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Showing posts with label eating healthy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eating healthy. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

My Experience with Hoodithin for Healthy Eating

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!

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Healthy Breakfast Quick and Easy

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!

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

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

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.

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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!

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Permanent Weight Loss Success Tips

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!

Healthy Eating and Heart Tips

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?

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!

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Healthy Eating Day Success

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!

Monday, April 09, 2007

Artificial Sweeteners Wiehgt Loss Misconception

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:

  1. Splenda
  2. Aspartame
  3. Saccharine
  4. 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!

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Insomnia Hinders Weight Loss

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Have a great day and God bless!

Friday, March 23, 2007

Starting Weight Loss With A Bang

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!

Monday, March 19, 2007

Whole Foods Diet

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!

Friday, March 16, 2007

Eat Healthy With Flaxseed

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!

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Is Fast Food Getting Healthier?

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!

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Weight Loss Confusion in our Society

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!

Monday, February 26, 2007

Granola Can Be Healthy

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

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!

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Healthy or Not: Granola!

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!

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Cruise Weight Loss Healthy Eating

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!

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Smelling Your Food Might Kill You!

I came across this when I was researching for more information to put on my website top weight loss site and thought it was very interesting.

You have probably heard that people that ate less throughout their life time usually had a longer life and that is what scientist are trying to prove. But the research I came across was smelling your foods might sorten your lifespan.

I thought to myself is this possible?

They did a test on flies on ones that ate a normal diet while increasing the food smell in their atmosphere and the other group of flies ate a normal diet with no food smell in their atmosphere. The outcome was the flies that had no food smell had a life increase of 25 to 50%.

Not only that but the flies with no food smell were able to eat less, did not get hungry as often, and showed more energy.

They did the same test with mice and cats and the results were the same as the flies. Smell triggers all sorts of functions in our body that affect us in so many ways that we have to take them one at a time.

What does this means for us that want to achieve weight loss and improve our diets towards eating healthier, don't be surrounded with the food smell.

This has not been proven but have you noticed that you mostly get hungry when you feel food. My I go to a fair or the park I don't get hungry in tell I smell food as it triggers my body to feel hungry.

Try to avoid the food smell as much as possible and see if that helps and get back to me on it.

Have a great day and God bless!

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Healthy Eating Causing Boating

I use to have problems with this when I started eatin healthy and wanted to achieve weight loss. Boating and gas can be really annoying but it is part of how our bodies function. So how do we avoid it as much as possible?

Work on these things to avoid boating:

  • Swallowing air during meals. Eating too fast can cause air to be swallowed and this air can cause gasing, boating, burping, and even hiccups.
  • Certain foods cause boating and gas. Make sure you watch what kinds of foods you eat and the amount as foods like broccoli, eggs, etc.
  • Constipation. Boating is often the result of this function and you will need to try to increase your fiber and water in take.
  • Nutritional supplements. Things so-called healthy solutions can cause boating and gasing as side effects.
  • Chewing gum. I know this sounds dumb but believe me if you chew with your mouth open than you swallow a lot of air.
Try to avoid these thing and see if you improve and you can also check out my site top weight loss site.

Have a great day and God bless!