Let’s face it, gyms aren’t pretty and they aren’t really designed to be. They are filled with rows and rows of exercise equipment and any wall space that doesn’t feature a full length mirror is usually covered by a poster of a muscled up bodybuilder or an advertisement for one of the personal trainers that reside there. The floor, while functional with its thick padded surface, doesn’t exactly provide the same ambience as a finely woven Berber carpet.

Well, at least you have the music to help you feel more comfortable. That is if you like whatever type of music happens to be blaring out of the speakers at the time. There is always the TV though. If you are lucky enough to get a machine that has a TV you can control, you’ll have the ability to watch whatever you want as long as you place the bacteria infested earphones into your ears. Perhaps I sound a bit disgruntled and I apologize as that is not my point. The fact is, sometimes I just have to take my work out outside as the confining walls of the gym can drive just about anybody crazy after a while.

So, what is so great about working out outside? What is so great is that the possibilities are endless. The only thing that determines what you’ll see and what you’ll experience when working out outside is the areas in which you’re willing to go to perform your workout.

If you’re looking for a more calm and serene atmosphere, simply take a jog around the past they can be found at your local lake. Benches found along the pathway will provide you additional structures for you to use if you want to perform incline push-ups or plyometrics.

If you’re looking for a more varied and intense surrounding, simply make your way into the city to complete your fitness regimen. Running up and down stairs amidst the hustle and bustle of a downtown environment will not only provide you with a great cardiovascular workout but it will ensure that the scenery you encounter is ever-changing. Cityscapes, with their varied concrete jungle type structures provide a plethora of workout opportunities to anyone who has a good imagination and a sense of adventure.

Whether or not you have kids, going to the local playground can be one of the most satisfying work out alternatives to the local gym scene. Fair you can perform an incredible variety of exercises using the jungle gym just as the kids do including pull-ups on the monkey bars, plyometric jumps on the landing platforms, and even dips between the bars of the equipment itself.

So if you are tired of looking at the inside walls of your gym, simply step outside and take a look around. Workout opportunities are everywhere and stepping out into the fresh air can reinvigorate your excitement for working out and training our regular basis.

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With the different rates at which we all consume food, it is not surprising that many people are indeed overweight and obese. Obesity has even become somewhat celebrated as seen in the case of the fattest man alive In the Guinness Book of Records and in the movie “Phat Girls”. However, this does not make being fat a good thing. One way fat is stored up in the body is from excess consumption of carbohydrates or sugars in the body. If you don’t burn the calories you eat, they convert and become stored energy (fat) for later use.

Thus, an individual gains weight from eating too many calories many times in the form of carbohydrates. But in spite of the fact that fat seems harmful, there are some diets that are based on fats and don’t contain many if any starchy type carbohydrates at all. One such diet is the Ketogenic diet. The Ketogenic diet is a low starchy carb, high fat, and moderate protein diet initially invented to help cure kids of their epilepsy. Some people now follow the diet and use it to lose weight and get rid of excess fat.

The Ketogenic diet works through the process of inducing a state of semi starvation in an individual. During this process, the body tries to resuscitate itself or add the necessary nutrients and energy by burning up the stored excess fat. The liver mostly carries out this function by converting the stored fat into ketones and fatty acids. The ketones, or fat molecules, are then transferred to the brain where they take the place of glucose as the source of energy. The Ketogenic diet discourages the accumulation of bodily fat by providing adequate fibrous carbs, essential fats protein for the repairing and growth of the body. The amount of necessary calories supplied is just enough to keep the weight stable and normal.

On the other hand, the Glycemic index diet is aimed at reducing the amount of high GI value carbs taken in. High GI value carbs are known to contain a lot of sugar which gets stored as fat when absorbed by the body. These carbohydrates give fast energy after which there is a lull. This triggers a response in the brain causing the individual to eat more as a result of the hunger pangs and the fast action of the glucose. Since the body doesn’t necessarily use up all the carbohydrates, the rest are stored as fat in the body.

But with low glycemic index carbs, an individual can still eat his meals while losing weight and if the goal is to stay lean, he can maintain a lean body. Low GI value carbohydrates often contain a lot of fiber which also have a more satisfying feel and can make you feel fuller faster. The fiber in the carbs makes the rate of metabolism slower. It is this slow absorption of the fibers and nutrients that makes an individual less hungry and results in reduced food consumption.

Glycemic index diets are very effective in losing weight, reducing blood sugar level, preventing ailments such as heart disease and diabetes, and finally maintaining a lean body. Unlike the Ketogenic diet, it does not involve the use of fatty acids as energy sources, but it’s still a healthy way to lose weight and stay fit.

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