Orginal Source: Mens Health

According to a new study in Psychological Science, writing down the things you value most—like religion, politics, music, and relationships—will help you lose more weight.

Researchers recruited 45 female undergrads with a BMI of 23 or above—about half of which were considered obese—to rank their personal values in order of importance. Half of the students were instructed to write for 15 minutes about their most important values, while the others were told to write how their lower-ranked values might be significant to someone else.

After four months, the students who wrote about their strongest beliefs lost an average of 3.41 pounds, while those who concentrated on others’ values gained an average of 2.76 pounds.

It seems that keeping your values in mind can actually help keep you positive and motivated. I actually hate to write myself unless it’s from a keyboard (that’s another story) but I do know that actually keeping a work out log helps me stay focused during training and it shows me that I’m making progress even if it’s only 2.5 pounds more than last time. So I can see how taking a look at what is most important in your life can give you a boost to maybe help you stay focused and keep at it. So take some time today and write down a few of your values or things that are most important to you and see if you don’t feel just a little better afterwards!

Now as you all are probably familiar most center around getting in shape, whether that be losing a few pounds or eating healthier. Although these are admirable goals, the average success rate of New Years resolutions is around 12 %. Now that rate is far to low to give anyone any positive reinforcement but it doesn’t have to be that way for you. In the New Year I want you to set concrete goals with actual measurable results. Now that may seem like a mouth full but let me ask you this, “What exactly does getting in shape mean to you?” If asking that question to 100 different people the answers are likely to be all over the place. You see, setting goals that are broad and have no focal point not only ensure that you’ll never actually reach them but they also don’t help you actually accomplish anything! In order to make lasting significant changes in your life you have to set measurable goals that you can track and say to yourself, “Ok, i’m on the right track!” That is the big difference in goal setting and actually reaching a goal.

As you count down to the New Year I want you to set some specific measurable goals. Don’t be afraid to be too specific. Say to yourself, “I want to lose 10 pounds by March 2012″ and make sure you track those changes and work towards those goals. Another trick i’ve learned is to set small goals that you want to accomplish on a month to month basis. Not only does this help keep you motivated but at the same time you learn something new in the process which helps keep your mind active because often during fitness we over look our mental health as well. The thing to do is set small achievable goals on a month to month basis. Say, you want to learn how to cook your favorite dish. Set that as a goal for January 2012 and go out and do it!! Or, you could want to learn how to play your favorite song on guitar. The idea is not to set outlandish goals like being fluent in a foreign language in a month which is highly unlikely to occur but to set small measurable goals that not only foster learning but also make you feel good about accomplishing that goal you set for yourself. These things are important in life and too often we overlook our own personal development because we get too caught up in the rat race of life trying to take care of bills and family. Take some time for yourself. Nobody wants to work for a living just to pay bills!

So in the New Year I want you to take some time for yourself and set those small measurable goals. Don’t be afraid of failure but make sure you actually give it your best effort otherwise your only hurting yourself. Its quite easy to give up on things but it’s damn hard to actually go for it with all your heart! So be true to yourself in the New Year, learn something new, and enjoy your time doing it! Happy New Year!!

It was interested to note how the drug industry views nutrition which is to say they don’t view it as a solution to anyone’s problems or ailments at all! Not only that but I wasn’t aware that in some countries, yes right here in California in America, it is illegal to prescribe nutrition for the treatment of cancer! Now, I thought we had a right to choose what health advise we would like to follow but apparently you cannot go and request an Orthomolecular (New Buzz Word I just learned! )  treatment! I thought this was rather shocking but it often makes sense seeing as how the drug industry is in the business to make money just like most businesses here in America or anywhere for that matter. Now I don’t think everyone should just go Vegan cuz honestly the thought of eating nothing but raw fruits and vegetables kinda turns my stomach but after learning about so many different mentions from various sources about how powerful cleaning up your diet can be you have to start to take notice just a little bit don’t you?

I know have and I am going to start trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables in my diet. They also talk about more natural super foods such as Spirulina which you can read about by clicking on the link. I had no idea what this was until I did a little reading myself! They also mention how important it is to take vitamins which I do take but only because they were recommended and I really didn’t know why I was taking them…

Its amazing how they mention that some doctors push you away from such things as vitamins and treatment through nutrition yet they go and prescribe drugs which has such long lists of side effects that you wonder if its just better to try and live with your ailment! In the film in my other post they had a guy that had around 26 DIFFERENT ISSUES many of which were side effects from the different drugs he was taking!! I was like how does he live with himself being in that state! I know one thing though, I don’t want to get into my golden years and have to depend on popping pills everyday for the rest of my life! So I suggest you check out the videos and do some research on your own to start changing your life around for the better and getting your body in shape for the rest of your life!

It doesn’t matter what diet program your following or what your weight loss goals are at the time your body needs rest to recuperate. You also need some rest in between workouts to avoid over use injuries or strains. Personally I try to work out at least 3 times a week but currently its more along the lines of 4 days a week with some stretching during the weekend to help loosen things up for the next week. This works fine for me but everyone is different so you have to find out what works best for you and your body. So make sure you get out there and start eating right as well as getting enough sleep so your body can make the kind of positive changes you want to see!

I’m still in disbelief about some of the studies and just can’t jump on the meat is bad for you bandwagon just yet because c’mon, it’s meat we’re talking about here! Who doesn’t like a nice steak every once in awhile or even some grilled shrimp. Yup, this lifestyle change even does away with fish and seafood! Basically, anything that you have to “kill” to eat is disallowed. Some might argue that we kill plants when we pick them to eat but i’m not going to get into that debate. I think this would actually be an interesting diet to try and I might be so inclined to do so if I knew a little more about different recipes and how to prepare some meals that were actually edible! I don’t have too much of an issue cutting out dairy because I don’t eat a lot of dairy as it is. I’m not a big milk person.

In any event, maybe in the new year i’ll try this diet out and see what happens. I guess no more protein shakes either as most of the ones I buy use casein protein which is a form of milk protein. I honestly don’t think I can do it and I might actually start off slow maybe reducing the portions of meat before I cut them out completely and kind of see where that takes me. I highly recommend you watch the video though and if nothing else take a good look at the studies they conduct and how it relates to our overall health! I found out they even have a website so I’ll be checking that out as well. The links below if your interested.

Forks Over Knives Website

The diet faded into obscurity for a while, but interest started to surge in 1993 when the World Health Organization, together with the Harvard School of Public Health and non-profit organization Oldways, presented a refined and modernized version of the Mediterranean diet meal plan at a conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

What foods are included in the diet?

One thing you will notice immediately is how frequently you will need to use olive oil. The diet itself is relatively high in fats, but the good kind (monounsaturated fats). Olive oil is a great source of monounsaturated fat and it has been proven effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels and in relieving hypertension.

The diet also encourages people to eat plenty of plant-based foods—more vegetables than meat and eating fresh fruits rather than sweets for desserts.

Fish, especially oily types, is recommended three to four times a week. Egg consumption is also limited to three or four eggs a week.

Meat-lovers can relax. The Mediterranean diet includes red meat and poultry, albeit in smaller amounts.

Wine is also an important part of the diet. Red wine is preferred since it is rich in flavonoids (powerful antioxidants).

If you think this diet will make you starve, think again. It actually encourages snacking. Nuts are highly recommended. Dairy products like cheese and yogurt are also top picks.

Just a warning to those who like their foods very tasty though—this diet promotes dishes that are prepared in a simple way. You may use a few seasonings, but definitely no rich gravies or sauces.

Is the Mediterranean diet for everyone?

While this diet is one of the healthiest and one of the most practical out there, it’s doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for everyone. There are some characteristics about this diet that may make it unsuitable for some people.

For one, this diet is quite high in salt content. People who are salt-sensitive might not react very well to the dishes recommended in this program.

Since dairy products are also a part of this diet, it could be a turn-off for those who are lactose intolerant. At the same time however, dairy products are recommended at relatively low amounts. One might need to take calcium supplements to compensate.

Last but not the least, the fact that the Mediterranean diet recommends regular wine consumption makes it inappropriate for recovering alcoholics, pregnant women, cancer patients, and people who are taking medication that don’t mix well with alcohol.

What’s so great about this diet anyway?

Unlike most diets, this is something you can practically stick to for the rest of your life. You won’t find yourself starving or skipping meals. Basically, what this diet does is simply eliminate bad fats and bad carbohydrates. You still eat three to four times a day and the portions you consume are not scanty either.

In the long run, this diet gives you more than just weight loss. It also lowers your cholesterol levels and it reduces your risk for serious illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes (type 2), and even Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease!

Other bonuses include higher levels of energy, clearer skin, and some studies even show that people who stick to the Mediterranean diet are less likely to develop depression.

Finally, the Mediterranean diet is also something that’s healthy enough for your children to follow. It teaches them to make healthier food choices as they get older and it greatly reduces their risk of becoming overweight or obese.

Practical, healthy, promoted by health experts and something that your entire family could follow— what’s not to love about the Mediterranean diet? It’s more than just a diet, it’s a lifestyle you can embrace and enjoy for years to come.

So Why Not Enjoy It Now. For some delicious yet simple recipes to try CLICK HERE

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Want to know all the tasty paleolithic food you’ll soon be consuming, CLICK HERE.

One of the ancient cavemen diets that have long been in existence is the nutritional concept called the Paleolithic diet. The food types belonging to this food scheme in contemporary modern dieting includes grass-fed pasture-raised meats, vegetables, fish, nuts, roots, and fruits. The tenet is based on the idea that during the Paleolithic Era, people were confined to eating what they gathered from hunting. They ate lean meat, poultry, fresh fruits, and vegetables as a mode of basic sustenance. It may sound similar to the diet of our present generation however we must understand the ideas and explanations drawn by scientists from this kind of dieting. The Paleo diet food list is full of foods that are rich in protein (usually obtained from meat, poultry, seafood and fresh fruits and vegetables). Higher intake of these will reduce appetite, promote longer satiety, and prevents loss of lean muscles.

The Paleo Diet Food List That You Should Follow

In the present, it is a great idea to mimic the kind of dieting embraced by the caveman. Of course, this dieting scheme promotes fewer occurrences of diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, depression, schizophrenia, and cancer. These diseases are very common nowadays. This is a very smart and cheap option for all of us to achieve healthy living.

Here are some of the foods on the Paleolithic Diet food list that you might want to consider:

• Beef, chicken, and fish
• Eggs
• Fruit
• Vegetables (especially root vegetables, not including potatoes or sweet potatoes)
• Nuts, e.g. walnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, macadamia nuts. Do not eat cashews or beans
• Berries s- strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc.

Another advantage of this dieting scheme is that it is good for weight loss. This is a healthier alternative to losing weight than taking commercially available slimming pills. This is for the simple reason that is all natural.  Although this diet might sound like it is just an imitation of what the Paleolithic diet used to be in ancient times, this Paleo diet is a sophisticated way to enjoy each meal coupled with modern processed agricultural food and water to eliminate toxins that may cause deterioration in our body systems in general. This is also a high-fiber and low-carbohydrate diet. This would mean that it can outpace the conventional low-calorie diet.

Various studies showed that this kind of diet technique is good for preventing allergies. You can indulge without having to worry about possible allergy attacks that other dieting methods could possibly create. It is because this diet is designed to be in synch with our genetic responses so that dieters are free of potential allergy boosters.

However, you also need to sacrifice a little by observing some rules for you to achieve the weight and health you are aiming for:

1.  The first rule is eating lean meat. It might sound exotic but eating meats that are wild contains nutrients similar to what a caveman usually ate. Just forget how wild they are and remember the benefits that you will enjoy.
2. The second rule is avoiding starch. Starches are rich in carbohydrates. The Paleo diet is a kind of low-carb diet that excludes grains like rice.
3. The third rule is to minimize dairy products because you are mimicking the Paleolithic Era. Ice cream, milk, and the like did not exist during this time.
4. The fourth rule is avoiding processed foods. The caveman did not eat processed food. Too much exposure to technology and preservatives lessen the nutrients that can be derived naturally from these foods.
5. The fifth rule is self-control in obeying the aforementioned rules.

It is a wise choice to live healthy, stay healthy, and aim to be healthy. This is not a tough sacrifice if you make it a part of your daily routine. So enjoy the Paleolithic diet in the present and maintain that amazing ancient healthy person in you by following the paleolithic diet food list.

 For tantalizing recipes to satisfy any palate check out these amazing Paleo Recipes

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Many people think that if they want to live a healthier lifestyle, they are going to have to go on a diet that is going to make them miserable. However, this is simply not the case. People all over the world are turning to a Mediterranean diet meal plan as a way to live a healthier lifestyle and lose weight.

If Your Ready To Try The Mediterranean Diet CLICK HERE for helpful tips!

This particular diet is going to help you to feel better than you have ever felt in the past. We should never have to worry about whether or not we are going to be healthy enough to live a long life. Instead, we should feel confident about the way that we look and know that we are headed in the right direction.

So What Makes This Diet So Different?

When we choose to follow the prasouda diet, we are going to be giving ourselves a healthy heart that is going to continue beating for a number of years. The reason for this is because we will be eating a lot of heart healthy food. Fresh fish along with fruit and vegetables are basically the main ingredient to this diet. They are all very low in calories and they have the nutrients that your body needs to live a healthy lifestyle.

The information that one can be taught while following this diet is going to benefit us now and also in the future. There is plenty of useful information that we will be able to pass along to our friends and family members. They will appreciate the good cooking that we will be doing. We will also save a great deal of money because we will no longer be eating out.

In order to live a healthy lifestyle, it is important for us to not only eat right but also exercise on a regular basis. By choosing to eat the foods that are included in the diet, we are going to have plenty of energy to continue down the path to weight loss.

By choosing to do the things that we need to do in order to give ourselves a stronger body, we are going to feel much better about ourselves. Our physical strength is going to increase as well as our self-esteem. Many people are stuck in a trap of eating food that is bad for them and they have no idea how to get out. They usually end up purchasing a gym membership that they cannot afford and they never end up using. Other people choose to purchase expensive diet pills which only make them starve themselves into losing weight.

There is no reason why any of us should have to be overweight if we do not choose to. We will not have to worry about being hungry and we are going to be eating some delicious food.

It does not matter whether you are looking to have more energy, or to lose weight. Either way, following a Mediterranean diet meal plan is the perfect diet for you. Your family members are going to quickly notice the weight falling off your body.

So Dont Delay and Find Out What Everyone is Talking About By CLICKING HERE!

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When you hear the word “diet,” weight loss is probably the first topic to come to mind.  However, while the prasouda diet is one of the best methods you can find to help you lose weight, it also offers much, much more.

The focus of the prasouda diet is helping you to achieve your very best state of health.  Everything about this diet is so enjoyable that it will be a part of your everyday lifestyle long after you have reached your weight goals.

In order to reach your goals and keep the weight off try the Prasouda Diet Today. Just Click Here!

The prasouda diet is based on the Mediterranean diet.  As soon as you experience how delicious fresh, healthy foods can be, you will never want anything else.  Fresh vegetables, fruits, and fish have many benefits.  Not only are these products low in calories, they are packed with the nutrition your body needs for good health.

If you want to gain the most benefits, you can begin with the prasouda diet plan.  You will find the information both interesting and useful.  You can learn how the diet provides all the nutrition you need, and how the foods can significantly reduce your risk of many health problems.  There are plenty of recipes for you, too.  There is no better way to appreciate every meal than trying new recipes you prepare yourself.

Excellent health requires more than eating the right foods.  When you become more physically active, your body and mind with both reap the rewards.  You can choose forms of exercise you really like, so it becomes a part of your lifestyle.

A strong, lean body, an alert mind, and plenty of energy do not happen automatically.  If you are carrying extra pounds, it is even more difficult to be at your best.  Whether a sedentary lifestyle or poor eating habits is your main problem, you have found the ideal way to put it behind you.  You do not have to spend a fortune on gym memberships, use diet pills that are not good for you, or resign yourself to being overweight and unhealthy.  This diet is the answer.

If you are tired of being overweight, and lack the energy you need to truly enjoy your life, you have come to the right place.  You have found a way to lose weight that does not have anything negative about it.  You will not feel hungry, or feel deprived of foods you like.  The weight will come off, while leaving you feeling great.  An additional bonus is neither the plan nor the foods cost a lot of money.  You could spend money on diet plans and dieting aids that do little for you, or simply make a better choice.

Don’t wait until you’ve tried everything and given up on your lifestyle change. Take action NOW! CLICK HERE!

If there are pounds you would like to lose, or if you are only looking for a healthier lifestyle, the prasouda diet is definitely for you.  After you begin experiencing how great you look and feel, you will surely want to share it with your family and your friends.  You can treat everyone you know to this healthier way of life.

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Are you on the Medifast diet and hunting for some Medifast recipes out there to make your food more interesting – or bearable?  Well, here’s the thing, diet food or non-diet food, the taste will always be subjective.  Some people like a certain restaurant while others don’t.  So basically when it comes to food provided by Medifast, some like it the way it is, while others need to whip up something out of it or alter it a bit.

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Although most food by Medifast are enjoyed the way they are, there are some that you can actually try altering a bit to make it more interesting to the palate or to create some variety out of your favorite product.  One of the easy Medifast food products that you can play around with is the pudding.  There are three flavors, chocolate, vanilla, and banana.  What you do is you mix it up until it is smooth and free of lumps, and you’ve got your pudding snack all ready.  However, it can get boring.  So here are a few tips on how to make it a bit different, but still healthy.  You can add about ½ to 1 teaspoon of instant coffee to add flavor or you can mix in some low fat cream cheese to get the flavor going and add some creamy texture to it.  One of the trade secrets in Medifast recipes is actually for the soups.  Most people don’t really go for the soups, but some have found ways to doctor it so that it becomes edible and enjoyable.  What they do is they simply add the required amount of boiling water, let it sit for about an hour, and then reheat it.  Once heated up, add some garlic powder, tobasco, pepper, and/or salt – depending on your tastes.  If you want a fuller soup meal, add some veggies like cauliflower, broccoli, snow peas, and sugar snap peas.  It makes it taste like a different meal!

There are a lot of people who don’t really like the oatmeal although, there are some that like the peach oatmeal.  So if you are not really a fan of the oatmeal because of its bitter aftertaste, here is a recipe to fix that little problem.  In preparing the oatmeal, simply add the minimum amount of water required (½ cup), add about 2 splendas, and about a tablespoon of crushed walnuts.  That will make you look forward to eating Medifast oatmeal for sure.  Another of the well-loved Medifast recipes is making use of cream of tomato soup packs to make sundried tomato bread if you want.  Just use 1 pack of cream of tomato soup, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, and ½ cup of egg beaters (southwestern flavor), salt and pepper to taste.  Simply mix it all in a bowl and microwave it for about 2 minutes, or until there are no soupy parts.  You can eat it as is, or add some laughing cow cheese or create a veggie burger with it.  So as you can see there are many ways to enjoy your meals and still lose weight. So enjoy weight loss with some of these delicious variations of the usual Medifast foods!

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