I never would have guessed that I'd lose 31 pounds in one summer from a simple cleansing diet. Before that summer I thought cleansing diets were all about colon cleansing or liver cleansing--I didn't know that people were cleansing for weight loss.
I was 30 pounds overweight and had tried a bunch of things to lose the excess pounds: books, pills, special foods and even... exercise! Everything seemed to have some small effect but nothing came close to helping me lose that 30 pounds.
I started researching online, looking for an effective weight loss plan. In the course of my searching, though, I kept running across something that was hard to believe--I saw story after story of people losing 10, 20, 50, even hundreds of pounds on a specific type of cleansing diet.
Now, I'm a very skeptical guy (ask my wife) and normally I doubt claims that sound anything like hype. But I'm also a very logical guy and I figured if so many people were having success with this type of cleansing diet plan then maybe I should check it out.
What the Heck is Cleansing Anyway?
I knew nothing about cleansing diets before I started my first cleanse. It turns out that there are a lot of different cleansing diets out there but the one thing they all tend to have in common is one or two days where you don't eat anything--instead, you drink a cleansing drink throughout the day. The idea isn't that you lose weight from not eating; it's that you're removing toxins from your body which helps you lose fat.
The cleansing system I used included protein shakes, protein supplements (lots of protein to protect against lean muscle loss during the cleanse) and a specially-formulated cleansing drink. The protein shakes and supplements tasted fine. The cleansing drink, however, tasted like a really sweet tea and I don't like sweet tea (my wife thinks I'm weird) so that took some getting used to.
Having never "cleansed" before, I didn't know what to expect. Let's just say the experience was "different". The days when I was taking only the cleansing drink were challenging at first but I soon learned tricks (like drinking ice water) to keep my mind off the fact that I was temporarily on a purely liquid diet.
The Amazing Shrinking Man: 197, 185, 175, 166...
When I first started cleansing, I weighed 197 pounds. If you had asked me at the time what my target weight was, I would have said 185 pounds. That seemed like a lofty goal for me to shoot for since I recalled that I had once weighed 185 pounds in the distant past.
Well, I hit exactly 185 pounds after that first 11-day cleanse. I was astounded that I could safely lose 12 pounds in 11 days. It's probably not that easy for everyone to lose weight, though--luckily, when it comes to weight, i'm an easy "loser".
I figured if cleansing was that easy and the results were that dramatic, why not try it again? So a little less than a month later I did my second 11-day cleanse and lost another 10 pounds. Doing the cleanse the second time around was a lot less intimidating because I knew what to expect.
At this point I weighed 175 pounds but I still had some pudge around my waist. I figured I could lose another 8 pounds so I revised my target weight to 167 which would put me at an even 30 pounds lost.
I did my third cleanse a few weeks after my second and lost 9 pounds. I weighed 166 pounds which meant I had lost a total of 31 pounds with three cleanses. I thought that was very impressive weight loss over just one summer.
Is Cleansing For You?
Around the time of my third cleanse, people I knew noticed the weight I had lost and started asking me what I was doing. I was happy to share with them the experience I had with my cleansing diet and enjoyed helping them out if they wanted to try cleansing to lose weight.
Overall, my impression of cleansing diets for losing weight is very positive as long as they are done right. There are some cleanses like the lemonade cleanse or Master cleanse which I don't recommend because they don't include any nutrients or protein to keep you from losing lean muscle tissue.
Cleansing diets aren't for everyone. They require some will power to get through the cleansing days. If you have no will power you probably won't succeed with a cleansing diet. And, of course, speak to your doctor before starting any new diet or exercise program.
If you want to give a cleansing diet a try and your doctor says it's okay then I encourage you to do so--I think you'll like the results!
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Low Glycemic Index Diets - Are They The Path To Weight Loss?
The low glycemic index (low-GI) diet splits the difference between the low-carb and low-fat approaches. It maintains the low-carb diet's focus on insulin, but it suggests differentiation of certain carbohydrates over others rather than restricting carbohydrate intake.
The American Heart Association, the American Dietetic Association and other prominent groups endorse a unified set of guidelines for the optimum diet. These organizations exhort that the majority of calories in the daily diet should come from carbohydrates (55% to 60%); fat should provide no more than 30% of total calories; and protein should be kept to 10% to 15%.
In contrast, many popular diet books turn the standard diet on its head. As described in the entry on low-carbohydrate diets, the Atkins diet, the Zone diet, Protein Power, and other alternative dietary approaches turn thumbs down on carbohydrates. Instead, they advocate increased consumption of fat and/or protein. According to theory, the low-carb approach aids in weight loss (and provides a variety of other health benefits) by reducing the body's production of insulin.
The low glycemic index (low-GI) diet splits the difference between the low-carb and low-fat approaches. It maintains the low-carb diet's focus on insulin, but it suggests differentiation of certain carbohydrates over others rather than restricting carbohydrate intake.
All carbohydrates are not created equal when the evidence is examined. Some, such as pure glucose, are absorbed quickly and create a rapid, strong rise in both blood sugar and insulin. Others (such as brown rice) are absorbed much more slowly and produce only a modest blood sugar and insulin response. The proponents of the low-GI diet claim that eating foods in the latter category will enhance weight loss and improve health. However, as we shall see, there is as yet no solid evidence that low-GI diets enhance weight loss.
The precise measurement of the glucose-stimulating effect of a food is called its glycemic index. A food that has less effect in increasing blood sugar level (and therefore insulin) is given a lower glycemic index.
The glycemic index of glucose is arbitrarily set at 100. The ratings of other foods are determined as follows. First, researchers calculate a portion size for the food to supply 50 g. of carbohydrates. Next, they give that amount of the food to at least eight to ten people and measure the blood sugar response. (a group is used rather than an individual to ensure that the idiosyncrasies of one individual don't skew the results.) On another occasion, researchers also give each participant an equivalent amount of glucose and perform the same measurements. The glycemic index of a food is then determined by comparing the two outcomes. For example, if a food causes half of the blood sugar rise of glucose, it is assigned a GI of 50; if it causes one-quarter of the rise, it is assigned a GI of 25. The lower the Glycemic index, the better.
The determination of the Glycemic index has resulted in some surprises. Baked potatoes came back with a reading of 93. This rating is higher than that of almost all other foods, including ice cream (61), sweet potatoes (54), and white bread (70). Based on this finding, low-GI diets recommend that you stay largely away from potatoes. However, the concern regarding potatoes is probably unnecessary. See the discussion of glycemic load below.
A food must be tested to determine its actual glycemic index, but there are some general guidelines that are recognized. Fiber content tends to reduce the glycemic index of a food, presumably by slowing down digestion. Therefore, whole grains usually have a lower GI score than refined, processed grains. Fat content also reduces GI score. Simple carbohydrates (such as sugar) often have a higher GI score than complex carbohydrates (such as brown rice).
But, numerous exceptions to these rules exist. Factors such as the acid content of food; the size of the food particles; and the precise mixture of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates can substantially change the GI measurement. For a measurement like the glycemic index to be meaningful, it has to be generally reproducible between subjects. In other words, if a potato has a glycemic index of 80 in one person, it should have closely the same glycemic index when given to another person. The GI passes this test. The glycemic index of individual foods is fairly constant between people.
Thus, the GI of a food really does indicate its propensity to raise insulin levels. Whether a diet based on the index will aid in weight loss, however, is another story.
A low glycemic index diet is relatively easy to follow. Basically, you follow the typical diet endorsed by authorities such as the American Dietetic Association, but you choose carbohydrates that fall toward the lower end of the glycemic index scale. Books such as The Glucose Revolution give a great deal of information on how to make these choices, but do low glycemic Index diets aid in weight loss? There may be problems with this theory.
There are two primary theoretical reasons given why low-GI diets should help reduce weight. The most prominent reason involves insulin levels. Basically, these books show that low-GI diets reduce insulin release, and then take almost for granted the idea that reduced insulin levels should aid in weight loss. Unfortunately, there is little justification for the second part of this contention. Excess weight is known to lead to elevated insulin levels, but there is almost no meaningful evidence for the opposite: that reducing insulin levels will help remove excess weight.
Books espousing the low-GI diet give another reason for their approach. They claim that low-GI foods fill you up more quickly than high-GI foods, and also keep you feeling full for longer. As we shall see later, there is more evidence against this belief than for it.
A measurement called the Satiety Index assigns a numerical quantity to the filling quality of a food. These numbers are determined by feeding people fixed caloric amounts of those foods, and then determining how soon they get hungry again and how much they eat at subsequent meals. The process is similar to the methods used to establish the GI index.
The results of these measurements do not corroborate the expectations of the proponents of low-GI diets. It turns out, foods with the worst (highest) GI index are often the most satiating, exactly the reverse of what low-GI theory proponents would say.
A case in point, the Satiety Index tells us that potatoes are among the most satiating of foods. However, as noted above, the GI analysis gave potatoes a bad rating. According to the low-GI theory, you should feel hunger pangs shortly after eating a big baked potato. In real life, that doesn't happen.
Other contradictions between research findings and the low-GI/high-satiety theory include one study that found no difference in satiety between fructose (fruit sugar) and glucose when taken as part of a mixed meal, even though fructose has a GI more than four times lower than glucose.
Thus, the satiety argument for low-GI diets doesn't appear to hold up to inspection of the facts. So, is the glycemic index even the right measurement? Is it the wrong way to assess the insulin-related effects of food? The evidence would suggest this to be the case. Rather than making judgements from the GI, a more reasonable approach would be to use the measurement of glycemic load which measures the real effect of the food in question.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
The American Heart Association, the American Dietetic Association and other prominent groups endorse a unified set of guidelines for the optimum diet. These organizations exhort that the majority of calories in the daily diet should come from carbohydrates (55% to 60%); fat should provide no more than 30% of total calories; and protein should be kept to 10% to 15%.
In contrast, many popular diet books turn the standard diet on its head. As described in the entry on low-carbohydrate diets, the Atkins diet, the Zone diet, Protein Power, and other alternative dietary approaches turn thumbs down on carbohydrates. Instead, they advocate increased consumption of fat and/or protein. According to theory, the low-carb approach aids in weight loss (and provides a variety of other health benefits) by reducing the body's production of insulin.
The low glycemic index (low-GI) diet splits the difference between the low-carb and low-fat approaches. It maintains the low-carb diet's focus on insulin, but it suggests differentiation of certain carbohydrates over others rather than restricting carbohydrate intake.
All carbohydrates are not created equal when the evidence is examined. Some, such as pure glucose, are absorbed quickly and create a rapid, strong rise in both blood sugar and insulin. Others (such as brown rice) are absorbed much more slowly and produce only a modest blood sugar and insulin response. The proponents of the low-GI diet claim that eating foods in the latter category will enhance weight loss and improve health. However, as we shall see, there is as yet no solid evidence that low-GI diets enhance weight loss.
The precise measurement of the glucose-stimulating effect of a food is called its glycemic index. A food that has less effect in increasing blood sugar level (and therefore insulin) is given a lower glycemic index.
The glycemic index of glucose is arbitrarily set at 100. The ratings of other foods are determined as follows. First, researchers calculate a portion size for the food to supply 50 g. of carbohydrates. Next, they give that amount of the food to at least eight to ten people and measure the blood sugar response. (a group is used rather than an individual to ensure that the idiosyncrasies of one individual don't skew the results.) On another occasion, researchers also give each participant an equivalent amount of glucose and perform the same measurements. The glycemic index of a food is then determined by comparing the two outcomes. For example, if a food causes half of the blood sugar rise of glucose, it is assigned a GI of 50; if it causes one-quarter of the rise, it is assigned a GI of 25. The lower the Glycemic index, the better.
The determination of the Glycemic index has resulted in some surprises. Baked potatoes came back with a reading of 93. This rating is higher than that of almost all other foods, including ice cream (61), sweet potatoes (54), and white bread (70). Based on this finding, low-GI diets recommend that you stay largely away from potatoes. However, the concern regarding potatoes is probably unnecessary. See the discussion of glycemic load below.
A food must be tested to determine its actual glycemic index, but there are some general guidelines that are recognized. Fiber content tends to reduce the glycemic index of a food, presumably by slowing down digestion. Therefore, whole grains usually have a lower GI score than refined, processed grains. Fat content also reduces GI score. Simple carbohydrates (such as sugar) often have a higher GI score than complex carbohydrates (such as brown rice).
But, numerous exceptions to these rules exist. Factors such as the acid content of food; the size of the food particles; and the precise mixture of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates can substantially change the GI measurement. For a measurement like the glycemic index to be meaningful, it has to be generally reproducible between subjects. In other words, if a potato has a glycemic index of 80 in one person, it should have closely the same glycemic index when given to another person. The GI passes this test. The glycemic index of individual foods is fairly constant between people.
Thus, the GI of a food really does indicate its propensity to raise insulin levels. Whether a diet based on the index will aid in weight loss, however, is another story.
A low glycemic index diet is relatively easy to follow. Basically, you follow the typical diet endorsed by authorities such as the American Dietetic Association, but you choose carbohydrates that fall toward the lower end of the glycemic index scale. Books such as The Glucose Revolution give a great deal of information on how to make these choices, but do low glycemic Index diets aid in weight loss? There may be problems with this theory.
There are two primary theoretical reasons given why low-GI diets should help reduce weight. The most prominent reason involves insulin levels. Basically, these books show that low-GI diets reduce insulin release, and then take almost for granted the idea that reduced insulin levels should aid in weight loss. Unfortunately, there is little justification for the second part of this contention. Excess weight is known to lead to elevated insulin levels, but there is almost no meaningful evidence for the opposite: that reducing insulin levels will help remove excess weight.
Books espousing the low-GI diet give another reason for their approach. They claim that low-GI foods fill you up more quickly than high-GI foods, and also keep you feeling full for longer. As we shall see later, there is more evidence against this belief than for it.
A measurement called the Satiety Index assigns a numerical quantity to the filling quality of a food. These numbers are determined by feeding people fixed caloric amounts of those foods, and then determining how soon they get hungry again and how much they eat at subsequent meals. The process is similar to the methods used to establish the GI index.
The results of these measurements do not corroborate the expectations of the proponents of low-GI diets. It turns out, foods with the worst (highest) GI index are often the most satiating, exactly the reverse of what low-GI theory proponents would say.
A case in point, the Satiety Index tells us that potatoes are among the most satiating of foods. However, as noted above, the GI analysis gave potatoes a bad rating. According to the low-GI theory, you should feel hunger pangs shortly after eating a big baked potato. In real life, that doesn't happen.
Other contradictions between research findings and the low-GI/high-satiety theory include one study that found no difference in satiety between fructose (fruit sugar) and glucose when taken as part of a mixed meal, even though fructose has a GI more than four times lower than glucose.
Thus, the satiety argument for low-GI diets doesn't appear to hold up to inspection of the facts. So, is the glycemic index even the right measurement? Is it the wrong way to assess the insulin-related effects of food? The evidence would suggest this to be the case. Rather than making judgements from the GI, a more reasonable approach would be to use the measurement of glycemic load which measures the real effect of the food in question.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Sunday, May 20, 2007
How To Lose Weight From A Low Carbohydrate Diet Plan
With the sudden boom of dieting in the country, different diet programs have been introduced in the country. Although many experts believe that proper exercise and not only diet can lose those pounds in a healthy way, many people still believe in the power of diet programs and diet plans. One of the most controversial kinds of diet plans is the low-carbohydrate diet program, which focuses on the reduction of carbohydrate consumption in the body.
According to the theory, when carbohydrates are no longer being taken in, the body will be forced to use fats and water as alternative sources of energy; thereby helping to shed off those unwanted pounds.
Fats, unbeknownst to many, can actually be converted to energy. The body just doesn't use it as the first priority because it is more complex in structure and therefore, harder to break down and convert into energy. Among the popular low carbohydrate diets in the country is the Atkins diet.
Despite arguments from its critics, low carbohydrate diet has proven its effectiveness in terms of losing that extra weight. To date, it counts millions of followers not only in the country but also outside America.
Actually, cutting down on carbohydrates in the diet is a practice that people have been doing for years. When people cut down on their rice or bread or do not eat rice at all, they are reducing their carbohydrate intake. Of course, because it is not an official diet plan they are not really restricting themselves completely. When you are under a diet plan, you are not allowed to eat any kind of carbohydrates.
One of the advantages of low carbohydrate diet is the fact that it can actually increase the levels of good cholesterol in the body. This is really good news to people who have a heart problem. This is perhaps the reason why Atkins diet was used for cardio patients. This diet plan can also reduce the amount of triglycerides in the body. Triglycerides can be dangerous when combined with a high level of LDL or bad cholesterol. Both can increase the risk for heart attack and heart disease.
Low carb diet plans are also found to be good in balancing mood swings. They will not be prone to extreme lows such as depression or extreme high. People who are under the program are found to have fairly stable energy levels unlike those with high carbo levels.
LOW CARB DIET 101
Indeed, a lot has been said about various diets and how these work for some people. There' s the Atkins Diet, the South Beach, the After-Six Diet plan and so on goes on the list of diet crazes that swept the western world and even Asian regions. Among all these, one type of diet has become popular than the others it's called the Low Carb Diet.
Basically, low carb diet actually emphasizes cutting down on from a person's daily food intake. This diet allows the dieter to take in all foods except those that have carbohydrates. Although there are many testimonies that prove that low carb diet really works, you must be very knowledgeable first about its pros and cons before deciding to go with the hype.
People who have tried low carb diets say that its advantages include:
1. Faster and quicker weight loss compared to fasting.
2. The diet may result to higher protein intake and absorption.
3. It stabilizes blood sugar levels and is extremely beneficial to those who suffer from diabetics.
Experts say that the disadvantages of low carb diets may include:
- High cholesterol levels due to the lack of protein-rich and fatty foods that has saturated fats.
- Increased blood pressure due to elimination of whole grains products that help lower blood pressure.
- It can lead to osteoporosis because there will be no enough supply of calcium.
- In some cases, this diet can lead to diarrhea, constipation, and severe headaches.
- Low carb diets increase the possibility of lower mental acuity.
- Instead of losing weight, this diet can lead to weight gain.
If you are planning on taking low carb diet, here are some helpful tips to keep you in track:
1. Make sure to drink lots of water to avoid dehydration and constipation.
2. Consider taking in more fiber and vitamin supplements.
3. Cease from consuming products that has sugar.
4. Cut down on taking in products that contain caffeine.
5. Monitor your daily carbohydrate intake.
6. Don't mind calories, they are allowed in this diet.
7. Acquire a carbohydrate counter to keep you updated.
8. Do regular physical activities and exercise to reach ketosis easily.
9. Brace yourself for diarrhea that may last for a couple of days.
10. If possible, avoid eating foods that have saturated fats.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
According to the theory, when carbohydrates are no longer being taken in, the body will be forced to use fats and water as alternative sources of energy; thereby helping to shed off those unwanted pounds.
Fats, unbeknownst to many, can actually be converted to energy. The body just doesn't use it as the first priority because it is more complex in structure and therefore, harder to break down and convert into energy. Among the popular low carbohydrate diets in the country is the Atkins diet.
Despite arguments from its critics, low carbohydrate diet has proven its effectiveness in terms of losing that extra weight. To date, it counts millions of followers not only in the country but also outside America.
Actually, cutting down on carbohydrates in the diet is a practice that people have been doing for years. When people cut down on their rice or bread or do not eat rice at all, they are reducing their carbohydrate intake. Of course, because it is not an official diet plan they are not really restricting themselves completely. When you are under a diet plan, you are not allowed to eat any kind of carbohydrates.
One of the advantages of low carbohydrate diet is the fact that it can actually increase the levels of good cholesterol in the body. This is really good news to people who have a heart problem. This is perhaps the reason why Atkins diet was used for cardio patients. This diet plan can also reduce the amount of triglycerides in the body. Triglycerides can be dangerous when combined with a high level of LDL or bad cholesterol. Both can increase the risk for heart attack and heart disease.
Low carb diet plans are also found to be good in balancing mood swings. They will not be prone to extreme lows such as depression or extreme high. People who are under the program are found to have fairly stable energy levels unlike those with high carbo levels.
LOW CARB DIET 101
Indeed, a lot has been said about various diets and how these work for some people. There' s the Atkins Diet, the South Beach, the After-Six Diet plan and so on goes on the list of diet crazes that swept the western world and even Asian regions. Among all these, one type of diet has become popular than the others it's called the Low Carb Diet.
Basically, low carb diet actually emphasizes cutting down on from a person's daily food intake. This diet allows the dieter to take in all foods except those that have carbohydrates. Although there are many testimonies that prove that low carb diet really works, you must be very knowledgeable first about its pros and cons before deciding to go with the hype.
People who have tried low carb diets say that its advantages include:
1. Faster and quicker weight loss compared to fasting.
2. The diet may result to higher protein intake and absorption.
3. It stabilizes blood sugar levels and is extremely beneficial to those who suffer from diabetics.
Experts say that the disadvantages of low carb diets may include:
- High cholesterol levels due to the lack of protein-rich and fatty foods that has saturated fats.
- Increased blood pressure due to elimination of whole grains products that help lower blood pressure.
- It can lead to osteoporosis because there will be no enough supply of calcium.
- In some cases, this diet can lead to diarrhea, constipation, and severe headaches.
- Low carb diets increase the possibility of lower mental acuity.
- Instead of losing weight, this diet can lead to weight gain.
If you are planning on taking low carb diet, here are some helpful tips to keep you in track:
1. Make sure to drink lots of water to avoid dehydration and constipation.
2. Consider taking in more fiber and vitamin supplements.
3. Cease from consuming products that has sugar.
4. Cut down on taking in products that contain caffeine.
5. Monitor your daily carbohydrate intake.
6. Don't mind calories, they are allowed in this diet.
7. Acquire a carbohydrate counter to keep you updated.
8. Do regular physical activities and exercise to reach ketosis easily.
9. Brace yourself for diarrhea that may last for a couple of days.
10. If possible, avoid eating foods that have saturated fats.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Hoodia The Safe Weight Loss Solution - Hoodia Diet
Many individuals complain virtual starvation is a necessary evil of dieting, and sticking to a weight loss plan is extremely difficult. Thus, when a product like Hoodia hits the market, someone probably becomes an instant millionaire.
With over 50% of North Americans fighting the battle of the bulge, the advent of a promising weight loss aid becomes an instant success. While the pounds seem to increase simply by looking at food, losing the weight is often an exercise in futility.
Many individuals complain virtual starvation is a necessary evil of dieting, and sticking to a weight loss plan is extremely difficult. Thus, when a product like Hoodia hits the market, someone probably becomes an instant millionaire.
Called Hoodia Gordonii, the plant responsible for the newest weightless craze looks like a desert cactus. However, the plant is actually a succulent found only in the Kalahari Desert: Any of various plants having fleshy leaves or stems that store water. Cacti and the jade plant are succulents.
Succulents are usually adapted to drier environments and display other characteristics that reduce water loss, such as waxy coatings on leaves and stems, fewer stomata than occur on other plants, and stout, rounded stems that minimize surface area (succulent). According to tradition, natives have been using the plant as a natural hunger suppressant for centuries.
Living in the Kalahari Desert is definitely not like living in a populated area. When people in North America get hungry, a fast food restaurant or a quick shop is virtually around the corner. Groceries stores cater to frozen meals ready in 5 minutes, and recipe books are filled with 30-minute meals. Conversely, people in the Kalahari have been in situations where food and water is not readily available, and traveling distances required going without for unbearable lengths of time. Supposedly, the natives learned Hoodia suppressed both appetite and thirst during difficult periods.
Introduced in North America in 2004, Hoodia claims to provide a natural way to curb appetites, so people can stick to weight loss plans.
Not hungry, individuals will be less likely to cheat or fall off the bandwagon altogether. In addition, since the product is totally natural, the supplement is presumed safe for human consumption, with little/no adverse side effects. With some dieting aids being pulled from shelves, after dieters have suffered severe health complications, all-natural aids are gaining popularity.
With little science to back up the claims of a safe weight loss supplement, the product is literally flying off the shelves. Internet sales are making savvy entrepreneurs wealthy, as a month's supply is often $35 or more. Based on word of mouth, individuals are assuming the dietary aid is nothing but a long-awaited miracle.
According to WebMD, "Because it is sold as a dietary supplement, Hoodia escapes the level of scrutiny the FDA gives prescription drugs and medications sold over the counter" (Doheny). So, the question remains: Does Hoodia really produce the desired results safely, or are individuals simply wishfully following the latest diet craze?
In search of an answer, 60 Minutes correspondent, Leslie Stahl, traveled to Africa to see the amazing plant, and find out if the plant's appetite suppressant properties are true. With a local aboriginal guide, Ms. Stahl is introduced to the dieting miracle in its natural habitat. After cutting off a stalk and removing the sharp spines, she is offered a bite of the bitter cucumber-like plant, to see if the plant really works. "Stahl says she had no after effects" no funny taste in her mouth, no queasy stomach, and no racing heart. She also wasn't hungry all day, even when she would normally have a pang around mealtime. And, she also had no desire to eat or drink the entire day.
"I'd have to say it did work," (Stahl). According to one research study, consumers of Hoodia actually consumed an average of 1,000 less calories per day. Combined with a proper diet and exercise, individuals could conceivably lose approximately 2 more pounds per week.
Therefore, regardless of the absent research statistics, proponents will continue to purchase Hoodia as fast as the supplement can be produced.
In summary, Hoodia is the latest craze in dietary supplements meant to help fight the battle over obesity among North Americans. Found in the Kalahari Desert, the spiny succulent plant has been part of the bushman's diet for centuries. In recent years, the appetite suppressant properties have found a home in pills and milk additives.
Supposedly completely natural, Hoodia consumers swear by its ability to reduce calorie intake, and keep dieters from cheating or giving up on a weight loss program altogether. While the jury is still out on Hoodia, people are willing to pay a hefty price to win the battle of the bulge.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
With over 50% of North Americans fighting the battle of the bulge, the advent of a promising weight loss aid becomes an instant success. While the pounds seem to increase simply by looking at food, losing the weight is often an exercise in futility.
Many individuals complain virtual starvation is a necessary evil of dieting, and sticking to a weight loss plan is extremely difficult. Thus, when a product like Hoodia hits the market, someone probably becomes an instant millionaire.
Called Hoodia Gordonii, the plant responsible for the newest weightless craze looks like a desert cactus. However, the plant is actually a succulent found only in the Kalahari Desert: Any of various plants having fleshy leaves or stems that store water. Cacti and the jade plant are succulents.
Succulents are usually adapted to drier environments and display other characteristics that reduce water loss, such as waxy coatings on leaves and stems, fewer stomata than occur on other plants, and stout, rounded stems that minimize surface area (succulent). According to tradition, natives have been using the plant as a natural hunger suppressant for centuries.
Living in the Kalahari Desert is definitely not like living in a populated area. When people in North America get hungry, a fast food restaurant or a quick shop is virtually around the corner. Groceries stores cater to frozen meals ready in 5 minutes, and recipe books are filled with 30-minute meals. Conversely, people in the Kalahari have been in situations where food and water is not readily available, and traveling distances required going without for unbearable lengths of time. Supposedly, the natives learned Hoodia suppressed both appetite and thirst during difficult periods.
Introduced in North America in 2004, Hoodia claims to provide a natural way to curb appetites, so people can stick to weight loss plans.
Not hungry, individuals will be less likely to cheat or fall off the bandwagon altogether. In addition, since the product is totally natural, the supplement is presumed safe for human consumption, with little/no adverse side effects. With some dieting aids being pulled from shelves, after dieters have suffered severe health complications, all-natural aids are gaining popularity.
With little science to back up the claims of a safe weight loss supplement, the product is literally flying off the shelves. Internet sales are making savvy entrepreneurs wealthy, as a month's supply is often $35 or more. Based on word of mouth, individuals are assuming the dietary aid is nothing but a long-awaited miracle.
According to WebMD, "Because it is sold as a dietary supplement, Hoodia escapes the level of scrutiny the FDA gives prescription drugs and medications sold over the counter" (Doheny). So, the question remains: Does Hoodia really produce the desired results safely, or are individuals simply wishfully following the latest diet craze?
In search of an answer, 60 Minutes correspondent, Leslie Stahl, traveled to Africa to see the amazing plant, and find out if the plant's appetite suppressant properties are true. With a local aboriginal guide, Ms. Stahl is introduced to the dieting miracle in its natural habitat. After cutting off a stalk and removing the sharp spines, she is offered a bite of the bitter cucumber-like plant, to see if the plant really works. "Stahl says she had no after effects" no funny taste in her mouth, no queasy stomach, and no racing heart. She also wasn't hungry all day, even when she would normally have a pang around mealtime. And, she also had no desire to eat or drink the entire day.
"I'd have to say it did work," (Stahl). According to one research study, consumers of Hoodia actually consumed an average of 1,000 less calories per day. Combined with a proper diet and exercise, individuals could conceivably lose approximately 2 more pounds per week.
Therefore, regardless of the absent research statistics, proponents will continue to purchase Hoodia as fast as the supplement can be produced.
In summary, Hoodia is the latest craze in dietary supplements meant to help fight the battle over obesity among North Americans. Found in the Kalahari Desert, the spiny succulent plant has been part of the bushman's diet for centuries. In recent years, the appetite suppressant properties have found a home in pills and milk additives.
Supposedly completely natural, Hoodia consumers swear by its ability to reduce calorie intake, and keep dieters from cheating or giving up on a weight loss program altogether. While the jury is still out on Hoodia, people are willing to pay a hefty price to win the battle of the bulge.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Friday, May 18, 2007
Why Herbal Weight Loss Is A Highly Effective And Natural Diet
Before ingesting any herbs as part of a herbal weight loss programme it is important to check they are recognized medically as been safe for human consumption. There are some substances which should not be consumed, as they contain highly toxic properties which are potentially very dangerous for our vital organs.
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no magical overnight pill which will shed those stubborn pounds. Having said that, there are a number of organic materials which might be more effective than you would think. Yes, that's right, many dieters across the world have chosen to go with a herbal weight loss programme, to great results. There are certain types of herbs which manage to effectively suppress the appetite and leave the body feeling fuller on less calories. That way, you aren't tempted to eat as much, as so you ultimately lose weight through going about your daily life. Some herbs contain natural stimulants which help keep you active and off that sofa, whilst some suppress the appetite for those who find their sweet tooth so hard to ignore.
Before ingesting any herbs as part of a herbal weight loss programme it is important to check they are recognized medically as been safe for human consumption. There are some substances which should not be consumed, as they contain highly toxic properties which are potentially very dangerous for our vital organs. That aside, herbal weight loss is a proven method of reducing weight quickly, leaving you looking and feeling great, whilst helping rid your body of those unwanted toxins which hinder the immune system.
A good herb for those looking to lose weight is cayenne. If you don't mind the spicy, try cayenne with your meals, which helps speed up the metabolism and increase heart rate safely to get you burning those calories without lifting a finger. Another good herb to try is seaweed, which is great for clearing the toxins in the bloodstream, and is also a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals to help the body remain fit and healthy. Also, why not try green tea as a healthy stimulant with a high vitamin C content to get you up and moving and keep your insides gleaming?
If your looking for particular herbs to avoid, you should pay particular attention to herbal laxatives which can cause serious problems for the bowel and the digestive system if used on a frequent basis. Also avoid ephedra which has been proven to increase blood pressure to a dangerously high level and have a negative impact on the central nervous system.
As long as you take care to avoid dangerous substances, herbal weight loss is a highly effective natural method for slimming down. If you are unsure about what herbs are safe to consume, check online for a brief run down, or consult your physician for more information. He will be capable of explaining the risks and benefits of certain herbs, and will be able to make recommendations based on your general state of health and wellbeing. It is always a good idea to visit your doctor before embarking on any weight loss measures, so this would be a good opportunity to air any concerns you may have, and suppress any anxieties about your weight or the dietary methods you are considering.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no magical overnight pill which will shed those stubborn pounds. Having said that, there are a number of organic materials which might be more effective than you would think. Yes, that's right, many dieters across the world have chosen to go with a herbal weight loss programme, to great results. There are certain types of herbs which manage to effectively suppress the appetite and leave the body feeling fuller on less calories. That way, you aren't tempted to eat as much, as so you ultimately lose weight through going about your daily life. Some herbs contain natural stimulants which help keep you active and off that sofa, whilst some suppress the appetite for those who find their sweet tooth so hard to ignore.
Before ingesting any herbs as part of a herbal weight loss programme it is important to check they are recognized medically as been safe for human consumption. There are some substances which should not be consumed, as they contain highly toxic properties which are potentially very dangerous for our vital organs. That aside, herbal weight loss is a proven method of reducing weight quickly, leaving you looking and feeling great, whilst helping rid your body of those unwanted toxins which hinder the immune system.
A good herb for those looking to lose weight is cayenne. If you don't mind the spicy, try cayenne with your meals, which helps speed up the metabolism and increase heart rate safely to get you burning those calories without lifting a finger. Another good herb to try is seaweed, which is great for clearing the toxins in the bloodstream, and is also a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals to help the body remain fit and healthy. Also, why not try green tea as a healthy stimulant with a high vitamin C content to get you up and moving and keep your insides gleaming?
If your looking for particular herbs to avoid, you should pay particular attention to herbal laxatives which can cause serious problems for the bowel and the digestive system if used on a frequent basis. Also avoid ephedra which has been proven to increase blood pressure to a dangerously high level and have a negative impact on the central nervous system.
As long as you take care to avoid dangerous substances, herbal weight loss is a highly effective natural method for slimming down. If you are unsure about what herbs are safe to consume, check online for a brief run down, or consult your physician for more information. He will be capable of explaining the risks and benefits of certain herbs, and will be able to make recommendations based on your general state of health and wellbeing. It is always a good idea to visit your doctor before embarking on any weight loss measures, so this would be a good opportunity to air any concerns you may have, and suppress any anxieties about your weight or the dietary methods you are considering.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Thursday, May 17, 2007
low cholesterol diet
What is the first thing to consider in a low cholesterol diet? You have to know why some foods are safe to eat and why some are not. Here are some tips for you to follow so that you will be able to maintain your cholesterol diet.
Are you gaining weight? Does this make you worry about your cholesterol level? Do you feel like you need to do something about your eating habits particularly your cholesterol diet?
What is the first thing to consider in a low cholesterol diet? Knowing the purpose of a low cholesterol diet will make you adhere to it more sincerely. Then before indulging in any strict diet, low cholesterol diet included, you have to know why some foods are safe to eat and why some are not. However, a lifestyle change that would include a good cholesterol diet as a first step would work best.
The basic of cholesterol lowering diet is the decrease in the total intake of saturated fat, calories, and cholesterol in the body to decrease weight. These types of foods are mainly fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have very high fiber content; this soaks cholesterol like sponge and disposes it out of the body. Apples, oranges and pears are high fiber foods. This includes oats and carrots. Pasta, whole grains and potatoes are samples of complex carbohydrates.
If you want to go on a cholesterol diet you should minimize your intake of the day’s total saturated fat calorie by 7% and fat by 25-35 percent. Limit your sodium intake by 2400 milligrams daily.
Remember, cholesterol lowering diet and maintaining a daily exercise are major factors in lowering the cholesterol level.
Here are some tips on cholesterol diet approaches:
•Taking fiber-rich foods such as whole grains as your primary source of carbohydrates. This should go hand in hand with an increase intake of fresh fruits and vegetables such as berries, oranges, apples, pears, grapes, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, tomatoes, dark leafy greens celery, squash and eggplant among others.
•Staying away from saturated fats which are mostly found in animal foods such as meat, poultry and dairy products is a good cholesterol diet. Opt for unsaturated fats instead, specifically omega-3 fatty. Good sources of these would be the vegetable and fish oils.
•Source out protein from soy protein, poultry, and fish instead of meat.
•Major lifestyle change as a part of cholesterol diet would mean weight control, exercise, and quitting smoking.
If you want to dine out and still stick on your cholesterol diet, here are some tips for you to follow so that you will be able to maintain your cholesterol diet.
•Find out which restaurants have low saturated fat and have a low cholesterol menu.
•Sharing your dish with your companion or taking some home is advisable, better yet, you can also ask for appetizer-size servings or a side dish.
•Ask to separate the gravy, butter, rich sauces and dressings. You can control your cholesterol and saturated fat much easier that way.
•Ask the extras (salad, fries, baked potato) to be left off or substitute them.
•If you are craving for pizza, order the one that has vegetable toppings (green pepper, onions, and mushrooms) instead of meat or extra cheese. Or to make it easier for you, order it with half of the cheese or no cheese at all.
•If your dining on a fast-food restaurant, order salads, grilled skinless chicken sandwiches (fried and breaded are a no no), regular-sized hamburgers or roast beef sandwiches. Avoid large burgers, sandwiches and french-fries.
•Choose the dishes that are cooked on a low cholesterol method (broiled, steamed, au jus, garden fresh, baked, roasted, poached, tomato juice, dry boiled and lightly saturated)
•Be mindful of dishes that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. (butter sauce, fried, crispy, creamed, au gratin, au fromage, escalloped, parmesan, hollandaise, béarnaise, marinated, stewed, basted, sautéed, casserole and pastry crust)
Take note that if you lose weight, your calorie needs will also be lowered. It will decrease the amount of saturated fat and the fat that you will be able to consume on the cholesterol diet.
If you are having a hard time of making changes with cholesterol lowering diet, consult a nutritionist or dietitian so that you can work up some sample diets. Visit Lower Cholesterol Guide
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Are you gaining weight? Does this make you worry about your cholesterol level? Do you feel like you need to do something about your eating habits particularly your cholesterol diet?
What is the first thing to consider in a low cholesterol diet? Knowing the purpose of a low cholesterol diet will make you adhere to it more sincerely. Then before indulging in any strict diet, low cholesterol diet included, you have to know why some foods are safe to eat and why some are not. However, a lifestyle change that would include a good cholesterol diet as a first step would work best.
The basic of cholesterol lowering diet is the decrease in the total intake of saturated fat, calories, and cholesterol in the body to decrease weight. These types of foods are mainly fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have very high fiber content; this soaks cholesterol like sponge and disposes it out of the body. Apples, oranges and pears are high fiber foods. This includes oats and carrots. Pasta, whole grains and potatoes are samples of complex carbohydrates.
If you want to go on a cholesterol diet you should minimize your intake of the day’s total saturated fat calorie by 7% and fat by 25-35 percent. Limit your sodium intake by 2400 milligrams daily.
Remember, cholesterol lowering diet and maintaining a daily exercise are major factors in lowering the cholesterol level.
Here are some tips on cholesterol diet approaches:
•Taking fiber-rich foods such as whole grains as your primary source of carbohydrates. This should go hand in hand with an increase intake of fresh fruits and vegetables such as berries, oranges, apples, pears, grapes, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, tomatoes, dark leafy greens celery, squash and eggplant among others.
•Staying away from saturated fats which are mostly found in animal foods such as meat, poultry and dairy products is a good cholesterol diet. Opt for unsaturated fats instead, specifically omega-3 fatty. Good sources of these would be the vegetable and fish oils.
•Source out protein from soy protein, poultry, and fish instead of meat.
•Major lifestyle change as a part of cholesterol diet would mean weight control, exercise, and quitting smoking.
If you want to dine out and still stick on your cholesterol diet, here are some tips for you to follow so that you will be able to maintain your cholesterol diet.
•Find out which restaurants have low saturated fat and have a low cholesterol menu.
•Sharing your dish with your companion or taking some home is advisable, better yet, you can also ask for appetizer-size servings or a side dish.
•Ask to separate the gravy, butter, rich sauces and dressings. You can control your cholesterol and saturated fat much easier that way.
•Ask the extras (salad, fries, baked potato) to be left off or substitute them.
•If you are craving for pizza, order the one that has vegetable toppings (green pepper, onions, and mushrooms) instead of meat or extra cheese. Or to make it easier for you, order it with half of the cheese or no cheese at all.
•If your dining on a fast-food restaurant, order salads, grilled skinless chicken sandwiches (fried and breaded are a no no), regular-sized hamburgers or roast beef sandwiches. Avoid large burgers, sandwiches and french-fries.
•Choose the dishes that are cooked on a low cholesterol method (broiled, steamed, au jus, garden fresh, baked, roasted, poached, tomato juice, dry boiled and lightly saturated)
•Be mindful of dishes that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. (butter sauce, fried, crispy, creamed, au gratin, au fromage, escalloped, parmesan, hollandaise, béarnaise, marinated, stewed, basted, sautéed, casserole and pastry crust)
Take note that if you lose weight, your calorie needs will also be lowered. It will decrease the amount of saturated fat and the fat that you will be able to consume on the cholesterol diet.
If you are having a hard time of making changes with cholesterol lowering diet, consult a nutritionist or dietitian so that you can work up some sample diets. Visit Lower Cholesterol Guide
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
A Dieting Tip To Keep The Weight Off
When my father was told he needed to lose 28lb in two months, it was a real challenge. He did it and when anyone asked for his dieting tip, he said it was very simple. He had one dieting tip and this was it, all the food and drink you really like, don't eat, all the food and drink you don't really like, that is what you eat.
Mind you, he loved all the wrong foods for himself or for most people that is. Unfortunately, food cooked in rendered fat has a flavor that cannot be replaced. If you have never had food cooked in fat then you won't know this flavor, you are one of the fortunate ones. For the foods that used to be cooked in fat, like roast dinners, fried foods etc, these were replaced with grills and roasts on racks, this way the fat drained away and no extra fat needed to be added. i was so young when my Dad needed to lose the weight, that my body cannot tolerate foods cooked in fat of any kind.
Adding salt to food will enahnce the flavor also and salt is considered not good for you either. We do need salt in our diet, but not to excess. Another dieting tips of my Dad's was, don't overdo the salt. If you have some added to the food while it is cooking, then don't add salt to the food before you eat it. So his salt dieting tip was, choose which is the better for you, either while your food is cooking or after but not both, whichever you can get used to, which way is the best for your body.
Another dieting tip from my Dad was to stay away from the puddings. Today what, when he was young, were considered desserts, were rich puddings and pastries. Full cream milk, fresh cream, wonderful pastries and tarts were served with most main meals of the day. Ice cream was homemade and made with real cream. He was brought up on that type of cooking and foods, so it was hard for him to change his eating habits.
Yes, that's right, it is our eating habits we need to change. That was really my Dad's big dieting tip. Change your eating habits and you will never have to diet again. Dieting is not just cutting out the fat and salt from your diet. Many of the low fat and low salt foods that are available today have been compensated in the flavor department by the addition of carbohydrates and sugars. This can be as bad for you as the fat that has been taken out.
There are many diets around, all promising you will lose weight. Many of them you will lose the weight promised but unless you have gained good eating habits using the diet, then the weight will not stay off.
Another excellent dieting tip from my Dad was, see your physician first. Be guided by his advice as to what your healthy weight should be. He will be able to provide you with a calorie chart and how many calories you need to eat each day to lose the weight in a timely and safe manner. you will also find that dieting this way, you will not be hungry and there will be foods that you never would have tried and found you enjoyed eating without dieting.
Eat as little processed foods as you can. Fresh is best, fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh meats, fish and poultry. Always trim the fat from the meat before you cook it, the same with poultry. Check the carbohydrate content on the labels of everything you buy. Use the low-fat butters, milks and creams if you have a sweet tooth and like desserts.
Above all, get into a healthy eating habit, eat your three meals each day, maybe cut down on the quantity and keep in mind the no-fat, low-fat, check carbs foods rules. If you can eat your main meal in the middle of the day, then that is the best time as your body will burn off any excess during the afternoon activities. You can have your morning and afternoon tea and supper if you wish, just make sure you are sensible about what you eat then.
Well, my Dad's dieting tip became a few dieting tips. He did lose the 28lbs in the two months and through sensible eating, kept it off and felt so much better and I know we had the pleasure of his company for many more years than the medical experts predicted.
Mind you, he loved all the wrong foods for himself or for most people that is. Unfortunately, food cooked in rendered fat has a flavor that cannot be replaced. If you have never had food cooked in fat then you won't know this flavor, you are one of the fortunate ones. For the foods that used to be cooked in fat, like roast dinners, fried foods etc, these were replaced with grills and roasts on racks, this way the fat drained away and no extra fat needed to be added. i was so young when my Dad needed to lose the weight, that my body cannot tolerate foods cooked in fat of any kind.
Adding salt to food will enahnce the flavor also and salt is considered not good for you either. We do need salt in our diet, but not to excess. Another dieting tips of my Dad's was, don't overdo the salt. If you have some added to the food while it is cooking, then don't add salt to the food before you eat it. So his salt dieting tip was, choose which is the better for you, either while your food is cooking or after but not both, whichever you can get used to, which way is the best for your body.
Another dieting tip from my Dad was to stay away from the puddings. Today what, when he was young, were considered desserts, were rich puddings and pastries. Full cream milk, fresh cream, wonderful pastries and tarts were served with most main meals of the day. Ice cream was homemade and made with real cream. He was brought up on that type of cooking and foods, so it was hard for him to change his eating habits.
Yes, that's right, it is our eating habits we need to change. That was really my Dad's big dieting tip. Change your eating habits and you will never have to diet again. Dieting is not just cutting out the fat and salt from your diet. Many of the low fat and low salt foods that are available today have been compensated in the flavor department by the addition of carbohydrates and sugars. This can be as bad for you as the fat that has been taken out.
There are many diets around, all promising you will lose weight. Many of them you will lose the weight promised but unless you have gained good eating habits using the diet, then the weight will not stay off.
Another excellent dieting tip from my Dad was, see your physician first. Be guided by his advice as to what your healthy weight should be. He will be able to provide you with a calorie chart and how many calories you need to eat each day to lose the weight in a timely and safe manner. you will also find that dieting this way, you will not be hungry and there will be foods that you never would have tried and found you enjoyed eating without dieting.
Eat as little processed foods as you can. Fresh is best, fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh meats, fish and poultry. Always trim the fat from the meat before you cook it, the same with poultry. Check the carbohydrate content on the labels of everything you buy. Use the low-fat butters, milks and creams if you have a sweet tooth and like desserts.
Above all, get into a healthy eating habit, eat your three meals each day, maybe cut down on the quantity and keep in mind the no-fat, low-fat, check carbs foods rules. If you can eat your main meal in the middle of the day, then that is the best time as your body will burn off any excess during the afternoon activities. You can have your morning and afternoon tea and supper if you wish, just make sure you are sensible about what you eat then.
Well, my Dad's dieting tip became a few dieting tips. He did lose the 28lbs in the two months and through sensible eating, kept it off and felt so much better and I know we had the pleasure of his company for many more years than the medical experts predicted.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Diet Soda; Is It Good Or Bad If You Are On A Diet?
The debate over whether diet soda is a dieter's friend or a dieter's enemy seems to become more heated every day.
One side is saying it is a great beverage for people trying to lose weight and who want something more exciting to drink than water. The other side is saying it won't help you lose weight but can actually make you gain weight.
I wish I could give you a definitive answer and say either, "Yes, diet soda is fine to drink when you are trying to lose weight." Or "No, diet soda will not help you lose weight." But I cannot find enough clear cut evidence to wholeheartedly support either statement.
What I have gleaned from my research is this:
Setting aside the issue of whether or not diet soda will aid or impede your weight loss is the issue of the chemicals it contains and whether or not you want to be ingesting them on a daily basis in significant quantities.
There's also the issue of diet soda that contains caffeine. If you are mainlining Diet Coke, you have most likely formed a dependency to caffeine which will cause a period of headaches, when (or if) you decide to break that dependency. Large amounts of caffeine can also disrupt your sleep, can make you jittery, and can speed up your heart rate.
Some people complain of fluid retention when drinking diet soda and blame the sodium content in the it. Most diet soda/pop is very low in sodium. The culprit in fluid retention might be the artificial sweetener. Some recent research is showing that people react differently to artificial sweeteners, causing fluid retention in some people.
If you don't want to give up diet soda but it is making you retain fluid, try switching to a soda with a different artificial sweetener in it and see if that makes a difference. For example, if you are currently drinking one sweetened with Aspartame, try switching to one sweetened with Splenda or saccharine (NutraSweet). Also try drinking no diet soda for a least a week.
Drinking diet soda does seem to make some people think they can have that candy bar (ever had a Diet Coke and a king size snickers bar?) because they are saving calories with the diet soda/pop so the higher calorie food is okay. Likewise, some people will order a diet soda/pop after super-sizing their fast food meal. Drinking it lulls some people into thinking that switching out regular soda for diet means they can eat more food, but what usually happens instead is weight gain, which is then blamed on the diet soda/pop.
Personally, I get cravings for salty foods when I drink a lot of diet soda. My physician thinks it's the artificial sweetener that's causing those cravings. So instead of drinking a 12 pack of Diet Coke every day like I used to (yes, I'm being serious) I now try to have just one can of regular soda a day. I'm not always successful at doing that and sometimes drive to the store for an "emergency 12 pack of Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, or Diet Mountain Dew, but eliminating most diet beverages from my day-to-day diet has calmed my cravings.
So you'll have to make the judgment call for yourself on whether or not to include diet soda/pop in your weight loss or weight management plan. Some people say it helps them with weight management; others say it's a weight gaining tool. The only way to know for sure what it is for you is to try it and see.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
One side is saying it is a great beverage for people trying to lose weight and who want something more exciting to drink than water. The other side is saying it won't help you lose weight but can actually make you gain weight.
I wish I could give you a definitive answer and say either, "Yes, diet soda is fine to drink when you are trying to lose weight." Or "No, diet soda will not help you lose weight." But I cannot find enough clear cut evidence to wholeheartedly support either statement.
What I have gleaned from my research is this:
Setting aside the issue of whether or not diet soda will aid or impede your weight loss is the issue of the chemicals it contains and whether or not you want to be ingesting them on a daily basis in significant quantities.
There's also the issue of diet soda that contains caffeine. If you are mainlining Diet Coke, you have most likely formed a dependency to caffeine which will cause a period of headaches, when (or if) you decide to break that dependency. Large amounts of caffeine can also disrupt your sleep, can make you jittery, and can speed up your heart rate.
Some people complain of fluid retention when drinking diet soda and blame the sodium content in the it. Most diet soda/pop is very low in sodium. The culprit in fluid retention might be the artificial sweetener. Some recent research is showing that people react differently to artificial sweeteners, causing fluid retention in some people.
If you don't want to give up diet soda but it is making you retain fluid, try switching to a soda with a different artificial sweetener in it and see if that makes a difference. For example, if you are currently drinking one sweetened with Aspartame, try switching to one sweetened with Splenda or saccharine (NutraSweet). Also try drinking no diet soda for a least a week.
Drinking diet soda does seem to make some people think they can have that candy bar (ever had a Diet Coke and a king size snickers bar?) because they are saving calories with the diet soda/pop so the higher calorie food is okay. Likewise, some people will order a diet soda/pop after super-sizing their fast food meal. Drinking it lulls some people into thinking that switching out regular soda for diet means they can eat more food, but what usually happens instead is weight gain, which is then blamed on the diet soda/pop.
Personally, I get cravings for salty foods when I drink a lot of diet soda. My physician thinks it's the artificial sweetener that's causing those cravings. So instead of drinking a 12 pack of Diet Coke every day like I used to (yes, I'm being serious) I now try to have just one can of regular soda a day. I'm not always successful at doing that and sometimes drive to the store for an "emergency 12 pack of Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, or Diet Mountain Dew, but eliminating most diet beverages from my day-to-day diet has calmed my cravings.
So you'll have to make the judgment call for yourself on whether or not to include diet soda/pop in your weight loss or weight management plan. Some people say it helps them with weight management; others say it's a weight gaining tool. The only way to know for sure what it is for you is to try it and see.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Saturday, May 12, 2007
The Sonoma Diet - The New Mediterranean Diet
The Sonoma Diet was a book written by Connie Gutterson. It is one of the most balanced and moderate diets to appear in a long time. There are no dramatic restrictions on food groups, no calorie counting, and has all of the flair of a gourmet Mediterranean diet.
What is the Sonoma?
The Sonoma diet is a uniquely flavorful weight loss plan that brings together the art and science of food. Sonoma is a region in California, USA that is well regarded for its quality vineyards. The author and registered dietitian Connie Gutterson has been consulting with the Olive industry for a number of years. The nutritional credentials she has have enabled her to write a book that provides some of the most balanced and sensible weight loss advice. The Sonoma diet was not born in a lab much like other weight loss programs; in fact, it was born from two of the most agriculturally abundant and vital regions of the world: The coast of the Mediterranean Sea and of course Sonoma Valley California. These two regions share a festive approach to eating - a heart felt love of great food that turns every meal into a celebration of life. These wonderful foods make these areas into a paradise of healthy living and are the heart and soul of the Sonoma Diet. Members of the Sonoma diet experience this joy of eating. There are wide selections of recipes that are essential to Sonoma Diet member's success.
The 3 Waves
Wave 1: lasts for approximately 10 days, and you'll immediately begin eating delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners prepared with healthful foods. A benefit of this wave is that you will be able to eat all of your favorite foods and your online meal planner and recipe database will provide all the options you will need to be satisfied. One of the positive notes is that unlike other diets, this phase does not restrict carbohydrates but does include whole grain cereals and breads.
Wave 2: This wave is the major part of your diet. This here will be the eating plan that you stick with until you reach your target weight. Wave 2 is about variety with a broad range of foods including wine and fruits.
Wave 3: The third wave of the Sonoma Diet begins the day you finally reach your target weight. Once your ideal weight has been reached, this is the life - long maintenance phase where they teach you how to keep the weight off that you lost as well as teach you how to stick with the healthy eating lifestyle.
Portion Control
The secret is enjoying the right foods in the right amounts. If you think about it, that is really the only healthy way to lose weight. Aren't you tired of counting calories, and dealing with severe food restrictions? The main premise of the Sonoma diet is that food should be enjoyed even when dieting. The problem with most weight loss programs out there is that so many teach and cause the dieter to hate and fear food. Sonoma introduced a concept called 'plate and bowl'. All of the meals are assigned a specific plate size, with detailed instructions on how the plate should be filled. I was amazed while reading the book that it provided a wine guide to help select the best matching wine to accompany the meal.
Top 10 Power Foods
It's important to know what the top 10 power foods are. When you start to eat the Sonoma way, you'll be eating this way for the rest of your life. The Sonoma Diet book contains 300 recipes. The on-line program contains an additional 500 recipes. The top 10 power foods are.
* Almonds
* Bell Peppers
* Blueberries
* Broccoli
* Grapes
* Olive oil
* Spinach
* Strawberries
* Tomatoes
* Whole grains
One of the best features of the Sonoma diet is how interactive it truly is. The online program features on-line dietitians, live support, shopping lists, customized meal plans, and message boards. All subscriptions do come with a required fee, and subscribers must pay for a minimum of 5 weeks; however, if at any time you want to cancel your program there is not a cancellation fee. The Sonoma Diet is very popular and comes highly recommended by us and its users. This diet is now in 2007 considered to be in the top 5 diet programs. We at Flex Your Health consider this diet to be in the top 2 of all weight loss programs offered. If you try this program I am sure you will find a new healthier lifestyle with fantastic gourmet meals that will impress even the most sophisticated pallet.
Ready to try the Sonoma Diet and change your life from the regular to sophistication? If so, click the following link to find out all you need to know about the Sonoma Diet and other popular weight loss programs. http://www.flexyourhealth.com/index.html
Article Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/author.cgi?C=51839
What is the Sonoma?
The Sonoma diet is a uniquely flavorful weight loss plan that brings together the art and science of food. Sonoma is a region in California, USA that is well regarded for its quality vineyards. The author and registered dietitian Connie Gutterson has been consulting with the Olive industry for a number of years. The nutritional credentials she has have enabled her to write a book that provides some of the most balanced and sensible weight loss advice. The Sonoma diet was not born in a lab much like other weight loss programs; in fact, it was born from two of the most agriculturally abundant and vital regions of the world: The coast of the Mediterranean Sea and of course Sonoma Valley California. These two regions share a festive approach to eating - a heart felt love of great food that turns every meal into a celebration of life. These wonderful foods make these areas into a paradise of healthy living and are the heart and soul of the Sonoma Diet. Members of the Sonoma diet experience this joy of eating. There are wide selections of recipes that are essential to Sonoma Diet member's success.
The 3 Waves
Wave 1: lasts for approximately 10 days, and you'll immediately begin eating delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners prepared with healthful foods. A benefit of this wave is that you will be able to eat all of your favorite foods and your online meal planner and recipe database will provide all the options you will need to be satisfied. One of the positive notes is that unlike other diets, this phase does not restrict carbohydrates but does include whole grain cereals and breads.
Wave 2: This wave is the major part of your diet. This here will be the eating plan that you stick with until you reach your target weight. Wave 2 is about variety with a broad range of foods including wine and fruits.
Wave 3: The third wave of the Sonoma Diet begins the day you finally reach your target weight. Once your ideal weight has been reached, this is the life - long maintenance phase where they teach you how to keep the weight off that you lost as well as teach you how to stick with the healthy eating lifestyle.
Portion Control
The secret is enjoying the right foods in the right amounts. If you think about it, that is really the only healthy way to lose weight. Aren't you tired of counting calories, and dealing with severe food restrictions? The main premise of the Sonoma diet is that food should be enjoyed even when dieting. The problem with most weight loss programs out there is that so many teach and cause the dieter to hate and fear food. Sonoma introduced a concept called 'plate and bowl'. All of the meals are assigned a specific plate size, with detailed instructions on how the plate should be filled. I was amazed while reading the book that it provided a wine guide to help select the best matching wine to accompany the meal.
Top 10 Power Foods
It's important to know what the top 10 power foods are. When you start to eat the Sonoma way, you'll be eating this way for the rest of your life. The Sonoma Diet book contains 300 recipes. The on-line program contains an additional 500 recipes. The top 10 power foods are.
* Almonds
* Bell Peppers
* Blueberries
* Broccoli
* Grapes
* Olive oil
* Spinach
* Strawberries
* Tomatoes
* Whole grains
One of the best features of the Sonoma diet is how interactive it truly is. The online program features on-line dietitians, live support, shopping lists, customized meal plans, and message boards. All subscriptions do come with a required fee, and subscribers must pay for a minimum of 5 weeks; however, if at any time you want to cancel your program there is not a cancellation fee. The Sonoma Diet is very popular and comes highly recommended by us and its users. This diet is now in 2007 considered to be in the top 5 diet programs. We at Flex Your Health consider this diet to be in the top 2 of all weight loss programs offered. If you try this program I am sure you will find a new healthier lifestyle with fantastic gourmet meals that will impress even the most sophisticated pallet.
Ready to try the Sonoma Diet and change your life from the regular to sophistication? If so, click the following link to find out all you need to know about the Sonoma Diet and other popular weight loss programs. http://www.flexyourhealth.com/index.html
Article Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/author.cgi?C=51839
Thursday, May 10, 2007
blood type diet
Several years ago, a very interesting new idea with regard to weight loss became all the rage: eating for your blood type. This concept answered the age-old question of why not all eating plans work for all people. That much seems undeniable – people are very different with regard to the types of food that works for them, as well as the type of exercise program. A weight loss regime that works for one person won’t necessarily work for someone else – that much we know.
Some experts started to link this to blood type. There are four main blood types, and according to this way of thinking, each type represents a body type. If you eat the food that is right for your type, you will lose weight effortlessly. Conversely, most weight problems are the result of eating the food that’s wrong for your type. As well, there are types of exercise that are suitable for some types and not for others.
Though mainstream science ridiculed this idea, thousands of people followed the eating plan for their blood type and many had excellent results. This is the theory: the different blood types evolved at different times in human history, and even nowadays people with those types have traits that are specific to humans at that stage of evolution. This may sound confusing, but it’s clearer with an example: According to this theory, ‘o’ type blood, because it’s the simplest type, evolved first. At that time in human history, people had not yet developed agriculture. They were primarily hunters, and ate meat and greens; they ate no wheat, and no dairy, because those foods developed later on with the advent of farming. Humans at that time in history also exercised vigorously.
So, if you have ‘o’ type blood, your body is similar to this early human physiology. If you eat a lot of carbohydrates and don’t exercise vigorously, you will have weight problems and other health problems, because you are not eating and exercising in the way that is right for your blood type and body type. To lose weight and be healthy, if have ‘o’ type blood, you have to eat plenty of red meat and vegetables, and very little wheat or dairy. You should also have a strenuous physical activity, like running or weight lifting, that you practice several times a week.
But if you are a type ‘a’ or ‘b’, for example, that advice would be all wrong for you. These types developed somewhat later, after agriculture was established, so these individuals can and should eat more fruits, vegetables, and grains. People with ‘ab’ type blood are lucky; their type evolved last, after humans had incorporated all types of food into their diet. So ‘ab’s can basically eat anything – within reason – and not gain weight.
Over the past six or seven years, many people have followed this plan and lost a lot of weight. There are a few problems with it, though. First of all, as mentioned before, there is no hard scientific evidence that shows that people with different blood types are physiologically different. It’s an appealing idea, but it can’t be proven as yet. Also, some of the blood type diets (particularly the diet for type ‘o’) are very restrictive. In fact, the type ‘o’ diet is rather like Atkins at its most restrictive, and some nutritionists feel that this might lead to problems with high cholesterol in the long run. On the other hand, proponents of the diet argue that type ‘o’ people are precisely those who can afford to eat a lot of meat without negatively affecting their cholesterol level. If someone with a different blood type ate in this way, it might be a problem, but not for “o’s”. And it is certainly true that some people develop or don’t develop cholesterol problems seemingly regardless to their dietary intake.
If the theory has no basis, though, how would we explain the weight loss that so many people have experienced? It may be simpler than you think, actually. Any one of the four blood type eating plans, if followed correctly, would have you eating healthier, more natural food. Some, like the ‘o’ diet, are also quite restrictive. It seems likely that these diets make you lose weight in and of themselves, regardless of what blood type you are!
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Some experts started to link this to blood type. There are four main blood types, and according to this way of thinking, each type represents a body type. If you eat the food that is right for your type, you will lose weight effortlessly. Conversely, most weight problems are the result of eating the food that’s wrong for your type. As well, there are types of exercise that are suitable for some types and not for others.
Though mainstream science ridiculed this idea, thousands of people followed the eating plan for their blood type and many had excellent results. This is the theory: the different blood types evolved at different times in human history, and even nowadays people with those types have traits that are specific to humans at that stage of evolution. This may sound confusing, but it’s clearer with an example: According to this theory, ‘o’ type blood, because it’s the simplest type, evolved first. At that time in human history, people had not yet developed agriculture. They were primarily hunters, and ate meat and greens; they ate no wheat, and no dairy, because those foods developed later on with the advent of farming. Humans at that time in history also exercised vigorously.
So, if you have ‘o’ type blood, your body is similar to this early human physiology. If you eat a lot of carbohydrates and don’t exercise vigorously, you will have weight problems and other health problems, because you are not eating and exercising in the way that is right for your blood type and body type. To lose weight and be healthy, if have ‘o’ type blood, you have to eat plenty of red meat and vegetables, and very little wheat or dairy. You should also have a strenuous physical activity, like running or weight lifting, that you practice several times a week.
But if you are a type ‘a’ or ‘b’, for example, that advice would be all wrong for you. These types developed somewhat later, after agriculture was established, so these individuals can and should eat more fruits, vegetables, and grains. People with ‘ab’ type blood are lucky; their type evolved last, after humans had incorporated all types of food into their diet. So ‘ab’s can basically eat anything – within reason – and not gain weight.
Over the past six or seven years, many people have followed this plan and lost a lot of weight. There are a few problems with it, though. First of all, as mentioned before, there is no hard scientific evidence that shows that people with different blood types are physiologically different. It’s an appealing idea, but it can’t be proven as yet. Also, some of the blood type diets (particularly the diet for type ‘o’) are very restrictive. In fact, the type ‘o’ diet is rather like Atkins at its most restrictive, and some nutritionists feel that this might lead to problems with high cholesterol in the long run. On the other hand, proponents of the diet argue that type ‘o’ people are precisely those who can afford to eat a lot of meat without negatively affecting their cholesterol level. If someone with a different blood type ate in this way, it might be a problem, but not for “o’s”. And it is certainly true that some people develop or don’t develop cholesterol problems seemingly regardless to their dietary intake.
If the theory has no basis, though, how would we explain the weight loss that so many people have experienced? It may be simpler than you think, actually. Any one of the four blood type eating plans, if followed correctly, would have you eating healthier, more natural food. Some, like the ‘o’ diet, are also quite restrictive. It seems likely that these diets make you lose weight in and of themselves, regardless of what blood type you are!
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
The SouthBeach Diet
The SouthBeach Diet is a very popular weight loss program that, for the most part, is also very healthy. It's based on the same principle as most effective diets: carbohydrates, especially simple carbs, must be avoided in order to control blood sugar, stabilize insulin levels, and end cravings. This basic principle is why diets like The Zone and Atkins work for so many people.
Despite the title, The SouthBeach Diet was not created by some fitness guru from Miami. In fact, it was designed by a doctor from Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. It was originally an eating plan that would improve the cholesterol and insulin levels of his patients with heart disease. He was frustrated with his patients' lack of progress on the popular diet plans so, with the help of a nutritionist, he decided to create his own. The idea is to avoid all starchy carbs and fruit at first and then, once significant weight loss begins, to reintroduce healthy carbs in small amounts.
Here is an overview of The SouthBeach Diet:
The first 2 weeks of the diet involve avoiding all breads, pastas, cereals, rice, fruits, etc. During this first phase your diet mainly includes lean proteins, low-fat cheese, vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats. This phase of the southbeach diet actually helps to cleanse you body,and you will notice that your cravings for starchy and sugary food has disappeared. After 2 weeks you should lose between 8 and 13 pounds
The second phase of The SouthBeachDiet allows small amounts of whole-grain breads, fruits, and other low-glycemic carbs. By the Second Phase you should have much fewer cravings for sweets and starchy carbs. Weight loss is slower during the second phase, about 1-2 pounds per week. You will stay on phase two until you reach your goal weight.
The Third Phase, which is the long-term phase of the diet, involves more starches, fruits, and even occasional white flour/sugar treats. The Third Phase is designed for weight maintenance but, if you begin to gain weight again, it's recommended that you repeat the first 2 phases. By the way, the SouthBeach Diet book contains many recipes and practical diet tips. While some people feel this diet, like all low-carb diets, restricts healthy (ie whole grain) breads and rice too much, it's actually much more balanced than Atkins and its low/no-carb variations. The SouthBeach Diet plan is very effective at helping people get their cravings under control while losing a good amount of body fat and learning to eat healthily for the rest of their lives.
The SouthBeach Diet is a delicious,doctor designed, foolproof plan to improve your blood chemistry, by correcting your cholesterol and insulin levels, which has a side effect of fast healthy weight loss.
Despite the title, The SouthBeach Diet was not created by some fitness guru from Miami. In fact, it was designed by a doctor from Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. It was originally an eating plan that would improve the cholesterol and insulin levels of his patients with heart disease. He was frustrated with his patients' lack of progress on the popular diet plans so, with the help of a nutritionist, he decided to create his own. The idea is to avoid all starchy carbs and fruit at first and then, once significant weight loss begins, to reintroduce healthy carbs in small amounts.
Here is an overview of The SouthBeach Diet:
The first 2 weeks of the diet involve avoiding all breads, pastas, cereals, rice, fruits, etc. During this first phase your diet mainly includes lean proteins, low-fat cheese, vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats. This phase of the southbeach diet actually helps to cleanse you body,and you will notice that your cravings for starchy and sugary food has disappeared. After 2 weeks you should lose between 8 and 13 pounds
The second phase of The SouthBeachDiet allows small amounts of whole-grain breads, fruits, and other low-glycemic carbs. By the Second Phase you should have much fewer cravings for sweets and starchy carbs. Weight loss is slower during the second phase, about 1-2 pounds per week. You will stay on phase two until you reach your goal weight.
The Third Phase, which is the long-term phase of the diet, involves more starches, fruits, and even occasional white flour/sugar treats. The Third Phase is designed for weight maintenance but, if you begin to gain weight again, it's recommended that you repeat the first 2 phases. By the way, the SouthBeach Diet book contains many recipes and practical diet tips. While some people feel this diet, like all low-carb diets, restricts healthy (ie whole grain) breads and rice too much, it's actually much more balanced than Atkins and its low/no-carb variations. The SouthBeach Diet plan is very effective at helping people get their cravings under control while losing a good amount of body fat and learning to eat healthily for the rest of their lives.
The SouthBeach Diet is a delicious,doctor designed, foolproof plan to improve your blood chemistry, by correcting your cholesterol and insulin levels, which has a side effect of fast healthy weight loss.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Healthy Weight Loss: Creating a Weight Loss Plan
Creating a Weight Loss Plan Before you begin any weight loss program, it is important that you draw up a specific plan to help you stay on track. As a prelude to making your weight loss plan, you will need to do a little homework.
First, you will need to set a weight loss goal. In other words, what specific weight do you want to get to and when is your target date for reaching your goal? To arrive at this number, find out what your ideal lean body weight should be for someone your age and sex and multiply that number by 1.15 for men and 1.2 for women. This will give you your ideal body weight which includes your lean body mass plus an acceptable body fat percentage.
Second, a determination of your resting metabolic rate would be very helpful. Your resting metabolic rate is the number of calories you burn at rest. This information will assist in determining your optimal calorie intake and give you an idea of how slow or fast your metabolism is. Your calorie-needs are the amount of calories you need to maintain your weight. To lose weight, you must burn fewer calories than you take in. For example, 1 pound of body weight is roughly equal to 3500 calories. So if you wish to lose 1 pound of weight per week, you must reduce your calorie-needs by 3500 calories a week or 500 calories a day. To lose about 2 pounds a week, reduce your daily calorie-needs intake by 1000 calories.
Once you know how many calories to aim for, you can create an eating plan to help you lose weight. Write down a plan for your meals and a shopping list and stick to it. Without a written list you are vulnerable to impulse purchases, which torpedo weight loss. Plan to shop after you've eaten and not when you're hungry.
Exercise is essential for weight loss, diet-motivation and future weight maintenance. Make a realistic exercise plan for yourself and ideally find an exercise buddy to join you. The weight loss fitness program you choose to do - vigorous activities such as running or moderate-intensity activities such as walking or household work - will increase the number of calories your body uses. The key to successful weight control and improved overall health is making physical activity a part of your daily life. An excellent exercise regimen is outlined in the Metamorphic Weight Loss system.
For the greatest overall health benefits, experts recommend that you do 20 to 30 minutes of vigorous physical activity three or more times a week and some type of muscle strengthening activity, such as weight resistance, and stretching at least twice a week. When including physical activity in your weight-loss program, you should choose a variety of activities that can be done regularly and are enjoyable for you. Also, if you have not been physically active, you should see your doctor before you start, especially if you are older than 40 years of age, very overweight, or have medical problems.
Instead of weighing yourself once a week, a better way to track your progress is to measure your waist and thigh circumference. A more important concept than "weight loss" is body composition. Body composition is the ratio of lean body weight versus weight from body fat. Ideally, you want to see a reduction in your overall body fat while you increase lean muscle mass. A recent ABC News report indicated that maintaining 5 pounds of lean muscle will burn over 96,000 calories. That amounts to about 26 lbs of weight loss.
First, you will need to set a weight loss goal. In other words, what specific weight do you want to get to and when is your target date for reaching your goal? To arrive at this number, find out what your ideal lean body weight should be for someone your age and sex and multiply that number by 1.15 for men and 1.2 for women. This will give you your ideal body weight which includes your lean body mass plus an acceptable body fat percentage.
Second, a determination of your resting metabolic rate would be very helpful. Your resting metabolic rate is the number of calories you burn at rest. This information will assist in determining your optimal calorie intake and give you an idea of how slow or fast your metabolism is. Your calorie-needs are the amount of calories you need to maintain your weight. To lose weight, you must burn fewer calories than you take in. For example, 1 pound of body weight is roughly equal to 3500 calories. So if you wish to lose 1 pound of weight per week, you must reduce your calorie-needs by 3500 calories a week or 500 calories a day. To lose about 2 pounds a week, reduce your daily calorie-needs intake by 1000 calories.
Once you know how many calories to aim for, you can create an eating plan to help you lose weight. Write down a plan for your meals and a shopping list and stick to it. Without a written list you are vulnerable to impulse purchases, which torpedo weight loss. Plan to shop after you've eaten and not when you're hungry.
Exercise is essential for weight loss, diet-motivation and future weight maintenance. Make a realistic exercise plan for yourself and ideally find an exercise buddy to join you. The weight loss fitness program you choose to do - vigorous activities such as running or moderate-intensity activities such as walking or household work - will increase the number of calories your body uses. The key to successful weight control and improved overall health is making physical activity a part of your daily life. An excellent exercise regimen is outlined in the Metamorphic Weight Loss system.
For the greatest overall health benefits, experts recommend that you do 20 to 30 minutes of vigorous physical activity three or more times a week and some type of muscle strengthening activity, such as weight resistance, and stretching at least twice a week. When including physical activity in your weight-loss program, you should choose a variety of activities that can be done regularly and are enjoyable for you. Also, if you have not been physically active, you should see your doctor before you start, especially if you are older than 40 years of age, very overweight, or have medical problems.
Instead of weighing yourself once a week, a better way to track your progress is to measure your waist and thigh circumference. A more important concept than "weight loss" is body composition. Body composition is the ratio of lean body weight versus weight from body fat. Ideally, you want to see a reduction in your overall body fat while you increase lean muscle mass. A recent ABC News report indicated that maintaining 5 pounds of lean muscle will burn over 96,000 calories. That amounts to about 26 lbs of weight loss.
It's Time To Get In The Zone Diet
The best advice is to go with something that's safe, and something that is proven to really work, like the In The Zone diet plan. With the In The Zone diet, there are no magic pills, or recipes for success, other than the simple 40:30:30, which ensures a daily balance of all the right foods to keep your body ticking healthily.
The Zone Diet, or the In The Zone diet is a revolutionary new concept in dieting. It holds that you can eat freshly prepared natural foods every day, and snack in balance to lose weight. The concept of balance extends throughout the diet and lifestyle of those following the In the Zone diet, and follows the key ratio of 40:30:30 - that is 40% of every meal or snack is composed of carbohydrates, 30% of proteins and 30% of fats.
This emphasis on protein, which is almost double the average daily of consumption of most, works on similar principles as the Atkin's programme, although is considerably less risky through providing a balance of the other essentials in the diet. The In The Zone diet ratio is backed up by leading institutional research which promotes proteins as the most effective composite in weight loss, and ties in with the idea that a perfect balance between all component parts of a healthy diet is key to losing weight.
It is sometimes hard to know who to believe. There are so many diet plans out there, and so many lifestyle recommendations that are constantly spread across the media and the internet, it's hard to know what actually works. The best advice is to go with something that's safe, and something that is proven to really work, like the In The Zone diet plan. With the In The Zone diet, there are no magic pills, or recipes for success, other than the simple 40:30:30, which ensures a daily balance of all the right foods to keep your body ticking healthily. Not only that, but when combined with exercise, the diet also helps increase muscle mass, and is also very good for the heart and other internal vital organs, so it's advantages all round.
And it doesn't have to be expensive. You can buy the foods in any grocery store, and even shop as normal, so long as every meal is within these proportions. Although there are certain restrictions, and it's not a good idea to continue to load up on chocolate and sugars, as long as you follow the guideline ratio and stick to drinking heaps of water, you'll start to see the effects of safe and healthy weight loss in no time at all.
To see maximum effects, it's good to combine this balanced nutritional programme with balanced exercise. Some light to moderate activity will suffice to melt that fat, and provided you stick to the In The Zone diet, you'll definitely see the results. Why not try walking in the park with friends, or a leisurely cycle to work? There are so many cheap and cost effective lifestyle changes you can make to balance your health and your diet, and you don't have to fork out big bucks for the latest fad or for any exercise equipment. Just live your life in a balance, with proportionate exercise to rest, proportionate carbs to fats to proteins, and soon you'll see the effects of your healthier, body-friendly lifestyle.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
The Zone Diet, or the In The Zone diet is a revolutionary new concept in dieting. It holds that you can eat freshly prepared natural foods every day, and snack in balance to lose weight. The concept of balance extends throughout the diet and lifestyle of those following the In the Zone diet, and follows the key ratio of 40:30:30 - that is 40% of every meal or snack is composed of carbohydrates, 30% of proteins and 30% of fats.
This emphasis on protein, which is almost double the average daily of consumption of most, works on similar principles as the Atkin's programme, although is considerably less risky through providing a balance of the other essentials in the diet. The In The Zone diet ratio is backed up by leading institutional research which promotes proteins as the most effective composite in weight loss, and ties in with the idea that a perfect balance between all component parts of a healthy diet is key to losing weight.
It is sometimes hard to know who to believe. There are so many diet plans out there, and so many lifestyle recommendations that are constantly spread across the media and the internet, it's hard to know what actually works. The best advice is to go with something that's safe, and something that is proven to really work, like the In The Zone diet plan. With the In The Zone diet, there are no magic pills, or recipes for success, other than the simple 40:30:30, which ensures a daily balance of all the right foods to keep your body ticking healthily. Not only that, but when combined with exercise, the diet also helps increase muscle mass, and is also very good for the heart and other internal vital organs, so it's advantages all round.
And it doesn't have to be expensive. You can buy the foods in any grocery store, and even shop as normal, so long as every meal is within these proportions. Although there are certain restrictions, and it's not a good idea to continue to load up on chocolate and sugars, as long as you follow the guideline ratio and stick to drinking heaps of water, you'll start to see the effects of safe and healthy weight loss in no time at all.
To see maximum effects, it's good to combine this balanced nutritional programme with balanced exercise. Some light to moderate activity will suffice to melt that fat, and provided you stick to the In The Zone diet, you'll definitely see the results. Why not try walking in the park with friends, or a leisurely cycle to work? There are so many cheap and cost effective lifestyle changes you can make to balance your health and your diet, and you don't have to fork out big bucks for the latest fad or for any exercise equipment. Just live your life in a balance, with proportionate exercise to rest, proportionate carbs to fats to proteins, and soon you'll see the effects of your healthier, body-friendly lifestyle.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Monday, May 7, 2007
The Raw Food Diet
Have you started hearing about the Raw Food Diet? It's gaining popularity and buzz, not just as a diet to lose weight, but a diet for a long and healthy life. We eat so much in the way of processed food that we don't even stop to think about what we're putting into our bodies, and how far we've come nutritionally from our ancestral, agrarian roots.
A raw food diet means consuming food in its natural, unprocessed form. There are several common-sense rationales for why this is a good idea. Processing and cooking food can take so much of the basic nutritional value away. Think of some of the conventional wisdom you've heard about for years, such as: If you cook pasta just to the al dente (or medium) stage, it will have more calories, yes, but it will have more the nutritional value in it than if you cooked it to a well-done stage. Or you probably remember hearing not to peel carrots or potatoes too deeply, because most of the nutrients and values are just under the surface.
The raw food diet means eating unprocessed, uncooked, organic, whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, dried fruits, seaweeds, etc. It means a diet that is at least 75% uncooked! Cooking takes out flavor and nutrition from vegetables and fruits. A raw food diet means eating more the way our ancient ancestors did. Our healthier, more fit ancestors. They cooked very little, and certainly didn't cook or process fruits and vegetables. They ate them RAW. Their water wasn't from a tap; it was natural, spring water. Maybe they drank some coconut milk on occasion.
Doesn't it just make sense that this is how our bodies were meant to eat? It's a way of eating that's in harmony with the planet and in harmony with our own metabolisms. Our bodies were meant to work, and need to work to be efficient. That means exercise, certainly, but it also means eating natural, raw foods that require more energy to digest them.
Why The Raw Food Diet
Because cooking takes so many nutrients and vitamins OUT of food, you automatically start feeding your body what it needs when you stop cooking food and start eating uncooked, nutrient-rich foods. A raw carrot has exponentially more nutrition than a cooked carrot.
Cooking also alters the chemistry of foods, often making them harder to digest. Why do we have so many digestive problems in this country? Because we're putting foods into our bodies in a form that we weren't designed to absorb. High fiber, high water content fresh produce abolishes constipation of the bowels, cells and circulatory system. Obstructions are cleared and blood flow increases to each and every cell in the body. Enhanced blood flow is significant for two reasons: as mentioned above, blood delivers nutrients and oxygen to living cells, and carries away their toxic metabolites.
Obesity is endemic in this country. The diet industry is more profitable than the oil companies. Why? Because the way we eat and prepare our food practically guarantees that we'll overeat. Psychologists tell us that we overeat because our souls are hungry. But in reality, our bodies are hungry, even though we may feel full. When you start giving your body the nutrients it craves, overeating will cease.
Eating raw foods is a boost to your metabolism as well. It takes a little more energy to digest raw foods, but it's a healthy process. Rather than spending energy to rid itself of toxins produced by cooking food, the body uses its energy to feed every cell, sending vitamins, fluids, enzymes and oxygen to make your body the efficient machine it was intended to be.
You'll naturally stop overeating, because your body and brain will no longer be starving for the nutrients they need. A starving brain will trigger the thoughts that make you overeat. The brain and the rest of your body don't need quantity; they need quality.
Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
A raw food diet means consuming food in its natural, unprocessed form. There are several common-sense rationales for why this is a good idea. Processing and cooking food can take so much of the basic nutritional value away. Think of some of the conventional wisdom you've heard about for years, such as: If you cook pasta just to the al dente (or medium) stage, it will have more calories, yes, but it will have more the nutritional value in it than if you cooked it to a well-done stage. Or you probably remember hearing not to peel carrots or potatoes too deeply, because most of the nutrients and values are just under the surface.
The raw food diet means eating unprocessed, uncooked, organic, whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, dried fruits, seaweeds, etc. It means a diet that is at least 75% uncooked! Cooking takes out flavor and nutrition from vegetables and fruits. A raw food diet means eating more the way our ancient ancestors did. Our healthier, more fit ancestors. They cooked very little, and certainly didn't cook or process fruits and vegetables. They ate them RAW. Their water wasn't from a tap; it was natural, spring water. Maybe they drank some coconut milk on occasion.
Doesn't it just make sense that this is how our bodies were meant to eat? It's a way of eating that's in harmony with the planet and in harmony with our own metabolisms. Our bodies were meant to work, and need to work to be efficient. That means exercise, certainly, but it also means eating natural, raw foods that require more energy to digest them.
Why The Raw Food Diet
Because cooking takes so many nutrients and vitamins OUT of food, you automatically start feeding your body what it needs when you stop cooking food and start eating uncooked, nutrient-rich foods. A raw carrot has exponentially more nutrition than a cooked carrot.
Cooking also alters the chemistry of foods, often making them harder to digest. Why do we have so many digestive problems in this country? Because we're putting foods into our bodies in a form that we weren't designed to absorb. High fiber, high water content fresh produce abolishes constipation of the bowels, cells and circulatory system. Obstructions are cleared and blood flow increases to each and every cell in the body. Enhanced blood flow is significant for two reasons: as mentioned above, blood delivers nutrients and oxygen to living cells, and carries away their toxic metabolites.
Obesity is endemic in this country. The diet industry is more profitable than the oil companies. Why? Because the way we eat and prepare our food practically guarantees that we'll overeat. Psychologists tell us that we overeat because our souls are hungry. But in reality, our bodies are hungry, even though we may feel full. When you start giving your body the nutrients it craves, overeating will cease.
Eating raw foods is a boost to your metabolism as well. It takes a little more energy to digest raw foods, but it's a healthy process. Rather than spending energy to rid itself of toxins produced by cooking food, the body uses its energy to feed every cell, sending vitamins, fluids, enzymes and oxygen to make your body the efficient machine it was intended to be.
You'll naturally stop overeating, because your body and brain will no longer be starving for the nutrients they need. A starving brain will trigger the thoughts that make you overeat. The brain and the rest of your body don't need quantity; they need quality.
Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Sunday, May 6, 2007
All about Abs Diet
Going through diet after diet, sooner or later everybody ends up thinking that there's nothing more to learn. Frankly, it doesn't take long to get exhaustive hands on experience with just about all the major dieting concepts and to learn in which way each of them is supposed to influence the body. And once you're familiar with all the pros and cons of dieting, it's only fair to think that nothing could surprise you anymore. Well, this is where the Abs Diet comes in with a rather strange take on the old concept of losing weight through exercises. And, no, there are no magic pills to swallow.
The basic idea is much simpler than that. It goes something like this: the body has to expend energy in order to keep the muscles and internal organs alive and in shape. This means that every addition to the muscle mass will force the body to spend more energy. Therefore, instead of lowering the daily food intake in order to lose weight, this diet focuses on increasing the "energy bill" above the normal level. The extra muscle mass is supposed to absorb all the calories that would otherwise be stored as fat and also force the body to burn existing fat in order to keep up with the effort.
Every 1 pound of muscle added to the body costs the body 50 calories per day on top of everything else. It's pretty easy to see that 10 pounds of muscle are going to keep busy 500 calories of your daily intake every single day. This is enough to make you lose 1 pound per week, which is not bad at all. It's interesting to notice that the diet is based on achieving a snowball effect: the more you exercise, the more muscle you put on; the more muscle you put on, the faster you lose weight, which allows you to exercise harder and lose even more weight. Once you get the snowball rolling it will turn into an avalanche on its own.
The food users are allowed to eat consists of 12 nutrient-rich power foods. These are supposed to provide all the minerals, vitamins and fiber your body needs to stay healthy over the six weeks of dieting. The 12 foods are: beans and peas, spinach and a couple of other green vegetables, almonds, instant hot oat cereal, wholegrain breads and cereals, berries, eggs, low-fat dairy products, lean meats (such as turkey), peanut butter, olive oil and protein powder. All other foods are to be shunned during the diet.
Sticking to this diet might seem a little hard, especially for as long as six weeks. However, the mandatory exercises should make a big difference. Not only that you lose weight, but you also get to show off a nice set of abs and a far better toned body than before. One extra thing on your side is that part of the fat will be replaced by muscle, so even if it seems that you're not losing much weight, you're actually shifting weight from fat to muscle. Nevertheless, you can expect to get rid of up to 12 pounds in the first two weeks of dieting.
The basic idea is much simpler than that. It goes something like this: the body has to expend energy in order to keep the muscles and internal organs alive and in shape. This means that every addition to the muscle mass will force the body to spend more energy. Therefore, instead of lowering the daily food intake in order to lose weight, this diet focuses on increasing the "energy bill" above the normal level. The extra muscle mass is supposed to absorb all the calories that would otherwise be stored as fat and also force the body to burn existing fat in order to keep up with the effort.
Every 1 pound of muscle added to the body costs the body 50 calories per day on top of everything else. It's pretty easy to see that 10 pounds of muscle are going to keep busy 500 calories of your daily intake every single day. This is enough to make you lose 1 pound per week, which is not bad at all. It's interesting to notice that the diet is based on achieving a snowball effect: the more you exercise, the more muscle you put on; the more muscle you put on, the faster you lose weight, which allows you to exercise harder and lose even more weight. Once you get the snowball rolling it will turn into an avalanche on its own.
The food users are allowed to eat consists of 12 nutrient-rich power foods. These are supposed to provide all the minerals, vitamins and fiber your body needs to stay healthy over the six weeks of dieting. The 12 foods are: beans and peas, spinach and a couple of other green vegetables, almonds, instant hot oat cereal, wholegrain breads and cereals, berries, eggs, low-fat dairy products, lean meats (such as turkey), peanut butter, olive oil and protein powder. All other foods are to be shunned during the diet.
Sticking to this diet might seem a little hard, especially for as long as six weeks. However, the mandatory exercises should make a big difference. Not only that you lose weight, but you also get to show off a nice set of abs and a far better toned body than before. One extra thing on your side is that part of the fat will be replaced by muscle, so even if it seems that you're not losing much weight, you're actually shifting weight from fat to muscle. Nevertheless, you can expect to get rid of up to 12 pounds in the first two weeks of dieting.
Best Diet - 3 Key Features Your Diet MUST Have For Weight Loss Success
In order to have rapid weight loss success, you have to find the best diet for you. Planning is critical to your success. Choose your diet with these 3 key features in mind and you're already halfway to your weight loss dreams.
So you've made the resolution that THIS is the year you're going to lose weight and get in the best shape of your life. You're not going to settle for second best - you're going to achieve that dream body you've always wanted.
Great news - this is actually the best time to make that commitment. Why? Because you can take advantage of the powerful momentum and energy a New Year brings to achieve your weight loss dreams.
But there's nothing worse than committing to lose weight, only to get lost among the 5 gazillion diets out there. It can get confusing - you may end up wasting a lot of money and effort. You may end up wondering which diet is really the BEST diet for you.
In order to have rapid weight loss success, you have to find the best diet for you (a.k.a. the diet that will speed you towards your dream body at lightning pace). There are millions of diets - but only a few that are best for you and your lifestyle.
The best diet for you will have the 3 key features listed below. Choose your diet with these 3 key features in mind and you're already halfway to your weight loss dreams.
#1 Proven Success Rate
Are there before and after pictures of people who have lost weight with that particular diet? Are there customer testimonials? Have there been independent studies done on the diet's success rate?
The diet you choose doesn't have to have all three of these but try to find at least some kind of proven success rate before choosing that particular program.
Finding a diet with a proven success rate not only lets you know that the diet works but it also helps give you the confidence that the diet will work FOR YOU.
Confidence is one of the most underrated factors in a successful weight loss program. If you've tried and failed with diets before you especially need that extra boost of confidence to carry you through the more difficult times in the diet. By reminding yourself that this diet has been proven to work - you'll be able to keep going and reach your weight loss goals.
A related feature that gets extra points is if the diet has been recommended by an expert or a physician. Again this boosts your confidence that the diet is safe and effective.
#2 Affordable.
Losing weight should not cost you thousands of dollars (unless we're talking about surgery here and that's an entirely different article). The best diet will be affordable for the average person.
If the diet costs too much, be very suspicious and look elsewhere. There are too many shady diets out there and as a consumer, it pays to be cautious.
I'll give you an example of what I mean:
A close friend of mine went to a well-known weight loss clinic in our area and was told she had to pay the yearly fees up front (around $1000 NOT including food). They also told her she had to buy their food in bulk (like $500 for a year's worth of chocolate). When the chocolate gave her heart palpitations and she had to take it back, they told her it was non-refundable. She was out the money for the chocolate. Plus, she feels she can't leave the program because she's paid the yearly fees (which, you guessed it, are also non-refundable).
She unfortunately made the mistake of ignoring her instincts and paying way too much money for a diet program. If you notice you're being asked for hefty fees right out of the gate, warning lights should be flashing in your mind.
Now on the other hand, the best diet WILL cost you something. It actually is better if you put some cash on the table for your diet program. Why? Because when we invest in something we're more likely to stick with it. When we invest in something we are more likely to follow through and get the results we want.
For example I did a liver detox several months ago. I'm not really into liver detoxing but I read an article and figured I'd try it.
The detox kit cost me a whopping $50 and when I opened the instructions they told me I had to give up junk food for two weeks. In any other universe I would have laughed and simply forgotten about detoxing my liver. But because I'd shelled out $50, I was invested - I decided that I hopefully wouldn't starve from lack of junk food over two weeks and suffered through it.
If I'd gotten the detox kit for free there's no way I would have followed those instructions. But because I was invested, I followed through and now have a healthier liver thanking me for it.
So when searching for the best diet, putting out some money on yourself and your dreams of a better body is actually a healthy thing. Just keep in mind that you shouldn't have to spend thousands of dollars on it.
#3 Compatible with Your Tastes and Lifestyle
This is THE most crucial step however it's the one where most people go wrong. When choosing a diet, they simply pick one and go, without considering if it is compatible with their tastes and lifestyle.
For example, if you hate feeling deprived or empty you might want to choose a program that lets you eat many times during the day so you don't feel hungry. If you get bored easily you want a diet program that gives you tremendous variety and flexibility. If you don't do a lot of cooking or food preparation, you'll want to look at a program where the food is pre-made for you.
Diets are like cars - there are hundreds of different models out there, each with their own unique features. And they can get you where you want to go. But your personality might fit better with certain features than others.
Dieting is hard enough. Don't make it harder on yourself by choosing a diet not compatible with who you are. Setting yourself up for success will also guarantee that you'll stick it out until you reach your goal.
And one other thing, the best diet will be one that you can get excited about. Choose a diet that you enjoy, that you believe in, that may actually be - gulp - fun.
Emotional excitement will fade in time, yes. But it can give you enough of an emotional push to get you over the initial hump. By that time your first few pounds will have come off and will serve as your continuing motivation.
So those are 3 key considerations when looking for the best diet. Keep them in mind and you will progress in leaps and bounds towards your dream body. Remember, planning now may seem boring - but it's the key to your future weight loss success.
Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
So you've made the resolution that THIS is the year you're going to lose weight and get in the best shape of your life. You're not going to settle for second best - you're going to achieve that dream body you've always wanted.
Great news - this is actually the best time to make that commitment. Why? Because you can take advantage of the powerful momentum and energy a New Year brings to achieve your weight loss dreams.
But there's nothing worse than committing to lose weight, only to get lost among the 5 gazillion diets out there. It can get confusing - you may end up wasting a lot of money and effort. You may end up wondering which diet is really the BEST diet for you.
In order to have rapid weight loss success, you have to find the best diet for you (a.k.a. the diet that will speed you towards your dream body at lightning pace). There are millions of diets - but only a few that are best for you and your lifestyle.
The best diet for you will have the 3 key features listed below. Choose your diet with these 3 key features in mind and you're already halfway to your weight loss dreams.
#1 Proven Success Rate
Are there before and after pictures of people who have lost weight with that particular diet? Are there customer testimonials? Have there been independent studies done on the diet's success rate?
The diet you choose doesn't have to have all three of these but try to find at least some kind of proven success rate before choosing that particular program.
Finding a diet with a proven success rate not only lets you know that the diet works but it also helps give you the confidence that the diet will work FOR YOU.
Confidence is one of the most underrated factors in a successful weight loss program. If you've tried and failed with diets before you especially need that extra boost of confidence to carry you through the more difficult times in the diet. By reminding yourself that this diet has been proven to work - you'll be able to keep going and reach your weight loss goals.
A related feature that gets extra points is if the diet has been recommended by an expert or a physician. Again this boosts your confidence that the diet is safe and effective.
#2 Affordable.
Losing weight should not cost you thousands of dollars (unless we're talking about surgery here and that's an entirely different article). The best diet will be affordable for the average person.
If the diet costs too much, be very suspicious and look elsewhere. There are too many shady diets out there and as a consumer, it pays to be cautious.
I'll give you an example of what I mean:
A close friend of mine went to a well-known weight loss clinic in our area and was told she had to pay the yearly fees up front (around $1000 NOT including food). They also told her she had to buy their food in bulk (like $500 for a year's worth of chocolate). When the chocolate gave her heart palpitations and she had to take it back, they told her it was non-refundable. She was out the money for the chocolate. Plus, she feels she can't leave the program because she's paid the yearly fees (which, you guessed it, are also non-refundable).
She unfortunately made the mistake of ignoring her instincts and paying way too much money for a diet program. If you notice you're being asked for hefty fees right out of the gate, warning lights should be flashing in your mind.
Now on the other hand, the best diet WILL cost you something. It actually is better if you put some cash on the table for your diet program. Why? Because when we invest in something we're more likely to stick with it. When we invest in something we are more likely to follow through and get the results we want.
For example I did a liver detox several months ago. I'm not really into liver detoxing but I read an article and figured I'd try it.
The detox kit cost me a whopping $50 and when I opened the instructions they told me I had to give up junk food for two weeks. In any other universe I would have laughed and simply forgotten about detoxing my liver. But because I'd shelled out $50, I was invested - I decided that I hopefully wouldn't starve from lack of junk food over two weeks and suffered through it.
If I'd gotten the detox kit for free there's no way I would have followed those instructions. But because I was invested, I followed through and now have a healthier liver thanking me for it.
So when searching for the best diet, putting out some money on yourself and your dreams of a better body is actually a healthy thing. Just keep in mind that you shouldn't have to spend thousands of dollars on it.
#3 Compatible with Your Tastes and Lifestyle
This is THE most crucial step however it's the one where most people go wrong. When choosing a diet, they simply pick one and go, without considering if it is compatible with their tastes and lifestyle.
For example, if you hate feeling deprived or empty you might want to choose a program that lets you eat many times during the day so you don't feel hungry. If you get bored easily you want a diet program that gives you tremendous variety and flexibility. If you don't do a lot of cooking or food preparation, you'll want to look at a program where the food is pre-made for you.
Diets are like cars - there are hundreds of different models out there, each with their own unique features. And they can get you where you want to go. But your personality might fit better with certain features than others.
Dieting is hard enough. Don't make it harder on yourself by choosing a diet not compatible with who you are. Setting yourself up for success will also guarantee that you'll stick it out until you reach your goal.
And one other thing, the best diet will be one that you can get excited about. Choose a diet that you enjoy, that you believe in, that may actually be - gulp - fun.
Emotional excitement will fade in time, yes. But it can give you enough of an emotional push to get you over the initial hump. By that time your first few pounds will have come off and will serve as your continuing motivation.
So those are 3 key considerations when looking for the best diet. Keep them in mind and you will progress in leaps and bounds towards your dream body. Remember, planning now may seem boring - but it's the key to your future weight loss success.
Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Liquid Calories Count!
Think about this. Early man survived by eating one hundred percent of his calories and drinking plain water. No liquid calories! Today, the average American receives more than one fifth of their calories from soft drinks, fruit juices, milk, alcohol, and recently sports drinks, coffee and tea.
Since the 1970s, calorie intake from all of these liquids have increased dramatically, contributing somewhere in the neighborhood of 150-300 extra calories per day. Unless you increase your activity or eat less, that many calories adds up to an extra pound of body fat every 20 days or so. Milk is about the only source of liquid calories that has decreased in the last 30 years.
How has this impacted our health? According to Dr. Barry Popin of the University of North Carolina School of Public Health, studies have shown that people who shift from non calorie drinks to sweetened drinks gain weight, probably because they do not compensate by eating less. Popin says that drinking calories in liquid form does not register with our appetite controls.
To address this growing problem, a panel of leading nutrition experts calling themselves the Beverage Guidance Panel was organized by Dr. Popin. The Panel has issued the following recommendations for beverage intake:
Amount / day Beverage based upon a 2,200 calorie diet
0-8 oz Calorie-Sweetened Beverages like soda or juice 0-8 oz Fruit Juices 0 oz Whole milk sparingly: Sports drinks for non athletes 16 oz Sports drinks for endurance athletes 0-1 drink Alcohol for women 0-2 drinks Alcohol for men 0-32 oz Diet drinks 0-16 oz Low fat, skim, or soy milk 0-28 oz Unsweetened tea/coffee (can replace water) 20-50 oz Water
If you need to lose some weight and think liquid calories might be contributing to your problem, start by reading your labels carefully. Do not forget that total calories listed on product labels are expressed per serving size, and more often than not containers include 2 or even 3 servings. Since liquid calories are so easy to overlook, you may have to write down everything that you drink, making sure that the portion sizes are accurate.
How many soft drinks do you drink? A U.S. Department of Agriculture Survey found that the average American guzzles 53 gallons of carbonated soft drinks in a year. That is 18.6 ounces every day, 365 days a year. Males between the ages of 12-29 years average 28.5 ounces every day!
A 12 ounce can of soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar at 15 calories per teaspoon. The average American that drinks 18.6 ounces of soda per day is getting around 232 calories. That is the energy equivalent of 2 extra pounds of fat every month, or 24 extra pounds in a year.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, people eating 1,600 calories a day should not take in more than 6 teaspoons of refined sugar a day- from any source! If you eat 2,200 calories a day you should limit sugar to 12 teaspoons. That is 5-8% of your total daily calories. The Food and Drug Administration is slightly more lenient, recommending no more than 10% of your daily intake of calories from sugar.
Besides the extra calories, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) blames soft drinks in the American diet on a number of other health risks. Osteoporosis, tooth decay, heart disease, and kidney stones are all associated with excessive soft drink consumption, not to mention potential problems caused by caffeine and other additives.
To be fair, not everyone agrees. The Sugar Association accurately points out that sugar is pure carbohydrate and low in calories when compared to fat. The FDA confirms that sugar has never been identified as an independent risk factor for heart disease. In terms of dental health, the Sugar Association says the frequency of exposure to carbohydrate foods is more important than the amount. Sticky foods are more of a problem than soft drinks because contact with tooth enamel is prolonged.
So some sugar is OK, especially if you are an athlete in need of extra calories. It improves the taste of food and drink and is not nearly as calorie dense as fat, but common sense should tell you that too much is not a good idea.
The FDA recommendation of limiting your sugar intake to 10% of your total calories is a good one. That is 200 calories if you eat 2,000 calories per day. Eighteen ounces of soft drinks takes you to that limit, if you eat or drink no other sugar from any other source.
Since the 1970s, calorie intake from all of these liquids have increased dramatically, contributing somewhere in the neighborhood of 150-300 extra calories per day. Unless you increase your activity or eat less, that many calories adds up to an extra pound of body fat every 20 days or so. Milk is about the only source of liquid calories that has decreased in the last 30 years.
How has this impacted our health? According to Dr. Barry Popin of the University of North Carolina School of Public Health, studies have shown that people who shift from non calorie drinks to sweetened drinks gain weight, probably because they do not compensate by eating less. Popin says that drinking calories in liquid form does not register with our appetite controls.
To address this growing problem, a panel of leading nutrition experts calling themselves the Beverage Guidance Panel was organized by Dr. Popin. The Panel has issued the following recommendations for beverage intake:
Amount / day Beverage based upon a 2,200 calorie diet
0-8 oz Calorie-Sweetened Beverages like soda or juice 0-8 oz Fruit Juices 0 oz Whole milk sparingly: Sports drinks for non athletes 16 oz Sports drinks for endurance athletes 0-1 drink Alcohol for women 0-2 drinks Alcohol for men 0-32 oz Diet drinks 0-16 oz Low fat, skim, or soy milk 0-28 oz Unsweetened tea/coffee (can replace water) 20-50 oz Water
If you need to lose some weight and think liquid calories might be contributing to your problem, start by reading your labels carefully. Do not forget that total calories listed on product labels are expressed per serving size, and more often than not containers include 2 or even 3 servings. Since liquid calories are so easy to overlook, you may have to write down everything that you drink, making sure that the portion sizes are accurate.
How many soft drinks do you drink? A U.S. Department of Agriculture Survey found that the average American guzzles 53 gallons of carbonated soft drinks in a year. That is 18.6 ounces every day, 365 days a year. Males between the ages of 12-29 years average 28.5 ounces every day!
A 12 ounce can of soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar at 15 calories per teaspoon. The average American that drinks 18.6 ounces of soda per day is getting around 232 calories. That is the energy equivalent of 2 extra pounds of fat every month, or 24 extra pounds in a year.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, people eating 1,600 calories a day should not take in more than 6 teaspoons of refined sugar a day- from any source! If you eat 2,200 calories a day you should limit sugar to 12 teaspoons. That is 5-8% of your total daily calories. The Food and Drug Administration is slightly more lenient, recommending no more than 10% of your daily intake of calories from sugar.
Besides the extra calories, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) blames soft drinks in the American diet on a number of other health risks. Osteoporosis, tooth decay, heart disease, and kidney stones are all associated with excessive soft drink consumption, not to mention potential problems caused by caffeine and other additives.
To be fair, not everyone agrees. The Sugar Association accurately points out that sugar is pure carbohydrate and low in calories when compared to fat. The FDA confirms that sugar has never been identified as an independent risk factor for heart disease. In terms of dental health, the Sugar Association says the frequency of exposure to carbohydrate foods is more important than the amount. Sticky foods are more of a problem than soft drinks because contact with tooth enamel is prolonged.
So some sugar is OK, especially if you are an athlete in need of extra calories. It improves the taste of food and drink and is not nearly as calorie dense as fat, but common sense should tell you that too much is not a good idea.
The FDA recommendation of limiting your sugar intake to 10% of your total calories is a good one. That is 200 calories if you eat 2,000 calories per day. Eighteen ounces of soft drinks takes you to that limit, if you eat or drink no other sugar from any other source.
Atkins Diet Recipes Add Some Variety To Your Diet
The Atkins diet claims you will lose weight by cutting out carbs and eating more meat. The diet is based on the majority of those who are overweight do in fact eat too many carbohydrates in their diet. By cutting down on the carb's that you eat daily and increasing the amount of fat and protein then the body will lose more weight as it burns off the stored body fat much more efficiently.
The Atkins diet relies on the person eating a diet that relies heavily on proteins and fat. The basis of the diet includes red meat, fish, which included any kind of shellfish, chicken, cheeses and you are able to cook with butter if you wish - not bad for a diet.
Carbohydrates however should be mainly cut out of the diet, the diet allows you around 20 grams of carb`s per day. During the first two weeks this is important and is what gives the diet its boost. During this time you will lose weight if you stick to the plan even though you will not have to count how many calories you eat. In fact you could well be eating more calories than you were before which is one reason why people stick to it.
Following the first couple of weeks you can then gradually add a few carb`s back into your diet, however you have to be sensible regarding this.
Here is a sample of a phase one Atkins Diet recipe for "Bones To Be Chicken Wingettes"
Wingettes range considerably in size, from six to 18 pieces per pound. If yours are smaller, theyll have greater surface area, so you may need to use more of the spice mixture. Use more or less cayenne depending on the heat tolerance of your ghoulsor guests.
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons Atkins Quick Quisine? Bake Mix
1 to 2 teaspoons cayenne
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons salt
2 pounds wingettes, rinsed and dried
Heat oven to 450F. Line a jelly-roll pan with foil, and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine chili powder, bake mix, cayenne, mustard and salt in a large resealable bag. Add half of the wingettes, and shake to coat. Transfer to pan, and repeat with remaining wingettes.
Bake, turning occasionally, until crisp, browned and cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a platter, and serve.
For people who have had success with the Atkins diet is comes down to variety. Being able to come up with new ways to eat the same thing will help you lose weight and feel good doing it. You can find all of the Atkins diet recipes at their website here: http://www.atkins.com/recipes
The Atkins diet relies on the person eating a diet that relies heavily on proteins and fat. The basis of the diet includes red meat, fish, which included any kind of shellfish, chicken, cheeses and you are able to cook with butter if you wish - not bad for a diet.
Carbohydrates however should be mainly cut out of the diet, the diet allows you around 20 grams of carb`s per day. During the first two weeks this is important and is what gives the diet its boost. During this time you will lose weight if you stick to the plan even though you will not have to count how many calories you eat. In fact you could well be eating more calories than you were before which is one reason why people stick to it.
Following the first couple of weeks you can then gradually add a few carb`s back into your diet, however you have to be sensible regarding this.
Here is a sample of a phase one Atkins Diet recipe for "Bones To Be Chicken Wingettes"
Wingettes range considerably in size, from six to 18 pieces per pound. If yours are smaller, theyll have greater surface area, so you may need to use more of the spice mixture. Use more or less cayenne depending on the heat tolerance of your ghoulsor guests.
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons Atkins Quick Quisine? Bake Mix
1 to 2 teaspoons cayenne
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons salt
2 pounds wingettes, rinsed and dried
Heat oven to 450F. Line a jelly-roll pan with foil, and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine chili powder, bake mix, cayenne, mustard and salt in a large resealable bag. Add half of the wingettes, and shake to coat. Transfer to pan, and repeat with remaining wingettes.
Bake, turning occasionally, until crisp, browned and cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a platter, and serve.
For people who have had success with the Atkins diet is comes down to variety. Being able to come up with new ways to eat the same thing will help you lose weight and feel good doing it. You can find all of the Atkins diet recipes at their website here: http://www.atkins.com/recipes
Friday, May 4, 2007
Cabbage Soup Diet – For Dieters who Don't like Cabbage!
When anyone starts dieting they want to see results quickly and that’s exactly what the cabbage soup diet achieves - but if you hate cabbage don’t worry, today many heath food shops are now offering pills with the same nutrients.
The Cabbage Soup Diet is a low-fat, high-fiber diet that will help you kick start your weight loss program. It also provides plenty of motivation - when anyone starts dieting they want to see results quickly and that’s exactly what the cabbage soup diet achieves.
There is a recipe for cabbage soup at the end of this article, but if you hate cabbage don’t worry, today many heath food shops now offering pills with the same nutrients, and lets face it there are a lot of people who don’t like cabbage!
Where the daily instructions mention cabbage soup, you can substitute cabbage diet supplement pills, if you prefer.
Following the cabbage soup diet. Follow it EXACTLY for a week and the pounds will melt away!If you don’t follow it exactly you will completely defeat the object of the diet - keep in mind it’s only for seven days and is well worth it. Here are the basics of the diet and some ways to maximize your results:
Day One: Fruit: Eat all of the fruit you want (no bananas). Eat only your soup and the fruit for the first day. Drinks - unsweetened teas, cranberry juice and water.
Day Two: Vegetables: Eat any fresh, raw or cooked vegetables and as much as you want. Try to eat leafy green vegetables and stay away from dry beans, peas and corn. Eat all the vegetables you want along with your soup. At dinner, a big baked potato with butter can be eaten. Do not eat fruit.
Day Three: Mix Days One and Two: Eat all the soup, fruits and vegetables you want but No Baked Potato.
Day Four: Bananas and Skim Milk: Eat up to eight bananas and drink as many glasses of skimmed milk as you want on this day, along with your soup.
Day Five: Beef And Tomatoes: Ten to twenty ounces of beef and up to six fresh tomatoes can be eaten. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water this day to wash the uric acid from your body. Eat your soup at least once this day. You may eat broiled or baked chicken instead of beef (no skin-on chicken). If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for the beef on one of the beef days (but not both).
Day Six: Beef and Vegetables: Eat to your heart's content of beef and vegetables this day. You can even have 2 or 3 steaks if you like, with leafy green vegetables. No Baked Potato. Eat your soup at least once.
Day Seven: Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables: As much as you want.
It’s over, and you will have lost weight! If it sounds easy, but wait until you try it! The cabbage soup diet is not easy for many dieters but the results are well worth the effort. One week only.
The Cabbage Soup Diet is full nutritious vegetables and fruit, and is extremely low in fat, but to stress again: This diet is for one week only. The cabbage soup diet is too low in complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals to continue for a long period of time. You need to resume normal eating patterns for at least two weeks before trying it again. Six things to keep in mind
1. Follow the diet EXACTLY - if you don’t, then it wont work
2. Drink at least 4 - 6 glasses of water per day
3. Keep motivated! - Keep in mind that it's only for seven days
4. Complement the diet with a multivitamin and mineral tablet
5. Eat plenty of soup - as much as you want! If you hate the soup use over the counter pills.
The cabbage soup diet is one of the most effective ways to kick start a weight loss program. It provides quick results and although not easy, dieters know they only need to do it for seven days and can have a break before resuming if necessary. Finally, it provides plenty of motivation to keep losing weight, once quick weight loss has been achieved. Here is a recipe for the cabbage soup diet:
Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe. Ingredients: 6 Large Green Onions, 2 Green Peppers, 1-2 Cans Diced Tomatoes, 1 Bunch of Celery, 1 Package Lipton Onion Soup Mix, 1-2 Cubes of Bouillon (if desired), 1 Cabbage Head. Directions: 1) Cut the vegetables into small pieces and cover with water, you can also use V-8 juice. 2) Boil the ingredients fast for 10 minutes. 3) Reduce to simmer and continue cooking the cabbage soup until all of the vegetables are tender. Season the cabbage soup to taste with salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, or whatever spice you want to add.
Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
The Cabbage Soup Diet is a low-fat, high-fiber diet that will help you kick start your weight loss program. It also provides plenty of motivation - when anyone starts dieting they want to see results quickly and that’s exactly what the cabbage soup diet achieves.
There is a recipe for cabbage soup at the end of this article, but if you hate cabbage don’t worry, today many heath food shops now offering pills with the same nutrients, and lets face it there are a lot of people who don’t like cabbage!
Where the daily instructions mention cabbage soup, you can substitute cabbage diet supplement pills, if you prefer.
Following the cabbage soup diet. Follow it EXACTLY for a week and the pounds will melt away!If you don’t follow it exactly you will completely defeat the object of the diet - keep in mind it’s only for seven days and is well worth it. Here are the basics of the diet and some ways to maximize your results:
Day One: Fruit: Eat all of the fruit you want (no bananas). Eat only your soup and the fruit for the first day. Drinks - unsweetened teas, cranberry juice and water.
Day Two: Vegetables: Eat any fresh, raw or cooked vegetables and as much as you want. Try to eat leafy green vegetables and stay away from dry beans, peas and corn. Eat all the vegetables you want along with your soup. At dinner, a big baked potato with butter can be eaten. Do not eat fruit.
Day Three: Mix Days One and Two: Eat all the soup, fruits and vegetables you want but No Baked Potato.
Day Four: Bananas and Skim Milk: Eat up to eight bananas and drink as many glasses of skimmed milk as you want on this day, along with your soup.
Day Five: Beef And Tomatoes: Ten to twenty ounces of beef and up to six fresh tomatoes can be eaten. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water this day to wash the uric acid from your body. Eat your soup at least once this day. You may eat broiled or baked chicken instead of beef (no skin-on chicken). If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for the beef on one of the beef days (but not both).
Day Six: Beef and Vegetables: Eat to your heart's content of beef and vegetables this day. You can even have 2 or 3 steaks if you like, with leafy green vegetables. No Baked Potato. Eat your soup at least once.
Day Seven: Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables: As much as you want.
It’s over, and you will have lost weight! If it sounds easy, but wait until you try it! The cabbage soup diet is not easy for many dieters but the results are well worth the effort. One week only.
The Cabbage Soup Diet is full nutritious vegetables and fruit, and is extremely low in fat, but to stress again: This diet is for one week only. The cabbage soup diet is too low in complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals to continue for a long period of time. You need to resume normal eating patterns for at least two weeks before trying it again. Six things to keep in mind
1. Follow the diet EXACTLY - if you don’t, then it wont work
2. Drink at least 4 - 6 glasses of water per day
3. Keep motivated! - Keep in mind that it's only for seven days
4. Complement the diet with a multivitamin and mineral tablet
5. Eat plenty of soup - as much as you want! If you hate the soup use over the counter pills.
The cabbage soup diet is one of the most effective ways to kick start a weight loss program. It provides quick results and although not easy, dieters know they only need to do it for seven days and can have a break before resuming if necessary. Finally, it provides plenty of motivation to keep losing weight, once quick weight loss has been achieved. Here is a recipe for the cabbage soup diet:
Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe. Ingredients: 6 Large Green Onions, 2 Green Peppers, 1-2 Cans Diced Tomatoes, 1 Bunch of Celery, 1 Package Lipton Onion Soup Mix, 1-2 Cubes of Bouillon (if desired), 1 Cabbage Head. Directions: 1) Cut the vegetables into small pieces and cover with water, you can also use V-8 juice. 2) Boil the ingredients fast for 10 minutes. 3) Reduce to simmer and continue cooking the cabbage soup until all of the vegetables are tender. Season the cabbage soup to taste with salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, or whatever spice you want to add.
Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
The Secrets to Weight Loss After Pregnancy
The time right after the birth of a child can be quite challenging. While it is certainly a good idea to eat healthy, you’ll need to pace yourself as far as weight loss is concerned. Over time, you should be able to lose the weight you gained during your pregnancy. It’s a good idea to set weight-loss goals, but don’t go overboard.
Sarah is a pregnant mother of three who continues to breast-feed her 18-month-old. After each of her pregnancies, she has had difficulty losing weight. With all of her responsibilities, weight loss isn’t a priority. Still, she wishes that, once this pregnancy is over, she will be able to return to her pre-marriage weight.
The average woman gains more than 25 pounds during her pregnancy. The procedure of childbirth may result in a weight loss of up to 14 pounds, which means that new moms still have considerable weight to lose once they leave the hospital. However, some women simply assume that this “baby fat” will never go away. Yet, it is entirely possible to lose weight during the post-partum period.
A number of medical experts recommend easing into a weight loss program after the birth of your baby. This means that you will not start dieting until about three months following birth. You should combine a low-fat diet with moderate exercise in order to achieve weight loss.
Don’t expect instant results. It will take you a good nine months to get back to your weight prior to pregnancy. A go-slow approach is best because you need to give your body time to recover after childbirth. Certainly, you might be able to lose weight faster, but you might be sacrificing valuable nutrients as a result.
Interestingly enough, breastfeeding actually enhances weight loss. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has found that breastfeeding leads to the release of hormones which enable your uterus to return to its normal size. However, breastfeeding alone won’t bring down your weight. You need to combine it with a sensible diet and a moderate exercise program. Keep in mind that you need to have at least 1800 calories a day while breastfeeding in order to keep yourself and your baby healthy. Still, stay clear of junk food during this period. You should rely on food with high nutritional value to maintain the proper level of calories each day.
There are many good reasons to exercise during the post-partum period. In addition to helping to accelerate weight reduction, exercise can help alleviate post-partum depression, improve your mood, and boost your confidence. Exercise can also “clear your head” so that you’re better able to meet the demands of motherhood. You might consider joining a “Mommy and Me” exercise class so that your baby can exercise right along with you. Another helpful hint is to enlist the help of a friend or relative to act as your exercise buddy so that you’ll have some emotional support while exercising. An added bonus of exercise is that it should boost your energy level, which is quite important when battling the fatigue which comes from caring for a newborn.
Your diet should generally be low-fat but not fat-free; vitamin rich; and high-fiber. Under no circumstances should you go on a fad diet. Such a diet could be quite harmful to your health and could actually slow your recovery from childbirth. It’s a good idea to set weight-loss goals, but don’t go overboard. Recognize that there’s a limit to the amount of weight you can lose during a given period of time.
You may see a number of actress-moms gracing the covers of magazines shortly after the birth of their children. They appear svelte and elegant, totally devoid of baby fat. In the accompanying article, they may even talk about exercising right after childbirth. Such articles send new mothers a dangerous message: that you must do all you can to become thin as quickly as possible after your baby is born. Such a philosophy is not only ridiculous, it’s also unhealthy. As a result, you’ll need to “tune out” such messages from the media and stay the course with your own gradual weight loss plan.
The time right after the birth of a child can be quite challenging, taxing both your physical and emotional strength. While it is certainly a good idea to eat healthy, you’ll need to pace yourself as far as weight loss is concerned. Over time, you should be able to lose the weight you gained during your pregnancy. In fact, you might find that you’re actually healthier after your baby is born. Weightloss Diettips
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Sarah is a pregnant mother of three who continues to breast-feed her 18-month-old. After each of her pregnancies, she has had difficulty losing weight. With all of her responsibilities, weight loss isn’t a priority. Still, she wishes that, once this pregnancy is over, she will be able to return to her pre-marriage weight.
The average woman gains more than 25 pounds during her pregnancy. The procedure of childbirth may result in a weight loss of up to 14 pounds, which means that new moms still have considerable weight to lose once they leave the hospital. However, some women simply assume that this “baby fat” will never go away. Yet, it is entirely possible to lose weight during the post-partum period.
A number of medical experts recommend easing into a weight loss program after the birth of your baby. This means that you will not start dieting until about three months following birth. You should combine a low-fat diet with moderate exercise in order to achieve weight loss.
Don’t expect instant results. It will take you a good nine months to get back to your weight prior to pregnancy. A go-slow approach is best because you need to give your body time to recover after childbirth. Certainly, you might be able to lose weight faster, but you might be sacrificing valuable nutrients as a result.
Interestingly enough, breastfeeding actually enhances weight loss. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has found that breastfeeding leads to the release of hormones which enable your uterus to return to its normal size. However, breastfeeding alone won’t bring down your weight. You need to combine it with a sensible diet and a moderate exercise program. Keep in mind that you need to have at least 1800 calories a day while breastfeeding in order to keep yourself and your baby healthy. Still, stay clear of junk food during this period. You should rely on food with high nutritional value to maintain the proper level of calories each day.
There are many good reasons to exercise during the post-partum period. In addition to helping to accelerate weight reduction, exercise can help alleviate post-partum depression, improve your mood, and boost your confidence. Exercise can also “clear your head” so that you’re better able to meet the demands of motherhood. You might consider joining a “Mommy and Me” exercise class so that your baby can exercise right along with you. Another helpful hint is to enlist the help of a friend or relative to act as your exercise buddy so that you’ll have some emotional support while exercising. An added bonus of exercise is that it should boost your energy level, which is quite important when battling the fatigue which comes from caring for a newborn.
Your diet should generally be low-fat but not fat-free; vitamin rich; and high-fiber. Under no circumstances should you go on a fad diet. Such a diet could be quite harmful to your health and could actually slow your recovery from childbirth. It’s a good idea to set weight-loss goals, but don’t go overboard. Recognize that there’s a limit to the amount of weight you can lose during a given period of time.
You may see a number of actress-moms gracing the covers of magazines shortly after the birth of their children. They appear svelte and elegant, totally devoid of baby fat. In the accompanying article, they may even talk about exercising right after childbirth. Such articles send new mothers a dangerous message: that you must do all you can to become thin as quickly as possible after your baby is born. Such a philosophy is not only ridiculous, it’s also unhealthy. As a result, you’ll need to “tune out” such messages from the media and stay the course with your own gradual weight loss plan.
The time right after the birth of a child can be quite challenging, taxing both your physical and emotional strength. While it is certainly a good idea to eat healthy, you’ll need to pace yourself as far as weight loss is concerned. Over time, you should be able to lose the weight you gained during your pregnancy. In fact, you might find that you’re actually healthier after your baby is born. Weightloss Diettips
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Five Quick Ways to Start Losing Weight Fast
Some people find it hard to stick to diets and consistently fail to lose weight. They try nearly every kind of new dieting idea that comes along hoping that one of them would finally work, but the miracle never happens. Naturally, these people tend to overlook their own mistakes and fail to understand what prevents them from losing weight. The human brain displays a remarkable ability of ignoring the things it does not want to face, so it's not hard to understand why some people eat all manner of things and still claim they haven't touched anything but salad for a whole week.
But there are ways of working around these problems and if you don't want to become one of these people, then you should stick to these pointers. Their purpose is to make eating a conscious act in order to avoid giving in to compulsions and temptations. The easiest thing to do is to carry around a notebook and a pen and to write down everything you eat. And I mean every little thing. Have you finished that half a slice of pizza that your partner couldn't eat anymore? Write it down. At the end of the day look over the list and you'll be surprised at how many things you actually eat on a regular basis.
Since eating and drinking are, for the most part, acts that bypass rational thinking you should try to bring them out of the twilight zone. So every time you reach out for a drink or some food, stop and ask yourself "Why am I doing this?". You may be thirsty, hungry, bored, lonely, depressed, tired or stressed, but out of this list of reasons only thirst and hunger are legitimate. Put the bottle down if you're not thirsty. Put the food back on the shelf or on the table if you're not hungry. Do you crave sweets because you're tired? Get some sleep instead. Do you feel the need to eat because you're lonely and depressed? Go to the cinema or visit a friend. Read a book, watch a movie or listen to some music. There are options.
Never starve yourself. This is one of the big mistakes in dieting. Unless you have enough willpower to qualify for Nietzsche's Overman status you will break down sooner or later and eat the first thing that you can get your hands on. Such as snacks or fast food. Starvation also makes the body go into power save mode by limiting your energy levels and hanging on to the existing fat. The body makes no difference between dieting and actual starvation and will behave as if in danger. Therefore you must eat three meals a day, plus snacks consisting of fruit and vegetables. This is the best way to lose weight.
Don't try to banish your favorite foods completely because you will only sap your own willingness to stick to a diet. The key to dieting is moderation, not denial. Do you like ice cream? Well, have a couple of spoonfuls of ice cream every Sunday. Take a break from whatever it is you're doing and enjoy this special treat. Don't feel like you're cheating on the diet and keep any guilt pangs away. You're just dieting, not preparing for admission to a convent or monastery. So have a bit of forbidden food every five days or so and enjoy the moment.
And, of course, you must exercise. If you're not used to exercising and are a bit scared of all the effort and sweating, then start small. There's no need to rush into hour-long training sessions. Five minutes per day will do for starters. Get a treadmill and a pair of dumbbells and make your own schedule. Two minutes and a half of running and two minutes and half of curls. Every week increase the time spent exercising by another five minutes and add new exercises. Your goal should be to spend at least 30 minutes every day working out your body. Sixty minutes is even better, but it will come in time. It's OK to start small.
But there are ways of working around these problems and if you don't want to become one of these people, then you should stick to these pointers. Their purpose is to make eating a conscious act in order to avoid giving in to compulsions and temptations. The easiest thing to do is to carry around a notebook and a pen and to write down everything you eat. And I mean every little thing. Have you finished that half a slice of pizza that your partner couldn't eat anymore? Write it down. At the end of the day look over the list and you'll be surprised at how many things you actually eat on a regular basis.
Since eating and drinking are, for the most part, acts that bypass rational thinking you should try to bring them out of the twilight zone. So every time you reach out for a drink or some food, stop and ask yourself "Why am I doing this?". You may be thirsty, hungry, bored, lonely, depressed, tired or stressed, but out of this list of reasons only thirst and hunger are legitimate. Put the bottle down if you're not thirsty. Put the food back on the shelf or on the table if you're not hungry. Do you crave sweets because you're tired? Get some sleep instead. Do you feel the need to eat because you're lonely and depressed? Go to the cinema or visit a friend. Read a book, watch a movie or listen to some music. There are options.
Never starve yourself. This is one of the big mistakes in dieting. Unless you have enough willpower to qualify for Nietzsche's Overman status you will break down sooner or later and eat the first thing that you can get your hands on. Such as snacks or fast food. Starvation also makes the body go into power save mode by limiting your energy levels and hanging on to the existing fat. The body makes no difference between dieting and actual starvation and will behave as if in danger. Therefore you must eat three meals a day, plus snacks consisting of fruit and vegetables. This is the best way to lose weight.
Don't try to banish your favorite foods completely because you will only sap your own willingness to stick to a diet. The key to dieting is moderation, not denial. Do you like ice cream? Well, have a couple of spoonfuls of ice cream every Sunday. Take a break from whatever it is you're doing and enjoy this special treat. Don't feel like you're cheating on the diet and keep any guilt pangs away. You're just dieting, not preparing for admission to a convent or monastery. So have a bit of forbidden food every five days or so and enjoy the moment.
And, of course, you must exercise. If you're not used to exercising and are a bit scared of all the effort and sweating, then start small. There's no need to rush into hour-long training sessions. Five minutes per day will do for starters. Get a treadmill and a pair of dumbbells and make your own schedule. Two minutes and a half of running and two minutes and half of curls. Every week increase the time spent exercising by another five minutes and add new exercises. Your goal should be to spend at least 30 minutes every day working out your body. Sixty minutes is even better, but it will come in time. It's OK to start small.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
What is Cabbage Soup Diet?
I often hang out in online weight loss and fitness forums, reading and answering questions. On of the the questions that I answer most is "What is the Cabbage Soup Diet?".
Some of the common questions about this diet are: Is there really a Cabbage Soup Diet? Is the Cabbage Soup diet healthy? Does it really work? How long can I be on it?
Since there are so many questions surrounding this diet, I have decided to put together this article which will not only answer a few of your questions but will also give you instructions on how to prepare and cook the ever puzzling Cabbage Soup. The you can decide for yourself if you would like to try this diet to shed a few pounds.
The Cabbage Soup diet only lasts 7 days and is quite filling even then, during the seven days you might find yourself a bit irritable, your stomach and digestive system may produce an abundance of gas and you may feel possibly a little light headed. If you have a tendancy to get gas from vegetables or especially cabbage, I suggest that you purchase an anti-gas product such as Beano, otherwise you might find yourself feeling uncomfortably full and bloated and you may find yourself without friends for a few days, due to full blown flatulance.
If you stick to the Cabbage Soup diet for the full 7 days you will find youself losing weight after the second to third day. Remember that this will be water weight and not actual fat. By the sixth day (if you make it that long on this diet) you wil start to see real fat loss.
As with other fad diets, the Cabbage Soup diet works because the meals ar so boring that you only eat when actually hungry. You really won't be tempted have this soup as a mid-night snack. The Cabbage Soup diet also works becuse even though your calorie consumption is very low, this diet is full of fiber which keeps your metabolism rate up, and also keeps you feeling fairly full most of the day.
Now that we have discussed briefly a little about the Cabbage Soup diet, let's get into the actual preparation and cooking for your seven day diet.
Your shopping list:
1 -container of mushroons which is approximately 12-16 ounces
1/2 of a large head of cabbage or 1 small head. You may use red or green cabbage
1 -bunch of celery or 2 bunches of celery hearts
2 -medium sized green peppers, or you may use 1 red and 1 -green pepper
6 -large onions
3 -average sized carrots
1-2 cans of diced,whole or chopped tomatoes
1 -package onion flavor dry soup mix such as Lipton
12 cups of water
Optional ingredients:
1 -48 ounce can of V8 or other tomato juice brand
Bouillon, beef stock, salt, pepper or fresh herbs for a more satisfying taste.
Soup Preparation:
Using a large stock pot, first spray with a non-stick coating such as Pam then add your water. If you have decided to also add tomato juice, you may want to use only 6-8 cups of water instead of the full 12 cups. If using, add your tomato juice now.
Once you slice or chop your vegatables add them to your stock pot.
Chop your cabbage into bite sized pieces, removing any wilted or brown edged outer layer leaves. You may also want to chop the cabbage center into smaller pieces or discard the hard center.
Wash your celery, chop into 1/4 inch slices and add to the pot.
Slice or dice your peppers. Remember to discard the seeds and any white membrane that may be inside the peppers.
Cut your mushrooms into nice thick pieces as they cook quickly and will shrink while cooking.
Scrub, but do not peel your carrots, then chop them into nice bite sized pieces.
Cooking:
Once all of your ingredients have been added place your stock pot over a high heat until it starts to boil. Once it reaches the boiling temperature reduce the heat to a simmer, and simmer for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until all of your vegetables are tender.
During the last hour of cooking add your bouliion, herbs and spices to taste. Remember that herbs and spices add flavor, not calories so let your imagination run wild.
The Diet:
Now that your soup is cooked it's time to start the day as directed below.
Day 1
On day one you may have all of the Cabbage Soup that you like, along with as much fruit as you like and sugar free jello. However, you may not have any bananas. Also avoid any caffeinated drinks. Be sure to drink plenty of water and along with water you may have sugar free juices or decaffeinated tea or coffee.
Day 2
Today, along with your soup you are allowed as many vegetables as you like, but avoid corn, peas or beans. The best way to prepare the vegetables is to steam them, but if you don't have a steamer you may microwave, or stove cook. You may have as much vegetables as you like as long as you do not add any butter or sauces. You may not have any fruit or fruit juices today. As a snack, have a large baked potato, again without butter or sauces.
Day 3
Today in addition to your soup you may have as much fruit and vegetables as you like, but you may not have any potatoes. Remember to drink, drink, drink water all day long while you are on this diet.
Day 4
Ok, are you still with me or have you given up by now?
Today, in addition to your soup, water, decaffeinated drinks and sugar free jello you may have as many bananas as you like, trying not to have more than 8.
No fruit or vegetables today.
Day 5
Just when you thought that you couldn't make it this far, we add meat. You may have up to 20 ounces of lean meat, cooked without fat or sauces or skinless chicken. You should also have tomatoes (up to 8). The tomatoes will make your body very acidic, so you must drink a minimum of 8 full glasses of water during the day. Be sure to always spread your water out during the day and don't guzzle it-sip it.
Day 6
We're almost there.
Today's a good food day. Along with your soup you will have as much vegetables (no potatoes) as you like and up to 20 ounces of lean meat or skinless chicken.
Day 7
WooHoo, your last day.
Today in addition to your last bit of soup, you will be eating brown rice and unsweetened fruit jiuces. You may eat of of the brown rice that you like, but you may not have any white rice,long grain or wild rice.
Day 8
Today is the day that you weight yourself to see how much weight you have lost.
A few things that you should know about the Cabbage Soup diet:
1. Before starting this diet you should consult with your health care professional to see if it is safe for you to go on this diet. He/she may also want you to check in with their office while you are on this diet.
Although, for a perfectly healthy person this diet is fine to be on for 7 days, you may have an underlying health issue that would prohibit it's use.
2. This diet will give you a quick boost to your weight loss goals, but it did not train you to eat properly. You still must learn to eat less and to rely on healthy foods not junk food.
3. There are different variations of this diet circulating. I suggest that you check out a few since you might learns some tips here and there.
4. Adding exercise will add to your burning of calories and fat, but if you feel tired don't push yourself.
In ending, I want you to remember that fad diets may be ok, for just a few days, but never, ever go on any fad diet longer than one week. In doing so you may cause long term damage to your body. A healthy body looks so much better than one that has been on countless fad diets.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Some of the common questions about this diet are: Is there really a Cabbage Soup Diet? Is the Cabbage Soup diet healthy? Does it really work? How long can I be on it?
Since there are so many questions surrounding this diet, I have decided to put together this article which will not only answer a few of your questions but will also give you instructions on how to prepare and cook the ever puzzling Cabbage Soup. The you can decide for yourself if you would like to try this diet to shed a few pounds.
The Cabbage Soup diet only lasts 7 days and is quite filling even then, during the seven days you might find yourself a bit irritable, your stomach and digestive system may produce an abundance of gas and you may feel possibly a little light headed. If you have a tendancy to get gas from vegetables or especially cabbage, I suggest that you purchase an anti-gas product such as Beano, otherwise you might find yourself feeling uncomfortably full and bloated and you may find yourself without friends for a few days, due to full blown flatulance.
If you stick to the Cabbage Soup diet for the full 7 days you will find youself losing weight after the second to third day. Remember that this will be water weight and not actual fat. By the sixth day (if you make it that long on this diet) you wil start to see real fat loss.
As with other fad diets, the Cabbage Soup diet works because the meals ar so boring that you only eat when actually hungry. You really won't be tempted have this soup as a mid-night snack. The Cabbage Soup diet also works becuse even though your calorie consumption is very low, this diet is full of fiber which keeps your metabolism rate up, and also keeps you feeling fairly full most of the day.
Now that we have discussed briefly a little about the Cabbage Soup diet, let's get into the actual preparation and cooking for your seven day diet.
Your shopping list:
1 -container of mushroons which is approximately 12-16 ounces
1/2 of a large head of cabbage or 1 small head. You may use red or green cabbage
1 -bunch of celery or 2 bunches of celery hearts
2 -medium sized green peppers, or you may use 1 red and 1 -green pepper
6 -large onions
3 -average sized carrots
1-2 cans of diced,whole or chopped tomatoes
1 -package onion flavor dry soup mix such as Lipton
12 cups of water
Optional ingredients:
1 -48 ounce can of V8 or other tomato juice brand
Bouillon, beef stock, salt, pepper or fresh herbs for a more satisfying taste.
Soup Preparation:
Using a large stock pot, first spray with a non-stick coating such as Pam then add your water. If you have decided to also add tomato juice, you may want to use only 6-8 cups of water instead of the full 12 cups. If using, add your tomato juice now.
Once you slice or chop your vegatables add them to your stock pot.
Chop your cabbage into bite sized pieces, removing any wilted or brown edged outer layer leaves. You may also want to chop the cabbage center into smaller pieces or discard the hard center.
Wash your celery, chop into 1/4 inch slices and add to the pot.
Slice or dice your peppers. Remember to discard the seeds and any white membrane that may be inside the peppers.
Cut your mushrooms into nice thick pieces as they cook quickly and will shrink while cooking.
Scrub, but do not peel your carrots, then chop them into nice bite sized pieces.
Cooking:
Once all of your ingredients have been added place your stock pot over a high heat until it starts to boil. Once it reaches the boiling temperature reduce the heat to a simmer, and simmer for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until all of your vegetables are tender.
During the last hour of cooking add your bouliion, herbs and spices to taste. Remember that herbs and spices add flavor, not calories so let your imagination run wild.
The Diet:
Now that your soup is cooked it's time to start the day as directed below.
Day 1
On day one you may have all of the Cabbage Soup that you like, along with as much fruit as you like and sugar free jello. However, you may not have any bananas. Also avoid any caffeinated drinks. Be sure to drink plenty of water and along with water you may have sugar free juices or decaffeinated tea or coffee.
Day 2
Today, along with your soup you are allowed as many vegetables as you like, but avoid corn, peas or beans. The best way to prepare the vegetables is to steam them, but if you don't have a steamer you may microwave, or stove cook. You may have as much vegetables as you like as long as you do not add any butter or sauces. You may not have any fruit or fruit juices today. As a snack, have a large baked potato, again without butter or sauces.
Day 3
Today in addition to your soup you may have as much fruit and vegetables as you like, but you may not have any potatoes. Remember to drink, drink, drink water all day long while you are on this diet.
Day 4
Ok, are you still with me or have you given up by now?
Today, in addition to your soup, water, decaffeinated drinks and sugar free jello you may have as many bananas as you like, trying not to have more than 8.
No fruit or vegetables today.
Day 5
Just when you thought that you couldn't make it this far, we add meat. You may have up to 20 ounces of lean meat, cooked without fat or sauces or skinless chicken. You should also have tomatoes (up to 8). The tomatoes will make your body very acidic, so you must drink a minimum of 8 full glasses of water during the day. Be sure to always spread your water out during the day and don't guzzle it-sip it.
Day 6
We're almost there.
Today's a good food day. Along with your soup you will have as much vegetables (no potatoes) as you like and up to 20 ounces of lean meat or skinless chicken.
Day 7
WooHoo, your last day.
Today in addition to your last bit of soup, you will be eating brown rice and unsweetened fruit jiuces. You may eat of of the brown rice that you like, but you may not have any white rice,long grain or wild rice.
Day 8
Today is the day that you weight yourself to see how much weight you have lost.
A few things that you should know about the Cabbage Soup diet:
1. Before starting this diet you should consult with your health care professional to see if it is safe for you to go on this diet. He/she may also want you to check in with their office while you are on this diet.
Although, for a perfectly healthy person this diet is fine to be on for 7 days, you may have an underlying health issue that would prohibit it's use.
2. This diet will give you a quick boost to your weight loss goals, but it did not train you to eat properly. You still must learn to eat less and to rely on healthy foods not junk food.
3. There are different variations of this diet circulating. I suggest that you check out a few since you might learns some tips here and there.
4. Adding exercise will add to your burning of calories and fat, but if you feel tired don't push yourself.
In ending, I want you to remember that fad diets may be ok, for just a few days, but never, ever go on any fad diet longer than one week. In doing so you may cause long term damage to your body. A healthy body looks so much better than one that has been on countless fad diets.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
When Selecting Your Dietary Supplements, Watch Out For These 3 Key 'Bad Boys'
Sometimes we all need a little extra push in the right direction. Even when carrying out a weight loss plan of consistent exercise and a healthy diet, an extra aid may be that extra boost we're looking for. Dietary supplements can offer a leg up. Supplements can, in conjunction with your other efforts to lose weight, assist in reducing appetite, burning fat and carbohydrates, and supplying you with extra vitamins for energy and effective weight control. However, when searching for the best dietary supplement for you, there are a few things that should be considered.
Not all weight loss supplements are necessarily effective, and certainly not all are healthy and safe. There are 3 key things that are especially important to watch out for when selecting a dietary supplement.
1.) Ephedra is Extra Bad - In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements. Also known as ma huang, the Chinese name, ephedra became a particularly concerning substance in the late 1990s with serious complaints of adverse side effects and even several deaths attributed to use of the substance. It functions as a stimulant (stimulants are known to suppress appetite), and has been proven to lead to short-term weight loss, but it is highly unlikely to yield long-term benefits. Even though ephedra is outlawed by the federal government, it still exists in prescription drugs and as ma huang, and could even be found in some less-known dietary supplements. Better to stay away from it.
2.) Caffeine is Lousy - Caffeine is what starts at least a good half of our nation out in the day, and as a standalone substance is not bad. But relying on caffeine to suppress appetite is an ineffectual and unhealthy way to approach weight loss. We all might have our cup or two of coffee in the morning, which won't hurt us at all. But start taking a dietary supplement which has at least the equivalent amount of caffeine as those two cups, and we double our daily intake of caffeine. High dosages of caffeine are potentially dangerous. A sustained level of excessive caffeine intake can lead beyond just extreme urination: diarrhea, high blood pressure, and addiction aren't the best places to look to lose weight. So, keep drinking your cup of coffee, and look for a caffeine-free dietary supplement.
3.) Dietary supplements just plain aren't for everybody - Some individuals will react better to dietary supplements than others. Certain chemicals or unique herbs may respond negatively to other substances already present in a person's system. If you are taking medication, or have diabetes, it would be wise to consult your physician before deciding on a dietary supplement. In fact, it may be best to consult your doctor when you choose a dietary supplement anyway - he or she may have a suggestion that they feel might work especially well for you.
Not all dietary supplements are bad. In fact, there are a lot of good ones out there - ones that are safe, effective, and will work for you and your unique system. Keep these three guidelines in mind, and you may just be able to get an extra boost to send you on your way to looking and feeling great.
source : slimstuff.com
Not all weight loss supplements are necessarily effective, and certainly not all are healthy and safe. There are 3 key things that are especially important to watch out for when selecting a dietary supplement.
1.) Ephedra is Extra Bad - In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements. Also known as ma huang, the Chinese name, ephedra became a particularly concerning substance in the late 1990s with serious complaints of adverse side effects and even several deaths attributed to use of the substance. It functions as a stimulant (stimulants are known to suppress appetite), and has been proven to lead to short-term weight loss, but it is highly unlikely to yield long-term benefits. Even though ephedra is outlawed by the federal government, it still exists in prescription drugs and as ma huang, and could even be found in some less-known dietary supplements. Better to stay away from it.
2.) Caffeine is Lousy - Caffeine is what starts at least a good half of our nation out in the day, and as a standalone substance is not bad. But relying on caffeine to suppress appetite is an ineffectual and unhealthy way to approach weight loss. We all might have our cup or two of coffee in the morning, which won't hurt us at all. But start taking a dietary supplement which has at least the equivalent amount of caffeine as those two cups, and we double our daily intake of caffeine. High dosages of caffeine are potentially dangerous. A sustained level of excessive caffeine intake can lead beyond just extreme urination: diarrhea, high blood pressure, and addiction aren't the best places to look to lose weight. So, keep drinking your cup of coffee, and look for a caffeine-free dietary supplement.
3.) Dietary supplements just plain aren't for everybody - Some individuals will react better to dietary supplements than others. Certain chemicals or unique herbs may respond negatively to other substances already present in a person's system. If you are taking medication, or have diabetes, it would be wise to consult your physician before deciding on a dietary supplement. In fact, it may be best to consult your doctor when you choose a dietary supplement anyway - he or she may have a suggestion that they feel might work especially well for you.
Not all dietary supplements are bad. In fact, there are a lot of good ones out there - ones that are safe, effective, and will work for you and your unique system. Keep these three guidelines in mind, and you may just be able to get an extra boost to send you on your way to looking and feeling great.
source : slimstuff.com
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