Weight Dreams

Food Journal 5.24.12

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Sat, 26 May 2012 01:21:00 +0000

Today is just one of those days when I just had a horrible time controlling myself!

Breakfast: 1 mug nesvita
Snack : 1 small pack puto seko
Lunch: protein shake
Snack : 1 small pack puto seko
Dinner: protien shake

... It was going as planned until I got home and hubby was there waiting for me... With the Homeland Series dvd. This is my weakness! When I watch TV, I tend to get bored just sitting there. My mouth just craves for munching action... So I ate guinataang puso ng saging (banana heart in coconut sauce) which hubby cooked and was simply delicious! No rice. 5 pieces siomai, some chips, and 1 magnum ice cream bar almond flavor. We continued watching until about 2am. It was already dawn but it was still so frikkin' hot, so I had 1 more Cornetto ice cream cone in original chocolate. I know, I know... Pathetic. Now the weekend has started and I have be doubly vigilant as I have the tendancy to let my guard down.

It's breakfast time and my tummy is grumbling... Hmm what to eat?

Food Journal 5.19.12

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:01:00 +0000

Breakfast : 1 mug taho

Lunch : 1/2 rice, roasted liempo, guinataang langka, 2 spoons leche flan

Snack: (went to a kiddie party) pasta, beef cubes, ice cream, 2 glasses pepsi, coffee

Dinner: 1 magnum ice cream

Food Journal 5.19.12

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:41:00 +0000

My Waterloo

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:57:00 +0000

This is my enemy. My beautiful, wonderful, juicy, tasty enemy...

Food Journal 5.18.12

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:49:00 +0000

Breakfast: 1 cup of Nesvita (original flavor)
Snack: Kropek (crunchy chips made from fish ??)
Lunch: Protein Shake
Snack: Regular fries and burger without cheese
Dinner: Instant Noodles (pancit canton), coke Zero
Snack: small pack of chips and 1 spoonful of leche flan

I must admit, today is not the healthiest in the food choices department :( still, this fare is still considerably less than what I usually consumed before. Little steps...

I will try to do better tomorrow!

Good night! :)

Help Me Fulfill My Weight Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:11:00 +0000

This blog is not new. It has been around for some time now, however before I used it as a place where I can collect different articles found around the web regarding healthy foods, and weight management and the like. Recently though, I have decided to renew this blog this time as a personal blog to chronicle my journey to better health and hopefully ideal weight. I will not delete the previous posts though because they might be of use to somebody else and I am not one to deny that somebody happiness. =)

I welcome bloggy buddies so please drop me a line or two. I would love to hear your weight stories too.

Ok, so let's make it official. Today, I am thirty five years old, a pencil pushing employee in a advertising agency. I weighed myself this morning and it read 80 kilos. This is my starting point. I am aware of course that no one might be reading this, no worries. I am basically writing this for myself, but it would be such a blessing if I make friends and help others too just by sharing my stories.

By the way, my goal is to reach 145 lbs or 66 kilos. Wish me luck!

Figuring Out the Facts on Fiber

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:03:00 +0000

When your parents told you to eat your vegetables, and when Grandma said “Eat your beans and cornbread,” they knew what they were doing. These foods are excellent sources of fiber. While eating fiber may be great advice…it has the reputation of tasting like cardboard. This could not be further from the truth! Fiber can be a delicious addition to your diet.

Read on to learn all the benefits of developing a fiber fixation, along with easy, tasty ways to add it to your diet.

What is fiber? Fiber is found only in plant foods. It is found in dried beans and peas, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It is a type of carbohydrate that gives plants their structure. Fiber is not digested or absorbed into the body when eaten. It therefore contains no calories.

There are two types of fiber. Both are beneficial in different ways.

Soluble Fiber (such as pectin) mixes with water to form a gummy substance that coats the insides of the intestinal tract. There, soluble fiber binds to cholesterol and reduces its absorption. This helps to lower blood cholesterol levels. It also delays the absorption of glucose and helps with diabetes control.
Sources: oats, seeds, beans, barley, peas, lentils, apples, citrus fruit, carrots, plums, and squash.

Insoluble Fiber absorbs water, making the stool larger, softer and easier to eliminate from the body. It keeps the digestive system running smoothly, reducing constipation, hemorrhoids, and other digestive problems. Since the stool is in the intestines for a shorter period of time, less cancer-causing agents deposit in the digestive tract, preventing certain types of cancer.
Sources: bran, whole grain products, skins of fruits and vegetables, and leafy greens.

What can fiber do for you? There are many health benefits to bulking up on fiber:

Aids in Weight Loss - Fiber-rich foods may help your body stay trim. They take longer to chew, which may slow down your eating time so you eat less food. Fiber helps you feel full and slows the emptying of your stomach. In other words, fiber helps you to fill up before you reach the point of overeating. Fiber itself cannot be fattening because it isn’t digested and has ZERO calories!
Reduces Risk of Heart Disease - Studies have shown that people who consume a high fiber diet are less likely to develop heart disease. Certain types of fiber may help lower LDL cholesterol (the bad stuff). Fiber also helps bile acids pass through as waste. Therefore the body absorbs less dietary cholesterol.
Lowers High Blood Pressure - Fiber-rich foods are also a good source of potassium and magnesium. These two minerals are needed to help regulate blood pressure.
Manages Diabetes - Water-soluble fiber also helps to regulate blood sugar by delaying the emptying time of the stomach. This slows the sugar absorption after meals and reduces the amount of insulin needed.
Prevents Cancer - Eating a high fiber diet throughout one’s life may help prevent certain cancers, such as colon and rectal cancers. Fiber absorbs excess bile acids that are associated with cancer. It also speeds up the time it takes for waste to pass through the digestive system, which decreases the amount of time that harmful substances remain in contact with the intestinal wall. Fiber also forms a bulkier stool, which helps to dilute the concentration of harmful substances.
Reduces Constipation, Hemorrhoids, and Diverticulosis - Fiber absorbs water, softening and bulking the stool. This helps it pass through the digestive system more quickly and easily. As a result, fiber prevents constipation. There is less straining with bowel movements so hemorrhoids are less likely to form. Fiber is also a standard therapy for the treatment of diverticular disease. This painful disease occurs when the tiny sacs in the intestinal wall become weak and infected. A high fiber diet helps to keep these sacs from becoming inflamed.

Check out these other important nutritional items as well.

Introduction Minerals
Carbohydrates Vitamins
Proteins Fiber
Fats Calorie

How much do I need?
The recommended daily intake for total fiber is:

Adult males, under age 50 38 grams daily
Adult males, over age 50 30 grams daily
Adult females, under age 50 25 grams daily
Adult females, over age 50 21 grams daily
Adult pregnant females 25 35 grams daily

Tasty ways to add fiber to your diet:

Try a high-fiber grain instead of rice. Bulgur, barley, and brown rice are great high-fiber substitutions.
Add beans to your favorite stir-fry, dips, quesadillas, burritos, and tacos.
Eat some type of fresh or dried fruit with every meal.
Start your meal with a large spinach salad, sprinkled with nuts, seeds or dried fruit.
Choose fruit instead of juice.
Make a pot of vegetable soup.
Add extra veggies and/or beans, peas, and lentils to soups, casseroles, and stews.
Try Middle Eastern cuisine, such as tabbouleh or falafel.
Keep nuts, trail mixes, and cereal mixes available for snacks.
Buy whole wheat pasta, breads, crackers, and cereals.
Top casseroles with wheat germ or bran.
Eat the skins of fruits and vegetables when possible.
Start your morning with a whole grain, high fiber cereal.
Ask for lunchtime sandwiches to be prepared with whole grain bread and topped with veggies.

Cautions:
Too much fiber too quickly may cause constipation or stomach discomfort. Increase fiber in your diet slowly, and boost your fluid consumption by drinking 8 glasses of water daily.
Use canned beans or dried beans that are thoroughly cooked; the undercooked starch in beans can cause gas. Discard the cooking water because it contains some indigestible sugars. If bothered by gas, try Beano, an over-the-counter product which contains an enzyme that digests bean sugars.

source: http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/reference_fiber.asp

Dieting is Pactice of Ingesting Food Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:32:00 +0000

Fat loss versus muscle loss

It is important to understand the difference between weight loss and fat loss. Weight loss typically involves the loss of fat, water and muscle. A dieter can lose weight without losing much fat. Ideally, overweight people should seek to lose fat and preserve muscle, since muscle burns more calories than fat. Generally, the more muscle mass one has, the higher one's metabolism is, resulting in more calories being burned, even at rest. Since muscles are more dense than fat, muscle loss results in little loss of physical bulk compared with fat loss. To determine whether weight loss is due to fat, various methods of measuring body fat percentage have been developed.

Muscle loss during weight loss can be restricted by regularly lifting weights (or doing push-ups and other strength-oriented calisthenics) and by maintaining sufficient protein intake. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Dietary Reference Intake for protein is "0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight for adults."

Those on low-carbohydrate diets, and those doing particularly strenuous exercise, may wish to increase their protein intake which is necessary. However, there may be risks involved. According to the American Heart Association, excessive protein intake may cause liver and kidney problems and may be a risk factor for heart disease.[4] There is no conclusive evidence that moderately high protein diets in healthy individuals are dangerous, however, it has only been shown that these diets are dangerous in individuals who already have kidney and liver problems.

Energy obtained from food

The energy humans get from food is limited by the efficiency of digestion and the efficiency of utilization. The efficiency of digestion is largely dependent on the type of food being eaten. Poorly chewed seeds are poorly digested. Refined sugars and fats are absorbed almost completely. Chewing does not compensate for the calorie content of a food that is eaten; even celery, which is primarily indigestible cellulose, contains enough sugars to easily compensate for the cost of chewing it.

Proper nutrition

Food provides nutrients from six broad classes: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, dietary minerals, and water. Carbohydrates are metabolized to provide energy. Proteins provide amino acids, which are required for cell, especially muscle, construction. Essential fatty acids are required for brain and cell membrane construction. Vitamins and trace minerals help maintain proper electrolyte balance and are required for many metabolic processes.

Any diet that fails to meet minimum nutritional requirements can threaten general health (and physical fitness in particular). If a person is not well enough to be active, weight loss and good quality of life will be unlikely.

The National Academy of Sciences and the World Health Organization publish guidelines for dietary intakes of all known essential nutrients.

Sometimes dieters will ingest excessive amounts of vitamin and mineral supplements. While this is usually harmless, some nutrients are dangerous. Men (and women who don't menstruate) need to be wary of iron poisoning. Retinol (oil-soluble vitamin A) is toxic in large doses. As a general rule, most people can get the nutrition they need from foods (there are specific exceptions; vegans often need to supplement vitamin B12). In any event, a multivitamin taken once a day will suffice for the majority of the population.

A sensible weight-loss diet is a normal balanced diet; it just comes with smaller portions and perhaps some substitutions (e.g. low-fat milk, or less salad dressing). Extreme diets may lead to malnutrition, and are less likely to be effective at long-term weight loss in any event.

How the body gets rid of fat

All body processes require energy to run properly. When the body is expending more energy than it is taking in (e.g. when exercising), body cells rely on internally stored energy sources, like complex carbohydrates and fats, for energy. The first source the body turns to is glycogen, which is a complex carbohydrate created by the body. When that source is nearly depleted, the body begins lipolysis, the metabolism of fat for energy. In this process, fats, obtained from fat cells, are broken down into glycerol and fatty acids, which can be used to make energy. The primary by-products of metabolism are carbon dioxide and water; carbon dioxide is expelled through the respiratory system.

Fats are also secreted by the sebaceous glands (in the skin).
Psychological aspects of weight-loss dieting
Diets affect the "energy in" component of the energy balance by limiting or altering the distribution of foods. Techniques that affect the appetite can limit energy intake by affecting the desire to overeat.

Consumption of low-energy, fiber-rich foods, such as non-starchy vegetables, is effective in obtaining satiation (the feeling of "fullness"). Exercise is also useful in controlling appetite as is drinking water and sleeping. (Extreme physical fatigue, such as experienced by soldiers and mountain climbers, can make eating a difficult chore.)

The use of drugs to control appetite is also common. Stimulants are often taken as a means to suppress (normal, healthy) hunger by people who are dieting. Ephedrine (through facilitating the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline) stimulates the alpha(1)-adrenoreceptor subtype, which is known to act as an anorectic. L-Phenylalanine, an amino acid found in whey protein powders also has the ability to suppress appetite by increasing the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) which sends a satiety signal to the brain.

Weight loss groups

There exist both profit-oriented and non-profit weight loss organizations who assist people in their weight loss efforts. An example of the former is Weight Watchers ; examples of the latter include Overeaters Anonymous, as well as a multitude of non-branded support groups run by local churches, hospitals, and like-minded individuals.

These organizations' customs and practices differ widely. Some groups are modelled on twelve-step programs, while others are quite informal. Some groups advocate certain prepared foods or special menus, while others train dieters to make healthy choices from restaurant menus and while grocery-shopping and cooking.

Most groups leverage the power of group meetings to provide counseling, emotional support, problem-solving, and useful information.

Popular weight-loss diets

Popular diets (sometimes pejoratively called "fad diets") usually derive their popularity from the personalities of their proponents. These proponents include "diet gurus" and celebrity converts. "Diet books" are the primary means of communicating the specifics of popular diets.

Most popular diets experience short-lived popularity, partly because new diet books are continuously being published.

Judging the effectiveness (and nutritional merit) of popular diets can be especially difficult. Diet proponents often locate medical professionals to back up their work. Some diets are so controversial that they divide the medical community.

Many popular diets advocate the combination of a specific technique (such as eliminating a certain food, or eating only certain combinations of foods) with reduced caloric intake, with the goal being to accelerate weight loss. Others ignore traditional science altogether.

Low-fat diets

Low-fat diets were popular during the 1980s and 1990s, encouraging people to eat foods low in fat (or without fat altogether) and instead eat foods high in carbohydrates. The general public came to believe, partly due to information from low-fat diet proponents, that carbohydrates were "energy food" and that only fat made people fat. This led to high consumption of low-fat foods high in refined carbohydrates (notably corn syrup), which may have contributed towards increased weight gain as carbohydrates (particularly refined carbohydrates) have a low nutrient density and high in calories. Some low-fat diets like the Pritikin diet focus on whole grains, vegetables and lean meats.

Atkins diet

Main article: Atkins Nutritional Approach

The Atkins diet was developed by Dr. Robert Atkins' and intended to control blood sugar by reducing the number of carbohydrates consumed (particularly refined carbohydrates) while replacing them with significant quantities of fat and protein. The Atkins diet was originally designed for diabetes patients who wanted to manage their insulin levels more effectively. The short-term changes experienced by individuals on the Atkins diet include some rapid weight-loss as the body's glycogen stores were depleted, reducing fasting levels of triglycerides and an increasing blood-bound ketones. The diet also causes acidosis and mild fatigue.

Natural diets

Since the advent of controversial diets such as Atkins, various diets that stress the eating habits of "natural humans" have been developed. The Paleolithic Diet imitates the way people ate during the Stone Age. These eating plans include basically natural foods (those not processed by humans). Whereas the Paleolithic Diet excludes milk and grain-foods, The Evolution Diet excludes human-made ingredients such as partially hydrogenated oils but allows some processed foods such as whole-grain crackers and dairy products. Anthropologists who focus their research on human evolution, however, are quick to point out that the diet of Paleolithic peoples was most likely opportunistic. That is, these early humans would most likely eat whatever edible foods were available at any given moment in that particular area (e.g. vegetables, termites, meat) and not restrict their intake of any food. Until recent human history, starvation has been a far greater threat than over-consumption.

Vegetarian diet

There is a growing body of evidence that vegetarian diets can prevent obesity and lower disease risks.

According to the American Dietetic Association, "Vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indices than nonvegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood pressure; and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer."

Vegetarians on average weigh 10 percent less than non-vegetarians. And in a year-long study comparing Dean Ornish's vegetarian diet to Weight Watchers, The Zone Diet, and The Atkins Diet, subjects on The Atkins Diet achieved the most weight loss (on average). Strict vegetarian diets like veganism may result in certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies if attention isn't paid to nutrition.

Weight Watchers

Main article: Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers has two programs. The program offers a wide variety and foods. Each food has a point value. They encourage a well rounded diet, low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables. The core plan focuses more on portion control and natural foods. According to Weight Watchers, the act of keeping track of what one eats is very helpful in reducing overeating or eating for reasons other than hunger.

Dangers

Extreme calorie restriction, medication or unusual patterns of eating (i.e. restricting food consumption to a single fruit or meal) can be dangerous.

Medications
Certain medications can be prescribed to assist in weight loss. Some, like amphetamines, are dangerous now banned for casual weight loss. Others, including those containing vitamins and minerals, are not effective for losing weight.

Diuretics
Diuretics induce weight loss through the excretion of water. These medication or herbs will reduce the amount that a body weighs, but will have no effect on an individual's body fat. Diuretics can thicken the blood, cause cramping, kidney and liver damage.

Stimulants
Stimulants such as ephedrine (now illegal in the United States due to an FDA ban) or synephrine work to increase the basal metabolic rate and reduce appetite. Stimulants can cause kidney and liver damage, sudden heart attacks, addiction, and ischemic strokes.

In June 2006, the European Union approved the sale of the diet drug rimonabant, marketed under the trade name Acomplia. This new class of diet pills shows some promise in assisting physician-prescribed diets.

Dangers of fasting

Main article: Fasting

Lengthy fasting can be dangerous due to the risk of malnutrition and should be carried out under medical supervision. During fasting, low-carbohydrate or very low calorie diets a lack of blood glucose, the preferred energy source of the brain, causes the body to metabolize sugars from protein, which can lead to muscle wasting.

Side effects

Dieting, especially extreme food-intake reduction and rapid weight loss, can have the following side effects:

* Prolonged hunger
* Depression
* Reduced sex drive
* Fatigue
* Irritability
* Fainting
* Sinus problems (especially post-nasal drip)
* Muscle atrophy
* Rashes
* Acidosis
* Bloodshot eyes
* Gallbladder disease
* Seizures
* Malnutrition, possibly leading to death

source: http://dietplanning.blogspot.com/2008/07/dieting-is-practice-of-ingesting-food.html

Dieting is Practice of Ingesting Food Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:29:00 +0000

Let me start by saying that I personally have never done a fast. I barely go 3 hours without eating. SO today I thought i would try it. My friends definition of a fast is not chewing, so anything liquid goes. I came home from my 90 minute trail run and had a recovery protein shake and I added some paleo greens to it with water and ice. No problem so far!! A few moments later I figured out that you don't really have to chew yogurt, so down it went. Then I thought if I put a banana in my mouth for long enough it would not really have to be chewed, but would disintegrate and slide down my throat. About an hour later I was back at the refrigerator looking to see what else could be sucked on without really chewing it . . . organic almond butter, chocolate soy pudding, pomegranate juice . . . then there were things I could throw in the blender that were wouldn't have to be chewed . . . Hmmm. When I started contemplating if a meatball could melt in my mouth, I knew I was not long for this fasting thing. For me, the minute I tell my brain I can't have something, the more I want it. Optimally I eat things that are good for me and my body craves them. That does not mean that I don't crave chocolate or ice cream, but when you eat healthy, you crave healthy. When you eat junk, you crave junk. Your body always wants to right itself meaning it wants to maintain homeostasis or balance. If you fast, then it feels deprived and the next chance you give it to eat, you will over eat (hence the binge and purging associate with eating disorders).

Okay now more seriously, the main benefit offered by a fast, to those who wish to lose weight, is the speed of the weight loss. It's possible for a person drop 30-to-40 pounds in a 30-day juice fast. During that time they are losing water, fat and muscle -yes the muscle you worked so hard to earn. For some the fast becomes a catalyst for a total life overhaul by weight loss.

When someone fasts for even 2 days they can drop, 8 lbs. from the colon, 5 lbs. in water and 2 lbs. in body fat. For some the detoxification is powerful and they feel healthier, less ill and have more mental clarity.

AFter a few days of a fast (or very low calorie diet) the colon is empty there is also a reduction in bulk that flattens the stomach. This weight loss from having an empty colon is not permanent.

Fasting Weight Loss Rates Vary According to Metabolism. The slower your metabolism is, the slower the weight loss. Fasting can slow the metabolism as the body begins to shut down with so little energy and when it eats away at your metabolically active muscle.

Initially, weight loss can be as high as three-to-four pounds per day, but as the fast continues, the average loss is less and you are putting your body in a state of ketosis, which is dangerous. If you are going to do a true fast you should consider taking a liquid multi vitamin like Intramax which is providing you with essential nutrients, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. I would at least recommend some nutritious drink that included some greens and protein or berries.

By now you know II encourage everyone to develop life long healthy disciplines including exercise, a diet high in raw fruits and veggies and lean protein, stress management 7+ hours of sleepa night, pampering and so on. If you choose to fast I would recommend a Friday after boot camp where you can sleep in on Saturday and do it with some combination of nutrition.

It does take a tremendous amount of discipline not to eat when it's a natural thing that your body needs and is used to.

When a fast ends, you will naturally regress to your regular patterns of living and if they are unhealthy you lose all the benefits gained by fasting.
Try to stay focused on the healthy things you are doing to improve your life rather than being consumed with the number of pounds lost.

The best motivation to fast is for physical and spiritual health. Toxins will leave your body, but your body has a natural ability to eliminate toxins - assuming you are not overloading it. Do not have unrealistic expectations about fasting. Give your body the time it needs to do the work of cleansing naturally.

Again I am not a fasting expert or necessarily an advocate. There are books and research on very low calorie diets and the benefits to health and especially longevity. If you are considering a fast for health or weight loss reasons, consider a low calorie diet temporally instead. Or a liquid diet for a few days. Boot camp is not really the time for fasting. You can burn up to 700 calories in a boot camp workout. Even if you spend the rest of your day sitting and praying you would still start to eat away at your muscle after the second day.

Here is a study on mice to consider . . .

Study on mice shows fasting improves health as much as cutting calories. Periodic fasting and cutting calories is proven to increase health and lifespan.

Research -Fasting Increases Lifespan and Insulin Sensitivity
Several recent studies have reported a variety of benefits from a sharply restricted diet, including longer life span, increased insulin sensitivity and stress resistance.

In the new report, mice that were fed only every other day - but could gorge on the days they did eat - saw similar health benefits to ones that had their diet reduced by 40%, a team of researchers reports in Tuesday’s online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Research - Fasting and Calorie Reduction Detoxifies the Body
But the new study by Mark P. Mattson and colleagues at the National Institute on Aging found equal benefits for mice that ate only every other day, but didn’t cut total calories because they ate twice as much on days they weren’t fasting.

Mattson said a study is in the planning stages to compare the health of a group of people fed the normal three meals a day with a similar group, eating the same diet and amount of food, but consuming it within four hours and then fasting for 20 hours before eating again.

Dieting is the practice of ingesting food in a regulated fashion to achieve a particular objective. In many cases the goal is weight loss, but some athletes aspire to gain weight (usually in the form of muscle) and diets can also be used to maintain a stable body weight.

Types of dieting

There are several kinds of diets:

* Weight-loss diets restrict the intake of specific foods, or food in general, to reduce body weight. What works to reduce body weight for one person will not necessarily work for another, due to metabolic differences and lifestyle factors. Also, for a variety of reasons, most people find it very difficult to maintain significant weight loss over time. There is some thought that losing weight quickly may actually make it more difficult to maintain the loss over time. It is also possible that cutting calorie intake too low slows or prevents weight loss. The National Institutes of Health notes that the commonly recommended program of reduced caloric intake along with increased physical activity has a long-term failure rate of 98%.
* Many professional athletes impose weight-gain diets on themselves. American football players may try to "bulk up" through weight-gain diets in order to gain an advantage on the field with a higher mass.
* Individuals who are underweight, such as those recovering from anorexia nervosa or from starvation, may undergo weight-gain diets which, unlike those of athletes, has the goal of restoring normal levels of body fat, muscle, and stores of essential nutrients.

Many people in the acting industry may choose to lose or gain weight depending on the role they're given.

In children and young adults

Receiving adequate nutrition through a well-balanced diet is critical during childhood and adolescence. Unless a doctor says otherwise, low-carb, low-fat, or other specialty diets for children who are not heavily obese are unhealthy because they deprive the body of the building blocks of cells (namely energy and lipids in the above examples).

It is especially notable that, as more cultures scrutinize their diets, many improperly educated mothers consider putting their children on restricted diets that actually do more harm than good. This is extremely deleterious to a young child's health because a full and balanced diet (fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, etc.) is needed for growth.[1] Vegetarian diets can work for children as long as all needed nutrients are received. A doctor should be consulted before putting any child on a specialized diet.

Research also shows that putting children on diet foods can be harmful. The brain is unable to learn how to correlate taste with nutritional value, which is why such children may consistently overeat later in life despite adequate nutritional intake. [2]

History of targeted dieting

In the broadest sense, at least some targeted dieting has clearly existed since prehistoric times for various social, religious, and biological reasons.

See Luigi Cornaro for a 16th century treatise on dieting. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, physicians and patients regulated their food carefully, in order to prevent disease. In the 19th century, as the scientific classification of foods took shape, doctors and scientists began experimenting with targeted diets.

William Banting is one of the first people known to have successfully lost weight by developing a targeted diet, circa 1863, by targeting carbohydrates. The low carbohydrate diet, sometimes marketed today as the Atkins Diet, remains popular today.

Thermoregulation

According to the principles of thermoregulation, humans are endotherms. We expend energy to maintain our blood temperature at body temperature, which is about 37 °C (98.6 °F). This is accomplished by metabolism and blood circulation, by shivering to stay warm, and by sweating to stay cool.[3]

In addition to thermoregulation, humans expend energy keeping the vital organs (especially the lungs, heart and brain) functioning. Except when sleeping, our skeletal muscles are working, typically to maintain upright posture. The average work done just to stay alive is the basal metabolic rate, which (for humans) is about 1 watt per kilogram (2.2 lbs) of body mass. Thus, an average man of 75 kilograms (165 lbs) who just rests (or only walks a few steps) burns about 75 watts (continuously), or about 6,500 kilojoules (1,440 Calories) per day or 1 Calorie each minute.

Physical exercise

Physical exercise is an important complement to dieting in securing weight loss. Aerobic exercise is also an important part of maintaining normal good health, especially the muscular strength of the heart. To be useful, aerobic exercise requires maintaining a target heart rate of above 50 percent of one's resting heart rate for 30 minutes, at least 3 times a week. Brisk walking can accomplish this.

The ability of a few hours a week of exercise to contribute to weight loss can be somewhat overestimated. To illustrate, consider a 100-kilogram (220 lbs) man who wants to lose 10 kilograms (22 lbs) and assume that he eats just enough to maintain his weight (at rest), so that weight loss can only come from exercise. Those 10 (22 lbs) kilograms converted to work are equivalent to about 350 megajoules. (We use an approximation of the standard 37 kilojoules or 9 Calories per gram of fat.) Now assume that his chosen exercise is stairclimbing and that he is 20 percent efficient at converting chemical energy into mechanical work (this is within measured ranges). To lose the weight, he must ascend 70 kilometers. A man of normal fitness (like him) will be tired after 500 meters of climbing (about 150 flights of stairs), so he needs to exercise every day for 140 days (to reach his target). However, exercise (both aerobic and anaerobic) would increase the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) for some time after the workout. This ensures more calorific loss than otherwise estimated.

The minimum safe dietary energy intake (without medical supervision) is 75 percent of that needed to maintain basal metabolism. For our hypothetical 100-kilogram man, that minimum is about 5,700 kilojoules (1,300 calories) per day. By combining daily aerobic exercise with a weight-loss diet, he would be able to lose 10 kilograms in half the time (70 days). Of course, the described regime is more rigorous than would be desirable or advisable for many persons. Therefore, under an effective but more manageable weight-loss program, losing 10 kilograms (about 20 pounds) may take as long as 6 months.

There are also some easy ways for people to exercise, such as walking rather than driving, climbing stairs instead of taking elevators, doing more housework with fewer power tools, or parking their cars farther and walking to school or the office.

source: http://dietplanning.blogspot.com/2008/07/dieting-is-practice-of-ingesting-food.html

I Lost 7 Pounds In Two Weeks!

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:05:00 +0000

Not bad huh? I lost 7 pounds by just doing 30 minutes of cardio 5 times a week. I was really surprised! A few years ago, I also tried going to the gym, sure I lost inches but the weighing scale just won’t budge! I was so frustrated! So imagine my happiness and shock that I actually lost a couple of pounds! From 187lbs, I am now 180 lbs!

Aside from my cardio exercises, only thing I changed was my diet. Thanks goodness for the blessing that came from my husband’s cousin. A registered nurse, she told me that it is very important to have a balanced meal, one that has fewer calories than what I usually consume. So recommended a nutritional protein shake wherein one glass is equal to a balanced meal with essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients. At first I was doubtful. A glass of shake for breakfast and dinner?! I will surely feel hungry in no time at all. But when I did try it, I actually felt full! I was pleasantly surprised. Imagine all the calories I escaped from by having only 80 calories for dinner! Before, I would have rice, viand (meat or fish) and dessert, plus cola or iced tea to wash it all down. Now I only mix 2 tablespoons of the protein drink mix to a glass of COLD water, and that meal keeps me full even a few hours after a full body work out! It’s really amazing!

Quick Exercise Pumps Up Heart, Favorable for the Body

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Tue, 26 May 2009 07:19:00 +0000

We all know that going to the gym and exercising can be really time-consuming. In fact this is one of our favorite excuses. We have no time, we are too busy, our schedules are so erratic. Well, here’s good news! Recent findings show that even very little amounts of physical activity – only 75 minutes a week – can improve one’s health, especially those who are overweight.

Subjects found it easier to stick to a simpler, more realistic fitness regimen, rather than to complicated exercise and diet routines. Simply walking around the neighborhood or the nearby park can do wonders to your health.

Although little amounts of physical activities can already improve the cardiovascular and respiratory health of sedentary overweight individuals, the experts still recommend at least 60 minutes per day to control weight gain.

Fasting for Health and Weight Loss Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Mon, 25 May 2009 16:21:00 +0000

Research Proves Skipping Meals is Healthy

“Overeating is a big problem now in this country, it’s particularly troublesome that a lot of children are overweight. It’s still unclear the best way to somehow get people to eat less …. One possibility is skipping a meal a day,” Mattson said. “Our study suggests that skipping meals is not bad for you.”

Dr. Carol A. Braunschweig of the University of Illinois at Chicago, who was not part of the study team, said she was intrigued by the suggestion that a drastic change in eating patterns might have benefits.

“With the current epidemic of obesity and physical inactivity facing the U.S. today, identification of a beneficial eating pattern that could address some of the untoward effects of excess weight would be a very significant finding,” she said.

Mattson said an earlier study found that mice that fasted every other day had extended lifespans and the new experiment found the mice also did better in factors involved in diabetes and nerve damage in the brain similar to Alzheimer’s disease.

“We think what happens is going without food imposes a mild stress on cells and cells respond by increasing their ability to cope with more severe stress,” Mattson said. “It’s sort of analogous to physical effects of exercise on muscle cells.”

He said the researchers think this stress occurs throughout the body, and that may be the reason fasting seems to increase lifespan and the animals become more resistant to the diseases of aging.

The dieting mice consumed 40% less food than mice eating normally and lost nearly half their body weight (49 percent) in the experiment, while the fasting mice weighed only a little less than mice eating normally.

In recent years, some nutritionists have recommended eating smaller amounts more often, but this study did not deal with that type of eating pattern.

In the new report, the researchers said both the fasting mice and those on a restricted diet had concentrations of blood sugar and insulin that were significantly lower than mice allowed to eat whenever they wanted. Indeed, insulin levels in the fasting mice were even a bit lower than the dieting ones.

Fasting Increases Resistance to Toxins
At the end of the experiment all three groups of mice were injected with a toxin that damages cells in the part of the brain called the hippocampus. It’s cell damage there that that is involved in Alzheimer’s in humans.

When the mouse brains were later analyzed the scientists found that the brains of the fasting mice were more resistant to damage by the toxin than the brains of either dieting mice or those eating normally.

The bottom line is calories in and out at the end of a 24 hour period. You want the most nutritious calories for each calorie that passes your lips.

Your friend in fitness,

Kelli

source: http://argylebootcamp.blogspot.com/2008/07/fasting-for-health-and-weight-loss.html

Fasting for Health and Weight Loss Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:19:00 +0000

Leading Eating Disorder Treatment Center Identifies Popular Diet Myths

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:11:00 +0000

If you’re one of the approximately 67% of Americans that are wired into the internet, there’s a good chance that sometime in the last 24 hours you’ve received at least one spam email promoting the latest and greatest diet pill or weight loss program. These diet products promise fast weight loss results, often without any effort or exercise. The never-ending promise of a weight loss pill that actually works keeps us hoping for eventual success. At the same time, we’re continually inundated with news of the most recent diet and how this time it’s really going to work for us.

The South Beach Diet, the Zone Diet, the Atkins Diet, the Low Carb Diet, the Cabbage Soup Diet, the Mediterranean Diet, the LA Weight Loss Diet, the Weight Watchers Diet, the Diabetic Diet, the Low Cholesterol Diet, the Prescription Pill Diet, the 3 Day Diet, the Low Fat Diet, the High Protein Diet, the Maker Diet, the Liquid Diet, the Grapefruit Diet, the Fad Diet, the Blood Type Diet, the GI Diet, the Vegetarian Diet, the Vegan Diet, the Detox Diet, the Dash Diet, the Candida Diet, the Gluten Free Diet, the Hollywood Diet, the Negative Calorie Diet, the 1200 Calorie Diet, the Raw Food Diet, the Phentermine Diet, the High Fiber Diet, the Macrobiotic Diet, the Science Diet, the Lemonade Diet, the Scarsdale Diet, the Diverticulitis Diet and the Fat Flush Diet are all examples of diet plans that promise to help us achieve quick weight loss.

Crash diets, weight loss pills and get-thin-quick gimmicks are more prevalent than ever, yet two-thirds of our population is still overweight. Even more startling is the fact that approximately one-third of the people in our country are clinically obese.

With all of these ‘solutions’ available to us, why is it that obesity trends have been alarming enough to prompt the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) to label obesity a national epidemic? Why are we still, as a nation, getting fatter? It’s certainly not because we’re not trying.

On the contrary, as a nation we’re trying harder than ever to lose fat through diet and other weight loss products. As reported by CNN on 1-14-05 “Americans were expected to spend more than $40 billion in 2004 on weight control pills, gym memberships, diet plans and related foods, estimates Marketdata Enterprises, which studies the weight loss industry.”

Furthermore, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 80 percent of overweight individuals and almost 87 percent of obese individuals are trying to lose or maintain their weight.

As reported by mygoals.com, 80 percent of Americans made a New Year’s resolution in 2005. A whopping 26 percent of those resolutions were to improve overall health and fitness, making this the top category for self-improvement. This year was no anomaly, either, according to Amy O’Connor, deputy editor of Prevention magazine: “Fifty-nine million people every year resolve to lose weight.”

So, is there a healthy diet product out there that will actually work? More than likely, the answer is yes. Although there is quite a bit of fraudulent weight loss merchandise on the market today, there is also (somewhere out there) a diet program and weight loss plan that will work for us. The challenge is to find that diet product or diet plan.

-> Repeat Business:
The diet and weight loss industry is a huge money making machine. According to Marketdata Enterprises, the annual revenue for the diet industry was over $30 billion dollars in 1990. A 2005 report by Stanford University documents that the consumer diet industry is now approximately $44 billion and growing. With all this money flowing around, haven’t we as a country spent enough to fix the obesity problem once and for all?

How can the diet industry keep making more and more money, year after year? After all, $44 billion dollars is a lot of cash! The answer to that question is simple: repeat business. “98% of today’s dieters gain the weight back in 5 years. 90% of those individuals end up gaining back more than they lost originally, due to the body’s panic and efforts to stabilize metabolic rates over the long term” (Source: Stanford University; stanford.edu).

How do the diet-promoters get all that repeat business? The diet industry is a very unique enterprise in that, when it fails someone, they rarely blame the product. We are hard-pressed to find another business where, if the product doesn’t work, we blame ourselves. All too often, after giving up on yet another diet program, we find ourselves thinking “Well, I guess I’m just not a good enough dieter.” The tendency is for us to believe that we failed the diet rather than the other way around.

Apply this same logic to the automotive industry, and it soon becomes clear just how faulty this line of reasoning really is. What would happen if we take our car in to the mechanic for repairs and when we returned to pick it up he told us that although we still had to pay the bill, he was unable to fix the problem? Would we willing pay the bill anyway and just say “Oh well, I guess it’s just a bad car?” Of course not! That would be ridiculous! But that’s exactly what we do when it comes to diets.

-> One Size Does Not Fit All:
What we need to realize is that there is probably a weight loss product or weight loss plan out there that will work for us, but it may not be the same one our friends or co-workers used. To find the best weight loss program for us, we absolutely must realize that one size does not fit all. What worked for our sibling or spouse may not work for us, and what works for us may not work for them.

It’s probably safe to say that any diet supplement has helped somebody, but it’s also true that no weight loss drug or plan has helped everybody. Each person has a unique metabolism and very individual nutritional needs, so no single plan will work for everyone.

-> How To Find The Right Weight Loss Diet:
Some fat burner products on the market today do indeed work. Others are a complete rip-off. How do you tell the difference? Where do you go for accurate and reliable weight loss information?

First and foremost, talk with your doctor. Your own personal physician is likely to be honest with you and provide you with the facts. In addition, he or she can help you decide which weight loss supplement may be right for your personal situation.

There are also quite a few reputable organizations that provide accurate information on fat loss. Some of the better resources include:
* American Cancer Society - www.cancer.org
* Centers For Disease Control - www.cdc.gov
* Diet Scam Watch - www.dietscam.org
* Calories Per Hour - www.caloriesperhour.com
* Harvard Medical School - www.health.harvard.edu
* Mayo Clinic - www.mayoclinic.org
* Shape Up America - www.shapeup.org
* Calorie Control Council - www.caloriecontrol.org
* President’s Council On Physical Fitness - www.fitness.gov
When seeking a healthy weight loss plan, it’s important that no food be strictly forbidden. There should not be any (or many) foods that we avoid completely 100% of the time. Why? Because that sets us up for failure! For example, if fudge is one of our favorites and we force ourselves to NOT eat fudge at the holiday party, then for many of us what we’ve done is set ourselves up for a binge fudge-festival.

Avoiding our favorite foods entirely is a too much self-deprivation for most people, and this sets us up for binge-eating. That’s a recipe for disaster!

A much better approach is to enjoy foods in moderation. Watch those serving sizes! Enjoy and savor one piece of fudge! It’s better to enjoy one piece of fudge and then stop than attempt to deprive ourselves entirely, only to end up eating the whole pan.

A good diet and nutrition program will also help us keep in mind the cost of the foods we eat. We’re not talking about dollars and cents here, but the FITNESS cost of the food. When picking up that fudge, keep in mind what it will cost to enjoy it. When picking up a plate at the buffet table, let’s take a moment to pause and think to ourselves: “The cost of this fudge will be an extra _____ minutes of exercise…..is that worth it to me?” Maybe. Maybe not. That’s for each of us to decide on our own.

The point is that we should be conscious of our food decisions. No foods are forbidden entirely, but we do need to watch our portion sizes and carefully consider the cost of each food. Any good weight management program will incorporate these concepts and also will be approved by your doctor.

PHOENIX, June 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders (http://www.remudaranch.com/), the nation's leading eating disorder treatment center, reports that many myths surround the nation's obsession with dieting. As the dieting industry continues to surge at $50 billion a year, Americans continue to lose and gain weight in dangerous cycles.

"Research tells us that weight cycling may elevate blood pressure, reduce good cholesterol, deplete the body of heart-protective omega-3 fatty acids and increase risk for gall bladder disease, kidney and breast cancer," said Juliet Zuercher, registered dietitian and director of nutrition services at Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders. "Additionally, the repeated failure of diets can be demoralizing and psychologically damaging, which can lead into a full blown eating disorder."

Popular myths about dieting include:

#1 -- Dieting will result in weight loss and thus improve health. Ninety-five percent of diets fail. A continued focus on weight loss as a means to health will in all likelihood only result in poorer health. A shift to wellness by caring for the body as a whole -- mind, body and spirit -- is more effective in achieving metabolic fitness. This means getting and staying active without turning into a compulsive exerciser and eating intuitively with balance, variety and moderation.

#2 -- If I don't have rules around eating, I will be out of control. Part of normal eating involves trusting the body's natural hunger and fullness cues. Eat when you are hungry or have a craving. Choose foods that you believe will satisfy you. Stay connected to your body and eat with awareness and enjoyment. Stop eating when you're full or satisfied.

#3 -- Anyone can weigh what he or she wants as long as they diet and exercise hard enough. Contrary to popular belief, one of the strongest determinates of healthy body weight is our genetic code that was configured in the womb. We can only alter this natural set point a small amount with diet and exercise. Fat doesn't always mean unhealthy and thin doesn't always mean fit.

#4 -- Dieting means I have strong will power and I'm morally good. Labeling food as "good" or "bad" has dire consequences. What happens when an individual eats a food that is perceived as "bad" for them? They may feel guilty and want to get rid of or purge those calories by exercise or fasting for the next day or two. If there are limits about never eating "bad" food, when an individual feels emotionally vulnerable, what might be the first food that he or she seeks? The "bad" food, and usually not in moderate portions. Keeping food neutral is key. When food is kept in its proper place in life, with no inherent moral value, intuitive eating is a natural result.

#5 -- Everyone diets, it's just the way it is. Just because many people are stuck in the cycle of dangerous dieting, doesn't mean it's the best way or that you have to follow. The best thing one can do for overall peace of mind and wellness is to cease the cycle. Individuals on diets are often irritable, fatigued and have difficulty concentrating or engaging in enjoyable social settings that involve food.

"Because there are so many diet myths out there, the best resource for truth is a registered dietitian or medical doctor," adds Zuercher. "Unfortunately, eating disorders often develop after dabbling with diets. Beware of the underlying dangers in this cultural phenomenon."

source: http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1449739/leading_eating_disorder_treatment_center_identifies_popular_diet_myths/

Fast And Easy Weight Loss Using Diet Programs And Diet Pills Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:03:00 +0000

-> How To Find The Right Weight Loss Supplement:
Perhaps even more so than with weight loss diets, when searching for weight loss supplements it is critical to rely on the advice of your physician. The careful and supervised use of weight loss diet pills, combined with a sensible diet and regular exercise, can lead to quick weight loss and even easy weight loss (or at least easier than you expected).

Beware, however, the supplement scams on the market. It seems that every time we turn around we are blasted and bombarded with the latest, greatest, new and improved treatment for obesity. The gimmicks just keep coming. The sad truth is that few of these products work. Even fewer will result in real, permanent and lasting fat loss. A very few of the weight loss gimmicks on the market today are not only a consumer rip-off, but they are also quite dangerous…..even deadly.

As an example, consider the prescription diet drug Meridia. Does it help you lose weight? For some people, the answer is yes. For others, the answer is no. Can it kill you? The answer to this question seems to be a nervous ‘maybe’. “The consumer group Public Citizen had petitioned the Food and Drug Administration for a ban, citing Meridia users who died of heart problems as young as their 20s and 30s. Even before Meridia was approved for sale, the FDA knew it could increase users’ blood pressure, the group contended.” (Source: cnn.com)

This week the FDA again refused to ban Meridia, even though whistleblower David Graham (an FDA drug safety officer) testified to Congress last fall that his agency was allowing five unsafe medicines to stay on the market, including Meridia.

Another example of a dangerous weight loss drug is ephedra. Ephedra was banned in the United States last year, in part due to numerous deaths attributed to this popular weight loss supplement. On April 14 2005, a federal Judge in Utah reversed the short-lived ban on ephedra. Within minutes, spammers were filling our email boxes with messages to BUY BUY BUY before ephedra was banned again.

Yes, ephedra will help some people lose weight. Yes, ephedra is safe for some people in low doses. But there is that little nagging fact that people have DIED and that their deaths have been attributed to ephedra use…..

Yet another example of a dangerous diet drug is steroids. For whatever reason, some people have decided that anabolic steroids are the best way to lose weight. Despite the well-documented and serious side-effects of steroid use, the lure of easy weight loss has caused many to throw caution to the wind. Perhaps the most concerning trend is steroid use among our teenage population: “Teens also listed steroids, growth hormone, amino acids and other potentially unhealthful products among those they’d tried in the previous year.” (Source: cnn.com)

There do exist, however, some diet supplements that work and are also quite safe. Again, it is never a good idea to begin any supplementation program without first seeking the advice and approval of your doctor.

Three popular and dependable fat loss products designed to help you lose weight fast are ChromeMate, Lipotropic Plus and Super L-Carnitine.
Chromium helps insulin metabolize fat, turn protein into muscle and convert sugar into energy. ChromeMate, a unique form of niacin-bound chromium, is designed to optimize energy output. It accomplishes this by increasing the amount of glucose available for energy production nearly twenty-fold. It also is the “master” nutrient for controlling blood sugar, which in turn curbs sugar cravings. What’s more, a study at Auburn University showed that ChromeMate reduced LDL cholesterol by an average of 14%. In fact, ChromeMate has been awarded a patent for lowering cholesterol.

The Lipotropic Plus Formula is scientifically-engineered to assist in the breakdown, distribution and burning (oxidation) of fatty acids. The active ingredients actually accelerate the fat-burning process by breaking down fat cells into smaller particles (emulsification) to be used for fuel during exercise.

Super L-Carnitine is essential for fat burning. I.B. Fritz and K.T.N. Yue, physiologists from the University of Michigan, discovered that Carnitine actually accelerates fat-burning. Without it, fat is unable to penetrate the walls of the mitochondria of the muscle cells. Carnitine is the shuttle that carries fat into your body’s furnaces (muscles) to be burned for energy. Super L-Carnitine increases the rate of fat utilization for fuel.

-> Weight Loss Exercise:
In this article we’ve been discussing weight loss diets and weight loss supplements. At this point it is essential that we add the third and most important component of overall health and fitness: exercise.

Exercise is one weight loss method that has never been banned, has never led to an investigation, and has never been been listed on a ‘whistleblower’ fraud report.
Exercise is the only path to health and fitness that virtually every doctor in the world agrees upon. Exercise is safe, effective, and brings many more benefits to our lives than diets or drugs ever will alone. Exercise is fun, invigorating, motivating and the single most powerful way to improve our life and well-being!

Yes, it’s quite possible to lose weight without participating in regular exercise. However, diet and exercise combined will help us burn fat faster than we thought possible! Weight loss achieved by regular exercise and diet will be healthy weight loss because of all the benefits we obtain from regular exercise:
1. Strengthens muscles
2. Strengthens bone
3. Strengthens ligaments
4. Strengthens tendons
5. Strengthens immune system
6. Improves muscle tone
7. Improves endurance
8. Improves strength
9. Improves self esteem
10. Improves confidence
11. Improves balance
12. Improves physical appearance
13. Improves physical performance
14. Improves glucose tolerance
15. Improves circulation
16. Improves memory
17. Lower risk of heart disease
18. Lower risk of diabetes
19. Lower risk of cancer
20. Lower blood pressure
21. Lower cholesterol
22. Lower risk of stroke
23. Lower risk of osteoporosis
24. Lower risk of osteoarthritis
25. Lower requirements for medication
26. Lower risk of injury
27. Lower bodyfat
28. Helps with sleep disorders
29. Reduces post-operative complications
30. Reduces frequency of illness
31. Prevent Alzheimer’s disease
32. Prevents muscle loss
33. Increases metabolism
34. Eases symptoms of menopause
35. Healthier pregnancy
36. Fewer problems with childbirth
37. Reduces ovulation problems
38. Prevents heartburn

Reaching your ideal weight via a healthy and active lifestyle has been found to lower health risks and medical problems in 90 percent of overweight patients. In addition to the exercise benefits listed above, fit people are eight times less likely to die from cancer than the unfit, and 53 percent less likely to die from other diseases. Fit people are also eight times less likely to die from heart disease.

Without a doubt, regular exercise is the most important piece of the puzzle and the best way to achieve rapid weight loss. Exercise is the safest way to achieve permanent fat loss, and when combined with a sound diet and nutrition program the body is turned into a virtual fat-burning furnace!

-> Conclusion:
Fast weight loss is possible if we, under the supervision and approval of our doctor, combine a sensible diet with a diet pill or weight loss pill that is safe and effective. When we combine these three fat-burning strategies it is almost guaranteed that we will experience quick weight loss results.

source: http://goingfatfree.com/?p=384

Fast And Easy Weight Loss Using Diet Programs And Diet Pills Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:54:00 +0000

Tracie Johanson asked:

If you’re one of the approximately 67% of Americans that are wired into the internet, there’s a good chance that sometime in the last 24 hours you’ve received at least one spam email promoting the latest and greatest diet pill or weight loss program. These diet products promise fast weight loss results, often without any effort or exercise. The never-ending promise of a weight loss pill that actually works keeps us hoping for eventual success. At the same time, we’re continually inundated with news of the most recent diet and how this time it’s really going to work for us.

The South Beach Diet, the Zone Diet, the Atkins Diet, the Low Carb Diet, the Cabbage Soup Diet, the Mediterranean Diet, the LA Weight Loss Diet, the Weight Watchers Diet, the Diabetic Diet, the Low Cholesterol Diet, the Prescription Pill Diet, the 3 Day Diet, the Low Fat Diet, the High Protein Diet, the Maker Diet, the Liquid Diet, the Grapefruit Diet, the Fad Diet, the Blood Type Diet, the GI Diet, the Vegetarian Diet, the Vegan Diet, the Detox Diet, the Dash Diet, the Candida Diet, the Gluten Free Diet, the Hollywood Diet, the Negative Calorie Diet, the 1200 Calorie Diet, the Raw Food Diet, the Phentermine Diet, the High Fiber Diet, the Macrobiotic Diet, the Science Diet, the Lemonade Diet, the Scarsdale Diet, the Diverticulitis Diet and the Fat Flush Diet are all examples of diet plans that promise to help us achieve quick weight loss.

Crash diets, weight loss pills and get-thin-quick gimmicks are more prevalent than ever, yet two-thirds of our population is still overweight. Even more startling is the fact that approximately one-third of the people in our country are clinically obese.

With all of these ‘solutions’ available to us, why is it that obesity trends have been alarming enough to prompt the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) to label obesity a national epidemic? Why are we still, as a nation, getting fatter? It’s certainly not because we’re not trying.

On the contrary, as a nation we’re trying harder than ever to lose fat through diet and other weight loss products. As reported by CNN on 1-14-05 “Americans were expected to spend more than $40 billion in 2004 on weight control pills, gym memberships, diet plans and related foods, estimates Marketdata Enterprises, which studies the weight loss industry.”

Furthermore, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 80 percent of overweight individuals and almost 87 percent of obese individuals are trying to lose or maintain their weight.

As reported by mygoals.com, 80 percent of Americans made a New Year’s resolution in 2005. A whopping 26 percent of those resolutions were to improve overall health and fitness, making this the top category for self-improvement. This year was no anomaly, either, according to Amy O’Connor, deputy editor of Prevention magazine: “Fifty-nine million people every year resolve to lose weight.”

So, is there a healthy diet product out there that will actually work? More than likely, the answer is yes. Although there is quite a bit of fraudulent weight loss merchandise on the market today, there is also (somewhere out there) a diet program and weight loss plan that will work for us. The challenge is to find that diet product or diet plan.

-> Repeat Business:
The diet and weight loss industry is a huge money making machine. According to Marketdata Enterprises, the annual revenue for the diet industry was over $30 billion dollars in 1990. A 2005 report by Stanford University documents that the consumer diet industry is now approximately $44 billion and growing. With all this money flowing around, haven’t we as a country spent enough to fix the obesity problem once and for all?

How can the diet industry keep making more and more money, year after year? After all, $44 billion dollars is a lot of cash! The answer to that question is simple: repeat business. “98% of today’s dieters gain the weight back in 5 years. 90% of those individuals end up gaining back more than they lost originally, due to the body’s panic and efforts to stabilize metabolic rates over the long term” (Source: Stanford University; stanford.edu).

How do the diet-promoters get all that repeat business? The diet industry is a very unique enterprise in that, when it fails someone, they rarely blame the product. We are hard-pressed to find another business where, if the product doesn’t work, we blame ourselves. All too often, after giving up on yet another diet program, we find ourselves thinking “Well, I guess I’m just not a good enough dieter.” The tendency is for us to believe that we failed the diet rather than the other way around.

Apply this same logic to the automotive industry, and it soon becomes clear just how faulty this line of reasoning really is. What would happen if we take our car in to the mechanic for repairs and when we returned to pick it up he told us that although we still had to pay the bill, he was unable to fix the problem? Would we willing pay the bill anyway and just say “Oh well, I guess it’s just a bad car?” Of course not! That would be ridiculous! But that’s exactly what we do when it comes to diets.

-> One Size Does Not Fit All:
What we need to realize is that there is probably a weight loss product or weight loss plan out there that will work for us, but it may not be the same one our friends or co-workers used. To find the best weight loss program for us, we absolutely must realize that one size does not fit all. What worked for our sibling or spouse may not work for us, and what works for us may not work for them.

It’s probably safe to say that any diet supplement has helped somebody, but it’s also true that no weight loss drug or plan has helped everybody. Each person has a unique metabolism and very individual nutritional needs, so no single plan will work for everyone.

-> How To Find The Right Weight Loss Diet:
Some fat burner products on the market today do indeed work. Others are a complete rip-off. How do you tell the difference? Where do you go for accurate and reliable weight loss information?

First and foremost, talk with your doctor. Your own personal physician is likely to be honest with you and provide you with the facts. In addition, he or she can help you decide which weight loss supplement may be right for your personal situation.

There are also quite a few reputable organizations that provide accurate information on fat loss. Some of the better resources include:
* American Cancer Society - www.cancer.org
* Centers For Disease Control - www.cdc.gov
* Diet Scam Watch - www.dietscam.org
* Calories Per Hour - www.caloriesperhour.com
* Harvard Medical School - www.health.harvard.edu
* Mayo Clinic - www.mayoclinic.org
* Shape Up America - www.shapeup.org
* Calorie Control Council - www.caloriecontrol.org
* President’s Council On Physical Fitness - www.fitness.gov
When seeking a healthy weight loss plan, it’s important that no food be strictly forbidden. There should not be any (or many) foods that we avoid completely 100% of the time. Why? Because that sets us up for failure! For example, if fudge is one of our favorites and we force ourselves to NOT eat fudge at the holiday party, then for many of us what we’ve done is set ourselves up for a binge fudge-festival.

Avoiding our favorite foods entirely is a too much self-deprivation for most people, and this sets us up for binge-eating. That’s a recipe for disaster!

A much better approach is to enjoy foods in moderation. Watch those serving sizes! Enjoy and savor one piece of fudge! It’s better to enjoy one piece of fudge and then stop than attempt to deprive ourselves entirely, only to end up eating the whole pan.

A good diet and nutrition program will also help us keep in mind the cost of the foods we eat. We’re not talking about dollars and cents here, but the FITNESS cost of the food. When picking up that fudge, keep in mind what it will cost to enjoy it. When picking up a plate at the buffet table, let’s take a moment to pause and think to ourselves: “The cost of this fudge will be an extra _____ minutes of exercise…..is that worth it to me?” Maybe. Maybe not. That’s for each of us to decide on our own.

The point is that we should be conscious of our food decisions. No foods are forbidden entirely, but we do need to watch our portion sizes and carefully consider the cost of each food. Any good weight management program will incorporate these concepts and also will be approved by your doctor.

source:http://goingfatfree.com/?p=384

Unhealthy Weight Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Sun, 10 May 2009 15:50:00 +0000

Posted by: michael Behnken, MS, CSCS

A new page was published on ask the Personal Trainer website today.

A page dedicated to unhealthy ways to lose weight was a necessary addition to pages about nutrition, diets and supplements.

The page is (hopefully obviously) not trying to glorify unhealthy weight loss methods such as drugs, laxatives, starvation, purging and smoking but make people aware.

As a personal trainer I would think that many personal trainers, active, and health minded people would think that unhealthy ways to lose weight are common sense.

The fact is, many people have no idea about their own bodies or how they work. While a personal trainer would easily know that smoking cigarettes is unhealthy even though it helps stay slim, many people probably do not.

The list is not 100% complete yet as there are new unhealthy practices to lose weight popping up on each new episode of any Hollywood gossip show.

The most common form of unhealthy weight loss is neglected from the page for a reason. Fad diets are sometimes healthy and sometimes unhealthy. The point of the website is to get people thinking past what they see in the media.

Just like certain subjects which aren’t taught or neglected in high school and are extremely important, like credit cards, the knowledge learned in P.E. class is long gone by the time most people are 20+ pounds overweight and are looking for a diet.

source: http://fitsf.wordpress.com/2008/07/24/unhealthy-weight-loss/

Good Morning! (after the storm)

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:59:00 +0000

Good morning! The sun is bright and strong outside my window. This, after last night’s storm. Hmmm. Even the weather is telling me that it’s possible to change even the most difficult situation. That even after a night’s stormy weakness of burger and fries, it is still possible to wake up in the morning full of sunny possibilities of getting back to the healthy program.

Today i left home a little later than usual, that’s why I got to the gym a little later too. I wasn’t able to do my program for the day. I did finish my cardio though. 30 minutes. =)

I have to confess, I made a boo-boo. I forgot to eat my oatmeal in my effort to leave the house as soon as possible. I did eat ½ rice with some chicken. Hopefully I burned off the calories. I know it’s pretty heavy for breakfast, but I reasoned that I tend to choose unhealthy foods when I am so hungry. This is what happens during lunch. I eat 1 cup of rice, pork or beef, and then have dessert. I take my lunch at 1pm and by this time I am ravenous and I tend to eat a LOT!

I am now drinking coffee. In my effort to follow the holsford diet, I tried shunning coffee altogether, and for a while I was successful. However, all those days I had to wake up early to go to the gym is taking its toll and I am so sleepy as I stare at my computer monitor. So I decided to indulge myself with a cuppa java.

Well, here’s to a healthy day ahead!

Cheerio!

Mommy B

The Journey Before Me

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:47:00 +0000

I am really doing it. I am going to be fit this year. Call me Mommy B. I am a 30-plus year old working mom. Let’s get things out in the open. I am fat, and I don’t live a very healthy lifestyle. Let’s talk numbers: I am 5’7”. 187 lbs. BMI of 29 and Body Fat Index of 38. I am clinically obese. I need to lose 45 lbs. I need to change. I have enrolled to a gym and am now really trying to choose healthy foods.

I have decided to use this blog as a venue to chronicle my journey to a healthier life and body. I will be accountable and I will start now!

I took the fitness test earlier today in my gym and hopefully by tomorrow I will have an exercise program ready for me.

Anyway, time for me to go home now, I hope I can fight the urge to eat a hearty dinner tonight. I have my carrot and apple juice waiting for me at home… will keep you guys posted.

Help me in my journey. Egg me on. Keep me motivated.

Thanks!

Cheerio!

Mommy B

Tips For a Healthier Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Tue, 05 May 2009 09:23:00 +0000

By: Kevin Kielty

Healthy eating is a topic that is important to many people. We often hear that Americans are not eating a healthy diet. In recent decades our average weight has risen substantially while our fruit and vegetable consumption has decreased. One of the most important things we can do for our waistlines and our general health, is to increase our intake of fruits and vegetables daily. By incorporating a few simple lifestyle changes, you can do just that!

Fruits and vegetables help prevent diseases

Fruits and vegetables have many important vitamins and minerals as well as fiber. Studies have shown that people who eat greater amounts of fruits and vegetables have lower rates of heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer. Choose vegetables in a wide range of colors to ensure that you get many of the important vitamins and minerals. The deeper the color of the fruit or vegetable, the more nutrients it contains. Choose the deeply colored sweet potatoes over white potatoes, for example.

Fruits and vegetables help with weight loss

Increasing your fruit and vegetable intake can be helpful in a weight loss program as well. The water and fiber content in fruits and vegetables helps you to feel fuller, quicker and they are often low in calories. The more of the right foods that you eat, the less room you will have for the unhealthy foods. As you eat more of the healthy foods, your appetite for them will increase as well. Remember that the fruits and vegetables are a substitute for the higher calorie foods, not in addition to them. If you only add fruits and vegetables to your current diet then you will be increasing your calorie intake, not reducing it.

Tips for adding more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet

Look for ways to increase the fruits and vegetables in dishes you already eat, and add extra fruits and vegetables to dishes that already include them. In the morning, try adding more vegetables to a morning omelet and more fruit to breakfasts cereals for example. Add extra vegetables to stir fry dishes and soups and decrease the rice and pasta. Buy pre-washed and cut vegetables and fruits in the produce section at the grocery store, to provide convenient alternatives to high-fat snack foods. If healthy alternatives are as convenient as the unhealthy snacks, you will be more likely to make wise choices.

Fill half your plate with fruit or vegetables at mealtime. Keep fresh fruit handy at home. Take small bags of cut fruit and a small container of vanilla yogurt for dipping or small bag of cut vegetables and a container of low calorie dip, to work as an mid-day snack. That should keep you away from the vending machine. You can also keep a variety of dried fruits in your desk drawer for snacking emergencies.

Getting kids to eat more fruits and vegetables

Many fast food restaurants are adding healthy alternatives to their menus. Order apple slices or a fruit bowls in place of French fries or a chicken fillet sandwich or wrap in place of a burger. Try the smoothie shop instead of the ice cream parlor for a healthier treat that also incorporates a serving of fruit.

Fruits and vegetables are necessary for a healthy diet. By incorporating more of them into your daily routine at home and at the office, you can do wonders for your general health and you can also shed a few pounds in the process.

source:http://www.isnare.com/?aid=370320&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet

9 Natural Fertility Boosters

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Sat, 02 May 2009 09:05:00 +0000

Limit caffeine consumption
Several studies have shown reduced fertility for women who consume more than 300 mg of caffeine each day. Fortunately, the threshold is high enough that you can still indulge in that morning cup o' joe, since the average 8-ounce cup of coffee only has 100 to 130 mg of caffeine. Don't forget, though, that black tea, green tea, chocolate, and some sodas also contain caffeine.

For women undergoing in vitro fertilization, however, the threshold is much lower: A mere 50 mg of caffeine—the equivalent of one cup of tea—can negatively impact success rates.

Alice Domar, an assistant professor at the Harvard Medical School who also counsels women dealing with infertility, suggests that you may want to further restrict your caffeine intake if you've been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant, even if you're not doing IVF. Since only limited research has been done on the topic, Domar worries that further research may show that lower amounts of caffeine still impact fertility.

"Fertility is a very time-limited period in a woman's life, so try everything you can now," Domar recommends. "There's no downside to further limiting your caffeine intake, and if further research shows that lower caffeine intakes negatively impact even non-IVF women, you'll know you’ve done everything you could."

If you're overweight, lose weight
Being extremely overweight can make a woman less likely to get pregnant. Obesity can inhibit ovulation and wreak havoc with hormones. It also puts women at risk for a variety of health problems (such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure) that negatively impact fertility and can create complications during pregnancy. Women who are morbidly obese are also less likely to be successful with fertility treatments.

Part of the problem is the hormonal imbalance that's created by the fat cells themselves. Fat cells produce extra estrogen, says Gerard Letterie, a reproductive endocrinologist at the Northwest Center for Reproductive Sciences. The more fat cells, the more estrogen, so being overweight is very similar to being on birth control pills.

Domar explains that although female fertility peaks with a body mass index in the low- to mid-20s, weight-related fertility problems are most common in women with a BMI greater than 34, which is considered obese. For instance, a woman who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds isn't just obese; she’s also jeopardizing her fertility.

If you're having trouble losing weight, Letterie recommends a group weight loss program like Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers. "Studies have shown that women participating in group weight loss programs are the most likely to be successful," says Letterie.

You needn't diet down to a size 8 to get pregnant. "Research shows that when obese women lose an average of 10 to 14 pounds, many will get pregnant the natural way, without medical intervention," Domar says.

If you're underweight, gain weight
A normal, healthy Body Mass Index ranges from 18.5 to 24.9. Anything lower than 18.5 is underweight. For instance, woman who is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 105 pounds has a BMI of 18 and is considered to be underweight.

Being even slightly underweight can dramatically reduce your fertility, as fertility starts to plummet for women with BMIs of 18 or lower.

Women who are underweight are less likely to ovulate. Some will stop menstruating completely. Others will menstruate irregularly. But experiencing a monthly period doesn't necessarily mean you're fertile, since it's possible to menstruate without ovulating.

Sometimes low body weight can be caused by excessive exercise and athletic training, which has also been linked to problems with getting and staying pregnant. For such women, dialing back on the exercise can be enough to gain weight and boost fertility.

For low body weight caused by an eating disorder, it's important to seek professional treatment.

Simply gaining some weight is usually enough for women to begin ovulating again, says Letterie. For those women who don't, Letterie stresses that there are simple treatments to help women ovulate again, but only after they've gained the necessary weight.

Check your BMI

Try acupuncture
In May 2006, the journal Fertility and Sterility published two studies showing significantly increased pregnancy rates for women receiving acupuncture treatments in conjunction with the embryo transfer stage of in vitro fertilization. In one study, women receiving acupuncture were more than twice as likely to become pregnant. In another, acupuncture prior to embryo transfer increased rate of pregnancy by 50 percent.

Researchers aren't sure why acupuncture may be helpful. Some speculate that acupuncture may positively impact hormonal levels or increase blood flow to the ovaries and uterus. Another theory: Since acupuncture can induce a relaxation response, it may be counteracting the stress that often accompanies infertility. Reducing infertility-related stress and anxiety has been shown to increase success for IVF treatments.

Despite the positive findings, scientists agree that more research needs to prove that acupuncture is truly effective.

Although Domar herself has called for more rigorous testing of acupuncture, specifically to sort out the issue of the placebo effect, that hasn’t stopped her from recommending acupuncture to her infertility patients. "There is some very promising data out there," Domar says. "Acupuncture is a safe, cheap, non-invasive and easy way to potentially increase your chances of getting pregnant."

Walk 30 minutes per day
Walking just 30 minutes each day is a simple, inexpensive form of exercise that helps ward off problems like heart disease and diabetes, diseases which may impact fertility and can cause complications during pregnancy. In addition, regular exercise helps maintain a normal body weight, which is an important part of maximizing fertility.

Walking may also help boost fertility by increasing circulation to the pelvis and the reproductive organs, since some research has linked decreased blood-flow to the ovaries with ovarian aging and reduced success with in-vitro fertilization.

"Many couples I see have jobs that require them to sit all day in front of the computer. This doesn't do much for circulation to the pelvis and the reproductive organs," says Dr. Susan Carr, a naturopathic physician at Fertile Path in western Washington state. "Exercise is one way to support circulation to these organs."

Daily physical activity is also a great way to improve your mood and help ward off the stress and depression that are common side effects of infertility.

Thirty minutes a day is easy to fit into even the busiest of schedules and can provide a great opportunity to spend quality time with your partner or a good friend.

Deal with depression
While many experts believe that depression doesn't cause infertility, proper treatment for depression can help increase fertility.

Since it's not uncommon for women struggling with infertility to become depressed, try joining a fertility-focused mind-body group. These groups teach techniques to relax and manage the stress and anxiety associated with infertility. Research conducted at the Harvard Medical School found that women undergoing in vitro fertilization who participated in a 10-week mind-body program were more than twice as likely to get pregnant.

If you were seriously depressed before attempting to get pregnant, it's important to seek prompt treatment from a mental health professional. "Women with severe clinical depression are much less likely to eat well, exercise, and otherwise take care of themselves," says Domar. "And women who are less healthy are less likely to get pregnant."

While anti-depressants can be effective in the short term, Letterie encourages women to work with their doctors to get on the lowest dose possible. Ideally, he'd like to see women weaned off of prescriptions before getting pregnant, since taking medication during pregnancy is not without risks.

To learn to manage depression without drugs, Domar recommends that women work with a cognitive behavioral therapist to learn effective ways of dealing with depression. The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies maintains a database of therapists trained in cognitive behavioral techniques.

Eat a balanced diet
To maximize your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy, Carr and Domar both recommend eating a healthy, unprocessed diet rich in whole grains, beans, fresh fruit and vegetables, raw nuts and seeds (skip the ones with added oil and salt), healthy oils (like olive oil), lean meat, and cold-water fish like wild salmon that are high in omega-3 fatty acids.

A balanced, whole-foods diet will help you maintain a normal BMI, a critical component in maximizing fertility. In addition, by eating well and minimizing unhealthy fats, white flour, sugar, and salt, you'll reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure—diseases that can decrease your fertility and also cause complications in pregnancy.

To further boost your chances of conception, Carr recommends emphasizing foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as wild, cold-water fish, walnuts, and flax seeds. "Omega-3 fatty acids promote fertility, since essential fats are required for hormone balance and healthy cell function," says Carr. "Unfortunately, most diets are deficient."

With just a little extra planning, it's easy to integrate more whole foods into your diet. For breakfast, try a bowl of oatmeal with fresh fruit. For lunch, have a sandwich on whole-grain bread or a colorful salad with olive oil and vinegar. Fresh fruits, as well as raw nuts and seeds, make excellent mid-afternoon snacks. "Just be intelligent about your health," says Domar. "Given a choice between fried dough and an apple, we all know which one to pick."

Strictly limit alcohol consumption
Most reproductive experts agree that one or two drinks each week shouldn’t impact a woman's chances of getting pregnant, while excessive drinking is clearly problematic. However, the jury is still out on exactly how much a woman can drink before her fertility is affected.

While a couple of studies have found no link between moderate alcohol (one to two drinks each day) intake and fertility, one Danish study from 2003 found that just seven drinks a week could negatively impact the chances of conceiving for women more than 30 years old. Another Danish study from 1998 found that even moderate drinking (6 to 10 drinks each week) reduced a woman's chances of getting pregnant, with more excessive drinking further decreasing the chances of conceiving.

For women who are heavier drinkers, Letterie recommends that they get their drinking problem under control before they try to conceive, especially since it's critically important that women cut out alcohol completely once pregnant.

Although it's still unclear whether or not moderate drinking will negatively impact fertility, limiting alcohol consumption to only one or two drinks each week surely won't hurt, especially if you’ve been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for more than a few months.

In addition, you should stop drinking after you ovulate during any cycle in which you try to conceive. Alcohol consumption after conception can increase the risk of miscarriage and can cause fetal alcohol syndrome.

Stop smoking and avoid second-hand smoke
More than 100 research studies have consistently linked smoking to decreased fertility and increased problems in carrying a birth to term, says Dr. David Adamson, a reproductive endocrinologist at Advanced Reproductive Care in Palo Alto, Calif.

Smoking damages eggs, reducing the chances of getting pregnant during any given cycle, and smokers may hit menopause several years earlier than their non-smoking peers. Smoking also negatively impacts hormone levels, further reducing fertility.

The problems don't end when a smoker gets pregnant. Smokers are more likely to suffer from miscarriage and complication during their pregnancies, and babies born to smokers are more likely to be underweight.

Although smoking does damage eggs, quitting now can still help boost fertility. Going smoke-free will prevent further reduction in egg quality, help reverse hormonal changes, and increase the chances of carrying a healthy baby to term.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, it's not enough for just the woman to stop smoking, since second-hand smoke has been shown to be almost as bad for a woman's fertility as actually smoking. Since smoking also reduces fertility in men, it makes sense to make quitting a family affair.

By Lisa Farino for MSN Health & Fitness
source: http://maintainbodyshape.blogspot.com/2009/04/9-natural-fertility-boosters.html

Lose weight with fitness programs

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:58:00 +0000

By: Vincent Roberts

In today's society, it seems that people are bombarded with information on how to get in shape, and stay healthy. Always keep in mind that a persons weight is not a definitive indicator as to how fit a person is. With that said, itâ€™s true to say that weight does have an effect, especially if a person is over weight, but still this isnâ€™t the end of the world and thereâ€™s still something to look forward to. If you would like to get in shape, find some fitness programs that match your fitness level.

The correct method to know how fit a person is would be to see the endurance levels a person has, and how much training one can carry out without getting exhausted. Itâ€™s easily noticeable as someone joins a fitness program and starts getting in shape, the weight will start coming off. If you are over weight you need to join some fitness programs, instead of just going on a diet. When a person just loses weight with no exercising, you are not getting any healthier. You are just losing muscle mass, not the fat. The only way to get rid of the fat is to exercise. If a person can add muscle and not look at the scale when exercising you will eventually get rid of the fat. Because the more muscle you have the more calories your body will burn. This will make dieting a lot simpler to lose weight.

Dieting is an important step to staying healthy, but it is not the most important way to attain weight loss. If the aim is to become skinnier and not to put on weight, a person would need to not do to much weight training, but do aerobics instead. Diet is important too but whatâ€™s more important is to burn off the calories one gets from eating, so long as one is able to workout enough to burn sufficient calories, one can eat as much as they like. Making time in the day to schedule and consume healthy foods, are two different sides of the same coin and they have to go hand in hand.

Fitness Programs donâ€™t just burn fat but also helps to achieve shape and power, it builds up various muscle segments not advisable to initiate dieting without exercise because if that is done one burns muscles and not fat, leading to weight loss but not fat loss, and in fact the body will burn significantly less fat as there is less of muscle mass now, which would mean harder to lose weight in future if ever one needs to. When someone starts to get in shape it takes time and patience and both exercise as well as watching oneâ€™s diet goes hand in hand.

source: http://www.articlerich.com/Article/-----Lose-weight-with-fitness-programs/538557

Choosing Belly Fat Reducing Food

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:44:00 +0000

By: Janelle Elizabeth

It has become obvious to health care workers that the risks of heart attack increase with the amount of belly fat a person carries

Wider waistlines are attributed to unhealthy consumption of fats and lack of physical exercise, both of which are major factors of heart disease.

Diet does play a very important role in your battle against the bulge. But this certainly does not mean that starving yourself is the answer. In fact, when working towards a leaner silhouette, your body will need the appropriate types of food to fuel exercise and support your body's metabolism.

It's all about healthy eating and not about total food deprivation. Every now and then we hear of fad diets that focus on one food group while excluding the rest. The problem with consuming only one kind of food, such as an all protein or strictly vegetarian diet, is that you hardly feel satisfied and may even crave for other types of food that you exclude from your meals.

The more that you crave for other food, the greater is the temptation to break your diet, and when you do you are most likely to go on an eating binge. Ultimately you fail to lose that belly fat.

So what should you eat in order to burn belly fat without experiencing hunger pangs?

* Lots of protein. Any serious weight loss diet must have quality protein. Food like nuts, fish and lean meats are high in protein and have a negative calorific effect. "Negative calorie effect" means that your body will burn more calories in order to digest certain types of food. It's like helping your body burn fat simply by eating protein.

* Carbohydrates with lots of fiber. Despite what many fad diet creators assert, carbs alone do not make people fat. Carbohydrates taken from refined sugars, refined grains and processed foods should be avoided. These are not easily digested and remain longer in your stomach. Instead of getting your carbohydrate intake from processed foods, aim for natural food sources like fresh vegetables, fruits and unrefined grains. If you must have rice, treat yourself to brown or red rice in lieu of white rice. Fiber has a low glycemic index and makes you feel fuller, longer.

* Healthy fats. There are bad and good fats. Your body's hormone levels are regulated by good fats. Poor diet is the reason that women suffering from anorexia experience hormonal imbalance. While some people may lose weight because of hormonal changes, there are more people who put on weight as a result of hormonal imbalance.

Moderation is the key in the consumption of fat. Examples of fat that you can have are those found in nuts, nut butters, avocados, olive oil, coconuts and virgin coconut oil. On the other hand, you should avoid anything that contains trans fats.

These are often found in highly processed foods. Make it a habit to check food labels to see if what you are about to buy contains trans fats which is the leading cause of belly fat.

Indeed, losing belly fat entails regular exercise and proper diet. You may have to change your eating havits with the food suggestions here. But the good news is that your diet can be a satisfying experience as you have more choices for your taste.

Keep in mind to eat the right food and in small portions. In time, you will lose your belly fat and keep it off permanently.

source: http://www.articlerich.com/Article/Choosing-Belly-Fat-Reducing-Food/537220

Fun With Cooking : Healthy Cooking And Diet Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 08:42:00 +0000

Simple And Healthy Cooking Recipes For Summer
Summer is almost here and the beach is calling out. You want to enjoy the outdoors and get a little tanned. It’s time for picnic lunches but you don’t want to get carried away by the burgers and hot dogs. Summer is an exciting time and you want to embark on gastronomical adventures. But it’s also a time to cook healthy, beat the sun, and stay fit. So pull out your barbecue grills, fill up your produce bins with crisp vegetables and juicy fruits, and get ready to spend more time outdoors than indoors.

Fun With Cooking This Summer
The best part about the summers is the availability of a variety of vegetables and fruits. Coupled with the chance to cook outdoors, this can be the perfect time to substitute high calorie foods with their grilled alternatives, which will tingle your olfactory senses and make you want more. Experiment with different flavors, textures, and colors.

Vegetables, meats, and tofu can be marinated and kept overnight. Choose low fat marinades such as salsa, low calorie yogurt with herbs, wine, and citrus juices. Vegetable, meat, and fruit kebabs are excellent substitutes for fat laden burgers and hot dogs. When it comes to meats, stick to lean cuts like round and sirloin cuts. To increase flavor without adding to the fat content, tenderize meats. It enhances texture and brings out the flavors of the meat.

Fondue parties and potlucks are ideal for weekend cooking when you want to invite the family and friends. Stick to foods that can be made couple of hours before and still not lose flavor. Potato salad, cold pastas, finger foods with a variety of dips can be made before hand and kept refrigerated. Edible flowers and garnishes can make even the most finicky taste buds drool. Rose, violets, mallow, and daylily buds can make a dull salad look appetizing. Insulated jugs and casseroles come in handy to maintain the temperature of food and drinks. It saves on heating time and gives you more time to soak up the sun and deepen your tan.

What is summer without ice-creams and desserts? Occasional treats are great, but if you want to have them time and again, try opting for fruit smoothies and sorbets. Home made popsicles made from fresh fruit juices are refreshing and healthier alternatives as they contain no added sugar and sodium. To pep up the flavor add a dash of lemon or ginger juice, it will bring out the flavors of the fruit and add that zesty tang to the popsicle.
And lastly don’t forget to stay hydrated. Who said plain water is the only way to get the fluids in your body. Opt for fruit waters. Steep water with fruits and lemon wedges and keep sipping it through out the day. Another combination that beats the summer heat is cucumbers, ginger, lemon and spearmint leaves immersed in water and kept over night.

source: http://www.diethealthclub.com/blog/diet-tips/fun-with-cooking-healthy-cooking-and-diet-tips.html

Remember That Hydration Helps

noreply@blogger.com (Berto and Kwala) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:21:00 +0000

You know that drinking plenty of water can keep you healthy, but did you know it can also boost your slim-down efforts by improving the quality of workouts? If you're even mildly dehydrated, you won't have the energy or endurance to blast as many calories as you're capable of during your workout. The Best Life guidelines call for drinking at least 48 ounces a day, but be extra vigilant about your H2O intake on exercise days by following these tips.

Check the color of your urine. Rate the color on a scale of one to eight, with one being clear and fully hydrated and eight being yellow/brown, indicating dehydration. Aim for a one.

Drink before, during and after a workout. Before you begin your exercise session, drink eight ounces of water, then gulp about four to six ounces (about five to seven gulps) every 15 minutes during your workout. Afterwards, follow-up with eight ounces.

Pay attention to your body. Look for signs of dehydration, which include dry skin, dry mouth, chills, head rushes, and skin flushing. If you notice any of these during your workout, make sure to stop and sip.