Top Weight Loss Site

My Experience with Hoodithin for Healthy Eating

2007-05-02T10:43:00.000-07:00

I have been asked by other fitness websites to try out certain diets and see which ones give me the best weight loss results. I dis like diets with a passion so I put hoodia appetite suppressant to the test to see if it could help me.

Oh baby, I worked incredibily!

I was able to eat everything I was told to with a very thin eating plan that usually keeps me hungry but not this time. I was able to do everything while maintaining my workout schedule as fitness is very important to me.

Why did it work?

1) I was able to feel full even when eating only half of what I usually eat.
2) Hoodia help keep my cravings down for breads and pastas even when training hard makes them beneficial.
3) Food became absent to me and thinking about food was not on my mind during the periods I was taking hoodia.

If you have not yet tried out hoodia than give it a shot for achieving weight loss, healthy eating, and eliminating all hunger cravings like they never existed.

Have a great day and God bless!

Healthy Breakfast Grocery List

2007-05-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

Why not pick up some of these items to use for breakfast for healthy eating and for weight loss?

whole grain bagels, breads, buns, pitas...
whole grain cereals, served cold or hot
rice
fruit: apples, berries, grapes, bananas...
100% fruit or vegetable juice
vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms...
soups
dried fruits and nuts
skim, 1% or 2% milk
low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese or cheeses
sliced ham, turkey or roast beef
eggs
peanut butter
jams, jellies, sugar, syrup, honey

Have a great day and God bless!

Healthy Breakfast Quick and Easy

2007-05-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

Eating healthy for breakfast to achieve weight loss can be easily obtained by these simple tips:

Breakfast can be eaten later in the morning. It does not have to be eaten the moment you step out of bed. You may want to eat something, like yogurt or a sandwich, when you are having a morning break.
Breakfast can be wholesome without being fancy. Quick-fix ideas can give you a good start in the morning. How about cold, whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk and fruit, or a bagel and cheese with juice?
If you are driving to work, a bite before leaving may make you a more responsive driver.
If you are short on time, take along some fruit, cheese, crackers or other nibblers, to make breakfast quick and inexpensive. Eat when you arrive at your destination. Eating while driving may take your eyes and attention off the road
Carry-overs from last-night's dinner may make an interesting morning meal. Try cold pizza, macaroni and cheese, rice dishes, casseroles...

Have a great day and God bless!

Setting Realistic Goals for Weight Loss

2007-04-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

There are lots of reasons for people who are overweight or obese to achieve weight loss. To be healthier. To look better. To feel better. To have more energy.

No matter what the reason, successful weight loss and healthy weight management depend on sensible goals and expectations. If you set sensible goals for yourself, chances are you'll be more likely to meet them and have a better chance of keeping the weight off. In fact, losing even five to 10 percent of your weight is the kind of goal that can help improve your health.

Most overweight people should lose weight gradually. For safe and healthy weight loss, try not to exceed a rate of two pounds per week. Sometimes, people with serious health problems associated with obesity may have legitimate reasons for losing weight rapidly. If so, a physician's supervision is required.

What you weigh is the result of several factors:

how much and what kinds of food you eat
whether your lifestyle includes regular physical activity
whether you use food to respond to stress and other situations in your life
your physiologic and genetic make-up
your age and health status.

Successful weight loss and weight management should address all of these factors. And that's the reason to ignore products and programs that promise quick and easy results, or that promise permanent results without permanent changes in your lifestyle. Any ad that says you can lose weight without lowering the calories you take in and/or increasing your physical activity is selling fantasy and false hope. In fact, some people would call it fraud. Furthermore, the use of some products may not be safe.

A Realistic Approach

Many people who are overweight or obese have decided not to diet per se, but to concentrate on engaging in regular physical activity and maintaining healthy eating habits in accordance with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, emphasizing lowered fat consumption, and an increase in vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Others — who try to diet — report needing help to achieve their weight management goals.

Fad diets that ignore the principles of the Dietary Guidelines may result in short term weight loss, but may do so at the risk of your health. How you go about managing your weight has a lot to do with your long-term success. Unless your health is seriously at risk due to complications from being overweight or obese, gradual weight loss should be your rule — and your goal.

Here's how to do it:

Check with your doctor. Make sure that your health status allows lowering your caloric intake and increasing your physical activity.
Follow a calorie-reduced, but balanced diet that provides for as little as one or two pounds of weight loss a week. Be sure to include at least five servings a day of fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains, lean meat and low fat dairy products. It may not produce headlines, but it can reduce waistlines. It's not "miracle" science — just common sense. Most important, it's prudent and healthy.
Make time in your day for some form of physical activity. Start by taking the stairs at work, walking up or down an escalator, parking at the far end of a lot instead of cruising around for the closest spot. Then, assuming your physician gives the okay, gradually add some form of regular physical activity that you enjoy. Walking is an excellent form of physical activity that almost everyone can do.
Consider the benefits of moderate weight loss. There's scientific evidence that losing five to 10 percent of your weight and keeping it off can benefit your health — lower your blood pressure, for example. If you are 5 feet 6 inches tall and weigh 180 pounds, and your goal weight is 150, losing five to 10 percent (nine to 18 pounds) is beneficial. When it comes to successful weight loss and weight management, steady and slow can be the way to go.

For many people who are overweight or obese, long-term — and healthy — weight management generally requires sensible goals and a commitment to make realistic changes in their lifestyle and improve their health. A lifestyle based on healthy eating and regular physical activity can be a real lifesaver.

Determining Your Weight/Health Profile

Overweight and obesity have been associated with increased risk of developing such conditions as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease.

For most people, determining the circumference of your waist and your body mass index (BMI) are reliable ways to estimate your body fat and the health risks associated with being overweight, overfat or obese. BMI is reliable for most people between 19 and 70 years of age except women who are pregnant or breast feeding, competitive athletes, body builders, and chronically ill patients.

Generally, the higher your BMI, the higher your health risk, and the risk increases even further if your waist size is greater than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women. There are other ways, besides BMI, to determine your body fat composition, and your doctor can tell you about them, but the method recommended here will help you decide if you are at risk.

Several other factors, including your medical history, can increase your health risk.

See your doctor for advice about your overall health risk and the weight loss options that are best for you. Together, decide whether you should go on a moderate diet (1200 calories daily for women, 1400 calories daily for men), or whether other options might be appropriate.

Once you and your doctor have determined the type of diet that makes the most sense for you, you may want to choose a product or a plan to help you reach your goal. Consider: b If your doctor prescribes a medication, ask about complications or side effects, and tell the doctor what other medications, including over-the-counter drug products, and dietary supplements you take and other conditions you're being treated for. After you start taking the medication, tell the doctor about changes you experience, if any.

If your treatment includes periodic monitoring, counseling or other activities that require your attendance, make sure the location is easy to get to and the appointment times are convenient.
Some methods for losing weight have more risks and complications than others. Ask for details about the side effects, complications or risks of any product or service that promotes weight loss and how to deal with problems should they occur.
Where appropriate to the program, ask about the credentials and training of the program staff.
Ask for an itemized price list for all the costs of the plan you're considering, including membership fees, fees for weekly visits, the costs of any diagnostic tests, costs for meal replacements, foods, nutritional supplements, or other products that are part of the weight loss program or plan.

Where To Get More Help

The Partnership for Healthy Weight Management is a coalition of representatives from science, academia, the health care professions, government, commercial enterprises, and organizations whose mission is to promote sound guidance on strategies for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

Partners with information that can help you with issues about overweight and obesity or design your own healthy weight management plan.

Have a great day and God bless!

Small Steps for Your Health & Weight Loss

2007-04-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

Choose healthy foods, make healthy meals, be active 30 minutes a day ... these are just a few of the long list of actions you can do to get to, and stay at a healthy weight and prevent type 2 diabetes with weight loss. It's not easy to do all of this every day living in today's fast-paced and fast-food world. It seems even harder if you have a lot of changes you need to make.

It's easier to make healthy lifestyle changes one step at a time -- over months and years. Think of each small step as one piece of your effort to change your habits for the better and for good. Making changes one step at time gives you your best shot at getting to and staying at a healthy weight and preventing type 2 diabetes.

The good news is that making just a few small changes to eat healthier and be more active can make a BIG impact on your weight and health. This tip sheet helps you learn how to make these changes step-by-step.

Is your health at risk?

People around you may tell you that you have a problem with your weight or health. But what do you think? If you don't believe you have a problem, you will not likely make the effort to make changes. You may even resent or be angry at the people pushing you to change. If you do believe you have a problem, you will likely succeed. Step number one: accept that you have habits you need to change.

Are you ready, willing, and able to change?

To succeed at making lifestyle changes you need to answer YES to the question: Are you ready, willing, and able to change? The experts say that for people to change, making the change must be important to them. In other words, you have good reasons to change. For example, you want to live long enough to see your grandchildren grow up. You must have more reasons to change than reasons not to change. The experts also say that you must be confident -- believe that you can change.

To succeed, take what you want to do and break it down into small steps. Then think about a few actions you are ready, willing, and able to change. Leave other habits that you don't feel ready, willing, and able to change for another time.

What are you ready, willing, and able to change?

To answer this next question, think about your current eating and activity habits. What foods do you buy? How active are you? Try to keep honest food records for a few days to get a true picture of what you eat. Based on your current habits, start with a few changes that are easy to tackle. Select changes for which you most want take action and will make the biggest impact. Perhaps choose one change that has to do with eating and another with activity. Remember; don't try to change everything at once.

For example, maybe you tend to eat a bowl of ice cream every night while you watch TV. Can you switch that ice cream to a healthier snack? Maybe fruit or a small bowl of cereal? Or just a smaller portion of ice cream. And can you take 15 minute break from the TV and go for a walk?

For each goal, think about four things:

How long will you try this goal? Keep it short.
Is it easy to do in your regular daily life? Keep it realistic.
Is it limited in scope? Be specific.
How often will you do this?

Keep your goals realistic. Don't try to do too much too quickly. Let's look at three examples of realistic goals:

Eating: For the next month (how long), four days each week (how often) I will eat two pieces of fruit a day -- one at breakfast and one as an afternoon snack. (realistic and specific).
Eating: The next five times (how long) I go to a fast food restaurant (how often), I will order a small French fries and a single hamburger, rather than a large French fries and double hamburger (realistic and specific).
Physically active: For the next month (how long), four days each week (how often) I will take a 15 minutes walk after lunch three days a week (realistic and specific).
Notice that the eating goals are not "I will eat more fruit" or "I will eat healthier." The activity goal is not "I'll walk more." These goals aren't specific like the examples above.

Set 1 to 3 goals at a time. Write them down. Put them in a place where you will see them often -- on the refrigerator, your bathroom or bedroom mirror, or in your purse or wallet.

Did you succeed?

The last step is to see how you did at making the change. Once the time you set is over, look at the goals you set. Ask yourself these questions: Did you succeed? Did you set your sights too high? Did something happen in your life to keep you from being successful? If you were successful, give yourself a BIG pat yourself on the back. (Or maybe a trip to the movies!)

Wait, you are not done! Making a change for two weeks or a month does not mean that it will stick for life. It's so easy to slip back to your old ways. Practice the new habits faithfully. It will take months before they become your way of life. If you weren't successful, try again. Revise your goals or choose easier ones. Make sure they contain the four parts of setting a goal that's within your reach. Make sure you want to make changes in this area and that you believe you can.

What is your next step?

Start the lifestyle change cycle again. Choose a couple of new goals to work on. Slowly, goal by goal, over time you'll be eating healthier and being more active ... and you'll be at a healthier weight. You'll also be on your road to preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes.

Have a great day and God bless!

Food & Portion Size for Weight Loss

2007-04-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

Getting Started

If you want to lose weight, cutting calories is a good place to start. This does not mean you have to stop eating your favorite foods. It does mean eating less.

“Portion control” means:

See how much you eat
Decide how much to eat
Cut back on portion size

Keeping Track

Start by seeing how much you eat. Find out by writing down everything you eat each day. Be sure to write down what you eat and how much. Do this for at least three days. You can use our Food & Activity Tracker or just keep a list on a piece of paper. Many people find that they eat more than they thought!

Serving Sizes

Look at your list and compare to the serving size guide below. How does your list compare?

Here are some serving size guidelines:

Meat, fish, poultry – 3 oz. (about the size of the palm of your hand)
Cheese – 1 oz. (about the size of your thumb)
Milk, yogurt, fresh vegetables – 1 cup (about the size of a tennis ball)
Bread – one slice
Rice or cooked pasta – 1/3 cup
Potato or corn – 1/2 cup
Dry cereal – 3/4 cup

You may find that your serving sizes are much bigger. If so, it’s time to make a change! Get started by using measuring cups and spoons to serve your food. After a while, you’ll be able to “eyeball” the amount.

Food Pyramid

Compare your list to the Food Pyramid below. Use it as a guide to how many servings to choose each day from each group. Here are some questions to ask:

Are your portion sizes too large?
Are you eating enough vegetables?
Are you eating too much meat?

Remember This

Don't feel bad and think you have to lose a lot of weight and burn fat fast. You only have to lose 5-10 lbs. to lower your chances for diabetes. If you have diabetes, losing 5-10 lbs. could help you manage it.

Have a great day and God bless!

How to Read a Nutrition Label

2007-04-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

Brought to you by WebMD.com

Remember being a kid and tearing open the cereal box to get the special decoder ring? Today's cereals should come with a ring you can use to crack the code of their nutrition labels. For those who understand its secrets, the nutrition label holds valuable information for winning the war on fat. Since there is no special ring, we'll give you the skinny on reading nutrition labels.

Beware of the Front Label Tease

"Heart Healthy!" "Enriched With Calcium and Vitamins!" "Low fat!" The front label is where manufacturers can say whatever they want. But when you look at the nutrition facts on the back you might wonder if the two labels refer to the same product. "Speed read the front label and go straight to the nutrition facts," says Kerry McLeod, author of The Last Diet Book Standing.

She tells WebMD why the following front label terms should be red flags:

Fortified, enriched, added, extra, and plus. This means nutrients such as minerals and fiber have been removed and vitamins added in processing. Look for 100% whole-wheat bread, and high-fiber, low-sugar cereals.
Fruit drink. This means there's probably little or no real fruit and a lot of sugar. Instead look for products that say "100% Fruit Juice."
Made with wheat, rye, or multigrains. These products have very little whole grain. Look for the word "whole" before the grain to ensure that you're getting a 100% whole-grain product.
Natural. The manufacturer started with a natural source, but once it's processed the food may not resemble anything natural. Look for "100% All Natural" and "No Preservatives."
Organically grown, pesticide-free, or no artificial ingredients. Trust only labels that say "Certified Organically Grown."
Sugar-free or fat-free. Don't assume the product is low-calorie. The manufacturer compensated with unhealthy ingredients that don't taste very good and, here's the kicker, have no fewer calories than the real thing.

The Nutrition Facts Label

Serving Size

Start your label reading adventure by looking at the "serving size" printed right under "nutrition facts." Portion control is an important part of weight management, but don't expect food manufacturers to make it easy for you. Pop-Tarts, for instance, come two to a package. The label says one serving is 200 calories. The catch is that's for "one pastry."

Label reading is easy when a package states there are one or two servings. It's the fractions that will send you to the calculator. For example, the label on a 6-ounce can of StarKist Tuna in water says one serving is 2 ounces (drained) so you might think the can holds three servings. But because you drain off some weight, the can actually contains 2.5 servings.

And how realistic are those printed serving sizes anyway? The South Beach diet recipe for South Beach Chopped Salad With Tuna calls for a 6-ounce can of water-packed tuna, and that's for a single serving of salad.

Calories and Calories From Fat

Next you'll see how many calories are in a serving and how many of those calories come from fat. A 2-ounce serving of tuna has 60 calories, 5 of which come from fat. If you eat the whole can, multiply these amounts by 2.5 for a total of 150 calories and 12.5 fat grams.

Nutrients by Weight and Percentage of Daily Value (%DV)

If you're counting fat or carbohydrate grams, you're familiar with this part of the label. It shows how much of each nutrient is in a single serving by weight in grams and by %DV. This symbol refers to the recommended daily allowance for a nutrient based on a 2,000-calorie diet (you'll see that some nutrients, such as sugar and protein, don't have a %DV). Fats are listed as "Total Fat" and also broken down so you can see how much is saturated fat, i.e., the kind you especially want to limit. Unfortunately, the label doesn't distinguish between natural sugars, such as those found in fruit, and added sugar.

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition says the first nutrients listed on the label --total fat, cholesterol, and sodium -- are the ones most Americans get enough of or too much of in their diets. And one of the most overlooked nutrients essential for good health is fiber.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are listed by %DV only. Pay particular attention to vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. They're listed first. The FDA says most Americans don't get enough in their diets.

Ingredients

Ingredients are listed in order from the greatest amount to the least. Just how much of a "fruit breakfast bar" is fruit? McLeod advises leaving the product on the shelf if the terms "enriched wheat flour" or "sugar" appear before "fruit." She also offers this rule of thumb: the fewer the ingredients, the better. "If there's a long list of scary ingredients you can't pronounce, you might want to put it back." Some labels also show you the total recommended daily allowances of nutrients for a 2,000-calorie diet.

The Important Term That's Not on Labels

A desire to lose weight may be the main reason you pay attention to what you eat. But eating to promote good health should be a consideration as well. Labels can help. In 1993, the FDA required manufacturers to list saturated fat and cholesterol on nutrition labels. Now the issue is trans fats.

Studies show these trans fats sabotage good cholesterol and boost bad cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoproteins that clog arteries and cause heart disease. They're also suspected of playing a role in diabetes and cancer. But you won't find trans fat listed on many nutrition labels, at least not yet. The FDA has given manufacturers until January 2006 to list them. Some manufacturers have already complied. Meanwhile, the code words to watch for in the label's ingredients list are "partially hydrogenated."

Trans fats are everywhere you find processed foods. McLeod, who lives in Gainesville, Fla., reads -- and understands -- nutrition labels. But she didn't always. "I thought I was eating nutritious foods." She was shocked when she pulled the packaged foods from her pantry and refrigerator. "I threw out most of it. Trans fat was in almost every single packaged food item in my house."

Label Reading on the Run

On your way home from work you stop at the grocery store to pick up dinner. Researching labels isn't a priority. You want to grab the goods and go. Here's a label-reading shortcut. First, ignore the "sell" on the front. Go straight to the back and look at %DV. According to the FDA, you should look for nutrients you want, such as fiber, to represent 20%DV or more, and nutrients you should limit, such as fat, to represent 5% or less. Next look at serving size. If you'll eat twice that amount, then double the %DV numbers, or if you'll eat half the amount, then halve the %DV numbers. Remember that DV is based on 2,000 calories a day.

In general a diet containing 1,000 to 1,200 calories per day is what is recommend for most women trying to lose weight and a diet containing between 1,200 and 1,600 should be chosen for most men trying to lose weight.

When you're in a hurry, maybe the best you can do is compare three brands of the same product, such as chili. Thankfully, manufacturers tend to standardize serving sizes. For chili, it's 1 cup. So when you check the different brands for %DV it's easy to see which packs more of the nutrients you want and less of those you don't want for weight loss.

Have a great day and God bless!

Beyond Snack Packs: 22 Healthy Bites

2007-04-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

Are 100-calorie packs really your best bet for healthy snacking? Dietitians weigh in.

By Kathleen M. Zelman, LD, RD, MPH

Consumers are turning to 100-calorie snack packs -- of crackers, cookies, chips, and more -- in record numbers. Obviously, many see these convenient little bags as a great way to control calories and keep them from polishing off whole bags of less-than-healthy snacks.

But is this new food category -- which has gone from $0 to $150 million in sales in less than two years -- really the best bet for those trying to eat healthy snacks and control weight? WebMD put the question to several dietitians.

How Healthy Are 100-Calorie Snack Packs?

The 100-calorie packs work best when it comes to foods we should enjoy in limited amounts, says health columnist Carolyn O’Neil, RD.

"A snack like nuts is perfect for 100-calorie packs, because lots of folks tend to mindlessly eat larger servings," says O'Neil. "And even though nuts are nutrient-rich, they could contribute too many calories if the packs were not portion-controlled."

That goes as well for sweets, which are a weakness for many dieters. Sweet treats like 100-calorie ice cream bars and cookies are a great way to have your cake and eat it, too -- as long as you can stop at one.

"I support the 100-calorie packaging to help with portion control, but if consumers think it is fine to eat more than one, it negates the benefit," says Milton Stokes, MPH, RD, chief dietitian at St. Barnabus Hospital in Bronx, New York.

Stokes says that packaging items in smaller containers can help control mindless overeating.

"Studies show the larger the container, the more people eat," says Stokes. "So by reducing the size of plates, bags, and containers, it should help us reduce the amount we eat."

American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Marisa Moore, RD, likes 100-calorie products for their portion control, convenience, and ability to satisfy a sweet tooth. But because many of these snacks lack fiber, she says, they won't stave off hunger for long.

"The 100-calorie snacks lack staying power, and as a result can lead to premature hunger and a higher calorie intake in the end," she says.

She'd rather see people choose snacks that provide needed nutrients while taming hunger. For example, she says, "in only 160 calories, a serving of almonds is satisfying and provides heart-healthy fats, fiber, and calcium."

Baylor nutrition professor Suzy Weems, PhD, RD, is concerned that 100-calorie snack packs are just another way to give us license to eat empty-calorie foods we don’t need.

"We need to focus on foods that are needed for good health, and while these snacks are controlled in calories, they tend to provide few nutrients," she says.

Author Elisa Zied, RD, recommends planning your snacks based on foods that are missing in your diet. If at the end of the day you have met your quotas for all the food groups, then enjoy a 100-calorie snack pack -- but just one.

Dietitians' Picks for Healthy Snacks

Dietitians agree that the best snacks satisfy hunger while helping meet our daily dietary needs, especially for fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy.

"Look for snacks that contain protein with healthy carbohydrates and fats, and eat your snacks slowly so they fill you up," says Weems.

Here are 22 portable and healthy snacks that make the list of dietitian’s weight loss favorites:

Half a peanut butter sandwich on whole-wheat bread
Low-sugar, whole-grain granola bars that have at least 3 grams of fiber
Whole-grain crackers or whole-wheat tortilla with hummus or nut butter
A handful of unsalted or lightly salted dry-roasted nuts
Individual unsweetened applesauce with a few dry-roasted walnuts
Small apple with 2 teaspoons peanut butter or 1 ounce low-fat cheese
Ants on a log -- celery with nut butter, topped with raisins or other dried fruit
Half of a single-serving string cheese with a small piece of fruit or a few whole-grain crackers
4-ounces to 6-ounces of low-fat yogurt or yogurt treat
High-fiber dry cereal with a few nuts or seeds and dried fruit (put this in a baggie for a make-your-own snack pack)
Individual packs of carrots, celery sticks, or apple slices, with a protein source like a tablespoon of nuts, nut butter, or low-fat cheese
Pretzels and low-fat cheese
Whole-wheat cracker sandwiches made with natural nut butters
1 ounce of lean meat and a few whole-grain crackers
3 ounces low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese and a few whole-grain crackers
1 whole graham cracker and 1 teaspoon nut butter
Raw vegetables with 1/4 cup low-fat ranch dressing
100-calorie pack of low-fat popcorn rich in whole grains and fiber
Handful of tortilla chips and salsa
100-calorie ice cream treats
"Skinny" latte (made with low-fat or skim milk)
Small bowl of whole-grain cereal with skim milk or low-fat yogurt

Have a great day and God bless!

Canned Energy

2007-04-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

You can’t walk into a shop these days without seeing several brands of energising drinks lining the shelves. Should you indulge, or are you better off looking for a natural pick-me-up? Dr Wynnie Chan investigates

At first, their appearances were sporadic, but now instant energy drinks such as Red Bull and Lipovitan dominate supermarket shelves, dance clubs, bars, gyms, universities – the list is endless. These drinks contain various combinations of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and other substances, including caffine, taurine (an amino acid) and glucuronolactone (a natural substance produced by the body when glucose is broken down).

Some of them also contain herbs like royal jelly and ginseng, which are believed to combat stress and fatigue. The drinks’ manufacturers claim that their products will increase physical endurance, improve reaction speed and concentration and boost mental alertness. They also say that energy drinks can increase overall well-being, stimulate metabolism, improve stamina and help eliminate waste from the body.

Most energy drinks use the substances caffeine, taurine and in some cases, glucuronolactone to achieve this quick energy fix. All three of these exist naturally in foods or in our bodies but are present in much higher concentrations in energising drinks, which may be cause for concern. The amount of caffeine in these drinks was reviewed by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) a few years ago and it was determined they were safe for general consumption.

However, the committee found that children who consume two cans daily of such a drink may become irritable and anxious. The drinks are also not recommended for pregnant women as the effect of caffeine on the fetus is still unknown.

Taurine is naturally found in seafood and meat and is believed to help detoxify and cleanse the system. Results from human studies published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Advances in Experimental Biology and Medicine have shown that very high concentrations of taurine helped lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

A recent study published in the journal Amino Acids also seems to show the benefits of taurine. They discovered that among a group of endurance athletes, those who had an energy drink containing taurine and glucuronolactone improved their performance, compared to those subjects who had energy drinks without caffeine, taurine or glucuronolactone. The SCF does not, however, have a position on whether or not the amount of taurine present in energy drinks is safe.

Energy drinks can also help you burn fat fast and increase your fitness level.

Have a great day and God bless!

How to Get Rid of Belly Fat

2007-04-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

What is that thing that’s been growing around your mid-section since you started college? Is it a beer belly? Is it belly fat? Is it tummy fat? Is it a gut or a beer gut? There are so many names for the fat at builds up around our stomachs, is it any wonder why it’s become a national obsession? But don’t misperceive our obsession with fat as war on fat.

A little body fat is actually good for you. It keeps you warm and helps your body maintain a sufficient core temperature and nutrients when we get sick and can’t eat. Personally, I like the little tummy I have, and I’d rather it stay that way—little.

So, I’ve started working out. Evidence is starting to prove the theory that lifting weights (anaerobic exercise, or weight training) and using the Stair Master (aerobic exercise) will help you get rid of that extra weight around your midsection.

A healthy diet is also a good idea for weight loss and how to get rid of belly fat. So, I’ve summarized here a list of things you should take into consideration if you’re serious about losing that tummy:

Reducing the amount of calories you consume is the most effective way to get rid of belly fat. Really, when it comes down to it, losing any kind of fat, no matter where it is on your body, requires you to consume less calories than you body needs. This lack of calories will set into motion the processing of excess body fat to make up for the lack of calories. But don’t go all crazy about it. Starving your body of calories is only good to a certain extent, after a point you begin to do damage to important things, like your central nervous system.

There’s a reason they call it a “beer belly,” and drinking less beer, or quitting drinking altogether, will help you lose belly fat. No matter who (or how good looking) the drinker is, beer is bad for a number of reasons. The most obvious reason is the caloric content of beer. The less obvious reasons are the inflammation of the pancreas and liver, and the bloating that often accompany the over-consumption of alcoholic beverages; this includes alcohol mixed with sweet, sugary liquids like soda.

Consuming less food loaded with sugar will help you to lose tummy fat. Sugar is a big one. The sugar found in junk food and soda is the kind of sugar that burns quickly, unlike those sugars found in fruits and vegetables, which burn more slowly. If your body is processing sugar to create energy, and you’re not using any energy, those sugars will be converted into fat for later use. If you’re going to enjoy sweets, enjoy them right before you use the Stair Master.

There’s nothing wrong with strengthening your abdominal muscles, but it won’t get rid of belly fat like magic. You may want to consider not only working out your abs, but also working out your shoulders, pectorals, back, and arms to help create a more shapely “V” figure, which will help reduce the appearance of your belly. Keep this in mind: bulking up your muscles requires fewer reps (about 8) and fewer sets with greater weight. Building leaner muscle requires more reps, more sets, and less weight.

Daily exercise and walking will definitely get rid of belly fat. Going for a walk after a big meal or enjoying a dessert is never a bad idea. When Natasha and I were in Europe, we ate our fair share of delicacies, but we didn’t gain a single pound—in fact, we actually lost weight—because we walked everywhere. We walked from the train station to our hotel, and from our hotel to the restaurant, and from the restaurant to the museums, and from the museums to the…well, you get my point.

Belly Fat Burning Exercises

As I mentioned in section four, there isn’t really an exercise that will get rid of your belly. Certainly, exercising your abdominal muscles is a good idea, because building any kind of lean muscle will improve your body’s ability to process calories more efficiently.

The more muscle you have, the more calories you body needs to maintain those muscles. If you keep your caloric intake to a minimum, then your body will start to use the fat on your body for energy, thus reducing the amount of fat hanging from your belly.

And strengthening your abdominal muscles will have two effects: first, it helps you build muscles that will help you burn more calories during the course of the day, and second, larger abdominal muscles tend to stretch the skin around them, tightening your belly and reducing the amount of belly that sags over your waist line.

But here’s the catch: only working your abdominal muscles isn’t going to do much for you. You should definitely consider joining a gym and working on a weight lifting routine that works as many of your muscle groups as possible, and a daily aerobic routine to help you burn the fat you already have.

Have a great day and God bless!

Belly Fat and How to Beat It

2007-04-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

Of all the e-mails I get sent every day, by far the most common - from men and women alike - are questions about how to lose stubborn belly fat.

A pot belly... love handles... the spare tire... call it what you will. It seems to be the area of your body that you'd really like to do something about.

Read on, and I'll explain why belly fat is so bad, and what you can do to get rid of it.

Not only is a firm, flat stomach the ultimate symbol of sex appeal, researchers have found that losing abdominal fat is one of the most important steps you can take to stay healthy for life.

Most people realize that excess fat is unhealthy, but the key is where the fat is distributed. People with apple-shaped bodies (fattest in the abdomen) have a greater risk of heart disease and diabetes than those with pear shapes (fattest in the hips, buttocks, and thighs).

Several studies have found a link between abdominal fat and markers of chronic inflammation [1, 7, 8]. The research is based on a relatively new idea that fat is an “organ” that produces substances — such as leptin and cytokines — that can affect your health [2]. In other words, there's more to the fat around your waist than what the scales and mirrors reveal.

What is inflammation and why should you care?

Most doctors will tell you that the best way to avoid a heart attack is to lower your cholesterol. What they won't tell you is that routine cholesterol tests identify less than half of all patients who are at risk for heart disease.

In other words, a patient can receive a "normal" cholesterol reading one day and still suffer a heart attack the next. The truth is that many cardiologists believe we should be looking beyond cholesterol.

As scientists delve deeper into the fundamental causes of heart disease and other illnesses, they are starting to see links to an age-old defense mechanism called inflammation. This is the same biological process that causes the redness, swelling and pain if you cut a finger

Inflammation is a vital process in the first line of defense against disease. But problems begin when, for one reason or another, the inflammatory process persists. If you want to learn more, the BBC Radio 4 program Frontiers has devoted an entire episode to the topic of inflammation.

One way to test for inflammation is to measure levels of C-reactive protein in the blood. Elevated levels of C-reactive protein are linked with a higher than average risk of heart disease.

What's interesting is that higher C-reactive protein levels are linked with body fat, especially the belly fat stored around your waist [1, 3, 4].

Fat in the midsection is stored deeper inside your body, in and around the liver and other organs. It's called visceral (pronounced viss-er-al) fat. Fat in the hip and thigh region is mainly stored just under the skin. This is called subcutaneous (pronounced sub-cue-tain-ee-us) fat.

What's the solution?

It won't surprise you to learn that the best way to lose abdominal fat is to eat right and exercise regularly. And there's a growing body of research showing that the fastest way to burn off the fat from your belly is with a combination of weight-training and aerobic exercise.

Some evidence for this comes from a six-month study of thirty obese women [6]. They were assigned to one of three groups: a control group, an aerobic exercise group and a combined exercise group.

The aerobic group did one hour of cardiovascular exercise (60-70% maximum heart rate) six days a week. The combined exercise program involved weight training (3 days a week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and aerobic exercise (3 days a week, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday).

Here's what the combined exercise program looked like:

Monday — Weight training (60 minutes)
Tuesday — Aerobic exercise (60 minutes)
Wednesday — Weight training (60 minutes)
Thursday — Aerobic exercise (60 minutes)
Friday — Weight training (60 minutes)
Saturday — Aerobic exercise (60 minutes)
Sunday — Off

As you can see in the table below, the combined exercise group lost almost three times more abdominal subcutaneous fat and 13% more visceral fat than the aerobic-only group.

A one-year study of men shows similar results [5]. Thirty-six men with coronary artery disease were assigned to one of three groups: weight training plus aerobic exercise, aerobic exercise only, and a control group who did nothing.

The drop in total and abdominal fat were higher in the combined exercise group (-11% and -12%, respectively) than in the group who only did aerobics (-2.4% and -0.7%, respectively).

So, what does all of this mean for you?

Belly fat is stored energy. To get rid of the layer of fat that's currently hiding your abs, you need to burn more energy (calories) than you eat on a regular basis. And hundreds of sit-ups or crunches simply don't burn enough calories to make much of a difference to the appearance of your waist and stomach.

"The truth is, getting six-pack 'killer' abs has almost nothing to do with training," writes Tom Venuto, author of Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle. "It has everything to do with low body fat."

If you've seen pictures of Tom, you'll know he has some of the best abs in the business and knows the truth on how to get rid of belly fat.

"Some people might argue that I was just blessed with good genetics in the ab department, which may be true," says Tom. "But based on my experience with others who have less favorable genetics, I still believe that developing the abdominal muscles is easy. The hardest part is getting your body fat low enough for your abs to show."

Have a great day and God bless!

Food Court Survival

2007-04-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

Cheryl Koch, M.S., R.D.

Last weekend I was shopping with my family at the local mall. After several hours of running from store to store, my 3-year-old son declared it was time for lunch.

Like many hungry shoppers, we headed for the food court to make our selections. Unable to unanimously decide on a single vendor for everyone in our group, we all went our separate ways in search of nourishment. What we ended up with were contrasting plates featuring the good, the bad, and the ugly of fast food fare!

How do you find the best choices in a circle of unhealthy and fast-food options for weight loss? Are there any diamonds in the rough? Let's consider your best bets:

Chinese: Among the mostly fried selections in this cuisine, it's best to stick to vegetarian or mostly vegetarian dishes. Order steamed rice (brown is better than white, if that's an option) to add some bulk to the meal. If you want to cut calories, stay away from fried items — fried rice, egg rolls, and sweet and sour chicken — and avoid dishes with heavy sauces or lots of nuts.

Burgers: Choose a salad with grilled meat and low-fat dressing instead of a burger with all the toppings. You could save as much as 500 calories, not even counting the fries. An alternative is a grilled chicken sandwich without mayo or cheese. If you really must have a burger and fries, opt for the smaller kids' meal. It may be a basic cheeseburger but you will be surprised how it fills you up.

Subs: Select a six-inch sub (or share a larger one) with an all-veggie or a lower-fat turkey or ham filling. Get it on whole-wheat bread if that's an option. Skipping the cheese could save you as much as 100 calories. Avoid tuna or chicken salad subs because the mayonnaise adds calories and fat. Opt for oil and vinegar as the dressing.

Pizza: If the pizza is made to order, stick to veggie toppings and ask for less or no cheese. If the pizza is pre-made, select a slice of vegetable or plain cheese pizza. Consider adding a salad to your meal to avoid going for that second slice.

Mexican: Doing without sour cream, guacamole, and cheese on your taco is tough but there's always low-fat salsa if you decide to skip the high-fat items. Avoid cheese-filled options, and skip the fried tortilla chips and refried beans because they're often fried in lard.

Have a great day and God bless!

Binge Eating Disorder

2007-04-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a type of eating disorder not otherwise specified and is characterized by recurrent binge eating without the regular use of compensatory measures to counter the binge eating.

Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by:

* Frequent episodes of eating large quantities of food in short periods of time.
* Feeling out of control over eating behavior.
* Feeling ashamed or disgusted by the behavior.
* There are also several behavioral indicators of BED including eating when not hungry and eating in secret.

Health Consequences of Binge Eating Disorder:

The health risks of BED are most commonly those associated with clinical obesity. Some of the potential health consequences of binge eating disorder include:

* High blood pressure
* High cholesterol levels
* Heart disease
* Diabetes mellitus
* Gallbladder disease

About Binge Eating Disorder:

* The prevalence of BED is estimated to be approximately 1-5% of the general population.
* Binge eating disorder affects women slightly more often than men--estimates indicate that about 60% of people struggling with binge eating disorder are female, 40% are male (NIH, 1993).
* People who struggle with binge eating disorder can be of normal or heavier than average weight.
* BED is often associated with symptoms of depression.
* People struggling with BED often express distress, shame, and guilt over their eating behaviors.

To learn more about eating disorders and help to burn fat fast for weight loss just visit my weight loss site for the #1 information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

10 Tips On Losing Weight Fast

2007-04-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

Before jumping into a diet, you must determine your ideal weight. This will be your guide on your weight loss journey.

"Fast" weight loss doesn't imply that you drop 50 pounds overnight; a few pounds can take months to shed and for obese individuals, it can take years to lose the desired amount of weight loss. How fast you lose weight will depend on how focused you are on your diet.

Here are some simple steps to help you lose weight:

1. Before dieting, you must know how many calories you normally need in a day. If you are sedentary, multiply your weight (in pounds) by fifteen. If you are moderately active, multiply your weight by seventeen; if you are active, multiply your weight by twenty. This will give you the average calorie intake you need per day.

2. Remember to eat your fruits and veggies! You need at least five servings of them per day - doing this will put you on the right track to a healthy body, because fruits and vegetables have beneficial fibers, vitamins and antioxidants. They also fill up your stomach fast so that you don't overeat and take into many calories.

3. Monitor the quantity of food you eat. Avoid high-calorie foods and eat in small portions. A helpful tip is to chew your food slowly because this makes digestion easy on your body and you will also be less likely to overeat.

4. Don't skip meals. When you want to lose weight it may be tempting to starve yourself - but eating small amounts of food frequently can help you maintain a healthy, balanced calorie intake throughout the day. Also, your blood sugar level will be adversely affected if you don't eat often. You can even divide the standard allotment of three meals into five or six smaller meals.

5. Fresh fruits and vegetables are ideal - packaged and processed foods have high sodium and fat content. You are more likely to lose weight if you eat naturally fresh foods.

6. Don't limit your food intake too much. Go ahead and indulge yourself; eat your favorite treat. It's okay to have that slice of birthday cake at the occasional party. Just make sure to eat in moderation and use those special desserts as rewards, instead of enemies, to your weight loss experience.

7. Don't always believe everything you read on a food label. "Fat free" does not necessarily mean low calories. The same wisdom goes for foods that boast "low sugar" or "low carbs." Glance over the nutrition label - there you'll find the calorie count.

8. Try to limit the number of juices and sugary beverages you drink. Instead, drink eight glasses water a day - this flushes out your body's toxins and waste.

9. If possible, keep a food journal. This will help you keep track of your calorie intake and will be a daily reminder of the types of foods you need.

10. Don't forget to exercise! Thirty to sixty minutes of physical activity a day will ensure your health and help you lose weight (and not to mention, firm up those muscles). Weight-bearing exercises are especially great ways to burn those pesky calories.

Kathryn Whittaker

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Yeast Infection. To access more articles on Yeast Infection’s or for additional information and resources visit this Yeast Infection related website http://www.cureyeastinfections.info.

Why Olive Oil is the Ultimate Healthy Fat

2007-04-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

Whether in Rome or at home, do as the Romans do: Make olive oil a staple. If you already eat the Mediterranean way, you know that the oil not only tastes good but that it is good for you and for achieving weight loss. It's an amazing source of antioxidants, capable of dousing inflammation, defending cells from menacing molecules, and more. Here's the latest on this superhero food.

IT CUTS YOUR CANCER RISK
Olive oil's cancer-preventing powers are lab legends. Which substances get the credit? Polyphenols, for one -- these potent plant antioxidants protect against cancer-causing cell damage. But it also looks like the oil's monounsaturated fat has anti-cancer effects, which means olive oil packs quite a one-two punch! Some people-proof: Check the lower rates of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer among Southern Europeans -- whose diets flow with olive oil -- compared to their northern neighbors.

IT HELPS YOUR HEART
There's virtually nothing better than the big "double O" when it comes to your heart. Olive oil ups good HDL cholesterol, lowers bad LDL, and reduces other harmful blood fats (triglycerides). And that's not all. It also reduces inflammation, another contributor to cardiovascular disease.

IT KEEPS YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN
Speaking of your heart, how's your blood pressure? If it's not below 120/80, you need to get it there. And yes, olive oil plays a role. It can help enough to reduce the need for daily meds. Those potent polyphenols appear to dilate arteries, which brings blood pressure down. (Always choose extra-virgin olive oil, by the way -- its minimal processing preserves the maximum number of antioxidants and heat-sensitive vitamins.)

IT HELPS YOU LOSE WEIGHT
"Great taste, less filling" -- that light beer slogan rings true for olive oil. While ounce for ounce, all oils have the same calories, olive oil has a fuller flavor so less is needed for tantalizing taste. Plus research shows that overweight people who eat a diet with some fat -- including olive oil -- are more likely to shed pounds than those who slash fat. Why? Oil's rich flavor makes it easier to stick with the program.

IT EASES YOUR ACHING HEAD
If you're prone to headaches and wary of overdoing ibuprofen, try routinely dressing your salad or crisp-tender veggies in extra-virgin olive oil. It contains oleocanthal, a natural compound that, like ibuprofen, blocks pain-producing and inflammatory substances -- but without the risk of stomach upset. While daily oleocanthal doses aren't the painkiller's complete equal, they could lower your risk for heart disease, cancer, arthritis and possibly Alzheimer's. Quite a trade-off.

Have a great day and God bless!

Low Carb Diet - The Way To Weight Loss?

2007-04-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

Learn Weight Loss Information on weightlossfact.com. Low Carb Diet - The Way To Weight Loss? article will help answer your questions on Weight Loss Information. We at weightlossfact.com specialize in Weight Loss Information, Weight Loss Tips and Fast Weight Loss. Our weight loss tips in "Low Carb Diet - The Way To Weight Loss?" will help you gain more Weight Loss Information. We at weightlossfact.com provide the most up to date weight loss news, weight loss tips and weight loss articles. If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Everybody you know is on the latest weight loss bandwagon: The Low Carb Diet. They’ve seen the astounding results on the scale and have lost 10+ pounds in a short period of time. So you want to join in on this also?

Before You Start Take Time to Look at How the Body Works with Carbs:

It is true that the weight that is lost starting out on the low carb diet is a lot in a short period of time, but most of the weight that is lost is water and carbs that are stored in your body. Carbohydrates are stored in the muscles. Each gram of a carbohydrate that is stored in the muscle is also stored with 3 grams of water. When you cut out carbohydrates your body uses the stored carbohydrates in your muscles for fuel. As these carbs are used up the water that is stored with them is taken out also, so the result is weight loss at the beginning of a low carb diet and some inches lost due to the depletion of carbohydrate stores in your body. As the carbs and water leave the muscles the muscles become depleted and loses volume.

Once carbs are added back into the diet the muscle take up these carbs along with water, so if the carbs are reintroduced into the diet in a couple days time the initial weight that was lost will be regained.

Your brain requires carbs for energy also. The brain uses 400 calories a day just for the standard thought process of staying alive. So this is 100 grams of carbs a day that is required for one body function. Any movement that you do for longer than 3 minutes requires carbs to be used for energy.

When carbs become scarce your body goes into a state of ketosis, that is the process of the body breaking down fat into ketones for the brain to use as energy because not enough glucose is available for the brain. The results of this can be loss in energy, fatigue, irritability and a slower thought process. Thus affecting your ability at work or school.

Eating Carbs But Not Gaining Weight:

You can eat carbs and not gain weight. It is in the choice of carbohydrates that you consume that will make the difference. Including more vegetables and whole grains in your diet and eating less simple carbohydrates like sugars that are in soda, candy, processed and refined foods will help you in losing weight and burn fat fast. Paying attention to portion sizes will also help. Pasta is an easy trap for eating to much carbohydrates.

If you like pasta add vegetable to you dishes, since vegetables are good carbs and have fiber in them they will help fill you up faster. Eat a salad with every meal, but pay attention to what you put on your salad, stick to low fat versions of dressings, like Italian and Vinaigrettes. Creamy dressing when they are low fat can be loaded with sugars to take place of the fat, so it is important to pay attention to the nutritional values of dressings.

Another way of using carbs in your body is weight training. Weight Training requires your body to use carbs for the exercise and to repair muscles after your workout. Finding a requirement in the body for the carbs that you eat is a great way to use the carbs that are consumed. By finding the requirement for use of carbs you do not need to worry so much on how many carbs that you consume but just the types of carbs. Always remember that no matter what sugars in abundance are not good for your body or your weight loss goals.

Have a great day and God bless!

Mediterranean Diet: Lose Weight Quickly, Easily & Safely

2007-04-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

Learn Weight Loss Information on weightlossfact.com. Mediterranean Diet: Lose Weight Quickly, Easily & Safely article will help answer your questions on Weight Loss Information. We at weightlossfact.com specialize in Weight Loss Information, Weight Loss Tips and Fast Weight Loss. Our weight loss tips in "Mediterranean Diet: Lose Weight Quickly, Easily & Safely " will help you gain more Weight Loss Information. We at weightlossfact.com provide the most up to date weight loss news, weight loss tips and weight loss articles. If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are looking for a way to lose fifty pounds in two weeks, a high protein diet, a low carb diet, a fruit diet, a no fat diet, a blood type diet, a juice fast, a diet named after a place in Miami, a grapefruit diet, a cactus diet, a coffee and cigarette diet, a diet that includes sweets, a diet based on your body type, a diet based on an ancient religion or a diet based on your hair color, then this article is NOT for you.

Fad and crash diets, such as the ones described above are not only unhealthy but they also cause rebound weight gain. Also most diets, even though diet gurus write them, cause an initial weight loss but the ultimate result is that you gain all of the weight back the minute you go off the plan. If you don't gain it back within a couple of diets, you are likely to gain it all back plus a bit more within a year.

Crash diets dehydrate you, low calorie diets put your body into starvation mode so you plateau so you can't lose one more pound and high protein diets stress your kidneys and clog your arteries.

So how does one achieve weight loss?

There is only one answer to this question.

You need to expend more calories than you are taking in. Restricting certain foods, eating so-called fat burning foods, or dehydrating yourself with special pills or teas does not do it. It is simple math. The only way is to eat a little less and exercise a little more. Here is the equation below:

Eating Less + Exercising More = Weight Loss.

This is not a magical formula, it is just logic. It is also not a fast way to lose weight. As I have mentioned before, this is not an article about how to lose ten pounds in three days or 30 pounds in a month. It is about safe, healthy weight loss.

In order to lose weight safely and without putting yourself at risk for such health hazards as dehydration, kidney failure, malnutrition, exhaustion, nervous dysfunction, tooth loss, dull hair, wrinkles, cellulite, sudden heart failure or stroke and lose the weight so that it stays off, you should lose no more than approximately two pounds a week!

Although that might not sound like a large amount of weight to lose it actually is! If you lose 2 pounds a week that means you can achieve a weight loss of ten pounds a month! If you only have twenty pounds to lose then your weight loss is not only quite rapid, but you have the extra guarantee that it will stay off because you have followed a sensible exercise plan that did not involve starving, exhausting or depriving yourself. If you are willing to drop your impatience and desire for immediate gratification and stick to an exercise plan and healthy eating habits, then a Mediterranean Diet is for you. Remember being slim is only good if you are able to enjoy it!

Do You Need to Lose Weight?

Fascination with Fat

If you want to lose weight, you first need to assess whether you need to actually lose weight or are simply a fashion victim. Unfortunately this society is fascinated with fat - who has it and who doesn't. As we are persuaded by so many images in the media that persuade us to believe that you can never be too thin, many of us are bad judges of our actual body weight.

If you are under the age of eighteen and reading this book, the first thing you need to do is consult with your parent about your plans to lose weight. Have her make an appointment with a physician so that he can indicate to you whether or not you are a candidate for weight loss.

If you are an adult, it is possible that you may not be overweight and are just trying to be, as Bridget Jones put it in Bridget Jones Diary "a stick insect with eyelashes." It is also very possible that you know you need to lose weight and burn fat fast but have no idea where to start.

If you are obese and you know it, then you have to check with a physician first to see how your health is before you embark on any exercise program or plan. The same is also true if you have any kind of medical condition but especially a thyroid condition or heart condition.

Some physicians may not recommend a weight loss program for those who are over 40 as due to genetics and hormonal changes some people naturally just round out or gain weight in a way that simply cannot be changed. If your doctor tells you your spreading hips are due to menopause or genetics, believe him! It is not clever to fool with Mother Nature.

Have a great day and God bless!

EFT for Weight Loss - How to Stop Eating from Fear of Not Getting Your Share

2007-04-24T10:29:00.000-07:00

Learn Weight Loss Information on weightlossfact.com. EFT for Weight Loss - How to Stop Eating from Fear of Not Getting Your Share article will help answer your questions on Weight Loss Information. We at weightlossfact.com specialize in weight loss information, weight loss tips and Fast Weight Loss.

Our weight loss tips in "EFT for Weight Loss - How to Stop Eating from Fear of Not Getting Your Share " will help you gain more Weight Loss Information. We at weightlossfact.com provide the most up to date weight loss news, weight loss tips and weight loss articles. If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Do You Sometimes Eat Because You're Afraid You'll "Miss Out" on Something Wonderful Otherwise?

Have you ever finished a huge meal, Thanksgiving dinner for instance, and being so stuffed you couldn't possibly eat another bite, when suddenly someone showed up with another dessert? Did you suddenly find just a bit of space to eat a little more? That's eating out of fear; the fear of missing out, the fear of not being part of the group (everyone else is having some and you want your share too) and it has nothing to do with hunger.

This same thing can happen with any feeling -- you may feel exhausted. You had a rough day at work, a traffic jam on the way home, a flat tire, and now you have a headache. You are bone tired and want to do nothing but sleep, when suddenly the phone rings. It's a call saying, "You've just won a million dollars! Can you come right down to pick it up?," and you're rushing out the door with your coat half fastened, you're so excited you can hardly wait.

What happened to your headache? Probably it's gone or is now just a faint memory. What happened to your exhaustion? It's long gone too, replaced by a new surge of energy because your beliefs about your energy level just changed. All belief shifts happen that quickly.

The first belief shift you must make is in allowing something as simple as the EFT methods to work for you.

They are helpful beyond belief, and that is why you must temporarily suspend your judgments and give it a try. Most people find they are reluctant to use these methods once they learn them simply because they don't really want to end their overeating habits at all. If you find that is true for you, then use EFT to dissolve those issues too, and eventually you'll be a person who can eat what they want, and maintain a healthy body weight.

We all want better health, but sometimes our inner desires are stronger than our outer. You don't have to know why you do the things you do to solve them. Do a round of EFT first, then go ahead and eat whatever you want. You may just find you don't want it with the same intensity as before.

I promise if you just give it a try, you'll experience an unexpected result. For example, you'll start to get up to move toward the kitchen, even when you're still full from dinner because you've done it a thousand times before. This time though, you'll stop and remember that first you want to do a round of EFT. Then just sit down, take a few minutes to get control of your breathing, relax, do a quick round of EFT, and see what happens.

EFT Ideas for Breaking the Fear of Missing Out Eating Habit

"Even though I want to eat ______, even though I'm not really hungry, it's okay and I'm okay with myself."

"Even though I can't break this overeating habit, I deeply and completely accept myself anyway."

"Even though I can't feel satisfied unless I'm stuffed, I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though I can't wait to eat the ice cream (or whatever is your food choice), I deeply and completely accept myself."

"Even though I'm afraid if I don't have some, I'll never get any, I deeply and completely accept myself."

Don't be afraid to say what you want. This is not an affirmation, and you won't be installing the desire. If you don't believe me, try it and see. I will say things like, "Even though I can't wait to eat the whipped cream and I know it's going to be delicious and I love it more than anything because it's just the best thing in the world. Oh, how I love whipped cream." (I might not even do the I'm okay part).

Then, recheck your SUD level (the intensity level - you did not it first, right? If not, that's okay, but now note how much you want that treat food right now.) Is the intensity a bit less? If it's still high, do another quick round. Go ahead. It takes less than 30 seconds. You can spare 30 seconds, can't you?

Do you Believe You Can End Faulty Eating Habits?

Think about your belief in your ability to break this simple habit. The habit of eating when you're not hungry. The habit of needing to feel stuffed to be satisfied. You can break the pattern, even if you don't believe you can. It happens when you first simply stop eating a little sooner. You may still have over eaten, but your level of stuffed can be lessened, and you'll begin to learn to know when you've had enough, too much, or way too much. Start by learning to leave one bite on your plate. (Even the tiniest bit counts, whatever it takes to leave a bit, it's a start).

I know, that idea may seem radical, but it's a great way to discover how you've eaten everything on your plate because it's a habit to do so. Even if you only leave one pea, leave something on your plate. Secondly, just because there is more on the serving plate, don't think you need to take more food. Wait a few minutes. Settle in. Get comfortable with the feeling of satisfaction. Get in touch with your hunger levels to burn fat fast.

I remember learning to recognize my hunger levels and the shock (and dismay) when I'd realize I'd had enough but half my food was still on my plate. I learned to ask for a doggy bag, take it home and eat in the next day. I learned to sometimes fix myself less food. I learned half a sandwich is sometimes enough. I learned a piece of fruit can satisfy my wildest hunger, for now, while I wait for dinner to cook. I learned, and so will you, when you just start to pay attention.

You can still have it all, but maybe you'll eat half now and half later.

Small shifts in your beliefs about what you can accomplish may take a bit of time, but when you do make the shift it will seem sudden and it will be permanent. Ask anyone who's lost a lot of weight and kept it off, and they'll tell you, "I don't know, something just suddenly clicked." You can experience this click too.

Start Noticing How Often You Eat Without Hunger

Start today by noticing how much food you're being offered when you aren't hungry. Can you take some and save it for later? Just because it's the holiday season, it's not an excuse to eat everything in sight because you'll be starting to lose the weight in January. Why put it off until then?

Get more in tune with what you do day-to-day and you can let go of the fear of either suffering through another diet or gaining more weight, or losing it and then regaining it. You don't have to choose between stuffing or starving. You can learn to eat good food, enjoy it more, and melt into the shape you truly are meant to be to burn fat fast.

Have a great day and God bless!

FIGHT AGAINST DIABETES

2007-04-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

Can Coffee Help You in the Fight Against Diabetes?

Coffee reduces diabetes risk among pre-diabetics by over 60%, according to a new study from the University of California at San Diego. The study is the first to expand evidence on diabetes risk reduction to those already glucose intolerant, a precursor to full-blown diabetes.

Published in the November issue of Diabetes Care, the study revealed that coffee offered protection at the same, significant levels for those beginning the study with high fasting glucose levels, indicating pre-existing glucose intolerance, as it did for those with normal levels. In fact, those with elevated glucose levels showed a lower risk of developing diabetes than those starting out with normal glucose tolerance.

Reduced Risk

Past or current coffee drinking resulted in a diabetes risk factor of 0.38 on a scale where 1.0 is average risk in the general population. That means risk was reduced in coffee drinkers by 62%.

Uncovering the first evidence that coffee also reduces diabetes risk among pre-diabetics, the risk level came in even lower, at 0.31, for the subgroup with impaired glucose. That means pre-diabetics reduced their risk of developing the disease by almost 70%.

These results were independent of age, sex, exercise, body mass index, smoking status, daily alcohol intake, and hypertension. Unlike other studies, they were also independent of the number of cups of coffee consumed daily.

Methodology

The research team, led by Besa Smith, engaged a study design not used in prior research on coffee and diabetes. The team first separated those with impaired versus normal glucose levels using an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). In this way, coffee’s protective effect could be assessed separately for each group. The researchers concluded the study with a second OGTT to ensure accuracy in diagnosing those who had developed diabetes.

The study followed 910 non-diabetic adults for an average of eight years. Of that group, 593 had normal glucose at the beginning of the study and 317 had glucose intolerance. Coffee drinkers drank an average of 2.8 cups per day.

For more interesting research on coffee for health, weight loss and how to burn fat fast please visit my website.

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Can Coffee Help You Get in Shape?

2007-04-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

Coffee Benefits

If you’re planning on using exercise to get yourself in shape for summer, you might want to drink a couple of cups of coffee first. In a study recently released, researchers at the University of Georgia in Athens found that the amount of caffeine in two cups of coffee cut exercise-induced muscle pain in half while aiding in weight loss.

The group studied nine college-aged women who were given caffeine or placebo at 24 and 48 hours after performing what is called eccentric exercise. The two intensities of exercise tests were actually designed to cause soreness in the subjects’ thigh muscles, or quadriceps. It is interesting that the harder the women exercised, the more effective was the caffeine at relieving their muscle pain. Those who consumed caffeine one hour prior to the more difficult exercise test had 48% less pain than the placebo group, while the women who consumed caffeine prior to the less difficult test had 26% less pain than the placebo group.

The authors wrote: “Eccentric exercise occurs when skeletal muscles produce force while being lengthened. For example, the biceps brachii muscles act eccentrically when a cup of coffee is lowered from the mouth to a tabletop.

This experiment found that caffeine (equal to approximately 2 cups of brewed coffee) could produce a large reduction in pain resulting from eccentric exercise-induced, delayed-onset muscle injury. This finding may improve the quality of life of individuals who experience skeletal muscle pain after engaging in unaccustomed, eccentrically biased exercise.”

According to Dr. Victor Meridakis, “If you can use caffeine to reduce the pain, it may make it easier to transition from that first week into a much longer exercise program…. but you have to apply some common sense and not go overboard.”

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How Functional Coffee Can Help You Attain Fitness and Weight Loss

2007-04-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

by Jose Antonio PhD

What’s the first thing over 100 million Americans do when they wake up? If you’re one of the many java-addicted consumers, you probably make a beeline for the coffee brewer and with your eyes half open, brew up a fresh cup of the aromatic brown elixir. Now despite the rumors that have circulated from Boston to Beijing, coffee is actually a healthy beverage that is consumed by billions around the world that aids in weight loss.

Certainly, if you take a common sense approach to whether coffee is safe (or not), it would be perverse to withhold the provisional assent that it is indeed safe considering that billions of individuals drink it every day.

Furthermore, the key ingredient in coffee, caffeine is actually an amazing substance that has a wide variety of functions. For instance, caffeine improves performance and endurance during prolonged, exhaustive exercise. But it also promotes gains in short-term, high-intensity athletic performance. Caffeine decreases your perception of pain during exercise. This might explain why fitness competitors routinely down a cup of java right before exercise! Caffeine also improves mental alertness and reduces your perception of fatigue. Moreover, habitual intake does decrease caffeine's ergogenic properties.

Coffee – the amazing elixir

And you might be surprised to hear that coffee itself may be a health food (see Side Bar COFFEE – The Newest of Functional Beverages). For instance, we know that regular consumption of coffee decreases the risk of type II diabetes. A recent study examined the long-term relationship between coffee consumption and other caffeinated beverages and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus: The Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals' Follow-up Study.

Scientists tracked 41,934 men from 1986 to 1998 and 84,276 women from 1980 to 1998. These were free of diabetes, cancer, or cardiovascular disease at baseline. Coffee consumption was assessed every 2 to 4 years through validated questionnaires. What did they find?

These investigators documented 1333 new cases of type 2 diabetes in men and 4085 new cases in women. The authors found an inverse association between coffee intake and type 2 diabetes after adjustment for age, body mass index, and other risk factors. In other words, those who drank the most coffee tended to have the least risk of diabetes. Even more intriguing, total caffeine intake from coffee and other sources was associated with a statistically significantly lower risk for diabetes in both men and women; meaning that decaffeinated coffee may not be as good for you as the caffeine-filled. The author’s concluded that the "data suggest that long-term coffee consumption is associated with a statistically significantly lower risk for type 2 diabetes."(1)

The Amazing Trio – Energy, Performance Enhancement, and Fat Burning

Energy

Perhaps the most common reason for ingesting caffeine or caffeine-containing beverages is the pick-me-up effect has. For instance, one study examined one hundred and forty-four volunteers (72 male, 72 female, mean age 21 years) and had them consume breakfast (cereal versus no breakfast) and caffeine (caffeinated versus decaffeinated coffee).

They found that those who consumed breakfast cereal had a more positive mood at the start of the test sessions, performed better on a spatial memory task, and felt calmer at the end of the test session than those in the no breakfast condition (lesson: don't skip breakfast:)). Consuming caffeine improved the "encoding of new information and counteracted the fatigue that developed over the test session."(2)

Performance Enhancer

Caffeine is the most versatile and effective ergogenic aid (i.e. something that enhances exercise performance). A prominent exercise physiologist, David Costill, Ph.D., performed the ground-breaking study on caffeine and exercise 26 years ago! He took nine competitive cyclists (two females and seven males) and had them bike until exhaustion at 80% of V02 max. (Note: V02 max, also known as maximal oxygen uptake, is a measure of how well your cardiopulmonary system functions).

Each subject consumed coffee containing 330 mg of caffeine 60 min before the exercise or a placebo (decaffeinated coffee). Following the ingestion of caffeine, the subjects were able to perform an average of 90 minutes of cycling as compared to an average of 76 minutes in the placebo trial. This reflects an 18% increase! They also found that subjects burned more fat (aka lipolysis) as shown by measurements of plasma free fatty acids, glycerol and respiratory exchange ratios. In fact, fat oxidation or burning was significantly higher (107% greater) during the caffeine trial (118 g or 1.31 g/min) than in the placebo trial (57 g or 0.75 g/min). Also, the perception of effort was much less in subjects after consuming subjects indicating that exercise felt easier.(3)

Other research has confirmed the performance-enhancing effects of caffeine.(4-7)

Thermogenesis

A recent study looked at energy expenditure, fat oxidation or burning, and norepinephrine (NE) kinetics (i.e. how ‘adrenaline’ like hormones are metabolized) after caffeine or placebo ingestion using placebo-controlled double-blind conditions. The dose administered was 5 mg of caffeine per kilogram of fat-free mass (which is mainly muscle and bone). Translation: For the young men, they consumed about 350 mg while the old men consumed about 295 mg. (Therefore, the young men had more FFM than the old men).

They studied 10 older (65-80 yr) and 10 younger (19-26 yr) men who were moderate consumers of caffeine. Caffeine ingestion resulted in similar increases in both the old and young men for plasma caffeine levels; thus both young and old absorb caffeine equally well. Metabolic rate or energy expenditure increased similarly by 11% in young and 9.5% in the older men. According to the scientists, "older and younger men show a similar thermogenic response to caffeine ingestion, whereas older men show a smaller increase in fatty acid availability after a caffeine challenge. These metabolic differences are not related to alterations in norepinephrine kinetics or fat oxidation." (8)

A recent study presented at the International Society of Sports Nutrition Conference in Las Vegas showed that a functional coffee beverage that also contained bitter orange, hydroxycitric acid, and chromium produced a significant increase (up to 30%) in metabolic rate. (9) This particular study is the first presented on 'functional coffee' (i.e. coffee with added nutraceuticals).

The Judgement on Java

Clearly, consume coffee or caffeine can have a myriad of health benefits ranging from increased mental and physical performance, enhanced lipolysis or fat burning, to an improvement in health (e.g. decreased risk of type 2 diabetes). With the advent of functional coffee (i.e. nutraceuticals added to coffee to enhance it’s health benefits), the future of java is indeed bright.

Table 1. Caffeine Content in Beverages

BEVERAGE	SERVING SIZE	CAFFEINE DOSE PER SERVING
Coffee	1 cup	60-150 mg
Decaffeinated Coffee	1 cup	2-5 mg
Starbucks Coffee®	8 ounces	250 mg
JavaFit™	8 ounces	300-400 mg
Starbucks® Coffee Latte	16 ounces	70 mg
Tea (loose or bags)	1 cup	20-50 mg
Hot Cocoa	1 cup	6 mg
Cola drinks	12 oz can	40 mg

For more information on weight loss and how to get rid of belly fat visit my site and be thrilled.

Have a great day and God bless!

How to Stop Overeating

2007-04-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

Try these tips for getting more satisfaction from fewer calories for achieving weight loss.

By Elaine Magee, RD, MPH

Babies are born knowing to eat when they are hungry, and stop when they are comfortable. But as we grow up and are exposed to fad diets, advertising, food used as a reward, etc., many of us unlearn this beautifully balanced way of eating and begin to overeat.

Yet eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are comfortable is one of the keys to healthy eating and living, says Linda Bacon, PhD, nutrition professor at the City College of San Francisco.

Much has been written on the "eating when you're hungry" side of this equation. But how do you learn to stop when you're comfortable if you've lost touch with this over the years?

Overcoming Overeating

Experts say there are things you can do to make yourself more likely to stop eating when you are comfortable. They include:

Eat slowly. This isn't a new concept; remember all those familiar dieting tips like "sip water between bites" and "chew thoroughly before swallowing"? These were all aimed at slowing us down when we eat. Research led by Mark Gold, MD, at the University of Florida at Gainesville has shown it takes 12 or more minutes for food satisfaction signals to reach the brain of a thin person, but 20 or more minutes for an obese person. Eating slowly ensures that these important messages have time to reach the brain.
Be aware. "Be more attentive about the whole eating experience; don't eat when you are driving or at the computer," advises Bacon. When we're distracted or hurried the food (and calories) we eat tend not to register well in our brains. Jean Kristeller, PhD, a psychologist and Indiana State University researcher, suggests a brief premeal meditation to get centered before eating so you can more easily derive pleasure from your food, give the meal your full attention, and notice when you've had enough.
Make the first bites count. Bacon believes that maximum food enjoyment comes in the initial bites. "After a few bites, taste buds start to lose their sensitivity to the chemicals in food that make it taste good," she explains. Satisfying your taste buds by really savoring those first few bites may help you stop eating when you're physically comfortable.
Keep up appearances. Using a smaller plate and paying attention to the presentation of a meal can increase your awareness of the food in front of you and help you stop eating when you are comfortable. "The brain looks at the plate and decides if the portion is adequate," says Gold. "It takes some time, but the smaller the plate, the smaller the portion."
Choose satisfying foods. Steer away from foods that give you a lot of calories for very little volume, such as milk shakes, cheese, and chocolate, Gold recommends. The higher the fiber, protein, and/or water content of a food or meal, the more likely it is to be satisfying in your stomach without going overboard on calories. (More on this below.)

What Makes a Food Satisfying?

Research during the past decade suggests there are three factors that help make a meal more satisfying: the weight of the food, the amount of protein, and the amount of fiber.

A revolutionary study done by researchers at the University of Sydney in 1995 noted that of the 38 foods tested, certain foods scored higher in satiety. Top-scoring foods included whole-meal bread, grainy bread, cheese, eggs, brown pasta, popcorn, all-bran cereal, grapes, porridge, baked beans, apples, beefsteak, ling fish (a type of cod), and oranges. All of these foods are high in fiber, water, or protein.

And which foods tend to have low satiety scores (making them much easier to overeat)? These would be foods with large amounts of fat, sugar, and/or refined carbohydrates, like potato chips, candy bars, and white bread.

'Satisfaction Score' for 20 Common Dishes

So is there a way you can determine how satisfying your favorite foods are likely to be? A mathematical formula calculates a satisfaction score for a food. First we give a serving of a particular food points for its weight divided by calories (multiplied by 4 to give it significant point value). Secondly we, add the number of grams of protein it contains. Finally we add the number of grams of fiber towards eating healthy and so you can burn fat fast.

Have a great day and God bless!

High-Protein Menu for Weight Loss

2007-04-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

Trying to stick to a low-carb diet? Try this sample menu to get the balanced nutrition you need while still meeting your weight loss goals.

By Kathleen M. Zelman, LD, RD, MPH

Everyone's needs are different, which is why the National Academy of Sciences recommends a range of 10% to 35% of calories from protein. If you're eating a higher-protein diet, try daily menus like this one to get the most nutrition from your low-carb lifestyle.

Eating a balanced meal for improving fitness and to burn fat fast is the absolute best way to achieve your weight loss results.

Sample Menu Nutrients (depending on portion size)

1,500-1,600 calories
46% carbohydrates
22% protein
30% fat

Breakfast
Yogurt fruit crunch with:

Low fat yogurt (8 oz. or 1 cup)
Sliced fresh fruit: banana, strawberries, blueberries (1/2 cup)
Low fat cereal (3/4 cup)
Orange juice fortified with calcium (6 oz.)

Lunch
Vegetable soup (1 cup)
Spinach salad with:

Fresh spinach (1 cup)
One hard-boiled egg
Sliced, grilled chicken breast (3 oz.)
Shredded carrots (1/2 cup)
Sliced mushrooms (1/2 cup)
Dried cranberries (2 tablespoons)
Crumbled feta cheese (1 tablespoons)
Chopped almonds (1 tablespoons)
Low calorie dressing (2 tablespoons)
Whole grain crackers (4 to 6)
Sparkling water with lemon

Dinner
Roasted Pecan Salmon [see recipe below]
Steamed asparagus with lemon (1/2 cup)
Brown rice with chopped red pepper (1/2 cup)
Mixed green salad with cherry tomatoes and light vinaigrette (1 cup w/ 2 tablespoons dressing)
One whole-grain roll
Iced tea (unsweetened)

Snack
One cup skim milk and 1/2 cup berries blended with ice to make a shake.

ROASTED PECAN SALMON
Ingredients:

4 salmon filets (4-6 oz. each)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons seasoned breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons chopped pecans
1 teaspoon parsley
Wedges of fresh lemon

Preparation:

1. Sprinkle salmon with salt and pepper. Place skin side down on baking sheet.
2. Combine mustard and honey, brush on top of salmon.
3. Mix topping of breadcrumbs, nuts, and parsley and sprinkle over salmon.
4. Bake at 400 degrees 10-15 minutes or until flaky. Serve with wedges of fresh lemon.

Nutritional Information per serving: 265 calories, 29 grams protein, 9 grams carbohydrate, 12 grams fat, 1.6 g saturated fat, 4.7 g monounsaturated fat, 4.3 g polyunsaturated fat, 78 mg cholesterol, 0.4 grams fiber, 282 grams sodium and 42% calories from fat.

Have a great day and God bless!

Plan Your Day to Lose Weight

2007-04-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

Making lifestyle changes doesn't come naturally. To change your weight loss eating and exercise habits, you've got to plan - to make it happen.

By Jeanie Lerche Davis

You're running late, flying out the door. You might skip breakfast: the cereal box is empty, and the milk's gone sour. Forget taking lunch: there's peanut butter in the jar, but you are out of bread. Exercise before work? You've got to be kidding. It's a typical hectic morning, at the beginning of a typical jam-packed day. What happened to those resolutions to exercise more, eat healthier, lose weight? It's easy for them to get lost in the daily shuffle.

In a perfect world, we could accomplish all this by the time our busy day starts:

Jump out of bed by 6:30 (or earlier).
Get a good chunk of exercise, 20 minutes or more.
Eat a satisfying but healthy breakfast: fresh fruit, high-fiber cereal, low-fat milk.
Brown-bag a wholesome lunch: more fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt, whole-wheat bread, homemade vegetable soup (maybe that you prepared last night).

It's true -- with a little planning, this could be your reality to burn fat fast. Your morning rush would go more smoothly, and your weight loss efforts would stay on track. You bounce out of bed, knowing what your next move is - all day, all week, all year.

"If you leave exercise and healthy eating to chance, it's not going to happen," says Milton Stokes, RD, MPH, chief dietitian for St. Barnabas Hospital in New York City. "You're responsible for you. Use your personal digital assistant to set your day - gym time, dinner. Make these things pre-meditated - so it's not like a surprise, you've got an extra hour, should you go to the gym or watch TV. If you don't plan it, you won't do it."

Planning for Weight Loss

Planning helps you build new habits, says Barbara J. Rolls, PhD, the Guthrie Chair in Nutrition at Pennsylvania State University in Pittsburgh and author of The Volumetrics Weight Control Plan. "Without planning, you're always going to be struggling - trying to figure out how to eat what you should. You'll end up making yourself eat things you don't want to eat. Eating will always feel like work."

Indeed, planning involves discipline - and that is a key trait that is evident among the "successful losers" who belong to The National Weight Control Registry. They have maintained a 30-pound weight loss for at least a year - and many have lost much more, and kept it off for much longer.

"It is very difficult to lose weight and keep it off - and people who succeed must have discipline," says James O. Hill, PhD, the Registry's co-founder and director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. "People who are most successful plan their day to ensure that they stick to their eating plan and get regular physical activity. It takes effort to be successful in long-term weight management."

Goal No. 1: Plan Your Daily Food

First, take note of every bite of food you have during the day. Don't forget that run through the supermarket - all those tasty samples you couldn't pass up. "A food journal is the single best thing you can do," says Gary Foster, PhD, clinical director of the weight and eating disorders program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. "You become more conscious of what you're doing. It helps you monitor yourself, and make corrections in mid-course."

Dietitians call it a food journal. But really, it's research for your plan of action, he explains. You'll see where you need improvement. "Plans work better than platitudes," Foster tells WebMD. "Instead of 'I'll exercise more,' make it 'I'll walk tomorrow morning at 7 a.m.'"

Keep it simple. Journals don't have to be labor-intensive, he says. Focus on your high-risk time slots when you're most likely to get off course. Example: You know you eat junk at night, or that you snack after 3 p.m., or between lunch and dinner. Just keep notes during that time period. You'll quickly see problem habits: banana split vs. banana, the whole container of nuts vs. a handful.

Set specific goals. You can't just tell yourself to eat less junk food after 8 p.m. Be specific - 'I'm going to substitute popcorn for potato chips.' That way you know exactly what to do. There's no question.

Use weekends wisely. "When things are a little quieter on weekends, you can think about the upcoming week," says Stokes. "Decide what you're going to eat. Go to the market, so you're a little ahead of the game. You can even prepare food on the weekend and freeze it, then pull it out during the week."

Consider your options. Keep lists of healthy foods and meals you love, and plan accordingly, adds Elisabetta Politi, RD, MPH, nutrition manager at the Duke Diet & Fitness Center at Duke University Medical School. "I advise people to think of five different breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Then you'll have some freedom - you can choose from your favorites. But your eating will be more structured. That's what's important."

Shop wisely. A well-stocked fridge and pantry can make it easier to grab a healthy snack or prepare delicious meals that are also good for you. Keep basics like these on hand: low-fat milk and yogurt, eggs, peanut butter, a variety of fresh fruits (include berries and grapes) and vegetables (include carrots and celery), soybeans, garlic, whole grain pasta/bread, fish, and high-fiber cereal.

Plan healthy treats. Low-fat cheese or yogurt, hummus with veggies, and fresh fruit are great choices. Keep them at home; take them to the office. That will help you eat the right foods when you're starving - especially in the late afternoon, during drive time -- and when you finally get home at night.

Do it yourself. These are great prepare-ahead healthy meals that will keep you feeling full and help you control your weight:

Make a dried-fruit-and-nut mix for emergency snacking. (Be wary of granola, since it typically has lots of sugar, says Stokes.) Pack small amounts in a little plastic bag - great for the car or office.
Cook a big pot of homemade vegetable soup, which can be frozen for several lunches or dinners.
Try smoothies - blend low-fat yogurt and fruit - for a grab-and-go meal.
Mix up big salads or a pasta primavera with lots of veggies and whole-wheat pasta. Prepare large quantities so you can have a moderate-sized helping for dinner and then have leftovers for lunch the next day.

Buy healthy frozen entrées. "These have really improved," says Rolls. "They have more whole grains in them now, and they seem to be getting tastier. If I'm traveling and can't get to the grocery store, I make sure I have frozen entrees on hand."

Don't limit yourself. It's OK to eat breakfast food for snacks, lunch, or dinner. "You can eat a hard-boiled egg or cereal any time, not just breakfast," Stokes advises.

Goal No. 2: Plan Your Exercise

First, talk to your doctor - especially if you are overweight or are at high risk for heart disease, advises Thompson. Your doctor may suggest that you ask a fitness trainer to develop a workout plan that best suits your needs.

Analyze your morning schedule. "You'll find there's a lot of free time there," says Gerald Endress, ACSM, fitness director at Duke Diet & Fitness Center at Duke University Medical Center. "People tell me it takes them two hours to get ready for work. It's not that they're prettying themselves up - they're basically just wasting time. But when they start exercising in the morning, they find they use their time better. One guy told me he got to work 20 minutes earlier on days he exercised. If you've got a structured period of activity, you know to keep things moving."

Set your program. Decide what works best for you, such as 8 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. "You don't let anything interfere with that," advises Thompson. "That's not to say once a month something comes up you can't exercise. That's OK. It's when you're making excuses three, four, five days in a row -- that's a problem. It's got to be the highest priority because it's your health. Continue with your quick weight loss program and you will have success."

Know your options. What kind of exercise - or physical activity - will get you out of bed in the morning? A yoga video, walking, a workout session at the YMCA? Figure out what will motivate you.

Tackle roadblocks. Is inertia a problem for you in the morning? "When the alarm clock sounds, it's easy to hit the snooze button," says Bryant. A workout buddy can provide motivation. "If you know someone is waiting for you, counting on you, you'll go. Once you go, you're happy you went. Once you get past that inertia, you're glad you did the workout."

Don't think of it as "early". It's a mindset issue, says Foster. Setting the alarm 30 minutes early should not be a negative in your day. Give it a positive spin. "Quit thinking of it as getting up early. Your day starts when the alarm goes off. That's how you should think of it."

Remind yourself. Put yellow sticky notes on the fridge or the computer - like "get off the bus four stops early - Mon., Wed., Fri."

Reward yourself. "Establish a goal for your workouts - daily, weekly, monthly goals," Bryant advises. "When you've done those workouts, accomplished those goals, pat yourself on the back." He suggests going out and buying a favorite DVD or CD, or even getting yourself that iPod you wanted! "Rewards help keep you motivated," says Foster.

"Planning helps you overcome the unpredictability of daily life," says Foster. "Having any plan, even if it's a bad or ineffective plan, increases your confidence in accomplishing the task at hand. Just the fact that you've thought it through means it will have some effect."

Have a great day and God bless!

Permanent Weight Loss Success Tips

2007-04-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

Realistic Expectations
Forget about quick weight loss schemes, slow, steady weight loss that focuses on systematic behavior changes, promises the best long-term success. Often times, “fad diets” or quick weight loss schemes are based on severe calorie restriction. Fad diets may help you to lose weight quickly, however, the pounds lost may actually be due to loss of fluids/water and muscle…not a long-term solution for permanent weight loss. Unfortunately, weight lost during most fad diets creeps back and may contribute to additional weight gain. Focusing on your current situation and working to identify the reasons why you have gained weight, can offer valuable insight in starting a healthy weight loss program.

The following tips are provided to help you discover long-term solutions to healthy eating and permanent weight loss.

Tune Into Physical Hunger
Listen to your body. Rate your hunger level before you eat, using a scale from -5 (starved) 0 (not hungry or full) +5 (Thanksgiving stuffed). Are there other things influencing your desire to eat, aside from hunger? Consider moods, physical location (passing the coffee shop), and level of stress. If you have difficulty assessing your physical hunger, it may take some practice so don’t give up too easily.

Keep a Food Journal
Tracking why you eat is just as important as what you eat. Consider hunger, moods, location, time, type of food, and quantity. If you think you’re eating too much, ask for a referral to the Registered Dietitian (R.D.) on campus to help you to assess your diet and establish nutrition recommendations.

Eat Enough Energy
Stop starving yourself and don’t deprive yourself! If you’re not getting enough energy your body will try to adjust to maintain on less, slowing your metabolism. When you cut calories too low, you’re losing water and muscle, not fat. An estimated minimum of 10 calories per pound, plus 10% of that number, also known as the thermic effect of food, is required to maintain basal energy needs. Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) also called Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) is the amount of energy (calories) needed to sustain essential life functions (breathing, heart rate, etc.) This does not include energy for activities of daily living or exercise.

Avoid Deprivation!
Depriving yourself can lead to excessive intake of other foods to try and satisfy cravings. Go for whatever it is you desire and savor it in a single portion. If you find yourself craving certain foods that are side-tracking your weight loss efforts, this may be a cue that you have placed foods in good vs. bad categories. All foods can fit into a healthy diet in moderation. This approach to food can help you relax more about food, prevent binges, and help you to stay focused. Keep track of food cravings and explore why the urge to eat a particular food is so strong. Perhaps there is something else that you can do aside from eating to manage the roots of your food cravings.

Monitor Fat Intake
All fats have the same number of calories (9 calories/gram), which gram for gram compared to carbohydrates or protein (4 calories/gram), has twice as many calories per gram. Reducing fat in the diet can help to reduce total calories consumed. Everyone needs some fat in their diet to support the absorption of essential fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and to provide essential fatty acids. Also, fat in the diet helps you to feel more satisfied after eating which can help you to eat less. Select heart-healthy fats, derived from plants and fish, like olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocados, soy beans, and salmon. Limit saturated and trans fat, like animal fat and partially hydrogenated oils.

Balance Meals
Combine carbohydrates, protein and fat in meals to obtain the optimal balance of nutrients to fuel you throughout the day. Aim for at least 3 food groups at each meal or snack. For example, at breakfast, a bowl of whole grain cereal (oatmeal), with skim or soy milk, sprinkled with a few nuts and a piece of fruit.

Eat on Time
Plan for regularly scheduled meals throughout the day. Our bodies (and brains!) need fuel to function optimally, every three to five hours, depending on the nutritional balance of the foods consumed. Avoid becoming overly hungry as this sets the stage to overeat at the next meal.

Slow Down the Pace of Eating
It takes some time for our brain to catch up with how much is in our stomachs. This was a biological advantage at one time when food was scarce. Now, food is readily available and messages to eat are everywhere. Eat at regular times to avoid being ravenously hungry. Manage the pace of eating to last at least 20 minutes before going back for second-helpings. Then, if you’re still hungry, have some more.

Beware of Portion Distortion
Most foods served today are larger than what is recommended by the Food Guide Pyramid’s standardized serving sizes. Quantity is often confused with quality, and value-marketing (more for your money) is a popular trend. Beware, although you may only pay pennies more for a super-sized meal, you may be paying with extra inches around your waistline as the proportion of calories and fat can be double or triple for just a fraction more of the original price.

Enjoy More Fruits & Veggies
The average American consumes less than the recommended 5 fruits and vegetables per day. Fruits and vegetables are a wonderful source of fiber, fluid and phytonutrients (beneficial plant chemicals). These help to keep us feeling full, maintain a healthy digestive tract, prevent chronic diseases and keep us well-hydrated and alert.

Choose Beverages Carefully
Alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages, including juice, and Powerade™, can contribute unnecessary extra-calories. Consider whetting your whistle with fruit-flavored water (no sugar) or seltzer. Maintaining optimal hydration can help to keep you awake in class – blood carries oxygen and when you’re well hydrated it can get to your brain (and other body parts) more rapidly.

Manage Stress
For some, stress can increase food intake. Finding comfort in food may provide temporary relief but it is not a long-term solution for the blues. Chronic stress increases the risk for the perfect “biochemical storm” in the body, increasing the possibility of weight gain. Chronic exposure to stress hormones eventually breaks down the body’s healthy defenses. In an effort to conserve energy, we may store more energy (food) as fat (efficient, long-term energy reserves). Consider alternative methods to manage stress (vs. nervous nibbling) such as talking to someone, exercising regularly, or meditation or yoga (or a combination).

Be Alert to Dysfunctional Eating
Normal eating includes (“legalizes”) all foods and is regulated primarily by internal hunger cues. Normal eating promotes clear thinking, concentration, mood stability, and healthy body weight and size. Dysfunctional or disordered eating patterns are irregular (fasting, binging, dieting, skipping meals). Instead of feeling better after eating, the person likely feels worse. Talk to someone if you are concerned about your eating behavior.

Focus on Behavior Rather than Weight
To maintain a positive outlook while trying to lose weight, focus on making systematic behavior changes, such as aiming to increase fruit and vegetable or calcium intake. Often times, stepping on the scale is a double-edged sword. If you haven’t reached your target, or if you have, it can lead to over-eating due to discouragement, or through celebratory eating. Establish realistic, flexible, time-limited behavior goals. For example: “This week, I’m going to consume at least one vegetable at lunch and dinner for at least 3-4 days.” Identify potential obstacles and brainstorm ideas to overcome (plan in advance). Set a non-food reward in advance for achieving your goal.

Dump Diets Forever
Fad diets may cause weight loss because they cut calories, however, most quick weight loss schemes are not sustainable or healthy. Restrictive dieting typically leads to overeating as hunger and/or deprivation becomes too much to handle. Focusing on realistic goals, including all foods in moderation, will lead to life-long healthy eating and weight management.

For more information on weight loss, healthy living, and home exercise equipment please visit my website as soon as possible.

Have a great day and God bless!

Tips & Tricks For Successful Weight Loss

2007-04-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

Here are some awesome weight loss tips I know you will enjoy.

Eat early. Late-night eating is a recipe for weight gain because the body stores more food during sleep.

Food combine as the more colorful your plate is the more vitamins and minerals your body is getting.

Abandon refined or processed foods.

Drink 8 glasses of water a day. Water is a natural appetite-suppressant. Note: Nettle tea is a great weight-loss tea as it supports metabolism and has diuretic properties

Avoid margarine, full-fat milk, cheeses and cow's milk dairy products. Some people may find these foods harder to digest, you might try grain milks instead.

Avoid sugar - it lowers the metabolism.

Cut out wheat (especially bread) because it contains a high level of gluten and many people are intolerant to gluten.

Eat the good fats and rubbish the bad. Good fats can be found in avocados, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, fish, nuts and vegetables. don't avoid these foods. They are high in good fats that fire up your metabolism so that you can lose the weight and keep it off for good. Bad fats are saturated fats, as found in red meats and butter. They are very hard to digest, clog your arteries and lead to illness and weight problems.

Don't skip meals and always eat breakfast. You stomach and spleen are at their strongest first thing in the morning. You also have the whole day to burn off the meal. If you want to raise metabolism, you have to eat at that time. If you don't, a signal goes to your brain. The brain interprets food as being scarce. Stress hormones are then released into your body. Muscle tissue is then shed in order to lessen the body's need for food. When you eat later, your body releases more insulin to make more fat as food may be scarce!

Do not go on fad diets. dieting slows down the metabolic enzyme function in the body. You fat cells bloat, become toxic and store in your tissues. You lose muscle tone. You get depressed. Instead, go on my diet of abundance. Eat more than before but the right foods.

Exercise. Burn fat fast. Exercise raises the metabolic rate so calories are used up faster. To get started, simply start walking - it is a great way to shift fat.

Get your metabolism going. First thing in the morning, drink a cup of warm water with a squeeze of lemon.

Cut out alcohol. It weakens your liver, the basic organ for fat metabolism. Beer and wine are also full of sugar, plus alcohol stimulates your appetite.

Take supplements. All overweight people are deficient in major nutrients. There are also some other helpful nutrients that can help burn fat, increase metabolism and so on. Below is a basic list of important nutrients and supplements. I am not suggesting that you take all the supplements I mention at once.

For further information on weight loss and a quick weight loss plan please visit my website and start your weight loss success today.

Have a great day and God bless!

Healthy Eating and Heart Tips

2007-04-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

All of these steps are important to help you control your weight and lower your blood cholesterol. To begin, choose one step; move onto others when you are ready.

Reduce all added fats, especially saturated fat

choose more often: canola oil, olive oil, and flax oil, nuts and seeds, nut butters and soft margarine with non-hydrogenated fats
choose less often: butter, hard margarine, lard, shortening, creamy dressings and sauces and coconut milk
when cooking foods; broil, bake, grill, steam or microwave; avoid frying and deep frying
keep total amount of fat that you add to food and in cooking to 6 teaspoons per day

Eat a variety of vegetables and fruit every day

try fresh, frozen or pre-packaged fresh vegetable and fruit mixtures
add vegetables to salads, soups, stews, and stir-fries. Season with lemon juice, vinegar, low-fat salad dressings and dips
better choices include: dark green and orange vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, romaine lettuce, carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes
choose to eat fruit and limit intake of all fruit juices
add fruit to cereals, plain yogurt or enjoy on its own as a tasty snack or dessert

Eat more whole grain products

better choices include: whole grain breads and cereals, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, and barley
choose less often: white bread, white rice, granola, croissants, donuts, pastries, scones, biscuits and commercial muffins

Choose lower fat dairy products

better choices include: skim and 1% milk and yogurt, low fat cheese (less than 20% milk fat) and low fat sour cream
choose less often: regular cheese, whipping cream and sour cream

Select smaller, leaner portions of meat, poultry, fish and alternatives

eat 2-3 servings of lean choices each day (1 serving = deck of playing cards). Trim fat from meats and remove poultry skin
choose fish at least twice a week (fresh, frozen or canned in water)
instead of meat choose legumes such as chick peas, kidney beans, split peas, lentils, baked beans and/or soy products like tofu at least once a week
choose less often: bacon, bologna, salami, sausages, fatty cuts of meat, egg yolk and organ meats
limit egg yolks to 3 a week

Limit high fat snacks and desserts

better snack choices include: vegetables, fruit, whole grain crackers, and low fat dairy products
choose desserts low in fat such as fruit, low fat pudding, angel food cake, frozen yogurt and homemade baked goods (make with vegetable oil or non-hydrogenated margarine)
choose less often: chips, cheezies, chocolates, cookies, regular microwave popcorn, ice cream and commercial baked goods

For more tips and tricks on weight loss and a weight loss cardio workout just visit my website and be amazed.

Have a great day and God bless!

Are All Fats Equal: Healthy and Unhealthy?

2007-04-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

Not All Fats are Equal:

Saturated fats and trans fats are "risky" to heart health and can increase cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are mostly found in animal foods and palm and coconut oils. These fats are hard at room temperature. Trans fats come mostly from vegetable oils that have been made solid through hydrogenation. Examples of foods that contain trans fats are hard margarine, shortening, commercial baked goods and processed snack foods. It is very important to eat less saturated fats and trans fats.

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats lower cholesterol levels when substituted for saturated fats. Nuts, seeds, and olive and canola oils are high in monounsaturated fats. Polyunsaturated fats are found mainly in plant products such as safflower, sunflower, corn and soybean oils. Choose unsaturated fats, but be careful not to have too much.

Omega 3 fats are polyunsaturated fats found in fish and in flaxseed, canola and soybean oils. These fats may help to reduce your risk for heart disease.

Cholesterol in your blood is influenced by many factors. Dietary cholesterol is found in animal foods only, including meats, poultry, fish and dairy products. It is important to reduce cholesterol in your diet by limiting high cholesterol foods like eggs and organ meats, but the most important factor in lowering blood cholesterol levels is to limit saturated and trans fats.

How Much?

Fat is found in almost all foods, but in different amounts. It is recommended that men eat about 50-70g of fat/day and women eat about 40-60g fat/day, depending on how many calories you need each day. Look at the following chart to see where fats are found in foods.

Food	Fat (grams)
Most fruits, vegetables, grains, pasta, bread, cereals	1 serving	less than 2
Pretzels, plain popcorn	1 serving	less than 2
Fish, eg. Sole, tuna	3 oz	1
Poultry, no skin	3 oz	5
Lean red meat	3 oz	10
Sausage	3 oz	30
Skim milk	1 cup	trace
Whole milk	1 cup	9
Whipping cream	1/4 cup	22
2% cottage cheese	1/2 cup	3
Cheddar cheese	1 oz	10
Margarine/butter	1 tbsp	11
Mayonnaise	1 tbsp	11
Oil	1 tbsp	14
Peanut butter	1 tbsp	8
Nuts, seeds	1/4 cup	18
Chips	10	7
Chocolate	1 oz	10
Even a small change in fat intake can make a difference when you consider that 1 tbsp of fat =14g of fat =125calories =25minutes of walking.

Remember:

Activity helps control your weight, lower your cholesterol, and improves your heart health. Be active every day. Start slowly and gradually work your way up. Check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

Following a low fat diet does not guarantee you will lose weight - all calories count! If you eat more food than you need you may have difficulty achieving a healthy weight. The key is to eat a variety of foods and keep active every day. Try following the Six Steps to Heart Healthy Eating.

For more information on weight loss and tips for a weight loss cardio workout than visit my website and be thrilled.

Have a great day and God bless!

Healthy Eating Day Success

2007-04-18T14:52:00.000-07:00

Where do you find a diet that's low in sugar and calories, but loaded with protein, fiber, and flavor? Right here, that's where!

7:00am

BREAKFAST

After a full 7 or 8 hours without food, your body craves a healthy dose of high-quality protein. Start your day right with at least 30 grams (g), along with plenty of slow-digesting carbs. Because your carbohydrate stores are low after an overnight fast, there's no better time to fill your tank. Just make sure your carbs come primarily from fruit and 100 percent whole-grain sources for eating healthy.

PROTEIN-PACKED OATMEAL

Prepare:

1 package Nature's Path Instant Flax 'N Oats

Mix in:

1 scoop strawberry whey-protein powder (Choose a product that's 100 percent whey protein, such as Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard; optimumnutrition.com.)

3 Tbsp 1% milk

Have on the side:

1 medium pear

1 c green tea or coffee (sweetened with Splenda)

472 calories, 32 g protein, 76 g carbohydrates, 8 g fat (1 g saturated), 9 g fiber

OPTION 2 SPICY OMELET

Make with:

1 c Egg Beaters

1 medium egg

1/2 c fresh spinach

2 mushrooms, sliced

2 Tbsp shredded light Cheddar cheese

1/2 c salsa

Have on the side:

1 slice 100% whole-wheat bread with 1 Tbsp Smucker's low-sugar jelly; 1 c V8 juice

421 calories, 37 g protein, 40 g carbohydrates, 11 g fat (4 g saturated), 5 g fiber

OPTION 3 STRAWBERRY-AND-BANANA WORKOUT SHAKE

If you work out first thing in the morning, choose this option, drinking half of the shake right before your session and half immediately afterward.

Blend together:

2 scoops vanilla whey-protein powder

6 oz Yoplait Light fat-free strawberry yogurt

8 frozen strawberries

1 large banana

Plenty of ice

491 calories, 52 g protein, 61 g carbohydrates, 6 g fat (1 g saturated), 5 g fiber

10:00am

MIDMORNING SNACK

Eating protein- and fiber-rich meals or snacks every 2 to 3 hours helps keep your blood-sugar levels normal. This not only improves your body's ability to burn fat, but also reduces risk factors for heart disease by lowering cholesterol and triglycerides. Frequent eating also prevents afternoon binges on useless calories, like the leftover Krispy Kremes from your morning staff meeting.

GRAPES, CHEESE, AND HAM

1 1/2 c seedless grapes

2 slices fat-free American cheese singles

4 oz Healthy Choice ham slices

352 calories, 28 g protein, 51 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat (1 g saturated), 2 g fiber

OPTION 2 MEXI-TUNA

Mix together:

1 3 oz can (or packet) Starkist Premium Chunk Light Tuna in Water

3/4 c canned black beans

1/2 c salsa

1/2 c canned green beans

335 calories, 45 g protein, 41 g carbohydrates, 1 g fat (0 g saturated), 15 g fiber

OPTION 3 CHILI

Microwave:

1/2 can Hormel Less Sodium Chili with Beans

340 calories, 18 g protein, 30 g carbohydrates, 17 g fat (7 g saturated), 9 g fiber

12:00pm

LUNCH

These lunches not only are high in protein and healthy fat, but also score low on the glycemic index. So, like the midmorning snack, they contain carbohydrates that have little impact on your blood sugar. This keeps your fat-burning furnace stoked and helps prevent the dreaded midday lull.

TUNA SANDWICH

Make with:

2 slices 100% whole-wheat bread

1 3 oz can (or packet) Starkist Premium Chunk Light Tuna in Water

1 Tbsp Hellmann's Light mayonnaise

1 Tbsp mustard

1 lettuce leaf

2 slices tomato

1 tsp chopped onions

1 Tbsp chopped celery

Have on the side:

1 oz Planters mixed nuts

506 calories, 45 g protein, 41 g carbohydrates, 17 g fat (2 g saturated), 7 g fiber

OPTION 2 CHEF'S SALAD

Combine:

2 c chopped romaine lettuce

1 large hard-boiled egg

2 oz Healthy Choice turkey breast

2 oz Healthy Choice ham

1 oz sliced light Cheddar cheese

1 oz sliced light American cheese

6 cherry tomatoes

1/2 oz sliced almonds

2 Tbsp Hidden Valley Original Ranch Light Dressing (For a different flavor, try dressing your salad with olive oil and vinegar, which has 0 grams of sugar.)

493 calories, 54 g protein, 20 g carbohydrates, 22 g fat (6 g saturated), 4 g fiber

3:00pm

MIDAFTERNOON SNACK

As the day goes on, your ability to utilize carbohydrates for energy decreases, boosting the likelihood that they'll be stored as fat. So late afternoon is a good time to start downsizing your carb intake and increasing the amount of healthy fat you consume. This also leads to fewer total carbohydrates in your daily diet, which speeds fat loss, according to multiple studies over the past 5 years.

CHEESE STICKS AND NUTS

2 sticks 2% fat string cheese

1 oz walnuts

307 calories, 24 g protein, 5 g carbohydrates, 24 g fat (6 g saturated), 2 g fiber

OPTION 2 BEEF JERKY AND CELERY WITH PEANUT BUTTER

2 oz beef jerky

1 celery stalk

1 Tbsp Simply Jif Creamy Peanut Butter 33% Less Sugar

277 calories, 33 g protein, 14 g carbohydrates, 10 g fat (2 g saturated), 3 g fiber

OPTION 3 LOW-CARB PROTEIN BAR

1 Metabolic Drive Protein-Energy bar (t-nation.com) or similar product that contains fewer than 30 g carbohydrates and 20 or more g protein

240 calories, 20 g protein, 26 g carbohydrates, 8 g fat (3 g saturated), 2 g fiber

6:00pm

DINNER

Your sense of satiety, or feeling of fullness, is less sensitive in the evening than in the morning, which may help explain why you crave foods like ice cream at night. It's also another reason it makes sense to eat a dinner that's high in protein and healthy fat, both of which keep you full longer than carbohydrates do.

PANFRIED SALMON WITH BROCCOLI AND BEANS

Panfry:

One 51/2 oz salmon fillet (in 2 Tbsp olive oil preheated in a nonstick skillet) on medium-high heat for 4 minutes; turn and fry for another 5 minutes. Season with fresh lemon juice and dill.

Have on the side:

2 c steamed broccoli (measured raw)

1/2 can dark-red kidney beans (Wash thoroughly, then serve without cooking.)

516 calories, 56 g protein, 36 g carbohydrates, 19 g fat (3 g saturated), 18 g fiber

OPTION 2 MEAT LOAF WITH GREEN BEANS

Combine:

1 lb extra-lean ground beef

1/2 c oats

1/2 c Heinz OneCarb Ketchup (Use this version instead of regular ketchup to avoid unnecessary sugar.)

1 large egg

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 Tbsp dried onion flakes

1 tsp dried mustard

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

In a baking pan, mix and form the ingredients into a loaf with your hands, then place into an oven preheated to 350°F.

Cook for:

15 to 20 minutes. Makes 2 servings

Have on the side:

1 c cooked green beans

530 calories, 52 g protein, 28 g carbohydrates, 20 g fat (9 g saturated), 5 g fiber

9:00pm

BEFORE-BED SNACK

Slow-absorbing proteins such as casein--the type of protein found in dairy products--deliver a steady supply of amino acids to muscle cells while you sleep, protecting your hard-earned muscle.

PROTEIN PUDDING

Mix together, then chill for 1 hour:

1 scoop chocolate whey-protein powder

6 oz 1% milk

1 tsp sugar-free Jell-O pudding mix

239 calories, 33 g protein, 17 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat (1 g saturated), 1 g fiber

OPTION 2 COTTAGE CHEESE AND STRAWBERRIES

Mix together:

1 c Breakstone's 2% cottage cheese

3/4 c sliced strawberries

198 calories, 29 g protein, 14 g carbohydrates, 3 g fat (0.5 g saturated), 3 g fiber

For more weight loss, burn fat fast, and meal planning for healthy eating just visit my site and enjoy the information.

Have a great day and God Bless!

Whole Grains Claimed In Everything

2007-04-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

This article is by Mike Geary.

I don't watch a whole lot of TV considering with my active lifestyle I
prefer to be doing other more productive things. But anyway, I was
watching a little bit today and saw a couple commercials for cereals
claiming that their entire line was made with "whole grain".

Now, I'm not going to mention the brand names as I think several are
doing this now, but I'm sure you've seen these commercials as well, along
with the boxes in the supermarket with big bold "Whole Grain" label on
the front.

The problem is that in a way, they're deceiving you into thinking that
these are healthy food choices with the front label claim, when in
reality, they're still made up of mostly refined flour (stripped of it's
fiber and germ) and various refined or processed sugars.

These types of foods cause wild blood sugar and insulin swings in your
body and increase cravings, among other problems. All of which is not
good if you want to achieve weight loss and have a nice lean body!

You see, all they've really done is added in a LITTLE BIT of whole
grain into each recipe. If you notice, on most of these cereal labels, it
says "made with whole grain"...it doesn't say "100% whole grain". The
problem is that the majority of the recipe is still mostly refined flours
and sugars.

I will give them credit for making the effort to at least include some
extra whole grain into the mixture, and I will say that it's a slight
improvement to the old recipes which were entirely comprised of refined
flours and sugars.

Just beware that despite the big bold "Whole Grain" claim on the front
of the box, it doesn't mean it's gonna be good for you!

**THE SECRET**


Now here's the trick to decide if a carbohydrate source is actually any
good or not... You can apply this to ANY carbohydrate source such as
breads, cereals, english muffins, pasta, etc...

Look on the BACK LABEL, the nutrition info label... if your
carbohydrate based product doesn't have AT LEAST 2-3 grams of fiber for each 10
grams of total carbohydrates, then it's probably not much of a good
choice. This isn't universal, but is a good rule to go by when choosing
grain based carb sources.

So for example, if a product has 30 grams of total carbohydrates per
serving, you'd want to look to see if it has at least 6 grams of fiber.
If it's not in that ballpark, you could probably find a much better
choice.

I hope this little tip helps in choosing healthier options when you're
at the grocery store. Like I've said before, the TRUTH is on the BACK
OF THE BOX, while the gimmicky marketing ploys are on the FRONT OF THE
BOX.

For more information on weight loss, how to get rid of belly fat, and a quick weight loss plan than keep looking through my blog and websites.

Have a great day and God Bless!

Brain Power with Salmon and Coffee

2007-04-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

by Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.

Do you want to sharpen your memory? I pray that you like salmon and coffee than!

There are good fats and bad fats, and omega-3 fatty acids fall solidly on the side of good. Omega-3s are found primarily in fatty fish (especially salmon), certain nuts and seeds, and fortified foods. A study conducted by researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago followed more than 3000 men and women for six years to see how diet affected memory.

People who ate fish at least once a week had a 10 percent slower decline compared with those who did not eat fish, a difference that gave them the memory and thinking ability of a person three years younger.

Some of the BEST foods for Omega-3 Fats: Salmon (wild, fresh or canned), herring, mackerel (not King), sardines, anchovies, rainbow trout, Pacific oysters, omega-3 fortified eggs, flaxseeds, walnuts, butternuts (white walnuts), seaweed, walnut oil, canola oil, and soybeans.

How about coffee? Any coffee lover can tell you they think more clearly after a good, strong cup of caffeinated coffee. Now, they have proof. Researchers from the University of Innsbruck in Austria used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the brain activity of people working on a memory task. The volunteers were tested twice, once after receiving the caffeine equivalent of about two cups of coffee, and once without any caffeine. Caffeine improved the memory skills and reactions times of the volunteers. In addition, caffeine increased brain activity in two locations-the memory-rich frontal lobe and the attention-controlling anterior cingulum. Without caffeine, there was no increase in brain activity. So if memory problems are a major concern for you, and if you don't have a medical condition that precludes caffeine, feel free to indulge in a cup or two in the morning to jump-start your brain.

*NOTE: If you have elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, you should limit your caffeine fix to plain brewed coffee or tea. There is some evidence that unfiltered coffee (the kind used to make espresso, cappuccino, and latte) may raise cholesterol levels, especially in people who are already battling high cholesterol. To be safe, skip the fancy brews and stick with a regular cup of joe. Of course, be cautious and moderate with added sugar!

For more information on weight loss, burn fat fast, and home exercise equipment than visit visit my website for the truth and nothing else.

Have a great day and God Bless!

Artificial Sweeteners Hurt Weight Loss

2007-04-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

We have been brain washed that artificial sweeteners are a weight loss and dieters dream but are they really healthy for you body?

Artificial sweeteners for healthy nutrition is a lie.

There is so much evidence that artificial sweeteners interfere with your body's ability to monitor your calorie in take as the sweetness is causing people to overindulge in other sweet foods and beverages.

An example of this is thinking you are doing your body a favor and drinking a diet soft drink instead of a sugary beverage. It may be reduced in calories but the affect it could have on your body into wanted sweetener and more food. Researches believe the sweetness of certain foods are one of the reasons overweight and obesity have become a dramatic problem in the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have done the research and test to finally come to the conclusion while nothing being 100% proven that artificial sweeteners are unhealthy.

Millions of people consume these sweeteners like aspartame because of the amount of food they are contained in.

Aspartame sweeteners are in:

instant breakfasts
breath mints
cereals
sugar-free chewing gum
cocoa mixes
coffee beverages
frozen desserts
gelatin desserts
juice beverages
laxatives
multivitamins
milk drinks

pharmaceuticals and supplements, including over-the-counter medicines
shake mixes
soft drinks
tabletop sweeteners
tea beverages
instant teas and coffees
topping mixes
wine coolers
yogurt

However, aspartame's tainted history of approval and potentially toxic ingredients cast serious doubt on the safety of this sugar substitute. Furthermore, aspartame may actually increase your appetite.

For more information on weight loss, nutrition, and health please visit top weight loss site for the leading information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Artificial Sweeteners Wiehgt Loss Misconception

2007-04-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to clear some things up for you on the topic and questions on artificial sweeteners being know as healthy and for weight loss.

Most popular artificial sweeteners are:

Splenda
Aspartame
Saccharine
Acesulfame Potassium

These artificial sweeteners are over used in many diet drinks, lite yogurts, puddings, ice creams, low-carb products, and almost all reduced sugar products. Wouldn't you know it, even most protein powders have an abundance amount of artificial sweeteners.

Splenda has been named to be healthy and for weight loss but it is still a very strong artificial sweetener that is actually a modified substance that chlorine is added having it being even more like chlorinated pesticides.

Choosing artificial sweeteners is becoming claimed as a healthy choice for improve your body inside and out. What a lie! With research and studying you will find that artificial sweeteners are as bad or worse than regular sugar. If you think you are doing your body a favor than think again as you are just going to put your body through a whole new set of problems.

What foods should I eat for weight loss?

It can be confusing hearing about all these different foods contradicting each other on which one is healthy and which one is bad for you. These ads are all over the news telling us about the newest information and health foods that are healthy but really they are filled with artificial sugar.

There are a couple alternatives to artificial sweeteners and as well other choices than regular sugar or corn syrup sweeteners.

If you really want to know which one is healthier, artificial or regular, I would have to say regular because the closer to natural is always better. But they both have their negative affects on your body.

Artificial Sweeteners Cons

They are empty calories, your blood sugar spikes that creates insulin surges that makes it easy for your body to store fat. By the way, it also stimulates your appetite having you eating more than you would before. It has not been proving but the evidence is strong that too much artificial sweeteners are linked to heart problems, cancer, and other health conditions like liver, kidney, and organ problems, gastrointestinal and frequent headaches.

Artificial Sweeteners Pros

Consuming artificial sweeteners do save you calories in the long run if you eat healthy and maintain your normal calorie in take. They even are sweeter than regular sugars having you using less that causes you to consuming less calories than normal.

I believe strongly that artificial sweeteners are nasty chemicals that our bodies are not make to have. The pros and cons makes it sound like artificial sweeteners are really not all that great for our health.

Alternatives for weight loss!

Some better choices for weight loss are raw honey, organic maple syrup or sorghum syrup that has become popular in southern US. The plus about these sugars and why I recommend them is because they have some nutrients and antioxidants to them making them not empty calories.

But is there any alternative that can save you the calories and still be healthy? I am proud to say yes.

It is called Stevia.

Stevia is not an artificial sweetener as it is a natural non-calorie herb that is 200 to 300 times stronger than sugar. You can use it in your coffee or tea, to sweeten up plain yogurt, added to smoothies for extra sweetness, on cereals or oatmeal, in baking, or where ever else you might need a sweetener but want to reduce the sugar content.

Do yourself a favor and decrease the amount of artificial sweeteners you are consuming and sitch to something more natural for a healthier body.

For more weight loss, nutrition, and fitness information please visit top weight loss site and discover healthy living for yourself.

Have a great day and God bless!

10 Things Your Fitness Club Won't Tell You

2007-04-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

1. "If you're still here in April, it'll be a miracle."

The fitness craze is going gangbusters, with gym attendance up 23% since 2001, to 41.3 million, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). And most new recruits sign up in January — the busiest month for fitness clubs. That's when well-intentioned souls trying to stick to their New Year's resolutions flood their local gyms, often resulting in long lines at the treadmill, overtaxed gym staff and towel shortages in the locker room.

But it won't be long before the throngs thin; most resolution makers trip up in the first 90 days, says Alan Marlatt, director of the Addictive Behaviors Research Center at the University of Washington. And indeed, that's what clubs expect. "They bet on it," says Meg Jordan, editor of American Fitness, adding that most gyms count on a 20 to 30% dropout rate.

In the meantime, there are ways to avoid January overcrowding and make it past the 90-day hump. When selecting a new gym, visit the facility during the time of day you're most likely to attend. If it's crowded, check to see whether waiting lists and time limits on machines are enforced or whether it's a free-for-all.

2. "Don't touch anything — this place is crawling with bacteria."

About 80% of all infectious disease is transmitted by both direct and indirect contact, says Philip Tierno, director of clinical microbiology at New York University Medical Center and the author of "The Secret Life of Germs." That makes the gym, with its sweaty bodies in close proximity, a highly conducive environment for catching everything from athlete's foot to the flu.

In swabs of medicine balls, for example, Tierno found samples of community-acquired MRSA — a strain of staph resistant to some antibiotics. "You take your chances," Tierno says. "Any time you touch a medicine ball or machine, you have to know that your hands are contaminated and should be washed."

What about those spray bottles some gyms provide for wiping down equipment? They may help, Tierno says, but he recommends additional measures, such as wearing long sleeves and pants while working out. Also, bring your own towels, since there's no guarantee that your gym's linens have been bleached or rinsed in clean water. While in the locker room, make sure you wear flip-flops, and avoid sitting nude on any exposed surface.

3. "We're not equipped to handle health emergencies."

Almost one-third of sudden cardiac arrests outside of homes and hospitals occur in fitness clubs or sports facilities, says Mary Fran Hazinski, a registered nurse and senior science editor at the American Heart Association. Yet most health clubs aren't fully prepared for such crises. That was the case at a 24 Hour Fitness in California, where Nick Pombra, 43, collapsed after running on a treadmill in July 2004. Gym staff tried CPR, but by the time paramedics arrived, it was too late, says Mike Danko, a lawyer for Pombra's family. 24 Hour declined to comment.

While effective CPR can buy time, it won't reset a heart after cardiac arrest. That's where automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, come in. Chances for revival drop as much as 10% each minute that passes without proper CPR and defibrillation. But even in states like New York that require gyms to have CPR equipment, as well as AEDs and trained personnel in clubs with over 500 members, two-thirds surveyed by the attorney general's office in 2005 weren't in compliance. Find out if your club has the right equipment and, equally important, staff trained to use it.

4. "Our trainers don't know what they're doing."

If you work out at a gym, chances are an on-site personal trainer will try to sell you his or her expertise. And with their Colgate smiles and buff bodies, they must be able to teach you a thing or two about getting into shape, right? Not necessarily. Trainers need no standard certification, and the credentials some flash require only a quick online course or a fee, says Neal Pire, a fitness-industry consultant and former trainer.

Jonathan Jacobson, a marketing exec with a degenerative disk disease in his lower back, sought out a trainer to design a routine appropriate for his condition. But after following a boxing regimen the trainer recommended, he was left in pain. When his doctor told Jacobson, 35, to stop, the trainer suggested Pilates — which only further aggravated the problem, ending in a slew of medical procedures. "He had certificates and tons of plaques on the wall," Jacobson says. "It's taken about a year to not be in pain every day."

Seek trainers with credentials from respected institutions like the American College of Sports Medicine or the National Strength Conditioning Association — preferably with some training in sports medicine or phys ed.

5. "We won't let you quit."

If you think giving up the Ben & Jerry's is tough, try quitting your gym. Trouble canceling membership is one of the top complaints against fitness clubs logged with the Better Business Bureau and states' attorneys general offices. Before Chris Hinkle and his wife moved to North Carolina, they met with the manager at their Gold's Gym in Austin to cancel their prepaid membership.

They were told a refund check would be in the mail. That was March. After months of unreturned calls, Hinkle contacted the BBB, which also got no answer from Gold's and gave it an unsatisfactory rating. "I was an ecstatic booster of Gold's," Hinkle says. "Now I tell people to never go there." A Gold's spokesperson says the club sends a refund in such cases once it receives proof of a move — documentation Hinkle says the Austin manager didn't ask for in March.

For those paying monthly, calls from collectors or a battered credit score may be the first clue membership was never terminated, says Todd Mark of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta. Follow contract terms to the letter, providing proof of a move or a doctor's note. Create a paper trail, and alert credit agencies about the dispute.

6. "Be sure to read the fine print on our contract."

The devil is in the details, and it's never truer than when it comes to fitness club contracts. Fast-talking reps may offer you a deal you can't refuse, but often that's exactly what you should do. "Sometimes you end up with salespeople trying to make quotas that engage in pressure," says Helen Durkin, head of public policy at IHRSA. Occasionally, this can lead to a glossing over of details.

One Bally offer that has elicited complaints on Consumer Affairs' web site is a 30-day trial membership with a catch: You must visit the club a minimum of 12 times during the first month to cancel without penalty; otherwise, you're locked into a multiyear membership. Some consumers complain they did attend the required number of times but that when they decided to cancel, the club had no record of the visits. A Bally spokesperson says the company's policy is to check all members entering the club and record their usage.

Your best defense: Read every word of the contract. Never rely on a suave salesperson's "word" no matter what authority they profess, and don't let anyone pressure you into signing before you're ready — take the contract home and read it overnight.

7. "Our equipment can be downright dangerous."

Unlike many businesses, fitness clubs do not need a license to operate. Furthermore, although the American College of Sports Medicine and other groups publish guidelines for the industry, they don't have the teeth of the law. "In most cases [the gym] is not a safe place to go because there is little standardization," says Marc Rabinoff, forensic expert and professor of human performance and sport at the Metropolitan State College of Denver.

Take equipment maintenance, for example. Although manufacturers must include instructions with exercise machines, nothing forces gyms to follow them, Rabinoff says. Injuries can result from poorly or improperly maintained equipment, says Cedric Bryant, chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise. Harold Leon Bostick knows that all too well. Due to a design defect in a machine he was using, a stack of weights came crashing down while the law student was doing squats at a California gym in 2001, severing his spinal cord.

Bryant recommends asking to see maintenance and cleaning logs — hallmarks of a good club. Gold's Gym, for one, says it follows manufacturers' maintenance guidance to the letter and replaces equipment every five to seven years. And avoid machines that stick or don't move smoothly.

8. "Everything is negotiable."

Balloons and freebies often signal promotion time at your local gym — most frequently before the holidays and at the start of summer.

Already a member? Jot down these specials, and ask for one of them when it comes time to renew your membership. Some gyms will honor the rate months after the posters come down, says Mark, of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta. If you're looking into a new membership, remember that the cheapest deals will likely be those that lock you in for a long time.

For example, Bally's flexible plans, including month-to-month memberships, typically cost $5 to $10 a month more than its popular long-term "Value Plan." As for trainers, you might be able to get a break if you decide to share sessions with a friend or two, says Carol Espel, Equinox's national group fitness director.

9. "If your wallet gets lifted, it's not our problem."

In 2003, the FBI put out a bulletin about a group of burglars stealing credit cards from lockers of health club members on the East Coast. Since then, there's been no similar FBI bulletin — but that doesn't mean your valuables are safe at the gym. You never know who's lurking around the locker room while you're sweating away on the elliptical machine. "For so many people, the health club is like a community," says IHRSA spokesperson Brooke Correia. "You feel very comfortable, but there are situations where potential thieves will break into the club and take advantage of that safe atmosphere."

Ben Osbun tried to end 2004 on a healthy note by working out at his local YMCA on New Year's Eve. But the day quickly soured. When the Chicago real estate agent returned to his locker, he found that the padlock had been cut and his cell phone, keys and wallet were all missing. Only his jacket was left behind; the thieves showed him some mercy since it was December, Osbun says. He adds that the gym staff wasn't particularly surprised by the incident, since petty theft is common in health clubs. Osbun learned his lesson; he now brings very little with him to the gym.

If you do intend to store items in a locker while you're working out, IHRSA recommends using a padlock with a key, which is harder to pick than a combination lock. Good to know — not that it would have helped Osbun any.

10. "Go ahead and sue; you'll never win."

Fitness clubs sure do know how to watch their backs, legally speaking. It's nearly impossible to visit a fitness center without signing a waiver that absolves the club of liability — involving everything from malfunctioning machines that cause injury to improper instruction by staff members.

In Michael Stokes's case, it was a defect in the basketball court's floor at his Kent, Wash., gym that caused ruptured tendons in his knee and shoulder. While a judge found that Stokes may not have known what he was signing, a subsequent Court of Appeals ruling upheld the waiver and dismissed the case, says Mark Davis, a lawyer at Curran Mendoza who represented Stokes.

And that's how it usually goes, since the majority of states' courts tend to side with the gyms on the matter of liability waivers, while only a handful, including those in New York and Virginia, are likely to rule against them. Occasionally, a judge will rule on behalf of plaintiffs in instances of gross negligence, but that bar is set pretty high in some states, such as Washington, Davis says.

Bottom line: Understand that you're taking your health in your own hands when you go to the gym, so you need to watch your own back — literally.

For more information on weight loss, nutrition, and exercise than visit top weight loss site for leading leading weight loss information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Cardio for Weight Loss or Not!

2007-04-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

I have just read an article by a very interesting fitness professional that is known to be "anti cardio" and has his own belief that were very interesting to me. Let me tell you his point of the argument.

This fitness buff hates cardio and can not remember the last time he has ran on a treadmill, jump roped or biked. Cardio training just was not for him but that doesn't mean he didn't work his butt off at the gym.

What is Cardio for Weight Loss?

Most people view cardio as endlessly jogging on the treadmill, feeling the burn on the bike, and pumping your way on the elliptical glider but he calls this "traditional cardio."

No wonder people get tired of there workouts and give up a couple months after starting."

But when you really define what cardio is you find out that it is any exercise or activity that strengthens the cardiovascular system. A simple way to look at it is if your heart starts pumping faster and you beginning to breath harder because of the exercise difficulties than it's cardio.

Weight training can be as good or even better training for conditioning your heart than any treadmill or bike.

Some great examples of exercises are going from a dumbbell so-called clean & press to a shoulder press and back down. This can be done with heavy weight or can even be done with light weight for women scared of gaining an muscle and just want to lean, tone, and achieve weight loss.

Many people disreguard barbells from being anything besides weight training and stregth exercise but this fitness professional uses when for his weight training, cardio, and flexibility.

If you challenge yourself enough doing reps of 10-15 your heart rate is most likely around 80-90% of VO2 max. This is just like spiriting short distances as your exerting a huge amount of energy for one exercise and this is the best way to burn fat and achieve weight loss.

Try the same thing in a set of 20 reps doing a one-arm snatch or swing with each arm having a dumbbell. Your legs will be burning and your heart rate will be racing just like spiriting. Want to take it to the next level, try doing 5 minutes of straight bodyweight squats, lunges, and push-ups with very little rest in between. Your heart rate will be pounding faster than it has ever done before.

These weight training methods are fulfilling your cardio and strength training needs at the same time turning you into a leaner and healthier you.

I challenge you to give it a shot as it am using his methods and feel great so far so lets see if the results are what we were told.

For more information on weight loss, nutrition, and exercise visit top weight loss site for the leading information online.
Have a great day and God bless!

Weight Loss & Nutrition Series #5

2007-04-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

Not All Carbohydrates Are Equal: Understanding the Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load

The glycemic index for diets and weight loss has become very popular over the years with the Atkins, Zone, South Beach and many other popular diet books being release in our society. There are so many questions about what are bad carbs and what are good carbs but sooner or later it can be explained by the glycemic index.

Glycemic Index for Weight Loss

The glycemic index rates how fast your carbohydrates are digested and absorbed that causes a rise in blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly have the highest glycemic indexes.

On the other hand, carbohydrates that break down slowly and release glucose gradually into your blood stream are low glycemic indexes.

Glycemic Load for Weight Loss

The glycemic load provides a better indication of food choices because it is based on the total carbohydrate of a typical serving of food. The glycemic load equals the glycemic index of a food multiplied by the carbohydrates content.

Health professionals help people with poor blood sugar control to strive to lower the glycemic load in their diets and eating healthy plans.

But why are certain foods like bread, rice, white potatoes, watermelon, carrots, raisins and other cereals are high glycemic while ice cream, beans and whole grains are not? This is because fiber, fat, protein and other things that slows down the digestive process.

Glycemic Index Aid Health

It has been shown that people who eat low glycemic foods have better blood sugar levels and lower blood cholesterol. Eating rich diet foods that increase blood sugar levels are being linked to obesity, diabetes II, heart disease, and even colon and breast cancer.

For more information on weight loss, nutrition, and the glycemic index just go to top weight loss site and educate yourself to achieve your goals.

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Weight Loss & Nutrition Series #4

2007-04-05T17:21:00.000-07:00

Carbohydrates Guidelines and Calculator

These weight loss guidelines for carbohydrates can vary depending on your activity level and body condition.

Carbohydrate Guidelines

3 to 4 grams of carbohydates per pound of body weight is recommended but for weight loss reason I would consider having 2 to 3 grams.

You can also look at it like eating 40% of your calories as carbohydrates which would be in a 2000 calorie about 800 calories or 200 grams of carbohydrates.

If you prefer more carbohydrates in your diet than eat about 60% of your calories as carbohydrates that would be about in a 2000 calorie diet 300 grams of carbohydrates. Anymore than you need to be very active or weight loss will become a struggle.

Carbohydrate Calculator

Whether you are at work, clean your home or at the park with your kids, carbohydrates are the primary source of energy during your day. They should make up at least 40% of your daily calories unless you are extremely active.

To determine the carbohydrate ratio needed to lose weight and eat healthy you must go by your body weight. Determine your body weight and times it by 2 or 3 to come up with the total carbohydrate grams needed. You can switch it to calories by times the number by 4 as 1 carbohydrate has 4 calories.

It's that simple.

For more information on weight loss, nutrition, and fitness please visit top weight loss site the #1 information source online.

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Weight Loss & Nutrition Series #3

2007-04-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

Carbohydrates Utilization During Exercise

Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy during exercise like weight training, running, etc. At lower intensity fat oxidation will supply enough energy for the activity and exercise but at higher intensity carbohydrates are vital.

Exercising at an intensity over 60 percent of VO2 max will cause carbohydrates to supply the majority of the energy as fat oxidation cannot produce enough energy in time. For weight loss it may not be the smartest idea to stack up on carbohydrates but to improve performance they are the perfect source of energy.

Carbohydrates #1 for energy!

We can store up to 300 to 400 grams or 1,600 calories of carbohydrates in the muscles, 100 calories of carbohydrates stored in the liver and another 100 calories stored in the blood stream.

When eating healthy and exercising frequently it is recommended to increase your carbohydrate consumption to provide your body the energy it needs throughout the day. This enough carbohydrates in your diet it can lead to tiredness, staleness, and lack of motivation to train.

So, don;t limit your carbohydrates in your diet even when tiring to achieve weight loss as the only thing you will achieve is over training and burnout.

For more information please visit top weight loss site for information on weight loss, nutrition, and fitness that is unbias, trust worthy, and resutls guaranteed.

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Potatoes - Friend or Foe for Weight Loss

2007-04-02T08:21:00.000-07:00

I have heard so many claims that we should stay away from all refine and white carbohydrates as they are bad for our bodies and for achieving weight loss. I do believe they are not the best things to eat but still we should not completely discard them from our diet.

Potatoes have been given a bad rap because of the glycemic index as potatoes have a high glycemic rate. But if you know the truth this really has nothing to do with why they are bad. The mixture of low and high glycemic food is the absolute best way to go for weight loss and getting a six pack.

Fruits like watermelon have a great source of vitamins, minerals, and lycopene. There's just no reason to avoid it simply because it has a high GI.

I am speaking no b.s. as my point is... candy bars, cupcakes, and donuts make you fat... NOT watermelons, carrots, or potatoes and other great food sources.

It is also important to remember that food combinations is how your body processes the carbohydrates and the associated blood sugar and insulin response you receive.

Alright, so back to my point that white potatoes are actually a healthy carbohydrate as long as you eat them in the right form... with the entire skin, and please don't ruin them by deep frying them into french fries either! French fries are one of the most evil things ever invented for your health, but only because we ruin them by soaking them in a scorching bath of trans fats in the deep fryer from the hydrogenated oils that are typically used.

Keep in mind that potatoes contain so many vitamins and minerals that the list is way too long to even try. Also, as long as you eat the skins, you get a decent shot of fiber too.

On the topic of potatoes not being so bad after all, I don't remember where I saw this referenced, but I recently saw a particular study that had participants eat something like 7-9 whole potatoes per day for several weeks. At the conclusion of the study, the potato eaters had actually consistently lost weight! I'd venture a guess that the reason the people lost we.ight is that they were probably so full from eating all of those damn potatoes, that they actually consumed less calories than normal! An average sized potato only has about 100-120 calories, and I can surely imagine you'd be full constantly from eating 7-9 potatoes each day.

Eat healthy with potatoes all you like.

For more information on weight loss, eating healthy, and fitness please visit top weight loss site for the leading information online.

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Weight Loss & Nutrition Series #2

2007-03-31T11:39:00.000-07:00

Types of Carbohydrates

Why should it matter what type of carbohydrates you eat? It will determine whether you burn fat or store fat with the types of carbohydrates you eat.

Two Types of Carbohydrates

Monosaccharides are single unit carbohydrates.
Disaccharides are two monosaccrides linked together.
Polysaccharides are carbohydrates with multiple single unit sugar molecules linked together to form one long-chain carbohydrate.

An easier way to look at carbohydrates for weight loss and nutrition is determining whether the carbohydrates are simple or complexed. Simple carbohydrates can be classified as sugar and sweeteners and complex carbohydrates can be classified as starches and fibers.

Eating healthy with carbohydrates would have your diet consisting of mostly of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain breads and cereals and lean dairy products.

Stick with more healthy carbohydrates for weight loss and eating healthy will become natural for you.

For more information on weight loss, nutrition, and fitness please visit top weight loss site for some of the most trust worthy and knowledgeable information online.

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Weight Loss & Nutrition Series

2007-03-30T19:25:00.000-07:00

Understanding Macro nutrients for Weight Loss

Carbohydrates - Bodies Main Energy Source

Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are your muscles main source of energy that are contained in the muscles, liver, and blood stream. Depending on your intensity level throughout the day or in a workout determines the amount and which energy sources where used. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for your muscle and can be use to effectively achieve weight loss.

Carbohydrates are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen from a process that plants absorb energy from the sun and convert it into carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are also the only source of energy the brain and central nervous system can use.

Carbohydrate foods supply our bodies with fiber for your weight loss diet with vital vitamins and minerals that help use up the macro nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

For more information on nutrition, weight loss, and fitness please visit top weight loss site for some of the absolute best information online.

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Insomnia Hinders Weight Loss

2007-03-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

Sleepless Nights Stop Progress for Health and Weight Loss

Some of the basics you already know is that eating healthy and frequent exercise is the key to weight loss and healthy living.

But there are many more things to consider for weight loss, healthy, and keeping your body energized throughout the day. One of the biggest recommendations to improve your health is getting enough sleep.

Sleep loss is shown to increase hunger, decreases your metabolism, and leaving you less energized throughout the day having weight loss more difficult than ever. Don't make the mis take in having an excellent nutrition and exercise program and forget about getting enough sleep.

Sleep Loss Affects Weight Loss

The hormone in our body affects the way our bodies respond to the food we eat. Cortisol is a hormone that is commonly released in response to physical or emotional stress. When we are deprived of sleep, cortisol is released at an increased level and makes us feel hungry even if we are full. As a result, people who continue to lose sleep on a regular basis will tend to experience hunger even when they have had an adequate amount of food.
Sleep loss results in less deep sleep, the kind that restores our energy levels. Losing deep sleep hours decreases growth hormone levels. Growth hormone is a protein that helps regulate the body’s proportions of fat and muscle in adults. With less growth hormone, we reduce the ability to lose fat and grow muscle.
With a loss of sleep, your body may not be able to metabolize carbohydrates as well, which leads to an increased storage of fats and higher levels of blood sugar. Excess blood sugar can lead to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means that the body has trouble disposing of glucose in the liver and other tissues. It is a trigger for serious health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type II diabetes.
A lack of sleep goes hand in hand with a lack of energy – not a new concept, but perhaps you’ve grown used to your daily levels of energy and don’t notice that you could gain more. Not only do we accomplish less with less sleep, we also don’t burn as many calories. The body’s reaction is to hoard calories as fat, making our weight loss goals more difficult than they need to be. Sleep is starting to sound pretty important now, isn’t it?

Why Are You Losing Sleep and What Can You Do About It?

Do not take this issue to the edge and blame your failure on not getting enough sleep to achieve weight loss. Look at your sleeping patterns and study it to see is this a factor that is affected my eating habits, energize level for exercise, and results not being met.

Our society today believes they cannot get enough sleep as there is too much to do in one day and not enough time. Sleep has become less important and people are depending on caffeine to get them through the day. You must remember that getting enough sleep at night will increase your productivity level as you will have more energy, brain functions are more alert, and you will less hungry.

Sleep loss can lead to being overweight, lower back pain, depression, and anxiety. Look at the following tips and recommendations to help your sleeping patterns giving you more energy throughout the day.

Do’s

Eat a healthy diet.
Establish a regular exercise routine of 3-4 times per week, and do it well before bedtime.
Try pre-bedtime rituals that relax you – warm baths, light reading, listening to calming music or recorded nature sounds.
Create a peaceful sleep environment. Adjust the darkness to what works best for you. Make sure the temperature of the room is set to your comfort level.
Give yourself sleep hours instead of trying to squeeze more activity into one day. Adequate sleeping hours will increase your productivity during waking hours.

Don’ts

Don’t go to bed hungry, but don’t eat a big meal right before bedtime. Eating high protein food close to bedtime makes your body think it should be active and therefore keeps you awake.
Don’t nap in the daytime if you have sleeping problems at night.
Don’t take in caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol from the late afternoon and beyond.
Don’t lie in bed agitated if you can’t sleep. After a half hour, move to a different room and do something relaxing until you feel sleepy again.

Don't ignore your body but realize that you need to listen to your body in determining how much sleep is right for you. Too much sleep can be just as unhealthy as too little sleep. Recognize that the sleep you get each night is just as important as the choices you make in eating and exercising as you achieve your weight loss goals.

For more information on health, nutrition, exercise, and weight loss please visit top weight loss site for some of the most trust worthy information online.

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Why Drinking Water Really is the Key to Weight Loss

2007-03-27T20:58:00.000-07:00

by Maia Appleby

There are many forms of metabolism going on in your body right now, but the one everyone is talking about it the metabolism of fat. This is actually something that the liver does when it converts stored fat to energy. The liver has other functions, but this is one of its main jobs.

Unfortunately, another of the liver's duties is to pick up the slack for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to work properly. If the kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work along with its own, lowering its total productivity. It then can't metabolize fat as quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling their own weight. If you allow this to happen, not only are you being unfair to your liver, but you're also setting yourself up to store fat.

"I've tried it and I couldn't stand it!" The problem is that, though many decide to increase their water intake, very few stick with it. It's understandable. During the first few days of drinking more water than your body is accustomed to, you're running to the bathroom constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it can certainly interfere with an otherwise normal day at work. It seems that the water is coming out just as fast as it's going in, and many people decide that their new hydration habit is fruitless.

Do take heed , though. What is really happening is that your body is flushing itself of the water it has been storing throughout all those years of "survival mode". It takes a while, but this is a beautiful thing happening to you. As you continue to give your body all the water it could ask for, it gets rid of what it doesn't need. It gets rid of the water it was holding onto in your ankles and your hips and thighs, maybe even around your belly. You are excreting much more than you realize. Your body figures it doesn't need to save these stores anymore; it's trusting that the water will keep coming, and if it does, eventually, the flushing (of both the body and the potty) will cease, allowing the human to return to a normal life. It's true. This is called the "breakthrough point."

One recent finding, as irresponsible as it may be, that caffeine increases the body's fat-burning potential has many people loading up on coffee before going to the gym. This finding may hold some degree of truth in it, but caffeine is, in essence, a diuretic, and diuretics dehydrate. Caffeine may increase the heart rate, causing a few more calories to be burned, but this is at the expense of the muscles, which need water to function properly. This isn't doing your heart any favors, either. It's already working hard enough during your workout. Never mix caffeine and exercise. In fact, your best bet is to stay away from caffeine all together. It's a big bully that pushes your friend water out of your system.

Water is the best beauty treatment. You've heard this since high school, and it's true. Water will do wonders for your looks! It flushes out impurities in your skin, leaving you with a clear, glowing complexion. It also makes your skin look younger. Skin that is becoming saggy, either due to aging or weight loss, plumps up very nicely when the skin cells are hydrated.

In addition, it improves muscle tone. You can lift weights until you're blue in the face, but if your muscles are suffering from a drought, you won't notice a pleasant difference in your appearance. Muscles that have all the water they need contract more easily, making your workout more effective, and you'll look much nicer than if you had flabby muscles under sagging skin.

"Eight glasses a day? Are you kidding?!" It's really not that much. Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water. This is okay for the average person, but if you're overweight, you should drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you carry. You should also up this if you live in a hot climate or exercise very intensely.

This water consumption should be spread out throughout the day. It's not healthy at all to drink too much water at one time. Try to pick three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and then sip in between. Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not thirsty yet.

Do you think water is yucky? Drinking other fluids will certainly help hydrate your body, but the extra calories, sugar, additives and whatever else aren't what you need. Try a slice of lemon or lime in the glass, or if you really think you hate water, try a flavored water. Just make sure you read the labels. Remember that you're going to be consuming a lot of this fluid.

It's probably a good idea to stop drinking water a good three hours before you go to bed. You know why.

"How cold should it be?" This is debatable. Most experts lean toward cold water, because the stomach absorbs it more quickly. There is also some evidence that cold water might enhance fat burning.

On the other hand, warmer water is easier to drink in large quantities, and you might drink more of it without even realizing it. Do whatever suits you, here. Just drink it!

When you drink all the water you need, you will very quickly notice a decrease in your appetite, possibly even on the first day! If you're serious about becoming leaner and healthier, drinking water is an absolute must. If you're doing everything else right and still not seeing results, this might just what's missing.

For more information on weight loss, health, nutrition, etc. is here at top weight loss site that is developing into one of the largest health and fitness information sources online.

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Best Foods For Weight Loss

2007-03-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

I do not recommend being vegetarian but increase your consumption of fruits & vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds is best for weight loss.

By including other important diet strategies and weight loss foods, you may achieve weight loss naturally. Most plant foods are low-calorie, low-fat and very filling. And since they're fresh and whole, you won't be filling your body with processed ingredients.

It's important to consume a wide variety of colorful plant foods to reap the health benefits. That's because each contains different phytochemicals that work synergistically to combat disease. So the phytochemicals in the pink grapefruit you ate for breakfast, for instance, may fight disease more effectively when combined with the avocado in your salad at lunch.

Super Foods for Weight Loss

Plant foods are all-stars, because each contains unique phytochemicals that work together to fight disease. What's more, there are thousands of foods that have yet to be analyzed, so there's more good news to come.

Based on the latest research, the following foods contain phytochemicals that are proving to be terrific choices, says David Heber, M.D., Ph.D., director of the University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Human Nutrition and author of What Color Is Your Diet? (HarperCollins, 2001). So eat more of these:

Broccoli, cabbage and kale
The isothiocynanates in these cruciferous vegetables stimulate the liver to break down pesticides and other carcinogens. In people susceptible to colon cancer, these phytochemicals seem to reduce risk.

Carrots, mangos and winter squash
The alpha and beta carotenes in these orange vegetables and fruits play a role in cancer prevention, particularly of the lung, esophagus and stomach.

Citrus fruits, red apples and yams
The large family of compounds known as flavonoids found in these fruits and vegetables (as well as red wine) show promise as cancer fighters.

Garlic and onions
The onion family (including leeks, chives and scallions) is rich in allyl sulfides, which can help lower high blood pressure and show promise in protecting against cancers of the stomach and the digestive tract. Also read Benefits of Garlic in Heart Disease.

Pink grapefruit, red bell peppers and tomatoes
The phytochemical lycopene is actually more available after cooking, which makes tomato paste and ketchup the best sources of it. Lycopene shows promise in fighting lung and prostate cancers.

Red grapes, blueberries and strawberries
The anthocyanins that give these fruits their distinctive colors may help ward off heart disease by preventing clot formation. Anthocyanins also appear to inhibit tumor growth.

Spinach, collard greens and avocado
Lutein, which appears to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke as well as guard against age-related macular degeneration (which leads to blindness), is also abundant in pumpkins.

If you want to learn more about weight loss, health, and fitness please visit top weight loss site more the best and most trusted information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Hoodia Delivers Weight Loss

2007-03-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

Obesity has now been recognized as a serious, chronic disease - a disease that affects more people than any other, a disease that can cause serious medical conditions and early death. But if you are overweight or obese - and in the UK only one in three adults isn't - you will know that the negative effects are often more subtle, beginning with social ostracism including lesser chances to find friends or a partner, and more difficulties to climb up the career ladder.

In theory we all know what it requires to achieve weight loss - eat less and have more exercise - but in practice this is not as easy as it sounds. Why else are two thirds of us still struggling with the problem?

This is where Hoodia comes into the picture. By Hoodia I mean extracts from the African cactus-like plant Hoodia Gordonii. For thousands of years the local people in the Kalahari desert have known that they will feel little hunger on their hunting trips, if they chew the inner parts of this plant.

Researchers from Government institutes as well as leading international pharmaceutical companies have investigated this claim, and found that Hoodia indeed contains an active ingredient which they named P-57, and which directly influences a part in your brain called hypothalamus to suppress the feeling of hunger.

Ah, diet pills, I hear you say, and based on what has been on the market so far, you are right to be sceptical. However, unlike anything you might have tried before, Hoodia is scientifically proven to be effective in suppressing the feeling of hunger, and it has no known side effects, meaning it is neither stimulating nor addictive.

This is important since we all know that it is comparatively easy to loose weight. Keeping it down in the long term is the tough part, but Hoodia can help you with both.

The American Obesity Association, one of the worlds most authoritative sources for information on obesity, lists drug therapy as an effective treatment option to manage weight, and their web site at www.obesity.org says: "Drug therapy appears to assist in the adherence to dietary therapy (low-fat, low-calorie diet), and may improve maintenance of weight loss."

Unlike anything that has been on the market before, Hoodia is not only an empty promise. Hoodia can help you to loose weight, and to keep it down in the long term. Hoodia delivers!

Dr Frank Mueller

For more information please visit top weight loss site and recieve all the information needed to achieve weight loss, improve your health, and fell better.

Have a great day and God bless!

Starting Weight Loss With A Bang

2007-03-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

Achieving weight loss and keeping it off has been proven by many people's efforts to be difficult. With these tips I will show you how to achieve incredible body changing results for losing weight and toning your physique.

Weight Loss Tips

Set the Correct Goals - Goal setting is the foundation for achieving weight loss and reaching all your body changing goals. The best way to being is to list two or three goals you would like to achieve that would keep your focus, be specific, attainable, and forgiving.

Reward Success (But Not With Food!) - Rewarding yourself for achievements and goals being met can continue you to keep going on achieving weight loss and eating healthy. Treat yourself to a movie or music CD or taking an afternoon off from work or just an hour of quiet time away from family.

Balance Your (Food) Checkbook – It would be wise to monitor yyour eating behavior with a journal, food chart or just writing down what you eat everyday. You should include how many calories you eat, how many servings of fruits and vegetables, how often you exercise, etc.

Avoid a Chain Reaction - Identify those social and environmental cues that tend to encourage undesired eating, and then work to change those cues. Most people have their down falls and always lose control because of one emotional breakdown that they cannot control. Find what triggers you and avoid it at all costs.

Get the (Fullness) Message - Slow down the rate that you eat food at one sitting. That will allow satiety (fullness) signals to begin to develop by the end of the meal. Eating lots of vegetables or fruit can also make you feel fuller than other quick digesting and high sugar foods.

Another helpful hint is not to overbuy at the grocery store. Buy just the healthy things you need every few days and you can avoid snacking and overeating. Clean out all the bad things from your fridge and stock up on the good stuff that will help you obtain your goals.

For more motivation, information, and weight loss tips please go to top weight loss site and educate yourself on the thing that are needed to improve your health, fitness, and life's prosperity.

Have a great day and God bless!

Hoodia Appetitie Supressant Review

2007-03-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

Information About Hoodia Diet Pills

From Cathy Wong

What is Hoodia Gordonii?

Latin Name: Hoodia gordonii
Other Names: hoodia, xhooba, !khoba, Ghaap, hoodia cactus, South African desert cactus

Hoodia (pronounced HOO-dee-ah) is a cactus-like plant that grows primarily in the semi-deserts of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola.

In the last few years, hoodia has been heavily marketed for weight loss and has become immensely popular.

Although there has always been a demand for diet pills, after the ban on the herb ephedra, the market was particularly ripe for the next new diet pill.

Much of hoodia's popularity stems from claims that the San Bushmen of the Kalahari desert relied on hoodia for thousands of years to ward off hunger and thirst during long hunting trips.

They were said to have cut off the stem and eat the bitter-tasting plant.

Hoodia gordonii grows in clumps of green upright stems. Although it is often called a cactus because it resembles one, hoodia is actually a succulent plant.

It takes about five years before hoodia gordonii's pale purple flowers appear and the plant can be harvested.

There are over 13 types of hoodia. The only active ingredient identified so far is a steroidal glycoside that has been called "p57". Currently, only hoodia gordonii is thought to contain p57.

What is the History of Hoodia Gordonii?

In 1937, a Dutch anthropologist studying the San Bushmen noted their use of hoodia gordonii to suppress appetite. In 1963, scientists at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa's national laboratory, began studying hoodia. They claimed that lab animals lost weight after they were given hoodia gordonii.

The South African scientists, working with a British company named Phytopharm, isolated what they believed to be an active ingredient in hoodia gordonii, a steroidal glycoside, which they named p57. After obtaining a patent in 1995, they licensed p57 to Phytopharm. Phytopharm has spent more than $20 million on hoodia research.

Eventually pharmaceutical giant Pfizer learned about hoodia and expressed interest in developing a hoodia drug. In 1998, Phytopharm sub-licensed the rights to develop p57 to Pfizer for $21 million. Pfizer returned the rights to hoodia to Phytopharm, who is now working with Unilever.

Much of the hype about hoodia started after 60 Minutes correspondent Leslie Stahl and crew traveled to Africa to try hoodia. They hired a local Bushman to go with them into the desert and track down some hoodia. Stahl ate it, describing it as "cucumbery in texture, but not bad." She reported that she lost the desire to eat or drink the entire day. She also said she didn't experience any immediate side effects, such as indigestion or heart palpitations.

Where is Hoodia Gordonii Found?

Hoodia gordonii is sold in capsule, powder, liquid, or tea form in health food stores and on the Internet. Hoodia is also found in the popular diet pill Trimspa.

How Does Hoodia Work?

Despite its popularity, there are no published randomized controlled trials in humans to show hoodia is safe or effective in pill form.

One study published in the September 2004 issue of Brain Research found that injections of p57 into the appetite center of rat brains resulted in altered levels of ATP, an energy molecule that may affect hunger. The animals receiving the P57 injections also ate less than rats that received placebo injections. However, this was an animal study and injections in the brain are different from oral consumption, so it cannot be used to show that oral hoodia can suppress appetite in humans.

The manufacturer Phytopharm cites a clinical trial involving 18 human volunteers that found hoodia consumption reduced food intake by about 1000 calories per day compared to a placebo group. Although intriguing, the study wasn't published or subjected to a peer-review process, so the quality of the study cannot be evaluated.

What are the Side Effects of Hoodia?

There are some potential side effects of hoodia that you should be aware of.

How do I Know if it's Pure Hoodia?

There are widespread reports of counterfeit hoodia products. Mike Adams of News Target, estimates that 80 percent of hoodia products are contaminated or counterfeit. It is impossible to know if a hoodia product contains pure hoodia and the active ingredient, unless it has been tested by an independent laboratory.

After looking at hoodia buyer's guides, hoodia ratings, and hoodia comparisons on the Internet, my advice is that you be very cautious. Most of these sites have been secretly created by companies selling hoodia. They explain why the hoodia in other products is inferior, even though there are no published reports showing that one is more effective.

For more information on hoodia, weight loss, fitness, and nutrition please visit my site at top weight loss site for some of the leading information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Bowflex Home Gym Review

2007-03-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

How do the Bowflex Elite, Power Pro and Extreme stack up?

No discussion of strength trainers is complete without Bowflex home gym reviews, as it is one of the most popular names in the home gym arena. With its ubiquitous commercials, they are one of the most recognizable brands of exercise equipment.

There are many different versions available, including the Bowflex Elite, Power Pro, Extreme, Ultimate, Sport and Motivator, some of which are marketed exclusively for chains such as Costco and others.

At the lower end of the spectrum is the Bowflex Motivator at around $800 and available at Sam's Club. At the high end is the Ultimate, with four models running from $1599 to $1999.

Bowflex reviews show that all models are based around the same premise, with composite rods of varying thickness providing the resistance, as opposed to the weight stack of traditional home gyms. The basic Bowflex comes with a lat tower for pulldowns, tricep pushdown, leg extension/curl and squat attachment, 210-lbs of resistance with upgrade to 410 lbs.

Further up the line is the Sport model, which is similar to the Bowflex Elite sold exclusively at Costco, then the Bowflex Power Pro, Extreme (Xtreme) and finally the Ultimate. As you move up the product line you get more features, more exercises, more standard weight resistance, etc.

Bowflex Reviews - Are they worth the money?

Even the most basic model, at around $800, is a little pricey, especially compared to the Crossbow by Weider, which can be half the price for similar models.

Still, Bowflex Power Pro and Bowflex Extreme offer a nice variety of upper and lower body exercises, albeit not as effective as a regular gym workout with dumbbells and weight-stack machines.

It is quite difficult to get used to the range of motion on rod-based machines, and they must be fully bent to achieve the desired weight. Also, even the most adept person will need several hours to put the unit together.

**UPDATE: Bowflex Power Pro models were recently recalled due to safety issues.

Fitness Events Opinion & Recommendation:

Through our Bowflex reviews, we discovered that bending rod machines such as the Bowflex Elite and Weider Crossbow just don't offer the same high quality workout as weight-based machines, so if you are deciding between the two, we definitely recommend the latter.

The motion of a Bowflex Power Pro and Extreme is rather awkward and does not provide the uniform resistance of a weight-stack machine. For anyone who has been in a gym before, these machines take some serious getting used to. Yet even when you are comfortable with the motion, you'll see that it still does not provide as effective a workout.

Our Bowflex review revealed that the only advantage the Bowflex Extreme and other units have over metal weights is that they are lighter and easier to move around. But with the hefty Bowflex price tag, if you dont mind the bulk, a metal weight machine is definitely the best choice in home gym equipment.

If you are interested in a bowflex home gym including Ultimate, Xtreme and Blaze models, they offer a wide selection of home gym equipment at the lowest prices and free shipping on their site.

If you have had experience with Bowflex Elite, Power Pro, Extreme, Sport or any other models please drop us a line and let us know what your experiences were. We will certainly add your comments to our Bowflex home gym reviews.

For more information about bowflex home gyms, weight loss, exercise, and nutrition please just visit top weight loss site and discover for yourself how easy fitness really is.

Have a great day and God bless!

Does Hoodia Really Work?

2007-03-20T22:08:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants to know. I have personally read and heard testimonials from people saying that it does. But, it may be necessary to compare hoodia products to find the right one for you.

If you asked a San Bushman, “Does hoodia really work?” He would probably tell you, through an interpreter of course, something like you will feel no hunger or thirst. Eating the plant reportedly makes the hunger go away. People say that do not even think about food, but all hoodia products are not the same and it may be necessary to compare hoodia ingredients, before you buy.

Many companies only use hoodia gordonii as one ingredient in their weight loss supplement and most of these have some form of natural stimulant. Natural does not always mean safe and people who are sensitive to stimulants may want to avoid these products.

If you asked the British pharmaceutical company Phytopharm, “Does hoodia really work?” They would probably tell you that only Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product has been clinically proven to reduce calorie intake and body fat. In fact, that is a quoted directly from their website. They do not compare hoodia products currently on the market to the product that they are working on. At one time, it appeared that Phytopharm would release a prescription form of hoodia gordonii, but since their new partner is Unilever, makers of Slim Fast, food products and over the counter meds, it is unclear exactly what their new product may be.

If you asked the manufacturers of the better hoodia products, “Does hoodia really work?” The answer would probably be that results vary depending on the individual’s diet and exercise program. If you asked, “How does your product compare to other hoodia gordonii products?” It is hard to say what their answers would be.

In order to compare hoodia products, the first place to look is the label. There is no standard dosage and milligrams per tablet or capsule vary among manufacturers, plus we already mentioned that some products have other ingredients. Some dieters say that it takes 1500mg per day to control their appetites and some as much as 3000mg. In general, when you compare hoodia products, look for 750mg or higher per capsule, check for CITES license and chemical analysis reports to insure that the product is genuine. If you compare hoodia prices, you will see some differences. It is in general an expensive product, but if the answer to the question, does hoodia really work is yes, then price is not really important. Is it?

How does hoodia really work? That is apparently a complicated question, but the way that they explain it in laymen’s terms is that the brain believes that food has been eaten, shutting down the hunger mechanism. Does hoodia really work for everyone? Probably not, there has never been an appetite suppressant that works for everyone and there will probably never be an appetite suppressant that works for everyone. People, unlike animals, eat for other reasons than hunger.

A hoodia weight loss program will only work for individuals who are motivated to succeed. When we compare hoodia products and read customer comments, it appears that some hoodia products work better than others.

Here is the real answer to the question; does hoodia really work? Anyone can lose weight if they reduce calories and increase activity. In order to maintain that weight loss, people must make changes in their lifestyles. When we compare hoodia to other appetite suppressants, there appears to be several advantages. Lack of side effects is one, but the important one to most dieters is lack of interest in food.

For more information on hoodia please visit top weight loss site for all your weight loss solutions.

Compulsive Overeating

2007-03-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

The most common element surrounding ALL Eating Disorders is the inherent presence of a low self esteem

Compulsive Overeating
People suffering with Compulsive Overeating have what is characterized as an "addiction" to food, using food and eating as a way to hide from their emotions, to fill a void they feel inside, and to cope with daily stresses and problems in their lives.

People suffering with this Eating Disorder tend to be overweight, are usually aware that their eating habits are abnormal, but find little comfort because of society's tendency to stereotype the "overweight" individual. Words like, "just go on a diet" are as emotionally devestating to a person suffering Compulsive Overeating as "just eat" can be to a person suffering Anorexia. A person suffering as a Compulsive Overeater is at health risk for a heart attack, high blood-pressure and cholesterol, kidney disease and/or failure, arthritis and bone deterioration, and stroke.

Men and Women who are Compulsive Overeaters will sometimes hide behind their physical appearance, using it as a blockade against society (common in survivors of sexual abuse). They feel guilty for not being "good enough," shame for being overweight, and generally have a very low self-esteem... they use food and eating to cope with these feelings, which only leads into the cycle of feeling them ten-fold and trying to find a way to cope again.

With a low self esteem and often constant need for love and validation he/she will turn to obsessive episodes of binging and eating as a way to forget the pain and the desire for affection.

For more information on weight loss, health, and fitness please visit top weight loss site for some of the absolute best information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Binge Eating Disorder

2007-03-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

Note: Throughout this information, we use "she" when referring to a person suffering from binge eating disorder. However, binge eating is becoming increasingly prevalent among males. This information on binge eating is also applicable to men.

Binge eating is very serious and has an impact on both physical and mental health. Left untreated, binge eating can lead to severe medical problems including high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and depression.

What is Binge Eating?

Binge eating can affect women or men, though it appears twice as often among women. People with binge eating disorder suffer from episodes of uncontrolled eating or bingeing followed by periods of guilt and depression. Binge eating is marked by the consumption of large amounts of food, sometimes accompanied by a pressured, "frenzied" feeling. Binge eating disorder may cause a person to continue to eat even after she becomes uncomfortably full.

Binge Eating Warning Signs

There are many warning signs which indicate that someone may be suffering from binge eating disorder. A person with binge eating disorder may exhibit one, all, or any combination of these warning signs. Becoming aware of these warning signs is the first step in helping someone suffering from binge eating.

Common binge eating warning signs:

Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry is a sign of binge eating.
Eating much more rapidly than normal is a sign of binge eating.
Eating until the point of feeling uncomfortably full is a sign of binge eating.
A person with binge eating disorder may often eat alone because of shame or embarrassment.
A person with binge eating disorder has feelings of depression, disgust, or guilt after eating.
A person with binge eating disorder has a history of marked weight fluctuations.

How can I help someone with binge eating disorder?

You may know someone suffering from binge eating disorder. You may suspect that someone you know has binge eating disorder but are not certain. You may feel that you are beginning to exhibit some warning signs for binge eating. What should you do?

If you feel that you or someone you know may be suffering from binge eating disorder, it is important to seek professional counseling as quickly as possible. If untreated, binge eating will become part of a destructive cycle which can continue for years and cause significant health problems.

Talking to a binge eating treatment professional is the first step toward successful recovery. For more information on binge eating treatment options in your area, please call The Renfrew Center at 1-800-RENFREW. Confidentiality is strictly observed and most insurance plans are accepted.

For more information on weight loss, health, and fitness please visit top weight loss site for 100% trust worthy information to help you achieve your goals.

Have a great day and God bless!

Whole Foods Weight Loss Eating Plan #2

2007-03-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

YELLOW-LIGHT FOODS: CAUTION!
Carbohydrates Remember: Consume only 5 carb healthy food choices per day from this group (1 carb choice= 15 grams Total CHO)
Breads (CAUTION!) Bagel Bread Cereals Crackers English muffin Hot dog or HB bun Pasta Pita Popcorn Roll Tortilla Waffle	Starchy Fruits & Vegetables (CAUTION!) Baked beans Banana Corn Lentils Lima beans Peas Plantain Potato Squash, winter Yam

Beverages (CAUTION!) Beer (8 oz) Wine (3-4 oz) Hard Liquor (1 oz) Non-diet Soft Drinks (8 oz)
The Best Fat Choices (CAUTION!) 6 servings per day
Monounsaturated Avocado Oil (canola, olive, peanut) Olives Nuts Peanut butter Sesame seeds Tahini paste	Polyunsaturated Margarine Mayonnaise Oil (corn, safflower, soybean) Salad dressing
Avoid saturated fat, which is animal fat found in meat and dairy products; eat low-fat meats, milk and cheeses. For more weight loss, nutrition, and fitness information just go to top weight loss site for the leading information online. Have a great day and God bless!

Whole Foods Weight Loss Eating Plan

2007-03-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

GREEN-LIGHT FOODS: GO!
Fruit Choices (GO!) When possible, choose fresh, whole foods and fruit Apple Applesauce Apricots, Blackberries Blueberries Cantaloupe Cherries Dates Figs Grapefruit Grapes Honeydew melon Kiwi Mandarin oranges Mango Nectarine Orange Papaya Peach Pears Pineapple Plums Prunes Raisins Raspberries Strawberries Tangerines Watermelon Fruit Juice Choose 1/2c to 1c of 100% fruit juice with no sugar Apple juice/cider Cranberry juice cocktail Fruit juice blends Grape juice Grapefruit juice Orange juice Pineapple juice Prune juice	Vegetable Choices (GO!) Artichoke Asparagus Bean sprouts Beets Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Cucumber Eggplant Green onions or scallions Greens Green beans Kohlrabi Leeks Mushrooms Okra Onions Pea Pods Peppers Radishes Salad greens Salsa and picante sauce Sauerkraut Spinach Squash Tomatoes Turnips Water chestnuts Watercress Zucchini

Meat Choices (GO!) No more than 5g of fat per oz Beef Round Sirloin Flank steak Tenderloin Roast Steak Ground beef(lean) Corned beef Short ribs Prime rib (trimmed) Pork Ham Canadian bacon Tenderloin Center loin chop Boston butt Poultry Chicken Turkey Cornish hen Duck Goose	Fish & Shellfish Choices (GO!) Clams Cod Crab Flounder Haddock Halibut Lobster Trout Tuna Herring Oysters Salmon Catfish Sardines Scallops Shrimp

Cheese Choices (GO!) Cheese Cottage cheese Reduced fat cheddar Parmesan Feta Mozzarella Ricotta These excellent weight loss whole foods and check out my website top weight loss site for the leading information online. Have a great day and God bless!

Whole Foods Diet

2007-03-19T07:59:00.000-07:00

This diet controls the intake of refined sugars or flour and encourages intake of whole, unprocessed food. It contains moderate amounts of starch, protein and fat. The Whole Foods Diet allows your nutritional needs to be supplied naturally.

It is especially appropriate for persons with:

Mild to severe obesity
Elevated triglyerides
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Glucose intolerance

Follow these instructions:

Eat and drink as much of the following as you need to satisfy your hunger:
• salads and non-starchy vegetables
• whole fresh fruit (except bananas), fruit bottled or canned without sugar, sweetened with artificial sweetener if necessary
• Lean meat, including poultry, lean ham, reduced-fat bacon (e.g. turkey bacon), and reduced-fat sausages
• fish
• egg whites
• reduced fat cheese (especially cottage cheese)
• nuts as part of a main dish
• condiments (sour pickles, worcestershire sauce)
• tea, coffee, low calorie juices, diet soft drinks

CONTROL your intake of carbohydrates:
This is the feature of the diet that will allow for your weight loss and lower your triglycerides and blood sugar, if they are elevated.
You may have 5 carbohydrate (CHO) choices per day. One CHO choice is no more than 15g of Total CHO per serving. One CHO choice includes:
• 1 slice of regular bread
• 2 slices of 40-calorie/slice bread
• 1/2 cup of macaroni, spaghetti, oatmeal, rice or non-sweetened breakfast cereal
• 1/2 cup of potatoes, pinto beans, lima beans, corn, black-eyed peas or green peas
• 1 small banana
• 8-12 oz. beer, 3-4 oz. wine, or 1 oz. hard liquor

You should also consume:
• 2 cups of 1/2% or 1% milk daily; you may substitute sugar-free, fat-free instant pudding mixed with very low fat milk, sugar-free frozen yogurt, low-fat sugar-free yogurt, or sugar-free ice cream
• 6 servings of mono- or polyunsaturated fat
You may have NOTHING ELSE WHATEVER!

Don’t forget to:
• Weigh yourself before you begin, then once a week or so.
• Eat three or four meals a day. If you eat between meals, eat only “green light” foods.
• Drink an 8-oz glass of water 8 times each day.
• Increase exercise.
• Achieve a feeling of fullness with "green light" foods rather than targeting a specific calorie level
• Read food labels carefully.

Monitor your progress:
• Be willing to address your current eating habits. How frequently do you eat chips, crackers, cookies, fast foods, soft drinks, snack foods, cakes or desserts?
• Concentrate on the quality of the food you eat rather than the number of calories. Eat whole grains (not just grains), raw or lightly cooked vegetables, fresh fruits, low or nonfat dairy products, and lean cuts of protein foods.
• Follow the Whole Foods eating plan 90% of the time, and treat yourself to a favorite food 10% of the time
• Be realistic about your weight-loss expectations. Don't expect a "quick fix," and be patient.
• Don't deprive yourself! Healthy eating results in more energy, more restful sleep and a better mood!
• When you visit your doctor, look for improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels and energy

For more information on weight loss, health, and fitness please visit top weight loss site for the absolute most trust worthy information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Resistance Training Makes You Hungry

2007-03-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

Benefits of weight training!

Resistance training (weight training) can help both sexes stay lean by building muscle and raising metabolism. The fact is, hours and hours of aerobic exercise won't help most people lose weight fast because your metabolism drops back to normal fairly quickly after stopping the exercise.

If you gain muscle, however, your body's resting metabolism (the amount of calories you burn when you're just sitting still) increases, because muscle requires a lot of calories to maintain.

Studies have shown consistent weight training to raise the body's metabolism by 15%. This means an average woman might burn 200-300 more calories at rest every day! Resistance training, then, is the gift that keeps on giving.

But when you do weight lifting your body has to repair itself so if you are on a low calorie diet your body might increase your hunger to increase the calories you might eat. It is a defense method for the body to repair itself after weight training.

Weight training solutions!

1) After even workout with weights do some cardio and flexibility to loosen up the muscle and to get blood flow to them and your whole body as quick as possible. This will help make recovery less painful.

2) Drink plenty of water as water will help keep you full and aid in the recovery of your workouts. The more water you drink instead of other types of drinks will keep your body and system healthy and energized.

3) Take a hot shower right after your workout as this will help the blood that is in the parts of your body that you workout to go throughout your entire body. This will help the recovery and have muscle and body being less sore a day or two later.

For more information please visit top weight loss site for some of the best information online on health, fitness, and weight loss.

Have a great day and God bless!

Hoodia Gordonii Scams & Frauds Exposed!

2007-03-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

Article Courtesy of: Truth Publishing - reveals the details of an exhaustive investigation into what may be the largest Hoodia Gordonii supplement scam operating in North America: "the company", company.

"the company", is selling counterfeit hoodia as verified by independent lab testing (actual documents revealed below).
"the company", is failing to fill their capsules with the promised quantity of powder. Our tests on a digital scale showed that capsules from "the company" contained only 290mg of powder, not 400mg. (Actual digital scale results and photos shown below.)
"the company", has sought to steal intellectual property from a competing hoodia company by attempting to preemptively register / steal its trademark and product name. (Documents shown below.)
"the company", has stolen Truth Publishing content, modified the text, and posted a distorted version on their own website in an attempt to mislead readers into believing that we solely and exclusively recommend their product, which is absolutely not the case.
"the company", operates out of a Nevada corporation set up and run by individuals who operate hundreds of small Nevada corporations, most likely for lawsuit protection reasons.
"the company", operates several companies and brands of Hoodia, which are advertised and promoted as separate companies, but are actually owned and controlled by the same people.
"the company", operates a series of fake "consumer comparison" websites that deceive consumers into purchasing their "top-rated" products, which are always products owned or controlled by the "the company", operators.

For more information go to top weight loss site to learn more about hoodia and weight loss.

Have a great day and God bless!

Eat Healthy With Flaxseed

2007-03-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

It is amazing to walk through the grocery store and see so many flaxseed products on the shelves. Is flaxseed products really healthy and good for weight loss?

I could have selected snack bars, pancakes, cereals, muffins and trail mix, all boasting of their flaxseed content.

Benefits of flaxseed

Flaxseed products are good for heart health, including lowering cholesterol and triglycerides levels, reducing blood pressure, and decreasing platelet aggregation (clot forming). In addition, flaxseed is an excellent source of fiber.

Researchers have found that flaxseed is rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a polyunsaturated fat. It is this essential fatty acid that confers flaxseed's potential heart-healthy benefits and that is helping this ancient crop make an appearance beyond the local health food store.

Make sure to only consume a small amount as even though flaxseed is a healthy fat it is still high in calories.

For more information go to top weight loss site and learn the true for yourself on how to eat healthy and achieve weight loss.

Have a great day and God bless!

Bowflex Treadclimber for Weight Loss

2007-03-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

I have come to the conclusion the signing up for a gym or club is one of the worst things you can do for getting in shape. But when you find ways to get in shape at home and by yourself that is when things happen.

That is why I want to tell you about this one of a kind fitness equipment.

The Bowflex Treadclimber offers 8 state-of-the-art electronic functions for fast and easy weight loss. These fully integrated electronics, including a wireless heart rate monitor, enable you to monitor every aspect of your workout - and achieve maximum results.

Why buy a machine that only offers you 1 workout - when you can buy a Bowflex!

Action #1: Treadmill

Moving belts let you WALK FORWARD like a treadmill.

Action #2: Stairclimber

Unlike a treadmill, there are two indepependent "Dual-Treadles," so you also STEP UP like a stairclimber.

Action #3: Elliptical

Combine these two actions and you get an extremely intense workout with the smooth, LOW-IMPACT motion of an elliptical.

For more information please go to top weight loss site for some of the leading information on weight loss and fitness equipment.

Have a great day and God bless!

South Beach Diet Foods

2007-03-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

So what will you be eating when on the South Beach diet for weight loss?

On the South Beach diet you will love what you eat, but will not eat like it. You'll sit down to dishes like Spicy Seared Tuna, Chicken Ceasar Salad, and Roasted Portobello "Pizza." Enjoy grilled fish and steak, roasted chicken and vegetables, and fresh, Miami-style salads.

The first phase of the South Beach diet is really the only strict part of eating healthy as in the second and third part you are able to start bringing back certain foods into your diet.

When you join the South Beach Diet™ Online, we’ll customize your plan and guide you through each of the three phases.

Complete personalized diet
Recipes and food guides for each Phase
Weight-tracker tool
Your own journal
Daily email newsletter
Online dietitians
Friendly, supportive community
AND MORE!

This diet may seem like a diet plan you can stict to for achieving weight loss or if not there are many other diets that will have you eating healthy and losing weight naturally.

For more information and diets reviews please visit top weight loss site and educate yourself on the diet that is right for you.

Have a great day and God bless!

Fiber Fighting Fat

2007-03-12T19:48:00.000-07:00

Fiber has been given quite a repretation with its ability to keep you fuller, have you eating less, prevent colon cancer, control blood sugar levels, and even helps one achieve weight loss.

Knowing the basics on certain high fiber sources with its functions and benefits it has can aid in your efforts to lose weight.

Fiber Keeping You Full

High fiber foods help slow down the digestive process and make you feel fuller for longer. This can have an impacting benefit on your weight loss and eating healthy goals.

Most foods that are high in fiber are also low in calories. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of fiber that provide many additional nutrient benefits.

Skinny People Eat Fiber

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association looked at the diets of 52 overweight/obese people and compared them to 52 normal-weight people¹. Results indicated that the diets of the obese group had higher amounts of fat, saturated fat and cholesterol, and lower amounts of carbohydrate and fiber intake.

Essentially, those with higher body fat had consistently lower amounts of fiber in their diet. This data is used to further support the notion that a high fiber diet helps keep you thinner.

How Much Fiber

The USDA recommends the following amounts of fiber intake per day:

25 grams for women aged 19-50
38 grams for men aged 19-50
28 grams for pregnant women
29 grams for breastfeeding women

A good rule of thumb for a child's fiber intake is to take their age and add five grams.

Eating 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables a day is an easy way to meet your fiber goals. Most fruits and vegetables have anywhere from 3-7 grams of fiber per serving. Adding low-fat, whole grain bread products as often as possible will also boost your fiber intake.

Increasing the fiber in your diet increases your feeling of fullness without adding too many additional calories. High fiber foods tend to be good for you: They are low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol-all of which are important components of a weight-loss diet.

For more information please visit top weight loss site for some of the leading and best information online that will aid you in your weight loss goals.

Have a great day and God bless!

Weight Loss Supplements Secretly Used

2007-03-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

I have just come across a couple articles that research and did studies on people using weight loss supplements without telling their doctors about it.

Women aged 18-34 had the highest reported use of nonprescription dietary weight loss supplements. Most women are keeping what type of supplements from their doctor out of imbarrassment and just not wanting them to know what they are doing.

The absolute best thing to do though is to ask your doctor about some of the leading weight loss supplements and get his opinoin on which ones would be safe to use. Some supplements might affect your bodies help if you have a health condition so asking your doctor on the best way to achieve weight loss is the best way to go about this issue.

Doctors will mostly recommend exercise, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep to lose weight but some people want to take a magic pill that will make weight loss easier than this. But going natural to lose weight is the best way for permanent results.

I am not a doctor but I also recommend eating healthy, exercise, and getting enough sleep as weight loss supplements might be the easy way out but most of the time they are a waste of money.

For more information please feel free to visit top weight loss site for some of the very best weight loss, health, and fitness information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Postural Correction for Better Health

2007-03-10T10:39:00.000-08:00

What else is important to health than just weight loss? Correct posture!

In a city centre gym, many members are office-based workers and, as such, display postural distortions resulting from being sat at a desk for the majority of their day. This provides an excellent opportunity to show potential clients the value of Personal Training.

In a simple 30-minute consultation session, it is possible to demonstrate the effects of their poor posture, such as impaired exercise performance and potential injury, as well as the long-term complications associated with faulty joint alignment such as low-back pain and degenerative conditions

These problems can be avoided through the implementation of a carefully designed exercise programme, as well as explaining the huge benefits to be gained by achieving optimum posture, such as improved appearance and maximised training performance. Potential clients quickly become motivated to invest in Personal Training sessions.

Your clients are much more likely to reach their ultimate health and fitness goals if they attain ideal postural alignment. This therefore becomes the first ‘stepping stone’ in their training, which helps to instil the idea of establishing and achieving a series of short-term targets, which move them closer to their desired end-result.

Designing a progressive, structured programme to attain each of these short-term goals ensures a lasting relationship with your client, and this greatly enhances their chances of success - as well as providing you with a reliable income!

For more information on weight loss, exercise, and nutrition please feel free to visit top weight loss site for some of the absolute best information online.

Have a great day and God Bless!

Celebrities Weight Loss

2007-03-07T13:10:00.000-08:00

Want to achieve weight loss like celebrities, I hope not.

Many celebrities have no idea what they are talking about when exercise and nutrition come into play. Most celebrities just do what their trainer tells them to do and thats it.

So many even have eating disorders that have them being very unhealthy and facing health problems in the near future.

Which celebrities had eating disorders?

Ashlee Simpson, Elton john, Janet Jackson, Mary Kate Oprah Winfrey, and many more. They all have struggled with their weight loss and nutrition for many years.

Here's a simple run-throughof a celebrity diet method:

Have baby
Confer with Public Relations people
Hire nutritionist, chef, therapist
Hire personal fitness trainer
Eat next to nothing for 28 days, while doing non-stop treadmill routines
Miraculously lose weight
Do exclusive photo-shoot revealing miraculous new lean body (with baby in arms)
Do exclusive glossy interview and reveal "personal weight loss diet secrets"
Secure new $5 million film role
Pay out $250,000 to nutritionist, personal fitness trainer, chef, therapist, publicist, PR company, and personal agent
Eat 6 tubs of Haagen-Dazs, laugh all the way to the bank.

So, do you think you want to do all that or do you want to learn the correct way to lose weight and live happy with wasting your money.

For more information visit top weight loss site for some of the best information online.

Have a great day and God less!

7 Reasons To Drink Green Tea

2007-03-06T13:49:00.000-08:00

Green tea is making its way to becoming a popular drink like coffee has had on our society. The benefits are amazing with becoming healthier, avoiding diseases, and an add towards weight loss.

Take a glance at 7 reasons why green tea should be consumed on a day to day bases.

Green Tea Benefits

1) Decrease chances of cancer
Several polyphenols - the potent antioxidants green tea's famous for - seem to help keep cancer cells from gaining a foothold in the body, by discouraging their growth and then squelching the creation of new blood vessels that tumors need to thrive.

With many studies done with successful results it is no wonder why people in other cultures look younger and healthier than we do.

2) Soothe Your Skin
Try damping a cloth in green tea when you have a burn, cut, or swelling on your body and see that the tea helps the pain. Green tea is very healthy and healing to the body with its beauty benefits that most women love. This is another reason why you are seeing green tea in more and more sunscreens and moisturizers.

3) Balance Blood Pressure
People who sip just half a cup a day are almost 50 percent less likely to wind up with hypertension than non-drinkers. Unlike coffee that has an extremely high dose of caffine, green tea has the perfect amount that actually helps to stabilze blood pressure more than some medicines.

4) Memory Protector and Advancement
Older adults who drink at least two cups a day are half as likely to develop cognitive problems as those who drink less. Why? It appears that the tea's big dose of antioxidants fights the free-radical damage to brain nerves seen in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

5) Staying Young
The younger and healthier your arteries are, the younger and healthier you are. So fight plaque build-up in your blood vessels, which ups the risk of heart disease and stroke, adds years to your biological age, and saps your energy too.

Don't accept yourself getting older but start eating healthy, exercise, and begin to consume green tea on a daily bases.

6) Lose Weight
Turns out that green tea speeds up your body's calorie-burning process. Just like coffee every little bit help so turn your fat burning process to maximum weight loss.

7) Healthy Teeth
Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque.

Green tea you now know have many benefits to it so if you want to learn ever more on weight loss than visit top weight loss site for some of the absolute best information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Genetics Keeping You From Weight Loss

2007-03-05T09:30:00.000-08:00

While eating healthy, exercising, and maintaining a regular sleeping pattern is recommended for weight loss and healthy living, scientist believe there is more to it.

Is there more to weight loss than living healthy?

Scientist have been researching the argument of homostasis in the body which means a memory or balance between functions in the body and that also goes for fat.

I don't believe in macro evolution but micro evolution is always a possibility when looking at the issue on why it is hard for others to lose weight and keep it off. Some researchers believe being a certain body type is unescapeabe and it is how your body wants to be.

Scientist are doing studies after studies and test after test to see if a person's genetics have a big influence on there body type.

What can your genetics control?

Certain genetics have you eating more than others, sleeping differences from short to long, how fat is stored, learning ability, what you like, and even the way you think. Genetics can have a huge influence on people and can control the way they turn out as a person.

As of right now nothing is proven but still the interesting issue is that can genetics keep you from looking a certain way or is it all just a mind game.

For more information visit top weight loss site for some of the most in depth information, research, and truth worthy products online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Protein for Healthy Eating

2007-03-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

Everyone needs of the amount of carbs, proteins, and fats are different as our body's function different on how many calories we burn and how they are digested. To make sure weight loss and eating healthy is achieved it is vital you see how much of a certain type of food you consume.

The amount of protein should be around 15% to 40% for keeping you fuller, eating less, and burning fat for weight loss.

The Atkins diet has become so popular because people were eating more protein loss even more weight instead of eating carbs.

Tom Venuto even recommends eating more protein for weight loss as it is more likely to be urinated out of your bosy than and go to fat.

For more information go to top weight loss site for some of the leading information on health and fitness.

Have a great day and God bless!

Successful Weight Loss Tips

2007-03-03T18:28:00.000-08:00

Over the past years weight loss, diet, and fitness are words for short time action that motivation only took them for a month of working out.

Success and reaching your health and fitness goals can easily be achieved if you follow these simple rules for a better and healthier you. Ya ready then lets get started.

10 Permanent Weight Loss Strategies:

1) Exercise. yeah, I know its nothing you heard before but when you look back on why you only lost so much weight it is probably caused by the lack of exercise. Seeking long term weight loss and maintaining all your achievements takes continued dedication but in the long run it is all worth it.

To make it alittle easier try to keep your life active with walking, doing active activities, and staying busy.

2) Resistance training. This does not mean you will get bulky but with lifting weights it will speed up your weight loss and help you tone and lean up your body. The basic reason is that the more lean muscle tissue you have, the more calories you will burn each day. This is why world class weight lifters must eat thousands of calories a day to maintain their weight.

Muscle is active tissue, fat is not. Thus, muscle "burns" a significant number of calories each day for its own maintenance. But don't be worried about gaining a lot of muscle as most weight lifters take supplements, have intense workouts, and do no cardio.

Lift weights to burn fat for weight loss and a lean and toned body.

3) Keep a dairy. Keeping a food and exercise diary can be a huge asset in your success towards weight loss. Devote time each day to record what you have eaten and how much, your hunger level prior to eating, and any feelings or emotions present at the time. A food diary can provide a large amount of self-awareness. It can identify emotions and behaviors that trigger overeating, foster greater awareness of portion sizes, and help you discover your personal food triggers.

Once you have done this for about a month or two you will be able to stop recording what you eat as you will know the amount that is healthy for you to eat for meaintaining or losing weight. It is not that time consuming or difficult so give it a shot.

4) Keep focus on being healthy. When you focus on only the weight, look, and being like the people on tv or magazines that is when you take health and fitness to a level that is not healthy for you.

Stay away from diets that take away part of the food groups as they all offer you vital health benefits that will help keep your body strong and healthy while giving you the edge to lose weight and develop a lean and tone body.

5) Know your weaknesses. One of the hardess things is knowing what foods trigger you to lose control and make you forget or put aside your health and fitness goals.

All too often overeating is triggered by stress, boredom, loneliness, anger, depression and other emotions. Learning to deal with emotions without food is a significant skill that will greatly serve long term weight control.

6) Find support. Having someone cheering you on makes eating healthy and sticking to an exercise program that much easier than doing it all by yourself. Look for people around you that have the same goals as you and will parter up with you in your desire for healthy living and eating a nutritist diet.

7) Lose weight gradually. It happens to so many people that they get so motivated that they take their exercise and nutrition to an over excessive level and burn out. If you are new or have not had that much success in losing weight than take it slow and easy and incorporate small changes into your life that will benefit you over time.

8) Eat slowly. Finding time to sit down and eat can become tricky sometimes but when people don't pay attention and eat slowly, they often eat more than they needed and that is why America is overweight.

If taking time to eat slowly is difficult for you than make sure you eat something that you know is the right portion and that is healthy for you.

9) Portion sizes. This is one I even struggle with but it can make you or break you when losing weight is on the line. The biggest word that is affecting how much people eat is "super-size" that may I add has caused families to eat a forth more food than they use to before restraunats came out with large portions of food.

By eating small frequent meals we are allowing our bodies to digest the food and raise our metabolism while keeping our insulin level stable. Burn the fat and keep your metabolism burning calories all day long.

10) Cut down on fat. Eating high fattening foods are becoming a problem as fats are high density foods that pack on the calories in no time. So try to limit the amount of fats you in take as well as the types of fats you eat.

For more information please visit my site at top weight loss site and educate yourself on some of the best information ever.

Have a great day and God bless!

Truth or Fad Weight Loss

2007-03-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

Nutrition and food has many mis leading information, programs, and diets that get you no where which I like to call them fad diets. People seeking weight loss need to be careful, because fad diets can be harmful to your health, your wallet, and time form your life.

Fad diets may:

Promote quick weight loss or make unrealistic promises.
Suggest special products or require dietary supplements.
Require certain foods be eaten at particular times of the day.
Require you to limit or avoid food groups, even healthy foods.
Promise magical quick fixes.

If you need help understanding nutrition or weight management, contact a registered dietitian who can help you develop a science-based diet plan to help you look and feel your best.

Also, take a look at top weight loss site for some of the absolute best information on weight loss and nutrition.

Have a great day and God bless!

Drink Healthy with Coffee

2007-03-01T10:36:00.000-08:00

So many studies, reports, and reviews have been confusing people up with coffee a healthy beverage that can help you with your weight loss and fitness goals.

Overall, coffee has been debated on offering a variety of health benefits against health risk like cancer and diabetes. Even though coffee may not deserve to be equal with other healthful foods like vegetables, fruits and whole grains it still has several health benefits that are becoming known.

Benefits of coffee:

1) Helps reduce cancer
2) Speed up digestive track
3) Protection against diabetes and heart problems
4) Improves alertness and concentration

A study in Finland had the consumption of three to six cups of coffee per day with a 25 percent lower risk of diabetes. That means you are 1/4 less likely to get type II diabetes.

I am glad to know that over 108 million Americans drink a morning cup of coffee as with its potential health benefits that can impact ones life and the length of ones life.

For more information please visit my site at top weight loss site for some of the absolute best information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Is Fast Food Getting Healthier?

2007-02-28T11:28:00.000-08:00

Burgers, french fries, soft drinks while super-sizing does don't sound very healthy but are the fast food chains getting healthier?

The high-fat, high-calorie menu that made Ronald McDonald a household name is now making him a worldwide whipping boy. Eating these meals will make weight loss a living nightmare.

The good news is the Fast-Food Titans you could say hear and understand the cry of people today that want healthier choices of food instead of the same old high-calorie fast food.

McDonalds stock has been low for the pasted seven years and they are finally being focused into making healthier food option for people in the United States.

But will Americans eat the healthy fast food like salads and fruit trays if fast food joints offered them because so far people are just complaining and not changing what they are eating.

I believe it is the people's fault. It's true!

If you don't want fast food than don't eat their as McDonalds is only a little problem, people taking care of themselves is the big problem.

Eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep is all up to the person and not the fast food joint they eat at. The person to blame is looking right back you in the mirror.

Fast food is changing but I don't believe it will help that much as people will still eat the burgers, french fries, and shakes. People need to realize that these places are ok to eat at once in awhile but to make it a regular habit is just done in stupidity.

For more information please visit top weight loss site and learn for yourself the truth of eating healthy and natural weight loss.

Have a great day and God bless!

Weight Loss Confusion in our Society

2007-02-27T20:11:00.000-08:00

Why are so many people failing to lose weight, eat healthier, and incorporate activity in their daily life? The answer is motivation.

People at one point want to lose weight, eat healthier, and get active but that drive is very weak and will decrease and disappear very quickly. That is why eternal motivation is vital and will determine if you have success or failure for weight loss.

What is eternal motivation?

Eternal motivation is the sincere push of the mental force and drive towards accomplishing any action or desire. The metal focus is clear and direct at whatever you want achieved with things to individually support you.

Being able to stay strong and motivated on your own to achieve health and fitness is dynamite but with encouragement from others is even better. Building sincere motivation is to identify what demotivates you and then tackle the problem head on.

Find out motivating tricks and motives to keep you going towards your goal of weight loss and eating healthy.

To learn more, go to top weight loss site and I will do by best to make sure you get the absolute best information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Granola Can Be Healthy

2007-02-26T16:24:00.000-08:00

About two days ago I posted about granola having a high calorie in take while being loaded up with sugar. But granola can be a healthy eating choice for weight loss and better nutrition.

Apple Cinnamon Granola (1/2 cup)

1) 130 calories

2) 4 g fat

3) 27 mg sodium

4) 21 g carbohydrates

5) 2 g fiber

6) 9 g sugar

7) 3 g protein

Calorie-Count gives this food a C+ ranking that puts it in the category of being a bad food to consume.

They are starting to come out with great snacks like granola bars and granola mix that has been a huge benefit for people that love granola.

But watch out for those home made granola cereals as some of them can double or even triple the amount of calories than all the others. For more nutrition information, go to top weight loss site and learn for yourself on what eating healthy is all about.

Have a great day and God bless!

Healthy Eating For College Students

2007-02-26T08:42:00.000-08:00

Eating healthy and a balanced diet at college can become difficult with all the eating out, cafiteria food, and late night pizza. How can your eat a balanced nutrition portions for you to maintain weight and stay healthy.

College eat seems to be grab-n-go as a students life can become very stressful and time consuming. Mac n cheese and other easy to make foods have become very popular for college students but has become the problem.

Students eating more fruits and vegtables is very important for having a healthy body and maybe achieving weight loss.

Eating out is another thing that has lead college students to be gaining weight as the time most students eat out is at 10pm. This is not a good idea.

For more information please visit top weight loss site for all the answers in health, fitness, and weight loss. Nothing could be easier for getting the information you need.

Have a great day and God bless!

Healthy or Not: Granola!

2007-02-25T23:40:00.000-08:00

Granola in the morning with some yogurt on top can be one of the most delious breaskfasts you could ever make. It also sounds like a good fat burning meal if your goal if weight loss or improving your healthy eating habits.

Or is it?

Let me just give you the run down on how much calories granola actual has and you can decide if it is a good choice for losing weight.

Granola Nutrition Facts:

Orignal Granola 1 Cup

1) 598 calories

2) 29.7 g fat

3) 27 mg sodium

3) 64.6 g Carbohydrates

4) 10.5 g fiber

5) 24.5 g sugar

6) 18.1 g protein

And that is only one cup! I usually have two so for me it is double...Crap!

Some breakfast bars are an excellent idea but make sure you eat the ones that are low-fat as the calories can add up very quickly.

Even though something might look healthy doesn't really mean it is so be careful and make sure you read the labels.

For more information on healthy eating and fitness please visit top weight loss site and educate yourself for a healthier life.

Have a great day and God bless!

Death of Weight Loss

2007-02-24T20:52:00.000-08:00

Are your nutrition and exercise areas killing your weight loss goals or are they maximizing them for a lean physique.

You are killing your metabolism if you do these things!

1) Ignoring your body's energy balance - This could happen by getting a limited amount of vitamins and minerals, not drinking enough water, calories consumed are too low, or just not getting enough sleep.

2) Consume more energy than burned off - If you eat more calories than you burn off than you will not lose weight. Making sure that you are eating the correct amount for you to be eating less is the key for weight loss. Focus on what you drink and be smart on the extra condiments and toppings you put on your food.

3) Lower your metabolism - By not exercising, eating frequently, and being active your metabolism will decrease having you burning less calories than wanted. Make sure you exercise with weights and cardio, eat frequently, and keep your day active.

4) Starving yourself - By not eating when hungry, par taking in regular fasting, and depriving yourself the energy that is needed, say go by to burning fat.

5) Unhealthy eating - By mixing food with entertainment, eating to relieve stress, and on-the-go gorging, gaining weight will become the easiest thing you have ever done. Stick to healthy choices like fresh fruits and vegtables with lean meats that will help you burn fat and raise your metabolism.

6) Not keeping track of what you eat - By not keeping track of this candy bar here, and that milk shake there it will catch up on you how much you actually eat. Try to keep track of your nutrition for a week to a month and see if that help you to see the amount of food you need to lose weight.

Well, hopefully you will work on not doing these mis takes but if you would like more information that don't be shy to visit top weight loss site where all the information you will ever need is at your figure tips.

Fiber For Nutrition

2007-02-23T22:41:00.000-08:00

What is Fiber?

Fiber comes in two forms, soluble and insoluble. Each acts differently in the intestines and benefits the body in different ways. Soluble fiber acts like a sponge; insoluble fiber acts like a broom.

Soluble fiber. Found in dried beans and peas, oat bran, rice bran, barley, and fruit pectin (the substance used to thicken jams and jellies). Soluble fiber absorbs water in the intestines, mixes the food into a gel, and thereby slows the rate of glucose digestion and consequent absorption in the bloodstream.

Insoluble fiber. This is the stringy stuff that holds plants together. It's called "insoluble" because it doesn't dissolve in water. It can be found mainly in plant leaves, peels, skins, and the coverings of whole grains (e.g., wheat bran). Like a disposable diaper, insoluble fiber can absorb many times its own weight in water. This water adds bulk and softness to the stools and keeps them moving along more comfortably. Think of eating fiber like brushing your teeth - it cleans out your intestines daily.

When you consume too much fiber your body will tell you. Many side affects of too much fiber is excessive gassiness, bloating, stomach pains, and stools being uncomfortable.

Plus, with too much fiber you might eat less food than you need to lose weight and burn fat. Fiber can stop the hunger pains from any cravings and if you eat to small amount of calories, it can hurt your weight loss.

General Tips For Good Fiber Nutrition

Purchase whole grain breads and cereals rather than refined ones.
Buy fresh produce and eat it raw and unpeeled whenever possible. Don't drink juice for the fiber; it is not a good source.
Instead of refined flour, roll chicken in whole grain flour, wheat bran or oat bran before baking.
Use oatmeal or oat bran in place of bread crumbs in meatloaf or meatballs.
Substitute cooked dried beans for part or all of the meat in casserole recipes. Use in soups, salads and sandwich spreads.
Drink more fluids. Water is what helps fiber work. Without it, insoluble fiber can block the digestive system.
Spread fiber throughout the day. As a general rule, try two servings of fiber-containing foods at each meal.
Exercise regularly. All the benefits of fiber will not outweigh the problems that come with too little physical activity.

If you want to learn more on nutrition, exercise, and weight loss than just go to top weight loss site and learn the truth for yourself.

Have a great day and God bless!

Extreme Fitness For Weight Loss

2007-02-22T09:34:00.000-08:00

Building muscle, improving fitness level, and achieving weight loss is all about spending hours at the gym, right? The only true way to build a chiseled, lean muscular physique is hours upon hours of slaving away over rusty iron, day after day, year after year at the gym.

Well, not really!

Alright, hard work is still needed to achieve these goals as with anything in life you get what you put into it. But this does not mean you have to spend 4 or more days of intensive workouts for weight loss and burning fat.

Full-body workouts are a great way to recieve gains in the mimimun time you have in your busy schedule. If you are struggling with sticking to a workout plan than you need to try to do a full-body workout program.

Full-body Workouts

Full-body workouts have gotten a bad rap of being circuit workouts when really they are maximizing your muscles with heavy weights. This allows for full recovery for progressive fitness gains while not overtraining.

Benefits of Full-body Workouts

1) Saves Time: Probably the biggest positive about training your entire body at once is that your gym frequency decreases to around two to three times every seven days. Plus, you'll only be spending an hour in the gym for each session. Build muscle with only three to four hours of gym time during a week? You betcha. It's all about the quality of your sessions, not the quantity.

2) Boosts Your Cardiovascular System: Squeezing a solid 2 to 4 sets per body part into a 60-minute workout session gets your cardiovascular system up to speed in a hurry!

Full-body Workout Rules

1) Train Once Every 2 or 3 Days: Easy enough, right? The beauty of only training with weights every few days is that the days in between full-body workouts can be used to add a few cardio sessions instead of relying on ineffective cardio tacked on at the end of a workout.

2) Lift Heavy: Many athletes who try full-body workouts get trapped into training lighter than they usually would in order to conserve energy for body parts that come later in their routine. The truth is, if you're not training heavy, you're not going to make optimal progress, no matter what program you're on. Keep your weights as heavy as you can. The conserving of energy for the body parts you train at the end of your workout is addressed in point number six.

3) Perform one exercise per muscle group: This one is pretty easy to follow, but is still very important. Using basic, heavy exercises that enable you to lift the most weight means that you don't have to do more than one exercise per body part. For chest, do the bench press or incline bench press. For back, choose bent-over rows or chin-ups. For legs, nothing beats the squat. All of these movements allow you to move heavy weights and overload the muscles without performing endless exercises. Once you've chosen your exercises, plan your routines so that you're doing 2 to 4 sets of each exercise for 10 to 12 repetitions.

4) Keep your workout to an hour or less: When you're planning your workouts, remember that resistance training affects your natural musclebuilding hormones and adjust accordingly. Lots of big compound exercises will help boost your natural testosterone levels; however, long workouts also boost levels of the catabolic hormone cortisol. Keeping your workouts fairly brief but still intense is ideal for getting the best of both worlds. Sticking to 60 minutes or less is a good rule of thumb.

5) Consume a post-workout shake immediately after training: During full-body workouts, large amounts of glycogen are used to fuel your exertions, so it's important that you replenish your glycogen stores as soon as possible after training. Replenishing your glycogen right after training jump-starts the recovery process. Conversely, not taking advantage of this crucial time can slow your results significantly. Think of it as filling up the gas tank on your car after a long drive.

6) Change the order of your workouts: Training chest first for every full-body workout is doing a disservice to the rest of your physique's symmetry. What seems to work better for ensuring your three major body parts get equal attention is alternating between doing chest, back, and legs first in your three workouts a week. Don't always leave abs or calves for last, though!

For more information, go to top weight loss site as I have put the best information online on one site.

Have a great day and God bless!

HoodiThin - Amazon.com Review

2007-02-21T10:54:00.000-08:00

Certified 100% Pure Organic Hoodia Gordonii Fast Acting, Hi-Potency Liquid Extract

Product Features

Lose Weight FAST! (As seen on 60 Minutes, Today Show, and BBC News)
100% Unconditional Money Back Guarantee
Miracle Molecule Tricks The Brain Into Thinking You're Full
Safe Weight Loss With No Side Effects
HoodiThinTM Certified 100% Pure Organic South African Hoodia is Faster and More Effective Than Pills

Label Information

Indications
Obesity, overeating, compulsive overeating, food addiction, and eating disorder leading to obesity and difficulty weight loss.

Ingredients
Each bottle contains 250 mg of Certified 100% Pure South African Hoodia liquid extract. The Hoodia is reduced into a tincture from the fully mature hearts of Hoodia succulents (minus outer barks, roots and flowers) and is made into a professional-grade, high-potency liquid extract. Each bottle contains 30 servings, which should last two to four weeks, depending on frequency of use.

The goal is not how many milligrams of Hoodia you put in your mouth, but the quality of the active ingredient used and how much of it do you absorb. That is why the HoodiThin hi-potency liquid extract at 250 ml per dosage will be more effective than the Hoodia pills touting 800 to 1200 milligrams.

Directions
Use one dropper full (30 to 40 drops) of HoodiThin once per day before lunch or dinner for a conservative weight loss or weight management plan. Use twice a day (30 to 40 drops) before lunch and dinner for a more accelerated weight loss plan. Although you can take the drops straight without diluting, many prefer to mix HoodiThin into one half glass of any liquid (water, fruit juice, milk, etc), stir and drink it. Frequency of use may be increased when experiencing abnormal cravings (such as stress related cravings); however, we do not recommend use more than four times per day.

Product Description
Real Hoodia is RARE and EXPENSIVE. It takes 5 to 7 years for the Hoodia succulent to mature and provide appetite suppressant qualities. The African government limits the Hoodia it exports and the suppliers who receive it. Due to the popularity of this miracle herb, rip-off products that contain little or no authentic Hoodia flood the marketplace.. . . . . . . . We only use 100% pure South African Hoodia in HoodiThin...and are proud to display the certificates above to prove it.

Our Hoodia is licensed by the Western Cape Conservation Authority of South Africa and is certified to be 100% Authentic. There are two certified documents required to prove the authenticity of pure South African Hoodia.

They are the C.I.T.E.S Certificate and the Analytical Report.. . . . . . . . BUYER BEWARE:YOU SHOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT ANY Hoodia PRODUCTS BEING SOLD THAT ARE NOT ACCOMPANYED BY THE ABOVE DOCUMENTS PROVING THEIR AUTHENTICITY! . . . . . . . . Only the pure Hoodia grown in one specific region in South Africa has appetite suppressant qualities. If the Hoodia is from China, USA or any other part of the world, the product is inferior and ineffective.

Pure 100% South African Hoodia is very expensive...being sold to manufacturers in the range of $200 to $300 per kilo. Any Hoodia products being sold at cheap prices are not the real thing and will not work. Also, products claiming to contain large amounts of Hoodia in each pill are either making false claims or have been diluted with fillers. The fact is an average person would become sick if they consumed more than 800mgs of real Hoodia at any one time.. . . . . . . . We have spared no expense in acquiring 100% pure Hoodia direct from South Africa and processing it into a 20-to-1 ratio liquid extract.

That is why HoodiThin is the fastest and most effective Hoodia appetite suppressant product available anywhere!

I love reading review about products I recommend and hopefully so do you. To try hoodithin, go to top weight loss site and try it out for yourself.

Have a great day and God bless!

Fat Burn Through The Roof #2

2007-02-20T12:49:00.000-08:00

Alright, now that you know running in the morning is important what should you do next to accelerate your metabolism on fat burning mode for weight loss.

Morning Breakfast

Having breakfast in the morning is very important to stop the mid-morning cravings, speed up fat burn, and elevate your metabolism through the roof.

Breakfast should be your largest meal of the day as it is the jump start to your metabolism. Just think of your stomach as a fire place, your metabolism can't start if you don't put wood on it and if you put to much at one time it will burn too fast. Putting wood little by little is the best way to keep the fire hot.

This tip is one of the ones I talk about frequently at top weight loss site as it is one of the keys to having a high and fat burning metabolism.

So eat breakfast to burn fat and lose weight faster and easier than ever.

Have a great day and God bless!

Fat Burn Through The Roof

2007-02-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

Do you want to burn fat and build lean muscle, than morning cardio is exactly what you need.

Doing at least 30 minutes of cardio in the morning before you eat is the best way to focus on burning fat and limiting using your muscle for energy.

Morning Cardio Benefits:

1) More energy throughout the day keeping you going when times get hard and stressful.

2) Lowers appetite so hunger pains are not as sever and difficult to deal with.

3) High metabolism all day long.

Morning cardio is the absolute best way to target fat that will aid in weight loss by you losing fat and not lean muscle.

The bodies main source of energy is carbohydrates and when the body is depleted it will focus on your fat cells.

If you want to learn more about morning fat burn than visit top weight loss site and discover why I recommend it so strongly.

Have an incredible day and God bless!

Protein To Burn Fat

2007-02-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

It is important to eat more protein in your diet as it will increase weight loss, speed up metabolism, and is very unlikely to be stored as fat.

While protein helps speed up your metabolism and aids for losing weight it also helps maintains your lean muscle mass when burning fat is your focus. Without enough protein in your diet it will have you losing vital lean muscle mass that will have your metabolism slowing down and have you burning less fat.

How do I know this?

A study done by the American Journal of Physiology with a group eating 1 gram per pound of body weight and the other group eating according to their RDA. The study showed the group that ate a higher protein diet burned more fat than the other group.

It may be the "thermic effect" as protein speeds up the metabolsim as it was seen in the higher protein in take group as it was an 42% increase.

So eat more protein to increase your metabolism, burn more calories, and keep the food in your stomach there longer.

If you have any questions please visit top weight loss site and I am positive the answer will be their.

Have a great day and God bless!

Bagels Will Make You Fat

2007-02-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

Reduced fat bagels may have become standard breakfast fare, but cream cheese can sabotage your good intentions. It all adds up to more calories than you need.

This will make weight loss challenging!

Instead, try pureeing some low or even non-fat cottage cheese along with fresh fruit, your favorite spice or flavoring or maybe even some strawberry jam. This will provide you with a delicious, creamy topping for your bagel, but without the added fat.

Additionally, not all bagels are created equal. Bakery bagels tend to be more fattening than store-bought ones, and even if you are getting them out of the frozen foods or breads section, look for a low-fat option or check the nutrition guide on your usual brand... you may be surprised by what you find.

But are bagels the best choice of food to eat?

Bagels have super sized in the pass couple years making them higher in calories and now it seems doughnuts are healthier.

Here is why they would they be considered unhealthy:

1) Bagels have dense compacted carbohydrates content.

2) Most of them are pure white bread.

3) The extras like cream cheese make them twice or maybe three times higher in calories than some doughnuts.

For many people bagels are a quick choice for breakfast so try to buy whole wheat, low-fat cream cheese, and try to mix some protein with your breakfast so slow down the digestion of the bagel.

If you would like to know more please visit top weight loss site and get more nutrition, weight loss, health, and fitness information for yourself.

Have a great day and God bless!

Worst 12 Foods That Will Have You Gain Weight

2007-02-17T19:47:00.000-08:00

I believe the best way for you to decide what to eat is to know first what not to eat. With eliminating certains foods you will slowly learn the right foods for weight loss and burning fat.

12 Worst Foods To Eat:

1) Ice cream
2) Fried foods
3) Dougnuts and pastries
4) Candy, chocolate, and sweets
5) Soda
6) Fruit "drinks" and others sugar-sweetened beverages
7) Potatoe chips
8) Bacon, sausage
9) White bread
10) Hot dogs and fast food burgers
11) Cookies
12) Sugery breakfast cereals

Now that I just elimainated some of your favorite foods I hope that your not too bad at me but these foods just trigger our body to store them as fat. Certain foods are just like that.

For more nutrition information visit top weight loss site for some of the best health, fitness, and weight loss information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Cruise Weight Loss Healthy Eating

2007-02-17T11:20:00.000-08:00

The temptation of lavishing meals, endless buffets, and tall, frosty beverages can become too much to avoid or consume in moderation. Did I mention the early breakfasts and midnight buffets, this lets you can eat around the clock making it more difficult to eat healthy on vacation.

In most cases, the cost of food is included in your payment for the cruise, so you'll never see a price—essentially, the caviar is free! So is the chocolate croissant, and the filet mignon, and the fettuccine Alfredo, and the crème brulee, etc.

But you should enjoy yourself right?

So you see how easy it is to overeat on a cruise as food is everywhere. Even the best low-calorie, small-portion intentions can add up at 2 a.m. you're still encouraged to nibble on wedges of sea creature-shaped cheese and olives stuffed with lobster.

Don’t avoid everything but use these tips to help you enjoy on cruise without overeating completely.

Cruise Buffet Temptations

· Before going back for seconds give yourself a couple minutes to digest and rest as you might find yourself satisfied.

· Eat at a slow pace, enjoy the food and really emphasize chewing and all the taste of different foods.

· When you have your plate of food, sit in another room or far away from the buffet for a place to eat.

· Become a fan of fruit and vegetables as they will be a lot healthier for you.

· Choose foods you normally don’t get to eat so you will enjoy your meal more.

· Walk around the whole buffet before you load up your plate so you know exactly what you want.

Stay Active As Well

· Use the chances to go snorkeling, diving, or playing on the beach.

· When visiting different places walk instead of taking a bus or taxi as much as possible.

· Use the pool not just for relaxation but for enjoyable lap swim.

· Use the deck for a nice walk after a meal.

· Other activities are dancing, fitness facility, and running on the ship’s deck.

You must remember that you are on vacation though so have fun and enjoy it as much as possible and I guarantee you that eating healthy or just not gorging yourself will make the trip more forth wild.

If you want to learn more about health, fitness, and weight loss than visit my site top weight loss site and educate yourself with some of the best information online.

Have a great day and God bless!

Cruises Destroy Weight Loss and Fitness: True or False?

2007-02-17T11:16:00.000-08:00

Absolutely false!

Taking a relaxing vacation on a cruise has tremendously changed with all the adjustments of entertainment, food choices, and physical fitness opportunities. Why is this?

Today health clubs, spas, and sports of all description are a part of the daily lives of millions that seek a healthier life. You're probably one, and like millions of others, you believe that a vacation include the opportunity to keep that level of fitness you've worked so hard to achieve. You can believe that the cruise lines have been listening and have made the changes necessary. Things aboard have changed extremely.

Everything you could ever want like huge halls full of exercise equipment of every shape and size that are top-of-the-line bran new. Floor-to-ceiling consist of glass walls that gives you a spectacular view of the ocean while you work out. Classes of all kinds (yoga, stretching, ab workouts, circuit training, and step aerobics are all most likely offer) take place in these palatial venues. Swimming pools have morphed from mere splash puddles to places where some serious workouts can be done, with artificial currents providing resistance for "endless laps." And that old favorite — jogging — is now given its own track on many liners.

For cardiovascular workouts in intriguing surroundings there's nothing like a luxurious cruise ship to take a vacation. By the way, some of the cruise ships are so large you might have to stick with one lap around as it can been quite a distance.

If you're the type who loves the competitive edge in exercise than you will enjoy sports of all kinds that are available everywhere you look. One cruise line even features rock climbing and in-line skating on its list of exercise activities. Sport areas on cruise ships aren't relegated to paltry little backwaters, either. Depending on the ship, they can cover tens of thousands of square feet of deck space.

Of course, you can get instruction in this health, fitness, and different types of activities area as well. There are also many shore excursions that are geared towards those who love to challenge their bodies as well as look at wonderful scenery — hiking, kayaking, river rafting, and rock climbing in some exotic port of call.

They are intense!

So whether you're the type that likes sweat in the eyes while you work your body, or one who'd rather have cool cucumber slices laid on them while you let your body wrap do its work, everything you could ever wish for is on today's cruise ships health spas. Fitness can still be maintained on vacation as impossible as it may seem.

If you want to learn more about health, fitness, and weight loss than visit my site top weight loss site and educate yourself to better your healthy living.

Have a great day and God bless!

Burners Myths Experience

2007-02-17T11:01:00.000-08:00

I have purchase so many fat burners, weight loss supplements, and appetite suppressant that it still amazes me how much money I threw away.

The fitness industry has been hyping up all these products to make money and as long as people want a magic pill these products will sell. Society today always looks for the easy way out without thinking about things and that is when you get screwed.

The only three that work on me were:

1) Hoodia/Hoodithin
2) MetaboSpeed XXX
3) Hydroxicut

The one I have to say that was the best was Hoodia/Hoodithin as it is not a fat burn but a appetite suppressant that had me eating less without the hunger pains.

About 1000 calories less!

I still recommend healthy eating and exercise but Hoodia/Hoodithin will help you start a good diet without the temptations of food and cravings you would normally face.

So, in the meantime please take a look at these tips that will guide you along to weight loss and healthy eating and anything else you do or take with be a plus.

Diet tips to help you stay on a diet:

1. Drink eight (8) oz. glasses of water daily.
2. Keep track of your progress by using a weight loss log.
3. Variety may be the spice of life, but it also can be the downfall of a good diet. Stick to pre-planned healthier foods.
4. Eat smaller meals throughout the day rather then larger meals.
5. Exercise three times/week.
6. Eat slowly, let your appetite catch up with your food intake.
7. If you do break your diet one day, get right back on it.
8. Stay away from starvation diets.
9. Balanced eating works better in the long run.

If you would like to learn more please visit my website top weight loss site and educate yourself to better your life.

Have a great day and God bless!

Healthy Breakfast On The Go!

2007-02-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

For many people, breakfast is a cup of coffee on the run. But even if you're in a hurry, you can make healthy choices and eat a breakfast that will provide you with essential nutrients and lasting energy and weight loss.

Instructions

STEP 1: Take breakfast with you - stash a whole-grain bagel or muffin, a hard-boiled egg, yogurt or a small jar of peanut butter and some fruit in your bag and take it with you to work.
STEP 2: Shop in advance. Buy fresh-squeezed juices in small containers, whole-grain unsweetened cereal that just needs hot water added, eggs to hard-boil. This way you'll have breakfast ready every morning to take along to work, or you can eat it in the car.
STEP 3: Be creative. Take along a slice of leftover pizza, or pack up a leftover casserole.
STEP 4: Buy breakfast on your way to work if you don't have time to pack up a breakfast or eat before leaving the house. Check out stores and cafés near your house and en route to work. Check their hours and pick ones that will be open early. Avoid buying sweet pastries and doughnuts, which provide empty calories and will set you up for a massive energy slump.
STEP 5: Opt for low-sugar, high-fiber, high-protein choices. Choose a bagel and cream cheese, a whole-grain fruit-juice-sweetened muffin, scrambled eggs on an English muffin or a slice of quiche.
STEP 6: Read labels on the popular breakfast and energy bars. Many are very high in sugar and not as healthy as they appear.
STEP 7: Eat something in the morning even if you are not very hungry. A banana or apple is a healthy snack, or you could have a slice of whole-grain toast. These are quick and easy to eat at home, take along or buy on the run.

Tips & Warnings

Avoid skipping breakfast if you are trying to lose weight. It will not help you lose weight any faster, and in fact, you may end up eating a larger lunch to compensate.

To learn more about weight loss, health, and fitness visit my website top weight loss site and get all the information you could ever want.

Have a great day and God bless!