Yoga for Fat Loss

Now that I’ve grabbed your attention with the title, let me tell you straight aways that I don’t believe yoga causes fat loss.

A very many people, want the easier way out when it comes to losing fat (…and a lot of other things in life). In fact that is why diet programs are more popular than exercises programs. How many times have you been asked, ‘what is the best exercise method to lose fat?’ You’d rather hear most women gossip about the latest diet fad that’s been doing the rounds on the internet!
Thus, before we go any further, let us be very clear about one thing: yoga will not help you løse fat, PERIOD! Nor has it ever done that with anybody. I will, in fact, stick my neck out and say that Yoga in itself does very little for your physical fitness or body conditioning. As far as stretching is concerned, yes it is good. However, with the recent research suggesting too much static stretching is bad for functional fitness as well as sports conditioning, I don’t think anyone should do many sessions of yoga a week.

You can very well ask the model in the picture and chances are, she’d got that body doing other stuff as well and doesn’t do yoga at all or does it as a part of her fitness regimen.

I don’t really care what kinda yoga (of the million varieties available) you do, you won’t løse fat. It might make you feel good for a while… but that’s about it.

To løse fat, you have to look to get your heart rate and breathing rate up and stimulate the adrenergic system. And, I am sorry, no matter what yoga, dynamic or otherwise, you do… that’s just not gonna happen to the level that it can cause fat loss. Also, upping the room temperature is not gonna help either, so you better stop spending those hard earned quid on fitness gimmicks that don’t work. And, the idea behind the yoga guy who charges exorbitant fees just to raise room temperature  is a joke. I wouldn’t really care if people spoke the truth and just said, ‘we are gonna charge you for an hour of feeling good’…coz, that’s all that those sessions do with very minimal fat burning effects.

Don’t get me wrong, Yoga is good….but for flexibility and for de-stressing. However, those are just parts of the components of fitness. Oh hey, and did I mention, that just stretching your joint structures and ligaments (with no resistance or cardiovascular training of some sort) does nothing for your metabolic rate, resting or otherwise…so you can bid your goal of losing fat goodbye, if you are gonna be doing just yoga!

For all those who don’t agree, please try to convince me otherwise; please do mention the møde of functioning of yoga, which according to you will cause fat loss and/or is the basis of your reasoning for yoga to cause fat loss.

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Vegetables that may help you lose fat!

CRUCIAL

This is an old post, written years back. So I may not necessarily agree with some of the things mentioned in here! For once. I would like to make it clear that just eating these vegetable wouldn’t contribute significantly to calorie expenditure. How much you are ‘up and about’ through the day and your calorie deficit, in general, will have a way bigger impact. So, look to sort these out first, eat a nutrient-dense, proteinaceous foods and then, eating these vegetables will really make a difference.

ORIGINAL POST

(First published on Oct 1st, 2012!)

Background

Vegetables can help you lose fat?! Never heard that one before, you might say. But there are vegetables that contribute to increased calorie expenditure and therefore, may melt away ‘excess lard’ from your tummy.

What vegetables are we talking about and how exactly do they manage to cause fat loss? Well, what follows is a list of these awesome vegetables (grouped together for your convenience). However, before we get into that, let us have a brief look at the way these vegetables cause fat loss.

How do these fat burning veggies work?

Foods contain micronutrients and macronutrients; micro meaning these are needed in ‘micro’ amounts (mg) for normal physiological processes. Macronutirents, as you may have guessed, are the ones needed in larger quantities (grams) by the body. Micronutrients are food constituents like vitamins, minerals, alkaloids and phytochemicals  whereas proteins, carbs, fat and water (not to mention alcohol) are macronutrients

Your genetic make-up, what you eat and level of physical activity, what you eat will go a long way in deciding if you are lean or fat. All these factors, in varying degree influence, your metabolic rate. It is quite obvious that you can’t do anything about your genes. However, the other factors are modifiable – in general, high protein content in food and enhanced levels of physical activity will keep fat off.

It is a well known fact that protein needs more energy to be absorbed, broken down into constituent amino acids and stored. Thus, compared to fat or carbs, they are more ‘thermogenic’. Another way to lose fat while maintaining lean mass is to replace carb calories with protein calories (especially during calorie deficit periods for goals like fat loss or competition preparation).

A similar mechanism of increased thermogenesis (more heat production) is also utilized by some vegetables – thus, these are very similar to proteins. What’s even more amazing is the fact that some of these vegetables go even further in their ‘metabolic bumping up role’ – more calories are required for their absorption and break down than the calories contained in them.

Veggies that cause fat loss

Here are some veggies that may help you burn excess calories take inches off your belly, if consumed regularly.

• Green Vegetables

Spinach, lettuce and kale

1. Low calorie content
2. ‘Negative calorific value’ thus great for helping you lose fat
3. Rich in fiber which blocks absorption of fat in the small intestine (wonder if this is always good for everyone; some amount of fat absorption is crucial for life. However, when your diet contains excess fat (esp. when coupled with excess carbs, then this may help)
4. Good for complete bowel emptying (on account of the fiber content)
5. Other goodies: vitamins et al.

 Nightshade Vegetables

Tomatoes, tomatillos, cayenne pepper, red pepper (not black), paprika, eggplant are some example

1. Plants belonging to the Solanaceae family  – vegetables, herbs, shrubs and spices form a part of this group
2. ‘Negative calorie value’; help fat loss
3. Beware of sensitivity to alkaloidal content of nightshade veggies though!
4. These may be contraindicated in hypothyroid patients

• Roots

Root vegetables like beet root, onions, carrots, radish, turnips and celery are awesome at helping you burn fat. In addition to reasons listed above, high alkaloidal content also helps in increasing metabolic rate and thus increase calorie expenditure.

• Cruciferous Vegetables

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflower and the likes are what are called the cruciferous vegetables. These are fat burning on account of their low calorie and high fibre content as well as negative calorific property.  These may be contraindicated  – in addition to nightshade vegetables – in hypothyroid patients as well.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

In addition to being rich sources of vitamins and fibre, vegetables can help you bump up your calorie expenditure and therefore, help you lose fat!

Disclaimer

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