Why Men Don't Understand Us

As a woman, when you tell a man that you worry about building bulk, most of the time he will frown, tell you that you are silly and that you don't have the testosterone to build bulk. Well thanks buddy, for not really understanding what I am saying as a woman.

Truthfully... I don't think men understand what women really mean when they refer to bulk.
What men don't realize is that women are referring to super board shoulders and a v-tapered back. Yup the kind that makes us look like little hulks.

Here is the thing, I have trained many men and women and I usually have a different workout for each. Men's workouts have a focus on upper body while women prefer to tone their full body. It is rare that women like to build big bulky muscles.

On average, men train at a ratio of 2:1 for upper body versus lower body. Women train 1:1.
When women follow this 2:1 ratio in addition to lifting heavier weights, they tend to increase the muscle tone in the upper body which tends to give off this bulkier look.

I am not afraid of weights, in fact I love lifting weights. I used to be a weight fanatic and lift four times a week at the gym. Weights will make you strong, toned and lean. It will keep your metabolism high and fat lower.
However if you are worried about bulk and are trying to lose fat then how you train makes a difference.
Lift light to medium weights and high reps. On a scale of 1-10, the weight should be about a 7. The reps should be between 15-20 per exercise.

Always stick to a 1:1 ratio where you train your full body equally.
Do a really good warm-up. I suggest about 10 minutes of cardio.
Move fast between exercises. Moving fast will put your body in cardio zone where you will be burning more calories which means less body fat on top of your muscles giving you that lean look.

Follow your weight workout by cardio. This will continue the calorie burn process. I tend to follow a workout with a run even if it's 10 minutes. Your body is still in burning mode, so it is best to take advantage of this and burn away.
See, it hasn't been all our in heads.
Get a complete weight training plan for women at http://www.fitmissy.com/9-week-program/

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Tips On the Perfect Weight Loss And Diet Plans

Many people want to cut down their weight, but they do not key in the factors that contribute to weight loss. You need to adhere to a diet plan, or eating habits of some sort to make sure you don't go off the track and take in additional calories, as compared to what you need to sustain a healthy body weight. However, an effective plan can help you better your eating patterns and keep up these changes in a long period, leading to weight loss and also successful body weight management.

Changes In Lifestyle
The perfect weight loss plans promotes easy and healthy lifestyle changes. Among them are everyday workouts for at least half an hour, as well as taking positive action to get rid of unhealthy eating or snacking behaviors, such as high intake of junk foods and sugar. A lasting body weight-management program allows you to identify healthy meals to help replace unhealthy choices. This program will also help you to plan foods in advance, as well as to eat on a frequent routine so as to stay away from unhealthy snacking and cravings.

Calorie Consumption And Control
Dieters need to know about serving control to build the right weight-reduction plan. Servings for certain foods such as pastas, vegetables, fruits just to mention a few, are usually sized by the cup as opposed to proteins, for example, red meat, fish and chicken which are measured by the size of the fist. Studying how to measure servings will help you in reducing extra calories. It is ironical to battle to lose weight while you are indeed consuming more portions of foods that are high in fats and calories.
 
Healthy Targets
Achieving a healthy target is a crucial aspect of any effective weight loss program, which involves cutting down approximately 1 to 2 pounds weekly. Striving to shed weight faster will make you feel undernourished and also fatigued, which can undermine your diet goals. Always consult your physician or a nutritionist prior to starting your weight loss program.

Eating Balanced Diet
A well-balanced diet is a vital factor to consider in the weight loss program. Foods must include lots of fruits and vegetables, and also adequate carbohydrates and proteins. You can combine various nourishing, lower-calorie meals that enhance weight reduction without affecting your body.

Conclusion: You can begin by making minimal adjustments in your food intake, as well as exercise levels and straight away start burning up extra fats.

By following the mentioned tips on the perfect weight loss and diet plans, you can be sure of maintaining a healthy body weight.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jasmeet_K_Aulakh

3 Principles For Overcoming Fitness Obstacles

If you’re like me, the quest to be in shape and manage weight feels overwhelming. And, as if the quest to be fit isn’t hard enough, there’s often other obstacles to overcome: health issues, time management, mustering up courage or energy. Even if you’ve been exercising for a long time, there’s always new barriers to be broken. So, how to put all of this into perspective?

According to Tom Turner, executive liaison for the Spina Bifida Association that’s exactly it: Perspective. And also, according to him, there’s no mountain too high to climb. Tom would know. Paralyzed from the waist down since birth he’s now 35 and trains about three times a week. In fact, he tells me, he just couldn’t get along without exercise.

So in my quest for the last word on overcoming barriers in fitness, Tom sat down with me and together we came up with 3 basic principles that will help break-down fears and intimidations when striving to reach fitness goals. (After all, if he can exercise on a regular basis, shouldn’t that be encouragement enough for anyone to give it a  shot?)

Principle #1 Move Into The Fear.

“Train you mind to believe no mountain is too high or any goal is too difficult to attain,” Tom tells me. Basically, it’s all about meeting your fears and facing them head-on. In this principle, aim to recognize your fears, acknowledge them and then move through them. Ask yourself what is it that makes you uncomfortable? Have you let yourself get out of shape and are afraid you’ll never get back? Do you have an injury that’s caused you to be afraid of your body? If you can visualize creatively, then you can put your fears in check. See your self as you’d like to be. Remember: your body loves you and has the potential to heal itself to perfection. Your only job is to trust it and listen.

Q: What is your body saying to you?

Principle #2 Trust Your Intuition.

It is important when overcoming obstacles and learning to break through barriers that you begin to listen to the still small voice of your body. In most cases, we all want the comfort of having someone telling us what we can and cannot do. However, our highest truth lies within us. This is not to say that the good opinion of others is not important, but ultimately the decision making comes from within.

When facing a challenge or an obstacle look to how you feel. What are your instincts telling you? Often it is simply your instinct that will move you into a new mindset and raise your consciousness. “I wasn’t about to let the wheelchair stand in my way,” Tom tells me. In fact, he says he had to merely change his perspective about it. He says he first had to learn about what his restrictions were then, create a boundary for himself. “We all have boundaries,” he tells me. "Regardless if a person can walk or not, obstacles are as unique as people themselves. Therefore, it’s first best to know your boundaries."

Next, Tom tells me he aims to meet those boundaries.  “I first reach as high as I can within the confines of what I am able to do. Whether it be more sets, reps or greater endurance, I allow myself as much time as necessary to accomplish my small goals. It always surprises me, with small steps, how quickly I can reach a Big goal.”

Principle #3 Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.

What then, about fear? I wanted to know. If we move into the fear and meet it eye to eye what if fear meets us there? “So,” I asked Tom: “are you ever afraid? “After 19 operations in my life, I’ve really come to terms with fear,” he says. “It really comes down to our most primal fear; fear of death. Once you realize that death is all part of the divine plan, it’s liberating, you can let it go and, instead, choose how to live. So instead of being afraid of death I decided to choose how to live."

So what’s the take away message? Talking to Tom, I’m reminded of the poem by Dylan Thomas who said: “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night.” It seems appropriate here. The bottom line: Staying afraid often keeps us from truly living. Tom reminds me that a positive attitude is key, "Life is all about attitude." He also says he could let fear beat him down, yet he doesn’t. “I wouldn’t want to miss being part of tomorrow,” he concludes. That said, what fears are getting in your way? Make today the right time to face them.

In conclusion: Life Beyond The Boundaries.

When you’ve faced your fears and pushed your boundaries to the edges, what then? I wanted to know. Tom smiles. “Find a new mountain to climb,” he says matter-of-factly. “It’s what makes life fun. I know I have considerations. I know that there will be days that I’ll need to stay in bed and rest while my braces are getting tuned up. It’s those times when I am with my thoughts that I decide what I am going to set my sights on.”

Author’s Note: In my personal quest to live beyond the boundaries I’ve chosen Tom as my role model (lucky for me, he's my brother). We so often look to the media for these sources and so often they are illusory. There are “real” people everywhere doing great things...look around you; angels are everywhere! Learn from them. Choose someone you look up to, admire or of whom you appreciate their values. Set goals, climb mountains! Set intention in motion and enjoy the healthy process.