Eating with a purpose

True healthy eating involves eating with a purpose. What are you eating and why? The foods that you select should be carefully selected and should possess the nutrients needed to over come some health issues and promote overall good health.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Easy Diet Plans to Follow
Following a diet can be quite a difficult task. If you are on a weight loss mission, then the following list of easy diets to follow, can aid you. These easy diets that work fast are flexible and convenient.

Calorie-shifting Diet
Calorie shifting diet is the easiest and one of the most effective diets among the easy diets to follow. It is popularly heralded as the world's easiest diet to follow. The calorie shifting diet plan works on the premise that it confuses the metabolism in a way, that you burn more calories. If this diet is followed properly, then one can shed around 10 pounds in a period of 2 weeks.

One needs to keep an eye on calorie intake, when abiding by this easy to follow diet plan. Eat at least 4 or more full meals everyday, and most important of all, ensure that the meals have different caloric values. However, no snacks are allowed in this diet. Drink at least 3 liters of water, as drinking a lot of water, will keep the body detoxified, help in quick digestion and maintain a high metabolic rate. By eating meals with different caloric values, the body will start a unique reflex, where the body will increase its metabolic rate, which will aid in burning the fat quickly. You can follow this diet on your own, or seek the help of a guide.

Atkins Diet
This is very popular diet, among the easy to follow diet plans for weight loss. The body requires carbohydrates for energy. In atkins diet, there is no intake of carbs and therefore, the body starts to utilize the fats stored in the body for energy. Thus, one start to lose weight. Atkins diet has four phases; induction phase, ongoing weight loss phase, pre-maintenance phase and lifetime phase.

Cabbage Soup Diet
This diet is extremely popular amongst people aiming at weight loss and is followed for a period of 7 days. The diet, along with the obvious cabbage soup, includes a lot of fruits in it. If you are following the cabbage soup diet, then you would be expected to eat fruits like, watermelons on the first day and bananas on the fourth day, along with cabbage soup.

Low Glycemic Index Diet
This diet is especially beneficial for pregnant women and people suffering from diabetes. This diet helps to reduce weight in a safe and easy manner. Women having trouble with fat in the thighs and abdomen, can easily get rid of this fat, by following the glycemic index diet. The diet provides around 1100 calories everyday and causes a reduction in hunger by combining lean protein and low glycemic carbohydrates.

Zone Diet
Zone diet is a healthy diet that does not prescribe particular food items, while restricting intake of other foodstuff. The rule to follow this diet is to consume 30% of proteins, 30% of fats and 40% of carbs. This diet maintains the normal hormonal level in the body and helps greatly to lose weight.

South Beach Diet
This diet is great for people who are looking for quick weight loss solutions. In this diet fats and carbohydrates are categorized as good and bad. If you are following the south beach diet, then you will be required to discard unhealthy fats and carbs from your diet, and increase intake of healthy carbs and fats.

Acai Berry Detox Diet
This is a detox diet, which has recently become very popular. Acai berry contains many antioxidants, amino acids, essential fatty acids and fibers. This is one of the easy diet plans, which anybody can follow. This diet improves the functioning of the digestive system of the body and has very few side effects. However, this diet is not for long term weight loss solution.

This was all about some free easy diet plans to follow. Regardless of the diet plan you select from the easy diets to follow, make sure you drink plenty of water. The weight loss will be easier and faster if along with the diet, you also exercise regularly and give your body the required amount of sleep.
By



 

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Fibromyalgia Diet

By Lisa Weber,


Fibromyalgia patients often complain that they "ache all over." Other common symptoms include interrupted sleep and severe fatigue. Some patients report chronic headaches, painful periods (in women), swollen extremities and a dry mouth. While there's no cure for fibromyalgia, many patients report that maintaining a strict, healthy diet helps to ease their symptoms.

  1. Discover "Light" Carbohydrates

    • Filling up on "light" carbohydrates will keep insulin levels from rising, which often causes increased fibromyalgia symptoms. Light carbs include blueberries, strawberries, string beans, zucchini, bell peppers and mushrooms.

    Keep Protein Healthy

    • The best sources of protein for people with fibromyalgia are low in cholesterol and saturated fats. This includes white chicken meat, turkey breast and egg whites, as well as soy hot dogs, burgers and sausages.

    Avoid Foods that Cause Fatigue

    • Many common convenience foods and beverages aggravate fibromyalgia symptoms, and should therefore be avoided. These include food and drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, soda and chocolate, as well as processed and fried foods, foods with added preservatives and red meats.

    Stick With "Healthy Fats"

    • Fibromyalgia patients should get most of their dietary fat from monounsaturated fats, or "healthy fats." You can find them in olive and canola oils, as well as macadamia nuts, pecans, walnuts, almonds and cashews.

    Keep a Food Diary

    • Keep a diary that tracks everything you eat each day, and how you feel on that day. Different fibromyalgia patients react to food in different ways. Look for any correlation between the foods you consumed and your fibromyalgia symptoms. Use your diary as a guide to regulating your diet.

Sabrina M. Before Weight Loss Challenge

Sabrina M. 44.6 lbs Lost in Just 8 Weeks



"For the first time I LOVE how I look. I love every single inche of me and love how I feel comfortable in my own skin for once. It's an amazing feeling and I wouldn't have gotten there without your help. For once I feel like if I lose another inch it's for me and no one else."

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Circuit Training Basics and Benefits

Circuit training is a method of resistance training, or weight training, that maximizes the volume of work done in a short period of time. Circuit training is a great tool to use for people who are interested in weight loss, muscle gain and overall strength increases.

Circuit training squashes common excuses that people use for not exercising because it takes little time, is action packed, does not need to be done everyday, and it can be personalized.

Circuit Training Basics

Circuit training consists of performing multiple exercises on multiple body parts in a row with little rest in between exertions. The two most basic types of circuit training are horizontal training and vertical training. In horizontal training, all sets of one exercise are performed before a person moves on to the next exercise. In vertical training, one set of every different type of exercise is performed before returning to an exercise for the second time.

The amount of weight that a person lifts during a circuit training session can vary between sets. A person can start with light weights and work up to heavier weights (increasing pyramid) or can start with heavy weights and regress to lighter weights (decreasing pyramid). The most important component of circuit training is to take little rest in between sets, whether of the same or different exercises.

Circuit Training Benefits

Due to the lack of rest that circuit training demands, exercisers maintain elevated heart rates for the entire period of exercise. The combination of weight training and increased cardiovascular effort makes circuit training a beneficial type of cross training. The exerciser gains muscle through the resistance training. The exerciser increases his/her cardiovascular endurance during the slightly elevated heart rate that is maintained in between sets and throughout the overall program. The exerciser burns high amounts of calories during the high exertion periods of his/her sets.

Circuit training is also a convenient way to exercise. It maximizes the total exercise volume (number of sets, repetitions, and amount of weight) completed in a period of time. Exercises are completed in a row, and therefore, the time spent exercising is condensed. Separate cardiovascular training is not necessary. All body parts are trained in one session, and therefore, exercisers do not need to work out everyday.

Long Run Benefits

Circuit training is a type of interval training. Interval training is a great way to increase the body's ability to burn calories when it is at rest. The exerciser's heart rate goes up very high, returns to a lower, but still elevated, state, and then goes up very high again. At no point during circuit training does the heart rate return to its resting rate. Circuit training, and interval training overall, increases the amount of oxygen that a person consumes post exercise, and therefore, increases the number of calories that a person burns throughout the day.

It can be used to achieve an increase in lean body mass and a decrease in weight.

_________________________________
Samantha Kopf – National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer

http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/body-building/circuit-training-basics-and-benefits.html


Thursday, April 21, 2011

How To Lose Weight After Gallbladder Is Removed

By: K.R.Price
Following a cholecystectomy, removal of the gallbladder, many patients wonder how to lose weight after the gallbladder is removed. Prior to gallbladder surgery patients are place on a low fat diet to lessen the symptoms of inflammation of the gallbladder. However, after gallbladder surgery many people find that they pack on the pounds. After gallbladder removal the body absorbs food quicker, unlike prior to the surgery, thus increasing the amount of calories stored and weight gained. Losing weight after gallbladder removal may be challenging, but it is not impossible.
  1. Continue Low Fat Diet - To lose weight after gallbladder surgery, continuing on a low fat diet is a good idea. In addition to reducing weight, a low fat diet can also decrease the chances of developing heart disease and certain types of cancer. However, be careful not to completely remove fats from your diet at the risk of developing gallstones.
  2. Foods to Avoid - After gallbladder removal, some people fall into the trap of thinking they can eat anything they want given their body can now process many foods it previously could not. However, when trying to lose weight after gallbladder removal, some of these same foods should still be avoided. Processed, fast foods, many dairy products and foods high in Trans fats should not be consumed after gallbladder surgery to avoid excessive weight gain.
  3. Increase Intake of Protein and Fiber Rich Foods - Foods high in protein and fiber can help regulate digestion after gallbladder surgery and increase the chances of losing weight after the gallbladder is removed. Food like lean cuts of beef, pork, fish and chicken in addition to fiber rich fruits vegetables and whole grains can help ward off weight gain after gallbladder surgery. Additionally these types of foods to reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease in addition to obesity.
  4. Exercise - In order to be successful at losing weight with any type of diet program, exercise is highly recommended. Exercising to lose weight after gallbladder surgery can help melt away excess pounds quicker than eating a proper diet alone. Aim for at least twenty minutes of exercise at least four days a week in order to lose weight after gallbladder surgery and keep the pounds off.

Dealing with Shin Splints

Choose an athletic insole. Since shin splints often arise as a result of the excessive pounding that occurs during jogging or other high-impact, weight-bearing activities, a padded insole placed inside the shoe may offer relief. These insoles help soften the blow as your foot lands on hard ground. You can purchase them at an athletic shoe store, sports supply store, and even some grocery and drug stores. They range in price from about $7 to $20. In addition, check to be sure the shoes you wear during the activity still have plenty of cushioning.

Shin splints are caused by a muscle imbalance between the the front or anterior lower leg muscles and the posterior or calf muscles. Flexing the Peroneal (front lower leg muscle) can build the anterior leg muscle which will provide more balance between the the front and back lower leg muscles.

Other useful info: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/help-for-shin-splints

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Choosing Carbs

The best carbs to consume on a regular basis is a variety of fruits and vegetables. That's right. Fruits and vegetables are considered carbs as well. Carbs like breads and pastas are not favored because of the wheat gluten which is a newly added food additive to most wheat products. Detoxing our bodies periodically from this food additive will help promote healthy digestion and natural weight loss. Although it may very difficult to totally avoid this food additive, we should keep in mind the amount we may be consuming and include some cleansing periods in our diets where we minimize eating bread or pastas to help promote a healthier digestion of our foods.

I personally incorporate this method into my personal nutrition plan. I find that an overdose of poor digestive food diets can promote weight gain and can lead to poor health conditions. I believe in the 80/20 rule. 80% of your dietary choices should promote healthy digestion of foods which will aid in the digestion of the 20% not so healthy foods. We don't need to be perfect dieters but creating ways to monitor and improve our bodies is something we can all take part in.

There are healthy reasons why bread should be consumed periodically. Information is provided below on choosing healthy breads and pastas.

-Terence Hendricks


http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/whatveg.htm

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/whatfruit.htm

http://www.dietriffic.com/2009/01/24/healthy-bread/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/treatments/healthy_living/nutrition/healthy_carbos.shtml

Great Weight Loss Nutrition Plans

The Paleo Diet: http://thepaleodiet.com/

The Atkins Diet: http://www.the-atkins-diet.info/

http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/