Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Debunking The Myth Of Eating Less To Lose Weight


One of the biggest myths about losing weight is the idea that you need to eat less in order to shed pounds. New studies have shown that this is simply not the case. As a matter of fact, it's just the opposite. Let's take a look at why you need to eat if you want to lose weight.

The Scientific Benefits of Breakfast

People who eat breakfast on a daily basis tend to lose weight easier. The National Weight Control Registry performed a study that showed people who eat breakfast have a better chance of maintaining a 30 pound, or more, weight loss for at least a year. Studies in The Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed similar results.

Another research group analyzed government data on over 4,000 adults and found those who ate a regular breakfast tended to take in fewer calories during the day and had a lower fat intake. They also noted that regular breakfast eaters were more likely to engage in routine exercise.

Eating breakfast also jump-starts your metabolism, says Elisabetta Politi, RD, MPH, nutrition manager for the Duke Diet and Fitness Center at Duke University Medical School. She states; "When you don't eat breakfast, you're actually fasting for 15 to 20 hours, so you're not producing the enzymes needed to metabolize fat to lose weight." In fact, sumo wrestlers don't eat until late in the day for the sole purpose of gaining weight. If you don't eat breakfast, you are actually following the sumo wrestler diet. Now, that is a scary thought.

Keep Your Metabolism Going All Day

With the right mechanisms in place, your body will naturally burn fat. But, what are the right mechanisms? That's your job; to find your body's balance between energy consumed and energy burned. Metabolism is the name of the game. When you eat healthy small meals, starting early in the morning, your metabolism is set in full swing, mobilizing and converting fat stores into energy.

When you eat breakfast along with regular snacks and small meals throughout the day, your body gets the nutrition it needs and goes to work, breaking down your food into energy. If you wait until you're starving before you eat anything, that gnawing feeling in your stomach is telling you something. Your body will start by robbing your muscle tissue of anything it needs first, like protein, then it will store fat because it thinks it's in famine mode. By eating early and often, not only are you protecting the muscle that supports your frame and allows you to walk, sit, and stand, but you are also keeping your metabolism going so it works all day to give you energy.

Simple Weight Loss Tips to Get You Started:

1. Eat slowly.


It takes twenty minutes for your stomach to tell your brain you are full. Don't eat and run. You'll be looking for your next meal way before you need it.
2. Pick out foods you need to chew.


Try apples, whole grain hearty breads, celery, and other raw vegetables. These foods will slow down your eating and satisfy your chewing instinct. Raw nuts are another option. Just be sure to monitor the serving sizes as you snack.
3. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of cold water per day.


This helps to feel full and as your body works to raise the temperature of the water, you are burning calories. Keep bottles of water filled in the refrigerator and sip, sip, sip.
4. Eat your fruit


Eating oranges is much more satisfying than just drinking the juice. Keep this thought when choosing other fruits and vegetables. Whole is usually better.
5. Healthy snacks


Have a healthy snack before you start cooking dinner. This will help with overeating while preparing the meal, and after. Munching on celery is the perfect way to keep you satisfied while cooking.
6. Low fat sweet fix

If you need a sweet treat, just remember that frozen yogurt, angel food cake, and sherbet are all low fat. Low carb diets are low sugar diets, which often forbid fruit. In this case, one tiny piece of dark chocolate may be an option. This may leave you satisfied without all the sugar or carbs. You have to experiment to find the right treat for your sweet tooth that fits your diet.

7. Do not starve yourself

The less you eat, the more your body protects itself and begins to go into starvation mode, holding on to more food, storing it as fat and robbing your muscles of nutrients. Make sure you eat a good breakfast to start your day right. Then, keep your metabolism working throughout the day with small meals and healthy snacks.

Stop starving yourself so your body can relax and start to lose that weight. Adding foods instead of subtracting foods? It's so crazy it might just work.


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Tips For You On A Diet For Lowering High Cholesterol And Losing Weight

If you have high cholesterol it is important to get yourself on a diet for lowering cholesterol and losing weight. Many Americans worry about their cholesterol levels, especially those who are over weight. In most cases the first step in resolving your high cholesterol and shedding those extra pounds; is changing your diet. You will discover some pretty convincing evidence, in this article, which will convince you, to improve your health by losing weight and lowering your cholesterol.

A recent study completed by The School of Medicine at Stanford University showed that with both diet and exercise, you can significantly reduce your cholesterol and get rid of the extra weight. The study was done with over 300 men and women with high cholesterol. In order to control the groups the first group was put on a low fat diet. Then the second was put on the same diet with an exercise program.

After a year the group with both diet and exercise had lower cholesterol. The group that didn’t incorporate exercise didn’t have a loss as significant as the first group.

Eating a low cholesterol diet has shown to lower cholesterol by 8% to 20%. There are a few low cholesterol diets that have proven to work well. These diets include; the Dash Diet, The South Beach Diet, The Ultra Metabolism Diet, and The Weight Watchers Diet. Every one of these diets has online programs or books to guide you through the diet with menu plans and instructions.

As an addition to your low cholesterol diet you should make sure to eat plenty of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is used to fix natural cracks and fractures in your arteries. If you don’t get enough Vitamin C your body will substitute it with cholesterol. If you make sure to get enough of the vitamin as part of your low cholesterol diet, your liver will not be forced to produce excess cholesterol.

In another study done, with sixty heart bypass surgery patients, it was shown that eating grapefruit everyday lowers your cholesterol. The study had the patients divided into three groups. One group was given red grapefruit. One group was given white grapefruit.

However the last group was not given any grapefruit and had no diet restrictions. The study showed that the groups that ate grapefruit regularly as part of a low cholesterol diet showed a significant drop in cholesterol. Whereas the group without restrictions, which didn’t eat any grapefruit, didn’t show any drop in cholesterol.

Additional studies have shown that women that have eaten five to six smaller meals had lower cholesterol and better weight control; than those that ate fewer larger meals. If you eat many small meals with a low cholesterol diet and fewer calories you will be able to lower your cholesterol by about 5% and drop your weight.

There is no question, having high cholesterol and being over weight, is very dangerous to your health. However, if you suffer from being over weight and high cholesterol there are some simple things you can do to lower both your weight and high cholesterol level.

As the above information indicated it doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply get yourself on a diet for lowering high cholesterol, combine it with a good exercise program and you are on your way to better health.


Saturday, July 23, 2011

Eat Out To Lose Weight With A Restaurant Calorie Counter

A restaurant calorie counter can be a dieter’s best friend. Losing weight isn’t easy, so you need to take steps to make it as easy as possible on yourself. One way to do this is to not limit yourself to just bland home meals and a life where you never eat out for fear of not being able to maintain your diet the way you want to. With a restaurant calorie counter, you won’t have to.

There’s no doubt that losing weight is difficult. The rate of obesity is soaring and it’s not because people are trying to gain weight, sumo wrestlers excepted. In general, more than 95 percent of people who do manage to lose weight won’t be able to keep it off. Many people manage to gain and lose hundreds of pounds over their lifetime. When something is this difficult, you need to take every step you can to make it as easy as possible.

This includes eating out, or grabbing things on the fly, which is where a restaurant calorie counter comes in handy. We’d all like to be able to be able to do up our food at home, eat perfectly all day and come back to prepare a nutritionally flawless means for dinner, all with a smile on your face.

But in reality, this doesn’t happen. People sleep late, work late, and sometimes the boss wants you to have lunch with him. It’s a rare person who can get by without buying their food already prepared at some point. Unless your eating out is going to consist of glasses of water, you’re going to need a restaurant calorie counter.

A restaurant calorie counter is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. It’s a guide to the calories and nutrient contents of things you find in restaurants. Generally, these will be available for all chain type restaurants, fast food and otherwise, but a very good restaurant calorie counter will also have very famous restaurants, and it is possible to get copies that have local information, as well.

The local restaurants are actually a flaw in using a restaurant calorie counter; even those that have restaurants are forced to estimate. This isn’t necessarily a huge problem, but bear in mind that if you’re eating at Uncle Joe’s Wings and Things you’re going to have to estimate.

A good way to do this, if you’re eating in a place where you’re going to be eating a lot but the place isn’t listed in your restaurant calorie counter, is to get your favorites as take out. Once you have them, measure them and then find something in the counter that’s pretty close and work out how many calories are in each one.

Either way, a restaurant calorie counter can be key to your weight loss success, regardless of the type of diet you’re on. If you’re using a controlled calorie plan, then you can easily look up the calorie count and adjust. Or you can choose dishes with the right amount of fat or carbs for your plan. Every diet is easier with a restaurant calorie counter.


Friday, July 15, 2011

The Truth About The Subway Diet


So you want to get rid of a few unsightly pounds. Maybe you’ve even tried some of the traditional diets out there and they just don’t work. Maybe it’s because you don’t have the time to cook your own healthy meals, let alone time to weigh and measure ingredients and count calories.

Maybe your weight gain is due to the fact that you eat most of your meals either at work or on the go. If this describes you, then you may want to consider a diet that is considered non-traditional but certainly has worked for many people, including the man who invented it. Maybe the Subway diet would be right for you.

Before getting into what the Subway diet is, it is best to understand more about the creator of this diet, Jared Fogle. Jared Fogle around 1997 decided that he needed to lose weight. He weighed approximately 430 pounds, and was consuming approximately 10,000 calories per day.

It was when his roommate in college a pre-med student correctly diagnosed Jared with sleep apnea and edema. Jared went to the hospital for some tests. His father, a physician, told Jared the sobering news that if he continued on like this, he would most probably not live past 35.

Jared decided he was going to go on the Subway diet. Subway was his favorite place to eat, so he figured he wouldn’t really be sacrificing a lot. Every day for lunch he would have a 6 inch turkey sandwich and every night he would eat a 12 inch veggie sub. Within the span of 3 months, Jared lost 100 pounds.

Spurred by this success, he then started to walk everywhere. Instead of taking an elevator he would take stairs. The exercise, combined with eating the low fat low calorie Subway sandwiches, helped Jared to eventually lose 240 pounds. Jared now weighs 190 pounds. Eventually, Subway found out about him, and paid him to be their spokesperson.

1. So why exactly does the Subway diet work?

The subway diet worked for Jared and anyone else who goes on it, because of two factors: Portion control and caloric intake. If you stick with the subs that are low fat and are low calorie and avoid mayo, cheese, and oils, you are limiting the amount of fats and calories that you consume.

By sticking with a 6 inch and a 12 inch sandwich you are controlling how much you eat. Jared also walked a lot. Therefore, he was not only limiting how much he ate, his fat and caloric intake, but was exercising on top of it.

2. Was it strictly the Subway food?

Yes and no. Subway offers many healthier types of foods than most other fast food restaurants. It wasn’t specifically the Subway food; it was as mentioned above, the fact that Jared was not consuming high calorie, high fat foods. He was exercising regularly.

You could do what Jared did with just about any fast food restaurant. You just have to pick foods that are low fat and low calorie. Most fast food restaurants have their nutrition information available upon request.

3. Is the Subway diet right for me?

You should always consult a doctor before you begin any type of weight loss or exercise plan. It is suggested that if you decide to do the Subway diet that you include more vegetables and fruits into your diet. Jared skipped breakfast. This was a mistake. He could have easily prepared a low fat, low calorie, breakfast which included fruits. For example, a low fat fruit smoothie is a good option.

If you do eat on the go or a lot of fast food and you talk about it with your doctor then the Subway diet may be right for you. Though Subway offers more healthy choices, you don’t have to stick strictly with Subway. You just have to find the low fat, low calorie foods in other fast food restaurants. Be sure to get plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables too.


Saturday, July 2, 2011

It Is Important To Know How To Use Elliptical Machines Properly


Using elliptical machines, such as the2 in 1 Elliptical Cross Trainer & Exercise Bike, are very beneficial if you know how to use them. I know it is Often the easiest to just use the equipment rather than getting to know a little bit about them. Knowing how they work can help you use them properly and get the most out of your workout. By not knowing your elliptical machine you stand the danger of injuries and wasting your time.

Elliptical machines were designed to hit all of those target areas that so many people are struggling to keep in good enough shape, but because of the improper training and usage of these elliptical machines, many people simply give up too quickly with the resultant waste of money. Your training routine should not only consist of using the elliptical machines, you should also consider changing your diet, dramatically if you are living off of junk foods and fast food restaurants. You are the only one who can truly make a difference as to how you feel about your body weight, it is up to you, so decide to work harder from now on.

By working hard on making some changes within your life, to change the way that you look and feel, the benefits will definitely start happening, and once you begin seeing those first signs or results, you will be very satisfied with the results, there is for sure no doubt about that. The elliptical machines can be used as often as you like, but normally people who are beginners with any type of exercise program, would only need to do it for about 30-45 minutes, three or four days a week. That small amount of time out of your busy schedule can make all the difference in the world, when it comes to looking and feeling 100% better about yourself and your new and improved healthier lifestyle.

Aging is something that none of us can avoid, but did you know that eating healthy and exercising can help with slowing down the aging process? By doing healthier things within your life, you are adding healthier years to your life, as well as improving all other aspects of your overall health and wellness. By using the elliptical machines and keeping your heart rate up to its maximum during your workout, you are making unimaginable improvements that can lengthen your life tremendously.

Anything positive that you can do, whether it is training on elliptical machines or quitting smoking will help and it is never too late to start a new and improved lifestyle. These changes will last you a lifetime, believe me when I say that. All of the people who care about you, truly want you to be happier and healthier so that they can enjoy having you around for many years to come. So, it is never too late to choose a healthier lifestyle, but it does get more difficult as we grow older, so think about this while you are still young.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Whats Inside Your Cup Of Tea, The Advantages Of Tea

In the preceding years, a good bit has been uncovered as regards to the benefits of tea. It is branded as a “wonder drug” by many and regardless if it is right or not is still an argument in the health industry. Though returning to ancient times, tea have been utilized by quite a few countries specifically in Japan, China, England, and India to name a few.

The buzz about the benefits of tea is becoming more and more persistent so that it can no longer be ignored. Testimonies after testimonies of people who are discovering the health effects of tea can no longer be put to silence. Well, no one can actually deny the fact that countries who consume tea the most also have the most number of people who live the longest life.

1. Benefits of Tea in Aging

Tea is known to be rich in antioxidants which are generally known to combat the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of aging. Experiments carried out shows that mice fed with tea display lesser signs of aging than those which are just fed with water.

2. Benefits of Tea in Bone Strength

Tea flavonoids can help strengthen the bones. People who regularly drink green, black, oolong tea have higher bone mineral densities compared to those who are not tea drinkers.

3. Benefits of Tea in Cancer Prevention

Tea is now known to be one of the best cancer fighting drinks in the world. Black tea and green tea top the list of teas which are beneficial to cancer prevention. The compounds found in teas are reported to help keep cells from turning malignant. Simply put, people who drink tea get lesser chances of getting cancer.

4. Benefits of Tea in Lowering Cholesterol

Bad cholesterol levels can be lowered down by tea. In one research where patients are asked to eat healthy meals and drink five cups of tea, levels of bad cholesterol dropped up to ten percent.

5. Benefits of Tea in Weight Loss

More people are looking for a cheaper and easier way to lose weight. Tea has made its way to the spotlight when research shows that it can increase metabolism hence reduces the chances of one gaining weight. Tea is also known to accelerate the burning of calories which includes fat calories. Aside from its weight loss benefits, tea diets encourage a dieter to exercise and eat well.

6. Benefits of Tea to the Heart

Tea drinkers have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and lesser chances of suffering from heart disease. Black tea is highly recommended to lower bad cholesterol.

Tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Its health benefits are many and differ from person to person and from tea to tea. Tea’s antioxidant polyphenols are acknowledged to combat many health ailments such as cancer, blood clotting, high cholesterol levels, allergies, and many more. Decide on the right tea for your diet and reap the benefits of a healthy drink. Don’t forget to consult your doctor for advice on which one is right for you!


Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The Fat Smash Diet Plan Will Smash Down The Pounds

American are becoming more and more overweight. The fact is that the majority of Americans are at least a little overweight or full out obese. It is amazing because it is in spite of all the billions of dollars spent every year on diet-related products. Even so, we are all still looking at different diets, in our quest for the PERFECT diet that will make us lose weight easily.

If you would rather smash the fat than smash the scale when you step on it, the Fat Smash Diet plan may be just the tool to help you on your way to a healthier, slimmer, happier you. The plan is divided into four sections, or phases, and each phase is designed to help you lose weight while adjusting your lifestyle so that you never again feel the need to try another diet.

Phase I of the Fat Smash Diet plan is only nine days long, and in this phase, you clean out your system and detoxify. Getting rid of the impurities that build up over a lifetime is a great way to begin and before you even get to the second phase, you are likely to feel better than you did just nine days earlier. You eat your veggies raw, steamed, or grilled, drink lots of water, and limit fats. The best part of phase I is that you get to eat very often – four to five times a day. There are lots of really good foods that you are allowed to eat, too. You can have milk (soy or skim), legumes, oatmeal, as many vegetables as you want, tofu, and a few other items like beans and garbanzo beans.

Phase II of the Fat Smash Diet plan comes along after nine days of the yummy foods above and the list of allowable foods increases. After the first nine days, you can add meat to your Fat Smash Diet plan. Seafood, lean meats, whole grain cereals, and even eggs, butter, and sugar are added to the list of sensory delights that you can enjoy. You continue to prepare foods by steaming or grilling and continue to eat small meals many times per day. Phase II ends after three weeks.

Phase III lasts for four weeks, and the preparation methods are pretty much the same. Even more foods are now allowed, though, including pasta and bread. Who can be sad when they are eating spaghetti?

Phase IV continues with healthy food preparation and portion control. As the last phase of the Fat Smash Diet plan, this is the phase that is designed to last you the rest of your life. Smith, the diet creator, believes that all the good habits developed in the first three phases will now allow you to choose wholesome, nutritious foods and keep you in the habit of eating smaller meals more frequently.

Along with the “rules” and lists of foods that are allowed and not allowed, Smith gives you advice and tips on eating healthy. He also understands that people will have cravings and actually deserve an occasional treat, so you are allowed to indulge a little bit every once in a while. Completely denying yourself a little indulgence from time to time is what makes diets so hard, so Smith helps you deal with that.

So what you have to do is smash the old ways, get rid of those extra pounds start enjoying life again with the Fat Smash Diet plan. A change in lifestyle is all that is going to be a permanent solution and the Fat Smash Diet Plan can help you with it.