by Paul Atkins

When you're out with your friends and everyone's drinking and you decide you want a drink, have a drink that won't end up destroying all your weight loss hard work. This article is dedicated to helping you find the best drinks when your out with friends. We will skip all the boring reasons and scientific research into why it is you shouldn't drink especially if you're trying to lose weight and get fit, and focus rather on what to do when you have decided to go ahead and have a cold one.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know when you have had too much to drink and damage is done. Generally your body lets you know the next day with a serious hangover. When this happens it always seems that the best possible remedy is a greasy calorie loaded meal that is of course detrimental to anyone trying to lose weight and get fit. However you need to be realistic and know that having a drink occasionally is not so bad, after all a good drink has the ability to relieve a little stress, calm you down, and lift up your mood. Caution though is needed when you decide to drink as not all drinks are created the same. This is similar to the food that you choose to eat or not to eat, not all food is created equal, while some of it can be okay other types of food need to be avoided at all times, the same would be true for certain cocktails.

Being prepared ahead of time so that when a scenario is put before you that will more than likely end up in a way that could be bad you will have already had the knowledge and wisdom to know what to avoid or what to choose. When you read on further you will learn of the five best drinks and why they are okay. They're okay for you not because they are low cost or because they taste really good but for health-related reasons and how they affect your body. This should be primary concern for anyone who's losing weight and getting in shape knowing the reasons why their good and how they affect your health will make a difference.

Red wine is one of the best cocktails anyone can drink. This is mentioned first in our article not because it's better than some of the other drinks but because it is usually one of the most consumed alcoholic beverages in the world and because it is usually available anywhere. There has been much written about red wine in regards to its health benefits, from the fact that it has antioxidants to how it can even help with certain minor ailments. In fact not to get biblical or anything but I believe there are even a few scriptures in the Bible that talk about how a little red wine is good for your body.

Since red wine is what's mentioned in this article specifically do not wrongly assume that white wine is not equally if not better for your body. The research that has been done shows almost in every case that both wines offer health benefits. The really interesting fact as of late is that actually white wine has a little bit higher antioxidant level as well as being somewhat more beneficial in other health areas. What all this research really means is that for the health-conscious you cannot go wrong if you're going to drink a cocktail by choosing wine.

Crossing over the Atlantic now to the land that is just as much known for leprechauns and shamrocks as beer, Ireland is known for its most popular beer Guinness Stout which is said to be just as much a meal as it is a drink. What makes Guinness unique in comparison to other beers is that one Guinness can satisfy the average person about as much as a 12 pack of Corona light. What's really surprising is that even though it gives the appearance of being loaded with calories it actually is not and is also high in iron making it one of the best non-microbrewed beers you can drink.

If you've just had a horrible day and a little red wine or Guinness won't cut it, drinking some top shelf liquor on the rocks or with a little bit of water is also a good way to go. Top shelf liquor is recommended because it cost more and therefore is better but top shelf liquor usually comes without the impurities that lesser quality alcohol has. Due to the fact it has less impurities it typically taste better and therefore lends itself to being consumed without the addition of any colas or juices or anything like that that contains sugars and more calories. Top shelf liquor is designed to be consumed by itself with no help from any other additive.

If you find though that you do love hard liquor over beer but still feel the need to sprinkle something in with it. The best choice hands down is a vodka soda. Now this should not be confused with vodka tonic as tonic water a can be high in calories and sugars. Soda water on the other hand is basically just water with a few bubbles and when you add in a little bit of vodka and a dash of lime you end up with a refreshing cocktail that won't set your progress back a couple of weeks.

The fifth best cocktail for your body is really for all those beer lovers out there that don't just love beer but love good beer in different flavors. If you find yourself scoffing at a Guinness your still in luck as micro brewed beers can be a great alternative. If you're wondering why on earth microbrewed beer is better than the typical beer found in your local grocery store the answer is actually quite simple.

The mass-produced beers of America are typically quite a bit cheaper in price than their microbrewed counterparts. This is because mass-produced beers are made for profits with the ingredients usually being lower quality and their beers containing artificial colors and flavors as well as other junk that can be found on the ingredients labels of most snack foods. Microbreweries on the other hand have a tendency to stick to European brewing codes that do not allow for junk ingredients. That is why micro brewed beers tend to be a safe choice for those who are health conscious and watching their weight.

These five cocktails will always be a safe bet when you're out on the town with your friends. These drinks will go a long way to help you make sure that what you drink is not loaded with junk and calories. When the time comes and you feel like you need a cocktail you should have no reason to feel like you shouldn't have one or be nervous about the next day. The need to have a drink to relieve a little stress and anxiety is not a bad option for those that are trying to lose weight and get fit as long as you stick with these choices you can rest assured you made a good decision.

With these five cocktail choices you will be okay not to hinder your workout routines or dieting habits. One of the funnest and sweat inducing cardio options for those that like the idea of exercising in their home is Rockin Body you're high octane cardio dance party.

Like most of you, I grew up in a household full of coffee drinkers. It was mostly black, cheap, and smelly. As a kid into health, I didn't really get the addiction to coffee (was it the caffeine?).

Is coffee more than "nature's energy drink?" Is coffee a panacea for many of life's perils (cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, to name just a few)?

Fast forward 30 or 40 years and here I sit contemplating the health benefits of coffee. Yes, I like the pick-me-up of caffeine. But there's more to coffee than just caffeine. There are powerful anti-oxidants and other goodies inside that may actually promote preventive measures like reducing the risk of cancer, heart attacks, and type 2 diabetes.

I'm certainly no Starbucks guy (though I will, on occasion, buy their banana bread)–I call them "5 Bucks" because you can't buy anything in there for less than $5. And what they sell is not coffee. It's sugar and fat-laden crap with coffee is the delivery mechanism. Kinda like french fries at McDonalds ("You want fries with your salt?").

No, I'm talking good old fashioned black coffee.

Because I'm no coffee expert, I'm looking to you guys for some guidance: Are there any good-tasting coffees on the marketplace that offer all of the good health effects of standard black coffee? How do you flavor your coffee so that you're not ingesting mega calories with each cup? Where do you buy it?

Just looking for some guidance from the coffee connoisseurs out there.

Here's the article I read that prompted this post — Health Benefits of Coffee by WebMD.

By the way, I'm currently using Prograde Metabolism for some of the health benefits of coffee. However, I actually want to enjoy a beverage (that isn't loaded with sugar and fat.

If you engage in intense and sustained exercise – things like wrestling, or bootcamp, or martial arts – you know that sometimes it’s hard to “catch your breath”. Your lungs are working as hard as they can, but you wonder if they’re really going to give you the oxygen you need or collapse and land you in the E.R.

In fact, certain intense exercise programs can produce something known as Exercise-Induced Bronchocontriction (EIB) – which is almost like having an asthma attack.

And, if you’ve ever had one (or come close to it because you’re working so hard), you know it’s not pleasant – fighting to breath is no fun for anyone, especially when exercising…read the rest at Omega-3s help you breath better during intense exercise

by Jim Rollince of Gym Source, a vendor of home gym and exercise equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, arc trainers, bikes and more!

This winter, don’t let the seasonal cold impact your standard exercise schedule – A lot easier said that done, right? Sure, buying yourself a brand new treadmill or any one of a number of different home gyms would be an easy solution, but very costly at that. So why not make your way into the nearest athletic center?

Now you’re saying “anybody could have told me that!” But in reality, this is much more difficult than most people think. During the winter, it can become quite habitual to go to work; come home and relax; eat dinner, then go to bed. And this is a routine that nobody should to get too comfortable with. Some people just can’t bare the cold, or simply aren’t prepared for it. These behaviors can become heightened in frequency as it becomes cooler throughout December, January and February.

A list of general winter tendencies can include:

• Eating fattening foods
  
• Drinking more coffee/tea
  
• Pursuing activities that don’t involve going outside
  

Similarly, holiday parties can have a huge influence on weight gain, along with increased appetite. And technically, as human beings with certain requirements, we’re exposed to less sunlight, which will certainly lead to fluctuations in hormones and chemicals in the brain. At the same time, the blood vessels in our skin begin to contract, moving blood towards the centre of the body, which impacts our digestive systems.

In combination, all of the above directly affects our ability to stay healthy. Yet, the biggest challenge remains – leaving the house. Here are some great tips:

Clothing

Dress Warm. This includes warm-ups and under armor. And it’s okay to change at the gym; don’t be ashamed to show off your body in the locker room!

This can be a huge obstacle for a lot of self-conscious people. The warmer you are before your workout, the easier the transition into full cardio or strength training. Tighter clothing will also aid with warmth.

Food

It’s almost guaranteed that as human beings, we’re going to eat more during the winter. But eating at the right time while eating the right foods will eventually enhance your workout and drive you to stay at the gym longer. Be sure to eat foods that are high in protein, along with beverages rich in carbohydrates and vitamins. Calcium and Potassium are very important for nutritional health and avoiding sickness. Although these foods/proteins/vitamins may not get you to the gym, they will surely keep you from missing out!

Also, try substituting some of your every day foods for things like almonds, peanuts, dates and raisins – these are high in protein and natural sugar; guaranteed to give you that extra drive during the day.  On a side note, they also are great for your digestive system. If not properly upheld, obstructed bowel movements can cause distress and back pain, lowering workout motivation.

Water

Drinking sufficient amounts of water during the day will also help with digestion, and also acts as a preventive measure for muscle aches and back pain. And most importantly, it helps with weight loss.

Muscles

Lastly, be sure to strengthen your muscles by constantly stretching. This doesn’t have to be at the gym – use your spare time to stretch your muscles, including the ones in your face. The cold will eventually make you feel achier and tighten everything up. A quirky, yet effective example would be to stretch while in the shower. This is when your core temperature has a chance to rise, allowing for easier stretching.

If you’re already actively involved at a gym, it doesn’t mean that you won’t gain weight either. Winter’s effects can be quite brutal! Trips to the store; walking; playing outside; side-work – this can all be cut in half due to the cold. In order to remedy this, be sure to spend an extra few minutes at the gym, perhaps exploring new exercises. If you abide by these simple stipulations, you’ll find that it’s easy to keep that great summer shape!

by Paul Atkins

A beginning step that anyone who is starting a new workout routine or diet plan needs to take is to look seriously at the foods they are eating. In order to get serious results you need to get rid of anything that can hinder your progress. This of course means anything that will work against you and slow your body down from being an efficient fat fighting machine. There are all kinds of things you can do to begin to eat healthy but for now let’s keep things simple. To start there are 5 things that you must cut from your eating and drinking habits if you want to reach your fitness goals.

Refined Sugars: Refined sugars for those that don’t know would be you plain old Dixie crystals white sugar, high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, splenda or pretty much any kind of sugar that doesn’t come from a cane or piece of fruit but rather a factory. The reason refined sugars are so bad for you is because that affect your metabolism in a negative way. They also affect you insulin response, even your mood. Getting rid of sugar like these from your diet means you’re going to have to do some work as it will require the reading of labels. Since these kinds of sugars can be found in just about everything on the typical grocery store aisles doing your homework is a must.

Alcohol: First off it should be noted that not all alcoholic drinks are bad for you. That from time to time the circumstances warranted a drink is not only necessary but can be mentally helpful as well. However alcohol as a whole does carry many empty calories just like sugar. When you consider the fact that alcohol in general carries 7 calories per gram, you can start to see why alcohol generally should be avoided.

Alcoholic beverages do not hydrate you but rather dehydrate you which slows down your recovery time and can hinder the growth of lean muscle mass. Even though many consider alcohol to be a stimulant it is actually a depressant which negatively impacts your metabolism slowing it down and hindering your body from becoming efficient at burning fat. When it’s all said and done eliminating alcohol from your diet will help to promote a body that grows muscle and burns fat, exactly what you need in order to accomplish your weight loss goals and fitness workout routines.

Caffeine: The thought of eliminating caffeine for many can be a very touchy subject. The touchiest seems to always center around the elimination of coffee. If we were to take coffee out of the equation for a moment and just focus on caffeinated drinks, almost all of these types of drinks should be eliminated from the diet of anyone is looking to get in shape. Why this is the case is because caffeine in general affects your body so as to dramatically slow down the process of lean muscle mass growth. In addition it can greatly impact the amount of sleep you get during the night which happens to be the main time your muscles recover and grow.

Drop Anything With A Butt. The days of being able to find some really good lean meats and proteins seem to be behind us. We live in a decade where meat is ruled by, hormones, antibiotics, and chemicals that have been used to process the meat and fish you need rendering them basically a useless source of high-quality protein. Many might not like to hear this, but there are several good vegetarian sources of protein from beans to tofu and nuts.

Gluten: Eliminating gluten from your diet will result in a diet that is healthier and one that lends itself to receiving the benefits from exercise and eating right. Similar to many other ingredients in our food today gluten does not occur naturally in the world but was created in a lab to increase the taste and texture of many foods as well as increase profitability. For those that don’t know, gluten is a protein that actually comes from grain and seems to show up in just as many of our food products as does high fructose corn syrup. Why gluten is named what it is is because it comes from the Latin word for glue. Gluten does have a gluing effect to the products that contain it allowing our breads to be softer and more moist.

When considering what a healthy nutritious diet would contain you probably would never add glue to that diet. So why on earth would you eat foods that contain a main ingredient whose name is derived from the Latin word glue? The simple answer is you wouldn’t. There are millions of people out there that are forced to cut gluten from their diets because they are allergic to it, yet for everyone else you would be wise to follow that same course. Finding foods that do not contain gluten is not too difficult, but if you need a little help select foods that contain millet, amaranth, quinoa, or oats and you will be just fine.

When you take time to separate out these basic harmful foods from your diet your body is able to free up what has been keeping it down and therefore work more efficiently than before. By eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, you can give your body the high-quality fuel it needs to get you into the best shape of your life.

Getting Rid of foods and ingredients that harm your body will go a long way in helping you maximize the results of your work out routines and dieting programs. An in home workout program that combines healthy eating with intense physical fitness is P90X by Tony Horton.