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Can You Achieve Fitness by Following YouTube Channels?

There’s a lot of myths when it comes to fitness, but maybe the biggest one is you have to go to the gym if you want to get fit. If you’re like a lot of people, the thought of going to the gym doesn’t give you a warm, fuzzy feeling. It’s probably more like dread. Luckily, you don’t need a gym membership or a ton of time to get in shape. There are dozens of fitness YouTube channels you can try in the comfort of your own home.

Why YouTube Channels for Fitness?

People may give you a lot of reasons why they prefer fitness YouTube channels over the gym, but the common thread is flexibility.

You can do your favorite workout routine whenever you want. You don’t have to wait for a class or a machine to free up like at the gym.
You can take your workout anywhere. Since the videos are online, you have access to them even when you travel. Depending on where you are, you may run into some geo-restrictions. Luckily, there are some good Virtual Private Networks for YouTube that can help you gain access to your favorite channels.
You can choose what kind of workout you want. Not in the mood for HIIT? There are plenty of other options, from yoga to aerobics to weight training. That means there’s plenty of variety so you’ll never get bored.

Of course, because there are so many different options, it can be difficult to find quality videos, especially if you’re just getting started. Below are some great YouTube channels. Remember, you actually need to exercise with the videos, not just watch them to see improvements.

Zuzka Light

There’s a reason why Zuzka remains one of the top YouTube fitness channels. Her workouts may seem intimidating at first, but she walks you through each step slowly in the beginning. This way, you can ensure you’re using the correct form before stepping up the intensity. She even provides some alternative forms for people who might have bad knees or other limitations. Most of her workouts require little or no equipment, so you don’t need to spend a lot of extra money for weights. Like other fitness gurus, Zuzka encourages you to push yourself but always at your own pace. What’s more, these workouts will get you in shape so long as you stick with the program.

Blogilates

After trying out a couple of Casey’s workouts, you’ll wonder how the heck she keeps smiling. Luckily, her bubbly and cheerful persona motivate you to keep going. It’s certainly not easy, and if you’ve never done Pilates before, you probably want to start with the beginner workouts. There are dozens of workouts on the Blogilates YouTube channel focusing on different areas of your body. Each video runs at most 15 minutes but are generally shorter. Casey walks you through each of the moves slowly, so take your time and make sure you have the proper form. Otherwise, these workouts will be pretty much useless. If you’re just watching the videos, these workouts might seem really easy, but after you repeat them a few times, you’ll start feeling the burn.

Bad Yogi

Don’t let the name fool you. Bad Yogi is actually a great channel if you’re just getting started with yoga. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have perfect form; this channel will help you improve it with short tutorials and more full-length videos. Besides learning new yoga poses, you’ll also get advice on nutrition and life tips to stay motivated even if things in your life aren’t perfect. If you’re serious about yoga, there’s also challenges so you can really start incorporating it into your lifestyle. Erin, the owner of the channel, offers different types of yoga as well to work out different areas or to relax.

SofaBar

Barre has become the new “big” thing in the fitness world. If you don’t want to pay for expensive classes but still want to get that body, then SofaBar might be a great option for you. The instructor is a bit different from your typical barre instructor, though. She’s a figure skater, not a ballerina. With that said, she offers some excellent at-home workouts that require minimal equipment. And if you’re interested in figure skating, she also offers advice on how to do some moves so you can up your game when at your local ice rink. Be warned, these workouts are definitely not easy, and you’ll be breaking a sweat in no time.

Jenny Ford

Looking to get some cardio in without having to run or bike? Then you’ll love Jenny Ford. She offers some excellent step aerobic workouts. Yes, step aerobics is still a thing. Never done step aerobics before? No problem! Jenny has some excellent beginner videos that go over the basic steps you’ll see in most of her workouts. Once you learn the basics, you can jump into some of her quick workouts or try out the longer 30-minute ones if you’ve got enough time and energy. If you’re not in the mood for step aerobics, Jenny also offers some weight training advice as well.

Heidi Somers – Buff Bunny

How many women do you know don’t lift weight because they don’t want to get bulky? Sadly, this way of thinking limits your ability to reach your fitness goals. Weight lifting should be an integral part of your routine if you want to be fit and strong. Enter Heidi Somers. She offers excellent workouts to sculpt your muscles while still maintaining feminine qualities. Her videos focus more on traditional muscle training, such as squats, dead lifts, curls and more. This means you’ll need to get some more equipment for your home. You can also watch her videos while at the gym if you don’t have the space for a barbell.

Hopefully these channels can get you started on your journey to fitness. You can—and should—find other fitness YouTube channels that you like and try them out as well. This way you’ll have a wide variety of options to choose from every day!

Do you have a favorite fitness YouTube channel? Let us know in the comments below.

About the Author: Cassie is a freelance writer who has a passion for fitness. She’s so happy that technology has made it much easier for her to get in some good workouts without going to the gym.

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A "To Die For" Figure in 30 Days? | www.4hourbodygirl.com

First of all FOOD IS #1! I would love to say ‘you heard it here first’ but deep down I am sure you already know this. We both know it. If we all accept that food is #1, here are some simple rules for nutrition. Here, I’m asking WHO ELSE WANTS A “TO DIE FOR” FIGURE? HERE’S THE SECRET, if you do. Follow this, and you will be happily ripped in no time.

AS A BONUS, YOU WILL ALSO LIVE LONGER, FEEL HEALTHIER, AND HAVE FAR LOWER INCIDENCE OF DISEASE. Who doesn’t want that? Who Else Wants A "To Die For" Figure? Here's The Secret

EAT for nutrient density

EAT to improve absorption of nutrients

EAT a macro nutrient profile that lends itself to improved body composition and less disease

EAT sufficient quantity of quality food to deliver your body its macro and micro nutrient requirements

DO NOT EAT anti-nutrients

DO NOT EAT foods that harm you

There are some great eating programs out there, the Slow Carb Diet from The 4-Hour Body, the Beyond Diet program, I like them both, they work well and are especially good with a view to people just starting out and wanting compliance for the whole family.

They work, and with compliance people stick to them… so people get results. Those results are reflected in how many people love and rave about those programs.

Having said that, here is my take on FOOD for FAT LOSS.

This is an all-out, no bullocks, 30-day plan GUARANTEED to give you results, way of eating. You won’t get hungry more than once or twice if you do it properly.

This is very, very easy. Note the words FOOD (that is what you will be eating, and the only thing you will be eating) and FAT LOSS – if you eat this way, and don’t change a thing; FAT LOSS is what will happen.

This is from Chris The Kiwi‘s take on FOOD for FAT LOSS ™… and Happiness

You want to lose fat? REALLY lose fat? Then lets get it over and done with!

Here is his ONE RULE:

Make every meal a healthy sequence of Protein, Good Fats, and Non Starchy Veggies…

… In that order…

… And with NO exceptions.

Do this for 30 days (or 60, or forever, if you prefer), and get the bulk of your fat loss over and done with, quickly.This ONE RULE, which automatically ensures a superior macro nutrient ratio for fat loss (and health) – has outstanding results with EVERYONE who tries it for the whole 30 days.

It can’t be that simple.

This is what he says:

It is, but if you want the nitty-gritty, here is how it works:

1. Protein FIRST. Every meal, start by eating a clean, CHEWABLE quality source of protein. What do I mean? Meat (preferably grass-fed), (non-farmed) fish, free range poultry, clean living or game meats, and free range eggs.

That is it.

Aim for a DAILY intake of 1 gram of protein per lb. of bodyweight or more. Yes, I really said that that, and yes, it is harder than it sounds.

Yes, it is so important it is going at number 1.

Break this protein intake over each of your daily meals (2 meals is ok, 3 meals is perfect and 4 is more than enough), and make getting in that quota of high quality animal sourced protein your priority at every meal.

Don’t like counting? (And I don’t like counting, so this is how I recommend you do it)

HOW I RECOMMEND YOU DO IT (the food order part)

Eat your protein until you are about 75-80% of the way to satiety, check for fats, and fill up on veggies.

That means eat the animal-sourced protein component of your meal until you are nearly full (about 75-80% of the way there)

2. Fat SECOND. After you get your real food protein down, ensure you are getting some healthy, quality, FATS at every meal. “Good fats are your friend”

If you cook in coconut oil, limit omega 6 intake, and eat nothing for protein but grass fed meat, wild caught fish such as salmon, anchovies, and sardines, game meats and wild fowl, and vegetables, you are probably good to go without any supplementation, additives, or tricks whatsoever.

Since this is nearly NO ONE who is chasing fat loss, everyone else needs to balance out their omega 3 to omega 6 ratios and reverse all the damage this imbalance has caused you, as fast as possible.

You are aiming for a 1:1 to 1:3 ratio of Omega 3s to Omega 6s which are our ancestral dietary norms and NOT what is happening with the bulk of the food you eat (you need a LOT more omega 3 and a lot LESS omega 6 to get this balance, trust me).

We do this two ways. 1) LIMIT Omega 6 intake FIRST and then 2) TOP up Omega 3 intake.

We also want to ensure that you are getting sufficient variety and quality in your good fat intake, and that these are coming from clean sources.

Other than the protein selection guides above, to top up Omega 3, do the following…

Take down some high quality fish oil with every meal. Work up to 2-3 grams of combined DHA/EPA per meal.

Daily amount as follows:

2-4 grams total EPA/DHA per day if you can see your abs even when sitting, never eat any grain fed meat, have no

auto-immune or inflammatory issues, and none of your joints hurt, ever.

4-8 grams total EPA/DHA per day if you are carrying excess flab, any of your joints hurt, or you suffer any form of auto-immune or inflammatory disease. If you are anywhere in between, I recommend you build up, hold the slightly higher dose for four weeks, then go back down to 2-4 grams total EPA/DHA per day.

Divide your daily intake across your meals equally.

Trust me on this, it may take some working up to, but the results are outstanding. It will also help your BRAIN, and recent science suggests even the health of your telomeres (the ”caps” on your DNA).

NOTE: Hold this dose for no more than four weeks, then DROP DOWN. Don’t make a big deal of this – this is an intervention – the FOCUS IS ON FOOD.

“What If I Can’t Get Grass-fed Meat?”

Grain-Fed Meat

What about eating grain fed meat? Avoid it whenever budget and availability allow, those cows are unhealthy and have a messed up omega 3 to omega 6 ratio (omega 6 heavy, frequently higher than 1:20), but if you have limited options, eating grain fed ruminants is STILL BETTER than not eating this way. However, for Grain Fed meat go for the leanest cut you can (the fat on grain fed meat is BAD).

So cut the fat OFF grain fed meat, go for the leanest cuts.

To top up the fat content with CLEAN FATS (remember, we check for fats EVERY meal), add a tablespoon of one of the below.

CHECK FOR FATS: ADD 1 TABLESPOON OF THESE TO any meal that is not made up of Grass-fed meat, wild caught salmon, or game meats.

Grass-fed butter (the only dairy you will eat)

Organic Ghee

Coconut Oil

Or NUMBER 1: the rendered animal fat of a cleanly raised animal. Either because you bought it, or because you saved it from another cooking session where you cooked clean meat.

Some advise that you nibble away on almonds, macadamias, Brazil nuts or walnuts, but these can potentially increase your Omega 6 load (macadamias, brazil nuts and macadamias the best of the nuts but remember that ratio) and potentially cause auto-immune issues, so personally, go for the other sources of fats given here, and limit total daily nut intake to half a handful of raw nuts per day, max. (Let’s call that “6 nuts per day” – no more).

Any meal that is made up of grass fed meat, wild game, wild salmon, anchovies, or sardines, you can skip the tablespoon of clean fats, since your meal will already provide you with them.

Feel free to leave the FAT ON when eating grass-fed ruminants or wild game. This is clean fat and GOOD FOR YOU, and very good for your fat loss.

For Cooking: Cook in coconut oil (low to high heat), grass-fed organic ghee, or in the animal’s own fat (or rendered lard from grass-fed animals, if you can find it). Those stuck with grain-fed meat, can cook in grass-fed butter if they want to.

Other than coconut oil (with impunity) and small amounts of olive oil (for flavor, if you cook with olive oil, LOW TEMP only) ALL OTHER VEGETABLE OILS are making you fat, inflamed, and unhealthy and they ARE BANNED FOR LIFE.

FAT SUMMARY:

1) Food quality is extremely important. Go for the clean cuts of meat and wild caught oily fish wherever you can find them/afford them, and you can chow down with the fat ON without even thinking about it. This is the BEST way to get your fats in your diet.

2) Next step on the ladder is to add in clean fats to your meal as required, normally in what you cook in.

3) Last step is the fish oil – NOTE: This slightly high dose fish oil approach is an INTERVENTION. It is designed to help you get rid of inflammation, start stripping fat and balance out your (likely horrible) current omega 3 to omega 6 ratio.

You hold this level for 30 days MAXIMUM at which point you will drop back and take from 2 to 4 grams of combined EPA/DHA from fish oil a day for the other health benefits.

MORE IS NOT BETTER. LONGER IS NOT BETTER.

Intervention means it is not forever.Read this again: At the end of the 30 days at the higher dose, you must back right down.

Yes, third. Fill up (keep going until you achieve satiety) with green, nutrient dense vegetable choices.3. Veggies THIRD.

NOW, for Part THREE – VEGGIES! – Just close out the meal and keep chomping until you are no longer hungry. You will get a You have eaten your animal sourced protein until you are 80% full. Checked for clean fats, and added if required.

You took your fish oil…

TON of micronutrient goodness with very little calories, so seriously, eat away until you are nicely satisfied! Here are my favorites:

Spinach

Kale

Broccoli

Cabbage

Baby Bok Choy

Brussel Sprouts

Asparagus

Cauliflower

String beans

Feel free to add your own.

You can do this as a stir-fry, steamed veggies, raw veggies, a big salad, a stew. Whatever makes you happy. Just watch sauces, olive oil and balsamic vinegar in small quantities are fine. Other than coconut oil, ALL other vegetable oils are banned.

Please make sure you cycle through the veggie choices, and don’t be afraid to add plenty more, variety rocks, and there can be too much of a good thing.

Tip: Cook with herbs and spices to add variety in nutrients and flavors to your cooking. There is no need to get bored.

What about carbs you ask?

My answer: This is about FAT LOSS, which generally implies that you have some form of METABOLIC DERANGEMENT and INSULIN ISSUES… so what about them?

Limit fruit, eat NO carbs at all other than those naturally occurring in your vegetable selection, and only drink sugar-free, unsweetened beverages.

This means water, tea, black coffee.

Sound extreme? Not really, extreme is forcing our bodies to survive on a diet that is freaking terrible for us.

The result, lots and lots of FAT, SICK, and MISERABLE people.

I am all about happiness, so please, don’t be one of them.

Oh yeah, this also means NEVER EVER – EVER – EAT GLUTEN.

Ancestrally, we didn’t eat any processed carbs, or even a carb heavy diet, and we sure as heck didn’t eat much, if any gluten. The longer you go without by the way, the easier it is to get past any carb addiction.

Move your body over to this, our more ancestral and evolutionary format for eating and quite simply…. prepare to be amazed.

The nutrient density of a meal like this alone is a world away from a modern, nutrient starved, about to make you fat and miserable “meal”.

Note: Elite or very hard training athlete’s whose focus is on recovery (or fuel, in the case of endurance athletes) should take down some carbs post workout in the form of tubers. This equals yams, sweet potatoes, taro, yuca, and potentially a small amount of fruit. But this article is not about nutrition for you guys in season or training, this is about FAT LOSS.

So I ask you again, Who Else Wants A “To Die For” Figure? Here’s The Secret one last time:

Make every meal a healthy sequence of Protein, Good Fats, and Non Starchy Veggies…

…In that order…

… And with NO exceptions.

Nothing else. Do not eat anything else.

I repeat. If your goal is FAT LOSS, then for 30 days eat NOTHING ELSE.

Originally Published on: Jan 30, 2012