 15 repetitions at 55 percent of your maximum weight for your first set. With only a brief pause, perform 10 repetitions at 60 percent of your maximum, then six to eight repetitions at 65 percent of your maximum. According to Jillian Michaels in "Making the Cut," pyramid lifting helps build muscle by breaking the muscle down in order to build it back up. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories your body can burn, meaning more lost weight.

Diet
Eating a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, which are packed with nutrients and fiber, helps decrease bloating and assist with weight loss. The American Council on Exercise recommends you eat two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables daily for a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet. You diet should also include lowfat food choices that are low in calories. Be consistent throughout the week rather than dieting strictly on certain days and then taking other days off. You should also try to reduce your portion sizes by about 10 to 15 percent.

High-Intensity Cardio Activity
According to the American Council on Exercise, higher-intensity exercise burns more calories than lower-intensity exercise. Additionally, it helps to increase your caloric deficit and keeps your metabolism elevated even after you are finished working out. You can combine this with interval training, which alternates short bursts of activity with intense bursts of activity to help your body burn more calories.

Helpful Tips For Expectant Moms in Their First Pregnancy

Expecting a baby is the most exciting and scary time for a woman. The excitement of becoming a mother is often a lifelong dream for many women. Not knowing what to expect during the pregnancy as well as actually giving birth are things that definitely raises the fear factor. There is no better advice than from women that have already experienced pregnancy and childbirth to offer some helpful tips. Some of the tips may be about maternity clothing and how to find stylish maternity clothing without breaking the bank and how to stay in shape during pregnancy too. Other tips will be offered in this article as well.

There are so many new things to think about once you find out that you are expecting a baby. Many things that you enjoyed doing before that time, may not be healthy now that you are pregnant such as drinking alcohol, consuming a lot of caffeine or even eating certain foods like mercury filled fish. One of the best sources for pregnant women is the book titled, "What To Expect When You Are Expecting". It takes you through your pregnancy month by month and helps you to understand the various things that may happen over the course of the pregnancy that may seem unusual to you but are actually perfectly normal.

There are actually a lot of things that you can do prior to becoming pregnant to ensure a better pregnancy for you and your baby. If you are dependent on caffeine and cigarettes, attempt to quit both of them before getting pregnant. Also, if you are overweight, try to lose those extra pounds and become more physically fit before getting pregnancy as maintaining your exercise regimen during your pregnancy will make your delivery and recovery that much easier. Sometimes, the most important preparation happens before you even get pregnant.

Once you are pregnant, many women experience what is called morning sickness the first trimester. A good way to curb the nausea is to keep saltine crackers by your bed and try to eat some of them before you get up for the day. Also, sucking on peppermint or ginger candy may help with the nausea as well. Most women get rid of this problem in the second trimester. Another issue is discomfort in the legs and back as your belly increases in size. Try to continue to exercise during pregnancy to keep you strong to handle the weight of the baby and also have a pregnancy massage to relieve that soreness.

Try to eat healthily during your pregnancy too as you only need an additional 500 calories for the baby and really should not eat for two. Swelling may occur in your feet so try to elevate them whenever you sit down to prevent that from becoming a problem. Another great tip is to have your friends that are Moms have a maternity clothing swap party where you can share your maternity clothes with each other. There are also some great online sites for cute maternity clothing as well.

Connor R. Sullivan and his wife purchased maternity clothing online for their daughter to use during her pregnancy. His wife loved the stylish maternity clothing offered online for her daughter.