Jim O'Neill -'s Articles

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Small Changes In Your Diet Can Make A Big Difference
If you are one of the millions of people who ever tried to lose weight, then you know how hard it can seem to actually accomplish this goal. With countless numbers of diet plans out there promising fantastic weight loss results and all the hype about the thousands of "miracle" weight loss pills, powders and drinks, it's no wonder weight loss can seem to be quite the challenge. Wouldn't it be nice if there were a way to be able to start to slim down without having to completel...
Losing Weight Is All About What You Gain
Many people have thought about losing weight over the years, but often seem to fall short of an actual attempt to do it. The reason why so many people think about it so much is because deep down, they know that having that extra poundage is not at all good for them. The problem is, just knowing that being overweight is bad is not enough to really push many people to do something about it. Much like wanting to quit smoking, knowing it is bad for you don't induce people to quit...
Reading Food Lables; Buyer Beware!
As you stroll up and down the isles at the supermarket filling your grocery cart, you are armed with everything you need to make sure you choose your items wisely. Making good, healthy choices is the very reason you carefully put together your shopping list the night before. Now, you know that most of the snack food items are taboo and should be off limits, but maybe you could take a walk down junk food lane on the off chance you might find something acceptable to munch on la...
Get Exercise And Lose Weight Playing Video Games
I know what you're probably saying right now. "Yea, right" or "what is this guy, some kind of a joker". Well, ordinarily you would be right on the mark with those comments, but there is a video game out there that not only can be a ton of fun, but can also give you a pretty good workout and make you lose weight in the process.

If you are a teenager or the parent of a teenager with a "Sony play station 2", then you likely already know what game I'm talking about. If not, t...
Keeping Yourself Fit After 40
Have you ever noticed how people who do no exercise at all still have a look of fullness in their arms, legs and chests for example, when they are less than 30 years old? Have you also noticed that this look of fullness starts to slowly become a look of droopiness and sagginess when they are over 30? Our body is at its peak at between 25 and 30 years of age. After this point, our body starts to slowly go into a decline and we tend to put on weight a little faster than before....
Low Carb Diets; Just How Safe Are They?
Whether you're in a grocery store, a restaurant or just watching the commercials on TV during your favorite show, you are bombarded with ads and special menu's singing the praises of the virtues of the low carb diet. This low carb craze has virtually swept the western world and has dieters everywhere seeking out low carb this and low carb that with many reporting weight loss as a result!!!

This is great news right? Finally, an easy diet plan that makes you lose weight and...
Four Myths About Diet That You Should Pay No Attention To
Nowhere are there more fad diets, weight loss schemes and wild, completely unsubstantiated weight loss advice circulating than in the USA. With so much conflicting "information" out there, it's no wonder people don't know where to turn to lose weight properly and in a healthy way. The fact is many people assume they are eating healthy although it's closer to the truth that many of them don't even come close to eating a balanced, nutritious diet.

The reason for this is most...
Can A 30 Minute Workout Really Work?
If you talk to almost anyone who goes to the gym to workout and ask them how long a good workout usually takes, they will often answer with; "it takes a good hour to get in a good workout", or even; "if I don't spend 1 ½ to 2 hours in the gym, I just don't get enough from my workout".

Based on these kinds of typical responses, you can imagine how surprised many of these same people appear to be when I tell them that I only workout for 30 minutes a day, yet still get the ki...
The Best Way To Get A Flat, Firm Stomach
When it comes to our bodies, we all have one place or another that we are somewhat unsatisfied with. You always hear people say things like "I hate my thighs" or "my butt is too big". Of course some of these things are said in jest, but there is still discontent hidden in there.

Despite it all though, the one thing that has become almost an obsession today is the way our abs look. It seems that everyone is looking for those ever elusive "six pack abs", but much like Ponce ...
Beating Food Cravings
Everyone, regardless of how disciplined they are with their diet, will from time to time fall victim to cravings for one food item or another. For people trying to lose weight, these cravings are even more of a challenge to deal with than for someone simply maintaining their weight. Regardless of whether or not you are trying to lose weight however, cravings can be the one thing that makes you break your normal dietary habits and overdo the calories you usually try to do with...
If Sugar Is Bad For You, Are Sugar Substitutes Better Instead?
Everyone knows that sugar is not a good part of a healthy diet and so many people are turning to sugar substitutes in order to get their sweet tooth fulfilled, but, are these substitutes in reality better than sugar or are there more things hidden under the surface of these "healthier" alternatives than meets the eye?

Let's take a closer look at some of these substitutes and see which ones are better and which ones may be better to avoid.

SUCRALOSE, sold under the name ...
Selecting Home Exercise Equipment That’s Right For You
So often people will make the decision to go out to the nearest fitness equipment store or local department store and buy some home exercise equipment. They want to start an exercise program, but don't want to go to the gym for any number of reasons, making exercising at home the best choice.

They will, with the best of intentions, buy a piece or two of equipment based on the recommendation of a friend or family member who swears by their choice. In some cases, they have n...
How To Make Losing Weight A Little Easier
Starting a weight loss diet is one of the easiest things a person can do. Staying with it, well, that's another thing entirely. There are so many reasons that people just can't seem to stay with their weight loss attempts.

If you are like most people, you probably have a pretty full schedule nearly every day with what seems like more things to do than hours in the day to get them done. Between work, school and things at home that need to be done, it's no wonder that it can...
Being Thin And Being Lean: Is There A Difference?
Often people will look at a thin person and think to themselves; now that person is nice and lean. But is that really always the case? Does being thin have a direct relationship with being lean? In order to answer these questions we must examine what it means to be thin versus what it means to be lean.

Now you can define being thin as having a small circumference size. This would be denoted by small waist, arm, leg, and chest diameters as well as a low body weight all in r...
Eating Before And After Exercise
When you exercise, you do it in order to try to maintain good health. You know that you have to eat so that your body has the energy to perform the workouts that you do as well as for everyday tasks. But, just what you should eat before and after you workouts is important for making the best of your workouts. Also, how long you eat before and after each workout is equally important.

Whether you are going to be doing a cardio workout or a resistance workout, you should try ...
Exercise And Children, What You Should Know
Your child of lets say eight years old tells you he or she wants to start exercising and that he or she wants to start lifting weights. Now you might want to know if this is really a good idea, if it is safe and if it will benefit your child or if it is not something that is recommended for children to do.

The long and short of it is, yes, it is beneficial to your child to partake in a weight training program but here are some things to keep in mind when getting your child...
Ginseng; Is It Really Beneficial Or An Asian Myth?
For thousands of years, ginseng has been revered in the Orient as an almost magical natural supplement with amazing benefits for those who use it regularly. It is said that ginseng will boost the immune system, enhance vitality, increase physical endurance, increase mental alertness, and treat illnesses like colds, fevers, headaches, and vomiting. It is even believed to be an aphrodisiac.

Let's face it, if ginseng actually had the properties to give all the benefits it is ...
How Does Alcohol Affect Exercise?
It's finally Friday and you just got off work. Now you're thinking about going out later and having a few drinks with your friends and relaxing. After all, you worked hard all week and you certainly deserve a little enjoyment and fun now that the weekend's here so there's nothing wrong with going out and having a few drinks with your friends, right?

Anyway, like always, tomorrow is a workout day and since you exercise regularly and take care of yourself a little alcohol wo...
Two Great Ways To Burn Fat Fast
Everyone who ever tried to lose weight has probably tried just about everything they could to do it at one time or another. With all of the gimmicks, fad diets, useless pills, and "secret" exercise methods out there it can be frustrating trying to get rid of unwanted fat.

Now everyone knows that there really is no secret method or trick to losing weight. Everyone knows that proper diet combined with exercise is the only real way to burn fat but there are a couple of things...
Calculating Your Body Mass Index; Is Your Health At Risk?
Physical health can be measured (with certain exceptions) through the appropriateness of a person's weight to his height; where the body weight refers to the measure of one's heaviness and the height is the measure of his tallness. For instance, a woman measuring 5 ft high (1.52 m), with a medium body frame should weigh between 103 lbs to 115 lbs (46.72 kg to 52.16 kg) to be considered healthy.

Another example: a man standing 5 ft 8 in (1.72 m) tall, with a large body fram...
Being Overweight Is A Learned Habit, Not A Choice
It is remarkable to find how many people eat out of boredom, sheer habit, or to the accompaniment of a newspaper, a book, or a heated business discussion. Many succumb to the habit of eating at a "minute" diner, fast food restaurant or lunch counter, gulping their food and running a "hoof and mouth" race with Father Time. (He always wins.)

Others are trained from childhood to stuff themselves-"finish your plate" (An old relic of primitive days when food scarcities or the u...
Going To The Gym For The First Time? Here’s What You’ll Need To Know
You've been thinking about it for quite some time now. You know you need to get your butt to the gym and start working out. You know you've gotten yourself out of shape and an hour or so in the gym three or four days a week sure wouldn't hurt.

Ok, so you've finally done it. You went down to the local fitness club and spent 2 weeks pay on a one year membership. You even went to the local K-Mart and got yourself some new exercise outfits. Now you're ready to go and get in sh...
Energy, How Does My Body Get It And How Does It Use It?
Many times people will ask an energetic person they know, where do you get all that energy from?? We just assume they simply have an overactive and limitless supply of energy which we are just not capable of having ourselves. We may ask ourselves, why is it that when I exercise I seem to run out of gas and get tired after thirty minutes but that guy over there seems to be able to keep at it for well over an hour without tiring out? Is he just a more energetic person than me? ...
For A Good Workout, Try The Medicine Ball
When most people think of a medicine ball, they usually get a mental picture of the old, tattered and torn brown leather weighted ball sitting in the corner of an old school iron pumping gym. They also see these balls as being a very outdated method of working out. When was the last time you've seen anyone use one of those or even heard anyone talk about them? With all the modern exercise machines and other various equipment available today, what possible reason could there b...
Excessive Exercise And Eating Disorders
In our society, the perceived perfect image of women falls right in line with the slenderness of girls 10 to 12 years old. This unrealistic perception spawned by the supermodels seen today in ads for popular clothing and undergarment makers such as Victoria's secret has caused many women to become obsessed with their own images.

In our society, women are ten times more likely to develop eating disorders and compulsive exercise habits that can be life threatening and often ...
How To Properly Begin A Jogging Routine
Jogging is not only one of the best ways to burn fat and lose weight; it also makes your heart and lungs stronger. You can jog almost anywhere and just about any time you want, making it very convenient to do. This is why there are so many people who do it.

The trouble that most people have in the beginning is not knowing how to get started properly and they usually end up doing it wrong. This has prompted scores of people to quit doing it before it has had enough time to ...
Good Fats And Bad Fats; What Is The Real Difference?
For most of us, eating is one of the most satisfying things we do in our everyday lives. As a matter of fact, we have our favorite dishes, favorite drinks and favorite snack foods which only proves that eating is one of our favorite activities. There's really nothing wrong with that since food, a primary necessity of man, is the one responsible for making us healthy, fit and giving us energy to perform everyday tasks.

But improper intake of food might do us more harm than ...
The Weight Loss Industry, Are They Really Telling Us The Truth?
Everyone who has ever tried to lose weight and keep it off knows that it is a very hard thing to do. In fact, nothing can be closer to the truth than to say that weight loss is hard. So it's no wonder that when one weight loss company or another comes up with their new, miracle breakthrough weight loss pill that will simply melt the fat off while you sleep, regardless of what you eat, people can't wait to make their three easy payments of only $29.95 while feverishly awaiting...
The Glycemic Index, What You Should Know About It
As of late, there has been much mention about the glycemic index. People everywhere talk about it and food advertisements use it liberally to promote certain products. But just what is this glycemic index and what does it mean for you? Why is it that people are resorting to it as a means of weight loss and overall healthy eating choices? What is the reason that the G.I. is becoming the staple food guide of the free world?

The glycemic index is a means of measuring the effe...
An Effective Exercise Routine For Beginners
Let's start with this very important rule: NEVER OVERDO THE FIRST FEW SESSIONS. Many beginners to exercising fall for this trap, especially when they do not have qualified trainers with them. They get overly excited and lose patience. They try to produce in two weeks what often takes years to accomplish.

They begin by going all out right from the start doing as much as they can. The next day, their joints and muscles lock up in pain. Then, they get discouraged, stop exerci...
Are The Foods You Eat Putting Your Health At Risk?
Food (and water) is the absolute first thing you need in order to ensure life. Without it you would wither away and die. You need food for its nutrition and for its sustenance. But are the foods you consume today supplying you with good solid nutrition, or are many of them slowly robbing you of your health and taking years from your life?

Here are some things to consider:

THE HAZARDS OF EATING MEAT
Eating meat (particularly pork and red meat such as beef) in of itself ...
Can Nutrition Help Slow Down The Aging Process?
We all age. That fact is inevitable. But a lot of the negative changes that take place in our bodies are not. As we age, we become more susceptible to such things as heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and arthritis. However, medical research has shown that proper nutrition can slow down and even prevent many of these ailments.

It is estimated that nearly one half of all health problems in the elderly are directly related to poor nutrition. The elderly are by and large ...
How To Know If You Are Overtraining
As everyone knows, exercise is good for you. It helps to keep your weight down, helps to keep you toned up, and helps to make you feel good. So then, if getting a little exercise is good for you, then it must be better to get even more and if getting more indeed is better, then it stands to reason that getting a lot would be even better. Sounds logical, doesn't it? However, this is not always the case.

When you exercise with fairly high intensity, and you exercise that way...
Hobbies And Everyday Chores Can Become Exercise Sessions
There are hobbies and household chores that involve physical activity. With a little imagination, you can have fun doing them and convert them into real body workouts. Here are some examples:

GARDENING
All the gardening activities such as squatting, bending, stretching, trimming, and sweeping are good exercise if done regularly. If possible, try not to use the water hose for watering plants. Instead, fetch a pail of water from the water source to the plants, alternately u...
How Nutrition Is Linked With Cancer Prevention
For many years it was assumed that what you ate each day had little or nothing to do with helping in the prevention of many of our deadliest cancers. However, recent research has proven that nutrition does indeed play a major role in the prevention and treatment of many types of cancer.

There are certain vitamins and minerals that are believed to enhance and spread malignancies through the bodies system, and this is needed to help prevent cancer. There are also vitamins an...
How To Properly Plan For Successful Weight Loss
Before taking actions in any problem we encounter, there should always be a plan first. That is, if we want to come up with positive results. You wouldn't want to enter a battle without preparing how to defeat the enemy, would you? Attempting a task without planning is like building a house without a blueprint or playing against a basketball team without planed plays with your teammates. How could you expect a good outcome?

Weight loss is not at all different from the abov...
For Better Muscular Gains, Use Intensity Cycling
Over the years, there have been countless numbers of people getting exercise with the use of weights and weight machines in an effort to increase strength and muscle size. They know that training with resistance is the only way to accomplish this goal.

All too often however, after a certain period of time, their progress seems to come to a halt. Suddenly they find that they can't add any more weight to their exercises, even by 1 or 2 pounds without their repetitions going ...
What To Look For When Selecting A Fitness Trainer
There are many reasons why you might consider hiring a fitness trainer to help you with exercise and advice about nutrition. One might be that you feel you need an expert in the field to help make sure you are doing all your exercises properly. Another might be that you want this person to give you good, effective exercise routines so you can get the most from your exercise sessions. Yet another might be that you want someone to help you manage your dietary needs. All of thes...

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