How To Effectively Reduce Belly Fat

Jelly Belly. Love Handles. Dunlap Disease. Whatever you want to call it, the excess fat around your midsection that wiggles and jiggles in all the wrong places just isn't pretty. Not only is belly fat unattractive, it can be downright dangerous to your health. Extra fat carried around your abdomen can increase your risk of heart disease. With so many pills, potions and programs flooding the weight loss industry today, many people are left feeling just plain confused about how to effectively reduce belly fat.

The first thing you must know about how to effectively reduce belly fat is that there is no magic bullet when it comes to weight loss. Reducing body fat levels requires a three pronged approach that doesn't come from popping diet pills or gulping down foul tasting drinks. Belly fat also won't come off by trying to spot reduce only doing sit-ups or crunches. It's just not possible to spot reduce, so don't waste your time.

So, the question remains, how do you effectively reduce belly fat? Here is a safe, practical three pronged approach to get rid of belly fat.

1. Healthy Meals. Notice the word diet isn't part of the equation. That's because the word diet conjures up visions of carrots and celery and not much else. The word diet gives us nightmares of deprivation and hunger, and that's not the image we're looking for with permanent weight loss. Just because the word diet isn't used does not mean you're free to gorge on junk food at will. Healthy meals consist of lean protein, lots of vegetables, whole grains and some fruit. Your should consistantly choose foods that are as close as possible to their natural state.

2. Cardiovascular Exercise
. Regular cardiovascular exercise will reduce body fat levels. Where should you start? Wallking is great cardio! Put your shoes on and get moving for at least 30 minutes per day. It doesn't matter how fast or how far you walk in the beginning, the most important point is that you're moving your body aerobically on a regular basis. If you don't enjoy walking then ride a bike, rollerskate, jog, run. Participate in whatever aerobic activity you enjoy.

3. Lift Weights. Yes, you did read that correctly! If you're wondering what lifting weights has to do with effectively reducing belly fat, then read on. Regular weight lifting has several beneficial effects for those folks trying to reduce their body fat levels. Muscles burn extra calories. The more muscle you carry on your frame, the more calories you burn in a 24 hour period which translates into extra fat burning power. Muscles take up about one third less space than fat. Muscles give you the power to carry on your daily activities more effectively and with energy to spare.

Learning how to effectively reduce belly fat isn't a difficult task. The three principle keys to getting rid of your gut rely on diet, cardiovascular exercise and weight lifting on a regular basis. Remember, you didn't sprout belly fat overnight and you can't get rid of belly fat in a day, but you can reduce belly fat if you're willing to put forth a bit of
effort.

Source


Rebecca Welch

Staycation Theme Park :)

My girls are so silly! I thought I'd share this video of them
having fun, they call this their roller coaster.
Who needs an amusement park when they are so easily amused?

Get to know us - 5 Random Facts

I thought it would be fun for you to get to know the staff a little bit
so here are some random facts.....


Mandie Stevens

This is me, I'm the owner of Taking Time for Mommy.
My hair is a little shorter now but I couldn't find a pic :)
My random facts..
1. I'm a closet Sci-fi nerd, maybe not so closet anymore
2. I don't use a microwave
3. I swear I could eat Seafood every day and be happy
4. I met my dh at his GF's funeral, she had been my BFF in highschool
and I moved away so I had never met him
5. I have a nice garden, especially in the Spring

Tawdra Kandle Tawdra is our Homeschooling and Couponing Expert!
She is currently working on having her 1st novel published in her series.
Here are her facts....

1. I have lived in or visited every state except for Oregon, Washington state and Alaska.
2. My four kids were spaced in age so that I never had more than 1 in diapers or on a bottle at a time.
3. Music is essential to my daily life. I love anything, from Blue October to Sara Groves to Buddy Holly.
4. My grandfather rode the rodeo circuit with Roy Rogers and knew him well.
5. My many-times great grandfather bought land from William Penn, and some of that land is still in our family!


LaQuita Bergeron

LaQuita is our Freebie Queen

and Owner of EveryDayMoms forum.

Here are her facts....

1. Founder of Everyday Moms (A social network for moms)
2. I'm a reality show junkie (Totally think the moms and myself I know could pull off the REAL housewifes of any of the cities better then they can and deal with real problems)
3. My favorite food is mexican.
4. I have two kids that mean the world to me.
5. I'm left handed.

Our Very own Staff Writer LaQuita Bergeron has her own show on Mingle Media TV Network. You can visit by going to her Forum EVERYDAYMOMS and linking through there or go Directly to http://minglemediatv.com/EveryDayMoms.html

Every Thursday @ 8:30 ET

Easy Decadent Truffles - Great Valentine's Treat!

Easy Decadent Truffles
By: jmackinnell
"Insanely easy, but oh so rich! Recipe makes a large amount but you can vary flavorings and coatings to make several different varieties."allrecipes.com Prep Time:
1 Hr Ready In:
1 Hr
Servings (Help)

US
Metric Calculate

Original Recipe Yield 5 dozen
Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips, melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Directions
1.In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until well blended. Stir in melted chocolate and vanilla until no streaks remain. Refrigerate for about 1 hour. Shape into 1 inch balls.
Footnotes

Roll truffles in ground walnuts (or any ground nuts), cocoa, coconut, confectioners' sugar, candy sprinkles, etc. To flavor truffles with liqueurs or other flavorings, omit vanilla. Divide truffle mixture into thirds. Add 1 tablespoon liqueur (almond, coffee, orange) to each mixture; mix well.

Thigh Exercises For Women

For women, shaping the muscles of the thighs is an important fitness goal. A shapely lower body is considered very feminine, and the right proportion of the waist to the hips is part of the equation. It's surprising, but true, thigh toning exercises can be done at home, without equipment and results can be seen in 4-6 weeks. Also, did you know that thigh and hip toning gadgets are not required if you know which exercises work, and how to do them. Most importantly, thigh exercises are most effective when combined with aerobic exercise and a healthy diet.

This means that women must not only do the right thigh exercises, but also include aerobic exercise and sound nutrition
to get best results. The following exercises are the most effective front thigh exercises for women. The routine also includes inner thigh and rear thigh exercises.

For best results, start with 15-20 repetitions and one set. Increase gradually to 2 sets. Complete the routine at least 2 times a week for best results. This is an effective beginner to intermediate toning program. Please remember that these numbers are general guidelines only. For an optimum program tailored to your needs, please consult a certified personal trainer. If you have any injuries or medical ailments, please obtain a physicians clearance before starting any exercise program.

Wall Squat: Front Thigh Exercise.
Starting Position: – Place your upper back against a smooth wall. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Distribute your body weight equally between both feet and lean back against the wall. Movement: – Inhale, keeping your heels in contact with the floor at all times, slowly lower into a squat position while sliding down the wall. Exhale as you slowly straighten your legs, keeping your head and chest up, returning to the starting position. Repeat as required.

Standing Dumbbell Squats: Front Thigh Exercise.
Starting Position:- Hold a dumbbell in each hand and allow them to hang down at your sides. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Distribute your body weight equally between both feet. Movement:- Inhale, keeping your heels in contact with the floor at all times, slowly lower into a squat position. Exhale as you slowly straighten your legs, keeping your head and chest up, returning to the starting position. Repeat as required. 5 lb dumbbells work well, but you can start with 2 lbs and then work your way up to 5 lbs within 3-5 weeks.

Lunges: Front Thigh Exercise.
Starting Position: – Assume a standing position with your feet slightly less than shoulder width apart. Grasp a barbell with a wider than shoulder width grip and place it across your shoulders. Movement: – Inhale, keeping your back vertical and slightly arched, slowly step forward with one leg making a long stride, lowering your body down slowly until your rear knee lightly touches the floor (if you cannot go as low as this, then work your way up to it over 2-3 weeks). Exhale and shift your weight backwards, taking one step (or 2-3 small steps if that sounds difficult) to return to the starting position. Repeat on the other side. Remember to consult your doctor before this or any other knee exercises if you have had any knee trouble!

Lying Face Down: Front Thigh Stretch.
Starting Position: Lie on your stomach on a matt with your legs together. Movement: Reach behind you and grasp your right ankle with your left hand. Pull your right heel up as far as you can. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Please remember to hold for 10 seconds for this stretch.

Seated Split Stretch: Inner Thigh Stretch.
Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt and spread your legs as far as you can. Movement: Lean to your right side and reach for your toes. Rest your hands on your toes or at your ankle. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side.

Seated Butterfly: Inner Thigh Exercise.
Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt with your back straight. Movement: Bring the soles of your feet together and pull them in as close to your body as you can. Allow your hands to rest on your feet or to apply light pressure to your thighs. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Hold this position for 10 seconds. You will find this most effective if you gently push your knees down using your hands, be careful not to push too much.

Seated Hip Twist: Outer Thigh And Rear Thigh Exercise.
Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt with your legs straight out in front of you. Movement: Bend your right knee and place your right foot over your left leg. Wrap your arms around your right knee and gently pull it in towards your left shoulder. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Remember to hold for 10 seconds.

Lying Leg Pull: Total Thigh Exercise.
Starting Position: Lie on your back on an exercise matt with your knees in the air and feet flat on the floor. Movement: Bring your right heel to rest on your left thigh. Loop your hands around your left thigh and pull it towards your chest. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Remember to hold for 10 seconds in each set.



Nitin Chhoda
For more information and to register for free diet plans and grocery lists, visit http://www.best-weight-loss-programs.net/ , for exercises for women, visit http://www.toningforwomen.com and to train with Nitin, visit http://www.phonefitnesstrainer.com

Becoming A Writer Book Giveaway!! Now Closed!

I'm excited to announce that Theodora Anidu Escential Consultant from Scentsy is offering up a copy of Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande. It's a writing classic!

All you have to do is hop on over to her Scentsy site, take a look around, then come back here and tell me your favorite product. Believe me, choosing a favorite is going to be hard! That's it! Just remember to leave me your email address so I can let you know if you won!Visit her site https://bewickless.scentsy.ca/HomeExtra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; leave a separate comment for each entry) Extra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on Twitter HEREExtra Entry - Follow Taking Time for Mommy on FaceBook HERE5 Extra Entries - Signing up for our weekly Newsletter (form to the right)
10 Extra Entries - If you buy something off Theo's Scentsy Site on or before February 26th


Giveaway will end on February 26th at midnight. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only and Canadian Residents only.

Watkins - WAH Opportunity

Watkins was established in 1868 and still practices the same customer service and attention to quality that J.R. Watkins valued. We offer a diverse offering of organic herbs and spices, natural personal care and natural home care products.

When you decide to build a home business with Watkins, you are never alone. As a member of The Summit Group and Watkins, you will receive free training , a free business website, the opportunity to earn bonuses, trips, merchandise, fantastic compensation and commission, a minimum of 25% off purchases and more. Watkins does not have monthly minimums, send products you don't want, spam, force you to make purchases or push your friends and loved ones to join or buy.

What do you do to make money? Well, that is up to you. Depending on what type of business you want to own determines how you will make an income. If you want to sell, great! If not that is fine as well. Online, offline, parties, no parties, markets, fairs, or maybe you just want that 25% discount... the sky is the limit. You are your own boss!
　
We have a HUGE shortage of Watkins associates in every part of the U.S. and Canada. . The most-recent statistics indicate we’re only reaching one family out of every 250. Vast numbers of people remember the quality of Watkins from years ago, but don’t know how to get the products today. Many people don’t know the company is still in business. And, there are entire generations who we’ve yet to introduce to the wonders of Watkins. So, I need your help in finding new associates. If this might be the right fit for you or someone else you know please email me at katbush@hotmail.com or visit my site at http://www.tsginfo.com/index.php?rc=KB4926

I look forward to working with you! Kat

You can visit Kat's blog @http://kats-confessions.blogspot.com/

Dear John - Book Review w/ Movie Preview

I started and finished "Dear John" by Nicolas Sparks last night, yes it was that good! I thought it started off a little strange but it sucks you in none the less, you have to know why. This is a beautiful love story of selflessness. It had me thinking if I were in the same situation, what would I do?

An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. That changes everything and so the story unfolds. (I don't want to give away any spoilers).I admit this in no "Notebook" but it was good and I recommend it.