Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Is Low-Fat or Low-Carb the Way to Go?

By Dr. Bill

Last Friday night, after finally finishing the last leg of my journey and coming home to Long Island, I checked my email and found many emails with questions about low-fat, no-fat, and low-carb diets.

First of all, no fat diets are dangerous, and you really shouldn't even attempt anything like that except under strict medical supervision. Even then, I'm hard pressed to think of why it would be necessary.

Fat is very important for the body to function optimally, but the question remains: how much fat is enough? For almost the last forty years, the medical community has been recommending a low amount.

The medical consensus on carbs was essentially the same. The long-held belief was that a diet that followed the high-carb, low-fat rule would be the best way to achieve weight loss. You can look around and see for yourself how unsuccessful that theory has been.

Truly, the most essential factor in a successful diet is BALANCE.

When we speak of balance, we are speaking of the balance of fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

I have gone over this before, but it bears repeating: the best foods are those that are closest to their natural state. Essentially, that means choosing unprocessed food over processed food. A baked sweet potato is close to its natural state. Potato chips are not. Fresh fish with grilled vegetables would be classified as food that is close to its natural state, but breaded, fatty frozen fish sticks are not.

An excellent way to judge healthy food versus unhealthy food is whether or not it comes in a package. Simply put, packaged food is generally unhealthy. Look at the ingredients: packaged food typically contains trans fats and high fructose corn syrup -- both of which are highly detrimental to your health.

Most low fat items have high sugar contents. They're always sweet, which makes them palatable, and the same rule applies to no fat. Sugar, or a sugar substitute, is always in the mix.

Low-carb foods most often contain a sugar substitute as well, and they tend to taste just awful. In order to eat them, you really have to persuade yourself that they taste good. I'd rather not.

You can eat almost any food as long as it doesn't come in a package mixed with other ingredients. Frozen vegetables, as long as they're just vegetables, is A-okay. Frozen vegetables mixed in a sauce, is not. The sauce, if you can call it that, is mixed with all kinds of things that make the sauce stable, and you fat. More often than not, there are more calories in the sauce, than in the vegetables.

Even though vegetarianism is considered to be a healthy way of life, there are many problems with that type of dietary restriction. Vegetarians often end up with a serious case of under-nourishment and are vulnerable to many other health risks -- all stemming from the fact that they do not eat a balanced diet.

The best way to gain control of your diet is to start slowly, one meal at a time. My friend Nate has some words of wisdom on the subject: "Practice push ups instead of doing sit downs." His message is that when you are full you should push up from the table, not sit down in order to eat more.

My recommendation is that you take a daily dose of pharamceutical-grade enteric coated fish oil which is manufactured to be free of contaminants. Taking this type of fish oil every day will insure that you are getting the omega 3 essential fatty acids that you need to keep you body performing at its very best.

The other day someone referred me to a bodybuilding web site, where the genius bodybuilder who took fish oil was cutting back his dose, because he didn't want to get too much fat in his diet. I guess that's why he's a bodybuilder, because he doesn't even know why he's taking it in the first place. All brawn, no brain.

The truth is, because he is an athlete he needs MORE fish oil, not less. Athletes typically train for hours every day and should be increasing their dosage of fish oil, instead of being concerned about a few extra fat grams. What he doesn't know is that ingesting the proper amount of fat would most likely make him look better and perhaps contribute to his winning a competition. I'm not betting that he'll take this advice.

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The Best Child Board Games

By charlie reese

In today's ever increasing focus on computers and technology, it's important to a child's development to have some hands on experience that goes beyond a keyboard or video game. Young kids are developing motor skills and an understanding of spatial relationships, important components of a healthy, well-rounded transition through various stages of their physical development.

While video games can be stimulating and develop hand-eye coordination, the flat screen of a computer monitor, even with 3D effects, cannot replace physical activity in real time. Social interaction is likewise limited in scope, even when two kids play a game together. On the other hand, children's board games invite much in the way of social interaction. While you'll seldom hear kids squabbling over a computerized result, children's board games provide room for debate, but therein lies great value.

Today, many children have problems with social skills. Plenty of kids still have problems, even in the fourth and fifth grades, with sharing, being gracious, or even civil to friends. Children's board games provide fun venues in which to develop these necessary skills and concepts. Let's take a look at some of the classic children's board games and what opportunities they afford a child.

Monopoly(TM) is perhaps the most famous and beloved of board games. Played by kids and adults alike, this board game gives you an opportunity to spend some quality time with the kids. All games are based on rules, so when arguments and squabbling arise over whether Johnny took more moves than he was allowed, you, the parent, can point out what the rules allow and settle the debate promptly. If your child gives you the old I don't want to play any more! routine, you can call their bluff, explaining that if they want to leave, that's fine, but their pieces, property and money will go back in the pot and can't be retrieved. Then they will have to wait for a new game to begin before they can participate again. Everyone knows how long a game of Monopoly can last! The child must make a choice that ends in a consequence, good or bad.

Scrabble(TM) is another classic. While not specifically a children's board game, many kids love this game of building words. Scrabble(TM) is one where parents can play with the kids and monitor the social interactions at the same time. An older child puts 'grammar' together with their blocks. A younger child yells, Hey! That's not a word!. You can let the youngster know that this is indeed a word, explain what it means and that the older sibling has been learning about grammar in school this year. The older child feels gratified at your acknowledgment and the younger has learned a new word. If the older child decides to rub it in, you can intervene and let that child know that he or she should be more gracious, instead of sticking their tongue out.

Checkers is a centuries old children's board game, which is also played by many an adult. Again, the rules are clear, so there's no room for fudging. Boundaries, such as rules, foster a sense of fairness in dealing with others. This game teaches strategic reasoning, with merit determining the outcome. Kids thus learn that, in the real game of life, dealing fairly with others, using diplomacy instead of belittling and working on the task at hand is the way to go. Children's board games are more than fun. For very little expense, you can teach your kids a variety of social skills that puts them at the head of the class!

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Monday, March 23, 2009

Maintain Your Well Being by Keeping Fit

By Lindelwa Laz

Loving life should entail doing whatever you are able to maintain your health and to do so, you must endeavor to make it a lifelong characteristic to keep fit and healthy. It can be challenge for many just to endeavor and maintain a personal fitness regime and change it into a characteristic but there are ways in which continuing to be fit and healthy can be made a little bit simpler.

Staying fit doesn't always mean endeavouring to kill yourself just going through the round of physical exercises day by day. In order to make a physical fitness routine simpler to follow as a characteristic, there are times when just making it simple is the best way. You do not need to go to the gymnasium just to remain fit because the're simple and easier methods to accomplish this.

What is essential is that you attempt to discover some physical pursuits that you enjoy doing and would enjoy while going through it. The primary concept is to become and stay fit by using your body in a fashion that can permit you to get rid of fat and lose some of that unnecessary weight. It could be as elementary as having a daily stroll in the local park or just by walking around the city by foot instead of by your car. Taking a hike in the woods and employing your bicycle to go places also makes for a good workout especially if you do it frequently.

If you're really dedicated about trying to stay fit and healthy, begin establishing some goals in losing weight but try to be more realistic and particular about it. Sure enough having lofty ends can sometimes be great to think about, but if these goals are too challenging to accomplish, then they won't mean much at all. Attempt to keep your physical fitness ends simple and attempt to set losing a pound each calendar week as a achievable goal. Keeping in mind to stroll at minimum 5 minutes daily can be a goal painless enough to follow but what is essential regarding these aims is that you might be able to attain them. Bit by bit, you then try to reach out for something bigger as you grow used to achieving your elementary goals.

Another way to make it simpler for you to keep fit and healthy is by attempting to record your advancement and being in a position to observe that you are in reality losing weight because getting active can easily strengthen your resolve to continue on. Make sure you have your progress report in a place where you can find it and update often. One fashion to make a habit of keeping fit is by having someone|somebody] to join in with you. Having a friend along or even joining in a group of people trying to keep fit and healthy will make the trait become interesting and enjoyable. The challenge to do better in staying fit and healthy grows attractive if you have somebody|somebody] with you doing the same thing.

Staying fit and healthy doesn't have to be a thing that needs to be boring to do when in point of fact it can be a pleasant enterprise only if you know how to. One of the greatest ways to keep to a fitness regimen is by trying to make it's enjoyable to do, and you can easily follow it on a daily basis if you find it fun.

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Sunday, March 22, 2009

Yes These Secrets Of Fat Loss 4 Idiots Guarantee You Will Lose Ugly Fat!

By Archie Freemen

Losing weight is possible if you keep a careful watch on the foods that you eat and follow some of the guidelines and advice in the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet plan. When it comes to weight loss, finding the science behind how the metabolism works and how calories are burned can be very beneficial for learning how to lose weight. This diet plan will use some of the science that is known about these factors to help you learn how to eat and lose weight in a sensible way. The diet focuses on shifting calories, controlling the types of foods that are eaten and watching the size of portions to help you get control of your diet and weight. The Fat Loss 4 Idiots plan also teaches how the intervals that you eat have an effect on your diet and ability to lose weight.

The first thing that you will learn about dieting is that you have to eat fewer calories than your body is using to function and for exercise. Sounds simple, right? The diet goes on to explain that you may even lose ten pounds in your first week on the plan by simply eating the right foods at the right time in the right portions. The metabolism can be used to your advantage when you choose to use this diet program. Those who use some exercise along with the diet plan will also increase their metabolism and gain some great advantage in losing weight.

Calorie Shifting

The secret to losing weight fast is to trick the metabolism by working with the brains signals about fat burning and fat storing hormones. These hormones will tell you when you are hungry or full. There have been studies that have shown that the metabolism can be on a short two day cycle, which means that if you change the types of foods that you are eating every couple of days, your metabolism will continue to burn calories instead of stopping like other diet plans.

Since the metabolism tries to make up for the deficit calorie intake and function with fewer calories, carbohydrates, and sugar, it will start holding fat stores in the cells, causing a fat loss diet to quit working. This is where many people dont know what to do next. By calorie shifting, such as eating a diet menu that is higher in different components, such as high protein for a couple days, then high carbohydrate for a couple days, the metabolism feels it is getting plenty of fuel to burn for energy.

Using Fat Loss 4 Idiots To Lose Weight

It is a common-sense approach, based on balancing fat burning and nutritional foods. If you control your portion sizes, eat different types of food, several times per day, the metabolism will burn more calories, without the need for strenuous exercise. Many people have lost up to ten pounds by following this fat loss diet.

Of course, walking for fat loss is encouraged, since it will build muscle, which burns calories more efficiently, and is an easy exercise regiment for most people to stick with. By adding an exercise that you like, such as walking, swimming or dancing, you will burn calories quicker when added to a weight control program that is nutritious and consists of foods that are readily available at your grocery store.

This program is easy enough to stick with for a long period of time. It is because the diet uses the foods that you like and is not so restrictive that it is difficult to follow for a long period of time. Fat Loss 4 Idiots Diet is an easy and low cost way to lose the weight that you want to lose in a short period of time. You will also learn how to work with your body to lose weight and maintain it for the rest of your life.

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How To Use Weight Loss Motivation For Better Results

By Richard Black

We all start to lose weight with the best intentions. We may, for example, simply want to drop a dress size, to get a bit fitter or to avoid those serious health problems that can arise from being overweight. To begin with, these intentions may work out real well and you may be able to see fantastic weight loss results very quickly.

But, as time passes it can get harder to lose weight. You might find, for example, that you reach a plateau where your initial fast weight loss evens out. Or, you may simply find it hard to stick to your diet and/or exercise program. Reasons like these see many of us simply give up and go back to our old eating habits.

These issues can all be avoided with a few smart motivational tips that will keep you on the straight and narrow. The fact is that the motivation that you have to lose weight is what will make the pounds disappear just as much as the food that you eat and the exercise that you take.

One good way to keep yourself motivated to lose weight is to give yourself a goal. This could be as simple as saying to yourself: 'I need to lose 10lbs to fit into the dress I want to wear to my office Christmas Party' or, 'I want to lose some weight so that I feel fitter and I can go to the park and play soccer with my kids'. Giving your weight loss a goal can make it easier to succeed here as you have something tangible to aim for.

For lots of people achieving a specific goal is made easier if they write it down. Somehow this simply makes it more real. It's also a good idea, if you keep unhealthy snacks or food in your home for other people, to stick a note on the refrigerator or food cupboards with your goal written on it. This may just well make you think twice before reaching for a snack.

Another way to make sure that your motivation stays constant is to ask for the help of others. Tell your friends and family about your weight loss aims and ask them to help you out. If you feel a bit low and think about reaching for sugary snacks, talk to them about how you feel and they may make you feel better.

It's also a good idea to try and persuade your family (or the people you live with) to eat the same food as you and to cut out unhealthy foods. This way you can motivate each other, keep yourselves healthy and avoid those situations where someone is snacking on something you'd love to eat but shouldn't!

One of the easiest ways to get demotivated when it comes to weight loss is by setting yourself a goal or target that will be hard to achieve or that will take a long time. So, for example, if you decide that your aim is to lose 10lbs and you find after the first couple of weeks that you've only lost 2lbs then you may find it hard to carry on.

However, if you break down your target into smaller, achievable chunks then you will find it much easier to stay motivated. Here, you could simply decide that you want to lose 10lbs over three months and then set yourself smaller weekly or monthly goals. You'll ace some of these goals quicker than expected which will make you feel great and if you do have a lapse on the way then it'll be much easier to deal with.

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Eliminate Your Cravings And Succesfully Lose Weight With This Natural Weapon

By Debbie Vera

We all know that getting fat is unfortunately an all too easy task. While there are a lot of factors that make your body store those unwanted fats; it will never be an healthy hobby. The flip side is that losing that fat isn't all that easy as it is gaining. You have to be more patient for this task and it will require some extra effort to achieve the desired body.Therefore most people will not put in the extra effort and just keep on gaining the extra pounds.

No wonder the marketplace is full of products that all promise a fast way of losing weight. Most of them are probably to good to be true. There is one product that has made it's way into a high trust ranking with consumers. Acai Berry' s name is now synonymous with incredible weight loss results and the impact on the market has been spectacular.

The acai berry originally comes from Brazil.Growing in the rainforrest it contains one of the most effective ingredients for a weight loss product. The acai berry can help you lose weight faster than you think. When it comes to the weight loss agenda in general there are unfortunately some products that claim to be super effective and claim to be the best in the acai berry weight loss category.

An authentic acai berry weight loss product allows you to be on your best outfit again. If you are tired of wearing extra large clothes, want to improve your agility, and wish to touch your toenails easily, then acai berrys power is what you need. This is the only thing that you need and not the other too good to be true pills and other diet supplements.

The cost of a good acai berry product is actually quite reasonable when you consider the health benefits and you will be finally able to get off those trail and error unproven diets fads. You still will be able to enjoy your foods and won't have to use a treadmill for hours at an end. By simply sticking with your trusted brand of acai berry you won't be wasting any more money on those other diet pills.

More than just a successful weight loss acai berry will help you with your sugar content in your body. Due to it's antioxidants your lower blood sugar content means less carbohydrates and that means less fat. While you still be able to eat your favorite food it will help you curb the cravings and you will find that you will simply eat less.

Whats more interesting about acai berry is that, it is a natural weapon that you can use to fight your unhealthy fats. It enhances your digestive system, gives you a clearer eye sight, and helps you to be more romantic during love making moment. All these can be yours with no side effect.

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Baby Room Ideas

By court

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