(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-30 10:15

There are an infinite number of aerobic activities that one can choose from. With a 45-minute cardio workout, you can burn some 400 calories.

Yang recommends inclined fast walking on a treadmill instead of running, as it has less impact on knees and hips. "Fast walking on the treadmill at an incline increases intensity, burns more calories, and tones your lower body. Establish your basic heart-rate level, which is usually between 60 and 70 percent of target heart rate.

"Resistance training can help maintain lean body mass, important for individuals attempting weight loss," he adds. "By using free weights, a person will achieve greater overall muscle mass as compared with aerobic exercise."

However, any foods that lead to weight gain and hunger - such as saturated fats, trans fats, sugars and refined carbohydrates - are going to be torpedoes to any plan.

Yang stresses the importance of protein which helps promote lean muscle building, fiber that helps keep one satisfied to avoid overeating and calcium which has been linked to weight loss.

Consuming protein is important for other reasons. Protein provides the amino acids necessary to rebuild muscle tissue that is damaged during intense, prolonged exercise. It can also increase the absorption of water from the intestines and improve muscle hydration.

The foods that have substantial amounts of protein include meat, fish, chicken, duck, eggs, dairy products, beans, nuts and seeds.

Besides tackling exercise and diet issues, a slimming spa treatment can help you on the road to summer pins. The latest craze in cellulite wraps is green coffee. Green coffee beans are said to help break up cellulite molecules, redistribute fats and increase circulation.

"Green coffee is the latest ingredient to effectively dislodge cellulite accumulation," says Tania Corkin, spa manger of the Spa at the Hilton. "Naturally rich in chlorogenic acid, it helps stimulate the skin's metabolism to eliminate water stagnation and toxin retention to transform fat into energy."

The spa is offering a green coffee body wrap treatment with a complimentary eye cryo. Long-term, these slimming treatments only work in conjunction with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, so there's a way to go before you are beach-fit. But the soothing, smoothing wraps are a good place to start.

   1 2   

   1 2