You know you're going to do it... but with all those holiday treats right there in front of you, how can you avoid eating too much? Probably the hardest challenge is learning to say no when your favorite Aunt Martha hints that her feelings will be hurt if you don't clean your plate at her big feast.
You can exercise some restraint now, or you can simply exercise more later, at the gym.
However, try following these 5 tips for a little help during your holiday challenge:
1. Eat a healthy snack before you go to the office party. If you arrive hungry, the chances are much greater that you will eat too much. Skipping a meal earlier in the day to make room for the goodies won't help either, because this strategy usually just increases your appetite.
2. If going with a friend, strike a deal to keep each other from eating too much.
3. If the party is a potluck buffet, be sure to bring a dish you like that is healthy, and perhaps low-fat or low-calorie. That way, if the food table is packed with guilty pleasures, there will be at least one dish you can safely enjoy.
4. Use little or no toppings, sauces or gravies. The foods they "enhance" are usually just as tasty without them; or use a very small amount, just enough to capture the flavor.
5. Use a smaller plate. Even if you don't actually trick yourself into thinking there is more food, you won't be able to pile more on there anyway.
6. Drink a lot of water, especially the fizzy kind. Carbonation can help make you feel full faster.
7. If you simply must overindulge in Aunt Martha's holiday plum pudding, go ahead. Just cut back on the other dishes, especially those you can eat any time during the year, such as apple pie, chips 'n' dip, and brownies with fudge topping.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Slim Seduction Diet Pills - a Warning
Watch out for this diet pill: Slim Seduction. The "hook" is that you not only will lose weight, but will have more energy, especially increased libido. Hence, the name, Slim Seduction.
The before and after photos are compelling, as many of the subjects are of average appearance and aren’t made up to look like celebrities. Nor are they standing in provocative poses. Some shapely specimens are pictured, but I didn’t feel it was overwhelming.
Plus, they promise a free bottle to get you started.
So, I ordered the "free" bottle, followed directions, and indeed felt more energy right away. I felt motivated to exercise and to get more done during my routine work day. At the end of my day, I still felt energized and cheerfully managed most of my household chores after working all day at my job.
I did not notice any weight loss, however. No change there, and the libido thing is not an issue for me. However, I was willing to stick with it, since the product is manufactured from natural ingredients, mostly herbs. I know it takes time to lose weight without jeopardizing your health. So I was ready to follow the 12-week plan.
Now this is where you need to be aware of their guarantee, along with that so-called "free trial" period. You need to closely read the fine print, because in effect, there really is no free trial. In fact, this is the first time I have encountered a company that penalizes you for sticking with the program. Conversely, if you quit early, you are rewarded for doing so, and will not be charged for the first bottle of product. But three weeks is too soon to know if it’s really helping. Some free trial. Plus, there have been reports of people being charged anyway.
I am one of them. Last week, I got a nasty surprise... a bill! And it was for 50 bucks. I called the company. They assured me it was part of their "terms and conditions" and that my credit card has been charged that amount. But, they said, future bottles of product were only 40 dollars and would "auto-ship" every month, to assure freshness.
I was livid. I accused them of sneaky tactics. The representative argued that the terms are clearly stated on their web site. Well, not really. First, you must find the link to click. Then you must be willing to wade through tiny text and ambiguous terminology. I looked, but I still could not find language that describes what they call "clearly stated terms."
So I canceled my order for future participation. I refuse to tolerate what I still consider to be sneaky tactics.
I believe I might have benefited from this product and the weight loss program. But I will not tolerate their sales and marketing techniques to gouge a higher price out of me for the first month as my penalty for choosing to stay with their program.
I recommend doing a search online for Diet Pill Reviews, or simply, "Slim Seduction," before choosing any product. I found Slim Seduction rated very high... on more than one list of products to stay away from... far, far away. Their ingredients are fine, but have been found to be in such small amounts, they hardly qualify as "effective."
Buyer beware!
The before and after photos are compelling, as many of the subjects are of average appearance and aren’t made up to look like celebrities. Nor are they standing in provocative poses. Some shapely specimens are pictured, but I didn’t feel it was overwhelming.
Plus, they promise a free bottle to get you started.
So, I ordered the "free" bottle, followed directions, and indeed felt more energy right away. I felt motivated to exercise and to get more done during my routine work day. At the end of my day, I still felt energized and cheerfully managed most of my household chores after working all day at my job.
I did not notice any weight loss, however. No change there, and the libido thing is not an issue for me. However, I was willing to stick with it, since the product is manufactured from natural ingredients, mostly herbs. I know it takes time to lose weight without jeopardizing your health. So I was ready to follow the 12-week plan.
Now this is where you need to be aware of their guarantee, along with that so-called "free trial" period. You need to closely read the fine print, because in effect, there really is no free trial. In fact, this is the first time I have encountered a company that penalizes you for sticking with the program. Conversely, if you quit early, you are rewarded for doing so, and will not be charged for the first bottle of product. But three weeks is too soon to know if it’s really helping. Some free trial. Plus, there have been reports of people being charged anyway.
I am one of them. Last week, I got a nasty surprise... a bill! And it was for 50 bucks. I called the company. They assured me it was part of their "terms and conditions" and that my credit card has been charged that amount. But, they said, future bottles of product were only 40 dollars and would "auto-ship" every month, to assure freshness.
I was livid. I accused them of sneaky tactics. The representative argued that the terms are clearly stated on their web site. Well, not really. First, you must find the link to click. Then you must be willing to wade through tiny text and ambiguous terminology. I looked, but I still could not find language that describes what they call "clearly stated terms."
So I canceled my order for future participation. I refuse to tolerate what I still consider to be sneaky tactics.
I believe I might have benefited from this product and the weight loss program. But I will not tolerate their sales and marketing techniques to gouge a higher price out of me for the first month as my penalty for choosing to stay with their program.
I recommend doing a search online for Diet Pill Reviews, or simply, "Slim Seduction," before choosing any product. I found Slim Seduction rated very high... on more than one list of products to stay away from... far, far away. Their ingredients are fine, but have been found to be in such small amounts, they hardly qualify as "effective."
Buyer beware!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Binge Eating - Get Help for This Eating Disorder
A number of very dangerous eating disorders exist that affect many people, regardless of age, race, gender, and economic status. While you may hear a lot in the news about anorexia and bulimia, one of the lesser-known weight loss disasters sweeping the nation is binge eating. This is very bad for the body and can cause heart disease, diabetes, and a number of other medical conditions, which actually could result in death. Therefore, it is important to learn about binge eating and to seek help immediately if you think this could be a problem for you or someone you care about.
Binge eating is basically a form of overeating at its worst. There are times when we all overindulge in our favorite foods, such as during a holiday or when eating out at a restaurant. However, a binge eater faces overeating problems more than a few times a week. These people often find themselves overweight and unhappy, which can make the situation worse.
Binge eaters often overeat to the point of making themselves feel sick. In many cases, they will eat thousands of calories in one sitting, and many of the foods they are eating are not very nutritional and usually include comfort foods, such as sweets or junk foods. At times, they may also have a problem with alcohol. In one day, a binge eater may consume more than the normal person eats in a week.
Unlike people who are suffering from bulimia, binge eaters do not induce vomiting in order to rid themselves of the food they’ve eaten. Therefore, they tend to be quite overweight. In some cases, they may eat non-stop for an entire day, but then spend the next three or four days starving themselves and exercising vigorously in order to stay at the same weight, if possible.
This eating disorder goes hand in hand with a number of other physical diseases, and often affects one's mental and emotional well-being. Those who suffer from this problem are unnaturally obsessed about their body weight and may experience depression because of it, regardless of whether they are overweight or not. Binge eating is not only dangerous for the victim, but can affect everyone in his or her life. If you or someone you know is suffering from this disease, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. This is not a healthy dietary lifestyle.
Binge eating is basically a form of overeating at its worst. There are times when we all overindulge in our favorite foods, such as during a holiday or when eating out at a restaurant. However, a binge eater faces overeating problems more than a few times a week. These people often find themselves overweight and unhappy, which can make the situation worse.
Binge eaters often overeat to the point of making themselves feel sick. In many cases, they will eat thousands of calories in one sitting, and many of the foods they are eating are not very nutritional and usually include comfort foods, such as sweets or junk foods. At times, they may also have a problem with alcohol. In one day, a binge eater may consume more than the normal person eats in a week.
Unlike people who are suffering from bulimia, binge eaters do not induce vomiting in order to rid themselves of the food they’ve eaten. Therefore, they tend to be quite overweight. In some cases, they may eat non-stop for an entire day, but then spend the next three or four days starving themselves and exercising vigorously in order to stay at the same weight, if possible.
This eating disorder goes hand in hand with a number of other physical diseases, and often affects one's mental and emotional well-being. Those who suffer from this problem are unnaturally obsessed about their body weight and may experience depression because of it, regardless of whether they are overweight or not. Binge eating is not only dangerous for the victim, but can affect everyone in his or her life. If you or someone you know is suffering from this disease, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. This is not a healthy dietary lifestyle.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Weight Loss in College
One of the most difficult times of your life is undoubtedly your college years, and the least of your problems may be losing weight. However, maintaining a healthy weight during college is very important because your weight dictates how healthy you will be overall, and later in life. During college, you are introduced into mass living communities, like dormitories, where illness spreads like wildfire, and maintaining your health will help prevent you from catching some of these diseases, as well as help prevent disease later in life. Learning how to lose and maintain weight in college is important.
The first step to weight loss in college is eating healthy foods. While you might be tempted to trade in your water for a beer or your salad for a slice of greasy pizza, doing this too often can really kill any weight loss plans you may have. When you first begin attending college, check out what kinds of healthy choices are available at the student cafeteria and what kinds of healthy choices are available from restaurants in the area. It is also a good idea to invest in a mini refrigerator so you can keep low-fat snacks, like yogurt and carrots, on hand. This also allows you to prepare some small meals in your room instead of grabbing a snack from the vending machines.
Another step to losing weight in college is learning how and when you can work out. You may be so tired at the end of the day that you feel like you don’t even need a work out, but if you head to the gym, you’ll feel and look better. Most schools have a free gym available to students or, at the very least, offer gym membership discounts to area locations, so there really is no excuse not to exercise.
Weight loss in college requires planning, if nothing else. Make sure you schedule time to eat and exercise every day, no matter how busy you may be. Plan your weekend with fun activities that don’t include drinking mass quantities of alcohol. Keep an eye on special promotions from health groups at school, or even consider joining one.
As with any weight loss program, friends can help you, too. Seek friends with healthy eating habits and find buddies for working out together at the gym. Losing weight during college is not an easy thing to do, but if you put your mind to it, you can achieve your goals and stun your friends and family when you’re home for summer break.
The first step to weight loss in college is eating healthy foods. While you might be tempted to trade in your water for a beer or your salad for a slice of greasy pizza, doing this too often can really kill any weight loss plans you may have. When you first begin attending college, check out what kinds of healthy choices are available at the student cafeteria and what kinds of healthy choices are available from restaurants in the area. It is also a good idea to invest in a mini refrigerator so you can keep low-fat snacks, like yogurt and carrots, on hand. This also allows you to prepare some small meals in your room instead of grabbing a snack from the vending machines.
Another step to losing weight in college is learning how and when you can work out. You may be so tired at the end of the day that you feel like you don’t even need a work out, but if you head to the gym, you’ll feel and look better. Most schools have a free gym available to students or, at the very least, offer gym membership discounts to area locations, so there really is no excuse not to exercise.
Weight loss in college requires planning, if nothing else. Make sure you schedule time to eat and exercise every day, no matter how busy you may be. Plan your weekend with fun activities that don’t include drinking mass quantities of alcohol. Keep an eye on special promotions from health groups at school, or even consider joining one.
As with any weight loss program, friends can help you, too. Seek friends with healthy eating habits and find buddies for working out together at the gym. Losing weight during college is not an easy thing to do, but if you put your mind to it, you can achieve your goals and stun your friends and family when you’re home for summer break.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Need More Fiber in Your Diet?
Let's get technical for a moment: Fiber is mostly polysaccharides composed of glucose units, but human digestive enzymes cannot break the chemical bonds of these units. We can think of fiber as non-starch polysaccharides. These include cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and some other types of fiber.
Now, that might sound like Greek to you, but fiber is an important part of our daily diet, and a high fiber diet might be perfect for your body.
Depending on their solubility in water, there are of two main types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Both of these are important for optimum health. Fiber has a number of health benefits and hence is highly recommended in daily food. Some health benefits include the following:
To keep the digestive tract healthy and prevent other disorders, like hemorrhoids and intestinal problems, people normally need 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily. These can be obtained from a variety of plants, vegetables and fruits. Fibers are especially abundant in whole foods. All fruits are rich in fiber. For just 2 grams of fiber, you could eat 1 small apple, 1 peach, 1 small banana, 2 prunes, 16 large cherries, or a number of other fruits. Grains also contain fiber. For 2 grams of fiber, simply try 1 slice of whole wheat bread, 2 slices of cracked wheat bread, 1 cup of cooked oatmeal, 2 cups of popped popcorn, or ¼ cup of corn bran.
If you are on a low-carb diet, you can try eating cooked vegetables to provide your body with adequate fiber. For 2 grams of fiber, eat ½ cup of broccoli, 1 cup of celery, ½ cup of carrots, 1 small potato, 1 large tomato, or a variety of beans. Beans, or any type of legume, are the real powerhouses for fiber. By only eating ½ cup of kidney beans, 1 cup of dried peas or lentils, or ½ cup of canned baked beans, you can provide your body with a whopping 8 grams of fiber. If all else fails, small amounts of fiber can also be found in peanuts, walnuts, and pickles, so there is really no excuse for not getting enough fiber in your diet!
Now, that might sound like Greek to you, but fiber is an important part of our daily diet, and a high fiber diet might be perfect for your body.
Depending on their solubility in water, there are of two main types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Both of these are important for optimum health. Fiber has a number of health benefits and hence is highly recommended in daily food. Some health benefits include the following:
It promotes a feeling of fullness and reduces energy consumption.
It prevents constipation, hemorrhoids, and other intestinal problems.
It helps prevent bacterial infection of the appendix.
It reduces the risk of colon cancer.
It stimulates the muscles of the digestive tract and helps them retain their health and tone.
To keep the digestive tract healthy and prevent other disorders, like hemorrhoids and intestinal problems, people normally need 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily. These can be obtained from a variety of plants, vegetables and fruits. Fibers are especially abundant in whole foods. All fruits are rich in fiber. For just 2 grams of fiber, you could eat 1 small apple, 1 peach, 1 small banana, 2 prunes, 16 large cherries, or a number of other fruits. Grains also contain fiber. For 2 grams of fiber, simply try 1 slice of whole wheat bread, 2 slices of cracked wheat bread, 1 cup of cooked oatmeal, 2 cups of popped popcorn, or ¼ cup of corn bran.
If you are on a low-carb diet, you can try eating cooked vegetables to provide your body with adequate fiber. For 2 grams of fiber, eat ½ cup of broccoli, 1 cup of celery, ½ cup of carrots, 1 small potato, 1 large tomato, or a variety of beans. Beans, or any type of legume, are the real powerhouses for fiber. By only eating ½ cup of kidney beans, 1 cup of dried peas or lentils, or ½ cup of canned baked beans, you can provide your body with a whopping 8 grams of fiber. If all else fails, small amounts of fiber can also be found in peanuts, walnuts, and pickles, so there is really no excuse for not getting enough fiber in your diet!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Weight Loss and Your Family
Many people are trying to lose weight, but have you ever considered losing weight as a family? Typically, when one member of the family is not eating healthy foods, the rest of the family is also participating in unhealthy behaviors. Working together as a family to lose weight can be the push you need to actually do it. After all, you want what is best for your family, right?
Start by planning healthy meals together. Working as a family, you can split up the responsibilities. For example, have your spouse go grocery shopping, while you cook and your children do the dishes. Whenever you cook a healthy meal, make extras and take that along to work the next day instead of relying on take-out and fast food. Cooking together also helps you bond and can teach both you and your children valuable life skills.
As a family, join a gym as well. Sometimes there is a family discount if three or more members of a household join the same gym, and often the facilities found here are better than any exercising machines you may have at home. As a family, you can also play tennis or racquetball together or motivate one another to work out. Some gyms even have fun family resources, like family softball leagues and indoor swimming pools.
When you want to lose weight, working together as a family to set goals can also work really well. Setting goals is important for any weight loss program, but as a family you can work together to push one another. Some husband and wife teams even like some friendly competition when losing weight. For example, challenge your spouse to prepare for a marathon, train together, and then compete during the actual race to see who finishes first or finishes the most of the race.
No matter how much weight you want to lose, it is always easier to do so when you have people to help you along the way. Your family is perfect for this because you live together and already know one another’s eating and work out habits. When you lose weight together, you have a great chance to bond as well, providing strong family ties and better relationships in general. Losing weight is never easy, but with a little help from your family members, all of your weight loss goals can definitely be achieved one by one.
Start by planning healthy meals together. Working as a family, you can split up the responsibilities. For example, have your spouse go grocery shopping, while you cook and your children do the dishes. Whenever you cook a healthy meal, make extras and take that along to work the next day instead of relying on take-out and fast food. Cooking together also helps you bond and can teach both you and your children valuable life skills.
As a family, join a gym as well. Sometimes there is a family discount if three or more members of a household join the same gym, and often the facilities found here are better than any exercising machines you may have at home. As a family, you can also play tennis or racquetball together or motivate one another to work out. Some gyms even have fun family resources, like family softball leagues and indoor swimming pools.
When you want to lose weight, working together as a family to set goals can also work really well. Setting goals is important for any weight loss program, but as a family you can work together to push one another. Some husband and wife teams even like some friendly competition when losing weight. For example, challenge your spouse to prepare for a marathon, train together, and then compete during the actual race to see who finishes first or finishes the most of the race.
No matter how much weight you want to lose, it is always easier to do so when you have people to help you along the way. Your family is perfect for this because you live together and already know one another’s eating and work out habits. When you lose weight together, you have a great chance to bond as well, providing strong family ties and better relationships in general. Losing weight is never easy, but with a little help from your family members, all of your weight loss goals can definitely be achieved one by one.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Warning: Not all weight loss products and plans are healthy
The popularity of weight loss programs, plans and products is at an all-time high right now, as weight control has become a major issue with a large majority of the population these days.
While there are many scams and outright harmful products available, so someone can make a fast buck, there are also many well-researched, well-prepared and effective plans, developed by educated professionals who know what they're doing.
Navigating through the huge array of these products can be daunting, however, and even dangerous if someone latches onto the wrong one. Even a valid program might not be the right one for you. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to weight control plans.
Please click on the link on the top right of this page to get my free report, Weight Loss Product Warnings. If you don't see the link, click here:
Weight Loss Product Warnings.
You will be asked to confirm that you want this information, in order to comply with SPAM laws. We want to be sure everyone is getting what they want and not being swamped with anything they don't want.
It's a pretty sensible report and is one you should read and keep handy before you make any decisions about buying into any current dieting fads.
While there are many scams and outright harmful products available, so someone can make a fast buck, there are also many well-researched, well-prepared and effective plans, developed by educated professionals who know what they're doing.
Navigating through the huge array of these products can be daunting, however, and even dangerous if someone latches onto the wrong one. Even a valid program might not be the right one for you. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to weight control plans.
Please click on the link on the top right of this page to get my free report, Weight Loss Product Warnings. If you don't see the link, click here:
Weight Loss Product Warnings.
You will be asked to confirm that you want this information, in order to comply with SPAM laws. We want to be sure everyone is getting what they want and not being swamped with anything they don't want.
It's a pretty sensible report and is one you should read and keep handy before you make any decisions about buying into any current dieting fads.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Become a Healthy Eater
Healthy eating is more about balanced and moderate eating, than it is about counting carbs, calories and portions. It consists of healthy meals at least three times per day and will include different types of foods, not limited to one specific food type or food group.
Remember that healthy eating is a way of life, something we can do to promote a well balanced body, immune system, and generally enhance our overall lifestyle.
Also, eating a healthy diet will help you to become a good problem solver, leading to the ability to care properly for yourself and your family, using sound judgment and making wise decisions. Healthy eaters are always aware of what they eat, and know the effect it will have on their bodies, as they learn that nutrients are essential for good functioning of all body systems, including the brain.
Remember that healthy eating is a way of life, something we can do to promote a well balanced body, immune system, and generally enhance our overall lifestyle.
Also, eating a healthy diet will help you to become a good problem solver, leading to the ability to care properly for yourself and your family, using sound judgment and making wise decisions. Healthy eaters are always aware of what they eat, and know the effect it will have on their bodies, as they learn that nutrients are essential for good functioning of all body systems, including the brain.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Losing Weight in a Healthy Way
Almost 108 million Americans were overweight or obese in 1999. Even now, obesity continues to be a serious problem and is predicted to reach epidemic levels by the year 2020.
One way to prevent this is to make people aware of the risks of being overweight.
Here are some diseases that you may be at risk of developing if you are carrying too many extra pounds:
1. heart disease
2. stroke
3. diabetes
4. cancer
5. arthritis
6. hypertension
Losing weight helps to prevent and control these diseases.
Many of the quick weight loss methods which have spread like wildfire lately do not provide lasting results. More often than not, dieting methods which involve diet drinks, special foods, and supplements or pills do not consistently work. But when they do, the results are usually temporary.
It is better to rely on a healthy weight loss regimen which will provide lifetime results. You have to set realistic goals and not expect to lose a lot of pounds too quickly. It's best to approach this as a lifestyle change rather than a temporary diet, or as something you have to endure until the goal is reached, and then expect to return to your old ways. If you do that, you will also quickly return to your old weight!
One way to prevent this is to make people aware of the risks of being overweight.
Here are some diseases that you may be at risk of developing if you are carrying too many extra pounds:
1. heart disease
2. stroke
3. diabetes
4. cancer
5. arthritis
6. hypertension
Losing weight helps to prevent and control these diseases.
Many of the quick weight loss methods which have spread like wildfire lately do not provide lasting results. More often than not, dieting methods which involve diet drinks, special foods, and supplements or pills do not consistently work. But when they do, the results are usually temporary.
It is better to rely on a healthy weight loss regimen which will provide lifetime results. You have to set realistic goals and not expect to lose a lot of pounds too quickly. It's best to approach this as a lifestyle change rather than a temporary diet, or as something you have to endure until the goal is reached, and then expect to return to your old ways. If you do that, you will also quickly return to your old weight!
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