The Easy Way To Lose Weight

By Mark Heywood

Open any magazine these days and you could be forgiven for believing that the only way to lose weight and get into shape is to dive headlong into a grueling fitness plan.

However they all make the same mistake of assuming that if you need to lose a little weight then you must also need to run a marathon or compete in a triathlon. Nothing could be further from the truth!

See, hard competition training and just getting into shape are at opposite ends of the fitness spectrum and never likely to meet. In the exercise and gym culture, one size most definitely doesn't fit all.

So if you are not training for the next Olympics, what can you do to shed pounds and get into shape? Quite simply, just undo all the things that got you into your recent situation.

Which for most folks was a double sin of eating too much of the wrong things and doing little or no exercise.

So it stands to reason that if you want to lose weight and feel fitter, you need to eat less of the bad foods and more of the good stuff. And get your body moving! All it takes is a little spare time and effort.

Start off gently, by taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Forget the car for all those short journeys, going on foot is far healthier and you get to enjoy the scenery too. Take the dog with you and share some quality time. The whole point of this is to make you appreciate that exercise is a part of your daily routine, not some pain that you need to put yourself through as punishment for eating.

As you start to notice the benefits, just enhance your target little by little. Walk more often or increase your distance. Carry a rucksack with a small weight to add a little resistance to your routine.

Drinking a glass of water before every meal will make you feel full sooner as well as fending off dehydration. Water also helps to keep your digestive system regular so make sure that you drink plenty throughout the day.

By making a few minor changes to your diet and your lifestyle, you will soon start to feel more energetic, younger and a whole lot better. Now isn't that better than risking a heart attack on the squash court?

Take your exercise to the next level with your own home exercise equipment. Mark Heywoods website features tips for buying a treadmill to help you choose the best recommended treadmill for your requirements.

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

Finnish Sauna Bathing - How to Take a Sauna the Way the Finns Do It

By Kevin Urban

There is a lot of talk about detoxification and traditional Finnish sauna bathing. Both infrared and steam saunas are becoming increasingly popular and it’s a good idea to learn how to use them properly. Let’s see how the Finns take a sauna and learn from them. After all, Finland is the home of the sauna and these people have been sweating in them for a long time.

First of all, ask your doctor to see if a sauna steam bath is recommended for you. Interestingly enough, one in five Finns owns a sauna and its regular use is said to be beneficial in many ways, if the procedure is done correctly.

How to Take a Sauna the Finnish Way

Disrobe – Yep, the Finns take their steam bath in the buff. And don’t forget to remove your glasses, contact lenses and any metal (jewelry, watches and such). The metal will get very hot resulting in a nasty burn.

Take a Shower – Rinsing off before entering the sauna is a tradition. The Finns don’t use soap at this stage. Enter and take a seat.

Enjoy the Heat – 10 to 20 minutes of heat and steam is probably all you can handle. Remember that the upper benches are the hottest. And don’t try to compete with other sauna bathers to see who can bear the heat for the longest period.

Cool Off – The Finns like to roll in the snow, dump a cold bucket of water over their head or take a bath in the lake. Otherwise, a cold shower will do.

Re-Enter – The second session in traditional Finnish steam saunas involves pouring water over the heated rocks on top of the heater to produce hot wafts of steamy vapor. This will make it particularly hot for bathers sitting on the upper benches.

Repeat as Needed – Repeat these sauna sessions as often as you like. The Finns also beat each other with birch branches to improve circulation during steam bathing.

There you have it: how to take a sauna bath the Finnish way. Read some of our other articles that will show you how to build your own home sauna or steam bath from an easy-to-assemble sauna kit.

About the Author:

Kevin Urban is the editor at Saunas-N-Sauna-Kits.com, a complete guide on building your own outdoor home sauna from far infrared sauna kits. The sauna buying guide lists a complete selection of kits, modular saunas, heaters and accessories.

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