Body Wrapping and Weight Loss - Slim Down or Slim Scam?

One particularly enticing aspect of low-carbohydrate dieting is that you can lose weight. The down side of it is, unless you are careful, you can end up gaining it all back - plus more. While low-carbohydrate diets do help you to lose weight, it's worth mentioning that it also takes some discipline to follow the daily program and keep the weight off. Unfortunately, many low-carb diet programs fail to include instructions for the necessary lifestyle changes that must be put into place for long-term success. Additionally, low-carb diets can literally rob the body of certain nutrients which are beneficial in the overall reduction of other potential health problems.

Know What You Are Giving Up.

Carbohydrates are typically found in fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains (whole wheat breads, pasta and brown rice). These carbohydrates help to reduce the risk of heart disease, hypertension, cancer, diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders. To date, there is no evidence that high saturated fat, high protein, low-carb diets are healthy if consumed over a lifetime.

Why Low-Carb Diets Work So Well.

Low-carb diets, as with all diets, work because people eat fewer calories while following them. On the low-carb diet, calories are lower because you are reducing or eliminating sugars, sweets, starches, fruits and vegetables. If at the same time, you substitute high protein and fat foods, which are filling, you will feel fuller and eat less.

On any low-carb diet a considerable amount of the weight lost is water weight. Here's how it happens. Your body stores carbohydrates in muscles and the liver. Carbs are stored with 3 parts water to 1 part carbohydrate. If you stop eating carbohydrates the body uses up its existing carbohydrate reserve to maintain your blood sugar. This releases lots of water. That is the initial "weight loss" that you experience on a low-carb diet.

What Are Some Benefits of Low Carb Dieting?

Weight loss for the overweight helps to improve overall health in many ways. It can reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It can have positive effects on self-esteem and body image. It can be a great motivator for anyone who has had difficulty losing weight following other diets.

The Low-Carb Food Craze: Pay More - Lose More?

Don't be fooled. These foods can have plenty of calories and are expensive too. In the last few years, more than 1,000 products labeled "low-carb" have made their way to grocery shelves. To reduce the carbs, most products substitute soy flour or cellulose (not unlike wood pulp) for refined flour. They add artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, which have half to one-third the calories of sugar, instead of sugar… And taste is definitely not their biggest selling point.

Low-Carb Dieting Drawbacks.

Most people can only follow a low-carb diet for so long before they start craving some sweets or starches. The problem is that when you start eating these foods again you will begin to retain water and this will appears on the scale as "weight gain." If you have been on a low-carb diet and want to work back to a diet that includes complex carbohydrate begin by slowly adding small portions of grains into your diet. (A slice of bread or ½ cup rice or potatoes.) Expect to see a few pounds of water weight gain but remember - it's not fat weight!

Cut The "Junk Foods" And Drop The Weight!

You don't have to follow a special low-carb diet to lose weight. Eating fewer high calorie and high fat foods and increasing your exercise can also result in successful weight loss. I know, you've heard that before, but it really is true.

The average man eats about 2600 calories a day, the average women about 1900. A pound of fat a week can be lost by reducing your intake by 500 calories a day. One 20 ounce can of regular Coke contains 250 calories and a Snickers candy bar contains 280 calories. Cutting down on sweets can produce weight loss without sacrificing overall nutrition. Add a mile or two walk, or jog, several days a week (100-200 calories burned) and you are well on your way to weight loss. Cutting the "junk foods" can be a strategy in itself. At the same time, eat more fruits, vegetables and salads. Try filling up without "junking up" and your chances of successful weight loss will increase dramatically.

READ MORE - Body Wrapping and Weight Loss - Slim Down or Slim Scam?

Beating The Weight Loss Bandits

If you're on a weight loss program you're under constant attack - attack from the food bandits all around you.

There is food waiting to ambush your weight loss efforts at every turn.

It's there on every street corner: available, fast, in huge portions and full of fat.

It's there at every checkout: convenient, brightly-packaged and calling "Eat me! Eat me!"

It’s there at work for every occasion: birthdays, promotions, leaving parties, "because it’s Friday".

It’s there at home brought to you larger than life on every TV set, seductively advertised, calling from the fridge and pantry "I’m here! Come and get me! You know you want to!"

Given that the food bandits are out there, what can you do about them?

Be ready to defend yourself!

Know your weak spots – those food temptations you find hard to resist, and plan to

Avoid them as much as you can. Don't drive past fast food outlets even if it means a detour. Keep tempting high-fat snacks out of your home. Give TV ads a wide berth – in fact give TV a miss altogether and get out and do something. Walk away from offers of food, declining as politely and firmly as possible. "No thanks, I’m not hungry just now" should be enough.

Treat your encounter with food bandits with a sense of fun. Make a note in your mind that you’ve spotted one "Alert! Food bandit on left flank. Eyes right! Defeat!"

If you succumb once in a while to the food bandits, don't let it get you down. Brush yourself down and be ready to come out fighting against the next lot.

Be delighted each time you spot and overcome a food bandit. Feel proud that you were able to show who's in charge. You're the boss!

Once you recognise the food bandits for what they are, they lose their power. Each time you take them on and defeat them, you'll notice their influence over you diminish.

Gradually you get into the habit of ignoring the bandits. Long term result – a slimmer, healthier, beautiful you, in total control of the food you eat.

READ MORE - Beating The Weight Loss Bandits

Arizona Doctor Discovers Triathlons as the Ultimate Weight Loss Program - Loses Sixty Pounds

I never intended to get fat! I am not exactly sure how it happened, but there I was a 6'2" thirty-four year old pushing close to 270 pounds. My cholesterol was high, my triclecrides were high, and my blood pressure was high. I was on a direct course for developing diabetes, increased risk of heart disease, increased risk of cancer, and a ton of other diseases related to obesity.

It gets worse. I am a doctor, a sports chiropractor to be exact and my office is located inside a health club. Unfortunately, like many other doctors and other health professional out there, I was not practicing what I was preaching.

Living in sunny Arizona, land of the endless summer, sooner or later you have to go to the lake, the water park, or you are invited to a cookout and pool party. That is when all my excuses caught up to me. Despite knowing the health risks associated with being overweight, it was the feeling of low self-esteem and embarrassment that finally drove me to action.

So there I was, a doctor, ready to get the weight off. I hate to admit it; I tried some of those quick fix gimmick supplements. I tried a bunch of the fad diets. I bought a bunch of books from all the “weight loss experts". Sure I would lose a little weight, but I could never stick with the diet for any length of time. When I went off the diet I would gain the weight right back. Then tried working my butt off in the gym, running almost every day. That got real boring, and I found that running everyday is not the best thing to do when you weigh close to 270 pounds.

There I was again, still no direction, no focus, no drive, nothing to guide me. Frustrated about not getting any results and what to do, I thought I was just going to have to accept that I was overweight and deal with it. I gave it a real effort and it did not work.

During all of this, the chiropractor that I bought my office from mentioned that he was beginning a weight loss program at his office, which was based on his experience with triathlon training. That got my attention. I really wanted to give the program a try, but I lived too far from his office to come in on a regular basis. So I began researching the sport on the Internet.

The more I read about triathlons and triathlon training, the more sense it made to me as a way to help me lose weight. If you are going to do an event that involves swimming, cycling, and running you obviously are going to have to train that way. The idea about jumping into the pool for an exercise swim was not something I was looking forward to, and the last thing I wanted to do was to put on a swimsuit and workout. Then I remembered how painful my knees were from running around, and swimming would be easier on my joints.

I also began reading about using heart rate monitors and the affects of exercising at different heart rates. Many of the authors of the books on heart zone training were triathletes themselves, and they gave numerous examples on how using heart zone training you can track your progress and maximize your exercise program.

The more I searched the triathlon Internet sites, the more I became interested in the sport. The people who competed in triathlons looked really fit, it was inspiring. That is when I decided to take my commitment to losing weight to the next level. Weighing close to 270 pounds, I signed up for my first triathlon. Five months away, I was going to do a sprint race, which was a 500m swim, a 15-mile bike, then and a 3-mile run. This was a much shorter distance than many triathlon races, however at the time I could not do even one of the events let alone all of them back-to-back.

Using a combination of what I learned about heart zone training and from the triathlon Internet sites, I started my program. I my alternated exercise sessions between swimming, cycling, and running. I also did about an hour of weight training a week. This really added a variety to the exercise program, and it never got boring. One day I would just bike, then next maybe run 10 minutes, do a weight session, then bike for 25 minutes. Then the next day I would just swim. The next day I would swim then follow it up with a run. My knees were holding up very well with little, if any pain. At the same time I started eating better, no real diet, just common sense stuff, avoiding the sugars and white breads.

The use of the heart rate monitor became a very useful tool. It kept me from working too hard or too easy. The monitor I was using, the Polar 610, also came with software. I was able to download all of my exercise sessions into a computer. Then I was able to objectively document my exercise sessions. The software was able to track my calories burned during exercise, my average heart rate, hours spent exercising per week, and much more. After every exercise session actually looked forward to downloading my session to see how I did.

It also allowed me to exercise at different heart rates. One day I would run at 70% of my maximum heart rate for 10 minutes, then bike at 80% of my maximum heart rate for 10 minutes, then go back to running at 70% for another 10 minutes. The next day I would just bike for 40 min. But I would again exercise at different heart rates, 10 min at 70%, and 5 minutes at 80%, and 10 minutes at 75 %, and 5 minutes at 80%, and then 10 minutes at 70%. This was a fun way to exercise and I actually began to look forward to exercising, the whole process was less boring.

I kept up with this type of training for five months. On the day of my first triathlon, I was forty pounds lighter.

Some how, some way, I did it. I finished my first triathlon, and as crazy as it sounds I really enjoyed myself. I was feeling good about my accomplishment, but I still had some serious weight to lose. So I found another triathlon race six months later, signed up for it and continued training. The weight just kept coming off and coming off.

At the time of my second race, eleven months after learning about triathlons, I had lost sixty pounds.

It seemed like every week one of my patients, whom I had not seen for months, would come in for a treatment. The reactions were always the same, doc what the heck happened to you, you look like a totally different person!

I felt like a different person too, I was running without knee pain, I was happier at work, my relationship with my family was better, I was no longer embarrassed to go to a pool party or the water park, in fact I looked forward to them.

My patients and the members of the health club where my office was located were constantly asking me about my weight loss. I remember one of the gym members walking up to my desk and looking at my before and after pictures. He pointed to my fat picture and said, “That is me" then he pointed to my fit picture and said, “That is the way I want to look". Wow, what a great feeling, I could not believe it.

As I am sitting here writing this article, it has been a year since my first triathlon. Just a few weeks ago, I raced in my third race and I actually managed to finish second in my age group.

As a result of getting into triathlons, not only do I have a new body, I have a new life.

READ MORE - Arizona Doctor Discovers Triathlons as the Ultimate Weight Loss Program - Loses Sixty Pounds

Are Your Kids Sabotaging Your Weight Loss?

If you are a mom at home on a diet, you will probably related to a frequent situation I encounter as a weight loss consultant. Many of my clients with children are able to keep to a healthy eating plan through most circumstances except two. It all starts to go astray when the kids come home from school, or when they are preparing school lunches.

It's no surprise really. Kids love snacks we buy from the supermarket, and parents love them because they are quick and easy to throw into the lunchbox or for kids to grab from the shelves in the pantry. Small bags of chips, tasty bite size crackers, sodas and the like. No problem. Except when it comes to mom's weight loss program. Mom loves them too!

These products are high in fat, high in energy and high in refined sugars. And after one, two or three nibbles it is possible to wrack up an unwanted 500 calories. This single act will probably stall your weight loss or even worse!

To stop your kids from sabotaging your weight loss efforts, here are 20 snack ideas for kids that will do far less damage to your weight loss program if mom nibbles (just a little).


1. Chop up ½ tinned pear or other fruit in natural juice and set in 200mls of low calorie jelly. Make up into individual disposable plastic containers with lids.

2. Cut up crisp vegetable sticks with dipping sauce - ranch, peanut (satay), sweet chili or tomato.

3. Cut celery sticks 6-8 cm, fill with cottage cheese and top with sultanas or chopped nuts.

4. Combine a mixture of low fat hard cheese cubes, nuts and dried fruits in plastic wrap or a lunch bag.

5. Roll up thin slices of carrot and celery with grated cheese in a slice of cold meat. Secure with toothpick. Slice the carrot and celery with a vegetable peeler for really thin slices.

6. Cut oranges into quarters and freeze on trays. Put into plastic bags for a fruity ice block.

7. Meatball surprise. Next time you are making meatloaf, double the quantity and make a batch of meatballs. These are great in lunchboxes cold. Add a slice of pineapple with a toothpick to each meatball. Add dipping tomato sauce if required.

8. Mini quiches….make a batch of crust-less quiche and cook in muffin tray. Each 'muffin' will be a wonderful healthy snack for kids.

9. Chilled fruit surprise - slice a combination of strawberries, bananas, kiwi fruit, watermelon, grapes or in season fruit. Place in small resealable plastic container. Top with apple juice; do not overfill. Seal, freeze. When packed in lunchbox, will keep sandwiches cool and prove a refreshing treat on a hot day.

10. Rice cakes spread with mashed avocado, mashed banana and cinnamon, or try mashed avocado, sliced tomato and sprouts.

11. Chopped hard-boiled egg served with low fat mayo, salt, pepper on a crisp bread.

12. Leaf wrappers: wrap a cheese finger, celery stick and carrot stick in a lettuce leaf. Wrap in foil and place in lunchbox. Contents will be kept moist.

13. Yoghurt tub.

14. Baby Bell Cheese and low fat cracker.

15. Creamy dates: slice dates lengthways, remove stone. Fill with Philadelphia cream cheese (low fat).

16. Quick sausage rolls: wrap a skinned (good quality) sausage in several sheets of filo pastry. Brush pastry with beat egg to glaze. Cut into desired lengths. Bake in moderately hot oven for 15-20 minutes. Rolls can be frozen.

17. Same as above but use fresh chicken breast strips and cut to 2" - use tomato or favorite dipping sauce

18. After school hot snack attack: Spread a round of pita bread with tomato paste and herbs. Top with tomato, ham, mortadella, add onion, sliced mushrooms or pineapple. Sprinkle grated low fat hard cheese over pita bread. Grill to make a tasty pizza. If no pita bread is available, substitute a crisp bread.

19. Fruity kebabs: place bite size pieces of fruit in season on kebab skewers.

20. Pop top sandwich tuna tin, crisp bread, sachet of mayonnaise. Kids can put their snack together at school so that it doesn't go soggy.

Remember fresh is best both for yourself and your children. By substituting these ideas for some of the prepackaged snack food and cookies your kids eat you will be doing both them and yourself a favor.

READ MORE - Are Your Kids Sabotaging Your Weight Loss?

Are Weight Loss Supplements Worth It?

What do you think of the hundreds of weight loss supplements out there on the shelves today? Are they worth the money? Will they actually help you lose weight? How do you know which ones are going to work for you? Is there any proof that these products work?

I've taken some time and researched some of the most popular product to try to find the answers for you. The truth is, most products won't help you lose anything but money. There are a few, however, with some research behind them that prove that they actually work.

What are these supplements that work? It seems that only four products hold the best promise for those of us who want to slim down. They are Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), Hydroxycitic Acid (HCA), phaseolomine, and possibly 5-HTP.

1. Conjugated Linoleic Acid, CLA, has a number of research studies behind it. It is a fatty acid that has been found to reduce cancer risks, body fat and to increase lean muscle tissue. The Journal of Nutrition reported a Scandanavian Research team found CLA to increase the lean body mass of humans and also to decrease the fat mass. Subjects also had lower blodd fat and cholestrol after taking CLA. CLA does occur naturally in meat and dairy products, but the levels are pretty low. Also, if you're following a healthy low-fat diet, you tend to not get as much meat and dairy, so supplementation may be the answer for getting a healthy dose of CLA.

2. Hydroxycitic Acid, HCA, is derived from a fruit, Garcinia cambogia or Malabar tamarind. It seems to work by inhibiting an enzyme that converts carbohydrates to fat. It also seems to suppress the appetite. Studies on humans have had mixed results with one study showing significant weight loss in participants. Another study using a high fiber diet, showed HCA had no effect on weight loss. Critics think the high fiber diet prevented absorbtion of the HCA. So, if you're on a high fiber diet, HCA may not be for you.

3.Phaseolomine is derived from the white kidney bean. It works by reducing your body's absorbtion of starchy carbohydrates. Since you absorb fewer calories, you lose weight. Seems like this supplement would be great to take if you knew you were going to indulge. Research has also shown that you burn more fat while taking phaseolomine. Subjects in one study lost 10% of their body fat in 30 days. Phaseolomine is typically found in carb blocker products.

4. 5HTP works by increasing the level of Serotonin in the brain resulting in more stable emotions, better sleep and weight loss. I take 5HTP myself and have found it to be an excellent appetite suppresant as well as a mild mood booster. In one study where women were given either a placebo or 5HTP and a 1200 calorie diet, those who took the placebo lost 2.28 pounds and those who took 5HTP lost 10.34 pounds. This was accomplished in 6 weeks. Are there other supplements that work? There may be others that will stand the test of time and research, but for now these are the best non-prescription supplements I've found to enhance your weight loss efforts. Good luck losing the weight you want to lose!

READ MORE - Are Weight Loss Supplements Worth It?

Are Weight Loss Supplements Right For You?

The debate about whether supplements for weight loss are healthy or not will go on and on for years to come. There are good and bad points to using weight loss supplements. One of the bad points is that once you stop taking them you gain everything back that you lost to begin with.

Most doctors will tell you that weight loss supplements are not necessary and that only a good controlled diet along with daily exercise is the only thing one needs to lose weight. This is true. however with today's working society with 2 parents working and trying to raise children at the same time who has time for exercise? Who has time to plan good nutritional meals?

I know first hand what this is all about. My wife is probably around 60 pounds over weight. Now before we go any further I would just like to say that I love her just as much now as I did when we first met. Her weight does not bother me. She is a beautiful person both inside and out. But I know inside she is hurting. And for the last several years she has struggled with her weight almost daily. And the biggest problem as I mentioned above is time. Time to prepare good quality nutritious meals both for her self and the children. Time to do sufficient exercise in order to burn off calories.Our schedule is chaotic to say the least. She works from 9:00 AM till 5:00 PM. I work from 3:30 PM till 12:00 AM . When I'm not with the kids she is with the kids. Only on weekends do the kids have both parents home at the same time.

Back to supplements.

First they will not work if you do not get the proper diet and at least exercise once per week. My wife has tried supplements and they did work for her. What supplements do is to help speed up your metabolism rate decreasing the need for daily exercise. They also supplement the nutrition needed that you may not be getting from your diet for proper weight loss. Weight loss supplements actually regulate your blood sugar level, this helps you overcome severe sugar and carbohydrate cravings that sabotage even the most strong-willed weight loss efforts.

So are weight loss nutrition supplements right for you? When my wife lost 40 pounds using supplements she felt great. She was happy and gained allot of self esteem back. Not to mention that she had allot more energy. If you have a hectic schedule and cannot find enough time in the day to prepare proper nutritional meals and get regular daily exercise then I suggest you give supplements a try.

My opinion is that if they help you to lose weight and make you feel good about yourself again then go for it. What do you have to lose except a few pounds. There are hundreds of products on the internet you can try. A couple of my wife's favorites can be found at the following web page. weight-loss-nutrition-supplements.com

READ MORE - Are Weight Loss Supplements Right For You?

A New Era in Fitness and Weight Loss

Fitness has evolved tremendously since the early days of round cement dumbbells and jump ropes. Now all the luxuries of home are provided for you in your workout experience, to help make it more convenient, enjoyable and have it feel less like, well, working out, as possible. Cardio machines now come equipped with numerous amenities, from personal televisions to fans. People now can seclude themselves from the rest of the world with head phones that connect to televisions' as they workout. Strength equipment has also advanced with more user friendly resistance machines that provide every possible way in which to target a muscle.

Yes, our society has defiantly advanced, at least in terms of the equipment we use. However, some how, even with all of our technological advances we are still more over weight and obese than ever. Many people sit and wonder to themselves how could it be that movie stars can obtain and maintain such fit and beautiful bodies? They have access to much of the same technological advances as the rest of us do in our fitness centers and home equipment. After all, is it not about how much you do and not what you do? This is far from the truth; movie stars, models, performers, their just like you and me. They have cravings, they get too tired to workout and they have access to similar equipment. So again, how is it that with their hectic schedules, being constantly bombarded with rich foods, and being only human, that they can look so good, all the time! The answer is that they have access to something most people do not, a great personal trainer! I know what people will be thinking when they read this, “I can't afford a personal trainer" or “I don't have time to meet on a regular basis with someone." Online personal training is the solution to much of the nations' health problems.

Online personal training can provide people with the direction they need to help them reach their goals. They can do this with access to a certified personal trainer, but without the cost and time needed to acquire one. Online personal training is the New Era of the fitness industry and can get you where you need to be, on the fast track to a healthier more attractive body!

Here's how it works. Participants obtain access to an online training website. From their, the participant selects the plan they prefer most (prices usually increase depending on the type of program selected). Once a program is selected, a simple questionnaire is required to be filled out to determine you current health status, preferences and future goals. You are then set up with you own login screen name and password that gives you access to your programs online. The trainer will send you your workout plan periodically through email and post it on your login access online. Participants can print out their workouts, which consist of a picture of each exercises start and finish positions, written directions on how to perform each exercise and the correct order to perform each one are all provided. How many sets and reps to perform are included as well. For more detailed explanation of an exercise, clients can even access their program online and watch a video of a model demonstrating each exercise start to finish properly.

Another great advantage to online training is that you have constant access to a personal trainer via email or phone, to ask questions about your program or any general health and fitness inquiries. The benefits seem endless, depending on the program one chooses, nutritional components are also supplied in different degrees. The nutrition component is based on your goals and eating habits. A licensed nutritionist supplies you with a daily meal plan and grocery list in which to choose healthy options based on your goals and health needs.

READ MORE - A New Era in Fitness and Weight Loss

A Weight Loss Secret

Some people have discovered a simple weight loss secret that can help keep you losing pounds even if you have a sweet tooth. Most diet plans allow sugar free desserts, and they can be a delicious way to keep you on track.

If you are a dieter who craves something sweet, these tasty treats might be your secret weapon to satisfy that sweet tooth and still stay on your weight loss program.

But if you think sugar free desserts are bland, boring or only for diabetics get ready to change your mind.

Sugar free desserts have come a long way in taste in the last few years. They are so good now you have to look at the packaging to believe you are actually eating a sugar free dessert. There's a multitude of different varieties, and many of them really do taste better than the sugar varieties.

Many followers of the Atkins Diet have discovered the secret of these incredible low-carb and sugar free taste treats. This allows them to stay on their diet plan without missing out on a delicious dessert.

In fact, for many dieters, having a dessert is the one thing that keeps them feeling more satisfied. If you feel satisfied you will stay on a diet plan longer and be more successful with weight loss.

But it's important to note that just because a dessert is sugar free doesn't mean it's calorie free. Even though these sugar free desserts are usually lower in calories, they still could sabotage a low calorie diet. Although many weight loss program allow them, check your diet plan to see what it says about these no sugar desserts before you eat them.

Another advantage of eating a sugar free dessert is it doesn't raise your blood sugar like desserts made with sugar. Keeping your blood sugar levels more level keeps your hunger down and is much better for your overall health. You are also less prone to diabetes which is at an all time high in America right now.

A lot people use sugar free desserts as part of their weight loss program. But many have switched to these no sugar taste treats, as a much healthier alternative.

So the next time you crave something sweet but still want to stay on your weight loss program, a sugar free dessert might be a perfect choice.

READ MORE - A Weight Loss Secret

Aerobic Cross Training for Weight Loss

Do you sometimes get bored with your aerobic exercise? Do You sometimes feel like you're not getting the results you should from your aerobic exercise? If so, then aerobic cross-training is for you.

Aerobic cross-training refers to using two to three different types of aerobic exercise during an exercise session. For example, if you plan to exercise for 60 minutes, you might start with 20 minutes of walking or jogging, followed by 20 minutes of biking, and finish with 20 minutes of rowing.

Now, please don't get the impression that you have to be in great shape to do this or that it has to be 60 minutes long. You can start with something as simple as a ten minute walk followed by ten minutes with an exercise video. This is cross-training too. You can gradually build up from there.

Here are some of the exercises you can use in your cross-training program; walking, jogging, biking, rowing, stair climbing, swimming, exercise videos, etc. Any combination of aerobic exercises will do. You simply go from one to the next with very little time between them.

Aerobic cross-training is beneficial to you in several ways:

1. It provides variety which eliminates the monotony often associated with doing the same exercise for a long period of time.

2. If your exercise sessions are less monotonous and more enjoyable, you are much more likely to exercise more often and for longer periods of time.

3. You are less prone to over-use injuries that sometimes occur from doing the same exercise movements over and over again.

4. You tone more muscles because you are using more muscles. For example, walking tones mostly the lower body muscles and rowing tones upper body muscles also. Even exercises like walking and biking that both tone lower body muscles, tone them at different angles and each tones some small muscles that the other doesn't.

5. Aerobic conditioning is very specific to the muscles being worked. For example, you can walk ten miles a day and still be somewhat breathless after climbing stairs because you haven't trained the muscles for that specific movement. Aerobic cross-training allows you to develop more comprehensive aerobic training.

6. Aerobic cross-training is effective for weight loss because your are toning and training the fat-burning systems of more of your muscles. It turns more of your muscles into 24-hour fat-burning machines! You are also more likely to exercise on a regular basis and for longer periods of time. this also promotes weight loss and fitness.

READ MORE - Aerobic Cross Training for Weight Loss