Fitness4Her

Women's Fitness

How to Make Goals That Work for You

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Have you set any goals for yourself lately? Do you believe that your goals are attainable? If you’re wishing to drop twenty pounds, do you have a plan to reduce your weight? Do you know what it takes to lose those twenty pounds? You may need to change your diet and increase your activity level. Are you ready and willing to commit to those changes?

Your mind is the vehicle that drives your goals to attainability. You see, your brain must be able to figure out a logical path to succeed, or it will begin to believe that the task is impossible. Once that occurs, you may find yourself losing motivation and giving up.

Are you committed to your goal? How badly do you want to lose weight? How badly do you want to get fit? How badly do you want to change your body’s shape? If you really want it; if you are willing to make that commitment; you may be astounded at how easy it becomes to reach your goal.

When you are really committed to your goal, when there is no turning back, success is within your reach. It may seem as if it has come upon you like magic, but it is your own dedication, your own willingness to make sacrifices, that gives you this ability to meet and exceed your goals.

If your goal is to lose twenty pounds, begin by writing this down in a journal. Keeping a fitness journal is one of the best ways to ensure successful weight loss. Write down your current weight and write down everything you eat and drink each day. Figure out how many calories you need to cut down on and rather than counting calories, begin to reduce the amount of food that you are eating. Examine the type of food you are eating, too.

Design an exercise program that keeps you moving at least 6 days of the week. Regular exercise will help your body burn calories even when it is at rest.

Your mind needs constant reinforcement that it is accomplishing great tasks. Keeping a positive, winning attitude is vital to achieving success. Instead of concentrating on what you haven’t done, or what you can’t do, spend time each day, thinking of all of the things you have accomplished. By the time you get through listing these, your mind will be so super-charged it will be hard for it to get discouraged.

Belly Busting Benefits of Balsamic Vinegar

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Balsamic vinegar is a tasty topping that can help you to lose weight. That’s because vinegar with its acidic properties slows down the body’s ability to absorb sugar. To keep starchy foods from converting to sugar, eat foods like pasta or rice with balsamic vinegar. Not only will this provide belly-busting benefits, it will also make you feel fuller after eating these foods.

Pasta and other starches break down and convert to sugar in the body. When you toss in a little vinegar, you actually slow the process of breakdown and conversion, thereby keeping your tummy fuller longer, staving hunger from coming on too quickly.

When sugar levels drop too quickly, hunger sets in. When sugar levels are kept stabilized, you won’t feel the strong urges to satisfy your hunger with something sweet. The same solution to hunger comes from eating more often. I suggest eating five to six smaller meals each day rather than the traditional three large meals. This keeps sugar levels from dropping off too sharply, which tends to make women hungrier between meals.

Balsamic Vinegar is made from pressed grapes and has a tart, yet sweet flavor. It contains Omega 3 fatty acids that protect against heart disease. It’s interesting to note that a study done at Harvard University found that women who consumed one to two tablespoons of vinegar a day cut their risk for heart disease in half.

To add some zing to your rice or pasta, try adding a couple of tablespoons of vinegar for best results. A great alternative to sauces or gravies, balsamic vinegar is low in calories and saturated fat. It’s also great on vegetables, tomatoes or low fat cheeses.

Balsamic vinegar can liven up a pasta salad and has an aromatic smell that enhances the appetite. I like the corkscrew pasta with carrots, bell peppers and green onions, chopped finely and then tossed with two tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Be creative and find ways to add balsamic vinegar to your foods daily. Your heart and your waistline will benefit from this healthy way of eating.