Losing Weight Without Dieting

By Barbara Vinciguerra, MS, Fitness Nutrition Coach, Performance Enhancement Specialist

You want to lose weight. You really do. There's just this little problemyou love food. But diets require that you give up all the foods that you know and love in exchange for celery sticks and water. Boring! Who really wants to do that? Guess you'll just have to deal with the extra weight, right? Wrong! Losing weight doesn't require that you give up your love of food-in fact, healthy weight loss encourages great eating. And that is good news for you, beloved food lover. Great eating means never going hungry and never feeling deprived. Sound good? Read on for the simple guidelines to great eating that result in healthy and long term weight loss.

4 Weight Loss Tips to Live and Lose By 1. Eat at least five times a day at regular intervals 2. Eat 4 oz of lean protein at least twice a day 3. Fill two-thirds of your plate with vegetables and fruit 4. Make every calorie count, this means every bite should pack protein, fiber and fat.

Ten Ways to Dining Out Without Blowing It 1. Don't indulge in bread before your meal arrives 2. Substitute your fries for a side salad, fruit or a baked potato 3. Forgo your soda pop for a tall glass of ice water or tea 4. Instead of burgers, hot dogs and sausages choose sandwiches, subs, salads and lean meats 5. Always order your dressing on the side in order to regulate the amount that you use 6. Put half of your meal in a to go box before you start eating 7. Don't order food that is made with creamy bases, such as white sauce 8. You don't have to clean your plate! If you are full then stop eating 9. Eat your vegetables firstrather than last 10. If it's fried then don't order it

10 Essential Nutrition-Based Weight Loss Guidelines 1. Focus on eating a variety of foods every day. 2. Eat fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors. Green, yellow, orange, red.you get the idea. 3. Eat small meals frequently, preferably 4-6 times. Also avoid overeating or binge eating out of hunger. 4. Say no to excess calories! Avoid putting butter or sour cream on your food. 5. When you feel the first shot of hunger pain, wait it out. If you still feel hungry after 10-15 minutes then eat. If you aren't hungry any more it was likely your emotions speaking and not your tummy! 6. Plan healthy meals ahead of time-this will save you many calories! 7. Stop eating before you feel full. Your brain is slow in receiving the full signal from your tummy-so give it a chance to catch up! 8. Eat fruits and vegetables first, then meats. This forces you to fill up on nutrient dense, yet calorie-sparse, foods first. 9. Drink water instead of soda pop. Your body isn't able to register all of the calories in liquid, so hundreds of calories add up without making you feel full. 10. Trade your white bread in for whole-grain bread, or better yet skip it all together.

Visit www.90dayshapeup.com to learn more about losing weight successfully without "dieting". - 17273

About the Author:

Barbara Vinciguerra is a 23 year fitness and weight loss industry expert. She is a Health Club Owner and College Professor inM assachusetts. She has her Master's Degree and is a Certified Performance Enhancement Specialist and a Certified Fitness and Nutrition Coach. Her 90 Day Shape Up has helped thousands of people lose weight and get in shape. For more information visit 90 Day Shape Up

Are muscle building supplements worthless?

By Jon Cardozo

Recently I read a book on goal setting, and it had some important insights I wanted to share with you. The author provided many tips on setting a goal properly, including writing it down on paper, breaking it into smaller chunks, and identifying the obstacles that you'll need to overcome to reach the goal. However, one concept that stuck with me was the emphasis on long-term achievements instead of short term gains.

When I look back on my successes and failures in life, I noticed a trend which is a little bit disturbing. Too many times I've focused on short term results. If a new project wasn't yielding significant progress immediately, I would pretty much eliminate it right away. I gave up on many worthwhile projects easily, because I got bored or distracted. I suppose that many people are like me and tend to abandon a goal very quickly. You may be wondering what the connection is with strength training or muscle building.

I hope you see the relevance to weight training. Instead of focusing on immediate results, you have to be in this for the long haul. Instead of focusing on supplements, you must learn the foundations of muscle building. I've explained in other articles that supplements are not necessary (and usually not even helpful) when it comes to muscle building.

Let's face it, supplements are not the core of a muscle building program, regardless of what the advertisements out there might be telling you. The latest supplement fad from the bodybuilding gurus will not improve your workout or make up for your lack of self discipline.

Unfortunately, it seems that human nature is to look for a shortcut or silver bullet that will give us the results that we want without the hard work. This is absolutely relevant to bodybuilding supplements, because most trainees are looking for an easy way out instead of focusing on the fundamentals. If you try to look for a muscle building supplement to do all the work for you, you really are wasting your time and money. When you think about how simple (although not easy) natural weightlifting methods are, it really is unnecessary to focus on supplements. It all comes back to self discipline and trying to achieve a goal slowly over time.

Most people don't want to believe that muscle building supplements are not really necessary, but it's true. They're not going to help you unless you're an advance trainee who has already optimized his workouts and nutrition plan.

Looking for the easy way out will almost certainly leave you disappointed and probably leave your wallet significantly lighter.

I know it doesn't sound very exciting when you're told that supplements are not the way to go and that you'll have to work hard to achieve the results that you want. It's also not that comforting to imagine all of the workouts you'll have to complete and how strict you'll have to be with your diet plan. However, when you realize that there really are no shortcuts, you have to decide whether or not it's worth it. I think you know that it is worth it, but you just have to start thinking about long-term results. - 17273

About the Author:

If you would like to learn more about how to how to gain muscle , visit Jon Cardozo's Web site at http://maximum-muscle-gain.com . Learn the secrets to building a muscular physique and avoid the myths of the bodybuilding industry. Brought to you by Jcardozium.

Truly Tasty Crock Pot Recipes For The Low-Glycemic Diet

By Susanne Myers

Well, I'm into the second week of my low-glycemic diet and I'm already getting tired of snacking on low-fat cheese, a handful of nuts, and celery sticks. My family is looking a little droopy as they sit down to yet another grilled chicken breast and steamed broccoli dinner. We're all starting to miss our favorite crock pot meals and would really love to come home, once again, to the savory aromas of a home-cooked crock pot dinner.

That was my dilemma this year when I made my New Year's resolution. Okay, I'm on my diet, but do I have to give up my crock pot? No siree! Here are a few recipes that I've tried out on my family with great results, and with my diet intact!

Ginger Garlic Beef with Snow Peas

Take a 2 1/2 lb. boneless Round Steak, and cut into 4 pieces. Put the beef in your crock pot. In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup of soy sauce, about 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger, 2 cloves of garlic, grated or minced, and 2 tablespoons canola oil. Pour over the beef and put on the crock pot cover. Cook on LOW for 6 hours or until steak is fork tender. Serve with hot, cooked snow peas mixed with sauted mushrooms for the perfect Asian inspired meal.

Split Pea Soup with Ham

Pour a 1 lb. bag of split peas into your crock pot and add 2 lbs. of boiled ham, diced up, 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated, 1 medium onion, diced, 3 ribs celery, finely diced, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, 7 cups fresh cold water, and 5 chicken bouillion cubes. Put your crock pot on low and cook for 6 to 7 hours. Lift the lid briefly to give a quick stir 2 or 3 times during the cooking so that the peas don't just stay on the bottom of the crock pot.

3 Bean n' Beef Chili

You'll need 2 lbs. of lean ground beef, browned and drained of any excess fat. As the meat browns, dice 2 medium onions, 1 green pepper, 2 ribs of celery, and mince or grate 3 cloves of garlic and add it all to the crock pot. Add 2 (16 ounce size) cans of diced tomatoes to crock pot. Then, drain and add 2 cans of garbanzo beans, 1 can of butter beans, and 1 can of black beans. Next, add a 15 ounce can of chicken broth, 3 teaspoons chili powder (you can always add more if you'd like), 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Add the browned ground beef and stir into mixture gently. Cover and let cook on LOW for about 6 hours. Top each serving with a drop of low fat yogurt mixed with fresh chives. Garnish with other diet-friendly foods if you'd like.

Diet-friendly recipes and crock pots can get along. Even though it may be difficult at first to come up with recipes for your crock pot that are suitable for your low-glycemic diet, it is not impossible. With just a couple recipes that are tried and true, you will not only be able to stick to your diet, but the whole family will eat healthy, and hearty, too! You and your family no longer have to eat separate meals while you're dieting. Start off with these simple recipes and see if your family won't ask for more! Keep up the good work!

If you are trying to follow a low-glycemic diet, you may have given up on using your crock pot. But, my crock pot has become a loyal companion in my kitchen, so what else could I do but figure out a few family-friendly meals that I, and my diet, can live with. With just a couple crock pot recipes at my disposal, we can enjoy home-cooked meals together more often. My family doesn't even consider a crock pot meal as diet food, so everybody is happy! If dieting while trying to feed your family at the same time isn't working for you, give these simple recipes a try. It may just get you on track, too! Good luck to you! - 17273

About the Author:

Dieting doesn't much feel like a celebration sometimes, but with this Party Chicken and Beef Burgundy you can get into the swing of things again! Just because you're watching your diet doesn't mean you don't want good food!

Gaining Muscle Mass Is Simple If You Know These 2 Secrets

By Mike Muscelli

If you're looking into gaining muscle mass, you should know that it takes a lot of effort to really add on that muscle. However, if you are serious enough about it, you can see some great gains.

If you'd like a little edge, these tips will definitely put you ahead of the pack and make things a lot easier for you:

1. Squat

One of the best ways of gaining muscle mass is through squatting. Its one of the most painful of exercises but also one which packs on the most muscle mass since it works the entire body. Squatting not only grows your legs but also the rest of your body through the release of human growth hormone.

If squatting just once a week seems like a lot, try doing it 3 times a week, some people do that and see massive gains. You have to have a really high threshold for pain to do that, but if you do, you'll see some amazing results.

2. The Deadlift

When it comes to the best exercises you could possibly be doing, the only one to come close to squats is deadlifts. This exercise will build up your back like no other, this exercise alone is responsible for many a bodybuilder's massively thick back.

Not only is deadlifting good for a massive back, but it also works out your arms and legs a bit too. Now it's important to understand just how powerful this exercise is. If all you were to do were deadlifts and nothing else for your back, because this is such a powerful exercise, you'd still wind up with a massive back if you didn't do anything else.

Now if you're absolutely serious about gaining muscle mass, while these tips will help you gain an edge, you're going to need a bit more than this to attain the body you desire.

What you really need is a complete training system which will show you what to eat, when to eat it and exactly what kind of training regimen you should be implementing to see real gains. It can mean the difference between adding on 5 pounds versus 15. - 17273

About the Author:

Looking for weight training guides or some body building books? If so, be sure to check out Gain Weight Fast.

Your Guide to Effective Body Building

By Lucille Green

We may all have heard about body building and its wonders, but what exactly does it mean? It is a form of physical activity that enables anyone to develop an attractive physique by engaging in rigorous training session, weight lifting plus proper nutrition to achieve the effects they want.

Both professional bodybuilders and amateurs who are just starting out will soon develop those solid, toned muscles that everyone longs for. How do you achieve the standards needed and what would be the criteria that you can use to get the best possible result? There are systematic ways you can follow in order to ensure all requirements will be fulfilled by using targeted weight training and planned nutritional program.

Weight lifting is often linked to sporting events, but there are plenty of non-athletes who perform weight lifting routines for aesthetic purposes. Weight lifting can assist those who need to recover from a serious injury, while toning and sculpting the body at the same time. People who are part of a health rehabilitation program might find it useful to adopt a good weight training program, to be implemented under close observation.

Proper food intake and the right nutrition is crucial for success in any body building effort. A diet high in protein and carbohydrates is essential for many athletes who aspire to compete in body building competitions. The energy you need for those exercises comes from carbohydrate, and mostly from complex carbohydrates. Brown rice, oatmeal and sweet potato are foods that are high in carbohydrates. Fiber is essential in body building, it helps to remove unwanted toxins and increase intestinal health.

Remember to consume enough water to avoid the reduction in your muscle mass because of dehydration. Start a healthy habit by drinking plenty of water just before you embark in a vigorous routine at the gym and pamper yourself by indulging in more refreshing water after a tiring session.

Make it a habit to drink between exercises. It is a good idea to have a training instructor to help you develop the right lifting techniques and proper stimulation of the body parts to ensure you do not create any long time damage to those healthy tendons and ligaments. - 17273

About the Author:

Do you have delicious recipes? Visit:: 470 Crock Pot Recipes plus Crock Pot Recipes Using London Broil for great and easy to prepare recipes.

What to watch our for with acai berry supplements.

By Casandra James

Ever since leading physician, Dr. Nicholas Perricone, declared the Acai Berry as the Number One Superfood, many fake supplement manufacturers begun to abuse the marketing term "Acai Burn". Many first time buyers are complaining that they have been ripped off by these Acai Berry scams.

Many of us can afford to lose those extra pounds. As a matter of fact, many of us put getting back in the gym and getting back into shape as our #1 New Year's resolution each and every year. If you have and have started your diet, kudos to you. However many people are learning that it is not as easy as they believed to lose weight. Some people even turn to diet pills. One of these such pills is AcaiBurn. Is it right for you? Well that depends.

AcaiBurn is a weight loss aid that's both safe and organic. It's effective because its berry source contains a substantial amount of fiber which improves a person's metabolic rate. The Acai Berry is even included among the top ranking fruits and vegetables that contain high levels of antioxidants using the ORAC scale (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity).

As we grow older, we take in huge amounts of toxins and other wastes into our body. These toxins clog our system and the body's regular processes are disturbed. As a result, we suffer from chronic weight gain, fatigue, moodiness, and stress. This may even lead to serious diseases like cancer.

Acai Berry products like AcaiBurn are especially formulated to destroy toxins in your body and help you lose weight fast and naturally. You'll also feel energized and you'll finally be able to enjoy life to the fullest. - 17273

About the Author:

To learn the facts about AcaiBurn we would strongly recommend you to spend some time doing research online. The best review we have come across for AcaiBurn can be found at the following weight loss review

3 Unique ways Huperzine A boosts memory power

By Bryan Reese

Huperzine A is a powerful chemical substance derived from a special kind of lycopod. In the vein of cocaine and caffeine, Huperzine A is also an effective and plant derived chemical substance, which hails from the class called as 'Alkaloids'. It was originally isolated in the year 1948 by Chinese researchers. This chemical substance is more a medication than an herbaceous plant. However, it is also available over-the-counter as a nutritional supplement for mental impairment and memory loss.

Scientific investigations on animals have shown that it is very helpful in enhancing remembering skills. These investigations were then carried out on people and it was found that Huperzine A was a very effective medication for Alzheimer's diseases and similar problems. Sometimes, Huperzine A pills can be bought as memory enhancement pills for the brain and it makes the brain work better and also increases remembering power. It works well for even those who are not concerned with Alzheimer's disorder.

Benefits:

Huperzine A is also known to reduce the action of the enzyme 'acetylcholinesterase'. This enzyme acts upon acetylcholine reducing its efficacy. Acetylcholine is very important for the brain to work properly. With Huperzine A, the level of the enzyme is diminished considerably thereby pushing up the levels of acetylcholine. Drugs such as donepezil and tacrine, which make acetylcholinesterase work lesser are known to enhance remembering abilities and memory power. Hence, with this drug you can make sure that Alzheimer's and other such problems are far away.

The manner in which Huperzine A reacts is very particular and absolute. It fixes itself on the enzyme in the position where acetylcholine is supposed to enter. Due to this, the enzyme cannot work on acetylcholine to break it down. This procedure was carried out by scientists using state of the art computer simulation of the molecular forms. Also, Huperzine A is important because it saves the nerve cells from undergoing damage from within.

Huperzine A can be bought as a dietary supplement but it is also very much like a regular medicine. It is refined minutely in the laboratory and it is a single chemical element and not a herbaceous medicine. The latter is usually made up of numerous elements. In appearance, Huperzine A resembles codeine, digoxin, vincristine and Sudafed which are also unadulterated elements sourced from plants. Huperzine A can even be purchased as medicines for the brain or to enhance memory in normal human beings.

Has its Effectiveness Been Proved Scientifically?

There has been quite a few researches performed on Huperzine which has proved that it does indeed work. It would be interesting to see reports from China about what they found with Huperzine A:

The study was evaluated on around 103 individuals, who were suffering from Alzheimer's disorder. They were given with Huperzine A and placebos two times each day for around two months. Around 60% of the participants showed great improvements such as better concentration and focus, increased memory power and behavioral functions, while there was no much difference found on people treated with only placebos.

Important Note:

Despite the fact that it works with transparency, there are a few problems also with its regular consumption. Children and women who are expecting or nursing babies, those who have high BP or acute kidney or liver problems are best off without Huperzine A.

Huperzine A is extremely a powerful chemical compound with a suggested dosage of 100mg and 200mg twice daily to treat age-associated memory loss. However, it is highly recommended to use it under a physician's supervision. - 17273

About the Author:

By now you are getting more familiar with this fascinating area of short term memory enhancement. You can learn more about the most effective scientific formula that absolutely affects A persons memory, recall, and cognition. Get your limited time RISK FREE bottle of this product here at: Improve Your Memory Now!

Get Lean And Build Muscle Together: Possible Or Not?

By Eryk Helms

"How can I get lean and bulk up at the same time?" I'm asked this all the time. It seems like that is the prevailing question today. People want to add that extra bit of muscle, but that spare tire needs to go at the same time.

There are really only a few ways to accomplish the task of getting lean and building muscle, assuming you already have a good workout plan:

1. Start eating enough good quality food to pack on the muscle, and then cut back once you've reached the size you want.

2. Go in reverse from #1; burn off the fat first with serious interval training, and then start adding in the calories and pack the muscle on. 'Course this means you'll still have to burn off some fat at the end of the process.

3. Watch what you eat closely, along with body fat percentage. Add in intervals to the workout to stay lean.

Each of these approaches has benefits and drawbacks. Let's look at them...

Method 1: You want to gain more than a single pound or two, right? So, increase your calorie intake (and especially protein) so that you start gaining weight fast, and work out like a maniac to turn those extra calories into muscle. Once you reach the size you want, cut back the calories so that you are below "maintenance" and move the emphasis in your workout to fat burning to get rid of the "padding." What you want to do is to bulk up fast, and then you need to trim down.

Method 2: Here, you're going to put emphasis on getting lean up front, and then you need to start packing on muscle by eating more. The downside to this is that you will have to burn off some fat on the back end, because you just can't convert every extra calorie to raw muscle. And, you want to build that muscle NOW, right?

Method 3: I like this one the best. You have to add extra calories to your diet, but just don't be a pig about it! Watch your body fat percentage along the way, and cut back a bit if it starts to climb, and eat a bit more if you're not making the gains you want. Maybe 500 extra calories a day to start, and watch it. Then, of course, you'll go through that last fat burning phase to get ripped. Along the way, throw in some high intensity interval training to help burn off any excess calories. This method builds muscle a bit slower than the first one, but you'll look a bit more ripped along the way.

So, basically, if you want to get lean and build muscle at the same time, it comes down to this: You need to eat enough good food and work out hard to build muscle, and then cut back and change the workout to fat burning mode. This is really pretty simple stuff; don't let anyone snow you about it. - 17273

About the Author:

Interested in changing your body for the better? Get rid of those love handles and maybe getting a six-pack? Then you might want to hurry over to Get-Lean-Build-Muscle for some good tips. Also check out these honest health and fitness reviews as well.

Which is Better for Me -- Low Fat or Low Carb?

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.

Your body needs fat to flourish, and the only question still being debated is, how much? One thing we know for sure is that it is more than the medical community believed for almost four decades.

The same thing is true about carbohydrates. For decades, the prevailing wisdom was high carbs and low fat. You can see where that theory has gotten us.

If we were to choose just one word to summarize the most important factor in a successful diet, that word would be 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.

Simply put, packaged food is not a good option. It generally contains ingredients that are highly unhealthy, with trans fats and high fructose corn syrup being two of the biggest culprits.

Additionally, almost all low fat foods have an elevated sugar content. They are made to be overly sweet so that they appeal to the taste buds. This same process is used in no-fat foods. Take a look at the label and you will find high levels of either sugar or a sugar substitute.

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.

Generally, it's healthy for you to eat almost any food that is not packaged with other ingredients. Plain frozen vegetables are just fine, but frozen vegetables covered in sauce are not a good option. The sauce contains ingredients that keep the sauce in a stable state, and those ingredients will cause weight gain. Typically, the sauce contains more calories than the vegetables.

Although many people swear by vegetarianism, it is not a healthy way to live. Vegetarians are often quite undernourished and typically have many other health problems as well -- and this is all due to 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.

Last week a friend of mine asked me to take a look at a website about bodybuilding. The bodybuilder who was responsible for the content of the site had written that he had cut back on his dose of fish oil because he believed that the fish oil was too fatty for his diet. Obviously, he has no idea at all why he was taking the fish oil to begin with. Perhaps all the muscle growth has adversely affected his brain power?

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. - 17273

About the Author:

If you're looking If you're ready for assistance with weight loss efforts, Dr. Bill recommends an enteric coated fish oil If you're looking If you're ready for longevity and fitness.

Does Calorie Counting Work?

By Carrie Hull

Reducing calories will not help you lose weight. Calories are not the enemy here. If you eat 2500 calories per day and reduce yourself to 1500 calories per day, you won't necessarily lose weight. Your body will simply burn fewer calories. You will reach a dieting plateau. This means that you may lose a few pounds; however, once you reach a certain point, it will be impossible to lose weight.

What makes a person go on a diet in the first place? Well, it usually builds up to a specific point, or several, and one day, you look in the mirror and enough is enough. You are going to lose weight if it kills you. Your clothes are getting too tight and you are disappointed and frustrated with what you see. Does this seem familiar to you? I was once in your shoes and am finally feeling good about myself. Anyways, on this day you are particularly motivated and decide to go on a diet.

Today you have enough anger, motivation and frustration that you decide that you are going to do whatever it takes to lose it this time. You start by skipping breakfast; after all, you'll be having lunch in a few hours. Getting closer to lunch, you feel like you might not make it. You begin feeling week, the motivation has worn off, and everything around you is reminding you of food. Your body is not accustomed to being without food for so long.

You try to bravely tell yourself that you can do this, but you feel miserable. You want to lose weight but you don't want to be a quitter. For lunch you decide to have something small or maybe a salad, but your stomach is telling you its "HUNGRY." You are still convinced that eating less will get you to your goal.

By dinner, your hungry, tired and chances are you have a headache. You begin thinking, "Do you really want to do this everyday? Do you want to fight against yourself?" You are still so determined that you decide to stick with it for the rest of the day.

After a few days, you've likely gone back to your previous ways. Or, perhaps, if you are really brave you may have held off for a week or too. But now you feel terrible. Even if you've stuck with it for a few weeks, you won't have achieved any serious weight loss, and in fact, your body will still look the same when you look in the mirror. You may have made even worse by starving your body and now it absorbs every single calorie that enters your body. This is bad news, especially when you go back to your normal habits.

You may have lost a few pounds during this type of diet, but the weight that was lost is just water weight, not real fat loss. And all that water weight will be gained right back when you eat normal again.

If you keep trying this type of diet, you will never lose weight. Well, not fat loss anyways. Depriving yourself of calories is not the answer. Your body needs the right type of calories and in the right combination. You could be losing weight eating normally; you just need to know how. - 17273

About the Author:

Learn how to lose weight the right way visit http://www.carriespry.com

Why Are Whole Grain Foods So Important?

By Scott Davis

Health studies have proven that people who have a diet rich in whole grains have a lower risk of diabetes, a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. The naturally healthy parts of whole wheat are a lot of terms we don't hear every day: antioxidants (useful chemicals against aging), lignans (a chemical found in the cell walls of plants that has been associated with reduced risks of breast cancer among others), phenolic acids (plant metabolites which have been found to be natural and powerful antioxidants), phytoestrogens (found to be helpful in reducing risks of cancer, osteoporosis and cardiovascular problems). The scientific jargon may be confusing and slightly overwhelming, but the bottom line is clear: we need more whole grains in our diet.

What We Require

We all know that natural means better; and you can find a lot of brands at the supermarket that claim to be natural, but those claims are not always accurate. Many food manufacturers add all kinds of chemicals to extend the shelf life of their product. These tend to destroy the healthy properties of whole grain food. This is sad, since wheat is perhaps the most important component of our daily diet. Even worse, we tend to refine it to the point where all its nutritious properties get completely removed. But it is important to get whole wheat into your diet. Because whole wheat bread takes longer to digest due to the fiber, we feel fuller faster and we eat fewer calories. Our sugar levels do not spike because carbs get digested slower.

Whole Wheat and Whole Grains

Some people wonder about the definition of whole grain vs. whole wheat. Whole wheat is whole grain. To be termed a whole grain it has to have all the essential nutrients of the grain still in tact. These parts include the bran, the endosperm and the germ.

If you were to bake bread with whole wheat flour you might find the results a bit course and heavy. Many people don't like whole wheat bread for those reasons. We suggest you buy white whole wheat flour. It's made from a different type of wheat, but with all the ingredients of whole grain. This makes for lighter and fluffier wheat bread. You could also mix in a little white refined flour (about 1/5th) with the regular whole wheat flour to make it lighter and still get some healthy bread.

Whatever your choice, you can still bake all kinds of delicious products with whole wheat flour, from muffins to cookies to whole wheat tortillas. Giving the kids their daily ration of fiber through whole wheat will not only ensure an optimal digestion but also teaches them healthy eating habits that they will carry on as adults.

Together They Rock

Do not forget to combine whole wheat products with the other essential and healthy nutrients that form the perfect diet. Milk (low fat) products, Meats (lean cuts) and Beans, Vegetables and Fruits can accompany whole wheat products very easily. You can combine whole wheat cereals at breakfast with fruit and milk. Whole wheat bread can join meat and vegetables for lunch (sandwiches), while whole wheat tacos add zest to fish, chicken, beans and vegetables for dinner. Do not forget to vary the menu of whole wheat food so as to satisfy the kids' needs for variety (and the husband's too). - 17273

About the Author:

Add more wheat to your diet with delicious wheat mixes and organic wheat berries.

The Folklore of the Amazing Acai Berry

By Caitin Ryan

Are you looking for ways to improve your health through nutrition? Have you thought about looking in the Brazilian rainforest for the answer? You do not have to book a flight because a miracle fruit from this mystical region is now available to all of us in various acai berry products. You are going to love what this super fruit can do for your health!

Acai (pronounced Ah-SIGH-ee) berries have become quite popular in the past few years, but the people of the Brazilian rainforest have long revered this gorgeous purple fruit that grows on a palm tree.

According to folklore, the daughter of an Amazon Indian tribal chief is responsible for acai berries. Tragically, the chief had to order that all newborn babies be killed because there was not enough food to feed his growing tribe. His daughter, Iaca, was not spared this decree and her baby was the first to be killed.

Desperate and incredibly sad, Iaca mourned her child for days, weeping in her hut. Finally, she heard the cries of a newborn in the forest and raced to find what she hoped was her precious child. What she found was a palm tree that bore bright purple berries. She lay down at the base of the palm tree and died.

When the tribe found her, they also found the berries. The berries were so nutritious and plentiful, that the tribe never had to worry about food again. The chief banned the law and all newborns were now safe. He named the berries Acai after his daughter (acai is Iaca spelled backward).

Interesting story, but the real miracle of the amazing acai berry is what we now know about it through scientific study. The acai berry contains essential amino acids, omega 3 fatty acids and super antioxidants.

Anthocyanin is the super antioxidant that gives the acai berry its gorgeous royal purple color. It is also known for its ability to slow or stop tumor growth in laboratory studies. Though all antioxidants are capable of fighting free radicals and the damage they incur thus preventing cancer, anthocyanin is more powerful than most.

Free radical damage is also responsible for the aging process, so acai berries are capable of fighting premature aging at the cellular level.

In addition to other powerful antioxidant, acai berries have an unusual plant characteristic. Only animal protein contains a complete source of essential amino acids, but acai berries come pretty close! This makes them an excellent source of protein without the damaging effects of saturated fat also found in animal protein.

Acai berries do not contain saturated fat, but they do contain the good fat, omega 3 fatty acids which can lower LDL (bad cholesterol)and raise HDL (good cholesterol) making them excellent (just like fish) in preventing cardiovascular disease.

Acai berries are able to improve your health, prevent disease and slow the aging process. Available in a number of ways, acai products can truly benefit your overall health and restore a more youthful appearance.

Read labels carefully and make sure that you are not purchasing an acai berry that is not pure or a juice that is mostly corn syrup with very little acai berries. - 17273

About the Author:

Find out how celebrities and stars are losing weight safely and successfully with Acai Berry. Go there now and Find out which Acai Berry brand you can believe in!