Like the Atkins diet, it is a low-carb approach to losing weight. But there is a lot more to it. It can help heart patients and diabetics become more healthy and manage their conditions to increase the likelihood of living longer, healthier lives.

Primary Goal Was Health Related

To make this point even more clear, the South Beach Diet was developed by a cardiologist, Dr. Arthur Agatson, who wanted to devise a diet so his patients could lose weight in a healthy, sustainable way. His primary motive in developing the South Beach Diet was to improve his patients' health, not to sell weight-loss books. Of course, many diabetics and heart patients are overweight, which contributes to their conditions. So changing their eating habits  and getting into a pattern of aerobic exercise is the method he recommends to improve his patients' health, and the weight loss is one of the results of the diet.

I Can Vouch For The South Beach Diet

I personally have gone on the South Beach Diet, as I have Type-2 diabetes and have had high blood pressure for years. It was my cardiologist who told me that if I got my health under control, it would add ten to fifteen years to my life. Since I'm a Baby Boomer, ten or fifteen years was a major portion of my remaining life expectancy. Both my hypertension and blood sugar levels are normal now. I still take medication for each, but a much-reduced dosage. The doctor says if I lost 25 more pounds, I might be able to cut out the medication entirely.

Carbohydrates Convert Into Sugar

The basic approach of the South Beach Diet is get into a regimen of consistent aerobic exercise and to restrict one's sugar and carbohydrate consumption. Sugar has a lot of calories and increases blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates, or starches,  convert into sugar during digestion. Diabetics might not realize it, but it's the carbs that are really keeping their blood sugar levels high. I never realized this until I switched to a new cardiologist. I drank diet soda and used artificial sweeteners, but my borderline Type-2 diabetes became worse. Of course, I wasn't physically active and my weight was at an all-time high. So my cardiologist said a change in my lifestyle and diet was mandatory. No more procrastination. The situation was simple. If I continued the way I was, I might live only another ten years. If I adopted this new direction, I could expect to live twenty-five to thirty more years. It hit me in the face like a ton of bricks. Time for a change! My cardiologist recommended the South Beach Diet. So here I am ready to tell you about it. Which I will do in an upcoming series of posts.

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Technorati Tags: Diabetes, Diet, Exercise, Health, High Blood Pressure, south beach diet

Regular aerobic activity should be included into everyone’s daily routine to strengthen the heart and lungs and make them work more efficiently.

truly is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health. Aerobic activity can include running, walking, stair climbing, dancing, swimming, using a treadmill, Stairmaster, NordicTrac, or other gym machine or any number of other activities that get the heart working harder for a continuous period of time. Many people may feel that they need to have a regimented work out program, and if they do not have at least thirty minutes to an hour to devote that they can’t do it. This is simply not true, and in fact, this type of mentality hinders their progress and keeps them from getting into shape with regular exercise. Short bursts of aerobic activity can be fit in throughout the day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, take a brisk walk around the building at lunch time, ride a bike or walk to work if within a reasonable distance, or park further away to get a short walk in.

The benefits of aerobic activity are many, and everyone of all ages should be encouraged to engage in regular exercise. Even if there are chronic health conditions present, regular aerobic activity is recommended by physicians to alleviate them and they can be tailored to fit the individual’s needs. A health care provider should be consulted before beginning any type of exercise program, and for people who are grossly overweight or have high blood pressure, your doctor might recommend a stress test. This simply is like having an electro-cardiogram test administered while you are on a treadmill. The physician monitors how strong your heart is at different speeds and determines if it is safe for you to begin a regular exercise program. If excessive shortness of breath or chest pain occurs, then the activity will be modified to a level that enables you to safely do the exercise and build up your heart's strength gradually.

Always Start Slowly

Every aerobic exrcise activity should start with a five-minute warming up or stretching period to loosen up your muscles and get the blood flowing. Then follow with a thirty-minute period where you pick up the pace  and do your serious exercise.  After the thirty minutes you should take another five minutes to cool off. If you don't loosen up first and wind down slowly at the end, you're more likely to suffer an injury like a pulled muscle or groin injury

Starting out at a slower pace is recommended for all beginners anyway until some tolerance is built up, which will happen over time with regular aerobic activity. A work out does not necessarily have to strenuous to be effective. The old adage “no pain no gain” is simply not true, in fact it is quite the opposite. The best rule of thumb is that if you're doing your exercise and you are so winded that you can't carry on a conversation, then slow down! You're overdoing it. And the more you exercise and start getting into shape, the longer,faster,and more strenuous the exercise can be. However, it is normal for someone who has never exercised or done so infrequently to experience some slight discomfort after beginning a work out program, but these symptoms will dissipate as you get into shape.

Monitor Your Heart Rate During Exercise

Regular aerobic activity should put the heart in the cardio target zone, which is computed by subtracting your age from 220. Then multiply this number by 85%, and that is the top threshold that your heart rate should be when you exercise. So if you're fifty years old, 170 is the maximum heart rate your heart can endure, and the target rate for you when you are in top shape should be 85% of 170, or 145 beats per minute. Any faster than that would be too much. Beginners should  only work out at 70-75% their target heart rate until their bodies become more accustomed to higher aerobic activity levels.  You can buy a portable heart rate monitor for about $100. The meter is strapped onto your wrist like a watch. I have a good one made by Pulsar.

Now's The Time To Start

Any amount of aerobic activity is better than nothing, so get moving! No excuses!

Technorati Tags: aerobic exercise, cardiovascular, Diabetes, Fitness, Health, High Blood Pressure

My sister had her first baby six months ago, and the two of them are finally settling into a comfortable daily routine. Since the baby sleeps through most nights now, my sister's energy levels are returning to normal, and she's becoming increasingly anxious to get back into a fitness routine to lose some of the weight she gained during pregnancy. When she told me about this, I recommended buying a jogging stroller so she can exercise even with the baby in tow.

Jogging Strollers Are Versatile

I used a jogging stroller back when our son was still in diapers, and I thought it was fantastic! It's a great way to walk, jog, or run your way into shape after having a baby, and eliminates that built-in excuse about not being able to find a sitter. Plus, babies love taking in all the new sights and sounds while riding in jogging strollers, so these exercise outings will become something to look forward to.

My sister liked the idea, and agreed that a jogging stroller would be perfect for her situation. Unfortunately, I got rid of my old jogger during a garage sale a couple years ago, otherwise I would have gladly given it to her to use. At any rate, I can at least help her shop for one, since I still remember all of the important qualities and features to look for.

What To Look For When Purchasing

The first thing I would look for in jogging strollers is comfort. Does it offer a smooth and comfortable ride for the baby? Is it easy to push and maneuver? Comfort is usually a function of design, so I would check out the wheel size and alignment, as well as the handlebar placement (and whether or not the handlebars are adjustable).

A second thing I would look for is durability. Jogging strollers are so popular these days that a lot of manufacturers are putting out cheaper products to take advantage of the demand. But since my sister intends to use the jogging stroller for a few years, I told her to spend some extra money on a good piece of equipment.

And finally, I would take the amenities and accessories into consideration. Is the canopy a sufficient size? Does the unit have holders for a water bottle and/or baby's sippy cup? Is there a storage compartment for the diaper bag? Is the harness easy to buckle and unbuckle?

I know this isn't a comprehensive shopping guide, but I think it's a pretty good place to start. If my sister keeps all of these points in mind while she's looking at jogging strollers, she'll end up with a quality product that will last for years.

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