Diets And Weight Loss

A really simple diet that really works

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:56:00 +0000

If you’ve tried everything and you’re sick of counting calories or points, remembering which foods to eat, and so on, then thisÂ is the diet for you.

Introducing “The Half Diet”

This is a very simple diet with minimal rules. Here they are:
At any given meal only eat HALF of what you would normally eat.
You can eat any kind of food you want.
You can eatÂ UNLIMITED green, orange and yellow vegetables - assuming they are not drowned in fats.
Optional Success strategy: eat fruit instead of processed foods for snacks.
Optional Success strategy: walk briskly for 20-30 minutes a day. Can be broken up into 10 minute chunks throughout the day.

That’s it. I’ve seen this diet work. It’s simple and very portable. Restaurants? No problem. Just eat HALF. Ask for steamed veggies to fill up on.Â If you follow this simple plan, you should be able to lose weight since you will only be eating half of what you normally eat.

No diet is easy, but at least with this one you won’t have to think too much. Another key to success with this diet is to take smaller bites and eat more slowly. This way you won’t feel like you ate less. Wishing you much success!

As always eat lots of fruits and veggies. To make eating fruits and veggies easier, why not blend them into a smoothie?

Source: lifelearningtoday.com

What is and how the South Beach Diet works

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:08:00 +0000

The South Beach Diet has quickly captured the hearts and stomachs of dieters. Because of the buzz it’s been getting at the watercooler and at parties, it’s fast becoming one of the most popular carb-control plans. Developed by Miami cardiologist Arthur Agatston, MD, director of the Mount Sinai Cardiac Prevention Center, the diet is meant to promote weight loss but not at the expense of heart health. Unlike other wildly popular low-carb plans, South Beach calls for keeping tabs on saturated fats and favors lean meats and proteins over bacon, cheeseburgers, and steak. Recently, Agatston came out with a South Beach Diet cookbook.

While the South Beach Diet is lumped together with other low-carb plans, it takes a decidedly different and healthier approach to protein and fat. Agatston contends that weight loss is just one of the priorities of the diet (the other is healthful levels of cholesterol and other blood fats). As with other low-carb diets, it’s questionable if the restrictive first phase really banishes carb cravings and is truly safe. So perhaps dieters can jump headfirst into phase two.

Basic principles:

The plan consists of three phases. In the first, carbs are curtailed dramatically in order to stop cravings. Next, dieters keep blood sugar on an even keel by adding back small amounts of slow-to-digest “good” carbs like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Without getting too complicated, foods are categorized based on a ranking system called the glycemic index (G.I.), which measures their ability to raise blood sugar. Foods with low G.I.’s are favored because they are digested and absorbed slowly and release sugar into the blood gradually; colas, sugar, and refined grains are downplayed since they have a high G.I. Simply put, “the faster the sugars and starches you eat are processed and absorbed intro your bloodstream, the fatter you get,” Agatston says.

How the diet works:

There’s no calorie counting. In fact, there’s no actual diet plan per se. Agatston uses sample menus to outline what you need to eat. Lists of “foods to enjoy” and “foods to avoid” round out the plan. Basically, it adds up to three meals a day and three small snacks or six “eating occasions.” Agatston doesn’t like to call his diet low-carb; nevertheless, carbohydrates are indeed limited.

What you can eat:

Varies depending on the phase. In phase one, dieters pick low-G.I. carbs from Agatston’s list and pair them with modest portions of proteins including lean meats and seafood. Dairy, except for low-fat cheese, is taboo in this phase. By phase two, you start mixing in higher-G.I. foods in small amounts. Sweet treats, such as hard candy, frozen fudge bars, and Popsicles, are limited to 75 calories’ worth per day.

Does the diet take and keep weight off?

No clinical data. There are no independent trials that look at the success of the diet alone or compare it with other popular plans. However, Agatston has his own study with 40 overweight volunteers. Dieters were randomized to either South Beach or the American Heart Association Step 2 diet. At the 12-week point, South Beach dieters lost nearly 14 pounds, or about twice as much as the AHA dieters.
Is the diet healthy?

Phase one is too restrictive. But phase two and the maintenance phase promote healthful fats, lean proteins, and complex carbs, albeit a smaller percentage of them.

What do the experts say?

“It’s one of the more sensible of the low-carb diets,” says John Foreyt, PhD, a well-known weight-loss researcher t Baylor College of Medicine. “If you pick and choose carefully in the later phase, you can make a sensible eating plan out of it. The problem with it, of course, is that there is no data on the long-term results on whether it keeps weight off.” Registered dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner, who has counseled patients at Northwestern Memorial Wellness Institute for five years, says she tells patients “not to read any of the theory part of the book or worry about glycemic index. It’s a bit convoluted,” she says. “But I do tell them to buy the book for its menu ideas, recipes, and cooking tips. There’s a great recipe for mashed cauliflower that is a good substitute for mashed potatoes.”

Who should consider the diet?

Anyone wanting to try a somewhat safer version of low-carb dieting: Cooks, chefs, and dieters who appreciate good food will find lots of creative recipes here.
Bottom line:

This is the best of the reduced-carb regimens. Its emphasis on healthful fats and lean sources of protein is laudable. The advice to eat three bites of a rich dessert (no more, no less) when you eat out is clever. On the other hand, forget the tip about filling up with a glass of Metamucil (fiber supplement) 15 minutes before mealtime. Eating high-fiber foods at the meal is a much better—and tastier—strategy.

Source: health.com

Dangers of processed food

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:06:00 +0000

While we all know to some extent that junk food is bad for health, new research shows that if a food has been processed to even a small extent, it may be contributing to weight problems.

Even foods that are labeled as "healthy" or "low calories" or "diet food" can actually do more harm than good.

Oprah has been campaigning against processed foods and emphasizing the importance of eating fresh foods and her assertion now seems to have a scientific reason.

Why processed food is not healthy?

The food manufacturers - with good intentions - have no choice but to add "stuff" to make the food last longer and still taste delicious. Since any food loses its natural flavors during processing and when it sits on a shelf in the store or in your pantry, companies add all kinds of chemicals to either retain some of the original flavor or make the food be flavor-rich.

How does processed food make you fat?

While the body looks for calories, it also looks for nutrients. That is why when you are getting small or no nutrients in processed foods, the body goes into the "hunger mode" and starts to preserve calories. The net result is that the calorie-rich processed foods turn into fat and the body refuses to burn them.
Eliminating processed foods from your diet

Processed food is convenient, especially for busy moms or college students or single women with demanding jobs. But it is best to eliminate it or minimize it in the diet. These are some tips:
1- If it is in a can or a bottle or a box (or whatever exotic packaging), ask yourself if you can avoid it.

2- While shopping in the supermarket, go to the fresh food aisles first and try to find whatever you need there. Only then, go to the processed food aisles.

3- Fresh food is typically more expensive - try to cut back in other areas of your life to find the extra money.

To the extent possible, also stay away from ready-to-eat meals, no matter what the label says or even if is sold in a health-foods or gourmet supermarket. The best way to eat healthy is to cook your own meal using sauces that you have prepared. You must also try to read the recipe carefully to figure out how you can cut sugar and fats.

Increase the intake of healthy protein (lean meat, eggs, tofu, etc.) in your diet - high protein diets suppress appetite.

Source: lindisima.com

How to Avoid Stretch Marks when You Are Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Sat, 17 May 2008 19:26:00 +0000

Many rumors have circulated over the years about the much-dreaded stretch marks that can occur when you are pregnant. Some say they are hereditary and if your mother or grandmother had them, there is a good chance that you will have them, as well. Others say that if you don't nourish your skin properly while you are pregnant you will be more likely to get them. Your diet, the amount of exercise you get, the type of soap you use and hundreds of other factors might also apply.

No matter what the cause of stretch marks, however, no mother to be wants them. Not only do they not go away, but the stretching of your skin can be very painful and who would want to worry about any of that on top of all the other worries that are coming your way with the new responsibility of being a parent?

The cause of stretch marks is still unknown but there are a few things that can not only minimize the appearance of these scars but moisturize and nourish your skin for a healthier appearance. The first one as everyone knows is what their doctor has been telling them since they were small children themselves:

Make sure you drink eight glasses of water per day. Nowadays, everyone's lives have become super hectic and it is much easier for a pregnant woman to find a can of cola instead of a bottle of water, but the truth is that the can of cola that you enjoy with lunch does nothing for your body and it also does nothing for your baby besides give the little one a bad sugar high. If you want to eliminate the possibility of getting stretch marks, drink lots of water.

Water is proven by many doctors to help nourish your skin, hair, and nails. It also can help the appearance of any scar -- including stretch marks -- disappear over time. Water also not only helps your internal organs but it helps nourish and takes care of your little baby that you are carrying, and that alone is a great reason to drink more water.

Source: associatedcontent.com

How to avoid getting cellulite?

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:33:00 +0000

More than anything you want to make sure that you are getting enough fiber in your diet. When it comes to what foods cause cellulite, anything fatty and sugary you will definitely want to avoid. Chocolate, cakes, biscuits, pastries, all of these should be avoided if you want to have the best skin and avoid problems like cellulite.

You also want to avoid salty foods as dietary salt can cause fluid to be retained in the body and may actually even worsen the visible signs of cellulite.

Add Fiber and Supplements

Fiber is basically the opposite; make sure that as you increase your intake of fiber you also drink more water or you may end up constipated. A high fiber diet means eating foods such as whole grain breads and cereals, fruit and vegetables.

There are also supplements that you can take and you will want to talk to your doctor to get more information on this. Ginkgo bilboba is one herb in particular that can help with cellulite by improving circulation and it may also be beneficial in reducing the severity of cellulite as well.

There are many other foods that you should be aware of when it comes to the topic of what foods cause cellulite. Basically you just want to make sure that you eat a healthy, well balanced diet and drink plenty of water. Exercise is also important of course, and every step you take here will be benefiting you, keeping you looking your very best and reducing your chances of developing something like cellulite.
Foods to be avoided by cellulitics

A detailed list of such foods, which should be avoided by a cellulitic is given here:

Fish, salted and preserved caviar, anchovies, sardines, cod, tunny, haddock
Oily fish like eels, mackerel, herring
Certain meats like foie gras, duck, goose, fatty pork meats, stews, guinea-fowl, high game, tripe
Shellfish like lobsters, crabs, crayfish, prawns, mussels, scallops
Vegetables like broad beans, split peas, soya
Fruit like all dried fruits
Milk products like strong cheese
Highly fermented cheese
Cooked butter
Confectionary
Fried foods
Condiments like mustard, pickles, garlic, spices, salt, pepper and all other spicy things
Drinks like coffee, tea and all alcoholic drinks
Tobacco like at the most two cigarettes a day

Source: yahoo answers,womanjunction.com

10 Common Myths About Weight Loss And Diets

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Sun, 11 May 2008 18:30:00 +0000

Myth 1 Low-fat or no-fat diets are good for you.

Fact

Leading dietician Lyndel Costain says: 'People tend to think they need a low-fat diet to lose weight, but you should still have a third of your calories coming from fat.'

The body needs fat for energy, tissue repair and to transport vitamins A, D, E and K around the body.

Lyndel Costain adds: 'As a guideline, women need 70g of fat a day (95g for men) with 30g as the minimum (40g for men).

'There's no need to follow a fat-free diet. Cutting down on saturated fats and eating unsaturated fats, found in things like olive oil and avocados, will help.'
Myth 2 Crash dieting or fasting makes you lose weight.

Fact

This may be true in the short term, but ultimately it can hinder weight loss.

Claire MacEvilly, a nutritionist at the MRC Human Nutrition Research Centre in Cambridge, explains: 'Losing weight over the long term burns off fat. Crash dieting or fasting not only removes fat but also lean muscle and tissue.'

The loss of lean muscle causes a fall in your basal metabolic rate - the amount of calories your body needs on a daily basis.

This means your body will need fewer calories than it did previously, making weight gain more likely once you stop dieting.

It's also why exercise is recommended in any weight-loss plan to build muscle and maintain your metabolic rate.

Claire MacEvilly adds: 'Fasting can also make you feel dizzy or weak so it's much better to try long-term weight loss.'
Myth 3 Food eaten late at night is more fattening.
Fact

Many diets tell you not to eat after a certain time in the evening. They say the body will store more fat because it is not burned off with any activity.

A study at the Dunn Nutrition Centre in Cambridge suggests otherwise.

Volunteers were placed in a whole body calorimeter, which measures calories burned and stored.

They were fed with a large lunch and small evening meal for one test period, then a small lunch and large evening meal during a second test period.

The results revealed the large meal eaten late at night did not make the body store more fat.

It's not when you eat that's important, but the total amount you consume in a 24-hour period.

Lyndel Costain adds: 'It is true that people who skip meals during the day, then eat loads in the evening are more likely to be overweight than those who eat regularly throughout the day.

'This may be because eating regular meals helps people regulate their appetite and overall food intake.'

Myth 4 A slow metabolism prevents weight loss.

Fact

This is a common myth among dieters who are struggling to lose weight.

Studies have shown that resting metabolism - the number of calories used by the body at rest - increases as people become fatter.

In other words, the larger you are, the more calories you need to keep your body going and the higher your metabolism.

Clare Grace, research dietitian at the Queen Mary University of London, says: 'Weight gain occurs when the number of calories eaten is greater than the number used up by the body.

'Unfortunately, people are becoming increasingly sedentary, burning off less and less calories, and it seems likely this is a crucial factor in the increasing numbers struggling to control their weight.'

Myth 5 Fattening foods equal rapid weight gain.

Fact

Believe it or not, true weight gain is a slow process. You need to eat an extra 3500 calories to gain one pound of body fat (and vice versa for losing it).

Lyndel Costain explains: 'If the scales say you've gained a few pounds after a meal out, it's largely due to fluid, which will resolve itself - as long as you don't get fed up, and keep overeating!

'A lot of people feel guilty and think they've blown their diet if they eat rich foods. But, how can a 50g chocolate bar make you instantly put on pounds?

'For long-term weight control, balance high-fat foods with healthy food and activity.'

Myth 6

Low-fat milk has less calcium than full-fat milk.

Fact

Skimmed and semi-skimmed milk actually have more calcium, says dietician Alison Sullivan, because the calcium is in the watery part, not the creamy part.

She says: 'If you're trying to lose weight and cut fat from your diet, skimmed milk is your best bet because it is lower in fat and has 10mg more calcium per 200ml milk than full fat.

'Semi-skimmed is best for maintaining a healthy lifestyle if you're not dieting.

'Full-fat milk is best for children and adults who are underweight.'
Myth 7

Low-fat foods help you lose weight.

Fact

'Low-fat' or 'fat-free' doesn't necessarily mean low calorie or calorie-free, warns Lyndel Costain.

Check the calorie content of foods, especially cakes, biscuits, crisps, ice creams and ready meals.

Extra sugars and thickeners are often added to boost flavour and texture, so calorie content may be only a bit less, or similar to standard products.

Foods labelled low-fat should contain no more than 3g fat per 100g.

'Watching the quantity is important,' adds nutritionist Alison Sullivan. 'People tend to have half-fat spread but then use twice as much.

'And things like fruit pastilles may be low in fat, but are high in sugar which turns to fat.

'With low fat foods, look to see where else the calories might come from.'
Myth 8

Cholesterol is bad for you.

Fact

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is made mostly by the liver.

It can be bad for us, because it forms deposits that line and clog our arteries. Clogged arteries contribute to heart disease.

But we all need some blood cholesterol because it's used to build cells and make vital hormones - and there's good and bad cholesterol.

Lyndel Costain explains: 'Saturated fats found in food like meat, cheese, cream, butter and processed pastries tend to raise low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, known as 'bad' cholesterol, which delivers cholesterol to the arteries.

'High density lipoprotein (HDL), or 'good' cholesterol, transports cholesterol away from the arteries, back to the liver.'

So choose unsaturated fats such as vegetable oils, nuts and seeds.
Myth 9

Vegetarians can't build muscle.

Fact

Vegetarians can be as muscular as meat eaters by getting their protein from vegetable sources such as cheese, nuts, pulses and grains.

Claire MacEvilly says: 'You need protein to build muscle, but too much can lead to long-term side effects.

'The body can only store a certain amount of protein, so too much can damage the kidney.

'The Department of Health recommends that 50 per cent of energy should come from carbohydrates, 35 per cent from fat and the remaining 15 per cent from protein.'
Myth 10
You always gain weight when you stop smoking.

Fact

Some people gain weight when they stop smoking, some lose weight and some stay the same.

While nicotine does increase the body's metabolism, its effect is small. It's far healthier to be an overweight non-smoker than not bother giving up because you think you'll put on weight.

Alison Sullivan says: 'Where people tend to fall down is when they replace a cigarette with comfort food.

'Chewing sugar-free gum or snacking on vegetable strips kept in the fridge is a good idea because you can have these instead of reaching for the biscuit tin.

'And something like a satsuma keeps your hands occupied until the craving goes away.'

Source: netdoctor.co.uk

Myths about how to flatten your stomach

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:33:00 +0000

Myth 1: Training the abs will give you a flat stomach.
You simply can't spot reduce fat. When you exercise, fat is removed from all areas of the body. The calories expended during ab exercises are very low. If you are looking for a high calorie burner, there are better exercises. Working the abs will develop the underlying muscle, but if there is a layer of fat obscuring your "six pack" neither you nor anyone else will ever see it.

Myth 2: The lower and upper abs are separate from one another.
The abs are one long sheet of muscle. They aren't separate. Any ab exercise you do is going to involve both the lower and upper abdominal areas. You can shift the emphasis more toward the lower or upper regions by performing specific exercises. To target the upper abdominal area, you use exercises that bring the chest towards the pelvis (crunch-type exercises). To target the lower abdominal region, use exercises that bring the pelvis toward the chest (reverse curls).

Myth 3:You should perform ab exercises every day for best results.
If you train your muscles every day, you are going to be short-changing yourself. The muscles develop during rest. When you train them every day, you're actually breaking down muscles. It's best to allow 48 hours for the muscle to recuperate and provide optimal results.

Myth 4: During the crunch, you should place your hands behind your head for support.
You should never put your hands behind your head for support. When you put your hands behind your head and clasp there is a tendency to pull on the neck muscles. This puts you at a greater risk for straining the neck muscles, especially when the repetitions start getting difficult and you are fatiguing and want to get out the last few reps. The best advice is to place your hands behind your chest or put your fists at your ears.

Schoenfeld emphasises that to achieve a super-sexy stomach you first have to shed the layer of fat covering the muscles. The best one-two tactic? Good nutrition and regular physical activity. Without proper nutrition, you aren't going to see the fruits of your labour, he says.

For an extra boost of fat burning Schoenfeld advocates an aerobic activity. The combination of a healthy diet and cardio exercise will speed up your progress and help burn extra fat.

Schoenfeld suggests performing the following three exercises as one giant set. Do 15 to 20 reps of the toe touch. Without resting, do 15 to 20 reps of the reverse curl. Then do 15 to 20 reps of the twisting curl. Rest 30 seconds and repeat the giant set two more times.

Toe Touch
Begin by lying on the floor with arms and legs straight upwards, perpendicular to your body. Slowly curl your torso up and forward, raising your hands as close to your toes as possible. Contract your abs and then reverse direction, returning to the starting position.

Reverse Curl
Begin by lying back on the floor. With your hands at your sides, raise your butt as high as possible while keeping your upper back pressed to the floor. Contract your abs and then reverse direction, returning to the starting position.

Twisting Crunch
Begin by lying face up on the floor with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Your thighs should be perpendicular to the ground and your hands should be folded across your chest. Slowly raise your shoulders up and forward toward your chest, twisting your body to the right. Feel a contraction in your abdominal muscles and then slowly reverse direction, returning to the start position. After performing the desired number of repetitions, repeat the process, twisting your body to the left.

Source: ivillage.co.uk

Celebrity Diets

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:44:00 +0000

Jessica Alba
From the early age of 12 Jessica Alba decided to modify her diet so she wouldn't follow in the foot steps of her heavily overweight family. She eats a balanced diet and shies away from eating carbs to keep her body in svelte shape for many of her more revealing roles.

Jessica sticks to a diet of lean meats, vegetables, egg whites and cottage cheese, and snacks on dried fruit and frozen yogurt to satisfy her sweet tooth.

Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer stays fit by exercising and eating a balanced diet. Everything in moderation is her motto! She doesn't drink alcohol at all and When she does need to lose weight she cuts back on her carbs.

Jennifer incorporates regular cardio and weight resistance training into her life. I suppose with no hangover to deal with, she's always in top form for an exercise routine..

Oprah
The queen of celebrity weight loss. She avoids carbs like the plague, including bread, rice, pasta and potatoes. She also works out everyday - she's testament to the fact that dieting isn't easy, but if you work hard you can do it.

Oprah said recently, "My one regret in life is wasting years trying to control my weight." Well it looks like she has it all figured out now.

Heidi Klum
Heidi lost 30lbs in the first 6 months after her pregnancy. How did she stay motivated?

She took photographs of herself in the buff every week, to keep track of the way her body was changing!

Angelina Jolie
A strict protein-rich diet of lean meats and fish, plus lots and lots of water. Eating more high quality protein is one celebrity diet tip that we should all take note of.

Angelina has also dined on cockroaches, crickets and bee larvae - all excellent sources of protein. However, we don't all need to go that far to stay slim!

Janet Jackson
Janet's dramatic weight loss in 2006 captured the attention of the world. Besides a full exercise routine, she has a personal nutritionist who determines her diet.

She drinks 2-3 custom-tailored liquid meals each day, containing all the nutrients she needs. As her diet progressed, she introduced vegetables, berries and frozen fruit.

Christie Brinkley
Christie keeps all junk food out of the house. When she wants to snack, its on sweet potatoes, not sweets!

Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon controls her calories and portions by eating jars of baby food. It's a great idea as top quality baby food is tasty and nutritionally dense. It's also very convenient as a snack - take it with you when you're on the go.

Marcia Cross is another fan - instead of eating fruit candy, follow her lead and replace it with a healthy pot of strawberry-banana puree.

Ashley Judd
The star of A Time To Kill and De-Lovely eats no dairy at all. Her celebrity diet starts each day with hot water and lemon, and she puts Soya milk in her cereal.

Claudia Schiffer
Eats nothing but fruit before noon. She has a light dinner of salad and steamed vegetables, and snacks on tomato juice, black grapes and herbal tea. She sticks to 3 meals a day to keep a healthy metabolism.

Demi Moore
Demi drinks herbal tea to curb her appetite. And she stays healthy by taking vitamins with her tea between meals.

Jennifer Aniston
The Zone. She lost 30lbs by cutting out mayonnaise, sandwiches and fried food. She is also a yoga fanatic.

Drew Barrymore
Drew sticks to a sensible 3 meals a day, and snacks on Diet Coke or low fat Jell-O when she's hungry. For exercise she makes sure that she enjoys herself - by going jogging, dancing and playing crazy golf!

Fergie
With such a busy schedule Fergie orders her meals delivered by Diet Designs. She also forces down 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar each day. This home remedy tonic has been used for 10,000 years for a variety of health problems. It is also thought to speed metabolism, break down fat and even block fat formation.

Tori Spelling
Tori Spelling gained 40 pounds from her recent pregnancy. She has already dramatically dropped it all and then some, thanks to the new advanced Nutrasystem plan. She loves the taste, diversity, and convenience of this diet plan and is now the celebrity spokesmodel for The Nutrasystem Diet.

Source: modeldietplan.com

Obesity can increase dementia risk by up to 80%

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:56:00 +0000

Being obese can increase the risk of Alzheimer's Disease by as much as 80 percent, according to a study published Wednesday in the May issue of Obesity Reviews.

But it's not just weight gain that poses a risk. People who are underweight also have an elevated risk of dementia, unlike people who are normal weight or overweight, said the research papers.

U.S. researchers carried out a detailed review of 10 international studies published since 1995, covering just over 37,000 people, including 2,534 with various forms of dementia. Subjects were aged between 40 and 80 years when the studies started, with follow-up periods ranging from three to 36 years.

All kinds of dementia were included, with specific reference to Alzheimer's Disease and to vascular dementia -- where areas of the brain stop functioning because the blood vessels that supply them are damaged by conditions such as high blood pressure or heart disease.

"Our analysis showed that obesity increased the relative risk of dementia, for both sexes, by an average of 42 percent when compared with normal weight," says Youfa Wang, lead researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "And being underweight increased the risk by 36 percent."

"But when we looked specifically at Alzheimer's Disease, the increased risk posed by obesity was 80 percent. The increased risk for people with vascular dementia was 73 percent," said the authors.

The detailed analysis clearly shows a "U-shaped" relationship between weight and dementia, with people who are obese or underweight facing a greater risk, they concluded. "We believe that our results show that reducing the prevalence of obesity is a promising strategy for preventing the progression of normal aging into Alzheimer's Disease."

Source xinhuanet.com

Diets That Don't Ever Work

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:28:00 +0000

Avoid these 5 types of diets for best weight loss results:

1. Diets that focus on only a few foods or food groups (like the cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet, strict vegan diets, raw food diets, and many low-carb diets). Beware of any diet that rules out entire food groups. People need to eat from a variety of food groups to get all the nutrients they need, says ADA spokeswoman Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD.

Yale University's David Katz, MD, author of The Flavor Point Diet, says that while restrictive diets do work initially, they fail over the long haul. You can lose weight on diets that focus on single foods (like cabbage soup), but how much cabbage soup can a person eat? Before long, you grow weary of eating the same foods every day, and cravings for favorite foods lead you back to your former eating behavior.

Keep in mind that all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle in moderation -- even things like bacon, super-premium ice cream, and chips. And when diets forbid certain foods and dieters envision a life without their favorite treats, those diets usually fail. "Any time you restrict a certain food, it triggers cravings for the forbidden fruit and sets up a restriction-binge cycle," says Blatner.

And what about restrictive diets that offer a rewarding "cheat day"? May labels them "absurd."

"It just doesn't make sense to try to be perfect (whatever that is) on Sunday to Friday while obsessing about everything you are going to eat on Saturday," she says.

2. "Detox" diets (like Master Cleanse, the Hallelujah Diet, and The Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox). Extreme regimens calling for procedures like liver flushes, bodily cleanses, colonics, hormone injections, and more are highly suspect, experts say.

"All the flushes and cleanses are pure nonsense, unnecessary, and there is no scientific basis for these recommendations," says Pamela Peeke, MD, chief medical correspondent for the Discovery Health channel. "Your body is well equipped with organs, such as the liver and kidneys, and the immune system, to rid itself of potential toxins and does an excellent job of cleansing itself without needing flushes or cleanses."

3. Diets with 'miracle' foods or ingredients (like supplements, fructose water, bitter orange, green tea, apple cider vinegar). Dieters are always searching for the food, pill, or potion that will help them lose weight, but unfortunately, there are no such miracle ingredients. "No one single food or group of foods eaten together or at a certain time of day has any impact on weight loss," notes May.

Be leery of any plan that recommends a shelf full of supplements, enzymes, or potions (especially if you purchase them from the diet book author or company).

"You don't need expensive supplements," says Blatner. "If you want to take a once daily multivitamin for nutritional insurance, that is fine, but otherwise, we recommend you get your nutrients from food."

4. Fasting and very low-calorie diets (like the "Skinny" vegan diet, Hollywood Diet, and Master Cleanse). Fasting has been a cultural and religious tradition for centuries, and is fine for a day or so, but fasting for weight loss is counterproductive, Giancoli explains.

"When you ... consume too few calories, your body thinks it is starving and adjusts the metabolism," she says. "But when you go back to eating normally, your metabolism doesn't readjust and therefore you need fewer calories than before -- otherwise known as the yo-yo syndrome."

What's worse, weight loss during a fast is usually a combination of fat, fluid, and muscle, but the pounds regained will probably be all fat. Not convinced yet? Giancoli says you won't feel good, nor will you have much energy to be physically active while fasting.

And what about very low-calorie diets? Blatner say that diets promising losses of more than a half to 1 pound per week are simply not realistic.

"When you see diet books touting 5, 10 or 15 pounds in a short period of time, it is unrealistic," says Blatner. Depending on how much you have to lose, you may experience some initial water loss. But over time, weight loss averages out to around a pound per week, she says.

5. Diets that sound too good to be true (like The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don't Want You to Know About.) If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Diet plans that claim to have a "secret," that make dramatic statements against respected health authorities, or make recommendations that contradict those of scientific organizations are suspect.

Source: webmd.com

How to start a workout program

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:57:00 +0000

There are many books about this topic and numerous websites and magazines. Fitness is a big industry. The following is one way to do it. We do not have the space to tell you the exercises - just the general plan:

1- Start knowing your current level. How do you do this?
Listen to your body. If you have any medical condition such as high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, heart problems, etc., you need to check with your doctor first.

Having a medical condition does not necessarily mean that you cannot work out; what it means is that you may need to listen to specific signals in your body to avoid problems. Your doctor is the best person to tell you how to proceed forward.

2- The safe way. If you do not have any medical conditions or your doctor has already cleared you, you just start to workout and listen to your body. Remember that you want to avoid injury. Injuries are common reasons why people quit exercise programs. If someone gets injured, usually she or he has to stop working out for a while and after that he or she become somehow afraid of the workout and quit permanently.

For this reason it is best to workout in the beginning with a structured program. You can use the program from a book, a video or work with a personal trainer (either virtual or in person). A personal trainer, even for a few lessons, is a valuable investment. You will learn specific exercises for your body type and personal goals, you will learn the proper postures and warm-up time, and this way you will protect yourself from injuries.

Source: lindisima.com

Atkins Diet Emergency Kit

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:38:00 +0000

1. Some bottles of water to drink at the first sign of stress. This will do several things; one, it will give you a response to the situation that is Atkins friendly; two, it will fill your tummy a bit and delay eating the bad stuff; and three, it will reprogram your "food as a drug" response memories to use water instead (hopefully).

2. A picture of you in those new smaller size and a friendly note from you reminding yourself why it is important to you to be able to wear them. This may help you get a hold of the situation.

3. A written out set of exercises you can do anywhere like isometric muscle contractions or heck even those famous kegel things the ladies were doing in chat a few months ago. Any exercise you can focus your mind on and do will use up the chemicals the stress is producing in a productive manner and deactivate the situation. Just think, your friends are eating cream puffs and you are kegeling. The mental image of that should cause you to laugh out loud and laughter can release stress too.

4. A copy of your goals and reasons to do Atkins as a reminder to again think whether you really want to do what you thought you needed to do. Include a pic of you at your biggest weight and at your smallest weight to help you visualize this.

Now if you still need some food:

5. A crunchie snack food you enjoy like cheese chips, pork rinds, flax chips, nuts, seeds whatever you like. This will give you mouth texture, noise, and chewing action to satisfy several of your "mouth taster" receptors and not just the ones on your tongue.

6. Something high fat you enjoy like a small package of laughing cow cheese, creamcheese, macadamia nuts, whatever you enjoy. This will boost your ketosis helping you cutoff any blood sugar driven cravings and still allow you to eat.

7. A salty food you enjoy. Sometimes this will help handle the craving for a sweet. Packaged pickles maybe?

8. A sweet snack as a last resort something you really enjoy (sugarless of course).

Pack this all up like those of us that were Scouts did when we made our survival kits. Make sure you replace what you use and refresh the supplies as needed. For instance, when you drop a size replace the pic and update the note. Keep it handy and make one to take with you or better yet store one at work, in the car, and at home so you always have one at hand.

You can´t play your way out of a cheat

Above all, hang in there. We all know that deep down inside you love the healthier smaller person that you are becoming more then whatever enjoyable feelings your brain thinks you are getting from the cheating.

Source: atkinsdietbulletinboard.com

About the Zone Diet: An Overview

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:58:00 +0000

The key factor in Zone Diet is the hormonal balance you achieve while eating each skillfully prepared meal. With a food plan comprising an accurate balanced ratio of carbohydrates (40%), fat (30%) and proteins (30%); you actually get to eat foods, which control your body’s insulin production. This means that no meal or snack is forbidden in the Zone Diet and yet you can lose weight or fat while Zone dieting.

For those emphasizing weight loss, or for the matter, for those who want to steer clear of cardiovascular sickness, diabetes and other chronic ailments, eating food that follow recommended recipes and staying in the Zone is a must.

Zone Dieting means following recipes with a low-carbohydrate diet plan, where proteins do not dominate the carbohydrates. This allows dieters to get more energy from carbohydrates rather from proteins or fats. The Zone Diet, unlike other diets, insists dieters to keep a close watch on the calorie consumption while eating: a meal not exceeding 500 calories and a snack not exceeding 100 calories is ideal for staying in the Zone.

Weight loss is not the only reason to be in the Zone. There are numerous additional benefits linked with the the Zone Diet, such as enhanced health, improved energy, improved mental clarity. The number of Americans with Type II diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate. The Zone diet is perfect for someone with Type II diabetes. Being a high protein, low carbohydrate diet program the Zone Diet was implemented to reduce both hunger and compulsion to eat. Most Zone Diet meal procedures are customized to each individual, based on sex, activity level and proportion of body fat. Every meal or snack is calculated around the 40-30-30 ratio so that the body can give optimal performance.

The Zone Diet encourages foods such as fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts, leafy green vegetables, sufficient protein consumption, and eight glasses of water everyday. However, Zone Diet prefers mono-unsaturated fats for saturated fats, says a big no to both processed foods and meals that contain too much salt.

How Zone Diet makes weight loss possible: Consuming too many carbohydrates produces too much insulin, a hormone that tells the body to pile up nutrients. The overload of insulin prompts the body to convert those carbohydrates into fat and store them in your gut, thighs, buttocks or other areas. But protein which has the contradictory effect stirs up the hormone glucagon, which tells the body to let go carbohydrates that are stocked up in the liver. When those carbohydrates are freed, the brain tells the body that its energy supplies are fulfilled and you ought to stop eating. Consequently, limiting the type of carbohydrates you eat and balancing them with 3-4 ounces of low-fat protein at every meal will keep insulin and glucagon balanced, controlling your hunger with smaller number of calories. End result: You'll experience fat loss and lose weight. This is how the Zone Diet functions.

The objective of this informational resource is to provide visitors with tips on Zone Dieting, weight loss and guide those who seek advice on eating the right food with proper facts and reviews. Please use the menu on the left to select links which will help you seek the appropriate information.

Source: zonedietinfo.com

Weight Loss Drugs and How They Work

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:54:00 +0000

There are two basic types of weight loss drugs -- prescription drugs, which have been around for years, and now, with the release of Alli, over-the-counter medication. Other over-the-counter weight loss remedies are considered dietary supplements; they do not undergo the same type of FDA approval process as drugs.

"Approved weight loss drugs must prove they are safe and effective with strong scientific evidence in order to pass the stringent FDA approval process," says Aronne, former president of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO).

In the prescription drug category, there are basically three choices, Xenical (orlistat), Meridia (sibutramine), and phentermine.

Xenical (orlistat) is a fat blocker that prevents fat from being completely absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Prescription strength is 120 milligrams; over-the-counter Alli is the same drug at half strength, or 60 milligrams.

Fat blockers reduce fat absorption and, as a result, some people are plagued with oily discharge, fatty stools, gas, and/or inability to control bowel movements. These side effects are the result of the fat not being absorbed by the body. Eating a low-fat diet reduces the risk of potential side effects. But if your diet is already low in fat, you may see less of an impact from the medication, as there is less fat to block.

Xenical or Alli is safe for almost anyone because the drug is not absorbed, says Kushner. "I frequently prescribed it to cardiovascular patients because it is so safe," he says.

Patients must be willing to stick to a low-fat diet. These drugs have a built-in feedback system. "If you eat a high-fat diet, you will experience the side effects, so to avoid the unpleasant effects, you need to reduce the fat in your diet," says Aronne.

Not only do these drugs block fat, they have the potential to block other nutrients.

"Take a once-daily multivitamin mineral for nutritional insurance to help compensate for any losses and don't take it at the same time as the medication," says Dawn Jackson-Blatner, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Meridia (sibutramine) helps reduce hunger by working on the appetite control center in the brain that makes you feel full.

"Meridia can help add 5%-10% additive weight loss that you would not get with diet and exercise alone" says Aronne.

Kushner prescribes Merida to patients who struggle with cravings and have trouble knowing when to stop eating. Aronne says that younger patients who are at a low risk for heart disease are good candidates.

Side effects include dry mouth, constipation, and insomnia. Meridia should not be used by anyone with cardiovascular risk factors.

"We recommend regular blood pressure checks for anyone on Merida," says Blatner.

Phentermine is generic, the least expensive of the medications, and has been on the market the longest. Once a part of the famed fen-phen combination weight loss drug, Phentermine works to decrease appetite.

It is the most widely used weight loss drug. While it's officially approved only as a short-term drug, some doctors use it as long term therapy.

"I use phentermine for people with strong appetites. [It] seems to work best on reducing hunger and the number of eating episodes. I also like it because it is generic, and inexpensive for patients who do not have insurance coverage," says Kushner.

Side effects may include depression, insomnia, increased blood pressure, irritability, and nervousness.

While these are the only medications approved for weight loss, some people also lose weight on prescribed medications used to treat other conditions such as depression, seizures, and diabetes.

Insurance coverage of these weight loss medications varies. Some companies will cover them completely, some partially, and some not at all.

Source: webmd.com

Weight Loss - Lose Weight With Cardio

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:39:00 +0000

The best way to go about doing cardio is to make it as exciting as possible. You want to do different periods of cardio workouts.

What do I mean? Doing just one thing can become boring, and its often the least effective.

However when you combine certain cardio workouts you not only have more fun doing your workout, but you also lose weight a lot faster, and more effectively.

Also if you are overweight, you will benefit a lot more from any type of exercise.

However before you begin, make sure you are prepared.

Why? Well there are a lot of times when people that are not in great a great physical state, and they often go for biggest workout they can think of. There is nothing wrong with being confident about yourself, but when it injures you its just ignorant.

You want to make sure you are somewhat in shape before doing a high intensity workout.

Fore example... A person who rarely runs will not be able to throw him or herself into a marathon, without hitting the invisible brick wall.

You have to learn to build up your endurance so you can run faster and farther each day. Start off by running at a certain pace for 5/mins a day for a week.

Then move yourself up to 10/mins a day for a week, and so on. Keep this up and you will eventually have enough endurance to take on anyone in a race.

Stretching

Stretching is very important before you start a cardio workout. Do enough until you feel the strains in your muscles getting more flexible.

Stretching can improve your overall performance; it will also make you feel less sore after your workout.

Nutrition

I often tell people to eat smaller meals/day rather than 3 large course meals. The reason why is because when you eat the smaller meals more frequently your metabolism stays at its peak. This will help us burn fatter.

Obviously stay away from fast foods, ice cream, potato chips, and all the other junk food. Everyone knows what he or she should or should not be eating. Its common sense. If you were trying to get fit, why would you eat junk food?

The only types of people that can get away with this are people that are usually on sports teams.

Good Luck Losing Weight! And Happy Summer!
The author is an expert EzineArticles writer. He has been writing for us for nearly 6 months, and has had thousands benefit from his tips on health, diet, and nutrition. A program that has worked very well with fat loss and diet is the Turbulence Training For Fat Loss Program. It has helped thousands with losing weight in less than 45 minutes/week. Turbulence Training is designed for the busy working men and women of this world who have a hard time fitting exercise, and good nutrition into their diet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erik_C_Fuller

Workout Motivation - Keeping It Up

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:38:00 +0000

Time and time again we'll start working out with good intentions to keep it up and then after the first few days we quit. Sometimes it is because we are so sore those first few days that we can't keep it up. For me it is when I miss day or two and can't get back into the routine.

Here are a few tips to keep up the motivation that have helped me towards my fitness goals.

1) Set a specific time of day to do your workouts. I find that committing to doing it at the same time each day I am more likely to get it done. I prefer mornings prior to work. If I miss my morning workout it's a lot harder to do it when I get home. I think I'll do it when I get home from work, then I push it off to after dinner, and then after my favorite show and before I know it it's time for bed.

2) It doesn't have to be a 60 to 90 minute workout, just 20 to 30 minutes each day and you will feel the results. Fitting a 60 to 90 minute workout is just not an option for me with my current schedule. It may be for some, but I know that after working out for 30 minutes a day consistently for a week I can totally feel the difference. They biggest key is to keep it up.

3) Plan your workouts and stick to the schedule. I make myself a workout calendar and list the specific workout that I plan to do each day. Plus, it keeps me motivated to cross off that I did what I had planned on doing that day.

4) Find a workout buddy. For several months I used to go to a gym each morning to meet my sister. We rarely missed any days because if she was going to be there I needed to be and vise versa. If you do your workouts at home you can still have a workout buddy to keep you accountable. Join a forum or commit with a friend who is doing the same.

5) Don't overdo it right up front. If you work out so hard that you literally can't walk for days then you're not going to keep it up. Soreness is normal and after a few days to a week it will pass, but if you do so much that you are in serious pain you have done too much. It's not likely that your going to get up and do another workout.

6) Last, keep it up. If you only have time for 15 minutes, workout for 15 minutes, if you have time for 30, do 30. If you miss a day or two, jump back into in on day three. If you consistently work out 4 to 5 days a week you will feel the difference and see results.

A couple other things I like to do to keep me motivated is to keep out one of my favorite outfits that I'm working towards fitting into. Every few weeks I pull out my boxes of "skinny" clothes to see what I can get into. I also like to find magazine pictures of people working out and in shape to hang up in my bedroom or bathroom to keep me motivated. You just need to find what works best for you.
For more information and tips on working out and slimming down visit my website at:

http://www.aerobics.infomyworld.com

Getting The Most Out Of Your Cardio Workout

noreply@blogger.com (Shujel) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:34:00 +0000

There is no question that moderate aerobic exercise has a role to play in fat loss. But as you progress into your program, cardio workouts can become a bit stale and time-consuming. Heck, I know some regular exercisers who probably wouldn't do cardio if they couldn't watch "American Idol" while on the treadmill. Now that's fine, but if you want ongoing change you need to keep finding new ways to challenge your body. A great way to do that is to use Interval Training in your fitness routine.

Interval training involves alternating periods of high intensity work with periods of lower intensity "active recovery" (e.g. alternating running with walking). This has several advantages. First, the short duration "burst" during the high intensity phase stimulates muscle in a way which moderate, steady-pace cardio does not. And, if you remember, last month we learned that the key to being able to burn more calories and fat around the clock, 24 hours a day, is to increase muscle. Now if you're thinking, "yeah, but didn't he also say that high intensity cardio burns muscle tissue?" then you're correct. The key is short duration, explosive spurts. Think of the physique of an elite sprinter vs. that of the marathon runner, and you'll start to get the picture.

Aside from being muscle-producing, interval training also burns more total calories. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that this effect continues up to 24 hours after an intense interval training workout. This is most likely because your body expends more calories in recovering and repairing than it would for a less intense workout. Thus, it is possible for you to get a very effective cardio session in a lot less time. Great for those of us with hectic schedules!

Training with intervals is dynamic and challenging, which makes it a great deal more interesting than regular cardio. You can alternate a minute of skipping rope with pedaling a stationary bike, weighted step-ups with walking on the treadmill, even jogging up and down the stairs of your house or building, alternated with periods of walking circles around your dining-room table! There are so many possible variations.

Alright, so know that you know why it works, you're probably wondering, "how can I start incorporating interval training into my workouts?" Well, I usually like to start clients off by doing intervals on a stationary or recumbent bike, because it's simpler and there is less chance of injury. At first, each interval should be a bit longer, and the "active recovery" phase should be longer than the "sprint," say 3 minutes compared to 2 minutes of high intensity. Try to use a perceived 80% effort for those two minutes, by the end of which your legs should be burning and you should have the feeling that you couldn't keep going for very long. Do this by increasing the resistance and the speed of pedaling. Then, to get the most out your intervals, it's important that you slow right down to a comfortable 30% output for the recovery phase. Repeat this process 3-6 times initially, but don't forget to warm-up 5-10 minutes first, and cool down for about 5 minutes afterwards. The overall duration of your session should be between 15 and 35 minutes.

As you become more advanced, try to challenge yourself with shorter, more intense intervals, and equal periods of recovery. Try 4-10 intervals of 45 seconds at 90% effort, alternated with 45 seconds at 30%, and vary the type of cardio as well. As with anything type exercise, you will get maximum results if you start gradually and push yourself more and more as your strength and stamina improves.

Also, the best time for you to interval train is probably immediately after your resistance training workout, but because it is relatively brief, you may find it quite suitable to perform this workout as your AM cardio, as long as you properly warm up first.

So here it is in a nutshell. To make best use of interval training:

1. Warm up for 5-10 minutes
2. Alternate periods of 80% to 90% effort with periods of 30% effort, depending on your level
3. Cool down for 5 minutes after
4. Start with longer periods and progress to shorter ones
5. As your strength and endurance improves, challenge yourself with different combinations, and more intense "bursts," while simultaneously reducing rest periods

In recent years, a lot has been said for the effectiveness of interval training, and some even tout it as the fat loss solution. But that is misleading, and while I do believe interval training has it's place in your fitness program, it's just one piece of the puzzle. A puzzle which, I hope, is beginning to make more sense to you with each successive issue of this newsletter! Together with cardiovascular exercise, the right nutrition and resistance training are the three synergistic elements that will allow to achieve all your fat loss and fitness goals. Good luck!

More Info visit http://www.transformforever.com