Friday, January 29, 2010

Need to Burn Fat?

Here is a simple way to get rid of unwanted body fat. Cut your carbs. It’s not about a miracle drug or pill. It is about eating right.  With this simple diet change you will notice a huge change in the way you look. You will shed pounds of body fat in less time than you thought possible.

The reason eating less carbohydrates promotes fat loss is because carbs are your body’s main energy source. So when your carbohydrate intake is lower than normal, your body is forced to burn the fat that is on your body as fuel. When the fat is burned your overall body fat is lowered. If you keep your carb intake lower than normal for any length of time your body fat will drop dramatically. Combine this with exercise and you will be able to hit your weight and fat loss goals in no time.

The best way to keep you carbohydrates low is to centralize your diet around protein and vegetables. The foods you want to cut down on are potatoes of all kinds, pastas, breads, rice, sweets, and even fruits. These foods can still be consumed in lesser amounts and it is unhealthy to cut them out completely (other than sweets). For example, if you enjoy a lot of pasta and you normally eat it for dinner every evening, try eating it every other evening instead. If your going to eat fruit, it should be consumed in the morning to help jump start your metabolism. And try to avoid eating carbs late because they will just store as fat on your body.

Another part of your diet change should include switching to whole grains and other brown starches for when you do consume your carbohydrates. This means whole grain pastas, brown rice, sweet potatoes, and whole wheat breads. These whole grains and starches break down in your body slower than simple carbohydrates and therefore give you a longer window to burn off the carbs as energy rather than letting it store as fat. So when compared to simple carbohydrates whole grains are much healthier and better for a fat loss diet for this reason.

Cutting down on your carbohydrate intake will help your body burn stored fat as fuel and will therefore reduce your body fat. Some people find cutting carbs easier than others but I assure you the results are the same for everyone. You WILL lose body fat if you can stick to a low carb diet. Throw in some regular exercise and you will be looking great in no time.

[Via http://jjsarge.wordpress.com]

Exercise Equipment

Keeping a healthy body requires more than just the usual eating and dietary program that ensures a fit and fabulous figure inside and out. It must be basically accompanied with a great exercise regimen to have a finely tuned and well-sculpted body. In most cases, exercising does not only consist of jogging and sit-ups. There are more complex and advanced programs that definitely requires you fitness equipment to materialize your plan for a healthy-looking and holistically fit figure.

Choosing the Right Fitness Equipment:

  • One of the most important things to bear in mind is the quality of the equipment you are going to invest on.
  • Make sure that you get the proper equipment since it is a great investment you can venture into especially when taking care of your physical health.
  • A good material is something that can provide your desired result and without any hassles of breaking down or encountering any fixture issues along the way.
  • Purchasing an exercise equipment definitely requires the financial allocation you can definitely afford to spend on your choice. Most contemporary equipment range between 500 to 5000 dollars.

Hence you must guarantee your commitment to constantly keep up with your exercise program and routine so as to put your costly equipment in better and effective use. If you are planning to have a long-term workout program, then it is much better to invest on fully equipped home gym equipment to have a wide array of workout routine to cater to your objectives and goals.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Fitness-Equipment-to-Make-You-Fit-and-Fabulous&id=3655630

[Via http://physicalfitnessequipment.wordpress.com]

Lose Weight Through Successful Weight Loss Programs

Too much body fat is an escalating worry, and most of today’s weight loss programs fail. These days’ demanding schedules keep dieters too busy to eat right or look after fitness. They have too much pressure and too little sleep.

Be incredibly specific when planning these weight loss goals to set yourself up for success. These objectives should not be vague. If you want to lose a specific amount of weight a week, one goal may be not to eat too much every day.

Physicians predict that the possibility of cardiac illness and diabetes increases for those who have too much body fat. Hypertension is a common quandary, and it’s a health condition that frequently causes stroke. Several health professionals teach that some cancers are attributable to obesity, and too much pressure on the joints forces hips and knees to wear out.

Experts teach five important factors for successful weight loss programs. Do you understand what they are?

First, appetite management plays a fundamental part in your ability to get into shape. Consider how difficult it is to sustain will power and say no to unhealthy food choices. A few drugs suppress appetite, but they have harmful side effects. Those who succeed can identify what foods will prolong a feeling of fullness that stays with them until the next meal.

But because many people don’t realize which foods can make that happen, they are affected by the next problem, which is a lack of energy. Those who are on fat-reduction diets know they need to exercise, but they are too drained. And they require knowledge about how fitness workouts will enable them to become more muscular, develop suppleness, or build strength.

Third, dieters often do not learn about weight loss supplement that will assure their progress. Products that include thermogenic fat burners, synephrine, or protein allow huge progress for even the average dieter.

Next, the alteration in a person’s daily diet-his usual ratio of fats to carbs to protein-causes an disruption in his fundamental biochemical state. This chemistry results in grumpiness, and dieters who are unhappy often want to binge to cheer themselves up. Those who know how to sustain their natural biochemical’s including endorphins or serotonin have a better opportunity to succeed with their weight loss programs.

The fifth problem also has to do with the dieter’s adjustment in what he ingests. Many people who are too fat consume too many starchy foods or fatty foods and not enough protein. They cut back on the carbs or fats, but they forget to increase their protein consumption. Consequently, they feel sluggish and lose the ability to focus. Many fitness gurus advise increased fat loss supplements to a dieter’s normal intake if he wants to remain sharp and maintain focus.

Weight loss programs work for dieters who gain knowledge about how to manage all five of these vital points. If you really want to lose weight, it’s your signal to concentrate on the big picture and make it all happen.

[Via http://lotsofarticles.wordpress.com]

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

I love him and I fugged it all up..

FIRST A RANT:

I swear that girl named Karma she is a batch! The ex and I have hung out with him everyday since Saturday. So you might be asking, “why are you sad?” Well it feels kind of weird picking up where we kind of left off with no TITLES.. I’m a title kind of girl.. I’m a serial monogamist…it just doesn’t FEEL right but yet it does. I’m happier when I’m around him, we laugh, we joke its just EASY..

Anyway, enough of my Carl Thomas ..Emotional self.. and back to telling you about my workouts.

__________________________________________

My workouts have been great! I’ve been getting in a good 60 minutes or more in the gym since Friday. I skipped Monday. I’ve been maintaining my calories and drinking all my water.

I’ve been at a calorie deficit the last few days as I only try to eat 1,200 calories a day which doesn’t always happen and I sometimes like yesterday end up at 900 calories and then work off around 700-800 in the gym. I’ve been trying to research around the effects of doing this. I’m not trying to lose any muscle just FAT. So I will see what the results come out to be on Saturday when I weigh-in. The weigh-in is not only for weight but bmi, water retention, fat on my limbs.. really all inclusive. It also tells me how much weight I am in muscle.

Today I ate:

Breakfast: Strawberry, Banana Smoothie: 448 cals

Snack: Apple: 70 cals

Lunch: Spicy Italian Sub 6 inch  ( I didn’t pack my lunch today because I was supposed to have a work meeting) : 550

Dinner: Havent had dinner yet but most likely I will eat the leftover pasta I made which is 329 calories a serving; I have included the recipe below:

Farfalle with Sausage, Cannellini Beans, and Kale

Use a vegetable peeler to shave fresh Parmesan cheese on top of this rustic pasta dish.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 3/4 cups pasta mixture and 2 teaspoons cheese)

Ingredients
  • 8  ounces  uncooked farfalle (bow tie pasta)
  • 1/4  cup  oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1 1/2  cups  chopped onion
  • 8  ounces  hot turkey Italian sausage
  • 6  garlic cloves, minced
  • 1  teaspoon  dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/4  teaspoon  crushed red pepper
  • 1  (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
  • 1  (16-ounce) package fresh kale
  • 1  (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1  ounce  shaved fresh Parmesan cheese (about 1/4 cup)
Preparation

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid; keep warm.

Drain tomatoes in a small sieve over a bowl, reserving 2 teaspoons oil; slice tomatoes. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sliced tomatoes, reserved 2 teaspoons tomato oil, onion, and sausage to pan; cook 10 minutes or until sausage is browned, stirring to crumble. Add garlic to pan; cook 1 minute. Add seasoning, pepper, and broth to pan. Stir in kale; cover and simmer 5 minutes or until kale is tender. Stir in pasta, reserved 1 cup cooking liquid, and beans.

Nutritional Information Calories: 329 (25% from fat) Fat: 9g (sat 2.2g,mono 3g,poly 2.3g) Protein: 18.7g Carbohydrate: 45.7g Fiber: 5g Cholesterol: 26mg Iron: 4mg Sodium: 669mg Calcium: 204mg

[Via http://blackfemmefatale.com]

Certified Organic Coffee Business Part 2

Javafit Coffee Business Opportunity

http://www.DietCoffee.org

The same chemicals (DDT for example) that have “”killed”" lakes and streams in coffee producing areas of Latin America and elsewhere, are still used by workers today, frequently without a basic understanding of the harm that they are doing to the environment, to themselves and to their families. The misuse of pesticides typically stems from the workers’ inability to interpret directions and warnings relating to these harmful chemicals.

Insufficient access to education has left them illiterate and at the mercy of compounds that cause respiratory arrest, cancer, birth defects and many other disabling and life threatening illnesses. In addition, workers are rarely outfitted with protective gear that might provide them with even a small measure of protection against these pollutants.

The use of toxic chemicals is not only hazardous to the workers and their families, but also to the environment that they rely on to sustain themselves. The use of harmful chemicals on locally-grown crops has a direct impact on their quality of life. Their land should provide them with food for their families, water for drinking and a playground for their children. Deforestation, soil erosion and habitat loss combined with agricultural chemical pollution leave behind an environment that is lifeless, polluted and barren.

http://www.OrganicDietCoffee.com

[Via http://organicdietcoffee.wordpress.com]

Weight Loss Issues - The Power Of Your Mind

In case you have ever experimented what the quick weight loss diet plan is, you surely know that you will not be able to provide your body with the gimmicks that it needs very often. The common picture, which is met among your friends and just among the people of your age, is the fact that you end up being much heavier and without any attractive shapes that would draw the attention of the majority of people of the opposite sex. However, there are still people who have managed to successfully overcome their problem and fight their fear of being unattractive and ugly. The most interesting fact is that this has become possible thanks to numerous innovations in the field of modern weight loss programs that are available these days both in the online and offline stores. In addition, these people have used the dieting and the exercising on the daily basis in order to improve the results and to accelerate the outcome. But you can choose whether the mental health is important or not essential for you. If the last one is valid, then you can use the strategies that are well-known for you and utilize during the long period in your life.

Power of your mind

Interestingly, believe it or not, but the truth is that your mindset has a direct influence on your weight loss plans in your life. Firstly, it is important to remember on the physical level that your brain is in charge of all processes and it controls everything that happens and can happen to your organism. Admittedly, the situation whether your body decides to burn this extra fat or, vice versa, accumulate it also depends on the signal and messages it gets from your brain. Moreover, all little choices that you make on the daily basis finally influence your weight loss process and everything that has the relation to it. It, actually, means that your food choices are directly influenced by your attitude, opinion and other changes you undergo during the day. Of course, you are more likely to think that you find yourself in such a situation by circumstances, as it is hard for you to realize that you are the only person who is guilty of your obesity and overweighting. So, we can make the logical conclusion that our brain is very powerful and can do everything with our body. That is why no weight loss can be considered successful and full without the understanding of the healthy factor in fat burning program.

To sum up, I am sure, if you manage to fulfill the principles connected with your brain and its processes, you will end up with the positive and hopeful results that will reflect in your shapes and appearance.

Have you heard that you can be heading in the absolutely wrong way with your weight loss plans. If you want to lose weight fast – then this weight loss info can really open your eyes.

[Via http://lotsofarticles.wordpress.com]

Monday, January 25, 2010

How far would you go?

So in my last entry I mentioned that my family has made comments about me being “addicted” to losing weight, but regardless of what anyone says, I’m not willing to do anything that will compromise my health. I make sure I eat healthy, drink lots of water, and exercise to get the calorie deficit going, but others aren’t willing to do that.  In my attempt to gain more of a “community” feel in the last stretch of my weight loss journey, I’ve joined some communities (Blogger, Tumblr, and Daily Burn to name a few) and the other day I came across something very disturbing. I was wandering through one of these communities and I found another person who seems to be interested in losing weight, but then I saw what she was willing to go through.  One of the sentences in the tagline was “borderline ED” and I didn’t realize how close to the truth that was.  This poor girl consumes very few calories every day, and seeing this made me reassess my situation and goals.  My ultimate goal is to be as healthy as possible.  Yes I want to be thin and look good, but I want to achieve that goal without sacrificing anything. I guess there’s really no point to this little journal entry other than to get my thoughts out there.  If my little sister, or anyone dear to me, wanted to lose weight through these extreme goals I’d panic and be very concerned over their health.  It disgusts and worries me that so many people think this is the only way to achieve their goals, there are better solutions out there!

[Via http://tlsfitjournal.wordpress.com]

Friday, January 22, 2010

Let's Try This Again...

I know it has been awhile…Between getting married (which is awesome!), the honeymoon in Whistler, and various other occurrences, I’ve failed to post anything on here.

So here we go.

Just a quick one today, geared towards those who insist on “detoxing” their bodies with ridiculous concoctions of maple syrup, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper in order to lose weight…

Put your “cleansing” drink down and read this instead.

Do You Need A Detox Diet?

Want to “detox”? Cleanse yourself from this…

As a side note, if you’re at the point in life where your liver needs “detoxifying”, I’m no doctor but I wouldn’t be counting on a lemon-pepper drink to save you…

[Via http://envisionedhealth.wordpress.com]

Organic Immune Stimulating Mushroom Coffee

Javafit Coffee Business Opportunity

http://www.DietCoffee.org

The Gandoderma mushroom has been used by Chinese and Japanese practitioners in medicine for centuries. It has been used to treat everything from asthma to sleeping disorders. It has been shrouded in mystery for more than a thousand years because of its rarity in the wild. And, until recently, no one really understood why it worked so well in treating such a wide range of ailments.

Over the last few decades more scientific research has been done to isolate the medicinal properties of this mushroom. What researchers have found is this:

Gandoderma mushrooms are a very healthy food source. They contain many healthful properties such as: polysaccharides, polypeptides, amino acids, ascorbic acid, and other free radical fighting vitamins and minerals. They have proven a valuable tool in fighting the damaging effects of cancer treatments, and have been beneficial in assisting other treatments for illnesses as well, as an immune system booster.

http://www.OrganicDietCoffee.org

[Via http://organicdietcoffee.wordpress.com]

Hiking to lose weight

Hiking to lose weight

Hiking is a great way to lose weight. It requires little specialised kit and there are suitable routes for all levels and abilities, not only that, it allows you to get outside, get fresh air and see lots of interesting wildlife and beautiful nature scenes, so you really can forget about the fact that  you’re burning off that Sunday roast.

If you’re a beginner, all you really need is a suitable pair of hiking boots or hiking shoes and you’re set to go. However, if you do want to invest in some outdoor clothing for regular hikes, you can do so with very little expense.

You can start off with a short walk and work your way up to more challenging and longer hikes. I’ve outlined some things you may want to consider to help you burn more calories when walking or hiking:

Wear a backpack to increase you calorie burn.

Carry things like water and maps – they’ll come in useful on your hike anyway. You’ll want to start light and build up the amount you can carry. Even carrying lighter weights increases the amount of calories you’re burning on your hike. Regatta do some great backpacks in various different sizes, so you should find something to suit you.

Vary your hikes

Varying your exercise helps to keep your body challenged. Try different trails and hiking for different amounts of time. Try to aim for different conditions, i.e. walking on sand, rock and dirt as well as incorporating some obstacles – hopping over rocks, climbing steps, dodging around things. As well as working different muscles, this will also keep you from getting board.

Climb up hills

Once you’re used to hiking, seek out trails that include hills. Hills tone your backside and legs and you’ll increase your weight loss with each step. Lean forward slightly and take small steps on the way up for a better workout.

Interval Training

Speed up for short periods of time for an interval workout. Try increasing your pace for 5 minutes at a time, followed by 5 minutes at normal pace or if you’re feeling particularly energetic you can try short bursts of jogging or running. Each time you go try to add another 5 minutes at a faster pace to your hike.

No Excuses

Buy a good pair of hiking boots or trail shoes. The right shoes can help prevent injuries keeping you from working out. For shorter hikes, a good pair of running shoes will do, but you’ll want hiking boots for longer ones. In the current freezing conditions of the UK, you might also be wise getting yourself some suitable outdoor clothing such as a good base layer and a good outdoor jacket – Regatta and Craghoppers both do some great coats which are relatively inexpensive and Helly Hansen do a great range of base layers.

Keep it regular

Hike several times a week or alternate with other activities. While a long hike on the weekends is a good start, to lose weight, you must workout more often. Aim for at least three hikes a week or include other activities into your week like biking, swimming, weight lifting or kayaking. It’s easier than you think to fit it into your weekly routine.

Make a holiday of it

Give yourself a healthy reward to keep you on the trail. Plan a hiking vacation in a place you’ve always wanted to visit, or choose a national park or forest to hike in. Not only do you have something to look forward to, but you’ll also continue you’re workouts while on vacation and meet lots of like minded people.

So why not go for it, like I said, you can start off small if you’re a beginner, and before you know it, it’ll be such a part of your life that you’ll be incorporating it into holidays and other social activities.

[Via http://outdoorlook.wordpress.com]

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Move Your Butt!

Research from a recent study conducted in Switzerland indicates that women who sit for long periods of time increase their risk of  metabolic disease by 26 percent.  And here’s the kicker – this was evident even if they regularly engage in a plan of moderate to vigorous exercise.  Yikes!  The scientists who performed this study recommend that, if you will be sitting for extended periods, you get up periodically and move your butt.  Walk up and down the stairs.  Take a walk around the block.  Just keep that metabolism in gear.

[Via http://everbeautiful.wordpress.com]

Can You Use A Guide For Losing 10 Pounds?

A huge number of us have attempted to lose 10, 20, 30, 100 pounds. No pun intended there. Let’s start with 10 pounds at a time because even a 10 pound loss will help your body against certain diseases. The motivation you will feel from just a measly 10 pound weight loss will be medicine for the psyche. Believe it or not for those with weight to lose it really isn’t all that difficult. There are several ways to accomplish this very difficult, but very doable task.

1. Tell Others You Are On a Diet

When you tell friends and family that you are on a diet is going to make them helpful towards your plight. There is no reason to not make your diet known to all. Doing so will help in your overall weight loss dream. When you let them know then you will be able to receive some morale support from them.

2. Stay Motivated

Staying Motivated will be an enormous key to a losing weight. Motivation will come from within, but remember that we let everyone know so they will help keep you motivated. You may hear things that may make you come down from that high you are feeling because of your weight loss because of some rude comment that you hear from a friend or family. Say the heck with them and keep going on your road to better health.

3. Drink Lots of Water

Water is essential for the body and it can help when you are attempting to lose weight. Water gets rid of toxins and it also helps to eliminate cravings. When you make that decision to lose weight and your eating routine changes then you will have cravings. Water will help you feel full and some of the cravings will subside. A glass of water can stop your cravings even if it is short lived. If you feel like you’re hungry when it is not time to eat then drink a nice cold glass of water and ride out the storm.

4. Buy a Quality Scale

Get a scale that you can trust to be accurate. At least it will show you your weight loss on that scale. Hopefully it is accurate so you don’t get that big punch in the face when the doctor’s scale tells you something different. That is a real non motivating moment when the scale at the clinic doesn’t match yours.  At least you know how much you lost because you used your scale at the beginning and it shows you your new leaner, meaner weight.

You can either opt for a simple weighing scale that only has the basic ability to tell you how much you weight or something that has extra options like weight logging and comparison programs. The latter type of weighing scale is very helpful in telling you just how you are developing through the diet.

Make a Habit of Weighing Yourself Everyday

Against the weight loss gurus’ wisdom, go ahead and weigh yourself every day. Put the scale where it will be in the way. That way you cannot avoid stepping on it. A lot of people will weigh themselves once a week and that is a good way for some or most. You are looking for a motivator or a kick in the …. Don’t forget a half a pound loss is a loss. A gain is also a gain and a way to re-think what you did wrong if anything at all. You won’t lose every day, just keep working at it.

[Via http://jettam1.wordpress.com]

DAY TWENTY FIVE: Servings Versus Portions...

People often get “portions” and “servings” confused but there is an important difference between the two. Many people think that a serving is the portion of food but the portion you serve could actually be 3 or 4 servings.

The “serving size” on a food label refers to the amount of that food usually eaten at one time but it is important to understand what determines serving sizes. The data comes from nationwide food consumption surveys. Foods that are measured in bulk, such as cereal or flour, are typically listed in grams or ounces or as numbers of cups, tablespoons, or teaspoons. Foods that are divided up to serve more than one person, such as pizza or cake, are listed in a fractional amount, such as ½ pizza or ¼ cake. Serving sizes for foods that come in “discrete units,” such as biscuits, are usually listed as “1 biscuit (30 grams)” or “2 slices bread (100 grams).”

No doubt you’ve read food labels and shook your head thinking, “There’s no way that just one biscuit is a serving size,” or “Who only eats one biscuit at any one time!” While these serving sizes can certainly seem unrealistic, it’s very important that you always look at the serving size on a Nutrition Facts label because all of the nutrients listed on that label, such as fat, carbohydrate, and sodium, are based on the serving size. If your portion is twice or three times as much as the serving size, the amount of carbohydrate (along with calories and fat) will double or triple.

When eating out, it is not hard to see that portion sizes have increased hugely over the years and now probably contain several servings of each food type present. The trend has also spilled over into supermarkets and food manufacturers where a chocolate bar is supersized and and an “individual” bag of crisps can easily feed more than one.

Research shows that people unintentionally consume more calories when faced with larger portions. This can mean significant excess calorie intake, especially when eating high-calorie foods. The good news is that there are lots of small things that you can do to take control. For example if you are eating out – determine the amount of food that ends up on your plate by sharing a main course with a friend.

For your task today, I want you to think of the food you have in your kitchen at the moment and consider some of these ideas to help you to win the servings versus portion war. A great way to change your “portion” size is to make your home a “portion friendly zone.”

Avoid buying sweets and biscuits as staples in the cupboard, only buy them when there is a specific occasion to eat them.

When you do buy the “naughty” foods, put them in an out of reach cupboard, out of your sight so you are not tempted.

This is especially important if you do a monthly or fortnightly bulk shop as you might have more of the food that you crave in moments of weakness.

When you have a spare half hour, chop up some vegetables for example celery, carrots, cucumber, or fruit, apples, bananas, grapes, and pears. If these are readily available you can eat them when you feel hungry as they are lower calorie foods and you can generally eat more of these within a serving size.

For some reason, the larger the package, the more people consume from it without realizing it. You can avoid this but dividing the contents of one large packet into several smaller containers to help avoid over-consumption.

When eating in – To minimize the temptation of second and third helpings, serve the food on individual plates, instead of putting the serving dishes on the table. Keeping the excess food out of reach may discourage overeating.

When eating or snacking in front of the TV, put the amount that you plan to eat into a bowl or container instead of eating straight from the package. It’s easy to overeat when your attention is focused on something else.

You may have been taught as a child that you could not eat between meals as it would “spoil your dinner”- Well, it’s time to forget that old rule. If you feel hungry between meals, eat a healthy snack, like a piece of fruit or small salad, to avoid overeating during your next meal. Be aware of large packages.

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[Via http://mymobileguruuk.wordpress.com]

Monday, January 18, 2010

Children & Teen Weight Loss & School Lunches

The School Lunch Program: Parents Surrender Control of the Children’s Food to The Federal Government and the School Boards

“The reason that children are currently too fat is, in part, because they used to be too thin”- The School Lunch Programs

School time, including going and coming home from school dominates a child or teen’s day. The control the parents have at home evaporates once the school bus leaves and does not return for eight or more hours. The after school hours become dangerous times for eating and drinking because of the fatigue and low blood sugar experienced by many children and teens. It is easy for the parent who is also fatigued and often overwhelmed to give the child one of the bad snacks that he has seen on television. Whether it’s the wrong school breakfast, bad school lunches and school sponsored vending machine the parents have relinquished control of the child and teen’s food and drinks not only to the school but to their 7 year old!

School lunches offered to your children may differ among school districts, areas of the country or whether the school is public or private. Some schools have only cafeterias and provide the standardized school lunches while other schools also have a la carte food items, fast food kiosks or even student stores. Comparing what large groups of children end up eating for lunch, reveals twice as much fat from cafeteria lunches compared to bag (lunches brought from home.) Total fat and calories are even greater when students buy meals on an a la carte basis because they often pick two, three or more items and often the “wrong” items.

Where School Lunch Programs Began:

Undernourished and malnourished families and children began to be widespread across the U.S. in the 1930’s. Draftees during World War II were regularly turned away because they were undernourished. Seeing this problem, President Harry S. Truman in 1946, pushed through the School Lunch Program, guaranteeing a hot lunch for every schoolchild who could not afford one. Thus began a plan that would contribute 60 years latter to the obesity epidemic we see today!

Changing School Lunch Programs:

The programs have changed over the years, adding free and reduced-cost breakfast during the 1960’s. The government is in the school-food-supply business, buying surplus products from farmers and sending it along to the schools. School lunches tend to exceed the national recommendations for fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and calories. While the quality has improved somewhat in recent years, fresh fruits and vegetables usually are lacking. A sample of 24 public middle schools in San Diego County, CA. found that almost 50% of students in a school that has a student store or a la carte facility bought mostly candy, cakes and cookies and significantly fewer servings of fruit, and vegetables.

Scoop of the School Lunch Program:

Here is the 2005 USDA Food and Nutrition’s Service presentation entitled “School Meal Program Performance: What Do We Know?

• 94,622 schools (90% of public schools) participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) which served 49 million students

• School cafeterias served 4.8 billion lunches.

• NSLP serves over 29 million lunches, 9 million breakfasts and 154 million after school snacks

• About half of all lunches and 3/4 of all breakfasts are served free.

Children from low-income families may receive more than half of their daily caloric intake for from these meals. Fresh fruits and vegetables are not common place at homes can be come a stable of school lunches. Nutrition education could give students the tools they need to make healthy choices regarding eating and physical activity.

Mindless School Lunches vs. Packing a Lunch from Home:

Children, teens and their parents can buy their lunch at school or bring it from home. The choice should depend upon which results in the children obtaining the right foods at lunch. The typical school lunch is often much higher in calories, carbs and fat than it should be. It means that the parent needs to look closely at the cafeteria lunch menus which in most school districts are available for a week or two ahead. Here is what to look for in the school lunch:

  • What to Eat: Sandwiches, subs, wraps, vegetables, fresh fruits, yogurts
  • What to Drink: water, low fat or no fat milk, zero calories, fruit flavored waters
  • What NOT to eat: fried foods, meat, pasta, pizza, rice or potatoes
  • What NOT to drink: whole milk, sugar filled juices, soft drinks, sport drinks

On the other hand a lunch prepared by the parents is not always automatically healthier than one bought at school. If parents pack cookies, cake or potato chips, that’s not a nutritious meal! But a packed lunch, if the parent does it right, does have a clear advantage. When you pack your children’s lunch, you know your children and teens are eating the “right foods” – stuff you know they like. Remember you are not around at lunch, so you must direct their food almost by remote control.

Talk to your child or teen:

Make sure what you send for lunch is what they like. Even better, take them shopping and listen to their input. Stock up on their favorite healthy foods, you can save some money and end up with a healthy child.

Here are some quick lunchbox tips:

• Easy to open small packs which children like. It needs to be made quick. Remember, lunch time may be no more than 15-20 minutes.

• Small children may not eat very much at one sitting. Think about packing appetizers instead of a large sandwich and whole banana. You can also include more choices if the quantity of each is smaller.

• Small foods are not only easier for children to handle, but they are more fun to eat. Cut sandwiches into smaller pieces, small sandwich buns, and fruits or vegetables in small bags. Don’t overwhelm the child with a large portion of anything.

• Some kids are content to eat the same thing day after day. It often can drive you crazy about the habits they get into. Don’t worry as long as the food is healthy

• Instead of making sandwiches, consider packing individual sandwich ingredients to let your child make their own sandwich at lunch, or eat the ingredients separately.

• Cereal bars can pack a lot of nutrition into a food kids love to eat.

High tech insulated lunch boxes and bags on the market that have built in food safety features: thermoses, a space to slip a pre frozen gel pack, even pockets for wet wipes

Children and teens need to make good choices at lunch:

Whether the better choices are accomplished by taking food from home or by careful selections from school cafeterias, it’s really unimportant. Parents need to understand they have little control of their child’s food from the time the school bus pulls away until 8 hours latter. School menus need to be reviewed constantly and the parent needs to watch the selections. If eating a school lunch, child needs to learn how to make the best selections from what is available.

[Via http://100caloriesecret.wordpress.com]

Best Budget Meal: Rotisserie Chicken

Indulge in this scrumptous meal and not worry about having spent too much money… Tantalise your tastebuds with this budget meal: Rotisserie Chicken.

Ingredients

  • 1 (3 pound) whole chicken
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1/4 tablespoon ground black pepper
Directions
  • Season the inside of the chicken with a pinch of salt. Place the chicken onto a rotisserie and set the grill…

Read more
http://www.sevafrica.com/modules/health/article.php?news_id=186

[Via http://sevafrica.wordpress.com]

Why I think Women tolerate pain better

I just came back from a jog and I wonder to myself as I look at my legs (I shave it…and I missed a spot!! Super embarassing) anyway yes, I was contemplating, and I really think women never had it easy.

Don’t believe me? Look at this.
1. Women are always accused when something goes wrong.
- King Henry VIII wanted a son but his queens kept giving birth to daughters. No matter how many times he tried conceiving a boy it is always a girl. In the end he persecuted Boelyn and Queen Elizabeth I. But isn’t it that the sperm determine the sex of the baby?

2. Shaving
OK back to the subject of shaving. Guys, I know you have to shave every single day but look at this. Surface area. Girls much larger okay… we have to shave/wax legs, armpits and worse…some who want to wear bikini, the you-know-where la..

3. Circumcision.
You know, the “potong” agenda. Well some guys prefer not to have a ‘glove’ around it and its for religious as well as hygienic reasons. There are radical practices in which female circumcision is performed. Unfortunately, a woman’s clitoris has much more blood vessels and much more receptors than a man’s penis gland. And there is no 4skin to cut. Another thing, during labour, the privates are also snipped to make sure the female does not have a distorted looking, vajeje.

4.Labour
The most painful natural human experience. Taadah…we win hands down already la.

5. Maintainance
we have to be much more high maintainance compared to guys in my opinion. enough said.
long hair la, eye bags-eye bag cream, weight-diet+ exercise, face-5 types of creams+cleanser+toner+moisturiser, legs-shave/wax+scar creams+concealer, the list never ends.

Guys= Hair Short, face-shave+ 1 cleanser+aftershave, Eggs/protein shakes+exercise- buffing up and of course, bathe la.<<

no 5 to me it’s a pain because I am bloody overweight and I have eyebags but luckily most of my pimples are gone…but still pain in the butt.

what do you think?

[Via http://highlightersandscalpels.wordpress.com]

Friday, January 15, 2010

A Diet that God Created...

Man vs. God in the Battle over Healthy Eating!

I am very happy to join the many who have adapted the Liberation Diet, not so much because it has helped me lose some pounds, but because it has awaken in me the tremendous importance in following a diet that God created and not the one that the food industry scientist wants us to follow so we can continue on the bandwagon of disease and making the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry very rich.

No thank you, since I’ve been drinking pure jersey raw milk, eating farm fresh eggs, pure bacon and raw honey, I have noticed a tremendous influx of energy that I haven’t felt since my childhood days.

No more fake food for me, from now on it is nature’s food for me.

Thank you Mr. Brown and God Bless you and your wife and children……..

George Nieves. Hammonton NJ-

Simply stated from a gentleman who “gets it”

Kevin Brown

[Via http://liberationwellnessblog.com]

Fair Trade Coffee The only Way to Go Organic and Ethical Part 2?

Javafit Coffee Business Opportunity

http://www.DietCoffee.org

For centuries people have been abusive toward each other. For centuries, people have been abusive toward the planet. The harsh damage that has been done in this time is ever so slowly be tended to by groups such as this. The elimination of slave wages and the promotion of fair wages can help create long term success in many regions.

The truth is, is that this is not a marketing ploy. For years, the Fair Trade Commission has been trying to make a difference in the way workers have been treated. They have been striving to help the small, private farms and villages make a profitable living. And the Commission has helped to educate farmers how to keep the land healthy and profitable for future crops, without any further damage to the land, water or animals that surround their growing fields. Fair trade coffee is part of this program and is marked with the Fair Trade symbol.

Are you a seasoned mlm pro? We have a brand new coffee business opportunity.

http://www.OrganicDietCoffee.org

[Via http://organicdietcoffee.wordpress.com]

Simple Tips For Quick Weight Loss

The most important thing to quickly loose your weight you have to choose a diet plan which will help you to loose your weight immediately and 20 pounds in a month.After deciding to loose weight every person have to find the best diet plan from which they can easily achieved their goal.

You have to find the best way which will guaranteed loose your weight up to 10 – 20 pounds in a month and for which there are simple and easiest tips for quick weight loss which are guaranteed and they can make your figure smart and fit.The best food to eat as much as you can is to make a habit of eating fruits and vegetables in the whole day. This will make you and your skin natural glow and will make you healthy internally first and then slim and smart externally. As much as you can cut off your food intake and try to make habit to eat less in different times not at once.

Mainly cut back of sugar intake so that it will balance your diet plan.This is the first and the main important tip to quick weight loss.Proteins are very beneficial for our body and also for our health. So the next basic step is to make your habit to increase the protein intake so that it can fill your body with proteins and will make you healthy. Drink as much water as you can make it your habit for every day you have to drink 10 glasses and it will burn your fats and turn the causes to carbohydrates as fuel. You can also take juices and shakes according to the following of guidelines but be assured to take those shakes which have no fats and then it increase your protein level in your body.

Without exercise it won’t be possible for anyone to make you fit and to loose your weight. You don’t have to make your self tired by doing exercise for the whole day. No this is the wrong way. Do exercise just 3 times in a week for an hour or make it your daily habit to do exercise for 20 – 25 minutes daily it will be very beneficial for you to do exercise daily for some time as it will burn your fats and calories and will make your figure in shape and will make you active and healthy.To loose your weight quickly in a simple and easiest way learn How to loose weight quickly tips from fast weight loss tips websites and you can make your self as good as you want by implementing simple quick weight loss tips.
It will make you slim in a month and now you don’t have to do exercise for the whole day and not to make your self stop from eating foods which you love to eat. Now stop thinking that dieting is a big torture for us. No it is wrong if you focus on This diet plan and take these tips seriously to achieve your goal.

Read useful advice in the sphere of internet marketing – please make sure to study this web page. The time has come when proper information is truly only one click of your mouse, use this chance.

[Via http://lotsofarticles.wordpress.com]

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The Fat Little Engine That Could (if he really wants to)

If you have been reading my posts lately you know about my post holiday freak out over weight gain. Have I lost it? Am I on the road to bigness? Will I ever fit into anything other than cargo pants? You know, the typical fat person’s lament when they haven’t been totally dealing with their laziness and eating issues in any constructive way.

Maybe I’m being a little glib about the severity of the issues but they are mine so I can be glib if I wanna.

Happily, after forcing myself to get into the pool and on to the Pilates reformer (not at the same time of course) I was thrilled to see a 3.5 pound drop in one week. YAY! That’s a dent in the damage.

At least that gave me a little boost to believe I haven’t lost it and exercise can still play a huge role in helping me get my weight where I want it. Diet plays a huge role too, but frankly I was a little lax in that area and I still eaked out a loss.

What I have to do is NOT “celebrate” when that happens. LOL.

Oh I lost some weight this week, these beers and chips won’t be too bad now.

Oy vey.

I also happened to receive my Bodybugg this week. I got it the day I weighed in.

The gizmo still sits in its shipping box. I bought it during my panic of I NEED SOMETHING TO HELP ME and after discovering I can still (somewhat) rely on myself  the Bodybugg has lost some of its allure.

We’ll see. With the 3 day weekend approaching I may just give in and see what all the fuss is about.

If I do you’ll be the first to know.

In the meantime I gotta get in that pool this afternoon if my recommitment is to continue on track. I am mentally ready. I just hope the old ladies and kids are gone by the time I get there. There is no way to swim laps in a crowded pool.

[Via http://thefatofnow.wordpress.com]

Do You Burn More Fat in Winter?

So, does weather help control how many calories you burn?

Yes and no. Both warmer and colder climates have positive and negative aspects when it comes to weight loss, particularly when it comes to certain seasonal behaviors that are crucial to maintaining an ideal body weight. Consider the fact that in warmer weather, people tend to be a little more active, and are more conscious of their bodies since they’re wearing less.

But that’s not even the whole story.

Most of the frustration regarding fat loss is caused by the fact that we’re actually battling with our body’s innate ability to protect itself. This is because one of the primary protective functions of our body is to maintain a temperature close to or equal to 98.6. The body has an extraordinarily complex set of procedures to accomplish this goal, particularly by controlling the body’s metabolism.

Fat plays three major roles in regards to the metabolism:

• Fat is the preferred fuel source used for body temperature regulation.

• Fat is an insulator that helps retain heat in cold environments.

• Fat provides the whole body with a long term fuel source, which during extended cold spells, allowed our ancestors to survive and forage for food.

The metabolism slows down when it’s hot. The slower our metabolism gets, the less we use fat as a fuel source. But, as stated before, this is balanced by the idea that we tend to eat less and exercise more in warmer months.

On the flip side, the body’s ability to generate heat during cold times is done by increasing the metabolism. The metabolism requires a tremendous amount of fuel during this time and burns more fat.

So, yes, technically, colder weather does indeed help burn more fat!

[Via http://fromflabstoabs.wordpress.com]

Half way through the first week!

It’s going well so far! I haven’t gone off the diet and I am well prepared for another 2 weeks.

I got on the scale this morning and I was down to 13 stones. That’s 182lbs! Hopefully this will keep up for the rest of the week. 6lbs in 4 days is great! I’ve got 3 days left so would like to lose another 4lbs but I’m being very hopeful! I think the most I have ever lost in one week is about 7lbs so I’m almost there. If I lose 10lbs this week, I will have 11 weeks approx to lose the remainer. I think 40lbs in total would be good. I would have to lose just under 3lbs a week to reach that goal. That would eventually take me down to 9 stone 12lbs but I’m not sure that I need to go down that low. I think it is a good idea to aim low anyway so I’m focused for longer as I find that when I get closer to my target, I start to drift out of the zone.

I am determined to lose this weight for good. I want to look at my wedding photos and be really happy with myself. I want to wear a bikini and feel that I look good. I know you may think that it’s not possible to feel absolutely happy with your body but it is and I know. That is because I did feel like that only 4 years ago.

I keep thinking about how I will feel when I have lost the weight and I cannot wait. I can hardly believe that I let myself get into this position. I got up to over 220lbs! I absolutely hated myself and seeing people who last saw me when I was thin.

In 2006 I went to Ibiza with my friend and I was really small at the time. That wasn’t even very long ago. Now I just don’t feel comfortable in a bikini. Actually, that’s a lie. I do feel comfortable while I am there but when I see the photos I hate them. I love to have photos from a holiday where I actually like looking at them.

Luckily, in Jamaica, we are staying in a suite with a semi private pool. It basically means that we are only sharing with 3 other couples. To be honest, I know that people aren’t paying me any attention anyway so I shouldn’t really be bothered but you know you are anyway!

Anyhoo, onwards and downwards!

[Via http://catlewis.wordpress.com]

Monday, January 11, 2010

Loosing Weight at Taco Bell

When you think of healthy what do you think of?  Fruits? Vegetable? Taco Bell?  Yes, that was not a misprint, Taco Bell.  I saw this commercial on TV about a lady who ate at Taco Bell and lost weight, so I thought I would share it with you all.

Christine Dougherty ate at Taco Bell five to eight times a week and lost 54 pounds!  She was not eating gordita’s, chalupa’s, or burrito’s, she was eating from the “Fresco menu”.   This menu has seven taco’s, which range from 150 to 340 calories.

Christine would order from the “Fresco menu” instead of the other fast food choices.  She lost around two pounds a month for two years.  She cut 500 calories from her diet and took in around 1,250 a day.

We  have all seen different restaurants giving a healthier alternative such as Subway and even McDonald’s, but Taco Bell really surprised me.  Taco Bell is not giving a solution to weight loss or a miracle diet, they are just giving a healthier alternative.  I thought this story was really awesome because she stuck with the diet for two years.  The weight loss was not overnight, it took two years!   I think that Taco Bell made a good decision by making the “Fresco menu”, now people can still enjoy Taco Bell, but a more healthier style.

If you want to read the full story go to http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/01/05/taco.bell.diet/index.html

I have not tried any items off of the “Fresco menu”, I am curious to know how they taste, so feel free to let me know!

About Me: I’m one of the Healthcare Career Agents over at Clear Medical Agency and am also the editor of the Clear Nursing Matters blog.  I work with a lot of great nursing professionals, and find that many interesting topics come up.  This blog will be one way to share my experiences and funny stuff that comes up.  Feel free to email me at Steve@ClearMedicalSolutions.com and don’t forget to subscribe to the blog.  It will make it easier to stay in touch

[Via http://clearnursingmatters.wordpress.com]

Coffee, Weight Loss, Thermogenics And Their Effectiveness MlM Part 2

Javafit Coffee Business Opportunity

change youtube

http://www.DietCoffee.org

It is important to realize that thermogenics are not to be used for long term weight loss. However, in the short term, they can be quite effective at helping someone shed some weight, along with diet and regular exercise. In regards to long term use they do tend to lose their effectiveness as the body can actually build up an immunity to them.

It is also a good idea to check out the ingredients of the supplement that you are interested in taking. After all, taking something that you have an allergy to is not going to help the situation! Consulting a physician before taking weight loss supplements is another good idea. Sometimes people with certain medical conditions should avoid some of the substances within a thermogenics.

Supplements that are thermogenics contain a few different substances that help the body burn fat. Some of the common ingredients include ephedrine and caffeine. They work together to raise body temperature which then stimulates the metabolism. Adding thermogenics-related substances can help people when they are used as directed.

Are you a seasoned mlm pro? We have a brand new coffee business opportunity. Get paid to drink the only patented thermogenic organic coffee in the world!

http://www.OrganicDietCoffee.org

[Via http://organicdietcoffee.wordpress.com]

A new beginning...

Hi everyone. My first post on this blog. It’s a new beginning for me. I was supposed to start this blog on 1st but life’s been keeping me busy :)

I will be using this blog as my Weight Loss journal. As of 1st Jan, I weigh 227lbs/103kgs. My target is to reach the 75-80kgs bracket and do this, hopefully by June this year.

Since 1st jan, I’ve been hitting the gym for 2 hours a day, five days a week. I thought I would not change my food habits, I’m a total foodie and that is the hardest thing for me. But from 9th Jan, I changed one meal, dinner.

So now my daily food intake includes :

  • 1 bowl of Kellogg K Special with low fat milk
  • Maybe a sandwich or rice or homemade burger with only onions and ketchup.
  • I’ve been having only soup (sometime with 2 slices of brown bread) for dinner.

Which must be equal to around 1600-1800 calories (I’m bad at working out the calories count so I could be wrong).

So my journey has just begun. I hope I can make to to my target, as of the first week, I have lost any weight yet. Keeping my fingers crossed to see some change…

[Via http://babyelle.wordpress.com]

Friday, January 8, 2010

Diet Friday

I’ve never liked the word diet, but I dislike all the other diet euphemisms even more.  Program, eating plan, lifestyle choice . . . it all means diet, so that is the word I’m going to use.

I’m on a diet.  There, I said it.  I have been on a diet since Monday, and I started some aspects of the diet on Saturday.  My diet du jour is based on Jorge Cruise’s new book, “The Belly Fat Cure”.

As far as diets go, this is not exactly my first rodeo, so to speak.  I have probably tried every diet ever published (and some unpublished) since 1976.  Strangely enough, I’ve never had massive amounts of weight to lose–just the same 15 pounds over and over.  Now, I want to lose 25.  I have been at about the same weight for close to 3 years, and have been on Weight Watchers 3 times.  Although I lost 5 pounds on WW, it was tough and I was hungry.  As you get older, WW allows fewer and fewer points.  Not fair!  I figured I was eating about 1200 calories per day.  Technically, if all is true about calories and weight loss, I should have lost more.  Interestingly, I can eat as much as I want of whatever I want and not gain any more weight, but cutting my calories really wasn’t causing me to lose weight, either.

The basic formula in the BFC (Belly Fat Cure) is to stay at 15 grams or less of sugar per day, and 6 carbohydrate servings of 20 grams or less per day.  Now, I really hate low carb diets.  They make me cranky and they make me obsess about food constantly.  I’m not a big meat eater.  I like carbs.  So I had to find something that didn’t have a drastic carb-free induction period.  Otherwise, someone might get hurt.

I’m happy to say that I have made it throught the first five days without hurting anybody, myself included.  Giving up my beloved Diet Coke has not been too difficult thanks to my daily Zevia diet soda, sweetened with stevia.  Tastes great, and it’s guaranteed to lighten your wallet quicker than any other diet soda out there!  : )  Seriously,  it was $5.99 per six-pack at my local small town health food store.  Yikes!  I’m going to check around and see if I can find any better prices.

This week I have indulged in a glass of wine, cheese and dark chocolate.  (Perfectly legal on this program!)  I have not been hungry and haven’t thought too much about food.  It really has not been hard. 

As for results, I can only tell you how I feel as I did not weigh myself before I started.  I’m one of those people who can get obsessed with scale numbers, so I try to weigh myself as little as possible.  I did weigh myself Tuesday morning just to have some idea of a baseline.  I definitely feel that my waist is trimmer, and I am starting to get in touch with my ribcage again.  I hope next week I can say Hello to my hipbones!

[Via http://kitchrn.wordpress.com]

South Beach Diet Grocery List

Here’s the South Beach Diet grocery list for phase 1.  I have some books for their recipes and theory…not to follow like a bible.  I can’t quite believe the testimonies in them!  A few years ago I read it after Xmas and still follow some of the rules.

But they do have decent theories regarding what to eat and what to avoid (good – proteins, veggies; bad – bread and sugars).

The diet is broken down into 3 phases, each with their own restrictions.  Phase 1 is the most restrictive while Phase 3 is the least and it’s a lifestyle.

Here’s the grocery list:

Eggs are a good source of protein, vitamin B12, riboflavin, and selenium. Eggs are so versatile that you can enjoy them with any meal, whether it’s a breakfast frittata or omelet, a salad or sandwich for lunch, or a dinner casserole.

Fat-free or part-skim ricotta cheese is packed with calcium and can add a creamy flavor to many dishes without adding extra fat. Use ricotta cheese in breakfast recipes or to make dessert. Another Phase 1-friendly dessert? Simply mix a half cup of fat-free or part-skim ricotta cheese with some vanilla extract and top with a sprinkling of nuts — delicious.

Plain nonfat or plain low-fat yogurt is a good dairy choice because it’s rich in calcium and other minerals and also provides protein and B vitamins. Yogurt is great for an on-the-go breakfast or snack before or after a workout.

Lean deli meat is ideal for making roll-ups for a healthy snack. Just take a tablespoon of your favorite nut butter and spread it over some lean turkey, chicken or roast beef, place on a lettuce leaf, and roll up for a delicious mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack.

 No-sugar-added Fudgsicles will satisfy your sweet tooth on Phase 1. Fudgsicles can be enjoyed as a Sweet Treat.

Tomato juice or vegetable-juice cocktail is rich in vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that is shown to help prevent certain forms of cancer and help protect against heart disease. Vegetable-juice cocktail is a healthier alternative to fruit juice because it doesn’t have as much sugar and is made with 100 percent vegetables.

 Extra-virgin olive oil is one of the healthiest oils because it contains heart-healthy omega-3 fats. It can be used to prepare a delicious stir-fry or create flavorful salad dressings.

Nuts are great to have on hand for a healthy snack. High in plant protein and fiber, nuts add crunch to salads and grain dishes. Because nuts and seeds are calorie-dense, however, they may cause your weight loss to stall if you eat too many, so stick to the recommended serving sizes.

Salad greens can be tossed with a South Beach Diet-friendly salad dressing for lunch or dinner. Darker varieties of lettuce like Romaine, green leaf, and red leaf offer more nutritional benefits than iceberg.

Part-skim cheese sticks make healthy mid-morning snacks. Be sure to choose varieties that contain six grams of fat or less per ounce.

[Via http://iwantmysexyback.wordpress.com]

Mindful Eating

Here’s a practice I need to adopt.  From EverydayHealth.com:

Q: I tell myself the reason I can’t lose weight is that I love food. But in reality, I often find myself eating so fast I barely taste it. I’ve read a little bit about mindful eating. Can you explain more about it? How can it help me lose weight?

  • Monitor hunger and fullness. Pause before eating and ask yourself: How long since I last ate? Am I really hungry? And in the case of between-meal snacking: Why am I eating? What do I really need (for example, a way to reduce stress or to reward myself)?
  • Pay attention to your food. Eliminate unnecessary distractions. Look at the food on your plate and take time to smell it, savor the smell, and notice texture, colors, and portion sizes. Slow down to fully appreciate the experience of preparing to eat as opposed to just racing to consume calories unnoticed.
  • Eat slowly. Take the time to cut up your food or take smaller bites. Chew your food, notice its flavors, and pause between bites. Make eating a complete experience.
  • Monitor hunger and fullness again. Check in with yourself periodically so you will know when to stop eating based on fullness — not “empty-the-plate-ness.”
 

 

[Via http://iwantmysexyback.wordpress.com]

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

I'm a magazine freak

I really love magazines.  It drives my husband crazy how many magazines I buy every month, but I think that after being married 12 years he is giving it up as a lost cause.  He used to beg me to try to stick to two or three different titles a month, and I did give it a shot, I really did.  But I just can’t resist their glossy pages and fit models.

My favorite fitness magazines are Oxygen, Shape, Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, Self and Health.  They all have a different style and focus.  I don’t take for gospel everything that I read in these magazines, as my husband seems to think.  Rather, I use them as another tool to kick my motivation up a notch when needed.  I just love seeing readers who have made over their bodies, or changed bad habits and got healthy.  When I read a fitness magazine, it makes me want to jump off the couch and go do a workout!

Speaking of workouts, I missed mine because I had a “surprise” root canal today!  I really wanted to do my workout today anyway, but I was in too much pain.  Maybe I will get a chance to make up for it over the weekend.

[Via http://therightfit.wordpress.com]

January 6

Still don’t have a battery for my scale, so… I have no idea if I’ve lost any weight yet :) – I did go and buy a battery, but it was the wrong size *sigh*.

So, I can only report on my doings: Yesterday was pretty uneventful – I exercised on schedule and ate (pretty much) everything on schedule. I snuck a snack bag of Doritos at about 4, and I had a late night bowl of popcorn that was not on the approved menu.

This morning, I was HATING that stupid alarm clock!!! And I didn’t want to get on that stupid exercise bike!!! My butt muscles hurt and I was tired – not to mention seriously grumpy :( but I did it anyway, then felt great once the ride was over. For the rest of the day, I’ve had a lot more energy than usual – except for right at noon, I was really tired then for some reason. But then, I usually feel really tired at around 3 or 4 every afternoon, and I didn’t feel that at all today or yesterday!

Anyway – I’m starting to fear this weight loss journal will be terrifically unspectacular to anyone reading it. Maybe I should start posting some fun media to razzle dazzle and distract my readers…

[Via http://1pound.wordpress.com]

Monday, January 4, 2010

Hello World

It’s a new decade and time to work on me a little bit. As a mother of 4, I had my oldest child in May of 1990 and since then my life has been all about them. 20 years later, I have wonderful children moving into adulthood, but I have lost a bit of who I am. I am currently about 100 pounds overweight and incredibly uncomfortable about it. Decided to play on the 2010 year and set a goal of losing 10 pounds a month for the whole year, with the first 10 by January 10. Date wise, neat and easy to follow. Emotionally and motivationally, SCARED TO DEATH, but here we go.

[Via http://10every30.wordpress.com]

Look who sent us a video on BODYFUELZ

We recently had one of our customers send us this video of him using BODYFUELZ MUSCLEMAX for his workouts. We loved the video to bits. For the first time we had a customer’s sent us, what we call: user generated vido, on BODYFUELZ and how BODYFUELZ products are helping in performance nutrition and better workouts.

Bishnu Adhikari is the dude who sent us the video. Bishnu is a promising young actor from the south. He is from AP, Hyderabad and has acted in a few Telugu movies.

Check out the video here and you can connect with Bishnu at his facebook id here.

BODYFUELZ aims to help sports players, athletes and fitnes enthusiasts to reach their fitnes goals through diet and nutrition.

Call us at 1800-200-4500 or mail at pmt@bodyfuelz.com to understand more on how we can help you in reaching your fitness goals.

[Via http://nxgnutrition.wordpress.com]

January 4th Weigh In

Gah it has happened.  The evilness of the silly season took its toll on me.

I haven’t exercised in weeks, eaten pretty much what the hell I wanted and to top it off I came down with a cold on Christmas day and I am still coughing up gobs of phlegm.  Charming I know…sorry.

The sciatic nerve pain in my leg has been pretty awful too and doesn’t encourage me to want to exercise at all…in fact just walking a little and standing is very painful right now.  I can’t wait for my specialist to return from her holidays.  Although last time she popped me back in I am guessing I popped out fairly much straight after leaving the doctor’s surgery.

Anyway….the inevitable has happened and I am really sad to say that my current weight is UP.

82.3kg or 181.44 lbs

This sucks big time but I guess that all things considered it could be a lot worse.  I just need to let me motivate me into jumping back into the plan big time this week.  I will try exercising despite the pain and illness I guess.

I am off to overseas mid March and really want my weight to be as low as possible before I go.  Here’s to another week in the journey.  The diet is not blown and I am sure there will be movement in the right direction during the week.

[Via http://seelieness.wordpress.com]

Friday, January 1, 2010

Burbank AMC #fail

Charging extra for the Refillable cups is only fair if you actually agree to refill my cups. Waiting 6 minutes at the counter and then having a new line form right next to me as if I’m invisible = Sonya’s first customer complaint if the year. Bad, bad, bad AMC. Changing your CEO has killed off customer service. I may encourage people to stop respecting the “no outside food” rule, because then I won’t expect a free refill.

[Via http://shortandfat.wordpress.com]

Welcome, 2010...It's About Time!!

Well, I imagine that everyone’s awake now after all of the partying last night;).  Our New Year’s Eve was really laid back…our friend Shannon came over and we ate pizza, played Yahtzee, and watched the ball drop and that was about it.  I wasn’t sad about it; Joey and I aren’t big “party it up” people.  We really would rather spend an evening with just a couple of good friends having a homemade meal and watching some tv or playing a game or something.

Although 2009 was not a bad year at all, the holiday season usually drives me bonkers enough that I’m praying for the end of the year even if it was a good one.  I was pretty thrilled to wake up this morning and see a fresh start in front of me; we’ve got another year to strive to achieve what God wants us to achieve.  Past failures can remain past and we can kind of compartmentalize them and put them behind us.  And, where food/fitness is concerned, I definitely want to do that.

One of my goals for last year was to be at my goal weight by July/August.  It should have been totally achievable, and I didn’t do it.  And I promise myself that I will not type that sentence again next year.  I don’t know if I’ll be at my goal by July/August, but I will get there this year.  I can’t afford not to.  Here are a few of the things that tripped me up and what I’m going to do to combat them this year:

1.  Trying deprivation-style “cleanses”:  There’s a reason I’m so vehemently against them; for the person battling a dysfunctional relationship with food, “cleanses” just fuel that dysfunction.  They create the mentality that deprivation is success.  And they lead to bingeing later.  And I imagine that I’ll hear someone say that they can be done responsibly.  I’m sure they can, but for people who already have an unhealthy relationship with food, severe restriction doesn’t do much to help that.  This year, I’m not doing any “cleanses” or “detoxes.”  No gimmicks; no “eating programs.”

2.  Patterning my eating after other food bloggers:  I’ve noticed over the past several months of reading food blogs that most of the very popular ones are written by people who are incredibly athletic and in shape and who burn an extremely high number of calories each day.  Because of that, their meals are often more dense and higher in calories than the average person who needs to lose weight.  They’re not to be used as an example for someone who’s just starting in the food/fitness journey.

3.  Allowing other food bloggers to dictate what I think is “healthy”:  Coconut water, chia seeds, goji berries, maca powder, raw caco nibs.  It’s very easy to feel like a failure or feel like you won’t be that successful when you can’t afford the latest and greatest in “food fads.”  This year, I’m getting over that feeling; I love reading food blogs, but I won’t allow myself to feel like I can’t be healthy without eating the “cool” foods that would keep me from being able to stay within the grocery budget.  What you’ll find on the blog this year is my journey to lose weight in a cost-effective, prudent, frugal way.  That doesn’t mean that I’m going to go for the cheapest stuff, but I’m also not going to spend twelve bucks for a jar of almond butter because it’s what everyone else is blogging about.  Life’s not that way.

4.  Feeling like one setback is a failure of the whole journey:  I sprained my ankle this summer.  Because of that, I took a six month break from the gym.  Seriously?  Oh yes.  This is a mental hurdle that I’ve always struggled with and that many overweight people struggle with; this year, I want to recognize a setback for what it is:  a blip on the radar screen, a bump in the road, but not the end of the mission.

5.  Not cooking:  Oh, what a handicap not cooking is to the person seeking to lose weight!  Cooking allows us to control the levels of fat and sodium that go into what we eat…it allows us to flavor our meals with the spices of our choice.  I was “too tired” to cook for much of last year, which led to our “takeout woes,” which derailed my weight loss efforts.  This year, we’re limiting our take-out/eating-out budget and cooking will come back to the forefront.  I’m looking forward to trying new things!

Well, this was kind of a backwards way to do resolutions…pointing out what didn’t work last year.  I didn’t mean it to sound so negative, because I don’t really feel negatively about it.  Am I disappointed about not losing weight last year?  Yep, sure!  But I really do feel like I’ve learned some invaluable lessons last year that will help me to tackle 2010 with vigor and determination.  I realize now that I don’t really want to “be like” everyone else in the food blogosphere.  I want to be me, and I want to find out what works for and helps me to be as successful as I know I can be!  Here’s to 2010, folks!  Let’s kick some ass!!

[Via http://eatingbacktogood.wordpress.com]