Weight Watchers Points

Weight Watchers Food Points - How To Find Really Healthy Food in the Grocery Store

2008-11-12T04:21:00.001-08:00

Do you really know what is healthy food?

We all try and stick to choosing healthy items when grocery shopping or eating out, but how well do we really know our foods? Discover how to find out about reading between the lines, what to look out for in labels and how to dine out healthily.

When shopping in your local supermarket, it's very easy to be attracted to colourful aisles filled with crisps and chocolates. It can sometimes take a lot of will power to resist grabbing a few treats...especially if you are food shopping on an empty stomach!

So the logical choice is to head for the aisles that sell 'healthy' food. But how genuinely healthy is the food that you are buying? It looks healthy, it sounds healthy, but you may actually find that it contains 'hidden' fats, salts and sugars. In short, anything BUT healthy!

Fat free? Sugar free? Calorie free?

Phrases such as 'fat free' and sugar free' sound great in theory, but a closer inspection may be needed. A claim such as 'fat free' usually means that in order for the item to be 'fat free', something else has to be added to make it taste edible.

So check the label at the back to see what has been added to make up for the lack of fat. The product could be significantly high in sugar, and so, even if the product is fat free, it will probably be packed full of calories. The same goes for products boasting a low number of calories or no sugar at all. Again, check the back label because the fat content may be very high.

Also check to see whether the nutritional information relates to the portion size or if it's per 100g. When cooking a meal, think in terms of portion size to get a better idea of how much fat and calories each person will really be consuming.

Kim Beardsmore M.B.A., B.Sc. (Biochemistry) is the creator of the online weight loss, health & fitness magazine Weight Loss Health. For free resources, tips and healthy recipes to help you lose weight and gain energy, visit

Weight Watchers Food Points - Your Three-Step Fat Attack - Part One of Three

2008-11-11T20:21:00.001-08:00

Today you are reading Part One. This is a Three-Part article.

With so many varying recommendations on how to approach losing your body fat, many crucial details tend to slip into through one ear, yet right out of the other, quick, fast, and in a hurry. Yes, it's true that you hear so many conflicting ideas about health, diet, fitness, and weight management. Why does so much instructional or informational variation exist? Which parts are factual? What are the concepts, ideas, or truths that can really help you?

Likely, the GREATEST fact you can benefit from right away is the following: to lose body fat assuredly, you need a three-part fat attack strategy, and your methodological system needs to be a truly solid one. The three parts, of course, you already know WHAT they are. However, what you are more likely to lack is acute and chronic skill or savvy regarding exactly HOW and WHEN to mix these intricately related weight loss pieces together.

Let's explore each one here, just a little, that is, 1) diet-foods-nutrition, 2) physical action-movement-exercise; and 3) reeducation-strategy-knowledge acquisition/enhancement/upgrading. Perhaps there's a clue for you in the fact that the latter of these vital elements above is quite lengthy.

Here's one solid scientific fact you might observe. You are more likely to adopt and adhere to solid diet or exercise lifestyle when you educate yourself. You grow more, when you know more... about your approach, your limits, your potential, and your benefits.

Occasionally, you may tend to ignore important and crucial facts about fitness or nutrition. At times you just can't help that. It's a small part of human nature. Plus, you probably hear a lot of "crap" these days, particularly concerning "carbs to be or not to be," and/or the "best and only time of day to exercise." After a while, though you don't really want them to, your ears simply become numb to the barrage of junk information. Then, you assume that no one really knows what they're talking about anymore. You might even mistakenly include accredited professionals into that stereotype, too. Perhaps, you even express your own opinion as true fitness fact without receiving support from science and community.

Time after time, you try things that don't work. Yet, once in a while, you try something that does. Is what you tried still working for you? Probably not. Consider cutting to the chase about excess, loose tissue... hanging around in places you don't want it to. Your formidable enemy is likely to be "saturated" fat. Here's a professional tip that can help you now and far into your future. Gain a thorough understanding of this "Three-Step Fat Attack" concept. It's a relatively new concept, yet the power lies in the fact that although each area can afford you some weight loss productivity, combining the three yields geometrically improved results.

It might not be such a natural tendency for you to try new things. You may not even have the luxury of acquiring formal knowledge on nutrition, fitness, or weight management. That leaves you with trial and error as major modus operandi. Then, your weight loss solutions stem from incorrect data such as: rumors, old tales, things that you have "heard about," or just plain old advertising hype.

(Believe it or not, we're still talking about part three reeducation-strategy-knowledge acquisition/enhancement/upgrading because all of the above has to do with know-how and knowledgeable approach to weight loss, avoiding unnecessary time, trouble and effort.)

Now's your time to concentrate on a focused, weight management approach that works with long-term reliability. What you need is plain and simple. However, you need to realize right now that you can easily fall into one not-so-obvious trap. This trap catches most people who are seeking solutions to a diet or exercise problem. You can avoid it from now on. That common trap is NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE INFORMATION YOU RECEIVE, underestimating it, or taking it for granted without deeper exploration, inspection, and investigation.

Yes, this is where you can place your focus... on increasing comprehension. And, how can you grasp complex details without expanding your ability to process that knowledge? Easy. Learn about it. This moves us to the very first step in your "Three-Step Fat Attack," which follows:

1. Read.

2. Apply.

3. Maintain.

Yes, it's that simple. Yet, do you really understand it? First, here's an easy way to remember it... you have to RAM this approach into your arsenal of diet exercise tools. That's right. RAM IT IN! Here's your detailed breakdown for R. A. M.:

STEP ONE - "R." = "Read accredited sources of information."

You can expect to find that these sources might be slightly "unpopular." Now, understand what "unpopular" really means. Unpopular simply means this type of news is not sitting out on the stands just waiting for you to pick it up. This is not the dazzling, interest-grabbing, highly publicized, or TV advertised gossip. Accredited, accurate, helpful, long-lasting, scientific data is not so easily located. You have to find it. You have to do your homework. Do some research. Yet, even with research, you need to have a central idea of what you are looking to explain.

We'll explore the weight loss difficulty involved and the viable solution in Part Two.

Kenneth G. Dockins, owner, is an American Council On Exercise Certified Personal Trainer, also an ACE Certified Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant, possessing over 15 years experience in diet, exercise, fitness, health, nutrition, and weight management. Specialty: aerobic endurance exercise program design and weight loss achievement. Temple University Kinesiology graduate. American Heart Association AED and CPR Certified Healthcare Provider - Basic Life Support.

Weight Watchers Food Points - 30-Minute Weight Loss Exercise Proves Most Effective

2008-11-11T12:21:00.001-08:00

JUST A LITTLE BIT IS BETTER THAN NOTHING; STILL, A WEE BIT MORE IS SO MUCH MORE ADMIRABLE!

If you're "averagely overweight," that is, not doctor-diagnosed with extreme obesity, or if you just want to feel better by losing or shedding a few pounds, there's good news for you from ACCREDITED, reliable, trusted experts who also care about your well-being. [See: ACE; ACSM; AHA; or AHA.]

Truth: Ten minutes of daily exercise is admirable because it's far better than zero minutes of productive energy expenditure. However, exercise physiology and weight loss science point to 30 minutes per day, at least three times per week, as part of your best body fat improvement scenario.

Why Does 30 Minutes Prove So Beneficial, And What's The Other Part of An Effective Weight Loss Scenario?

Your body has only three possible energy systems. Two of them are oxygen-INDEPENDENT. Yet, in order to metabolize fat, your body demands that oxygen be present. Long-story-short: brief, especially "quick" exercise bouts look for quick energy sources. These reside in blood and in muscle. It takes more than a few minutes to significantly tap into your fat stores, and especially, to burn enough of it for a long enough time to lose some substantial body weight.

This is almost the exact opposite of muscle tissue, where you can see and feel virtually immediate results. Burning fat requires patience. You simply have to allow yourself TIME to let exercise effects occur.

Reach Your Aerobic Threshold

Generally, exercise begins with a warm-up phase, at least 1-3 minutes. Provided your intensity remains within your target heart rate training zone, (about 120 heart beats per minute an estimated average for most non health-impaired adults) you'll spend the next 7-10 minutes reaching your aerobic threshold. Staying near-to, but right below the point where your muscles burn (from a too-highly-intense performance causing lactic acid build-up) will bring you to a virtually perfect "fat-burn." Yet, THIS very special meeting only occurs at medium-to-low intensities, which takes longer periods of time.

Lipids (a simplified word for "non-water-soluble-fats" within your system) have to move from the outside of a cell, through the cytosol, mix with pyruvate, plus oxygen then proceed to your "furnace" (mitochondria). This is where you break fat down into your "rewarding and much-wanted" by-products energy (the work you've achieved); H2O (sweat); and carbon dioxide (a lot of continuous "exhaling").

So, if you quit at the 10-minute mark, you deny yourself approximately an additional 10 calories or more per minute of weight lost, primarily from fat stores. Stopping this process at 10 minutes is much like going all the way to the door of your favorite party but never stepping insidefor the "real" action.

Reasons Why You Should Work Out More Than Ten Minutes

With all of that said, there's an even more monumentally powerful yet scientific reason why you should work out for more than only ten minutes. In fact, at least 30-minute exercise sessions prove most beneficial for effective weight loss and improved endurance. You'll get three fundamental benefits from this:

First, you preserve your LEAN body mass (which you need because it burns fat far better than fat can burn itself).

Second, you get to expend MAXIMUM calories (the true key to losing weight maximizing caloric expenditure, which is a time-consuming venture).

Third, your extended physical activity makes you change the way your body USES food internally or metabolically (for example, getting three-fold increase in calories expended, compared to person remaining sedentary.).

To Summarize, Experts Now Agree

The bottom line is that essentially all experts in diabetic science, obesity control, dietetics & nutrition, exercise science & personal training, and exercise physiology agree that extended, low-to-moderate-intensity physical activity is yet the most significant and flexible factor in energy expenditure for losing weight.

Mix that with practicality, reasonability, and utilize the following tip: Base your safe, effective weight loss goals around the fundamental principle that you need to alter your energy balance in the NEGATIVE direction by expending about 500 calories per day from smartly manipulating both EXERCISE AND DIET. You'll find that it's barely even possible to accomplish this feat by altering food alone. With exercise, however, you can obtain your weight loss objectives much more comfortably and conveniently, plus safely, too, for results that are long-lasting and health enhancing.

Weight Watchers Food Points - Bigger Breasts Naturally

2008-11-11T04:21:00.001-08:00

Do you want bigger breasts? Do you think exercise might give them to you? If so, here's a true story that might interest you. (Of course, we asked permission to print this story for you, and the names are changed to protect privacy).

A young lady asked me this, regarding exercise and fitness personal training. Her question was "If I train with you, will my breasts get bigger? Will they lift themselves up, become firmer and fuller like they used to be when I was younger? Truthfully, I hesitated momentarily, before answering this one. Yes, I really wanted to motivate her, as well as gain her service as a new fitness client. And, I also wanted to stimulate her existing desire to re-kindle her fire and passion for exercise. My greatest personal satisfaction comes from seeing other people improve themselves, especially when their benefits come from advice, education, suggestions, and/or training techniques that I have brought to them.

However, my ethics are much stronger than my desire for profit. Ethics in the diet, exercise, and personal fitness training industry are an extremely valuable commodity. They denote character and intent to provide quality service. Therefore, I smartly hesitated before answering the young lady's question. I could see the look in her eyes. She may have wanted me, as a trainer, to say, "Yes, of course your breasts will become larger, firmer, and fuller, just like they used to be. All you have to do is exercise." The truth, however, is quite surprising and perhaps contrary to your probable expectations.

As I began to research the subject, "natural breast enhancement," many truths became obvious, almost instantly. Of course, you find your most immediate replies from Internet sources. Members of the general public, many of whom have no accreditation, formal education, or long-term training expertise, are free to create such highly opinionated responses. Although these individuals (and some small businesses, too) may mean well, they simply lack accuracy, especially in the art and science of conducting skilled research.

Now, let me tell you what I noticed right away. Upon my first query on natural breast enhancement, several web sites displayed conflicting information. For example, one site said that herbs, minerals, and vitamins would cause a woman's breasts to enlarge. The next site said that "exercise" would boost breast size by at least one "letter." A third said that "nothing" would help because genetics alone determined breast sizes. A fourth claimed that wearing pressure clamps all day long would increase breasts by at least two cup-sizes.

As you might already see, the offerings, replies, and suggestions included various alternatives, methods, and techniques. There were suction and pressure devices, creams, encapsulated hormone products, immune system "enhancers," nutrient supplements, etc. A few sites even boasted about "special secret exercises." (Of course, you had to pay first before they told you what these unique, new "special secret exercises" were, if any.) The exercise science industry says nothing about "special breast enhancement exercises." This type of information is only hype. Don't buy into it. Stick with science. Stick with accredited information sources. Maintain your knowledge through licensed, formally trained professionals. Especially, deal only with specialists who maintain high "ethical" standards.

You may be interested to know this. Here is the basic outcome of a comparison between the various natural ingredients associated with "breast health." These ingredients were different from those that claimed to increase "breast size." If you are a candidate for such products, you must be meticulous about the phrasing of such descriptions. There's a saying on the Internet that, "You have to already know what you want, before you can find it." In other words, asking for "breast health" gives you different results than "breast enhancement" or "breast enlargement," or even "natural breasts."

For example, properties of nutrients claimed to exert "anti-cancer" functions. Still, others were reportedly claiming to make the breast expand (or, at least "appear" to) swell in size. Certainly, you could rationalize the following. Some nutrients do indeed tend to protect your cells from deterioration. At least, there are some that may offset the formation of cancerous cells. This, however, does not automatically mean that the tissue will appear larger and/or grow bigger. When you refine your "purpose," you are more likely to find something that can provide you with a satisfactory solution.

Do You Want the Bottom Line on "Natural" Breast Enlargement?

There really is "nothing" available and practical that will give you such results. The only thing that possibly comes close to achieving this for you is the "pressure clamp" concept. That is, you wear pressure clamps all day long for about 20 to 30 days non-stop. Surely, you can see how many people cannot arrange the time for such an activity. Convenience is certainly a factor that affects you. And, can you withstand the discomfort of this type of breast enlargement technique? At least, this idea has some merit, but it's still not your most practical and achievable solution. Now, consider the following.

In a "natural" way, nothing exists that will actually make your breasts firmer, fuller, or larger. You can, however, protect the "natural health" of your breasts. Additionally, with exercise, you can naturally increase the size and strength of the MUSCLE layers BENEATH your breasts. These muscle layers (called "pectorals") can give you a slightly more firm appearance. This is true only because the muscles themselves become more firm, NOT your mammary glands. In reality, breasts consist of fat tissue, not muscle. Fat can seldom be "firm" to the touch, and fat is hardly likely to give you a firm, solid appearance.

Now, "think outside of the box" for just a moment. Returning to our original story line, the ironic thing is that the woman you read about already possessed very large breasts.

Thousands of "decent-sized" ladies would "kill" to have what she already has. However, the feeling that your breasts may not be nice enough also comes from other facts. Your surrounding body parts can also lack THEIR proper shape and symmetry. Your overall fitness (including body fat ratio, flexibility, strength and endurance) may be poor or below average.

So, here's a breast enlargement/enhancement/health solution that you can count on, virtually, forever. BECOME TOTALLY FIT. For example, with the woman you read about above, reducing waist size would conversely increase breast size appearance. Do you understand how this works? In exercise science, there is something called a "waist-to-hip" ratio. It measures your cardiovascular risk as well. However, with an excellent waist-to-hip ratio, your body "looks" good, too. In other words, reduce your waistline to enhance your upper body stature, appearance, and appeal.

Next, there is your "body composition." This is an approximated measurement of the amount of fat you carry in your subcutaneous tissue layers (immediately below your skin's outer surface). This is a ratio of the fat to muscle your body carries. Via practically any combination of aerobic, bodybuilding, endurance, toning, or strength workout activities, you can remarkably enhance your body composition. This, in turn, enhances the size of your waist, plus the shape of your torso, and consequently, the appearance of your breasts. Therein lies your "breast enlargement," the "natural way."

It's time to train your way into a more pleasing appearance, and a higher level of stamina comes with it. It's a win-win situation for you, without medical complications, and with no negative side effects. Help "nature" take its course by helping your body do what it is supposed to do that is, to PERFORM. Call your trainer or weight management specialist and get more information. Then, step into higher gear with enjoyable and effective diet, exercise, and fitness physical activities. Your breasts will say, "Thank You."

Weight Watchers Food Points - Is Fructose Single-Handedly Making People Fat?

2008-11-10T20:21:00.001-08:00

In an attempt to explain the obesity epidemic in the world, fingers have recently been pointing to fructose the sweetener found naturally in fruit and honey and as a component of high-fructose corn syrup used in sweetened foods and beverages.

Some research has suggested that fructose may stimulate a hormonal response in the body that promotes weight gain, while other studies have hypothesized that fructose, vs. other forms of sugar, may trick you into thinking you are hungrier than you should be. But is fructose the real culprit? Many experts don't think so.

John S. White, PhD, a researcher specializing in nutritive sweeteners, finds the information unfounded. "I don't believe that limiting any single food ingredient would be at all effective. Obesity is caused by a host of environmental, psychological, and physiological factors. All macronutrient food ingredients -- fats, carbohydrates, and proteins -- will contribute to weight gain when consumed to excess. That may not be a trendy position, but it is one that is consistent with rational science."

White's colleagues agree. The expert view is that fructose may only be one ingredient causing people to gain weight, but other factors should be looked at, and overall calorie intake is likely high in obese people. Limit your consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages and snack foods just as you would any simple carb. Get your carbs from whole grains and veggies instead. They suggest reading labels carefully and when you need a sweet, try to choose fruit over artificial candy and beverages.

The fact of the matter here is that added sugars, in any form, can be a significant factor in obesity. The moral of the story: don't give fructose a bad rap - everything in moderation - you could gain weight by eating too much of any food.

Chester is a health nutrition consultant and is the owner of AstroNutrition - a provider of premium health nutrition and sports supplements. Check out our Health and Fitness Blog!

Weight Watchers Food Points - Dining Out 101

2008-11-10T12:21:00.001-08:00

Do you consistantly starve yourself until you get to the restaurant, and then order everything on the menu to fill the hunger gap? If you are serious about watching your weight there are things you can do to be a more 'informed diner' so you make the right decisions on what food to eat when you dine out.

Fitness expert Bob Green (yes, the same Bob Green from the Oprah show) gives us a few tips on what to consider at different types of restaurants.

Italian Restaurants

-Skip the bread basket. At the very least, don't have it sitting in front of you for the whole meal.

-Split the pasta dishes. Portions are normally large enough for two.

-Choose soup for a meal, like Minestrone.

-Avoid anything called 'parmagiana' as it is usually fried and layered with cheese.

Chinese Restaurants

-Watch the oil and avoid anything deep-fried.

-Remember most of the calories are hidden in the sauces.

-Say "no" to egg rolls - they are filled with fat.

-Avoid dishes with eggplant in them - they soak up the oil like a sponge.

-Choose brown rice over white. Don't mistake fried rice for brown rice.

-Fortune cookies are okay to eat - they only have about 30 calories.

Mexican Restaurants

-Skip the chips/nachos.

-Substitute salsa for other toppings such as cheese, guacamole and sour cream.

-Avoid quesadillas and enchiladas that are filled with cheese. Tamales are filled with fat.

-Try to only eat half a burrito - save the rest for later.

-Taco salads are a good option - just don't eat the shell. The shell doubles the calories.

-Fajitas are a good option. Load them up with veggies and salsa, skip the sour cream.

Bob believes there is "nothing more dangerous than showing up at a restaurant really hungry." Being an informed diner can save you hundreds of calories in just one meal. To buffer the hunger, be sure to snack before you go out.

Chester is a health nutrition consultant and is the owner of AstroNutrition - a provider of premium health nutrition and sports supplements. Check out our Health and Fitness Blog!

Weight Watchers Food Points - Tips to Smarter Snacking

2008-11-10T04:21:00.001-08:00

Are you a between-meal eater? Many of us are, but that doesn't mean you have to visit the vending machine all day. There are smarter ways to snack throughout the day where you can lower your calories and still fill the hunger gap.

Roberta Larson Duyff, MS, RD, author of the American Dietetic Association's Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, goes over some common snacking times and makes a few smart suggestions on what healthier items we can replace those "filler" foods with.

When you need a wake-up or need a quick energy jolt: Eat a small breakfast of carbs and protein (cereal, egg, milk) or have an AM snack of proteins like peanuts or cottage cheese.

Before leaving the office for a meeting: A quick piece of fruit or chunk of cheese is good if you don't know when lunch is coming.

Before working out: You might want pump up with a piece of fruit and a big glass of water.

After school or work: A small sandwich and a glass of milk will work, otherwise, people eat all the way until dinner, a cookie, a cracker, a soda, and are never satisfied. If you are cutting calories have some cut-up veggies or a rice cake with peanut butter or cheese.

When out with friends: Try splitting a dessert or snack when you go for dessert or grab a bite with your buddies.

Before partying: A cracker and cheese or little carrots are a good choice to take the edge off. Drink an equal amount of water after every drink when you can.

Before bed: Milk contains tryptophan, which makes some people sleepy, and chai tea can be soothing.

Snacking not only helps ease those nasty hunger pains, but it relaxes and softens stress. Snacking should not be used to escape boredom. Find the smart snacks that fit both your individual needs and the occasion at hand.

Chester is a health nutrition consultant and is the owner of AstroNutrition - a provider of premium health nutrition and sports supplements. Check out our Health and Fitness Blog!

Weight Watchers Food Points - The Acid/Base Diet

2008-11-09T20:21:00.001-08:00

Because the average Western diet is comprised of a large percentage of processed and fast foods, it seems relatively logical that we blame our problems of ill health, obesity and fatigue on them. Interestingly enough, however, the problem more than likely IS this type of food, but, for entirely different reasons than we may think.

We've all heard the hype about too much fat, or too many carbohydrates, or too much sugar, or too much of something else. Immediately afterwards a new diet fad springs up Low Carb, No Carb, Low Fat, No Fat, High Protein, Low Sugar, No Sugar, you name it, the diet exists. Unfortunately, we've seen the results of these diets unfavorable to say the least. There's one reason in particular that all of these diets fail to deliver the promised results they don't address the issue of an acid/base balance.

An expert in the acid/base field, Dr. Robert O. Young, in his ground breaking book, The pH Miracle, states, "The pH level of our internal fluids affects every cell in our bodies. The entire metabolic process depends on an alkaline environment. Chronic overacidity corrodes body tissue, and if left unchecked, will interrupt all cellular activities and function, from the beating of your heart to the neural firing of your brain. In other words, overacidity interferes with life itself. It is at the root of all sickness and disease."

Wow! That is a powerful paragraph! The work of Dr. Young along with research and experimental data from other truth seeking scientists and physicians in the past years have produced some amazing data that shows, in fact, that without a properly balanced blood pH level, bad things start to happen in the body. A majority of the public is relatively unaware that anything like the acid/base continuum exists. Until we become educated on the topic we will continue to suffer - as a nation - from low energy levels and fatigue, excess body weight that eventually leads to obesity, aching joints and muscles, irritability, mood swings, foggy mental activities and, yes, even PMS.

Add those problems to the other, more critical diseases that plague our population cancers, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, etc, and you'll understand why it is so important for you to take your health (and future) into your own hands and learn about the acid/base balance of your body. By learning more about this vital balance you'll find yourself wanting to make a change in your diet and lifestyle.

We need The pH Revolution:

Richelo Killian is a Personal Trainer who has been training individuals online and offline for about 3 years. Richelo has himself done an amazing body transformation, going from a very skinny 58Kg, to a nice and muscular 90Kg.

If you would like to learn more about pH diet, please visit our site at:

===

DISCLAIMER:

This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it

because of something you have read.

Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not

intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."

===

Weight Watchers Food Points - Burn Fat fast

2008-11-09T12:21:00.001-08:00

The Secret of Negative Calories Food

FAT IS A SILENT KILLER! Can you beat it ?

The answer is:

!! YES!!

The fact is: obesity can cause severe health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes

We need to take a different approach to loosing weight than we have being doing in the past. Forget old-fashioned diets that don't really give you the long-lasting results you seek. They are very good reasons why they do not work well.

Some of the calories in the foods you eat are burned off just to digest, so the the net amount of calories is actually less than the amount contained in the food.

This process has several names:

- Diarety-induced thermogenesis

- Specific dynamic actiom of food

- Thermic effect of food

You may have heard of the expression, "Negative calories", this refers to certain foods which have a thermic effect and a low colorie density.

This is almost impossible for these food to be stored as fat because most of these calories are burned off just to be digest them.

The negative calories foods have so few calories that you can burn up more calories in preparing cooking, chewing and digesting them than they impart.

The ingestion of these foods increases the metabolic rate of the body, which, in turn draws excess calories from the body's fat deposit.

Frequently Asked Questions:Fact:

Foods that actually melt down fat were discovered by nutritionist physicians during their search for healthier foods. When you add these type of foods to your normal diet, you lose weight but you also lower and normalize your cholesterol rate. This always contributes to your health.

Q: How many pounds can you lose per week?

A: If you are less than 20 pounds overweight, you can lose an average of 5-8 pounds in the first week, and 3-4 pounds in the subsequent weeks.If you are more than 20 pounds overweight, you will lose weight even more quickly. Some people with more than 40 pounds to lose have lost up to 12 pounds in the first week.

Q: I have tried bean pod capsules, other methods, other diets, and nothing has helped me lose weight yet. Why will it be different with this?

A: Because you will burn away more calories than you absorb. Everyone who has tried it has lost weight, there is no reason that it would work for everyone else and not for you!

Key Benefits

- No pills to take!

- The weight loss plan you are going to buy, is rapid and efficient at fat burning.

- The secret is that you will burn more calories than you take in.

- Easy to follow instructions and appetizing tips on how you can enjoy fat-controlled meals!

If you want to receive this Negative Calorie Food E-book. Just drop me an email at patbeaufay@yahoo.co.uk

As well don't forget to go to the Burn the Fat and Feed the Muscle site and to order the Burn the Fat and Feed the Muscle E-Book or first to request this Free Report with very honest information about this program and about the diet industry with full huge LIKEHOODS (LIES) and PLEDGES (PROMISES)

Click therefore on this link for the best tool I have found in my quest for health and fitness!!

FREE! SIZZLING HOT BRAND NEW 40-PAGE REVEAL HOW TO INCINIRATE FAT FAST SO YOU CAN START SEEING

YOUR ABS !!!

SKYROCKET YOUR

FAT LOSS SUCCESS !!!

If you want to know what to do and what kind of food that burn the fat please visit the site for more information on burn fat fast and burn the fat feed the muscle burn the fat feed the muscle

In what way to lose weight in a permanent way. Visit this site for more information on burn fat fast

Weight Watchers Food Points - Burn the Fat and Feed the Muscle

2008-11-09T04:21:00.001-08:00

The Secret of Negative Calories Food

FAT IS A SILENT KILLER! Can you beat it ?

The answer is:

!! YES!!

The fact is: obesity can cause severe health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes

Some of the calories in the foods you eat are burned off just to digest, so the the net amount of calories is actually less than the amount contained in the food.

This process has several names:

- Diarety-induced thermogenesis

- Specific dynamic actiom of food

- Thermic effect of food

You may have heard of the expression, "Negative calories", this refers to certain foods which have a thermic effect and a low colorie density.

This is almost impossible for these food to be stored as fat because most of these calories are burned off just to be digest them.

The negative calories foods have so few calories that you can burn up more calories in preparing cooking, chewing and digesting them than they impart.

The ingestion of these foods increases the metabolic rate of the body, which, in turn draws excess calories from the body's fat deposit.

Frequently Asked Questions:Fact: Foods that actually melt down fat were discovered by nutritionist physicians during their search for healthier foods. When you add these type of foods to your normal diet, you lose weight but you also lower and normalize your cholesterol rate. This always contributes to your health.

Q: How many pounds can you lose per week?A: If you are less than 20 pounds overweight, you can lose an average of 5-8 pounds in the first week, and 3-4 pounds in the subsequent weeks.If you are more than 20 pounds overweight, you will lose weight even more quickly. Some people with more than 40 pounds to lose have lost up to 12 pounds in the first week.Q: I have tried bean pod capsules, other methods, other diets, and nothing has helped me lose weight yet. Why will it be different with this?A: Because you will burn away more calories than you absorb. Everyone who has tried it has lost weight, there is no reason that it would work for everyone else and not for you!

Key Benefits

- No pills to take!

- The weight loss plan you are going to buy, is rapid and efficient at fat burning.

- The secret is that you will burn more calories than you take in.

- Easy to follow instructions and appetizing tips on how you can enjoy fat-controlled meals!

If you want to receive this Negative Calorie Food E-book. Just drop me an email at patbeaufay@yahoo.co.uk

Click therefore on this link for the best tool I have found in my quest for health and fitness!!

FREE! SIZZLING HOT BRAND NEW 40-PAGE REVEAL HOW TO INCINIRATE FAT FAST SO YOU CAN START SEEING

YOUR ABS !!!

SKYROCKET YOUR

FAT LOSS SUCCESS !!!

Weight Watchers Food Points - Detox Diets

2008-11-08T20:21:00.001-08:00

Detox Diets are the last craze in dieting, that’s why the number of people searching for detox diets is growing everyday.

You may have heard about toxins, detoxification, cleansing, purifying – they are all related to detox diets.

Toxins are harmful chemicals affecting your body. They are all around you (in your food, water, air) and inside you (as waste products of metabolism). Your body eliminates most toxins and the rest are stored within body fat.

These stored toxins combined with stress can affect your health in very unpleasant ways:

- weight gain

- headaches

- feelings of fatigue and weakness

- heartburn

- sore muscles and skin

- joint pains

These symptoms will fade when you start detox. Well, you may feel some discomfort in the very first days, but that is a normal body reaction.

You may feel headache or sore muscles, but that is because the toxins are released faster then your body can eliminate them. These symptoms will not occur again if you detox regularly.

Detox and Weight Loss

Detoxification is the process of releasing and expelling the stored toxins through the elimination organs of your body - the intestines, liver, lungs, kidneys and skin.

Detox Diets are dietary nutritious plans that use detoxification, which helps you lose weight by cleansing out your body and improving your metabolism.

Detox and Disease Prevention

Detox Diets are recommended for improving resistance to disease, mental state, digestion, strengthens the organs involved in detox.

Detox Diets can help prevent serious diseases such as cancer, ADD, ADHD, chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivities, as well as treat heart disease, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disease.

Detox Foods

Detox Diets recommend consumption of foods that are beneficial for your health and essential to weight loss - organic foods, fruits and vegetables.

You should drink purified water and cut back on processed foods, as well as give up alcohol and smoking.

You should know…

Detox Diets are quite restrictive and once you start a detox diet, you should follow it strictly. Detox Diets are safe, but you should consult your doctor before starting.

Types of Detox Diets

+ Fasting - drinking only water, juices or broths, or eating one kind of food for a certain period of time. Your body starts burning fat for energy.

+ Nutritional supplements – intake of nutritious powders, vitamins and packaged protein snacks.

+ Hydrotherapy - detoxifying through your skin pores by taking special baths.

+ Specific detox diets - last between 7 and 30 days; there are quick detox diets for one and three days, and long detox diets for 8 weeks.

Find more information for Detox Diets at Read about my experience with 1 week detox diet. Experience the amazing health benefits of detox diets now!

Weight Watchers Food Points - I Pulled A Fast One on My Obese Husband Now Hes Skinny and Loving It!

2008-11-08T12:21:00.001-08:00

I Pulled A Fast One on My Obese Husband Now He's Skinny and Loving It!

By: Helen Robinson

I really didn't mean to be devious. I was worried about his health and mine. I finally went cold turkey and gave up my two pack-a-day cigarette habit and put on 40 lbs. He weighed 241 lbs. and tried every diet in creation. After being on that famous high-protein diet, bacon and eggs every morning and steak for dinner, he wound up having a triple bypass. I'm usually not a nagging wife, but I knew this kind of eating couldn't be right. He would tell anyone who would listen how he was losing weight and I wouldn't leave him alone.

Not being a motivated person, I knew I needed help from a support group. How ridiculous to think my husband would join with me. Do you know how hard it is to find men at these meetings? I couldn't imagine him getting on a scale every week in front of all these women, so there I was on my own.

The most important fact I learned from my group leader that day is that (we hope not intentionally), husbands, friends and family will try to sabotage you. "Have another helping, it's good for you!" Sound familiar? I realized this was true when I got home and with renewed excitement I rambled on about my meeting, the interesting diet plan and how they all laughed when I said my goal was to find my cheekbones again. He had this blank stare that said I'm happy for you but if you're going to do this, I don't really want to hear about it. He's not usually the kind that tunes me out like that so I was a bit upset but I knew he really meant it.

At the next weekly meeting, I thumbed through the cookbooks for sale. I purchased the one that had quick and easy menus and lots of comfort food. My thought was that it wouldn't be necessary to cook something different for the two of us. He would love things like Creamy Broccoli-Topped Pasta, Chicken or Veal with Creamy Mustard Sauce, and luscious sounding soups like Cauliflower au Gratin and Vegetable-Cheddar Soup.

That's where it all began. The first meal I served was the Chicken with the Creamy Mustard Sauce. We thought we died and went to heaven! When Chubby Hubby raved I just played it cool and told him I purchased a new cookbook. No talk about healthy cooking, not a word about low fat and heaven help me if I mentioned the dreaded word 'diet'.

Two weeks passed. I noticed my husband was depressed and seemed worried about something. He's not one to pour his problems out easily. It took time to finally get it out of him. "I'm really concerned about something" he said very seriously. "I've lost a lot of weight for no reason and I think there must be something terribly wrong with me."

Now I know it was cruel for me to laugh, but I had to. When I told him those meals that he was raving about nightly were low in fat and portioned correctly, it took a while to sink in. His plate was as full as always. The difference was that now it was filled with normal portions of meat and more with deliciously seasoned vegetables plus either rice, potatoes or pasta.

We continued to eat well. No gimmicks, no pills, no cabbage soup or grapefruit diets. I relearned the art of cooking and we both have a new respect for food. We're both looking great. I lost my 40 lbs and more, he now weighs 178 lbs. Please understand that unlike the diet ads on TV, we did not do this in 6 weeks. It's unhealthy to yo-yo diet. Have patience! After a while we realized that we would also have to change our lifestyle so my svelte husband is out on the treadmill almost every day and I take aerobic classes twice a week and instruct line dancing three times a week. By the way, we're in our 70's still eating right and still going strong.

Visit Helen & Syd Robinson's site at for more tips and recipes and to claim your copy of "6 Tips For A Healthy Dinner Out". This special report features six easy to follow tips for having a healthy dinner at restaurants while still enjoying your meal.

Author is the owner of the website and is a line dance instructor for the Parks & Recreation Dept.

Weight Watchers Food Points - Not All Fats Are Bad

2008-11-08T04:21:00.001-08:00

Fats have been unfairly lumped together as being all bad for too long. Fat doesn't necessarily cause disease, and can actually cause a role in its prevention. The truth is that some fats are very bad for us and some fats are actually very good for us.

Time has shown us that diets that restrict all fats fail in terms of weight loss. Since the end of World War II, Americans have been told that they need to restrict saturated fat in their diets. So we switched to margarine from butter, and did what we could to restrict fat. We have been constantly told that the reason for our health problems is that we still eat too much fat, especially saturated fats.

Since Americans have been told to eat a low fat diet to lose weight, the results are that nearly two thirds of adult Americans are now classified as overweight and more children are overweight now than ever before. Obviously something is wrong. That is because we need special kinds of fats in our diets that we are not getting.

If you are like me, you grew up being told that vegetable oils were the good oils and saturated fats were the bad ones. Now we are finding out that it is just the opposite. Diets that are moderate to high in "good" saturated fats and oils such as coconut oil and olive oil are actually very good for us. They raise good cholesterol levels and lower bad cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure. As a matter of fact, people who started adding at least 4 tablespoons of coconut oil to their diets every day, have found that they can now lose weight when they could not before on a fat restricted diet. Sometimes the addition of these oils even helps with their health problems.

It turns out that the bad guys are polyunsaturated oils, which carry toxic fatty acids (long chain fatty acids or LCT's). These LCT's tend to produce fat in the body. Polyunsaturated oils are the vegetable oils we commonly see in the grocery store, such as soy, corn, cottonseed, rapeseed and safflower.

We have been told that they lower cholesterol, but they way that they do is not healthy, as it ends up collecting in the liver. These oils are easily oxidized and damaged by free radicals. When cooked they become rancid in a few hours, even in the refrigerator. This causes damage to our body at a cellular level, the end results showing up as problems like diabetes, cancer, hypothyroidism and heart disease. And if that is not enough, these oils help us to get fat, lower the metabolic rate in our bodies, help suppress the thyroid function and cause our skin to age quicker.

Trans-fat is one of the worst bad guys. Trans-fatty acids often appear on ingredient labels as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. It is what they do to vegetable oils to make them into hard fats such as margarine and vegetable shortening. It is used in the prepared food industry in baked goods like cookies, crackers, and most supermarket peanut butter to prolong the shelf life. These bad fats are used almost exclusively in fast foods that are fried. When heated and eaten, they turn into something like poison in your system, because your body can not process this kind of chemically made fat. Trans-fats not only increase levels of bad cholesterol, but they will decrease levels of good cholesterol in the blood stream and trans-fatty acids have been linked to heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Fats such as margarine and shortening should be totally avoided, as well as foods items that contain them.

The United States FDA is finally catching up to this truth, and by January 2006 they will be requiring food products to label the amount of trans-fat they have in them.) What is frightening is that trans-fats are found in over 40% of the products on our supermarket shelves.

The fatty acid chains in coconut and olive oil are medium-chain fatty acids (MCT's) and they promote weight loss by increasing the body's metabolism to create energy. Coconut oil has become popular lately, because it has been discovered that coconut oil is nature's richest source of MTC's. If you decide to add coconut oil to your diet, it is recommended that you purchase virgin coconut oil (VCO), usually found in health food stores, because it from the best part of the coconut and has not been chemically bleached and heat processed. It is better for cooking than olive oil, because olive oil can be damaged by the heat of cooking, making it similar to the other vegetable oils in the body when cooked.

Even saturated fat from animals is not as bad as it once was thought to be, especially if it is from organically raised animals (free range and grass fed). Organic butter has a very high conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content, which helps us lose weight and gain muscle. But non-organic meats may still be dangerous because of the way the animals were raised or fed. Most grocery store meats are filled with hormones, pesticides, medicines and unhealthy fat that gets transferred to us when we eat it.

Organic grass fed and free range meat and eggs avoid these problems, and give us a much healthier source of protein and saturated fat. Organic saturated fats and oils are actually good for you and should be eaten daily. The body needs these fats for healthy functioning.

So, forget the guilt and fry up that range-fed chicken in some coconut oil and enjoy!

Weight Watchers Food Points - Are the barriers of dieting psychological or physical?

2008-11-07T20:21:00.001-08:00

Part 1.

On the last count the word 'diet' produced in excess of 157 million web pages of diet plans, pills, potions and dieting tips from health institutions, diet companies, nutritional professionals and otherwise - from all over the world. And yet we are approaching the peak of an obesity epidemic which is causing untold mental misery and depression, aside from the ever increasing debilitating diseases being linked to those overweight or obese. With such an abundance of information available - how can this be?

The trend is unforgiving and is second only to smoking in terms of the cause of self-inflicted premature loss of life, but left to its own devices within the next five years obesity is sure to take the number one slot. Mother Nature is ruthless in her approach to life, in that she only allows the fittest to survive and the trend we see today is her reaction to the effects of a diet that is clearly not suited to the well-being of the human body and mind. We only have to stop, take a step in back and look around us to see that there is one hell of a serious problem. There is no need for statistics, reports or media news to tell us such. It's clear that we as individuals have to make a change in what we do if we have any intention to reverse the current obesity trend. The ultimate responsibility lies with each and every one of us to act for the benefit of ourselves.

We have to accept the fact that the grocery industry is a host of contradiction in that it sells both dietary products along side the very products that cause us to be overweight or obese in the first instance. This is so obvious in our supermarkets today. It has become human nature that profit has a higher weighting than human health, and this is evident in many industries around the world, and is far from unique within dieting circles. We must also bear in mind the diet companies, whilst they portray an air of interest and concern, in reality they are totally dependent on your failure to diet for their very own business survival. If they were good at what they do their businesses would surely fail. So who can we trust aside from ourselves. The evidence is clear -there is no debate.

We may have one reprieve but it will be sometime in the future, but not now. Science and technology is getting nearer and nearer to the possibility of a wonder drug with the ever-increasing understanding of the human genotype and genetic engineering. But in reality, who would ever wish or want to be dependent on diet drugs, potentially an ongoing daily basis, simply because of a lack of understanding about the relationship between the food our body has been designed for, and the food we eat. Why is it, we knowingly overeat when we know it is bad for us and that we are doing harm to ourselves? Why is it, that the only time we choose to ignore our food is the time when we are eating it!

So, is it a psychological thing, a physical thing or is it both?

In order to answer this we must first look at the change in our diet over the last 50 years. Consumption trends of refined carbohydrates such as sugar has risen dramatically, but at the same time the consumption of fats and proteins has remained reasonably stable. Saturated fats has indeed become and still is a problem although thankfully now overall consumption of saturated fats has dropped slightly, but still remains an issue.

Many studies particularly those associated with research in how the Atkins diet worked revealed that the effect of refined carbohydrates and fats both have a form of addiction associated with them. Studies have shown that refined sugars have the effect of playing havoc with the fine balance of maintaining the level of glucose in the bloodstream. This in turn has a detrimental effect on our hormonal activity, such as insulin and glucagon which are both responsible for maintaining the level of glucose to its normal level following a 'surge' intake of refined carbohydrates in our diet. These acceptable levels of glucose in the bloodstream are maintained at surprisingly narrow margins.

Refined sugars therefore induces excessive hormonal activity in its attempt to restore homeostasis. These unnatural 'swings' in hormonal activity often cause differing mood swings from that of being happy and content to being sad, on edge, and even feelings of anxiety or panic. Prolonged exposure to these hormonal swings can often lead to the whole process becoming less effective and subsequently diabetes can be the end result.

Other studies have shown surprisingly that the effect of eating significant quantities of fats actually leads to an unexpected human reaction in terms of nutrition. You would think that eating food rich in fats would have the effect of satisfying feeling of hunger. But amazingly medical research has shown the opposite to be true. Clinical trials have shown that foods rich in fats actually induces people to eat more not less. At the time the results from such experiments were groundbreaking as they completely contradicted the nutritional thinking of the time.

It is also interesting to learn that further medical studies have suggested that foods rich in protein have been linked to the response that indicates that you have consumed sufficient food. In other words, it is believed that proteins in some way, triggers the 'I am full' response.

And then of course there is the massive change in our energy expenditure. We used to hunt and gather food but now we happily pop to the local supermarket to buy it, or at worse, have it delivered to our front door. Food has changed from being scarce to being in abundance (at least for us), and we have changed from being 'active' to relatively 'dormant'. Move less and eat morewhat should we expect?

And many believe that even the act of not exercising can trigger the bodily response to lower the metabolism and build fat layers under the skin for 2 key reasons, both being linked to human survival. In evolutionary terms, it may be that you are unable to 'hunt' and therefore unable to secure food. Reducing the metabolic rate of your body makes total sense to preserve energy. Secondly, if food is available during a spell of non activity, does it not make a whole load of sense to lay down fat layers under the skin to retain bodily heat and secure an energy source during potential 'lean times'. Perfect sense, perfect design and yet we don't understand ourselves and if we do, many choose to ignore the warning signs out body is offering.

In essence therefore, it is very clear that part of the problem within the dieting world that we humans face is certainly a physical one that is linked to the interaction of the food types we eat with that of our body. And clearly, over the last 50 odd years our diet has changed out of all recognition and yet our body is doing the same as it has been doing for well over the last 100,000 years. We are in the 21st century, our body is still in the 'Stone Age'. Evolution is a slow slow process but over millions of years the relationship and reaction of chemicals in our food with the cells of the human body has been cemented and cast, for eons of time.

So, it is us that need to changebecause Mother Nature will not entertain us for thousands of years to come

Run with it, eat what your body has been designed for and successful weight loss will follow for sure

Jeff Garcia

Part 2 to follow

For more information please visit:

Email: jeffgarcia@ Jeff Garcia author of Glycemic Superfoods, qualified as a biologist, served the public for 15 years in the retail trade, and for the last 3 years has subsequently retrained and successfully markets on the Internet.

For more information please visit:

Email: jeffgarcia@

Weight Watchers Food Points - Considerations of a Vegetarian Diet

2008-11-07T12:21:00.001-08:00

Our society is set up to regard meat eating as the 'norm'. Those people who choose a vegetarian diet are often thought of as difficut, 'trying to be different' or just odd. A common nutritional fallacy is that meat and animal products must be consumed in order to maintain a well-balanced, healthy diet.

Many people these days are finding out the many health benefits of a vegetarian diet. Additionally, many physicians and nutritionalists are prescribing and endorsing plant-based meals in order to promote health, prevent and treat certain diseases, and even to reduce weight. There are many products now becoming available in shops and supermarkets that contain health enhancing plant extracts.These are mixed in yoghurts,spreads and cheeses, to specifically lower cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure, enhance energy levels and boost immune systems. Who knows what other benefits are just around the corner in plant extracts.

Although vegetarianism may seem like a modern idea, in reality, its health benefits have been known for many years in cultures around the world. India and the far east make up the largest percentage of the world's vegetarians, both for health and spiritual reasons. One group of people, the Hunza, who live near the Himalaya's have a diet which is exclusively vegetarian. Members of their community reportedly often live to be over 100 years of age.

The American Dietetic Association say that the benefits of a vegetarian diet can include;

Lower cholesterol levels

Lower levels of saturated fats

Lower body fat

Reduced rates of heart disease

Lower blood pressure

Lower incidence of type-2 diabetes

Lower instances of certain cancers

Higher levels of important minerals and antioxidant vitamins

Obesity is one of the major health concerns in the western world. It can be addressed with a vegetarian diet, one that eliminates excess protein and animal fat consumption, and increases fiber in the form of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Those who consume a vegetarian diet tend to maintain a lower body mass index (BMI), which significantly aids in the treatment and management of other chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. A lower BMI is an aim of anyone looking to improve their general health, whether by diet, exercise, or preferably both.

One question often asked by those considering a vegetarian diet is; "Will I get enough protein? This is certainly a valid question, as protein is necessary for the building, maintenance and function of all body cells. In fact, a varied and well-balanced vegetarian diet actually provides all the protein the body needs, obtained by eating such things as whole grains, beans, nuts and soy products.

In fact, meat-based diets typically provide an excess of protein, which may actually be harmful. High protein levels can put more strain on the kidneys. A leading gerontological journal reports that too much protein can cause a person to lose about 30% of their kidney function by the time they reach old age. It can also cause systemic acidity, which the body attempts to counter by leeching calcium out of the bones, which can lead to osteoporosis.

Becoming a vegetarian does not mean you are limited to eating carrots, fruit and nuts. There are many types of vegetarians that eat meatless diets in a variety of combinations. Some of the more common types include;

Lacto vegetarians, who do not eat meat or eggs, but do eat dairy products such as milk and cheese.

Lacto-ovo vegetarians do not eat meat, but will eat dairy products and eggs.

Ovo vegetarians do not eat meat or dairy products, but will eat eggs.

Vegans do not eat meat, dairy products, eggs, or any animal products at all.

There are many medical and health organizations that promote, endorse, and support people on a path toward changing their dietary lifestyle to one that includes more plant-based foods. There is a lot of information on the internet, as well as through medical providers and vegetarian organizations. Numerous books and articles are easily found.

Many restaurants, grocery stores and supermarkets now provide meals and products to vegetarians, making it simpler to choose this healthy lifestyle.

Remember that at the end of the day it is your decision. If you want to simply keep eating a little meat, while exploring deeper into the vegetarian side, then do that. Don't worry about the 'purists'. There is no law to say you cannot eat a little meat, fish or chicken along the way - it's your life and your choice. Once you start eating more vegetarian food though, many people find they start to lose their taste for meat. The main thing is to enjoy the food and feel healthier by doing so.

On a final note, consider using either all organic vegetables and fruit, or at least as much as you can source. Organic produce really makes a great deal of difference to the taste and texture, and you have the security of mind that what you are eating is free of pesticides and other chemicals. More information on this will be found in the next article, or on our web site.

Article supplied by Michael Aldridge.

For a complete and extensive guide to weightloss, please visit our web site at

Weight Watchers Food Points - 3 Choices To Help You Lose Weight

2008-11-07T04:21:00.001-08:00

1. The Weight Loss Patch

Perhaps the most appealing benefit of using a patch is that it is so easy to use. No pills to remember to take, no special diets, no required exercise routine. Naturally, sticking to a healthy diet and exercise program is best for your overall health, but if that is difficult for you to adhere to all of the time, the patch may be a solution that works for you.

A weight loss patch that you place on your body will deliver the active ingredients by transdermal delivery, meaning through the skin. The patch ingredients will go directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system and liver. Simply apply the patch to a smooth area of your skin and change it every 3 days. That is all of the maintenance that is required.

A patch can even be used occasionally when you are traveling and know you will be eating out a lot, or for those times you are too busy to cook the proper foods. A patch that suppresses your appetite will help you develop good eating habits that will help you maintain your ideal weight in the future ~ no more yo-yo figures.

2. Appetite Suppressant Pills

Curbing your appetite to stop the influx of calories in the first place seems to be the logical way to lose and maintain your weight. However, we are so bombarded by confusing claims everywhere for appetite suppressant pills ~ in print, on the radio, on television, even on billboards when driving, that it is difficult to know which diet pill will really help take off those pounds ~ and keep them off..

Some diet pills will cause your heart to race, your hands to shake, or an overall "wired" feeling. To avoid these problem, stay away from products that contain Ephedra, Ma Huang, and Ephedrine.

One herbal diet pill that has gotten a lot of publicity lately is Hoodia Gordonii The authentic plant comes from the Kalahari desert in South Aftrica. Respectable television shows like 60 Minutes, the Today Show, BBC, and even Oprah's "O" magazine have given it rave reviews for its fast acting appetite suppressing qualities. While it can take one to two weeks to work fully, many users report a decline in their appetite with the first pill.

In fact, Hoodia has had so many positive reports that there are now a lot of knock-off products being marketed to the uninformed ~ especially on the Internet. The real Hoodia is very rare because it takes up to 7 years for the Hoodia plant to mature to a point where it provides appetite suppressant qualities. In addition, the African government is now limiting the amount of Hoodia it exports, meaning only a few suppliers have the real thing. Because Hoodia is so rare, you can expect it to be a little more expensive than other diet pills.

Another diet pill that helps shed pounds is Herbal Phentermine. This is a non-prescription appetite suppressant that is scientifically designed to produce similar effects of a popular Rx version of phentermine.

The good news is that the Herbal version contains only natural ingredients so you don't have to be worried about side effects. Plus, you can avoid the time, expense, and embarrassment of a doctor's visit.

Herbal Phentermine will not only suppress your appetite, but it will also increase your metabolism so you burn more calories and have more energy.

3). Carbohydrate Blockers

Perhaps you prefer not to have your appetite suppressed, but instead would like to eat all of the pasta, bread, rice, and potatoes you want. If this sounds more like your style, then you might want to try a carbohydrate blocker.

Scientists have discovered, and thoroughly tested a method to allow us to eat the foods we love and not gain weight. We can now stop the normal conversion of starchy foods to sugar before it can pass through our digestive system and store as fat on our hips, thighs, buttocks and stomach. Derived from white kidney beans, the resulting carb blockers, (starch neutralizers), are a completely natural product. They work by neutralizing the Alpha amylase enzyme that digests starch.

By neutralizing this digestive enzyme, the starch from our food does not get digested. Instead, it remains intact and does not convert to sugar. It simply passes through the body undigested and acts as a fiber ~ which is a very good thing. We get more fiber going through our intestines while avoiding the conversion to sugar and the resulting fat storage ~ a definite win-win situation.

Over the past several years, there have been many positive studies to determine the effectiveness of carb blockers and their ability to help lose weight. One study was performed at the Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, over an eight week time period.

It reported that participants saw an average weight loss of 200% more than those taking a placebo, and lost an average of 1.5 inches around their waists. This was 43 % more than those taking the placebo. Plus they reported having 13% more energy, even though it is not a stimulant.

Whether you choose patches or pills, prefer to eat starchy foods, or use carb blockers, some things to look for when buying diet products are that they:

1) Contain all natural ingredients

2) Do not have harmful side effects

3) Offer a 100% money back guarantee

Products mentioned in article can be found at

BlingS featuring alternative methods for weight loss and disease without harmful side effects, and exclusive Bling makeovers for you, your pets, and your home.

Please note: The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional health care consultation

Weight Watchers Food Points - Truth About Low Fat Diets Benefits

2008-11-05T20:21:00.000-08:00

A national study recently revealed telling facts regarding low-fat diets and their benefits relating to cancer and heart disease. A study concluded by the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) and Stanford University noted that a low-fat diet, alone, is not enough to greatly reduce the risk of heart disease and/or cancer in adult women. Researchers have found that a reduction in saturated and trans fats may provide more positive results.

The study showed that women who participate in a low-fat diet experienced a 9% reduction in the development of breast cancer. In addition, no significant changes were noted in the occurrence of heart disease. An impressive 49,000 females, ranging in age from 50 to 79, participated in what is known as the America's largest long-term study of a low-fat diet to ever be noted. The research was conducted over a period of eight years, in which the experts planned to test the theory that low-fat diets were helpful in reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Among the 49,000 subjects, 40% were assigned to a low-fat diet, which required that they reduce their fat intake to 20% of their total calorie intake. In addition, they were to eat fruits and vegetables on five or more instances throughout the day, along with six servings of grain. The remaining 60% of participants were designated as the comparison group and were instructed to maintain their eating habits as always.

Women's Health Initiative experts, however, noted that a number of low-fat diet participants did not meet the 20% fat intake goal. In a recent news report released from Stanford University, experts conveyed that women who wish to maintain their health should consider a diet that is both low in saturated and trans fats while being rich in fiber and vegetables. This diet would replace one that is geared solely toward the intake of low-fat foods.

"Just switching to low-fat foods is not likely to yield much health benefit in most women," commented Marcia Stefanick, PhD, professor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center and chair of the Women's Health Initiative steering committee. "Rather than trying to eat low-fat, women should focus on reducing saturated fats and trans fats."

In addition to any diet program, regular exercise and health screenings should be used for early detection and the most effective treatment.

The information in this article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be considered as, or used in place of, medical advice or professional recommendations for diet and/or exercise regimens. Every individual should consult his/her physician prior to beginning any program consisting of diet and/or exercise.

Find more on 1200 calorie diet, Gall Bladder diet and diverticulitis diet.

Weight Watchers Food Points - The Amazing Miracle Food That Really Works

2008-11-05T12:21:00.000-08:00

Anti-aging, weight management, natural immunity, and detoxification of pollutants in our bodies are all topics of concern for us in the 21st century. Can it be that one substance provides a solution to all of these issues? According to news reports from Cornell University, the New England Journal of Medicine and the U.S. Government's center for Disease Control, to name a few, it seems there is. This substance is colostrums. Colostrum is a thick yellow fluid, rich in protein, growth and immune factors, produced by human mothers for approximately 72 hours after giving birth. Bovine colostrum, colostrum from cows is 100 times richer in immune factors than human colostrum. Even better, it is not species specific which means it can work in humans and lower mammals. The powerful immune and growth factors contained in colostrum brings the body to a natural state of health and well being. The following are some of the benefits of colostrum.

Anti-Aging

After puberty, the amount of immune and growth factors in our bodies begins to decline. As we age, we become more vulnerable to disease. We have problems with loss of muscle tone and weight gain and our skin becomes elastic. An aging person exhibits lower levels of growth hormone than a younger one. By the age of eighty we produce, basically, no growth hormone. Colostrum stimulates cellular and tissue growth, repairs and helps to reverse the damage done by disease and the natural aging process and aids in the renewal of skin and bones. This makes colostrum an invaluable tool in the fight against premature aging.

Weight Management

Fad diets, fasts, yo yo dieting and rapid weight loss result in the loss of lean muscle instead of fat. Colostrum contains IGF-1, the most powerful growth hormone in our bodies. The growth factors in bovine colostrum and Leptin assist the body in an increase of metabolism, a greater ease in building lean muscle and a reduction of fat. It also affects the neurotransmitters in our bodies which improves mental acuity. If you tend to eat when stressed or depressed, colostrum also aids in this regard.

Natural Immunity

Colostrum contains proteins that function as antibodies. These are the most powerful immune factors found in colostrum. A number of recent clinical studies have shown colostrum to contain antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Although colostrum, as a dietary supplement, is relatively new to the United States, physicians in India have used colostrum as a treatment for thousands of years.

Detoxification of Pollutants

In an optimal environment, where we get enough sleep, eat well, exercise regularly and put no toxins in our bodies the body is a very efficient mechanism. When these conditions are not met toxins build up in our bodies. Taking colostrum can result in a significant amount of cellular energy. This energy is used to expel the waste stored outside the cells. This waste leaves the body from whatever channel that is available. Sometimes you can experience cold or flu like symptoms when first taking colostrum, depending on the amount of toxic buildup. Make sure to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of water and eat simply while detoxifying.

Colostrum is a food. With the exception of allergic reactions in person's known to be allergic to cow's milk, it does not have any side effects at any level of consumption. It has no known drug interactions. In addition to adult consumption, it can safely be consumed by children and pets. However, according to tests conducted at Cornell University, true colostrum is colostrum from the first milking after the birth of the calf and collected within six hours of its birth. As always, use due diligence in deciding which products to buy.

Constance Weygandt is an author, speaker and balance mentor. For more information on anti aging and weight loss or to receive her newsletter, visit her at

Weight Watchers Food Points - Atkins Diet - Learn More

2008-11-05T04:21:00.000-08:00

The Atkins diet can be boring because of the limited choice and some believe it can be dangerous. Get a physical to make sure you can tolerate the diet and inform the doctor about your decision to try the Atkins diet. Make sure you completely understand how the diet works.

You can get all the information, both positive and negative, that you could want online, at the library or the bookstore. The Atkins diet attempts to get your body to burn fat instead of carbs as fuel. Atkins dieters sometimes experience physical reaction in the early weeks of the diet.

There are things that can be done to alleviate these symptoms. Dizziness and muscular cramps can be experienced by new Atkins dieters. You might have dizziness, cramps or other physical effects caused by the dietary changes you are making. You can take steps to prevent cramps and other symptoms.

Brain fog, dizziness and muscular cramps are common reactions to the dietary changes. Minerals like potassium wash out of your system rather quickly. A banana will not replace all the potassium loss, you need to take a supplement. Your symptoms should improve in about an hour.

Here are some hints to help you stay healthy while on Atkins. There are ways to help you combat the symptoms of the dietary changes. You need to eat at least 8 calories per pound of body weight. You need to drink enough water to flush toxins from your system.

Some people recommend drinking water equal to half your body weight, that is a lot of water. Water helps the body to rid itself of acidic ketones and also helps in lipolysis , the burning of fat rather than carbs for energy.

Don't weigh or measure yourself more than once a week, more often will have you obsessing over every 1/4 ounce. You will likely see a decrease in inches after the first week, if not you will surely see it in pounds. Eating the carbs that make you feel your best, still means you need to stay within the limits for the diet stage you are in. You will get more "bang for the buck" if you choose unprocessed, natural nutrient dense carbohydrates.

Sugar is an absolute no-no. Regular exercise is absolutely necessary. Do not even consider a program that promises you can lose weight without exercise. Exercise helps the body to better utilize the foods you consume. Not doing enough exercise is as bad as doing too much. Ask your doctor's advice about how often, how much and what type of exercise is right for you. Don't start off by trying to run a 10k, try a walk around the block and build up tolerance for more.

Be sure to take the nutrient supplements prescribed by your doctor. You should have a journal to record your weight loss and food consumption. If a major event or life change happens, record it and the emotions, since these can affect how you eat. What happens in your life affects what you eat, how much and even how often you eat.

Significant events should also be entered because even good stuff can affect you. Keep track of exactly what you eat in your food journal if you are diabetic you will be able to see how certain foods positively or negatively affect blood sugar levels. You should record your daily test results in this journal also.

Your journal will teach you to recognize patterns and to realize when your blood sugar levels are changing. Share your journal, or at least the trends you have noticed, with your doctor so that he can determine what needs to be done. Read the labels on every pre-packaged food item, look for white flour and hidden sugars.

You will lose weight faster if you limit your caffeine intake. The Atkins diet, or any other diet, is not going to take off 50 pounds in a week. A weight loss of 2-4 pounds a week may be realistic for one person but not for another. Losing more than this could be dangerous.

If weight loss is very rapid your body will go into starvation mode and try to hold on to what it can, and weight loss will stop cold. Any large weight loss will be regained if you return to your "normal" eating habits. Your prior "normal" eating patterns are what made you overweight to begin with.

A diet that promises phenomenal weight loss in a very short period of time is likely a scam. A really workable diet is one that recommends a balanced diet, exercise and possibly supplements. Be sure that any supplement is safe in general and for you in particular.

Just because a supplement is all natural, doesn't mean it is safe. Some supplements can interact with certain medication, so be cautious. No medications, vitamins or supplements should be taken without your doctor's approval.

Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice on a variety of subjects. For more information on

Atkins diet plan or

Low carb diet plans, drop by the website. His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

Weight Watchers Food Points - Are you eating yourself to death?

2008-11-04T20:21:00.000-08:00

My immediate answer is YES, you are eating yourself to death!

I can just hear you all shout "Hold on a second there Richelo! I eat very healthy foods, and I only drink healthy fruit juices. I don't eat sweets, I only buy low fat and low carb products. I eat healthy, and don't need to read the rest of this article!" HOLD ON there a moment! You are not eating as healthy as you think! Let me tell you why.

Never in the history of man have we seen more obesity, diseases, syndromes and what not, than we do right now. Is this all thanks to food? No, BUT, a HUGE part is, and if you will indulge me for a short while, I will try my best to explain to you in an easy to understand manner, why this is so.

We live in an instant gratification and microwave society. If it is not quick, easy and now, it is so yesterday. BUT, at what cost?

I can write a whole book about all the "stuff" they put in processed, or so called fast foods, but, I don't want to bore you to death with all the scientific names and what it does to your body. Let me rather simplify this for you, and say that if it is processed in any way, it is not good for you, and very possibly bad for you!

So, what exactly is processed foods, and why is it so bad for you?

Does it come in a can, sealed box, sealed bag, or is it ready made? If so, it is processed. This is the vast majority of the foods that you get at the grocery store! Have a look the next time you are at the store, and you will see this to be true.

Now on to why it is so bad for you. For this food to last long, have the right color, and not pick up all the bad bacteria associated with keeping food for long, a LONG list of chemicals are added to this food. A lot of these chemicals are known to have very serious negative effects of the human body. To name but a few of these "side" effects: Cancer, High blood pressure, high cholesterol, Numbness, Burning sensation, Tingling, Facial pressure or tightness , Chest pain, Headache, Nausea, Rapid heartbeat , Drowsiness , Weakness and Difficulty breathing for asthmatics .

Now, forget all the "stuff" being added. What about nutritional value? Because of all the processing, there is little, if any, real nutrients left in any any of these foods! Not only that, BUT, the salt levels are WAY above what a human being should be consuming!

What about all these healthy bran cereals? Are they processed? YES. They contain more sugar than anything else! You poor blood sugar levels does not know what to do with all the extra insulin that it gets with just about any fast or processed food!

So, what then is safe and healthy?

Anything that is fresh, not processed, and preferably organic. Plain and simple! YES, that means that nice cup of coffee you are enjoying while reading this is not very good for you!

Have a look at your grocery store. The vast majority of the fresh, non processed foods are around the perimeter of the store, and not in the isles! This makes shopping so much easier!

"BUT, it takes so long to prepare!" The most common complaint I hear! Well, if you plan it properly, you can make all your fresh food in less time than it takes to get all your fast food during the day! Read that again! My wife and I prepare all our meals, for the 2 of us, and our 2 children, in 30 minutes in the morning! All fresh, all healthy, and all ready to eat for the rest of the day!

How much, and how often should you eat? This is also very simple. You should be eating every 2.5 to 3 hours. Before you start screaming at me for telling you to eat so much, remember also that these meals should be much smaller portions of your regular 3 meals a day. This will equate to around 6 meals a day.

What will you be eating? Also quite simple. Protein, Carbohydrates and Fat. YES, fat! You need to eat lean meat, skinless chicken or fish for protein. If you are vegan, there are loads of alternatives. For carbohydrates, you will have fruit and vegetables. For fat, you will have fish, fish oil capsules or flaxseed oil.

That's IT! Sounds boring? Believe me when I tell you that it is not!

To read many more articles like this one, and to learn more about healthy eating and exercising, please visit my web site at While at the site, also take the time to subscribe to our newsletter, which is published bi-weekly, and includes many more articles just like this one.

If you want to read more articles like this one, or would like to find out more about online training services from Richelo Killian, please visit our website at:

AllaboutFitness online has recently added a comprehensive eBook store for all your health, fitness and wellness related books. Visit the site now at:

===

DISCLAIMER:

because of something you have read.

intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."

===

Weight Watchers Food Points - Five "Health Foods" That May Be Making You Sick!

2008-11-04T12:21:00.000-08:00

There are many of us who are dieting and trying to live a healthy lifestyle. We exercise and go out of our way to eat the best foods we can. Most of us already know that trans-fats, white sugar and white flour are not the best health choices, especially if we want to keep our weight down.

Unfortunately some of the very foods that we think are healthy are ones that can cause a lot of trouble for our bodies, and even make us ill. Below is a list of some surprisingly unhealthy "health foods."

Artificial Sweeteners

Many people who are dieting, whether it is low calorie or low carb diets, will opt for beverages with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. Admittedly sugar is certainly a troublemaker and should be avoided, but artificial sweeteners are actually worse for you and could even be dangerous to your health.

All the artificial sweeteners are bad, but one of the worst sweeteners for us is NutraSweet (Equal, aspartame). There are over 92 different health related side effects associated with aspartame consumption, including brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders and epilepsy/seizures. There are more adverse reactions to NutraSweet reported to the FDA than all other foods and additives combined.

A much better alternative to chemically derived sweeteners is stevia, which comes from a plant. It has been used for centuries with no know side effects. It can be purchased in most health food stores in the United States.

Sports Drinks

Although marketers would have us believe that sports drinks are what the body needs when exercising heavily, the truth is that sports drinks are filled with sugar (sucrose, glucose, and fructose) and salt (potassium and sodium) as well as artificial flavorings and colorings. Add a little salt to Cool-Aid and you have about the same thing. You would be much better off drinking spring water or diluted freshly squeezed juices while exercising.

Most Energy and Sports Bars

Most sports and bars are also filled with things that are not the best for our bodies, and are little better than candy bars. Many of them contain sugar or artificial sweeteners, chemicals, preservatives, and synthetic nutrients. Check the ingredients before you buy an energy bar. Try to find one that is made with whole foods, such as oats and flax seeds, fruits, and natural sweeteners.

Soy Products

This is one of the most surprising ones of all, after all soy has been used for countless generations in Asia. But the way we now use soy is very different than the way the Asians have traditionally used it. The ancient Asians knew that the soybean was hard to digest, so they had extensive fermenting processes that broke down most of the indigestible components, making it much healthier to eat. Examples of this would be products like soy sauce, tempeh, and miso. These were used in small amounts as condiments and flavorings, not as a meat replacement.

But the way we use soy as a meat alternative (texturized vegetable protein or TVP) can be very unhealthy, since soy contains large amounts of toxins or anti-nutrients. Some of the problems the anti-nutrients in soybeans cause are conditions of the pancreas, cancer and thyroid problems. Soybeans also can block the body's absorption of essential minerals.

Granola (and Other Unprepared Grains)

For the last 30-40 years granola has been synonymous with heath food. But eating unprepared grains, or grains that have not been soaked, fermented or sprouted, has only come about in the last 50-100 years. People who lived before our time understood that unprepared grains could cause dietary distress.

There are anti-nutrients in grains (like there are in soybeans), such as phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors, that make them harder to digest. These antinutrients can cause serious problems like Crohn's disease, colitis, and even mental disorders. Our failure to prepare our grains properly is one of the reasons that celactic disease is so prevalent now.

So, stay away from the granola. Oatmeal is an excellent addition to our diets, but use whole rolled oats (not instant) and soak them overnight before boiling them for breakfast. Go to our recipe blog at for a good recipe for coconut oatmeal.

Good breads to eat are those that have properly prepared grains, including whole grain sourdough and sprouted grain breads. You can usually find these in specialty grocery stores and health food stores.

If you are trying to lose weight and/or eat healthier, remember that just because a company markets a "healthy" product well or a health food store sells it, it doesn't mean that it is really healthy for you. Do some research before you grab that sports bar, or better yet, reach for an organic apple, cherries, or some other natural (not processed) food. Your body will thank you and reward you for it.

Weight Watchers Food Points - Indian Food as Part of a Weight Loss Regime

2008-11-04T04:21:00.000-08:00

Most people think that you can't possibly eat Indian food, if you're on a slimming diet. That's a fair statement if you always eat Indian food in restaurants, because many traditional Indian recipes involve either deep frying or the use of ghee (clarified butter). However, if you cook Indian food at home, it can easily form part of a weight loss regime, just the same as any other food. You just need to follow a few simple general rules.

- Avoid altogether recipes which involve deep frying.

- If you need to seal meat before braising it for a curry, use a good non-stick pan and a spray bottle with sunflower or vegetable oil in it. Lightly spray the surface of your pan with oil and that should be enough to prevent the meat from sticking while you brown it.

- If a recipe includes cream or coconut cream, substitute plain yoghurt and another flavouring to replace the coconut.

Tandoori recipes are great as part of a low calorie or low carbohydrate diet. Just marinade some fish (cubed or whole), chicken (cubed or in pieces) or prawns (shrimp) in a mixture of low fat plain yogurt, ground turmeric, ground coriander, ground cumin, crushed garlic, grated root ginger and a little chilli powder (or to taste) for at least an hour. If you're using cubed meat, thread onto skewers. Grill or barbeque with a medium heat until done. Serve with mixed salad and wedges of lemon to squeeze over. If your diet isn't too severe, you can also have a pitta bread, a baked potato or some boiled rice with this.

Curry dishes are fine too (preferably fish or chicken). If you use a recipe which has just a spice and water base or a tomato base, it certainly won't do your calorie intake any harm but be sure to keep the oil you use for frying onions, spices or whatever, to an absolute minimum.

For vegetarians or those trying to cut down on meat because of its relatively high calorie content, Indian cooking is ideal. There are so many recipes for vegetables and pulses which are really tasty that you won't even know you're on a diet!

Don't forget paneer (Indian cottage cheese), which can be cooked as per the tandoori idea above, or in a spicy sauce. If you can't get paneer, try substituting tofu.

Here's to a slim new year!

For all your Indian cooking needs why not visit my Asian Food Online Store.

Liz Canham is the webmistress of Asian Food and Cookery and Travellers' Tales.

Weight Watchers Food Points - Need to Curb Hunger? Eat Something!

2008-11-03T20:21:00.000-08:00

Today is the day you start "the diet." You are "good" all day, but nightfall brings temptation. Once again you lose control and tell yourself you'll start again tomorrow.

You are not alone - a typical attempt at dieting can mean you go all day eating little or nothing, and by the end of the day you are so hungry you will eat everything in sight.

So here's a tip if you are hungry: EAT SOMETHING! You probably already know quite a bit about dieting. But do you know how to nourish yourself?

There are two things that can be your most effective tools in controlling your weight for the rest of your life the Hunger Scale and the Journal.

You are your own experiment in life. If you don't know what you are doing now, you cannot know which habits you want to change, or which you want to keep. To change, you must become a Conscious Observer of your own behavior. So send the Inner Critic over to the Outlets so she'll stay out of your way.

The Hunger Scale is the only "scale" you will need for a while. On the Hunger Scale, 1 is so famished that you will eat anything in sight. You may experience headaches, loss of concentration, irritability or feeling shaky.

You can not make rational decisions about food. This doesn't mean you are weak or an addict you are simply too hungry. You brain is in survival mode and craves nourishment. Your biological urge will be to overeat fast.

Level 10 is stuffed to the point of being sick. If you fall to a 1 on the Hunger Scale, your natural instincts will suspect famine, and propel you to eat until you hit 10.

At 5, your hunger level is neutral; you probably could eat, but there is no physical feeling of hunger. At 6, you feel a slight pressure in your stomach. If you imagine wearing a fitted waistband, at 7 it would start to feel tight; at 8 you have to unbutton it. At 9 and 10 you are ready for sweatpants.

Your goal is to start eating at around 2 or 3. There is a slight sense of hunger, but you can still think clearly and eat slowly. It will then be easier to stop eating when you are no longer hungry, which is 5 to 6.

This will require planning so you can eat more frequently than you may be used to. Be prepared! Stock up so you can snack on fresh foods, such as protein, vegetables or salad, fruit, or whole grains. These foods burn more slowly and will provide energy for a longer period of time.

A food journal is important - as a tool to learn about yourself, not criticize yourself. Do you know your emotional eating traps? Do you pay attention to the needs of your body and feelings, or do you starve or stuff out of habit?

Record what you eat immediately. Don't worry about specific measuring right now; just be honest with yourself. If you try to remember at end of the day, you will miss many details about your habits.

These are the journal guidelines:

Are you hungry? If so, what level is your hunger? If it is not physical hunger, are you cranky, lightheaded, etc.?

What are you hungry for? Eat it. Stop when you are no longer hungry.

How much was that? Be sure to list side dishes and condiments; they sneak in extra calories.

What were you feeling emotionally?

What level is your hunger when you stop?

Be kind to yourself. It can take years before your improved eating habits are no longer thrown off by an emotional upset. However, your response will change over time. Emotions that can throw you into a 5,000-calorie binge today may be comforted by a 300-calorie "treat" in the future or a behavior that does not even involve food.

As you change your diet to frequent small, balanced meals, you will learn to recognize your natural healthy appetite, enjoy natural, whole foods instead of craving sweets and easily shed excess weight. Don't panic if you are hungry; this is a sign that your metabolism is balanced and your brain is requesting fuel for energy. Eat!

Dr. Laurie Andreoni is the author of Weigh Beyond Beauty Lighten Your Body, Enlighten Your Soul. For workshop schedule and home study programs, visit www.WeighBeyondB email drlaurie@ or call (916) 801-8759.

Weight Watchers Food Points - Taking Care Of Inner Health

2008-11-03T12:21:00.000-08:00

Taking Care of Inner Health 1.

Inner health is a very important subject because 95% of life threatening diseases starts inside our bodies where we can't see what is happening. By ignoring symptoms we often allow the problem to increase until treatment becomes difficult or, in the worst cases, impossible. It is also true that one hour of prevention is far better than one year of treatment. In this article we will look at the main source of "body fuel" the food that we eat and, more importantly, how we eat it. But before going into that subject there are other things we should not be doing:

1. No smoking.

2. No drinking alcohol to excess.

3. No taking of unprescribed drugs.

This article is written on the assumption that you abide by the three rules above.

What we eat is the starting point. There is no point in eating foods that are saturated in fat as your basic diet and complaining that you are overweight and/or feel unwell. Of course you do because this is self-inflicted by inadequate diet. A good diet requires daily intake of the five major food groups that we have covered extensively in previous articles.

Small meals taken regularly (even six meals each day) are better for you than long periods without food followed by a heavy meal.

Large, rich, meals late at night should be avoided, especially for older people. A cooked meal at midday is digested better than a late night meal.

You should drink at least one and a half quarts (1.5 liters) of fluid each day; much more if the weather is hot. If you become ill you should double your fluid intake. Water is best.

Improving your diet is not as difficult as most people claim. In most instances it is simply a case of adjusting the balance of what we eat. Here are a few tips:

Eat more fiber in the form of fruit, vegetables and whole grain bread. In addition add two tablespoons of coarse bran to your breakfast cereal. This provides bulk, or roughage, that your digestive system depends upon to function properly.

Cut down on fat, normally taken in fast foods and fries etc. Eat more lean meat, fish. Grill rather than fry foods where possible.

Eat less sugar (This means no soda's because the average can of soda contains an equivalent of 20+ Tablespoons of sugar equivalent) Do not drink beer with meals because beer stops your body from breaking down fats. Water is the best drink followed by low calorie drinks and unsweetened fruit juices.

Walk for at least half an hour each day. Park your car at the furthest parking space from the supermarket; the exercise will increase your lifespan. If possible use stairs rather than escalators. All of these small things, together with your balanced diet, will increase your health and lifespan.

David McCarthy is a prolific writer of articles about health and wellness through the foods that we eat. His entire works can be found at You will also find a vast array of recipes for all types of food from weight watchers to banqueting. The site is free

Weight Watchers Food Points - Avoid the "Take-Home-Box" Overload

2008-11-03T04:21:00.000-08:00

After you've had the RNY surgery, there is one thing you immediately begin to notice.. and that's what I call the "Take-Home Box Overload". This is what happens inside your refrigerator as a result of you brining home all of those take-home boxes from restaurants because you cannot finish the meal. Even prior to surgery, you couldn't often finish the meal when some restaurants serve such large portions. So packing up the leftovers after an eat-out meal seems natural to you, so you do it often.

PROBLEM ONE: The Take-Home Boxes can actually establish huge neighborhoods inside your fridge!

PROBLEM TWO: You feel you MUST NOT throw all of that food out because you have been taught from the early days of your crib that you SHALL NOT WASTE FOOD because of all the starving children elsewhere who certainly would appreciate the food you are wasting, right? Frankly, when you heard that guilt-phrase that was supposed to motivate you to gobble up, didn't you feel even MORE compelled NOT to finish eating and MAIL your uneaten portion to those starving children? I never really understood that philosophy of telling me I better eat because some poor children don't have enough to eat. A puzzlement.

PROBLEM THREE: Because of the guilt, you decide that you'll just "snack" on the food in the take-home boxes. So you snack, snack again, snack some more, and HOORAY you've eaten everything in the box and you didn't waste the food! OH, but you've done yourself a BAD turn!

Bad turn? How?

Let's consider that the food in that take-home box could contain 1500 to 2000 calories. So what? Well, when you eat those leftovers, you are consuming those ADDITIONAL 1500 to 2000 calories that you DON'T need in your eating routine especially if you eat them as SNACKS and not meals. It is a DANGEROUS thing to leave those take-home boxes in the fridge when they scream at you to be consumed. Don't listen to them!

Here's what you need to do instead:

If you truly plan on eating the leftovers as "another meal portion", then you should wrap them according and place them in your FREEZER for eating LATER. You know that adage, "out of sight, out of mind?" well, this is that basic concept. By doing this regularly, you'll be able to rotate your frozen meal portions for a better variety rather than eating the leftovers time after time. How appealing is it to eat six servings of chili in a row? It's not so freeze the portions and eat them later.

The FREEZER is your solution to curb the "snacking" out of those take-home boxes. So use it as your new best friend, you new best meal-planner buddy, and your calorie-saver!

Getting use to the idea of tossing out food is a hard one, but it's something you have to get used to as well. The dog or cat will always be there to volunteer to eat what you can't', and the animals will show you a deeper devotion that ever imaginable! And your household loved ones often appreciate you giving them an open invitation to anything they find in the take-home boxes.

Get a grip on this early so you won't sabotage yourself with those additional calories that will creep up on you if you fall pray to snacking or through guilt-eating. As an RNY patient, you are only to consume a minimal amount of calories anyway.. so don't fall into the trap of eating more than you need. This could be a factor as to why you seem to not be losing enough weight or why you are gaining some back after awhile.

Bottom Line: Take-Home Boxes can be Dangerous Tame them before they do you harm!

Meloney Hall successfully lost 170 pounds in 19 months after a gastric bypass bariatric weight-loss surgery. She is dedicated to helping others achieve their goals along their weight-loss journey. Visit her website at for more information on the RNY procedure and how it can cure morbid obesity.

Weight Watchers Points

Weight Watchers Food Points - How To Find Really Healthy Food in the Grocery Store

Weight Watchers Food Points - Your Three-Step Fat Attack - Part One of Three

Weight Watchers Food Points - 30-Minute Weight Loss Exercise Proves Most Effective

Weight Watchers Food Points - Bigger Breasts Naturally

Weight Watchers Food Points - Is Fructose Single-Handedly Making People Fat?

Weight Watchers Food Points - Dining Out 101

Weight Watchers Food Points - Tips to Smarter Snacking

Weight Watchers Food Points - The Acid/Base Diet

Weight Watchers Food Points - Burn Fat fast

Weight Watchers Food Points - Burn the Fat and Feed the Muscle

Weight Watchers Food Points - Detox Diets

Weight Watchers Food Points - I Pulled A Fast One on My Obese Husband  Now Hes Skinny and Loving It!

Weight Watchers Food Points - Not All Fats Are Bad

Weight Watchers Food Points - Are the barriers of dieting psychological or physical?

Weight Watchers Food Points - Considerations of a Vegetarian Diet

Weight Watchers Food Points - 3 Choices To Help You Lose Weight

Weight Watchers Food Points - Truth About Low Fat Diets Benefits

Weight Watchers Food Points - The Amazing Miracle Food That Really Works

Weight Watchers Food Points - Atkins Diet - Learn More

Weight Watchers Food Points - Are you eating yourself to death?

Weight Watchers Food Points - Five "Health Foods" That May Be Making You Sick!

Weight Watchers Food Points - Indian Food as Part of a Weight Loss Regime

Weight Watchers Food Points - Need to Curb Hunger? Eat Something!

Weight Watchers Food Points - Taking Care Of Inner Health

Weight Watchers Food Points - Avoid the "Take-Home-Box" Overload

Weight Watchers Food Points - I Pulled A Fast One on My Obese Husband Now Hes Skinny and Loving It!