Finally bought a skipping rope! Hopefully I use it everyday…losing weight in winter is so difficult
Step 1
Cut back on your bad eating habits. Give up the fried foods, processed meats, refined baked goods and sweets. Eat nothing but fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, lean meats, fish, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy products. Keep your portion sizes under control as well.
Step 2
Partake in cardiovascular training to burn the fat in your lower belly, as well as the rest of your body. Do any type of cardio that causes you to sweat and raises your heart rate, such as running, spinning, inline skating, stair climbing, elliptical training and power walking. Aim for 45 to 60 minutes of cardio, three days a week on nonconsecutive days.
Step 3
Lift weights to build metabolically active muscle mass. Do exercises that work all your major muscle groups: bench presses, shoulder presses, back rows, triceps extensions, biceps curls and squats. Perform 10 to 12 reps, three or four sets and work out three days a week on the opposing days of your cardio.
Step 4
Lie flat on your back to do flutter kicks. Straighten both legs and lift them 6 inches off the floor. This is your starting point. Leave your right leg where it is and raise your left leg 2 to 3 feet higher. Lower your left leg as you simultaneously lift your right leg. Alternate back and forth in a steady motion for 15 to 20 repetitions. Place your hands under your butt if you feel stress on your lower back.
Step 5
Execute a set of mountain climbers to work your lower abs and burn calories. Align your body in a racing position with your hands shoulder-width apart on the floor and feet in a staggered stance. Keep your hips low as you quickly shift your feet back and forth on the floor as if you were running in place. Alternate each leg forward until you’ve done 15 to 20 reps with each leg.
Step 6
Perform knee tucks on a stability ball. Place your hands shoulder-width apart on the floor, place your lower shins together on the ball and straighten your arms. Lift your hips up to get your body into a push-up position and roll the ball toward your face as you tuck your knees into your chest. Hold for a second, then roll the ball back out; repeat 15 to 20 times.
Tips * Perform three to four sets of your ab exercises and workout after your cardio sessions.
Apples
Apples have been a power food since the Garden of Eden. They’re low in calories, rich in fiber, and a source of boron, a mineral your mind may require for mental alertness and your body uses to maintain sufficient levels of calcium.Apricots
Tart yet sweet, apricots are a storehouse of beta-carotene, a nutrient that helps protect against many types of cancer. Three raw apricots or ten dried halves will give you your daily quota of this nutrient.Avocados
Here’s one creamy food that can help lower your cholesterol – by as much as 9 to 43 percent, according to one study. Avocados are also rich in potassium and magnesium, two minerals your muscles rely on.Bananas
The banana is the world’s best natural, low-fat source of Vitamin B6, a nutrient that helps make antibodies to fight disease. Eat just one banana, and you have taken in one-third of the U.S. Recommended daily allowance of B6.Nectarines
Bet you wouldn’t think of the nectarine when asked to name a fiber-rich fruit. Yet a single nectarine has even more fiber than a whole banana. Nectarines are also an excellent source of vitamin A and potassium.Oranges
Sure, orange is synonymous with vitamin C. But did you know it’s also a source of calcium? A medium size orange gives you as much calcium as an ounce of Brie, though it has 30 fever calories and none of the sodium.Peaches
Keen on peaches? Well that’s peachy keen because this source of vitamins A and C will satisfy your sweet tooth without overloading you with fat. Pick fresh peaches over canned to get the maximum fiber benefit from this fruit.Grapefruit
This fruit is a good source of vitamin C. A medium size grapefruit contains 50 percent more vitamin C than the Recommended Dietary Allowance. Try flavoring it with cinnamon instead of sugar.Prunes
If you’ve never eaten a prune, you’re in for a moving experience. Prunes are nature’s best-tasting laxative. They conain a great deal of fiber, making them great for lowering your blood cholesterol level as well.Watermelon
Heaven can be had for just 152 calories a slice. But don’t dismiss watermelon as a mere taste-pleaser. The vitamin C content of this juicy melon may help protect you against cancer of the esophagus and stomach.Strawberries
Say “fiber” and you immediately think of heavy foods such as bran, right ? Well, strawberries contain fiber too, the soluble kind that slows digestion of foods so you feel full longer. Count for them for vitamin C, too.Honeydew Melon
Fragrant and inviting, this juicy melon packs a vitamin C wallop. You can also count on it for potassium, a mineral you need in sufficient amounts to keep your muscle from cramping. Let your sweet tooth indulge.Pomegranates
They are very powerful anti-oxidants. They are very rich sources of vitamin C, vitamin B, calcium and phosphorus. These nutrients and other minerals present in pomegranates help in the prevention of many diseases.POWER FOODS FTW!
Apples
Apples have been a power food since the Garden of Eden. They’re low in calories, rich in fiber, and a source of boron, a mineral your mind may require for mental alertness and your body uses to maintain sufficient levels of calcium.Apricots
Tart yet sweet, apricots are a storehouse of beta-carotene, a nutrient that helps protect against many types of cancer. Three raw apricots or ten dried halves will give you your daily quota of this nutrient.Avocados
Here’s one creamy food that can help lower your cholesterol – by as much as 9 to 43 percent, according to one study. Avocados are also rich in potassium and magnesium, two minerals your muscles rely on.Bananas
The banana is the world’s best natural, low-fat source of Vitamin B6, a nutrient that helps make antibodies to fight disease. Eat just one banana, and you have taken in one-third of the U.S. Recommended daily allowance of B6.Nectarines
Bet you wouldn’t think of the nectarine when asked to name a fiber-rich fruit. Yet a single nectarine has even more fiber than a whole banana. Nectarines are also an excellent source of vitamin A and potassium.Oranges
Sure, orange is synonymous with vitamin C. But did you know it’s also a source of calcium? A medium size orange gives you as much calcium as an ounce of Brie, though it has 30 fever calories and none of the sodium.Peaches
Keen on peaches? Well that’s peachy keen because this source of vitamins A and C will satisfy your sweet tooth without overloading you with fat. Pick fresh peaches over canned to get the maximum fiber benefit from this fruit.Grapefruit
This fruit is a good source of vitamin C. A medium size grapefruit contains 50 percent more vitamin C than the Recommended Dietary Allowance. Try flavoring it with cinnamon instead of sugar.Prunes
If you’ve never eaten a prune, you’re in for a moving experience. Prunes are nature’s best-tasting laxative. They conain a great deal of fiber, making them great for lowering your blood cholesterol level as well.Watermelon
Heaven can be had for just 152 calories a slice. But don’t dismiss watermelon as a mere taste-pleaser. The vitamin C content of this juicy melon may help protect you against cancer of the esophagus and stomach.Strawberries
Say “fiber” and you immediately think of heavy foods such as bran, right ? Well, strawberries contain fiber too, the soluble kind that slows digestion of foods so you feel full longer. Count for them for vitamin C, too.Honeydew Melon
Fragrant and inviting, this juicy melon packs a vitamin C wallop. You can also count on it for potassium, a mineral you need in sufficient amounts to keep your muscle from cramping. Let your sweet tooth indulge.Pomegranates
They are very powerful anti-oxidants. They are very rich sources of vitamin C, vitamin B, calcium and phosphorus. These nutrients and other minerals present in pomegranates help in the prevention of many diseases.POWER FOODS FTW!
amazing!