Foods that Blast Fat

Experts are saying that certain foods have fat burning properties that help you loose fat quicker.

Try adding these to your grocery list.

1) Salmon

Active Ingredient: Omega 3-fatty acids are great for your cardiovascular system and are known to activate genes that will limit fat storage and actually increase fat-burning.

2) Green Tea

Active Ingredients: Caffeine & epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are known to increase your metabolic rate and burn fat.

3) Grapefruit

Active Ingredient: Naringin is an antioxidant with great fat burning properties.

4) Avocado

Active Ingredients: Healthy monounsaturated fats are less likely to be stored as fat and can actually help you loose weight. They also contain a sugar called mannoheptulose which is associated with slowing down your insulin release and thereby can impact excess fat storage.

5) Pomegranate

Active Ingredients: Antioxidants & conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which new studies show are associated with increased fat burning.

Here's a recipe that combines three of these five fat burning foods. Join me this summer in trying this interesting Avocado, Grapefruit and Pomegranate Salad by Martha Stewart. Let me know what you think!

Information for this posting was found in the Ultimate Beach Body edition of Oxygen Magazine.

Summer Workout

NO EQUIPMENT NECESSARY

33 Minute Interval Workout

This workout is quick, challenging and portable. Please work at your own pace. Just remember the last few reps of each exercise should be difficult and you should be slightly winded throughout.

3 MINUTE WARM-UP - jog or march, big arm circles, jumping jacks, butt kickers, big kicks

27 MINUTES OF INTERVALS - There are 8 exercises in your circuit that alternate between cardio and strength. Perform each exercise for 1 minute then move to the next exercise taking little or no breaks. After you complete all 8 exercises, rest for 1 minute (but keep moving with a march or light jog). Do the circuit 3 times through.

#1 - CARDIO - Squats or Squat Jumps

TIP: Remember most of your weight in on your heels and you should be able to see your toes.

#2 - STRENGTH - Surrender (arms are straight up as close to your ears as possible, you are coming down on both knees and then back up)

TIP: Keep your arms straight & alternate your lead leg

#3 - CARDIO - High Knee Jog

TIP: March for a low impact option

#4 - STRENGTH - Wall Sit (try to bring your legs parallel to the floor)

TIP: Keep your arms straight by your sides

#5 - CARDIO - Skipping (rope is optional)

TIP: Step Touch for a low impact option

#6 - STRENGTH - Push-ups (off your knees or toes)

TIP: Keep your core tight

#7 - CARDIO - Jumping Jacks

TIP: Try a squat jack to challenge yourself

#8 - STRENGTH - Superman (lying flat on your tummy, lift your arms and legs as high as you can at the same time)

TIP: Start out with five sets of 10 seconds each, with 2 second breaks between each set

3 minute stretch - try to hit all major muscle groups especially your quads, glutes, calves, chest and shoulders.

Other options for your summer holidays are to get outside for a brisk power walk, run or bike ride. If you like workout videos try one of my faves: Ripped by Jari Love (Get Ripped 1000) or 30 day Shred by Jillian Michaels.

Please e-mail me with any questions regarding any of these exercises. Also, let me know if you find this helpful; and I'll post an alternate workout later this summer.

Cardio for Fat Loss

Which is better for fat loss, high intensity cardio for short time periods or moderate intensity for a longer period of time?

If it's strictly fat loss you're after, medium intensity for longer (maybe 45-60 minutes) is better because you will burn more calories. However some high-intensity cardio is still important, as it will help you keep your cardiovascular system running at peak performance.

Better yet? Interval training (like boot camp) is the ultimate for improving your overall fitness level. Give it a try and you'll see improvements in your cardio, strength, endurance and stamina. You'll also burn MAX fat during and after your workout!

Summer Outdoor Boot Camps

Tuesdays Only

June 22 - July 27

9-10 AM in June, 9:30-10:30 AM in July

At George H. Luck School Playground

For all ages & fitness levels. These classes are fun & packed with lots of variety. It's a total body workout that combines strength training with cardio intervals, giving you two workouts in one. You will see improvements in your cardio, strength, endurance and stamina.

Drop-ins are welcome ($12 per session). Please bring a water bottle and a set of weights (5 lbs are good for starting out, 8 or 10 lbs if you want to challenge yourself.) We will meet rain or shine.