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Holiday Festive Aftermath

camsdcute — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:17:52 +0000

Christmas is over. New Year is next. That’s another week of dining sumptuous meals and drinking some wine. Soon afterwards, many people will be seeking ways to lose weight fast to eliminate all those calories gained during the holiday season.

MSN has provided a list of 50 ways to cut 500 calories a day and each could be effective in one way or another. Among the listed items, my favorites are as follows:

Don’t eat in front of the TV – Whenever I eat in front of a television, I end up eating more – slowly but continuous.
Use smaller plates – My mom and dad did this when I was young but did not see the impact since I was a kid then. Whenever I go home and see the same plate that we used years ago, I realize that it takes me 2-3 platefuls to satisfy my hunger. Note that to make this effective, discipline is still the key.
Play a game of touch football or basketball – Having any sport that helps burn fats and would require physical activity is a good alternative, as long as you keep those muscles moving.

2010 – A Better Year

camsdcute — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:16:41 +0000

Another year is over. By this time, you’ll hear mixed reactions from people.

Most would say the complete opposite, stating that the year has been too harsh on them. There are some that filed for bankruptcy, declaring that they no longer have the capacity to pay their home, car or rv financing. Some would point fingers at the government, the companies that they work for or other people, while others will just blame luck, or the lack of it.

There are some though that would claim that this is the best year for them financially despite the economic turmoil that the world had experienced. These could be those that found opportunities from the setback that they faced, or again, simply lucky to be at the right time and place.

Regardless of what was experienced the past year, many would believe that people have learned a lot of things, and that this knowledge could be used for their benefit in the future. Hopefully for everyone, the year 2010 will be a lot better.

Living near the Sea

camsdcute — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:19:07 +0000

Nowadays, a lot of establishments are being built near the shores. A popular place in Southeast Asia would be SM Mall of Asia, claimed to be the widest and largest mall in the whole of Asia. Aside from this shopping center, the area is slowly being surrounded by low rise gulf shores condos and other residential projects also handled by SM.

On shore residences and vacation spots are quite popular, especially in many Asian countries that are gifted with beautiful beaches and islands. Different types of structures are built, from simple to the most elegant one, just to cater to all kinds of visitors. Spending some time to visit these places at least once in a year or two is a good way to relax and unwind.

Good Fat vs Bad Fat

camsdcute — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:27:39 +0000

For most people, fats have been generally considered as something bad. The truth is, fat doesn’t necessarily cause disease, and can actually play an important role in its prevention. That’s something weird especially to those seeking fast weight loss solution. The truth however is that there really are good fats that benefit us.
In order to better understand, it’s nice to know some good and bad fats found in most of our diet.

The Good Fats

Monounsaturated Fats
Monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) while increasing HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). These are usually found in foods such as including peanuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios, avocado, canola and olive oil are high in MUFAs.

Polyunsaturated Fats
Polyunsaturated fats also lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and are found in seafood like salmon and fish oil, and others like corn, soy, safflower and sunflower oils. Omega 3 fatty acids is also classified under this.

The Bad Fats

Saturated Fats
Saturated fats raise total blood cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). These are typically found in animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs and seafood. Some plant foods are also high in saturated fats such as coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil.

Trans Fats
Trans fats are invented as scientists began to “hydrogenate” liquid oils so that they can withstand better in food production process and provide a better shelf life. As a result of hydrogenation, trans fatty acids are formed. Trans fatty acids are found in many commercially packaged foods, commercially fried food such as French Fries from some fast food chains, other packaged snacks such as microwaved popcorn as well as in vegetable shortening and hard stick margarine.

Source: HealthCastle.com.

What to Look for When Buying a Condo

camsdcute — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:14:07 +0000

A lot of condominiums are being built by developers to address the growing need for a decent home to stay. Here are some tips to help you decide which one fits you.

Developer’s Name and Reputation
Previous projects of condo developers give you an idea of the quality of work that they sell, and that’s a very important thing to consider whey buying your own unit. For sure, you don’t want to risk your cash for another crappy project by the same developer. It’s true that some projects are priced higher compared to others, but it could be worth paying for if the quality of the unit that you’ll end up buying is far superior.

Location
The location of your preferred location is somewhat dependent on your purpose in buying a condo unit. If you plan to have it rented for a decent income, or you want it to be near everything, then the strategic location is somewhere within the city. The downside could be the noise and possible pollution that any city brings. On the other hand, there are also resort-type projects, like some Destin Florida condos and other low rise projects that offer more relaxing environment

Amenities and Number of Units
The facilities and amenities offered by the project is something any condo owner would seek. Such facilities include gym, pool, parks, sports area, function rooms and more. Equally is important the density of people using the facility. For example, a condo that offers a swimming pool for thousands of occupants is just inappropriate.

Price
For some, this is the deciding factor. Again, some units are priced higher compared to others due to a lot of factor. Take time to study and weigh your options. You need to weigh your priorities. Just look for the best value for your money and your needs. Eventually, this will help you feel happy and fulfilled.

The Biggest Loser – Before and After Photos

camsdcute — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:53:46 +0000

Who’s the biggest winner among those who joined the Biggest Loser?

Posted in yahoo today are the pictures of the candidates and participants of the highly rated TV show. Their pictures before and after they entered the show were displayed side by side for comparison, and the outcome of the sacrifice and hard work is very evident. Some lost almost a hundred pounds in just eleven weeks – almost 30% of their original weight. The results are pretty much amazing.

Click here to view the photos.

For those asking on how to lose belly fat fast, you might want to consider joining the next series. Or better yet, imitate the challenges performed by the show’s participants.

The Biggest Loser will have the final weigh-in on December 28 at 8pm ET.

Holiday Resort Vacation Specials

camsdcute — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:29:02 +0000

It’s the last month of the year and the most awaited holiday of the year. As such, many families are planning their holiday vacation. Some look for outer banks vacation rental while others prefer more extravagant holiday, just to enjoy the season and have complete rest and relaxation.

Whenever planning to go on vacation, remember to plan in advance and take advantage of sales and promos. Note that most of these are offered weeks or months before the holiday season, but it’s never too late to check the travel companies around you.

Top 10 Most Overpaid Actors

camsdcute — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:39:51 +0000

Earlier this month, Forbes published a list of Hollywood’s most overpaid stars. These good looking men may be seen wearing expensive jewelries and tuxedo shirts, or maybe driving luxurious cars, but movie makers may now have second thoughts in casting them, probably due to movie flops or high talent fee. In the list are prominent stars that most people would still like to see in the big screen.

Will Ferrell
Ewan Mcgregor
Billy Bob Thornton
Eddie Murphy
Ice Cube
Tom Cruise
Drew Barrymore
Leonardo DiCaprio
Samuel L. Jackson
Jim Carrey

Just so you know how this list was completed, you can read the full article here, and the list in pictures here.

Where Did the Term Black Friday Come From

camsdcute — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:21:17 +0000

In the United States, the day after Thanksgiving Day is called Black Friday. This signifies the beginning of the holiday shopping season. This is the reason why lots of items go on sale starting on this day until the end of the Christmas season. Such goods ranges from gadgets – phones, laptops, computers, iPods, etc – to useful items like appliances, furniture, clothes, and as simple slippers, air conditioner filters, plates, and a lot more.

The term ‘black Friday’ they say, originated in the 60’s but only became common since the year 2000. The term “Black Friday” originated in Philadelphia in reference to the heavy traffic on that day. Here’s an excerpt from Wikipedia:

JANUARY 1966 — “Black Friday” is the name which the Philadelphia Police Department has given to the Friday following Thanksgiving Day. It is not a term of endearment to them. “Black Friday” officially opens the Christmas shopping season in center city, and it usually brings massive traffic jams and over-crowded sidewalks as the downtown stores are mobbed from opening to closing.

This Decade’s Top 10 Movie Flops

camsdcute — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:57:40 +0000

If you think every movie you watch creates millions of dollars, think again. Not all those who make it to the big screen are sure money makers. There are of course flops that didn’t achieve their target income, or worse, did not even match their total cost. Also, there are some films that went straight to CDs/DVDs or online for download and to be viewed on ipods or other video players.

Listed below are the top 10 flops from year 2000-2009.

10. THE SPIRIT (December 25, 2008) – Samuel L. Jackson
* Estimated cost: $60 million
* Domestic gross: $19.8 million

9. GRINDHOUSE (Release date: April 6, 2007) – Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez
* Estimated cost: $67 million
* Domestic gross: $25 million

8. ROLLERBALL (February 8, 2002) – Jean Reno, Chris Klein, LL Cool J and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos
* Estimated cost: $70 million
* Domestic gross: $19 million

7. THE INVASION (August 17, 2007) – Nicole Kidman
* Estimated cost: $80 million
* Domestic gross: $15.1 million

6. CATWOMAN (July 23, 2004) – Michelle Pfeiffer
* Estimated cost: $100 million
* Domestic gross: $40 million

5. TOWN & COUNTRY (April 27, 2001) – Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton and Gary Shandling
* Estimated cost: $90 million
* Domestic gross: $6.7 million

4. GIGLI (August 1, 2003) – Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez
* Estimated cost: $54 million
* Domestic gross: $6.1 million

3. LAND OF THE LOST (June 5, 2009) – Will Ferrell
* Estimated cost: $100 million
* Domestic gross: $65 million

2. BATTLEFIELD EARTH (May 12, 2000) – John Travolta
* Estimated cost: $75 million
* Domestic gross: $21 million

1. THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH (August 6, 2002) – Eddie Murphy
* Estimated cost: $100 million
* Domestic gross: $4.4 million

Source: http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.reuters.com/top-10-movie-flops-decade-reuters (Reuters)