Smartphone apps for fitness freaks, quit gym but stay in shape

 

Now get a reason to quit gym and at no or low cost have your own fitness trainers.

How many of us get fitness crazy nowadays and everyday plan to join a gym for being a fit. You cannot deny that due to busy schedules we are unable to join a gym and learn a perfect workout for getting rid of extra fats. It isn't always an easiest thing to do, Apart from that who wants to pay for a gym membership they may not be motivated to use? 

While our Smartphones has replaced many things in life, let’s give a chance to them once again and get through with the hassles of joining a gym. Working out and getting back into shape is under your fingertips now.

Smartphone apps make it easy to find motivation to work out, access guided routines, and track progress. Let’s get a glimpse of few of those awesome apps that will help you ditch the expensive gym membership, save money, and cut own extra fats.

SWORKIT Lite

Do the workout in the comfort of your living room. Sworkit Lite (iOS, Android, and Amazon) has adapted video-based instruction, mixed it with a timing tool and data tracking capability, and put it all into a smartphone app. Choose the workout length as well as which muscle groups to target each day. And it’s free.

SPRING MOVES

Spring Moves (iOS) is a personal DJ app that syncs the steps of a workout with the beat of streamed music. It also tracks distance, calories, and pace. (Free to try; but $3.99/month to subscribe)

FITSTAR

It's impressive when an app knows exactly what you need. FitStar (iOS) is an interactive app that asks questions in order to deliver tailored, personalized workouts. It’s also for Free.

WOD DECK OF CARDS

Created by and for CrossFit loyalists, WOD Deck of Cards (iOS and Android) is for those who want to be surprised and challenged and constantly switch things up. Users choose one type of workout to represent each suit, and then draw a card to see how many times they must complete it. (Free)

ZOMBIES, RUN!

For the couch potato with a fondness for "The Walking Dead," Zombies, Run! (iOS and Android) app motivates users to exercise for a chance to escape a zombie takeover. The effort of running from the undead is rewarded with supplies and tools based on the amount of exercise completed. (Initially Free; $2.99/month to subscribe)

CHARITY MILES

An app that inspires more than calorie burning, Charity Miles offers rewards for running, walking, or biking distances by donating to a charity of the user's choice. The more you move, the more you help. (Free)

PUMPUP

This app can be a social media lover’s newest #fitfriend. Through a supportive community that offers virtual high-fives, PumpUp (iOS and Android) applies the accountability factor and community aspect of social media to working out. (Free)

NOOM COACH

Fitness and healthy eating are essential to achieving optimal health, and Noom Coach (iOS and Android) offers in-depth diet analysis. Keep track of foods consumed through the app and receive feedback, advice, and helpful strategies to meet fitness goals. (Free)

YOGA STUDIO

The app offers a choice of poses as well as the ability to create a personalized sequence depending on user preferences. ($3.99)

Two polio cases found in Quetta and Peshawar while Punjab to start anti polio drive

Polio is one the worst issues we are facing in Pakistan. Though international world has helped a lot to eradicate polio from this land but it still cannot be ended with all those endeavors. 

Recently two fresh cases of crippling polio disease were confirmed in Quetta and Peshawar; which raised this year’s count to 35 across Pakistan.

Sources in Baluchistan health department said to a national daily that polio virus was detected in Naqeebullah, a three-year-old boy residing in Eastern bypass area of the city while those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department confirmed the virus in a one-year-old girl, Kainat. She is a resident of Sheikhan rural area of Peshawar.

The polio victim in Quetta was reportedly administered vaccination drops at least seven times by health workers. Naqeebullah’s case came weeks after an anti-polio campaign in Quetta and other 31 districts of Baluchistan ended on September 17.

We have witnessed instances of terrorism on anti-polio drive in both the provinces. Health workers have been attacked and killed, while refusal on the part of some parents has further worsened the situation.

On the other hand Punjab will hold a polio campaign as part of Sub National Immunization Day (SNID) in seven districts of the province from 7th to 9th of October, Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Zahid Pervaiz announced on Tuesday. The campaign will be conducted in the following high risk seven districts: Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan.

The authorities along people from different walks of life are trying to mend people’s mind and doing a lot to counter this problem but in Baluchistan and KPK area it seems bit difficult. The residents are not willing to give their children polio vaccine which is causing risk to many.

Link related to blog: Nation

Losing weight may also cause you being sad

If you have bulks of fat and you think losing them will make you feel good then go ahead. Some people just go across the board for weight losing and the reason is that positive perception shown on media. In every morning show they are suggesting weight loss tips and diets. Everybody does not have same body type and all of these tips do not fit in their routines.

People usually think losing weight will give you happiness and some also get it; ­but there are few who does not get any kind of happiness out of this whole process. Scientists found relation between mental illness and weight loss.

A 2014 University College London study based on population data, found Britons who lost at least 5 per cent of their body weight were significantly worse off psychologically at a follow-up assessment than those who maintained their weight.

Speaking about his own 60-pound weight loss, the researcher writes "I suffered through injuries and fatigue as I lost weight, all the while isolating myself from friends and family. My running routine and calorie-watching bordered on obsessive and unhealthy."

"And even once I had dropped down to 160 lbs., from a maximum of 226 lbs., my throat clenched with dread and worry if the number on the scale rose by a pound or two. Yet people I knew saw me as an inspiration, an uplifting example of willpower."

Population studies, where researchers look through the medical records of people who have lost weight to see if there is any correlation between weight loss and mental illness, often support the idea that weight loss can negatively affect a person's mood, while clinical weight loss trials, where weight loss is interventionist in nature and occurs within a clinical environment, tend to be less conclusive.

When someone is restricting their kilojoule intake and losing weight it causes changes in the brain which leads to increases in their stress hormones, as well as increases in the amount of dynorphins their brain produces.

The doctors say if you start feeling any kind of sadness during weight loss process go for exercising only. It is the thing which will always keep your weight under control and keep you happy as well. Sometimes weight loss not only put in you in physical dangers but in mental situations as well.

High fat diets damage your brain

Are you sometimes feeling annoyed and irked? Do you feel your memory is affected and you cannot remember many things? Well if answer is yes then the reason is your eating habits. A recent study showed that a high-fat diet can affect brain health and promote changes in your behavior, including increased anxiety, impaired memory, and repetitive behavior.

The findings published in the journal Biological Psychiatry suggest that even those who are not obese should avoid fatty foods to obviate diet-induced psychiatric disorders. The researchers noted high-fat diet produces changes in health and behavior, in part, by changing the mix of bacteria in the gut, also known as the gut microbiome.

“This paper suggests that high-fat diets impair brain health, in part, by disrupting the symbiotic relationship between humans and the microorganisms that occupy our gastrointestinal tracks,” commented John Krystal, editor of Biological Psychiatry.

It was tested whether an obesity-related microbiome alters behavior and cognition even in the absence of obesity. Non-obese adult mice were conventionally housed and maintained on a normal diet, but received a transplant of gut microbiota from donor mice that had been fed either a high-fat diet or control diet.

Talk of Pakistani food or the famous fast food, it has been very much in nowadays and people prefer eating out. The daily eating habits changing as life style is evolving. So if someone wants to live longer and stay perfect, they should avoid excessive high fat diets. It will not only save you from obesity but from anxiety, depression and many other behavioral problems.

Getting fat even if drink “Diet” soda, read this to know the reason

People are unable to get rid of from the glamorous and persuasive ads which tell you that if you are thirsty then go and grab a Soda drink because it is the only thing which could end your quench. That's all crap and a way to increase their sale by stupefying people with their persuasion power.

As many studies showed the normal soda drinks are unhealthy and full of sugary many people use diet sodas as thirst quenchers.

So if you thought diet soft drink was a healthy alternative to the regular, sugar-laden stuff, it might be time to go over choosing them. As a 10-year study has found a startling relationship between daily consumption of diet soft drinks and the size of your waistline.

If you are adherent to diet sodas but even then you are getting fat then realize the reason of your obesity. The study came out with the fact that daily drinkers gained 8 centimeters of belly fat, compared to 2 centimeters for non-drinkers and 4.6 centimeters for occasional users, over the total study period.

Obese people has severe impact of Soda use and it caused them to be overweight. One of the authors wrote that "Even small increases in abdominal obesity ... have been associated with significant increases in cardio-metabolic risk factor levels.”

Many health conscious people prefer diet soft drinks over regular drinks, during diets or the time one eats heavy meals he always go for diet soft drink to complement its meal. Diabetic patient think that diet soda can serve their craving but will be healthy as well, then this notion is proven wrong.

Another reason for the damaging effect of diet sodas may be that artificial sweeteners aren't received in the same way by our bodies as natural sugars. "Regular sugar has caloric consequences," the study's principal author, Helen Hazuda, told Time magazine - namely, it triggers a feeling of fullness.

"Your body is used to knowing that a sweet taste means you are ingesting energy in the form of calories that, if you don't burn them off, is going to convert to fat." But artificial sugar doesn't have the same effect and actually confuses the body's link between sweetness and satiation, Professor Hazuda added.

After this study it is evident that one can get fat even if they use diet sodas. Daily or occasional drinkers should realize that increase in their waist line is due to this confusion which their body face while trying to digest artificial sweeteners. Nothing can replace benefits of water and real fresh juices. Prefer water while dinning out, prefer fresh juices or hot tea if you are serving any guest. The truth is unfolded, now this is our choice that we want to stay healthy or to obese.

A group of scientists is trying to make safe diet sodas, but the truth is that nothing can replace the real pure food. So try it, stay away from junk and live healthy.

Move more and eat less, best diet advice ever

When someone someday saw herself in mirror of a dressing room, she realized bulk of fats on her waist look so ugly and totally out of shape. Then it suddenly reminded her of dieting. Which is very absurd kind of idea someone actually has when wants to lose weight.

Fats are the thing that is easy to put on and difficult to get rid of. This happens too many of us. In our busy lives, we do not realize that what harm we are doing to our own bodies. Some suffer eating disorders and some just eat, work, and eat. Well it reminds me of myself as well, because this is what I also do but after few days, I realize what I have done to myself. Then the next thought is of controlling my diet and working out. Simplest thing is using stairs and avoid gluing to seat.

Keeping yourself in shape is not for anyone but for your own self. If someone loves his/her self they will take care of themselves and we all should do that. The more you work more you feel hungry, but this causes no good to our bodies.

Experts say that the easiest tactic that can help you in losing weight is eat less and move more. Will power helps you as well but it’s not a complete savior as if you don’t like walking your will power won’t help you in that. Many of us rely on will power and most of the times they only have will power and do not exercise physically.

When you lose weight, leptin levels decrease, which leads to an increase in hunger and a decrease in metabolic rate. Similarly, when you eat a lot, your appetite should decrease. Combined, the effects are supposed to allow you to achieve a somewhat stable weight.

Harder you work out your body will fight back proportionately. Naturally, humans eat a lot and it’s a battle of your nature vs. will power. Success does not come from will power only but if the results are good, will power keeps up the process. Do not rely on will power solely; it’s an ignition that keeps the car running.

Rather than starving one should run, jog, and walk more so that whatever you eat, digested and try to eat less. Be choosy and only get the things that are healthy and non-fattening. Maintain a balance between junk foods and healthy food. Obviously, we cannot stay away from junk food completely but if we try, we can balance our eating habits.

Do not be addictive to any single eatable and exercise more than you eat. Experts say that running keeps you happy and skinny. It strengthens knees and bones. Other than that it add years in your life and reduces risk of cancer.So rather than going on crash diets opt crash moving which will benefit you in wider perspectives.

Cut down sugar intake, stay young and live healthy

Sweetness in life is necessary but excessive sweetness is bad. Sugar can be addictive, but its excessive consumption can cause health problems. Nutritionists and health consultant says that too much intake of sugar can be very harmful to you in all respects.

No matter how much you like sweets but doctors recommend women to have no more than six teaspoons of sugar and nine teaspoons for men. Don’t think of gender equality here and try to take less than six teaspoons.

Many of us don’t know that the processed food which we consume have large amount of sugar in it. It is suggest that cola drinks are harmful for health because a single can contains more than seven teaspoons of sugar.

Natural sweetened things are good choice for savour rather than pastries and cookies. A housewife in America boycotted sugar for one year in her family’s daily life and found that they all did well without taking sugar. They were more active and healthier. She used fruits and naturally sweetened things rather than choosing ice creams etc.

All the fancy sweetened foods around us are high in calories and calories do no good to health e.g. chocolates, pastries, candies, fast food, breakfast cereals, ice creams, canned fruit juices, soups, alcoholic drinks, and desserts have very high amounts of sugar. They lack vitamins or minerals that our body actually needs.

Excessive use of sugar cause health conditions like obesity, tooth decay, diabetes and an impaired immune system. It also results in diseases associated with metabolism like high cholesterol levels, insulin resistance, and increased blood pressure.

Our advice for sugar-addicted people is that to live a healthy and active life they should consume safe alternatives of sugar that is fruits and fresh juices. Even the zero calorie food and sugar is harmful for health and it’s tasteless as well. So live a healthy life and cut down artificial sugar intake from your daily meals. You will stay younger without compromising on your health.

Check out the Complete list of Sugar Stacks