Enhance Vegetarian Recipes With These Underused Spices

Posted by content - July 2, 2009 on 7:15 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

If you are tired of the same old meals and tastes as a vegetarian, try enhancing your favorite vegetarian recipes with some new spice or old spice, with a new perspective perhaps. 

Paprika

Although we’ve all heard of paprika, and it’s been around for a very long time, its main use has traditionally been for deviled eggs as a ‘decoration,’ if you will, rather than as a flavor enhancer. 

The truth about paprika is that the honest flavor of it is not released until it is heated, so most of the time it’s not even fully realized or utilized.  That is why it is excellent in vegetarian stir-fries.  It’s also high in vitamin A and has three times the amount of vitamin C as lemons.  Who knew?

Sumac

Sumac has a tart flavor and is great when used on rice dishes and dressings; it can be a great addition to simple vegetarian recipes.  You can use it as a substitute for lemon, and when used on hummus, it is delicious.

Cinnamon

Did you know that the smell of cinnamon has actually been shown to increase brain activity? 

You can add cinnamon to black beans and burritos for unique flavor, and spice up warm drinks in the winter.  You can also add cinnamon to high carbohydrate foods, and that will help lessen their impact on your blood sugar levels.  Now you have another good reason to enjoy your cinnamon toast.

Tofu and other soy products are usually staples in the vegetarian recipe world; now you can try these spices to enhance those simple vegetarian recipes, and make them extraordinary!

 



Obesity Causes And Solutions

Posted by content - July 2, 2009 on 7:13 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

If you are one of the millions of overweight individuals in society today, you may want to learn about obesity causes and what some solutions are.  The more educated you become about your health, the more likely you will be to make healthy decisions.  First you will need to have some idea of the causes of obesity.

Diet and Exercise

The most obvious of reasons for obesity are diet and exercise.  They are also probably the most easy to fix, but it does take commitment and education.  Yes, education, because you do have to learn what exactly it means to eat healthy and what a healthy diet actually entails.

This is also related to the risk factors of genetics and family history.  If you are brought up in a home that largely relies on junk food and eating out for nutrition, then it makes sense that you don’t know about other choices.  It’s also all the more important to learn how to make changes, because along with a family history of obesity, there is more than likely a family history of health problems. 

Medications

While certainly not all medications contribute to weight gain, some medications really do.  It’s important to talk to your doctor when you are prescribed medications to learn about side effects and see if there are alternatives. 

Some medications that may cause weight gain are:

  • some types of anti-depressants
  • beta blockers
  • steroids
  • diabetes
  • anti-seizure

Medical Issues

There are some medical issues that can cause significant weight gain, which is why it is important to talk to your doctor if you start to gain weight without an apparent cause. 

Some of the medical issues that may affect your obesity risk are:

  • Cushing’s syndrome
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
  • hypothyroidism
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome

Lack of Sleep

Believe it or not, lack of sleep can be a cause of obesity.  This is a reason to make sure you are getting the correct amount of sleep for your body. 

Solutions

The easiest thing you can start to do immediately (as a solution to obesity) is to start making changes in your diet.  This can be as simple as cutting out all sugary soft drinks.  This can have huge impact alone.  Next you can work to replace sugary snacks with something healthy like fruit, raw vegetables, or something else plant-based.  Keeping a food journal will help tremendously. 

Next, you can start to incorporate more movement into your day.  This may be as simple as parking further away from the store when you go shopping, or getting up and moving around during the commercial time of your favorite programs.  Whatever it is, it doesn’t have to be much at first.  Even just five minutes a day to start is fine, as long as you gradually increase the time.

There are other solutions also that you should be aware of.  You can ask your doctor about prescribing a weight loss pill.  This will have to be closely monitored, as there can be some serious side effects.

Surgery is another option, and of course there are risks involved with this dramatic procedure.  Your doctor can let you know if you are a good candidate for this, and it will depend upon your BMI (Body Mass Index) and other factors.

 



Rapid Weight Gain Causes & Concerns

Posted by content - July 2, 2009 on 7:10 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

If you are eating healthy and exercises, but still experiencing rapid weight gain, there may be some other reason that you are gaining weight. Here are a few of the main culprits outside of just eating too much and lack of activity.

Hypothyroidism

This thyroid hormone deficiency is characterized by your thyroid not producing enough thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones affect your metabolic activity, therefore if they are not functioning properly, you can gain weight fast.

Cushing Syndrome

This is a tumor in your pituitary gland that causes an imbalance in your hormones, triggering glands on the kidneys to release too much cortisol. Once your cortisol level goes up, your weight likewise elevates.

Menopause

When you are going through menopause, the following change levles:

  • Estrogen
  • Progesterone
  • Testosterone 
  • Androgen

These hormone fluctuations, along with the effects of aging such as a slower metabolism, can cause unexplained weight gain.

Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency

You need fatty acids to make hormones that help to maintain your body’s metabolism. A deficiency in these fatty acids could leave you to crave fatty foods, which could be one of the causes of your quick weight gain.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

This is characterized by:

  • irregular menstrual periods
  • acne
  • obesity 
  • excess hair growth

It is unsure whether weight gain triggers polycystic ovarian syndrome, or whether the syndrome causes weight gain, but they do normally go hand-in-hand.

If you are eating a healthy diet and exercising, but have recently experienced an unexplained weight gain, you may have an underlying medical condition that needs attention. Contact your doctor and schedule an appointment, and have your recent weight gain evaluated by a medical professional.

 



Body Fat Calipers: When & How To Measure

Posted by content - July 2, 2009 on 7:07 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

There are a number of ways to measure weight loss progress, and the most commonly used methods are the bathroom scale and a tape measure. However, there are other body fat reading indicators to consider using, including body fat calipers.

Losing Fat Means Gaining Muscle Weight

By exercising, an individual will lose fat weight and gain muscle weight. This is beneficial since muscle burns calories faster. However, this change will not be reflected on the bathroom scale reading. It will actually show a weight gain, not loss.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is one method for measuring a person’s body fat percentage by using height and weight measurements. It is reportedly 98 percent accurate by experts.

Skin Fold Measurements

Calipers are devices used to measure the thickness of skin folds at various parts of the body. The body fat percentage is calculated using a basic mathematical tabulation. The use of body fat calipers is  a highly accurate method for determining body fat loss. This method is also simple, requiring just one skin fold measurement above the right hip bone and consulting a body fat caliper chart to estimate the body fat percentage.

A skin fold measurement is done by pinching the skin, pulling it away from the body and with slight pressure and applying the caliper until it clicks. Although only one reading is necessary to calculate the body fat percentage, a more accurate determination of weight loss is done by measuring several locations with the help of a trained expert.

Measurement Formulas

The following areas are used to calculate the body fat percentage:

  1. Supra-iliac - a diagonal fold 1 inch above the hip bone
  2. Triceps - a vertical fold halfway between the elbow and the shoulder
  3. Biceps - a vertical fold halfway between the crease of the elbow and the crease of the shoulder
  4. Sub-scapular - a diagonal fold 1 inch below the lower angle of the shoulder blade
  5. Thigh - a diagonal fold taken in the middle of the thigh between the crease of the hip and the upper knee cap
  6. Abdomen - a vertical fold 1 inch to the side of the belly button
  7. Mid Auxiliary - a horizontal fold under the armpit in line with the upper sternum
  8. Chest - a diagonal fold taken halfway the distance between the nipple and the armpit for men and a third of the way for women

An accurate body fat percentage calculation can be done by using just the first four measurements in the above list.

 



How To Reduce Body Fat While Losing Weight

Posted by content - July 2, 2009 on 7:04 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

If a person is less than 10 pounds over the ideal weight, then simply cutting back on portions may be the answer to reduce body fat. If a person is more than 10 pounds, then a combination of healthy portions of food and exercise is needed. A certain amount of body fat is necessary for everyone since body fat is stored energy. Experts state that women should have approximately 20 percent body fat, whereas men should have only 15 percent.

Certain Foods Help Weight Loss

Some foods actually help process calories more effectively than others. Some carbohydrates break down slower, do not cause a spike in blood sugars, and are not stored as fat. Some examples are:

  • raisin bran
  • rye bread 
  • beans 

These foods are satisfying and do not produce the urge to snack between meals.

Some herbs help weight loss. The flavonoids in the green tea extract enhance digestion, according to researchers, while the antioxidants defend the genetic features of the cells. Green tea also acts as an appetite suppressant.

Online Weight Loss Help

Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig are programs that combine healthy food choices and exercise. These weight control programs include a well balanced diet incorporated with a change in lifestyle, based upon the theory that it is the wrong choices in foods and activities that produce weight gain.

Weight Control Supplements

Some weight control supplements suppress hunger, some act as a diuretic (water-loss), and some change metabolism in order to burn fat. Depending upon an individual’s needs and drive to lose weight, any one of these will work, however, some of these supplements can cause complications, health risks, or interfere with medications.

Weight Control through Exercise

Very often people turn exclusively to dieting in order to lose weight instead of combining the diet with exercise. Maintaining a proper diet from the major food groups, eating no more than 1200 calories per day, and performing a style of aerobic exercise at least three times a week for a minimum of 20 continuous minutes will help shed unwanted pounds. This will ensure a gradual, yet healthy, weight loss of no more than two pounds per week, as recommended by experts.

Benefits of Exercise

Exercise is extremely important in not only maintaining proper body weight, but to keep muscles strong and lean. Extra weight in the form of fat increases stress on the heart and circulatory system. This can lead to a heart attack or other heart abnormalities. Exercise will also rid the body of plaque or fat cells in the blood stream, thus reducing the risk of stroke.

Exercise burns fat while building muscles. Therefore, there may not be a noticeable difference in body weight since the muscle being built is heavier than fat it is replacing. A drop in clothes size and a decrease in measurable girth would signify the weight being lost. Using devices, such as calipers, will determine the body fat percentage.

Target Areas

Fat accumulates around the stomach area first, and for some people it can be the last place it leaves. Stomach exercises such as sit-ups flex the muscles in this area, causing them to become leaner and helps lose belly fat (when supplemented with cardio). Calisthenics or stretching exercises can also make the muscles stronger and leaner. Breathing exercises are also important to facilitate oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange in the blood. Lactic acid builds up during exercise and must be eliminated to prevent cramping. Inhaling during the flexing motion and exhaling during the relaxation motion will not only insure this exchange, but will help keep the rhythm of the exercise to smooth fluid motions so no injuries occur.

 



Creating A Weight Gain Diet For Your Goals

Posted by content - July 2, 2009 on 7:01 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

If you are underweight and have a hard time putting weight on, you may want to consider implementing a weight gain diet to gain some additional pounds. If you are one of those people with a fast metabolism, putting on weight may be quite difficult, and being too thin can have problems of its own (just like being obese). Set a healthy diet plan to gain weight the right way, and lower your risk for disease and improve your health.

Gaining Weight the Healthy Way

When trying to gain weight, it may seem like a good idea to just increase your intake of greasy, fatty foods, but the saturated and trans fats that these contain are bad for your health. It is necessary to increase your calorie count to gain weight, but you should do this with healthy foods.

Increasing your consumption of healthy fat sources like tuna, salmon, and nuts is one way to bolster your calories and get a heap of healthy fats. Also, increasing protein by consuming lean meats, fish, poultry, and beans, as well increasing healthy carbohydrates by eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a good idea. By eating more of these healthy foods, you will stay satisfied longer, and stay away from the high-fat junk foods.

Eating More Meals

Oftentimes when trying to eat more calories, it is helpful to eat five or six smaller meals instead of three larger ones. This way you will not be required to eat so much at one sitting, but will still get your extra nutrients by consuming more food overall.

Supplementing with Powders

Protein powder and nutritional supplement drinks are great for people trying to gain weight, because they add calories and protein to your diet in a quick and easy way. Most powders are flavored and only require you to add water, milk, or juice, making them a simple way to get added nutrients between meals when on the go.

Resistance Exercise to Gain Weight

Resistance training exercises are very helpful to promote and sustain healthy weight gain. This can include weight lifting, yoga, or Pilates. Increasing aerobic exercise, on the other hand, will promote weight loss and should only be done in moderation.

Tips for Successful Weight Gain

Some tips to gaining weight successfully and healthily are:

  • Use a food diary to track how many calories you are eating, to make sure you are getting enough calories daily.
  • Keep your meals balanced, with one serving of protein and two to three servings of vegetables.
  • Add milk and fruit juice to your diet instead of soda and other sugary drinks that have no nutritional value.
  • Design a weight training program that you can do several times a week, and stick to it.
  • Eat healthy snacks like trail mix (that is filled with nuts and dried fruit) to add calories and nutrition to your diet.

It may take awhile to gain weight, but sticking with these tips is the most effective and healthiest way to gain weight. Be patient, make sure you are getting enough calories for your body, and keep going until you reach your desired goal!

 



How A Body Fat Scale Works - Is It Reliable?

Posted by content - July 2, 2009 on 6:58 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

A good way to track your actual body fat range is to first find out what your body fat percentage is, and then utilize a body fat scale. You will want to make sure that you follow the right ranges by way of the body fat chart, since these measurements vary for each individual. 

How a Body Scale Works

The way a body fat scale works is by use of a non-detectable electrical current that is passed from the machine, through your body. The resistance to the current is measured, and the amount of resistance output is then calculated as your body density.

What Defines a Good Body Fat Scale

A good scale (that ranks high in body fat scale reviews) is the Tanita scale, which measures a true body fat range.  The Tanita name is known as one of the leading manufacturers of body fat scales. 

Good scales can vary in price, with the most expensive ones usually being the most precise ones.  Options they carry might include being able to provide a complete body fat chart for children, adults, and athletes.

 



“What Make’s A Complete Multivitamin “”Complete””?”

Posted by content - July 2, 2009 on 6:56 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

If you are going shopping for a complete multivitamin, or even if you are already taking one, ask yourself if it actually contains what your body needs.  That’s a valid question, and you need to educate yourself before spending hard earned money on something that may not be doing its job.

Basics

There are a few things that all supplements should contain, and some that they should not contain, for them to be considered complete.

Every multivitamin should contain:

  • essential and trace minerals
  • vitamins
  • folic acid
  • choline
  • amino acids (e.g. L-Glutamine, L-Cysteine, etc.)
  • enzymes
  • potent herbal extracts 
  • specialty nutrients

A complete multivitamin should also contain natural products instead of synthetic ingredients.  It’s important to read the label.  If the vitamin is inexpensive, that is a good indication that some, or all of the ingredients, may be synthetic.  There may also be a lot of unnecessary fillers in the vitamin. 

Considerations

When looking at the label, you also have to figure out what your individual needs are based on some essential factors.  Things to consider are:

  • gender
  • age
  • any health issues 
  • eating habits. 

For example, Centrum Performance adds ginseng to their vitamin but do you really need that? Men may want to look for Saw Palmetto on the ingredient list, while women may want to look for Wild Yam.  Some women may want to look for high calcium, depending on their age, or extra iron if they are pregnant. 

The list can go on and on, but you want to find a mulivitamin that will be effective for your lifestyle!

 



The Truth About Breastfeeding And Weight Revealed

Posted by content - July 2, 2009 on 6:53 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

Almost all new mothers are concerned about losing the weight they gained during pregnancy, however losing the extra pounds may not be as difficult as you imagine.  While it is true that you need to consume an extra 500 calories per day while breastfeeding, the average infant consumes 650 calories per day through breastfeeding, which gives you an automatic breastfeeding weight loss of 150 calories per day.

Calories Needed Per Day 

A nursing mother should consume between 1500 to 1800 calories per day to allow for a safe amount of weigh loss and still provide nutritious milk for the growing infant (without sacrificing needed nutrients such as calcium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin B6, and folate). In fact, breastfeeding mothers should not attempt weight loss during the first two postpartum months. This allows time for the mother’s body to recover from the pregnancy and delivery and gets the infant off to a healthy start. Breast-feeding mothers loose more weight when their babies are 3 to 6 months old than mothers who diet and bottle-feed

How Much Weight Loss Should Be Expected? 

It is common to loose weight during this period by just consuming a regular diet and eating when you have an appetite, not just when you are bored or have a craving.  Nursing mothers who eat according to appetite lose between 1.3 to 1.6 pounds per month in the first 4 to 6 months. If a breastfeeding mother continues to breastfeed beyond 6 months, they normally continue to experience weight loss but at a slower rate. Slow and steady weight loss at the rate of about one pound per week , while maintaining a caloric intake of 1500 to 1800 calories per day, will allow you to have the energy that you need to care for the infant and feel great.

Achieving the Loss of Body Fat

For mothers who gain weight during lactation or stop losing weight, the solution is to reduce calorie intake by 100 calories per day and increase activity level. Some mothers express concern that increasing activity will have an adverse effect on breast milk; this is not true. Gentle exercise such as walking will not cause any negative effect on milk production; in fact women who exercise have slightly higher volumes of breast milk than women who do not exercise. Taking the children out in a stroller or sling for a brisk 30-minute walk will add to the intensity of the exercise and allow both mother and children to experience fresh air and sunlight.  

Using weight loss medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter supplements, are not recommended during breastfeeding. The same rule applies to liquid diets. By limiting the caloric intake and consuming a variety of foods (combined with regular moderate exercise), the lactating mother will not only lose those pregnancy pounds, but will experience increased cardiovascular fitness as well.

 



What Your Favorite Pregnancy Food Cravings Mean

Posted by content - July 2, 2009 on 6:50 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

Food cravings are a common phenomenon during pregnancy, as nearly 85 percent of pregnant women experience them. However, women need to pay attention to what pregnancy food they consume, as certain products may harm the fetus. 

What do Women Crave?

Cravings are not the same for all women, but a certain pattern can be observed. Surveys indicate that:

  • 40 percent of pregnant women want something sweet
  • 33 percent feel the need for something salty
  • 17 percent want spicy food
  • 10 percent crave citrus fruits, green apples, and other sour foods

What Causes the Food Cravings?

It is believed that food cravings are caused by hormones, but the certain cause remains unknown. The hormonal changes that appear during pregnancy affect taste and smell, as they also do during menopause. It is difficult to pinpoint the cause because the cravings differ from one person to another, while the effects caused by pregnancy are mostly the same. 

What do Food Cravings Mean?

Nutritionists and healthcare practitioners believe that there may be a connection between cravings and certain deficiencies in the body. Sometimes, though, this connection is unexplained, because the craved food cannot provide the deficient vitamin or mineral.

  • Ice craving seems to indicate iron deficiency, even though this item does not contain iron
  • Chocolate craving is supposedly connected to deficiency of vitamins from the B complex
  • Red meat indicates a lack of proteins in the pregnancy diet
  • Peach craving is related to beta carotene deficiency

Cravings disappear when taking flax oil, but this is most common in women who need more essential fatty acids. 

What to do About Pregnancy Cravings

Pregnant women need to find a balance between their emotional needs and healthy pregnancy foods. Adjusting the pregnancy diet is necessary sometimes, as not all the craved foods are good. For instance, ice cream, one of the most common craved foods, can be successfully replaced with nonfat frozen yoghurt. 

Besides altering certain pregnancy recipes, women must also take care of their eating habits. Skipping breakfast, for example, can cause the cravings to become more serious. 

What Pregnancy Food to Avoid

Junk food should be avoided at all times, especially during pregnancy. This type of food lacks the nutrients that are needed by the baby. Fortunately, many of the unhealthy foods and beverages that are craved during pregnancy have substituents:

  • Cola can be swapped with mineral water combined with fruit juice
  • Doughnuts can be substituted with a whole grain bagel with jam
  • Potato chips should be changed with homemade popcorn or pretzels
  • Chocolate is usually replaced with hot cocoa made with non-fat milk
  • Canned fruit needs to be substituted with fresh fruit in order to assure a greater amount of nutrients

Most of the products can also be used in pregnancy recipes in order to replace the unhealthy equivalents. As pregnancy nutrition affects the development of the baby, making such changes can only be beneficial. However, this does not mean that the pregnancy cravings need to be ignored completely when experienced. Women may indulge themselves as long as the craved foods do not pose a threat to their or their baby’s health.

 



Wii Fitness: A Revolutionary Way Of Exercising

Posted by Bill Nad - July 2, 2009 on 6:09 pm | In Fitness Tips For Life | No Comments The fun and fitness that is Wii fitness has no comparison, after a year or so I am still having fun with this thing. After running around the living room for half an hour, impersonating a tree, punching the air and whacking invisible tennis balls, any casual observer could be forgiven for thinking you [...]

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Wii Fitness: A Revolutionary Way Of Exercising

 



Hospitals close to agreeing to accept Medicare cuts

Posted by MyDietExercise.com - Latest Diet & Exercise News - July 2, 2009 on 4:16 pm | In Diet Reviews | No Comments According to Kaiser Health News, the hospital industry is about to agree to accept federal funding cuts of $150 billion to $170 billion over the next decade to help pay for efforts to reform the national healthcare system.

 



[Forum] Starting My Weight Loss Journey

Posted by contactus@diet-blog.com - July 2, 2009 on 6:36 am | In Diet Blog | No Comments From Diet Blog Share:

I've heard that it's much easier to start a healthy lifestyle and exercise routine if you have people to support you - this is my way of doing that.

I started Monday (yes, very new), and I did an excercise video called "Zumba," which was amazingly fun and quite difficult, since I have let myself go. I also went swimming for about an hour.

The only thing that's difficult now is my eating habits. I like the feeling of working out, but it's the eating that has been a consistent problem all my life, and I am determined to break it. I see how much weight I've gained and I am way too young (22) to have body problems. I ate some Thai food for lunch yesterday - yogurt, and chicken strips with ranch from Denny's. The best choice? No. But I realized that.

This is the beginning of a journey of a lifetime. I want to not only lose weight, but learn about my body and how it reacts to things. I feel like I'm molding my body to be what it was supposed to be. Every time I work out I'm molding a little piece of fat off!

Any advice would be much appreciated!

 



13 Big Fat Dieting Myths

Posted by contactus@diet-blog.com - July 2, 2009 on 6:00 am | In Diet Blog | No Comments
SXC: Lusi

Wouldn't you agree the diet industry is saturated with unhealthy weight loss misconceptions? This has helped lead to an explosion of behaviors, which do little to encourage good health and well-being in the long run.

I hate the fact that in our day and age for some people "health" equals "fad dieting!"

Continue reading...

 



[Forum] Weight Loss Plateau Following Gastric Bypass

Posted by contactus@diet-blog.com - July 2, 2009 on 5:50 am | In Diet Blog | No Comments From Diet Blog Share:

Since having my gastric bypass I've lost 100 pounds, but now I seem to be hitting a wall. I'm maintaining my weight loss, but I need to lose another 60 pounds.

How can I get the scales to move again? Has anyone had a gastric bypass and then experienced a weight loss plateau?

I need some help and suggestions on how to start the weight loss again.

Thanks Tami

 



Dancing Through Your Chores is a Great Workout

Posted by Brooke - July 2, 2009 on 2:00 am | In Diet Blog | No Comments

woman dancing on deskI cannot promise that all mental health professionals take their own advice, but I try not to speak outside of my own experience. I suppose I could say the same thing for dance instruction. Recently, when working with a fairly new salsa student, I encouraged him to try to get the pattern of the basic step cemented by just walking around his house left-right-left-pause, right-left-right-pause, stepping toe to heel rather than heel to toe. While I worked with him for almost an hour just reviewing all the details of the basic step, I was reminded yet again what a great workout just this basic dance step can be. If you really concentrate on proper technique and body isolations, you are using a lot of different muscles, and I find just one song can have me out of breath.

I am constantly trying to find ways to integrate more activity into my busy schedule. Today, I decided to take my own advice and popped my iPod into the dock while I set out to clean house. Normally cleaning takes me a lot of time because I get bored and distract myself. Dancing let me have fun and also showed me where I still need some work. Ideally, as a dancer, I should be able to keep my feet moving despite what my arms are doing, but I caught myself standing more than once while scrubbing my cast iron skillet. Of course the best part of it was how much I accomplished. It is June and in the 90s in Indiana, but there were still sweaters on my bedroom floor - not any more!

Turning on the Timba for a few minutes every day can bring me more joy, more cleanliness, more activity, and increase my dance skills. Even if salsa isn’t your dance of choice, find the music that moves you, combine tasks, and maybe even practice your moonwalk.

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Dancing Through Your Chores is a Great Workout

 



High Carb Foods Raise Risk of Heart Disease

Posted by heather - July 2, 2009 on 2:00 am | In Diet Blog | No Comments

jelly sandwichPut down that PB&J on white bread and listen to this: In a just-released landmark study, researchers at Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine and the Heart Institute of Sheba Medical Center found that high carbohydrate foods can be extremely dangerous to the health of your heart. Implicated foods include the “bad” carbs like white bread, sugary cereals, cookies and cakes.

While this isn’t exactly new news, this important study provides a direct reason why these high glycemic foods wreak havoc on the heart and increase risk of heart disease. The researchers showed that after you eat a carb-laden food like a bowl of corn flakes or a Twinkie, your brachial arteries become distended, or swollen, for several hours. While it’s important for the arteries to have a certain amount of elasticity in them, over time, a sudden expansion of the arteries, which follows after noshing on a carb-filled snack, can cause a number of negative health effects, including reduced elasticity, which can cause heart disease or sudden death.

Medical professionals are not only warning against the consumption of high glycemic foods, but the results appear to be even scarier for those who binge on such foods and consume too much of them in one sitting. Their risk of death from a heart attack is greatly increased.

So what does this study mean for you? Doctors are recommending that when you eat carbohydrates, consume those with whole grains like oatmeal, whole grain bread, brown or wild rices and starches like sweet potatoes and legumes. Since these foods contain fiber in addition to a number of other essential nutrients, they result in a slow and steady release of blood sugar and don’t expand the arteries like the culprit “white” foods do. Toss in 30 minutes of physical activity every day and you’re the picture of perfect health!

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High Carb Foods Raise Risk of Heart Disease

 



Overweight People May Live Longest

Posted by Jason - July 2, 2009 on 2:00 am | In Diet Blog | No Comments

Once in a while there emerges health news that makes everyone scratch their heads. Here comes one of those moments…couple silhouette

If you are overweight - but only a little bit - congratulations, you are probably going to live the longest of any of us. That’s right, according to a new study people who were overweight, but not obese, were in prime position to outlive everyone else.

In the study, published in the journal Obesity, experts followed people 25 and older for 12 years. What they found was that people in the body mass index range of 25-29.9 were 17 percent less likely to die than those who were normal weight (a BMI of 18.5-24.9). Those who were underweight, a BMI less than 18.5, were 73 percent more likely to die than those who were normal weight.

“Overweight may not be the problem we thought it was,” said Dr. David H. Feeny, a senior investigator at Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Oregon, and one of the authors of the study. “Overweight was protective.”

The study was thorough and took into account issues that may lead people to poke holes in it: age, gender, people’s smoking habits, exercise, alcohol consumption, and diseases such as cancer.

In 2007, scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute reported that overweight adults were less likely than normal weight adults to die from a variety of diseases, including infections and lung disease.

Feeny says the findings may be due to the fact that a little excess weight is protective for the elderly. But the one possible explanation that would diffuse the controversial aspect of the findings is that maybe medication, used to treat health conditions associated with being overweight, is responsible for prolonging their lives.

(via: The New York Times)

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Overweight People May Live Longest

 



Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Yields Frightening Nutrition Facts

Posted by Brandi - July 2, 2009 on 2:00 am | In Diet Blog | No Comments

joey chestnut nathans famous hot dog eating contestClearly no one signs up for an eating contest of any kind with the goal of minding their portion sizes. For participants in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, an annual 4th of July event, the more you eat the better. Each year two men continually beat the rest of the contestants and battle it out for the infamous hot dog title.

We all know that whatever is in a hot dog is questionable, but do you think Joey Chestnut, of the U.S., and Takeu Kobayashi, of Japan, have ever stopped to read the food label on their pile of hot dogs? We think not. The folks at CalorieLab did the math and calculated exactly what the nutritional aftermath looks like when you eat 66 hot dogs on 66 buns (the total consumed by Chestnut in the 2007 event).

nathans famous hot dog nutrition factsThat tallies up to 6,600 grams of hot dogs and buns, 14.5 pounds, eaten in a regulation time of 10 minutes! After reading this, we dare you to keep down your hot dogs.

  • 19,600 Calories (about 10 days’ worth of calories)
  • 1,280g Fat (that’s 2.82 pounds)
  • 490g Saturated Fat (1.08 pounds of the unhealthy fat)
  • 43,410mg Sodium (1.53 oz, or 1,800 times the RDA)

There’s no telling what kind of health repercussions these two hot dog connoisseurs face afterward. Tummy aches are sure to ensue, and hopefully a lot of fruits and vegetables!

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Yields Frightening Nutrition Facts

 



High Blood Pressure: Exercising With Hypertension

Posted by content - July 1, 2009 on 3:15 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

High blood pressure is referred to as the silent killer because it can often be present without any outward symptoms. It keeps doing its damage, and then can suddenly deliver a blow in the form of a heart attack or stroke.  While this is not always the result of high blood pressure, lifestyle changes can help to control and reduce blood pressure, and bring it down to normal. 

People suffering from high blood pressure often put on weight, and could even become obese. Exercise is essential to bring down the weight and also to control the high blood pressure.

How Blood Pressure is Controlled by Exercise

The body has a baro-reflex, which is performed by special cells named baroreceptors. The function of baroreceptors is to measure and adjust blood pressure and ensure the normal functioning of the body. When a person exercises, these cells are also stimulated and their efficiency to perform their stipulated task increases.

Exercise Recommendations

It is recommended that you go in for a mix of strength, flexibility, and cardio exercises and ensure that you follow a regimen that will help you lower high blood pressure.

A good exercise for reducing high blood pressure is walking, whether in a park or on a treadmill.  Jogging is also not ruled out. Aerobics, swimming, and biking are some of the other popular options.

You must have regular exercise sessions, but listen to your body and do not overdo it. Being consistent with your exercise is what is important, not how intense the workout is.  You should also remember that it is of utmost importance to warm up before and cool down after each session.

If you have the high blood pressure condition under control, you can even try out strength training at a moderate pace.  It is recommended that you do not use heavy weights, but increase the repetitions.  You should also breathe correctly throughout the exercise session by exhaling when you exert and inhaling while returning to the starting position.

Dietary Recommendations

Though exercise is an important component of high blood pressure management, dietary changes also play an important part in the lifestyle changes that are recommended.

Minimizing salt intake and eating a low sodium diet should be the only way to go. This can be achieved is by following the DASH Diet.  The DASH Diet is a diet program developed by the National Institutes of Health, along with researches from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

If you follow the DASH Diet strictly, your will intake salt, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, proteins etc. only in quantities appropriate for you.  This will not only help to control your weight and high blood pressure, but also leaves you feeling more energetic.

You must remember that whether it is a dietary change or change in physical activity, you need to be gentle and gradual to achieve the best results!

 



Dance Your Ass Off Premiere Recap

Posted by Brandi - July 1, 2009 on 3:13 pm | In Diet Blog | No Comments

dance your ass offOne of the sassiest hits of the summer television season has finally hit the airwaves. Dance Your Ass Off premiered Monday night on the Oxygen network and was met with instant fan attraction.

The premise is simple - take one part Dancing With the Stars, one part Biggest Loser, add a Tony-award winning host, and just a dash of a $100,000 prize and you’ve got the recipe for a hit weight loss reality show. Twelve contestants were selected to do what many have done on DWTS, dance the weight off. They’ll also pair their training with fitness and nutrition guidance from the likes of Biggest Loser’s Dr. Huizenga.

Host Marissa Jaret Winokur, from “Hairspray,” said “you don’t have to starve yourself and be miserable to lose weight.” This is a principle that has made Biggest Loser’s weight loss program so approachable to millions. If you make healthy changes while doing what you love, then you’ll no doubt see your goals met.

Check out these premiere recap, then read below to learn more about Dance Your Ass Off.

dance your ass off judgesMeet the Judges

  • Mayte Garcia is a professional dancer previously married to Prince.
  • Lisa Ann Walter was in the movie “Shall We Dance.”
  • Danny Teeson is a nicer-than-usual Brit. He’s a former member of “Queer Eye for the Straight Girl” and has been an “American Idol” choreographer.

How the Competition Works

As Marissa explained to the contestants during the DYAO premiere, the contest will work like this; Contestants will have daily dance rehearsals as well as twice daily workouts. Each week, they’ll go on stage to literally dance their asses off for the judges.

Each contestant will receive a score 1 to 10 based on their dancing performance. (In the premiere, no one went below a five and no one achieved a 10.) That score would be added to the weight loss percentage for that week. The two contestants with the lowest scores would then have a dance-off.

While they’re all working toward the $100,000 cash prize for the best dancer/biggest weight loss, the ultimate prize is “No more feeling bad about yourselves. It’s time to feel good,” says Marissa.

Premiere Recap

Each contestant met with the doctors to learn just how badly their weight had affected their health. No doubt they received some surprising news. But everyone’s putting their best dance shoe forward to reverse those changes. (A similar medical examination is conducted at the beginning of Biggest Loser and by the end most of those contestants have completely reversed their health issues.) The contestants also met their professional dance partners, and some of the matches seem more meant to be than others.dance your ass off karla

Then, it was time to tear up the dance floor. As is to be expected, some stood out as stellar dancers, like Pinky and Karla, while others might have two left feet, like Angela.

In the end, it was Angela who bid farewell while Karla stole the show with both moves and weight loss as the week’s leader.

With a combined starting weight of nearly 3,000 pounds, these contestants certainly have their work cut out for them this season. Be sure to tune-in each Monday this summer to Oxygen’s Dance Your Ass Off to not miss a beat of this exciting new weight loss show.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Dance Your Ass Off Premiere Recap

 



Is The 1200 Calorie Diet Right For You?

Posted by content - July 1, 2009 on 3:10 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

Whether the 1200 calorie diet is adequate for you depends on your current calorie intake and on your body type. First of all, you need to use a calorie counter in order to determine the ratio between the calorie intake and burned calories. For determining your body type, you need to calculate the BMI (body mass index), or the ratio between your height and body weight.  

Gender also plays an important role when choosing a diet. While the 1200 calorie diet is adequate for women who want to lose weight rapidly, men should try 1500-1700 calorie diets for the same purpose.  

Premise: The premise of this diet is that you will lose weight if you reduce your calorie intake and practice portion control. Fat and alcohol are rich in calories, and hence, should be avoided when following a low calorie diet. In contrast, protein and carbs are found at the other extreme. 

Diet: A 1200 calorie diet should comprise:

  • Grains - 5 servings
  • Vegetables - 3 servings
  • Fruits - 2 servings
  • Beans, nuts, seeds, meat substitutes and eggs - 5 ounces 

What to get excited over: Provided that your current diet provides 1700 calories, switching to a 1200 calorie diet will help you to lose 1 pound per week. Weight loss is even more obvious when your previous diet has more calories.

Things to consider: A sudden transition from a high calorie diet to a low calorie diet plan may be complicated and could wreak havoc on your body. Hence, you are advised to make the change gradually. 

The Verdict: If weight loss is your goal, you are suggested to try acai berry instead of a low calorie diet. This fruit is rich in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins that improve the immune system and digestion, and protect your body form cancer and heart diseases. Overall, acai berry may provide more benefits than a simple 1200 calorie diet.

You must maintain a nutritious and balanced diet, and give your body adequate calories, to remain healthy for life!

 



Vegetarian Diets: Understanding The Hype

Posted by mclifford - July 1, 2009 on 3:07 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

With all the hype about eating a vegetarian diet, you might wonder if you should adhere to a vegetarian type of diet or even what the heck that means.   Well, basically what a vegetarian diet consists of is choosing not to eat meat products.  Sounds simple, but it isn’t really; there are wide variations, depending on the person.

What is a Vegetarian?

Believe it or not, a vegetarian is not just a vegetarian any more.  There are different vegetarian types:

  • A Lacto-Vegetarian is one who includes milk and milk products in their diet, but no eggs or egg products.
  • An Ovo-Vegetarian is one who includes eggs and egg products in their diet, but no milk or milk products. 
  • A Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian is one who includes both milk and egg products in their diet.
  • A Lacto-Ovo-Pesco-Vegetarian is one who includes milk, eggs, chicken, and fish in their diet, basically just omitting red meat products.

Then there is the most commonly known vegan.  A vegan is someone who chooses a plant-based diet that very strictly does not include any meat or meat by-products, egg products, or dairy products.

Who Becomes a Vegetarian?

Just as there are vegetarian diet variations, there are vegetarian types themselves.  There are many reasons people choose to become vegetarians.  The most popular reasons recently, which have caused a lot of the hype, are the movements to stop cruelty to farm animals and to save the environment. 

What does saving the environment have to do with being a vegetarian?  Well, the fossil fuel and water use alone, when caring for a meat farm, are a heavy burden on the planet (that’s a whole other article).

The cruel treatment of farm animals is another ethical reason for the fresh look at vegetarianism currently.  Many animals are ‘fattened’ up only to be slaughtered for human consumption.  Many animals are also tightly caged their entire lives, only to be killed and utilized as food. 

Other reasons people choose a vegetarian diet are religious, health, and economic based. 

Vegetarian Benefits

There truly are vegetarian health benefits to consider.  Some of the benefits are:

  • lower cholesterol levels from cutting the fat of meat products
  • lower incidence of heart disease
  • lower rate of high blood pressure and type 2 Diabetes 

Of course, along with these benefits comes the lower rate of obesity. There has also been shown to be fewer cases of osteoporosis and kidney and gall stones. 

Of course, all of these benefits will depend upon you still making healthy food choices.  It is all the more important for vegetarians to incorporate protein into the diet via tofu, soy, etc.  And choosing real vegetables and fruit to eat, rather than more processed or junk food, makes all the difference.

 

 



Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Low-Carb Or Low GI Diet?

Posted by content - July 1, 2009 on 3:03 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

Though Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a syndrome not caused by lifestyle influences, it’s been found that the condition can be be positively influenced by diet changes. Diets high in animal fats (including saturated fats) and sugar are worst contributors to PCOS sufferers. So which will have a better result–a low-carb or low GI diet?

What is PCOS?

PCOS is an endocrine disorder that produces a hormone imbalance in women. It is the leading cause of infertility in woman and stems from insulin insensitivity. Women with PCOS produce too many male hormones (androgens) that lead to a variety of medical problems, including infertility, obesity, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

What Symptoms Come With PCOS?

If you experience two or more of the following symptoms, PCOS is a possibility that should be considered:

  • obesity
  • endrometriosis
  • irregular periods
  • excessive body hair
  • diabetes
  • high blood pressure

What are the Possible Treatments for PCOS?

  1. Medication- There are only 2 medications for PCOS, and Metformin is by far the most popular. It is mainly used to treat Type 2 diabetes because of its effectiveness in lowering insulin resistance, lowering high blood pressure, and aiding in overall weight loss. That is also why it can be very effective with PCOS. The side affects are limited but can include intestinal issues.
  2. Diet- A low-carb diet that’s high in lean protein can be very effective in lowering insulin sensitivity, correcting triglyceride levels, reducing LDL cholesterol levels, and decreasing weight. The decrease in weight will also improve the androgen levels that are the root cause of PCOS.

Which Diet Works Best for PCOS?

Woman with PCOS typically already have some of the symptoms of metabolic syndrome, or Syndrome X, like insulin resistance and a higher risk of heart disease. A low-carb diet, like a Mediterranean Diet or even the Flat Belly Diet, can successfully treat both syndromes. A low GI diet will help alleviate the discomfort associated with the side effects of medications like Metformin, but will not be as effective in lowering the critical blood levels (cholesterol, insulin, blood sugar, or triglycerides) that dominate both conditions.  

The low-carbo diets replace all saturated fats with monounsaturated fats and keep your daily meals around 1600 calories each to aid in weight loss. The bulk of your nutrition comes from a mediterranean-style diet that includes lots of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and only lean, small portions of protein.

Low GI tract diets are effective with lowering levels of harmful animal fats in the diet, but not as easy to maintain. Many women crave the carbs that are often greatly eliminated in lower GI diets, and they need the proteins for energy that are often restricted in lower GI diets.

Low carb diets concentrate on whole grain carbohydrates and very lean proteins to allow for healthy exercise to be incorporated into the program. They are typically lifestyle diets meant to be maintained for a lifetime, instead of a quick-fix weight loss program that has a beginning and end.

 



Benefits Of Metformin: Weight Loss, Diabetes Prevention, etc.

Posted by content - July 1, 2009 on 3:01 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

It’s rare that a pharmacutical can combine both the benefits of weight loss and some medical health solutions, but Metformin weight loss is just one of the uses for the drug, Metformin. Because of its effectiveness on insulin resistance, the oral medication Metformin is often used to treat a variety of weight-related problems.

What is Metformin?

A popular anti-diabetes treatment, Metformin is used to treat insulin sensitivity which leads to Type 2 diabetes. Although many doctors will first recommend low-carb diets for their patients with early signs of diabetes, Metformin is a very popular drug found to be effective on a variety of the symptoms that typically come with early signs of Type 2 diabetes like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and concentrated belly fat. By decreasing the patient’s insulin sensitivity, Metformin can also provide frequently sought after weight loss. It is an especially attractive option for patients who need to achieve real results quickly–like a jump start stage of most diet programs. Metformin can start providing blood count results quicker than typical low-carb diets.

What Other Illnesses Can Metformin Treat?

In addition to diabetes prevention and treatment, Metformin is perscribed to:

  • treat Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
  • treat Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X)
  • encourage weight loss
  • reduce triglyceride levels
  • lower LDL cholesterol levels

What are the Possible Side Effects of Metformin? 

Another reason for Metformin’s popularity is its limited side effects for the general population. While very effective with diabetes-related symptoms, there has been some intestinal discomfort associated with the drug reported by users. So patients with existing IBS issues or Crones disease should discuss those conditions with their physician before requesting the drug, and they may even consider dietary intervention first.  

Metformin has also been associated with a rare, but real, condition known as drug-induced lactic acidosis. If you are elderly, recently have had surgery, have significant renal and hepatic disease, alcoholism or a condition associated with hypoxia like cardiac and pulmonary disease, Metformin should not be used. Other possible risk factors for metformin-induced lactic acidosis are sepsis, dehydration, and extreme high dosages of the drug. 

How Does Metformin Benefit People Suffering From PCOS and Metabolic Syndrome?

PCOS benefits: Woman with PCOS have a hormone imbalance that causes their bodies to produce harmful levels of male androgen hormones. Left unchecked, this puts them at a higher risk for uterine cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and infertility. Typically these women also experience some Endrometriosis, weight gain, and irregular hair growth patterns (thinning or growth in abnormal areas).  Metformin works to lower insulin resistance that in turn lowers the androgen levels that put them at risk.

Metabolic Syndrome benefits: Much like PCOS suffers, patients with metabolic syndrome typically have obesity issues where the excess weight is concentrated in the belly and insulin resistance that can lead to Type 2 diabetes. By lowering their insulin sensitivity, the Metformin can help metabolic syndrome suffers lose weight, lower their triglyceride levels, and lower LDL cholesterol–all risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

 



Best Tasting Protein Shake: Perfect Post Workout Drink

Posted by mclifford - July 1, 2009 on 3:00 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

If you are trying to lose weight, add nutrition to your diet, or gain muscle mass, it’s important for you to know the features of the best tasting protein shake for the perfect post workout drink.  

What A Protein Shake Is

A protein shake is simply a drink that contains certain nutrients that your body needs to rebuild itself after working out.  There are many to choose from, but not all have the same nutritional value. In fact, some can even defeat your purpose.

What It Should Contain

A protein shake that is most beneficial to you should have some essential ingredients that complement your other efforts to lose weight and gain important muscle mass. 

The protein shakes that are the best for you contain these three key ingredients:

  1. Isolate protein powder- to ease digestion and aid in muscle repair and gain.
  2. Carbohydrates- to increase your insulin levels.
  3. Glutamine- an essential amino acid to aid in quicker recovery.

Options

There are several options to choose from when looking for a protein shake that contains all of the appropriate nutrition and ingredients. 

GNC has several brands and flavors: Unjury, Optimum’s 100% Whey, Isomatri to name a few.

Many brands offer a variety of options to cater to your personal taste, the consistency you prefer, and what you can afford.  The two top best tasting protein shakes post workout are Unjury and Optimum’s 100% Whey.

Unjury

Unjury brand is available online and the following flavors are available:

  • chocolate
  • vanilla
  • strawberry sorbet
  • chicken soup 
  • unflavored

Unjury contains all of the best ingredients for optimum benefits and comes in full size containers as well as in single serve packets.  The price is also reasonable, starting at $18.95 for the flavored full size. 

Optimum’s 100% Whey

This protein shake is rated best tasting and comes in a large variety of options, so you can experiment and find the one that best fits your needs and tastes.  100% Oats and Whey comes in vanilla and chocolate flavors, and the three pound tub starts at $35.99.

There are other price ranges and flavors to choose from, depending on the specific product used. This brand is widely available.

 



Syndrome X & The Flat Belly Diet

Posted by content - July 1, 2009 on 2:54 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

Syndrome X is also known as metabolic syndrome X or insulin resistance syndrome, and it requires a Syndrome X diet. It is typically defined as a group of medical abnormalities associated with an increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. People with centralized, excessive weight gain in the belly area alone are frequently at risk for Syndrome X.

Signs of Syndrome X

There isn’t a single symptom attributed to the diagnosis of Syndrome X, but a grouping of a few of the following things will lead to the diagnosis:

  • high blood pressure
  • elevated triglycerides
  • fasting hyperglycemia
  • decreased HDL cholesterol 
  • excessive waist fat 

Risk Factors for Syndrome X

People who are very overweight or obese, have a sedentary lifestyle, already have Type 2 diabetes, or have heart disease are at a greater risk for Syndrome X. Also, as we age, unhealthy diets high in saturated fats and low in exercise will increase your risk factors. 

How PCOS Affects Syndrome X

Woman with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) typically already have some of the symptoms of Syndrome X, like insulin resistance and a higher risk of heart disease. While PCOS is not related to lifestyle factors as Syndrome X can be, lowering the health risks associated with both syndromes will increase your quality of life through healthier, longer body function.  

How the Flat Belly Diet Can Help

The goal of the Flat Belly Diet is to reduce your overall body weight a little at a time, while improving cholesterol rates, triglyceride levels, and the health concerns associated with heart disease. This is done by replacing all saturated fats in your diet with healthier monounsaturated fats and keeping your daily meals at 1600 calories each. The bulk of your nutrition should come from a mediterranean-type diet that includes lots of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and only lean, small portions of protein.

For both syndromes, the diet can reduce the risks of heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 Diabetes.

 



How To Lose Your Baby Weight In 4 Steps

Posted by content - July 1, 2009 on 2:51 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

If you’re a woman who is expecting or thinking of having a baby, you may be wondering about how to lose baby weight after the birth. Babies are always blessings, but your post-baby body frequently isn’t, and new mothers can be upset to learn that “baby fat” doesn’t always refer to fat on the baby! After having a baby, your metabolism could be in the dumps and you’re often too tired to feel like you can do anything about it.

Instead of succumbing to despair and resigning yourself to a life of extra-large T-shirts, you should be encouraged. Light cardio work and healthy eating, among other things, can help you lose belly weight faster than you thought. You don’t need a personal trainer and chef like Hollywood’s elite; just follow these 4 steps and you’ll lose your baby weight in no time!

Step 1: Breastfeed

Breastfeeding is wonderful for your baby and for you as well. Many people are aware that breast milk is the perfect food for babies, unmatched by any formula alternatives. However, not everyone is aware that breastfeeding burns a lot of calories and is healthy for the mother as well. On average, you can expect to burn around 500 calories daily just by breastfeeding your newborn - that’s equivalent to a good hour of vigorous exercise!

Step 2: Eat Right

Again, what’s good for your baby is good for you. Take care of your little one by eating plenty of healthy foods and cutting out processed sugars and trans fats, and you’ll be doing yourself a favor as well. A healthy diet is essential to losing weight any time, and post-baby weight is no exception.

Step 3: Exercise When Able

Understandably, taking care of a baby leaves you with little, if any, free time to spend exercising. Even if the baby takes regular naps, you can’t exactly leave him or her home alone while you head to the gym. With easy and affordable at-home exercises like skipping rope or running stairs, you won’t have to. At-home cardio or aerobics exercises can be done whenever you have free time, and they will help you quickly trim fat from your entire body.

Step 4: Don’t Overdo It!

Just taking care of a baby can be exhausting, especially in the first few months. It’s important to not overwork yourself by trying to drop weight too fast or by exercising too hard. In the first month to two months, your body will still be trying to recover from the process of giving birth, so exercising too strenuously can cause a whole host of problems. Rest assured that you’re burning plenty of calories just by breastfeeding, and don’t push yourself to exhaustion.

By following these 4 steps, you’ll be able to lose your baby weight in a way that’s beneficial to both yourself and your baby. Careful eating and exercise can bring you back to the height of health, and give you an enviable post-baby body.

 



5 Little-Known Body Fat Facts

Posted by mclifford - July 1, 2009 on 2:51 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

There are many questions today concerning body fat pertaining to the normal range, how to attain it, as well as how to measure it.  Body fat has become a world-wide obsession, as well as a national epidemic in the U.S. with many adults and children being in the overweight range.  Studies have linked the amount of body fat we have to diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, as well as cancers.

Fact #1: Average Body Weight Can Still be Harmful

For women, an average of 40-50 pounds of body weight is fat, and 5-10 pounds of that is intra-abdominal fat.  This is fat that is not visible to the naked eye, so you can be of average weight and sill have this intra-abdominal fat be in the higher range. Excess fat close to this area will cause disruptions to the functions of the liver, limiting its ability to control insulin in the blood.  An excess of insulin will cause high cholesterol and high blood pressure, as well as heart disease in the long run.

Fact #2: Increasing Muscle will Burn Body Fat Faster

Body fat will metabolize faster, and even while sleeping, if you have worked your muscles to their capacity at certain intervals throughout the day.  Muscle also carries more density than fat, so although you may be the same weight from the time you start your diet, having more muscle mass will cause this effect. Also, fat is burned inside the muscles, so the more muscle mass you carry, the more fat and calories you will burn throughout the day.

Fact #3: Body Weight Measurements are Misleading

The national BMI standards for body weight have increased over the past 30 years.  This would indicate that a person who is overweight today by those standards, might have been at ideal weight 30 years ago.  You will also want to make sure you are measuring your body fat using a body fat scale, so the actual fat is measured and not muscle density.

Fact #4: Excess Body Fat Can Still be Healthy

Studies have shown that people who have some extra body fat and moderately exercise as part of a regular health regimen, are actually healthier than thin people who do not exercise and are sedentary.   If you look at certain parts of the country, there is proof that diets high in healthy fat can actually be good for you (such as in the Mediterranean where olive oil is used extensively).

Fact #5: Body Fat Can be Linked to Your Thyroid

The thyroid gland is responsible for metabolism, as well as the temperature in your body.  If your thyroid is underactive, it will cause slow metabolism and therefore hinder weight loss efforts.  It will cause ailments such as allergies, asthma, migraines, as well as other physical factors such as cold hands and feet.  If it is overactive, an increase in appetite may be felt along with possible weight gain from the increase in calories.

 



Lose That Stomach Weight: Secrets You Should Know

Posted by content - July 1, 2009 on 2:48 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

If you want to, or have been trying to lose stomach weight, you need to know these fat burning secrets to see results. You might be shocked to know that traditional abdominal exercises, such as stomach sit ups, are actually mostly ineffective when it comes to flattening your tummy. Proper dieting and all-over fat burning is the best way to get a fit and trim stomach. Before you start wasting your time with daily crunches, read on to learn about the best ways to lose stomach weight.

You Can’t Spot Train

Many people believe that “spot training,” that is, specifically targeting the abdominal area with exercises like sit ups and crunches, is the best way to burn belly fat. The truth is that while you might build abdominal strength with spot training, you won’t effectively trim away fat. Belly fat can only be lost through all-over fat loss, and sit ups aren’t a quick method of burning calories. You’ll see much faster results if you focus on aerobics or cardio training, which will trim fat from all over your body including your stomach.

You Need a Healthy Diet to Lose Belly Fat

A healthy diet is also key to losing weight from your stomach. Reducing or cutting out processed carbohydrates and eating healthily in general will help you reduce fat all over, and thus drop stomach fat in the process. Many diets can help you reduce fat while still providing sufficient and tasty nutrition, so you should consider starting one if you’re trying to get rid of your stomach fat.

You Can Boost Your Metabolism

With careful eating and frequent exercise, it may actually be possible to boost your metabolism, helping your body burn fat even when you’re not actively exercising. Some diet pills claim to be able to boost metabolism as well, so if you can find one which has been positively reviewed, you might consider trying some - just make sure you check with a doctor about potential side effects or other health risks first! If possible, though, it’s generally best to go natural, so use diet pills as a last resort should you be unable to drop stomach fat through your own effort.

You Need to Experiment

Because everyone gains and loses weight differently, what works for one person might not work as well for you. However, eating right and getting exercise is always a good thing and will help keep you healthy. You may have to experiment a bit to find a method of exercise that is most effective at burning your fat. Always make sure you’re eating enough calories to stay healthy without losing muscle mass, and take care when exercising to avoid injury.

 



When Obesity Affects Health, What Next?

Posted by content - July 1, 2009 on 2:23 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

If you are suffering from obesity health consequences, you are probably miserable and might even feel very alone.  So, what is the next step? 

Talk to Your Doctor

You will want to meet with your doctor first, especially if you are experiencing any health risks. These include:

  • fatty liver disease
  • sleep apnea
  • type 2 diabetes
  • high blood pressure 
  • heart disease 

With your doctor, you will need to come up with a weight loss plan. 

Diet

Surely part of your weight loss plan will have to include a change in your diet.  If you have a binge eating disorder, it needs to be identified and addressed.

The first thing you can do, even before you meet with your doctor, is to start keeping a food journal.  This is the easiest way to track any unhealthy eating patterns.

Exercise

As hard as it may seem, an exercise plan will need to be developed.  This doesn’t have to be overwhelming; even small things can add up to a big difference, and you gradually increase your activity as it gets easier.  Make a commitment to perform some kind of movement, even if it’s simply walking around the block.

 



The First Crucial Steps To Losing Obesity Weight

Posted by content - July 1, 2009 on 2:20 pm | In 3 Fat Chicks | No Comments

If you are suffering from some of the harsh effects of being obese, then it is time to look at the options for losing obesity weight.  This is especially true if you are obese and have complications such as sleep apnea, breast cancer or other types of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, or osteoarthritis.

Diet

One of the simplest, yet most crucial things you can do, is to start keeping a food journal and writing down everything that goes into your mouth.  You would be surprised at how much eating is done on an unconscious level.  Starting to be aware of your diet is key to losing body fat.

You can start to change your diet by doing one simple thing: cut out soft drinks.  You can also start to incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet by cutting at least one sugary snack per day and replacing it with a fruit. 

Exercise

Another vital change to start making is the amount of activity that you do on a daily basis.  It can be simple to incorporate more movement into your day by doing even the smallest things.  You can park a few spaces further from the grocery store than you normally do.  You can get up and walk around the living room every time a commercial comes on.  You can lift small hand weights before every meal. 

Walking is another great activity and has tremendous health benefits.  Even if you only walk a block or two, it all adds up and you can increase your walking increments slowly. 

Ultimately, a healthy weight loss will eliminate 1-2 pounds per week.  This may seem like a slow process, but it is proven that this type of weight loss promotes a permanent change, rather than taking off the weight too quickly.

 



Statins may ward off Alzheimer’s

Posted by MyDietExercise.com - Latest Diet & Exercise News - July 1, 2009 on 11:19 am | In Diet Reviews | No Comments Patients who take a cholesterol-lowing statin may be protected against Alzheimer's disease, a new study has found.

 



Ruby’s Diet is now Ourlife Health

Posted by heather - July 1, 2009 on 10:23 am | In Diet Blog | No Comments

ourlife health logoLast year, Ruby Gettinger won our hearts on the Style Network as the star of “Ruby,” an honest and real look into this woman’s journey to lose weight, and a lot of it. Once topping the scales at 500 pounds, Ruby made millions of us laugh, cry and motivated as she began a near unfathomable hurtle of losing some of the 500 pounds she carried. As she began to lose weight, she started to work with Dr. Paul Bradley, a primary care physician and obesity specialist residing in Savannah, Georgia. He taught Ruby the three main components of successful and long-term weight loss: Diet, education and exercise.

ruby gettingerNow with the assistance of Dr. Bradley’s team of physicians and registered dietitians, Ruby’s and Dr. Bradley’s plan can be experienced by anyone who is looking to lose weight in a convenient and healthy manner. The Ourlife Health weight loss program is a meal delivery program that makes fresh, calorie and portion controlled meals and delivers them to your door each week. These meals, like Tequila Shrimp Salad with Lime Cilantro Dressing, Fresh Atlantic Cod with Asian Soy Glaze and Grilled Veggie Pasta Bake, are the same meals that Ruby dines on as she continues on her mission to lose weight. Thus far, she has lost 150 pounds, having previously followed Hourglass Weight Loss and now following the Ourlife program.

While the Ourlife program is a comprehensive program offering exercise and counseling in addition to the delivered meals, it is currently only available in full access to those who live in the Savannah, Georgia region. Fortunately, the program will be expanding its online services in the coming months so that these complete services can be available to anyone around the country who is looking to lose weight.

Don’t forget to tune in to Season 2 of “Ruby” starting July 5 on the Style Network.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Ruby’s Diet is now Ourlife Health

 



Overweight Kids Underestimate Their Weight

Posted by Jason - July 1, 2009 on 10:02 am | In Diet Blog | No Comments

We’re all aware of the massive problem of childhood obesity. However, kids aren’t quite aware of its magnitude, or at least how much they actually weigh.teen girls weight

In a study of mostly African American adolescents, nearly 40 percent were overweight or obese, and 27 percent of them underestimated their weight.

Of the 448 5th to 8th graders, more than 62 percent of the overweight boys and about 31 percent of the overweight girls listed their weight as normal or even underweight, reports Dr. Youfa Wang and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. That’s an interesting comparison. Since women are generally more conscious of their weight, it goes to show that girls aren’t as misguided about the number on the scale as their male counterparts.

The researchers also found that twice as many girls as boys indicated a dissatisfaction with their weight.

Another aspect of the findings that parallel adults is the fact that those kids who were trying to lose weight were still not eating a healthier diet or increasing their physical activities. In fact, the boys who reported trying to lose weight still spent more time watching TV than those who were not trying to lose weight.

So like adults, they may be misinformed on what is a healthy food. They also don’t have the will power to get out of the house and get in some activity. But hey, these are kids we’re talking about. They need some adult guidance. We, on the other hand, have no excuse.

(via: Yahoo)

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Overweight Kids Underestimate Their Weight

 



Five Reasons Women Should Lift Weights

Posted by Carmen - July 1, 2009 on 9:49 am | In Diet Blog | No Comments

woman weight trainingWhen I first started to lose weight, my number one goal was a smaller number on the scale. That was my sole focus. (Well, that and I REALLY wanted to wear a smaller pants size, if I’m being totally honest.) I never wanted to lift weights, never wanted to grow any muscle - I just wanted to avoid embarrassment if the tag on my shirt was sticking out.

Once I had been successful with the weight loss, though, I was still unhappy with the look of my body. Reading online one day, I was struck by the idea of lifting weights, but I didn’t want to bulk up. I gave it a try, though, and now I’m addicted. Lifting weights is terrific for women and the benefits are endless. Here are my top five.

  • Lifting weights will make you physically stronger. This has benefits that go beyond the obvious, such as carrying in the groceries or wrestling with a tight jar lid - and means that you will be less dependent upon others in your daily living. (It also makes it easier to wrestle with that recalcitrant toddler - but don’t tell them that!)
  • Lifting weights will help you lose body fat. The average woman who strength trains two to three times a week for two months will gain nearly two pounds of muscle and will lose 3-5 pounds of fat. As your lean muscle increases so does your resting metabolism, and you burn more calories all day