The 5 Rules Of Weight Loss To Get You Started On A Healthy Path!

We all want to feel good about ourselves. 

Whether it's to look better or something as simple as climbing a flight of stairs without feeling like you're going to pass out. 

The point is there are things that you can do change an attitude, adjust your food habits that can make it easier for you to get started.

1) Don't Call It a Diet. Call it a Lifestyle Change. 

To lose weight and keep it off you need to make lifestyle changes. Simple things like drink more water, don't eat after six pm or even parking your car on the far end of a parking lot. 

Establish rules for yourself. If you want to eat something, eat it, in moderation by cutting a portion in half but definitely don't deprive yourself. 

2) Exercise Right!

Combine cardio with strength training for maximum benefits!

Hooping is light Cardio and can burn up to 500 calories an hour! If you combine that with strength training three to four times a week you will build up lean muscle and that lean muscle will at the same time give your metabolism a big boost!

3) Avoid Hunger Anxiety.

It's okay to get hungry but you need to be smart about what you put in your mouth!

Five small meals a day will keep your metabolism balanced and your hunger will be handled. 

Prepare veggies in advance and have them clean and ready in the refrigerator. Almonds are a great source of protein but know that you can't eat a whole bag of them. Everything in moderation. Trader Joe's has small bags already portioned out and ready to go, no effort required. 

Healthy Meal

 4) Eat Protein, Produce and Plant Based Oils for Weight-Loss Wins! 

Protein fills you up. Produce is packed with fiber that makes you feel full. Plant based oils like olive oil or avocados will fill you up and are a healthy alternative to snacking on junk food. 

5) Crash Diets Don't Work!

Everybody is looking for a miracle and crash diets seem to give us all that instant gratification we desire. It's not real! 

You will see weight loss but the second a morsel of food crosses your lips you will see pounds creep back on. 

Instead opt for eliminating unhealthy food, eat smart, be aware of portion control and space your meals out to curb hunger.

Losing weight doesn't have to be a miserable experience and you are not alone. 

Just commit to a new, healthier lifestyle and know that you will stumble but that doesn't matter. What matters is that you continue and get the body you want with the good health that comes along it. 

You've seen them around, wondered what hooping is all about and these are the TOP 5 REASONS you need to start hooping. 

 

1) If you hate going to the gym (as so many of us do) then hula hooping is the perfect activity for you. You can hoop in the privacy of your backyard, park, bedroom, living room even take your hoop on your out of town travels. Our Travel Hula Hoop collapses into six segments that can easily be stored and transported.

2) Hooping burns calories!! This low impact workout will burn between 400-600 calories an hour. 

3) Clear your mind and reduce stress. Hooping is a form of meditation. You can be silent and left alone with your thoughts or let loose to some loud music without a care in the world. 

4) Hula Hooping can boost your self confidence because you'll be burning extra calories, getting fit and feeling good about your body. Who doesn't want to be in shape and have good health? 

5) Let your creativity flow! You can dance with one hoop or you can dance with two. Invite your friends over and see who's got the best moves. Hoopnotica offers DVD's to help you along with routines but you and your friends can create your own. 

We also have LED Hoops! Have a party over the weekend, invite your friends, turn out the lights and enjoy! 

There are so many more reasons to get started hula hooping so what are you waiting for? 

 

Learn To Hula Hoop With The Hoopnotica Travel Hoop!

Whether you choose to take it to the beach or pack it in your suitcase the Hoopnotica Travel Hoop is light, compact and will keep you feeling fit and healthy on the road. 

The Hoopnotica Travel Hoop Combo kit makes it easy to enjoy a fun, low-impact workout in the comfort of your own home. The kit includes a matching Travel Strap plus DVD that introduces you to hooping on your waist and upper body. The Travel Hoop collapses into six segments that can be easily stored and transported. Once you've learned the basics to Hoopdancing you can take your favorite workout with you to the gym or even the park.

 

For an introduction and to see what this hula hooping craze is all about visit our Youtube channel that will demonstrate the basics and then head back to our website to pick your hula hoop (currently available in pink or blue.) 

We know you'll enjoy this fun alternative to the gym and don't forget to register for our exclusive VIP newsletter. Registering will give you an additional 10% off of your purchase. 

What are you waiting for? 

Everyone knows that regular exercise is an important part of a healthy life, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to do--especially when you have a busy schedule. And women today are busier than ever before! All the workplace stress, sleepless nights, and long days sitting at the office can take a real toll on our health. But working is important too, so what can we do?

If you want to squeeze fitness into your packed schedule, you have to take a tip from Nike and “just do it.” If you keep at it (and it may be tough at first), getting your daily exercise will become second nature in no time. Here are some tips to help you get started:                                                      

Start With Your Schedule

You never miss a meeting with your co-workers or an important client. You never miss your kids’ school functions. You certainly never miss a dinner date with your spouse or your girlfriends. What makes these events different from exercise? Simple: they’re in your schedule.

If you really want to make fitness a part of your daily routine, you can’t say, “I’ll just squeeze it in at some point.” You will always find something else to do. However, if your exercise is scheduled, there can’t be anything else to do--you’ve cleared the calendar! Designate at least 30 minutes every day to exercise, and make sure you keep the appointment. Before you know it, getting your sweat on will be a habit.

Make Meal Prep Happen

That quote you’ve seen floating around fitness Pinterest boards is true: abs are made in the kitchen. All the exercise in the world won’t keep you healthy if you consume junk at every meal. Eating clean meals may be easy when you cook at home - but let’s be real, most working women spend more time in drive-thrus than we’d like to admit.

This is why meal prep is a critical part of your fitness routine. You can cut down on the temptation to grab something on the way home from a long day at work. Spend a few hours each weekend preparing meals that are either ready-to-serve or microwavable. Eating a delicious, healthy meal each day will be easier than ever!

Keep Away from Sugar and Caffeine

This is another nutrition tip, but it is very important if you want to make fitness a part of your daily routine. For the overworked woman, the coffee maker is the most precious tool in her entire office. She starts her day with a cup, and probably comes back for more at least a few times throughout the 9-to-5 grind.

Those afternoon cups of coffee can undo your fitness goals. Too much caffeine (or sugary snacks) can make you feel jittery, and the inevitable crash can leave you feeling too tired to work out. Next time you need to beat the afternoon slump, try taking a brisk walk around the office. This healthier option will definitely make you feel much better.

Bring Your Workout Bag

How many times have you told yourself you’ll hit the gym after work, only to get home, flop down onto the couch, and suddenly change your mind? The reality is that most of don’t want to work out; the endorphins we feel when a workout is done can’t make our bodies forget about the pain and soreness.

Despite our body’s wish for an easy, pain-free night, the brain knows that exercise is good for us. This is why we need to use our minds to outsmart our instincts. One easy way is to always bring your workout bag to the office with you. This way, there will be no reason to stop at home and no excuse not to work out.

Use the Buddy System

Exercising with a friend has many benefits. You have someone to motivate you, someone to hold you accountable, and (if you’re competitive) someone to bring out your best. This is why so many men and women make “gym buddies” out of their co-workers, friends, and relatives. If you have a hard time feeling motivated to exercise, why not give the buddy system a try?

Ask a friend if she’d like to jog at the local park on Saturday mornings. Check around the office for other people making a healthy lifestyle change and see if you two can work together. Once you’ve made a connection, you just might be surprised at how frequent your workouts are - and how much better you’ll feel!

Commit to a Fitness Challenge

Generally speaking, the stars of the modern workplace have a few things in common: they’re smart, they’re hard working, and they’re competitive. You have to be a fighter to make your way up the corporate ladder, and you can use that same spirit to make your fitness goals a reality. How can you make a personal lifestyle choice into a competition? By signing up for one!  

5k races, obstacle courses, and fitness challenges are always popping up in cities all over the world. Registration only takes a few clicks of a mouse, and just like that - bam! You’re not just exercising, you’re in training. This competitive angle can propel even the most reluctant person to finally get out there and sweat.

Try New Workout Routines

Your workday is probably unpredictable. It’s exciting, mentally stimulating, and leaves you feeling fulfilled no matter how stressful it can be. This is a great feeling, and one you can recreate in your fitness regimen. All you have to do is switch up your routine and try new things.

Grab a few friends and try out a zumba class on Friday night! Commune with nature by hiking along local nature trails in your neighborhood. Check out fitness hula hooping for a core workout that reminds you of your playground days. By mixing up your routine, you can keep exercise from becoming monotonous and boring, which keeps you coming back. Before you know it, you’ll actually look forward to your next workout!

Find an Office-Friendly Exercise

Maybe you really don’t have a minute of free time. Trust me, I get it. Life has a way of snowballing when there’s work and a family to take care of. However, this doesn’t mean that you can afford to neglect your health - in fact it’s just the opposite. You can still find a way to fit exercise into your day with a little creativity.

Do office yoga on your lunch hour. Do situps or walk on a treadmill when you’re watching T.V. in the evenings. Take a simple walk around the office building when your boss is being a pain. Find slices of time where you can be active and use them. Your body will thank you for it.

Focus on the Big Four

Let’s say you want to get a full body workout, but you don’t have much free time available in your day. Of course, a comprehensive workout that takes 30 minutes or more is ideal, but you can still see health benefits if you stick with the big four exercises: squats, pushups, lunges, and planks.

These target the most common “problem areas,” and they cover the large muscle groups in the body quickly and effectively. Do 10 or 12 reps of each back to back - and if you have time, do two or three rounds. With these exercises, you will see large strength gains at a fast rate. Your workout may be a quick one, but you will definitely feel the burn. 

Make The Most of Everyday Activities

Of course, no matter how hard you may try, there will be days when you simply can’t squeeze in a workout. It is important to recognize that that’s ok; in fact, there may be days when rest is actually better for you than pushing your body harder. But when you do have rest days, remember to be your healthiest in every aspect.

Sit up straight at your desk, using the posture from your yoga practice and the core strength you’ve gained from hula hooping. When you grocery shop, notice how much stronger you are when you load the bags into your car. When you take a sip of water instead of your third coffee, recognize how much healthier and alert you feel. These little moments will help you come to appreciate your healthy body, and this can motivate you to continue your fitness routine for years to come.

We all know that the way we spend our mornings can set the tone for our entire day. When we’re rested, well fed, and relaxed when we start our day, things just seem to go well.

So why is it that so many of us poorly plan our morning hours? Instead of taking our time to make breakfast, read the paper, or just take time to meditate, we pound the snooze button over and over until there’s barely enough time to scramble out the door! As a result, we feel rushed, groggy, and stressed all day long - and we come home just exhausted enough to do it all again tomorrow.

It’s time to break that cycle! Make a change and add these healthy habits to your morning routine, and you’ll see results in your health, your appearance, your mood, and your life.

First Things First

Catch The Worm

You know what they say: the early bird gets the worm.  In fact, health experts have found that early risers are more proactive, have greater mental health, and eat a healthier diet than those of us who hit snooze six times before getting up.

Ideally, you should wake around 6 o’clock; this is when the body prepares to expel waste, so rising at this hour prevents toxins from building up in your system. Then, once you’re out of bed, you can get a jump start on your morning routine.

Sweat It Out

At some point, we’ve all claimed that we “don’t have time to work out.” But the truth is just the opposite: as obesity becomes a steadily growing epidemic around the world, we don’t have the time not to!

Spend 30 minutes exercising in the morning. You can do any exercise you want - go running, life weights, spend some time with a hula hoop, just get moving. You’ll experience an endorphin rush, and the sweat will help detoxify your body and prepare you for the day ahead.

Get Your Mind Right

This is why learning to cope with it can absolutely change your life for the better. One of the most effective ways to overcome stress is also one of the best ways to elevate your mood when you start the day: meditation.

Even as little as 20 minutes of quiet meditation can help you calm your mind and find some inner peace, which is sure to follow you throughout your day. That’s right, you can find some peace of mind and make your day infinitely better in less time than it takes to watch a sitcom!

Fresh and Clean

Freshen Up With Oil Pulling

Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria, and throughout the day it's introduced to millions more. Start each day with a mouth that’s as clean as it can be by oil pulling before you eat or brush your teeth.

Oil pulling is an ancient detoxifying ritual in which you swish coconut oil around your mouth for up to 20 minutes. The oil acts like a magnet for all those nasty toxins that may be lurking in your mouth, and when you spit it out (into the trash can, never the sink), those toxins go right with it! This ritual is great for your health, and it even has great benefits like whiter teeth and clearer skin.

Dry Brush Before You Shower

Before you hop into the shower (which you’ll need after your morning workout), you can use a body brush to exfoliate your skin while you’re still dry. Short, quick strokes along your body can help dead skin cells fall off, leaving you with a healthy glow.

Dry brushing also helps stimulate your lymph fluid, which circulates the body and takes toxins to the lymph nodes to be destroyed. With this one simple ritual, you’ll be clearing toxins from your body more efficiently everyday - and look great doing it, too.

Give Hydrotherapy a Try

If you want to boost circulation and prevent inflammation in your body, you may want to try hydrotherapy one you’re in the shower. This detoxifying system involves alternating between hot and cold water every 30 seconds.

As your body adjusts to the temperature changes, your blood vessels will contract and expand. This helps improve your circulation, and flush toxins and waste from the body. Some say hydrotherapy can even help burn off fat! If nothing else, the cold water will certain get you wide awake.

Nutritionally Balanced

Sip Some Lemon Water

When you wake up, it is important to get your body moving as quickly as possible, both inside and out. Your morning workout will get your blood flowing and your limbs warm, but how can you get your insides ready for the day?

The answer is actually quite simple. A glass of warm water with lemon will start up your digestive system and provide essential enzymes to the liver that help flush out toxins. Make sure to drink your water before anything else for the day (yes, even before your coffee). You’re sure to see a marked difference in how you feel.

Start With a Detox Breakfast

After you drink your lemon water, you should wait about 30 minutes before indulging in a little breakfast. Just make sure you don’t reach for the easy (and unhealthy) stuff! Fix yourself a nice detox smoothie, or chow down on a bowl of granola.

The food you eat will help determine how good you feel all day long, so make sure you’re giving yourself the very best. And don’t you dare head out the door without anything! Remember what your mom always said: breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Detox To-Go

The office is one of the hardest places to stay on a healthy diet, and it’s the one place where we all spend most of our time. Between the snacks in the breakroom, the fast food on every corner, and the stress we’re under in the average work day, it can be very easy to give into temptations if you’re not prepared.

Take a little time in the morning (or if you’d rather, the night before) to prepare a healthy detoxifying lunch like a soup or salad. When your lunch is already prepared, you’ll be less likely to head out to your nearest vending machine or drive-thru for a midday pick me up. Not only that, your healthy lunch will fuel your body better, giving you energy that will last the rest of the workday.

Each of these habits are small changes to your day, but trust me - they will make a big difference. Give them a try this week and see just how your day changes for the better!

professional hula hoops for sale

Hula hoops have taken the world by storm; gyms are offering hooping classes, celebrities are crediting their killer bods to their daily hoop routine, and more stores than you would ever believe are putting hula hoops on their shelves. In fact, there are so many hoops available that buying your very own can be an overwhelming decision!

If you’re looking to buy a professional hula hoop on sale, look no further! Since 2008, Hoopnotica has been hand-crafting our professional weighted fitness hoop--and in the past nine years, we’ve certainly learned a thing or two about hooping. Thanks to our years of experience and our dedication to beautiful, high-quality hoops, you can tell that a Hoopnotica product is a cut above the rest.

Why should you buy your professional hula hoops from Hoopnotica? Here’s what some of our users have to say:  

The Convenience

A Hoopnotica fitness hoop is built for the man or woman who wants to get a workout on the go. Our hoops are collapsible for easy storage in your gym bag or the trunk of your car. We even include a sturdy nylon strap to keep the pieces of your hoop together.

And once you’ve gotten to your destination--be it a hooping class, the local park, or even your backyard, getting ready to workout is a breeze. Our intuitive design gets your hoop together in a snap! You can use all six segments of your hoop, or use only five for a smaller circle and a more intense workout. Then, when you’re done, simply collapse the hoop and you’re on your way. As one Amazon user said, “This is the perfect hooping companion.”

professional hula hoops for sale

The Classes

At Hoopnotica, we’re about more than just your hooping equipment. We want you to get the most out of your fitness hoop routine and really become a part of the hula hooping community! This is why we make it easy for you to find hooping classes in your area (with a little help from our Teacher Locator), and why we help you learn the basics with our instructional DVDs.

Whether you want to learn the basics of hooping or circus-style tricks with mini hoops (like the ladies at Fit Bottomed Girls did), Hoopnotica will get you the tools and the teachers you need. Before you know it, you’ll be hooping like a pro!

The Workout

There’s no denying that hooping is a great workout. When the American Council on Exercise studied the fitness hoop phenomenon, they discovered that a hooping routine can burn around 420 calories per hour!

And hooping doesn’t only earn you some bikini-ready abs--though that is a part of the appeal. Most hooping exercises include other body movements like squats or lunges, not to mention holding your arms up the whole time. With a regular hooping routine (like this 2017 Hoopnotica Challenge), you will soon discover that you are getting a quality workout from your fingertips down to your toes.

professional hula hoops for sale

The Fun

What is it that makes fitness hooping so great? We think that Gina Ryder, an editor for the Huffington Post’s Healthy Living section, says it best: “Continuous hooping is exhilarating. You feel like a fourth grader and a marathoner all at once.”

Hooping connects us with our inner child, that part of us that used to go out at recess and just play without worrying whether or not we were burning calories. Yes, you may be working to trim your thighs and tighten your tummy, but it feels like good old-fashioned fun! If you really think about it, fun is the one thing most of us are missing from our current workout regimen, so why not let Hoopnotica help you liven things up while you work up a sweat?

Whether you’re a master at the hula hoop or you’ve never even held one, Hoopnotica has the products you need for an exciting fitness routine you can’t get enough of. Join the hooping community today!

exercise hoop

To those of us who have been trying to get in shape lately, it make seem like hula hoops are everywhere you look. Fitness magazines rave about them; gyms hold classes dedicated to them; even former First Lady Michelle Obama, an outspoken advocate of regular exercise, has been spotted hooping. Yes, what we once considered a childhood toy has become an overnight sensation as the latest exercise trend--but does exercise hooping really work?

YES! Using a hula hoop as a part of your exercise routine can help strengthen your core and burn off that unwanted belly fat. But that’s not the only reason so many people are picking up the hoop. There are quite a few benefits that come along with hooping--and we’ve got just a handful listed below!

It’s A Family Activity

Hooping as a family gives parents and kids an opportunity for much needed quality time while also getting some exercise. You’ll make great memories and get healthy all at once--who could say no to a deal like that?

exercise hoop

You Can Hoop Anywhere

Life is busy, and that’s why modern exercise hoops are made for busy people. Many hoops are collapsible so you can fit them into your purse or gym bag--which means you can take it anywhere.

Spending the day with the kids at the park? You can bring your hoop along and get some exercise while you watch them. Going on vacation? Your hoop will collapse to fit nicely in your carry-on. Want to burn off a heavy dinner? Hoop in the living room while you watch TV in the evening (just make sure the room is clear first). You can do your exercise hoop routine at any time and in any place, which makes getting your daily exercise easier than ever.

exercise hoop

Hooping Yields All-Around Benefits

The American Council on Exercise recently compared hooping to an exercise standard--the sit-up. Both exercises help build killer abs and a strong core, and while the Council did conclude that neither exercise was perfectly complete on its own, they both could be part of a varied exercise routine. But which one was better overall?  

According to their findings, hooping burned more calories than sit-ups, while also putting less strain on the joints than other cardio workouts like jumping rope. Not only that, but the study found that hooping improves motor skills, hand-eye coordination, flexibility, balance, and sense of rhythm! You read that right--your entire body (and your mind) can reap incredible benefits from a single piece of equipment. The more you hoop, the healthier you’ll be!

exercise hoop

It’s Just Plain Fun!

Think about the last time you try a new fitness routine. How long did it last, and why did you stop doing it? We all know that regular exercise is important for a long and healthy life, but for many people out there, working out simply isn’t fun. The fitness industry is spending (and earning) millions of dollars each year trying to find the best way to keep us entertained while we work out, and yet… we get tired, we get bored, we quit.

But do you remember playing at recess as a kid? You could have played for hours and never given it a second thought! When we get in touch with our playful, childlike side, we’re more likely to enjoy our exercise routine. That’s why game- or toy-based fitness routines are some of the easier programs to stick with, and that is why hooping has become so popular.

So let’s recap: unlike the fitness routines of old, hooping is a way to spend time with the kids, squeeze daily exercise into your schedule, get in touch with your inner child, and become healthier all-around--not to mention those killer abs you’ll see this summer. With all these benefits, it’s no surprise that the hooping trend is growing fast and here to stay. Pick up your own hoop today and see what it’s all about!

hula exercise

These days, the hula hoop is so much more than mere child’s play. This toy from your childhood memories is now one of the hottest workout trends! Hula exercise is said to tighten your abs and trim your waist, and the fitness routine has earned praise from fitness gurus and famous faces alike.

Actress Zooey Deschanel, singer (and queen) Beyonce, and even basketball star Shaquille O'Neal have embraced hula exercise, so why don’t you?

Hoop Side Stretches

It’s always important to stretch before a workout, and this exercise lets you get used to using your hoop. Start by standing with your feet shoulder width apart and holding your hoop in the air over your head. Lean to one side, stretching your sides and warming up your body. Hold the stretch for a few beats, then switch sides.

The Ninja Pass

This hula exercise works your oblique muscles, which can give your abs that sought after “v-shaped” look. Plant your feet on the ground shoulder width apart and bend your knees slightly. Hold your hoop in your right hand and twist at the waist over your right shoulder. Then, twist to the left as you pass the hoop to your left hand. Repeat, but rest when you need to - the added weight from that hoop can be tough when you’re starting out!

Halo Spins

Halo spins actually work the whole upper body, not just the abs, but they do involve strengthening your core and therefore help create that killer six pack we all want. This time, stand with your feet together and hold your hoop in both hands with your arms outstretched. Then spin around! The extra weight of the hoop will be a workout for your arms and shoulders, but remember to keep your stomach tight (and don’t get dizzy).

hula exerciseSome people use weighted hoops for extra strength-building

Hoop Sit Ups

Old school sit ups are much more fun with a hula hoop! Begin by lying flat on an exercise mat with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Your hoop should be underneath you, with the bottom of the hoop under your mid-back and the top of the hoop above your head. Then, grip the sides of the hoop (instead of putting your hands behind your head, like the traditional sit up). Contract your abs and do a sit up as normal, then repeat.

Basic Hula Hoop

To master this hula exercise, you’ll need to get in touch with your inner child. Begin (again) standing with your feet planted shoulder width apart and your hoop around your waist. Get the hoop going with a push from your arms, then wiggle those hips to keep it going! This exercise will help whittle down that spare tire and give you the hourglass shape you’ve always wanted.

Basic Hula with Plié

Yes, hula exercise is a wonderful way to sculpt beautiful abs, but why not do a little extra? By adding plies or squats to your basic hula hoop, you can trim your thighs and lift that booty, too! Of course, the squatting motion might make it tougher to keep your hoop moving. Pick up the pace and hula harder--you’ll get it, and you’ll feel the burn!

The Booty Bump

Of all the hula exercises, this one might be the most awkward on your first attempt. Don’t give up - it’s worth it! With your feet shoulder width apart, bend over slightly (your back should be at about a 45 degree angle from your hips). To keep the hoop moving here, you basically need to… well, pop the booty. Like we said, keep trying to master this move. It’s a great way to burn that belly fat.

hula exercise

Forward Stance Hula

A slight variation on the basic hula hoop, this exercise focuses more on the muscles in your lower abdomen and lower back. Stand with one foot in front of the other and keep the hoop spinning by moving your hips backwards and forwards. Hoop this way for about 30 seconds, then try again with your other foot forward. Trust us, you’ll feel the burn before you know it.

Hoop and Walk

Once you’ve got the forward stance hula down, up the intensity by walking around as you hoop! Each step will push the hoop with your hips, giving you more momentum to keep that hoop spinning. Try walking in different directions (including backwards and side to side) and at different speeds to make this exercise work for you.

Hula 360°

Here’s a hula exercise for the real masters! Begin in your forward stance position and spin your hoop counterclockwise. Once it’s spinning, move your weight to your left foot and push off the ground with your right. Between the push from your leg and the momentum of the hoop, you should be able to spin a full 360 degrees! Land again in forward stance and use your hips to keep the hoop going. Then, do it again - and switch feet when you get tired.

Keep It Going!

These exercises are designed to be fun, but that doesn’t mean they’re not hard work. Whatever you do, don’t give up! The more you dedicate time to your hoop, the better your results will be. Before you know it, you’ll be stronger, hotter, and happier-- a guaranteed side effect of a workout that’s fun!

Toxins hide everywhere, even in places you’d least expect.  Water and food can carry toxins.  The air we breathe can carry toxins.  Our own bodies might be storing toxins we ingest or inhale.  

There are natural toxins, and toxins we make.  Some toxins are pollutants while others serve a purpose in our ecosystem.  Some are only toxic in large doses.  All of them have an effect on the human body, and many contribute to diseases, both physical and mental.

As a result, many people are seeking ways to detoxify themselves from these hidden everyday poisons.  None of us will ever remove all the toxins from our bodies, but reducing the number of toxins you encounter every day can have a positive effect on your overall health. Here are a few of the ways toxins ninja their way into our homes, and what you can do to repel them!

Concealed in Cookware

Toxins hide in cookware we heat to cook our food.  This can be over the stove, or in the oven or microwave.  Cookware, especially pots and pans, might have various convenience coating on it, such as non-stick substances.  

Plastics are made with a substance called BPA, which can seep into your food or drinks if heated for long periods.  Over time, flakes of metal from normal wear and tear might also find their way into your food, and from there into your body.

When You Sleep

Certain flame-retardant chemicals used in clothing and bedding (such as pillows and sheets) is toxic, and we absorb it while we sleep.  Some of it gets in through our skin, while we inhale other toxins in the form of particulate matter (little microscopic particles in the air).  When we wash these items, the detergents might also have toxins in them.

In Your Food

Imagine you are eating a steak tonight.  Your side dishes might be vegetables - corn, carrots, broccoli - and maybe some dinner rolls or biscuits.  We take all of this for granted, and never really think about where it comes from.  The steak comes from a cow, who had to be raised and fed.  The cow makes waste, also, which adds pollutants to the air as well as around the cow.  The cow is an herbivore, so a portion of the grains and vegetables we grow for ourselves is given to the cow as well.  

Growing all of these takes a lot of land, and often we use chemicals such as pesticides and plant foods to get the best crops possible.  All of this stacks together like a 3-D puzzle to create a situation where all of our food, whether meat or vegetation, has traces of chemicals in it.  This also creates pollutants to our planet as well as ourselves!

Our Air and Water

Air and water pollution have long been considered a crisis by environmentalists, but the true impact of these pollutants is only now coming to light.  Carcinogens, industrial emissions, cigarette smoke, and car exhaust all dump pollutants into our air, resulting in suspended particles and acid rain.  We swim in this, breathe it, bathe in it.

What Can You Do to Reduce Toxins?

You can’t control the environment, but you can control your environment!  Reducing toxins in your body is as simple of being aware of them and where they come from.  Minimizing them in your home is a matter of the products you buy, and minimizing them in your body is as easy as it is natural!

Your Body Eliminates Toxins Naturally

Whenever you use the bathroom, you are eliminating toxins from your body.  The body is a biological machine made for this!  Other organs that contribute to excretion of toxins include the lungs, kidneys and skin.  The lungs filter our toxins from the air we inhale, and expel them when we exhale.  The kidneys act as a filter of the things we eat and drink.  Our skin excretes toxins in our sweat!

You Are What You Eat

As you can see, what we eat, drink, and breathe has a lot to do with minimizing everyday toxins.  The less work our bodies have to do at removing toxins, the more it can focus on other things.  In everyday life, this translates into increased energy and even a stronger immune system!  Boosting this can be a matter of diet and exercise.  Consuming organic foods rather than processed ones reduces the number of chemicals in the food.  Buying local produce also helps this because often pesticides and other additives are applied to food being transported long distances.

Get Sweaty

Exercise has a number of health benefits that are well-documented.  For detoxing, the idea is to sweat.  Whether it’s a cardio workout ort the steam room after some weight-training, the toxins will literally leak out your pores, as nature intended.  Bicycling, hula-hooping, martial arts - anything that makes you sweat is a natural cleanser!

Be a Conscious Consumer

It goes without saying that smoking is bad, but we inhale a lot of other pollutants as well.  Many of them come from products we buy, how we travel, and how we go about everyday life.  The best way to reduce toxins in your life (thereby reducing them in your body!) is to read the labels on everything you buy.  

Buy products--especially things like detergents, cleaning fluids, and soaps - that are green.  Don’t buy products with a lot of packaging, and avoid buying products that produce industrial waste.  Buy reusable products to reduce waste.  Our environment is a huge recycling center, and when we add toxins to the environment, they get added to ourselves as a result.  Being environmentally conscious is another great way to minimize toxins in your body!

There is no way to eliminate toxins entirely.  Some of them belong in our environment, and the best we can do is avoid or minimize them.  But for a stronger, healthier you, detoxifying from everyday life is an easy process that can restore your health and vigor for a long time to come!

Exercise keeps us healthy, improves our mood, and makes us look great and feel confident. But sometimes, the exercises we do might not be delivering the benefits we want. When that happens, we can end up feeling discouraged, which can negatively impact our exercise routine for days, or even weeks!

One of the biggest struggles many people face is the stubborn fat sitting around their bellies. This extra fat develops as we age, and despite our best efforts, it can feel impossible to sweat off. However, science now shows that certain “spot exercises” - exercises that target the stomach area - can actually help you banish that belly for good. We’ve got a few routines listed below that you can try today!

What Is Belly Fat?

Before you jump into your workout routine, you might want to learn a little about belly fat. In the medical world, it’s known as “visceral fat,” and its primary purpose is to protect your organs from injury during all the running, bouncing, and jostling around you do each day. This is, essentially a good thing!

However, when your visceral fat levels are too high (when your belly gets a little too round), this excess fat can lead to countless health problems. Doctors have linked conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and even certain cancers to an excess of visceral fat. So how can you get rid of it?

Here are a few workout routines specially built to target that visceral fat around your belly. Keep at it, and soon you’ll feel better and stronger - and you just might have those toned abs you’ve always wanted.

Cinch, Tone and Flatten

If you want to get rid of belly fat, you have to start by targeting the belly. After a cardio warm up (we recommend jumping rope), attack those abs with moves that improve your core strength. Do crunches, planks (spiderman planks if you’re feeling ambitious), toe touches, and side bends. Start doing each exercise for 30 seconds, and eventually work your way up to 45. Repeat each set three times so you can really feel the burn!

A Full Ab Workout

When most of us think about exercising our bellies, we focus on the middle--you know, where all the excess is. But if you really want to see results, you have to target all the muscles in your abdominal region. That means more than simple situps! Work your obliques with twisting situps and sideways v-ups. Use leg lifts to give your lower abs a workout. And of course, feel the burn in your midsection with bicycle crunches. Do two, three, or four sets of each exercise and you’ll be on your way to flat abs in no time.

Plank Like It’s 2010

Planking is one exercise that does a lot. If you make planking a part of your everyday workout routine, you’ll see results in your chest, butt, back, and core - but most especially your abs. Try planking in a variety of poses: with your arms extended (like you’re about to do a pushup), with your elbows on the ground, on your side, or with one leg raised. Try your best to hold the plank for up to one minute, then after a brief rest, try it again! This is a routine you can easily sneak into your day, and you’ll love how effective it is.

Pick Up A Hula Hoop

When you were young, your daily exercise probably consisted of running around the playground and spending time with your friends. It wasn’t a chore--in fact, exercise was downright fun. Many fitness gurus are adopting that mentality once again and re-energizing the exercise industry with fun, playful routines. In recent years, one of these fun fitness tools has taken the world by storm: the hula hoop. Hooping is a great way to trim your waist and eliminate that stubborn belly fat. After as little as thirty seconds of hooping with a weighted fitness hoop, you’ll feel that burning feeling that tells you that your abs are working!

There are many exercise routines designed to keep that belly fat away, so which one will you choose? Try one, or try them all--keep going until you find the fitness routine that best suits your style and your schedule. Every body is different, after all, so finding perfect exercise is really up to you! Good luck, and have fun getting your sweat on.

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