Choosing Heart Rate Monitors

Heart Rate Monitors are vital to any weight loss program, but with so many different Heart Rate Monitors in the market, which one is right for your weight loss program? Choosing the right monitor can be complicated due to the varieties available. The monitors that are suggested for weight loss must be:

Water proof/ resistant - this is because you must be able to wash your monitor after every use. Also, it means that you can wear it to help you incorporate swimming into your weight loss program.
It is advisable that you choose a monitor that enables you to change the batteries yourself (Self Change batteries). With some "professional" monitors you will need to send them back to the manufacturer to have the batteries changed, which can be potentially risky (loss in the post) and the additional cost involved. However, the monitors that you need for weight loss, need not be expensive or complicated.
Buy a monitor with a Chest Strap (wireless straps). The Chest Straps are strapped to your chest and measure your heart rate for weight loss. This heart rate is then transmited to the monitor that is worn on your wrist. This enables you to measure your heart rate to ensure you are training with in your Aerobic zone without having to constantly stop to use the monitor on your wrist to measure your heart rate.
Choose a monitor that can also tell you how many calories used for weight loss.
If you are looking for a heart rate monitor to aid you with your weight loss, then it is strongly recommended that you do not bother with any other functions other than a simple heart rate reader. As the functionalities of the monitor increases then so does the price. Professional athlete need these functionalities to optimise their training but a person that needs to loose weight doesn't necessary require them.

Children & Obesity

In simple terms, obesity is caused when the body stores excessive calories. Obesity in civilized countries is reaching epidemic proportions. What is worrying is that the children too are now more obese than ever before in the history of man kind!

Child Obesity and Weight Loss

Calories and Weight Loss

Weight loss depends on the amount of calorie intake. Calories are used by the body to perform its day-to-day functions. However, when the calories taken in is greater than the energy burnt, then the excess calories are stored as fat. The most common reasons for excessive consumption of calories are:

Psychological
Emotional
Lack of knowledge
Habit

calories and weight loss

Weight loss plans

There are a number of VERY dangerous diet plans used to target weight loss. A dangerous, or misleading, diet is one which provides "rapid" result. Remember, in order for a diet to be effective and safe, your body needs time to adjust to the change in your lifestyle. This is because rapid dieting will almost always have health consequences, and in fact research has also shown that as soon as your body adjusts to the diet, you will start to put on weight at even a higher rate than before.

Weight loss diet

Weight Loss plans to be avoided

For legal reasons we are unable to actually name dangerous or misleading weight loss diets, however, the following is a list which should help you identify these diets for yourself.

Any diet that cuts out any essential food groups (Specially carbohydrates!)
Any diet that promises or guarantees fast result
Any diet that involves you drinking only liquid food.
Any diet that involves you buying processed and ready made "food substitutes".

Weight loss diets

Diet

The food you eat is the single most important factor to the weight loss programs as a whole. Weight loss is only achieved through a healthy diet.

Weight loss diet and health

Exercise

Exercise is vital not only to a safe weight loss plan, but, is also crucial to the general operation and well being of the human body.

Weight loss exercise

Measuring Body Fat

Measuring the Body Fat is a much more accurate way of measuring how your weight loss program is going than using a bathroom scale. The bathroom scales are highly misleading!

Measure Body Fat

Swimming

Swimming is a VERY effective and safe way of burning calories. Its one of the safest ways of exercising as you do not put any excessive force on the joints.

Swimming

Walking

Walking is one of the safest form of exercise as you burn those calories without excessive wear and tear on the joints.

Walking

Pilates and Yoga

Pilates and Yoga are important to any weight loss program as they both encourage good body posture and alignment.

Pilates