Thursday 26 February 2015

Losing / Shedding Belly Fat



Do you feel uncomfortable in your #body? Do you feel like you must do something about your #belly, especially?

Some people, most especially women, have issues with their weight. Almost all the parts of the body pose one challenge or another but the part that worries most is the belly. Generally speaking, having a healthy diet, sufficient exercise, enough sleep and good stress management strategy should help to reduce belly #fat.

I conducted a research on this issue and found out the following facts.

- Exercise is very important.
It is recommended to have 30 minutes of exercise everyday or at least 5 times a week. For an effective result,  this type of exercise must be vigorous enough to make one sweat and breathe harder so that the heart can race faster than normal. Depending on preference, one can go jogging or walking provided that one walks briskly and faster than normal.

- Your diet is also very important.
Unfortunately, there is no specific diet designed to reduce belly fat. Research shows that when you watch your diet and lose weight, the belly fat also goes away. Having a healthy diet (i.e. food rich in fibre) helps a lot.

- Sleep is another important factor.
Getting enough sleep helps to reduce belly fat. It might not be the main factor but research shows that getting 6 to 7 hours (no more, no less) of sleep per night is ideal.

- Another factor is stress management.
The way people handle stress matters a lot. Stress can be managed and reduced by exercising, meditating, getting counselling and relaxing with friends and family.

For more detailed information, click here!


If all these activities combined together do not help you, then your hormones, your age and other genetic factors may be the reason. Naturally, when people get old, their bodies change how it gains and losses weight. The metabolic rate or the number of calories the body needs to function normally decline in both male and female. If this is the case, do not feel terrible because you can do something to help yourself - just check what you are doing!

- Are you doing the wrong workout?
Cardio workouts like daily run or Spin class is great for your heart, but will not do much for your waist. Research shows that you need to do a combination of weights and cardiovascular training.

- Are you eating too many processed foods?
Research shows that eating too many processed foods hinders your ability to lose belly fat. Refined grains like white bread, crackers and chips as well as refined sugars in sweetened drinks and desserts should be avoided. Natural foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains are good.

- Are you eating the wrong fats?
The body doesn't react to all fats in the same way. According to research, high intake of saturated fat (the kind in meat and dairy) is not healthy. But the intake of  monounsaturated fats (the kind in olive oil and avocados) and specific types of polyunsaturated fats (mainly omega-3s, found in walnuts, sunflower seeds and fatty fish like salmon) is very good to the body.

- Is your workout challenging enough?
In order to get rid of your belly fat, you have to ramp up your workouts. That is, increase the momentum.

- Are you doing the wrong exercises?
Make sure that you are doing functional exercises that use the muscles in your core—abdominals, back, pelvic, oblique—as well as other body parts. In that way you are more likely to burn more calorie in one session.

For more detailed information, click here!

Sunday 22 February 2015

Renewal of the Spirit!






(This post is part of the February Synchroblog “Renewal”)


Each time I reflect on what is happening all over world, I become all the more convinced that there are supernatural forces surrounding us. I believe that these are good and bad supernatural forces which bring either good or bad luck.

I believe that the supernatural force behind our success in life comes from the source which loves and cares for us. And I believe that this source can only be traced to our Creator, our God who loves and cares for us!

The world is full of wickedness and evil deeds. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We, as believers, know that there is need to renew our relationship with God. We know that we should not allow anything to come between God and us.

The desire for this renewal of our spirit, life, strength, mind,  etc., was mention by different prophets and men of God in many passages in the Holy Bible.

David desired this renewal when he asked God in Ps 51:10 to "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

When he was asking God to help and comfort His people, Isaiah said in chapter 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
He also said in Isaiah 41:1 "Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment."
In Isaiah 57:10, he said "You wearied yourself by such going about, but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint."

Despite the mournful nature of most of the book of Lamentation, there is also the note of trust in God and hope for the future. In 5:21, it says " Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old"

When Ruth gave birth to a son, the Israelite women rejoiced with her. They praised God and said to Naomi, her mother-in-law, in 4:15 "He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

Paul wrote to the Romans and encouraged them in 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

When we reconnect with our God and Creator, we become renewed in our spirit. We receive His favour and blessings in everything we do.

God, give us the grace to know You! Renew our spirit as we depend on Your divine plans concerning us!!

Biblical reference: New International Version (NIV)

Other participants are:

Abbie Waters – It is Well with My Soul

Done With Religion – Renewal

Mark Votova – 30 Ways the Church Can Find Renewal

Jeremy Myers – I am Dying … (So I Can Live Again)

Phil Lancanster – The Parable of the Classic Car

Susan Schiller – Renewal by Design

Glenn Hager – Repurposed

Wesley Rostoll – Why I no longer pray for revival

K. W. Leslie – Those who wait on the Lord

Lisa Brown – Momma’s Kick Off Your Shoes and Stay For A While!

Jenom Makama – …Like An Antivirus

Leah – Renewal!

Liz Dyer – Put Your Mask On First

Peggy – Abi and the February 2015 Synchroblog – Renewal

Loveday Anyim – Stop Right Here and Renew Your Mind

Sunday 8 February 2015

Review: JML Clear Worktop Halogen Oven



I love using halogen ovens.

I have been using the JML halogen oven for almost a year. I use it mainly for grilling and baking.

I use this halogen oven to grill chicken, beef, potatoes, plantain, fish, chips, etc. The cooking time is faster than the traditional oven and the grilled food item turns out very crispy.

The different accessories included in the package are very handy because you use each one depending on what you want to cook. The extended ring allows you to add more food stuff.

If you are very conscious of the quantity of animal fat you consume, for example, you will see the extra fat melting and draining away when you are grilling chicken.

Cake baked with the halogen oven taste different from the one baked in the traditional oven.


I find this halogen oven very economical and recommend that you buy and use it.

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