weight loss tips...

[bigpoppapuff]

Have a sweet tooth? Make fruit kebabs for a nutrient packed and energy boosting dessert. Pineapples, bananas, apples and pears are great raw but cook well directly on the grill or wrapped in tinfoil first. Serve with nonfat yogurt or fat-free whip cream. This tasty treat will have your guest begging for more fruit

[wheresthesun]

Have a sweet tooth? Make fruit kebabs for a nutrient packed and energy boosting dessert. Pineapples, bananas, apples and pears are great raw but cook well directly on the grill or wrapped in tinfoil first. Serve with nonfat yogurt or fat-free whip cream. This tasty treat will have your guest begging for more fruit
....and don't forget the vodka.:)
P.S. Tomorrow is Thursday....

[Incognito]

My weight loss tip - Substitute diet tonic water for tonic water in a Gin & Tonic.

[mesue]

....and don't forget the vodka.:)
P.S. Tomorrow is Thursday....
Did I miss something? Is thursday vodka day? Is it Bloody Mary Day? I say everyday should be Bloody Mary Day, unless they are lousy, then it should be Vodka and Cranberry Day.

[Dumbfounded]

Fruits should be low on the Glycemic Index to avoid a spike in blood glucose, so you that you don't keep craving food and overeat.

6 to 10 meals a day (an apple or can of tuna counts as a meal) increases the metabolism and in turn, weight loss

Up to 1 gallon of water a day

The mentality that "I'm not giving up anything" works great: "Dieting" has punitive connotations, as though we're "giving up something important" when we change our eating habits

More psych: People who THINK that they're fat;Have an obese image of themselves will ALWAYS be fat;Self-defeating

Low fat, low salt, NO nutrasweet and any other additives, colorings or preservatives that can be avoided,

Hard to lose weight because of:
heavy metals in body, parasites (like Bush!), yeast infections (in guys too), necessary to cleanse the colon, liver, gall bladder and kidneys,
years of yo-yo dieting, ect

Vitamin supplements a must: Soil depleted of nutrients, transit time to supermarkets, pesticides


Food is fuel, not "one of life's pleasures," although what you eat, SHOULD taste good


Humans literally get ADDICTED to sugar and fat. We CRAVE damned diet sodas (whose phosphates leach the calcium off of our bones)
because of the Aspartamae/Nutrasweet


Ya get used to eating foods LOW in fat & sodium and going totally without ALL refined foods and any foods TOO high on the Glycemic Index



Now if you'll all excuse me, I'm going to eat a few dozen wings, drowned in bleu cheese along with a pizza dripping with cheese and anchovies, a couple of steak hoagies and for dessert, a half gallon of coffee toffee ice cream and a bag of peanut M & M's
and wash it all down with a gallon of coca cola, followed by 2 gallons of beer, an Anderson's beef on weck, Charlie The Butcher's (on the F.B.I.'s 10 most wanted) beef on weck and lots of good, healthy Buffalo food!!!

Mmmmmmmmmm!!!

The Taste Of Buffalo! Food Heaven!!!
They had to haul my @ss out with a fork lift after I was done scarfing food down my gullet!!!



"TALKING PROUD!!!"

[Sylvan]

Portions should be no larger than the size of your fist.
Eat whenever you feel hungy, NOT un-full/stuffed.
Drink lots of water.
Be active with basic work and chores and you'll be fine.

[bigpoppapuff]

Meet PAM. You can't imagine foregoing butter. After all, how will you sauté your meats and vegetables? How will you grease those baking pans? Well, meet PAM, a fat-free cooking spray that comes in Original, Butter, Olive Oil and two other flavors. With PAM, you can eliminate the need for other unhealthy fats. One one-second spray of PAM has no fat and seven calories, while a teaspoon of butter has 104 calories and 11.5 grams of fat. This versatile spray can be used for grilling, baking and stovetop cooking.

[buffy]

My weight loss tip? Stop eating, Get up away from the computer and start MOVING YOUR BODY!

[Henry Hill]

My weight loss tip? Stop eating, Get up away from the computer and start MOVING YOUR BODY!


And go by a Nintendo Wii and start bowling.

[bigpoppapuff]

And go by a Nintendo Wii and start bowling.


harlem world just got a wii....he loves the boxing...

[Henry Hill]

harlem world just got a wii....he loves the boxing...


the best, so is Tennis. Velvet Fog got one too. We need a bowling tournament.

[mesue]

Meet PAM. You can't imagine foregoing butter. After all, how will you sauté your meats and vegetables? How will you grease those baking pans? Well, meet PAM, a fat-free cooking spray that comes in Original, Butter, Olive Oil and two other flavors. With PAM, you can eliminate the need for other unhealthy fats. One one-second spray of PAM has no fat and seven calories, while a teaspoon of butter has 104 calories and 11.5 grams of fat. This versatile spray can be used for grilling, baking and stovetop cooking.
I have an olive oil spritzer-er. Actually, you can use any kind of oil. I just used olive oil a lot. :)

[WNYresident]

the best, so is Tennis. Velvet Fog got one too. We need a bowling tournament.

We can sponser a bowling team :) That might be something...

[Sylvan]

We can sponser a bowling team :) That might be something...

Sponsor? Okay, send me 10k and in 6 months I'll send you a trophy with your name on it. :p

[wheresthesun]

In my experience, it's not as much what you eat as it is when you eat it. Eating heavy meals, late in the day may not be the way to go....taper off caloric intake as the day progresses...and yes, as Buffy said--Move your body!

[bigpoppapuff]

...and yes, as Buffy said--Move your body!


like this....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=J6724wPMhsE

[wheresthesun]

like this....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=J6724wPMhsE
NO not like that. Tell me, if you can, why is it that Richard has almost no muscle tone? He's just a human koosh.

[bigpoppapuff]

Order half your entrée as takeout. One restaurant portion could feed an entire fraternity house--who needs all those calories? So when you order an entree, ask them to automatically put half of it directly into a take-home box. That way, it'll never show up on your plate! And you'll have a ready-made meal for tomorrow.

[bigpoppapuff]

Go for leaner cuts of meat. A big juicy ribeye steak is appetizing - that goes without saying. However, meats with a marbled look are often high in fat. Looks can be deceiving - just because the fat isn't visible to the naked eye doesn't mean they aren't high in animal fats which raise cholesterol. Although they may not look it, those cheap, thin cuts of beef can be fatty. Opt for lean cuts of meat, even if you have to pay more for less. Trim off any visible fat before you cook your protein of choice.

[FIRELADY]

My Dr suggested following a 1500 calorie diet. I looked it over. Its not so bad. You can still have good food just smaller portions. I still have my sweet snack just not every day and smaller portions. I also try to have fish or seafood 4 days a week and more veggies and fruits.

It also said I had to drink more water. Usually if it doesn't say Pepsi on it I don't drink it but I found a flavored water I like and I take it to the gym and work. Some days that 8 glasses of water I drank in one day! But I still allow myself Pepsi a few times a day.

Sure it will take me longer to lose the weight but I won't stick to it if I can't have a few of my favorite things :)

[bigpoppapuff]

Although snacking and watching television is a popular habit, many people eat more than they realize. To keep your calories in control, leave the container closed in the kitchen. Measure out one serving in a bowl and enjoy. If you are still hungry after you snack, try munching on low calorie veggies like carrots, broccoli, or cauliflower

[bigpoppapuff]

Give your food a little kick. Spice things up with hot sauces that contain tumeric or chili peppers, which not only boost flavor but improve health. Among the health benefits are lowered blood pressure and cholesterol, improved metabolism, enhanced circulation and better digestion. Tabasco sauce, curry and wasabi all get the job done. Add a few dashes to soups or stews or use hot sauces to season chicken or fish. Get creative and reap the benefits of these fire-starters.

[bigpoppapuff]

Let homemade soup chill overnight in the refrigerator. On a cold winter day, a bowl of home-cooked soup is the ultimate comfort food. Find a good recipe and whip up a batch. Although it's tempting to serve right from the stove, take the time to refrigerate your concoction. In doing so, the fat will rise to the top. When you're ready to eat the soup, skim the congealed fat from the surface. The fat will be gone, but the flavor will remain.

[Sylvan]

Let homemade soup chill overnight in the refrigerator. On a cold winter day, a bowl of home-cooked soup is the ultimate comfort food. Find a good recipe and whip up a batch. Although it's tempting to serve right from the stove, take the time to refrigerate your concoction. In doing so, the fat will rise to the top. When you're ready to eat the soup, skim the congealed fat from the surface. The fat will be gone, but the flavor will remain.

Nice!

I freeze my soup in 1 quart freezer bags. I lay them flat so after they are frozen I can stand them up like in a file.

With chicken soup I always end up with a lot of extra broth. So, sometimes for a healthy snack, I'll take the flat frozen broth, run it under warm water so the bag separates from the soup, cut the bag away, and put the frozen broth in a sauce pan and heat it up on my wood burner. Then I dump it straight into a large mug and drink it like a beer. Its good with crackers too.

[Dumbfounded]

Some of these ideas sound a bit extreme, but they work

-Take ginger capsules with each meal:
Ginger speeds the movement of food through the G.I. tract which means less calories absorbed and better elimination


-Taking digestive enzymes (capsules, chewable pills) is a good idea because it breaks down foods better (than the stomach)

-Apple cider vinegar (diluted in water)-It WORKS over time

-6 to 10 small meals a day makes your metabolism burn faster and you lose weight. The right foods that aren't packed with sugar or are refined will keep you sated between meals;No more cravings

-Apples, yams, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach,

-Try to avoid microwaved and canned foods

-Tuna, tuna, tuna and more tuna

-NO dairy products

-Take a pro-biotic capsule(s) every day (active bacteria cultures found in yogurt-Acidopholous & other friendly flora

-NO nutrasweet or any other artificial sweetners: They have been proven to make you hungrier & gain weight

-1 gal of water/day (keeps metabolism going)

-Eat tons of raw vegetables;High fiber foods.

-Take psilium husk to help elimination and fill you up(main ingredient in Metamucil):SOME people are allergic to it.

-Do NOT eat 1 to 2 hours before going to bed

-8 - 16 Oz glass of water immediately after you wake up: Your body is literally dehydrated and your brain needs the water to function

-Immediately after awakening, EAT to get the metabolism going

-Kelp tablets:Iodine to stoke the metabolism

-The amino acids Argnine & Ornithine taken together on an empty stomach stimulate growth hormone

-Excercise is a must. You don't have to do aerobics.
Circuit training with weights will have you huffing & puffing while building muscle & burning fat

-If you are going to do both weight training
and
aerobics
do weights one day
and
aerobic work the next day
on and off

-Whatever your choice of type of excercise:
Do something that you ENJOY.
Excercise should NEVER be "punishment"

Like Dr. Andrew Weil said, "when we were children, we loved being physically active, playing..." (Paraphrased)
Find a physical activity you LOVE and you'll keep at it much better than having a physical fitness regimen thrown at you by a trainer!

-Carry snacks such as pieces of fruit and/or vegetables, whole grain slices of bread with you where ever you go to keep your blood sugar steady and avoid cravings

-View food as fuel and realize that by not eating garbage food, you are NOT "giving anything up"

-Honestly evaluate yourself: Are you a food addict who either eats well or eats badly
or
are you one of those people who can treat themselves now and then while keeping to their healthy eating regimen?


-HOW do you truly see yourself?
Obese, fat or slimmer than you are?
Can you visualize yourself looking dramatically different than you do now? (new eating habits, excercise, supplements and TIME)


-IMPORTANT: DIET is a punitive word;It has connotations of "giving something up" which is totally self-defeating.

Either you want to eat well & feel better or you don't.


And I've eaten enough junk food in my life to fill up the Walden Galleria!!!





If after one month you haven't lost a fair amount of weight (from diet, excercise & supplements), see your doctor and have them recomend a nutritionist first and if THEY can't help you,
then see an endocrinologist:
The problem MIGHT be in your glands

[bigpoppapuff]

Enjoy chicken and turkey without the skin. For some people, the skin is the most palatable part of a chicken leg or turkey breast. It's the protein version of the icing on the cake. Unfortunately, most of the bird's fat is found in the skin. Remove the skin before or after preparing the poultry and you'll cut the fat content in half. A 3-ounce chicken breast without skin has 120 calories and 1.5 grams of fat, while a chicken breast with skin has 170 calories and 7 grams of fat.

[Daisy H]

My weight loss tip? Stop eating, Get up away from the computer and start MOVING YOUR BODY!

That's funny...a (very slender) friend of mine always says this when people ask her how she stays so thin.."How do you lose weight? QUIT EATING!"

[bigpoppapuff]

Just say no to ice cream and yes to sorbets and frozen yogurt. You long for the days of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia. Your stomach churns until you realize ½ cup will set you back 150 calories and 14 grams of fat. Even the light versions of most ice cream are high in fat and calories. Do yourself a favor and choose a diet-friendly sorbet with just 100 calories and 0 grams of fat. While there are some frozen yogurts that may fit in with your plan, be leery of those rich flavors that contain just as many calories.

[wheresthesun]

any advice for noshers who want to stop noshing?

[bigpoppapuff]

any advice for noshers who want to stop noshing?


get in the habit of drinking water instead of noshing...

[wheresthesun]

get in the habit of drinking water instead of noshing...
oh yeah, right....:rolleyes: :D

[FIRELADY]

any advice for noshers who want to stop noshing?

When I am at work I used to just snack because the food was there. I leave it in my locker or out of sight now. I also made the time between each snack farther apart. I also chose snacks that were low in calories. I love the 100 calorie snacks. I eat one at a time chewing slowly and now I can't finish a bag of popcorn without being full but it still satisfies my craving for something crunchy & salty. The 100 calorie Oreos and Cheese Its are good also.
I also drink flavored water. Much better than plain water and cuts down on the amount of Pepsi I drink.

[bigpoppapuff]

As recently as 100 years ago, preparing a meal took hours. Now, you can microwave a packaged meal in mere minutes. Before planes, trains and automobiles became the norm, physical activity was a way of life. We had to walk to most destinations. Our jobs even required manual labor. Today, however, we can accomplish just about every task while seated. We order food over the phone, shop online and drive whenever we need to go someplace. On average, we live a very sedentary lifestyle. As a result, our fitness levels have decreased. Sitting for eight hours a day at a desk job, walking to the car to drive home, and sitting in front of the TV during dinner means that many of our muscles are hardly ever called into action. What can you do about it? Walk to the store, carry your groceries home, park farther away from the office, take the stairs! Every little effort helps.

[bigpoppapuff]

Satisfy chocolate cravings with a cup of sugar free cocoa. You want a Twix. Little do you know, those twin bars will cost you 284 calories and 14 grams of fat. There's got to be a better way to quell your cravings for chocolate. How does a cup of sugar-free hot cocoa (50 or 60 calories) topped with fat-free whipped cream (2 Tbsp. = 5 Calories) sound? This sweet treat will do the job with a fraction of the calories.

[bigpoppapuff]

If you want to change your eating habits, start at home. A well-stocked kitchen will increase your chances of sticking to a healthy diet. Start with the basics: whole grain pasta, brown rice, dried legumes (lentils and split peas), canned beans, frozen vegetables and olive oil. Then, shop for staple items each week such as fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, low-fat dairy and soy products. And don’t forget to plan ahead. Never leave the house without a shopping list. Keep your list current by updating it throughout the week as you run out of various foods. Before you leave for the supermarket, do a quick check to see if you need to buy staples such as beans, oils or vegetables. And make sure to eat a small snack before heading out. Research shows that people buy more unhealthy foods when they shop on an empty stomach.

[wheresthesun]

OK, you know when you crave chicken wings? You aren't REALLY craving the chicken, you are craving the spicy sauce (my theory) so what works well instead of clogging your arteries, is to nuke a packet of popcorn, use spray butter on it, and dip into Frank's hot sauce. I found that dousing the popcorn only makes it soggy, so it's best to dip.

Just another friendly tip--I'm giving away all my secrets because I like y'all so very much.;) Have a nice day; the sun is OUT!

[bigpoppapuff]

Order your burger plain. Many burger and fry joints like to get fancy. They'll top your patty with mayo or even a special sauce that's loaded with fat and calories. Leave the fancy stuff for the folks who don't mind being fat. If you want to top your burger, add lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and a slice of cheese, if need be. For the final touches, dress it up with a dollop of ketchup or mustard.

[bigpoppapuff]

Are you missing some of your favorite foods because you are trying to lose weight? Denying yourself of your favorite foods can really preoccupy your mind. This may take control of your actions and lead to overeating. Let yourself have the high calorie foods you love in small portions. You can make all foods fit into your meal plan as long as you fit them into your daily total.

[wheresthesun]

Are you missing some of your favorite foods because you are trying to lose weight? Denying yourself of your favorite foods can really preoccupy your mind. This may take control of your actions and lead to overeating. Let yourself have the high calorie foods you love in small portions. You can make all foods fit into your meal plan as long as you fit them into your daily total.
Really BPP--where DO you find all this crap? :eek: :D :p

[bigpoppapuff]

Using your plate to eyeball portion size is ideal when eating out. About half your plate should contain vegetables or fruits, while a quarter should contain protein from low-fat dairy, lean meats or protein rich vegetables. What’s on the other quarter? Why whole grain food of course! Foods like wild rice, whole-wheat pasta and quinoa are excellent side dishes.

[FIRELADY]

I agree BPP. I didn't do as well when I tried to completely cut out my favorite snacks. Those 100 calorie packs are really good. But I have other sweet snacks that don't come in 100 packs. So I have them just limit the amount.

Also I was told I need to have protein with each meal. Helps fill you up and last till the next week. Suggested having cheese or an egg with every meal. Works for me :)

[bigpoppapuff]

Use applesauce for baking. You can still enjoy homemade baked goods even though you're watching your weight. Much of the fat in muffins, cakes and brownies comes from the vegetable oil. But there are clever ways to eliminate much of the fat. Cut the amount of oil called for in half and replace the other half with applesauce. By using applesauce, you'll add fiber and ½ cup of applesauce accounts for 1 serving of fruit. Plus, you'll save half the calories.

[bigpoppapuff]

Do you load up on too much protein? The fact of the matter is that you probably don’t need more protein in your diet. Research shows that the average adult consumes almost 78 grams of protein a day compared to the 53 grams of protein that are recommended (based on a 145 pound person). That’s 146% more protein than your body needs, and guess what? Those extra grams of protein don’t translate into muscle – they turn into fat. No matter where your calories come from – be it from protein, carbs or fat – your body needs only a set amount of calories every day and any extra calories will be stored as fat, not lean tissue. This is one of the most common mistakes made by fitness buffs, when in all actuality science shows that if you want to build stronger muscles, you need more glycogen (from carbs) to replenish your muscles. But in the end, whether you’re buffing up or slimming down, you have to pay attention to the total number of calories you burn each day. That means if you really want to eat more protein, you should make sure you’re making adjustments to the other areas of your diet to make up the difference and balance out your calories.

[Shasta13]

For me, the hard part is keeping it off once it is gone. I had slimmed down where I wanted to be, but much of it crept back on. It is not really dieting but changing eating habits for good. But it is easy to slip back into old bad habits. Holiday here, birthday party there and one starts bending their eating rules too much. Before you know it, you can't zip your pants....:eek:

My workplace is doing a Health/Wellness program called "Shape Up The Nation". It is a 12 week program,People who are interested sign up and employees are broken up into teams. They can compete in three areas: weight loss, exercise, or walking, two or all three categories. They go on the website and sign up and log in thir personal goals. Every two weeks, each person goes to the website and logs onto their profile and enters their two week results. Everything is private and only viewable to that person. The site takes team averages and each team captain shares the results with their team members. Not only are we competing with each other teamwise, also against other but also our sister Sperian companies. We even got pedometers,and it is funny, because the day after the team captains delivered the peds to their teams,people were wearing them to see how much they actually walked in a day. Some walked far less than they thought, some much more. We have been at it a week now and it is funny to see people who normally sat on their duffs at breaks walking around. My personal walking goal is 10,000 steps a day and 30 minutes exercise. I have been doing pretty well so far, but it is early days yet.

[bigpoppapuff]

The thought of having to give up many of your favorite foods in order to lose weight can be daunting. Fortunately, I believe there is room for all foods – including butter – in a healthy, balanced diet. That said, I also believe there are satisfying substitutions you can make for less nutritious foods that won’t leave you feeling deprived. Instead of slathering on the butter, I want you to try a simple switch to a healthier fat for a few days. Fill a small plastic container with olive oil and put it in the refrigerator. The oil will harden, taking on the consistency of butter. Spread this on your toast instead of butter. It will taste different at first, but after a few days, your taste buds will grow used to it. And you’ll probably even come to prefer the olive oil.

[bigpoppapuff]

Pizza may have originated in Italy, but it’s truly an American classic. There are endless varieties of toppings to choose from – meats, veggies, even fruit – but there’s one you should leave in the fridge if you’re watching your waistline: cheese. This addition accounts for most of the calories on your slice. Not to mention it contains lots of unhealthy and fattening saturated fat. If you make your own pizza at home, try using a cheese substitute made from soy. Or, skip the cheese altogether. I promise you will eventually grow to prefer your pizza this way; I know I have. Now after I eat pizza, I feel healthy rather than bloated and sleepy. But if you really crave a hint of cheese, sprinkle a small amount of Parmesan on top. It’ll give your pizza pie the flavor you love without the bad fat and calories.

[bigpoppapuff]

Think positive. If you think you're going to fail at weight loss, you will. In order to lose weight, it's important to not to engage in negative thoughts. There are going to be times when you have a weak moment or you give into temptation. The key is getting back on track at your next meal. Don't let small mistakes derail your diet. Pick yourself up and try again. Keep a positive outlook and you'll be more likely to stay the course.

[bigpoppapuff]

Choose high fiber cereals. Pick cereal with at least 5 g of fiber per serving. Eating cereal is your easiest chance to get lots of fiber in a small package. Not only is fiber a cancer fighter, but it also can decrease your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. Try to eat at least 25 grams of fiber a day!

[bigpoppapuff]

Make your food complex. as in carbohydrates. White bread, cookies, pasta and other highly-processed foods give carbs a bad name. There are two types of carbohydrates - simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are usually sweet and can include cakes, candies and other sugary foods. Some foods such as peaches, melons and apples are simple carbs. Complex carbs include whole grain pasta, brown rice, oats, vegetables and whole grain cereals. For the most part, try to stick with complex carbs which take longer to digest and are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals.

[bigpoppapuff]

Looking for quick, easy, and healthy? Everyone knows frozen entrees can make easy meals, but pay attention to the nutrition labels. Choose entrées with less than ten grams of fat and 300 calories. Also be conscious of sodium content, try to choose a meal with less than 600 milligrams of sodium. Maximize the nutritional value of frozen meals by adding salad, vegetables or skim milk!

[wheresthesun]

...you were to remove one component from your diet, altogether, what would it be? In other words, what single thing would we most benefit from completely eliminating?
i.e. carbs? sugars? fats?

[FIRELADY]

I have started using sea salt in place of regular salt on my food. I was told better for you. I found seasoning withsea salt in it also and it comes with a grinder. I tried the lemon/perpper one and its yummy on fish.

[bigpoppapuff]

Are you a chronic overeater? It may not be that your hunger hormone is working overtime, but rather that you’re eating out of habit. A lot of people overeat simply because the food is there – not because they’re actually hungry. So get rid of the visual cues! Instead of eating “family style,” with platters of extra food right on the table in front of you, dish the correct portions onto your plate and leave the rest of the food in the kitchen. Don’t bring it to the table where you might be tempted to indulge in seconds… or thirds. Do the same with your snacks. Buy “sometimes” items such as chips and sweets in small packs or individual servings. Or take them out of their regular-size bag, and divide them into portion-controlled servings that you can store in the cupboard, fridge or freezer. This way, you won’t be tempted to down a jumbo-size package while you watch TV or talk on the phone. And never ever eat ice cream straight from the container.

[FIRELADY]

Are you a chronic overeater? It may not be that your hunger hormone is working overtime, but rather that you’re eating out of habit. A lot of people overeat simply because the food is there – not because they’re actually hungry. So get rid of the visual cues! Instead of eating “family style,” with platters of extra food right on the table in front of you, dish the correct portions onto your plate and leave the rest of the food in the kitchen. Don’t bring it to the table where you might be tempted to indulge in seconds… or thirds. Do the same with your snacks. Buy “sometimes” items such as chips and sweets in small packs or individual servings. Or take them out of their regular-size bag, and divide them into portion-controlled servings that you can store in the cupboard, fridge or freezer. This way, you won’t be tempted to down a jumbo-size package while you watch TV or talk on the phone. And never ever eat ice cream straight from the container.

Guess you never hear those rice crispy treats calling you from the kitchen??? :D

[MERL J]

Go for leaner cuts of meat. A big juicy ribeye steak is appetizing - that goes without saying. However, meats with a marbled look are often high in fat. Looks can be deceiving - just because the fat isn't visible to the naked eye doesn't mean they aren't high in animal fats which raise cholesterol. Although they may not look it, those cheap, thin cuts of beef can be fatty. Opt for lean cuts of meat, even if you have to pay more for less. Trim off any visible fat before you cook your protein of choice.

Use the "loin" map for meat. Sirloin, tenderloin, all known to be lower in fat.

[Yorku]

Use the "loin" map for meat. Sirloin, tenderloin, all known to be lower in fat.

MMMM....porterhouseloin.

[MERL J]

...you were to remove one component from your diet, altogether, what would it be? In other words, what single thing would we most benefit from completely eliminating?
i.e. carbs? sugars? fats?

sugars - especially soda pop and my own personal Jesus - PEPSI

[HipKat]

MMMM....porterhouseloin.Actually, you're not far off.
The tenderloin portion of a porterhouse is way bigger than a T-bone, which is how you determine that cut.

[HipKat]

...you were to remove one component from your diet, altogether, what would it be? In other words, what single thing would we most benefit from completely eliminating?
i.e. carbs? sugars? fats?Anything that comes out of the vending machine at work

[bigpoppapuff]

Are you ready to lose weight? Before you start a weight loss plan, ask yourself a few questions. 1. Are you willing to make changes in your meal plan? 2. Are you planning on making regular exercise part of your plan? 3. Are you willing to put the time it will take to get to your weight loss goal? Losing weight takes dedication and effort. Being realistic about what you are able to put in will help you determine how you will take it off.

[bigpoppapuff]

Try to eat at the same time every day. Get on a schedule. Have your breakfast at 7 a.m. Enjoy a mid-morning snack such as a piece of fruit and a low-fat string cheese at 10 a.m. At noon, take your lunch hour. Around 3 p.m. have some low-salt pretzels or carrot sticks with salsa. By 6 p.m., you're ready for dinner. Having a set schedule will give you consistency and prevent your from getting blood sugar spikes that lead to fatigue and irritability........and don't forget....lots of water!!

[FIRELADY]

Try to eat at the same time every day. Get on a schedule. Have your breakfast at 7 a.m. Enjoy a mid-morning snack such as a piece of fruit and a low-fat string cheese at 10 a.m. At noon, take your lunch hour. Around 3 p.m. have some low-salt pretzels or carrot sticks with salsa. By 6 p.m., you're ready for dinner. Having a set schedule will give you consistency and prevent your from getting blood sugar spikes that lead to fatigue and irritability........and don't forget....lots of water!!

Kind of hard to do when you work multiple shifts. I vary from afternoons to overnights. So keeping a schedule is not an option unfortunately. Nice thought though :)

[bigpoppapuff]

Avoid those fancy coffee drinks. Frozen cappuccinos and iced coffees may hit the spot. However, you're actually succumbing to a huge fat and calorie trap. By the time you factor in the whole milk, flavored syrup, whipped cream and chocolate shavings used to make the drink, you're doing as much damage as a Quarter Pounder - and who wants that out of a beverage. A 16-ounce frozen coffee cost you upwards of 410 calories and 22 grams of fat.

[bigpoppapuff]

Feasting on spaghetti before a big hike or marathon is fun, but eating oodles of noodles isn’t the only thing you need to consider if you’re carb-loading. Why load up on carbs in the first place? Eating carbs provides glycogen to your muscles, which they need to work out harder and longer. The more glycogen you have available to you during exercise, the better. Your body can store roughly 1,800 calories of glycogen in your muscles and liver. But just because the space is available doesn’t mean you’re utilizing it. In fact, if you’re working out hard and not refueling properly, your glycogen stores could be severely depleted. To store more glycogen, there are two things you need to do: eat more carbs and taper your training. Men simply need to eat a higher ratio of carbs within their normal calorie intake, while women may need to eat additional calories specifically from carbs. You don’t have to fully rest before race day, but your training regimen should be tapered during the week before competition while you simultaneously load up on carbs to allow your muscles to reach their glycogen storage capacity. You can expect to gain two to four pounds from following carb-loading guidelines due to the extra glycogen stores as well as from extra water storage. So remember: If you’re trying to lose weight, don’t use carb-loading on a regular basis unless you know you’re going to burn off all those extra calories.

[FIRELADY]

Physical trainer told me you should eat your largest meal at breakfast and eat less calories at the other meals. Friend of mine read an article saying the same thing in Consumer Health report today

[bigpoppapuff]

Toss some blueberries on your cereal. Even frozen blueberries are packed with antioxidants, just a 1/2 cup can double the antioxidant power of most people's diets. Some studies suggest that blueberries help reduce cancer risk and heart disease and may slow the aging process. All the more reason to get these tasty tiny health protectors into your meals.

[bigpoppapuff]

Whether its broccoli or pizza, you probably know that getting children to eat can sometimes be a struggle. They take a bite, squirm around as they chew, and, of course, play with their food. If you’re lucky, they do eat a nutritious meal – but they always stop when they’ve had enough, not necessarily when their plate is clean. Getting an adult to eat, on the other hand, is rarely a problem. In fact, it’s usually the opposite scenario – we can’t stop ourselves! Is there something we can learn from how a child eats? You bet! Children listen to the instinctual cues that their bodies send, so they stop when they’re full. You need to get in tune with these signals. If you pay close attention while you eat, you’ll notice that the pleasure you get from food tends to diminish as you continue to eat. This is a sign that your body has had enough. Listen to your body and eat just until you’re satisfied, not stuffed, and weight management will be child’s play.

[bigpoppapuff]

Green Tea and Weight Loss
You may have noticed ads for products containing green tea or green tea extract that promise easier weight loss and a higher metabolism. But do these products work? The short answer: No one yet knows for sure.

First, you need to remember to be wary of any product that promises a quick and easy path to weight loss. These magic bullets just don't exist! No pill or potion can replace the need for a balanced diet and regular exercise in your effort to lose weight and keep it off.

However, that doesn't mean green tea has no place in a healthy diet. Research suggests that this beverage may have some healthy advantages. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants called polyphenols, and preliminary research has linked it to a decreased risk of cancer and heart attack. Some research suggests that compounds in green tea known as catechins might also help aid weight loss. However, the research so far is inconclusive, and more studies will need to be done before nutrition experts understand the effects of green tea on health.

That said, green tea is a calorie-free choice, and a hot cup serves as a soothing treat that contains about as much caffeine as black tea or slightly less. So brew yourself a cup, flavor it with lemon or ginger if you like, and enjoy!

[bigpoppapuff]

Spinach. Brussels sprouts. Carrots. Oh my! If you’re not a fan of vegetables, you probably haven’t cooked them correctly. If you’ve ever eaten over-cooked, mushy, tasteless veggies, it’s no wonder you push aside your peas. Not only are overcooked veggies bland and unappealing, they’re also devoid of a lot of the nutrients and antioxidants that fresh vegetables offer. Learning how to properly prepare veggies can solve this crisis – and it is a crisis because vegetables are chockfull of the good stuff your body needs. So, I challenge you to give vegetables another chance. The best methods for cooking vegetables are grilling, steaming, blanching, or sautéing them in a little bit of olive oil. Vegetables only need to be cooked until they are just tender and still al dente (like pasta) inside. Once they become soft, they lose their taste and texture. If you still need a little extra pizzazz, punch up the flavor by adding lemon or lime juice, garlic, herbs or seasonings, none of which will add calories to your meal.

[bigpoppapuff]

Water may be the farthest thing from your mind when you’re busy. But not drinking enough of the clear stuff can have dire consequences – even for your waistline! Dehydration can slow your metabolism by three percent. For someone who weighs 150 pounds, that amounts to 45 fewer calories burned each day. Even though this may not sound like a lot, think in the long term. Those extra 45 calories a day – equal to one tablespoon of pancake syrup – can prevent your body from burning almost 5 pounds of fat a year. It adds up! Few people drink as much water as they should. If you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. So don’t rely on your body to tell you when to drink. Instead, drink water on a regular basis. Keep a large water bottle at your desk, and take generous sips frequently. Drink a tall glass of water before and after your workout, at your lunch break and before dinner.

[Sylvan]

Drink at least an 8 ounce glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning before you do anything else! You will help your metabolism a lot!

[bigpoppapuff]

Are Diet Sodas Making You Fat?

By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified,


Is there danger lurking in your diet soda habit? Besides the highly debated health risks associated with consuming sugar substitutes, no other dangerous side effects have been associated with drinking diet sodas of any flavor or brand... until now. While switching from high-calorie regular soda to no-calorie diet soda seems to make sense when you're counting calories, research shows a darker side to this "healthy" swap. The sugar substitutes used in diet sodas may actually disable your appetite control center, making you feel hungrier than you actually are and causing you to overeat. Wait - didn't you switch to diet because you were trying to lose weight, not gain it? Before you ditch the diet swill and switch back to regular, consider this: the high-sugar content of your favorite fizzy isn't worth it either. Drinking soda causes your blood sugar levels to soar and then crash, increasing hunger levels and contributing to feelings of daytime fatigue and decreased mental clarity. If you are concerned about an out-of-control appetite and are watching your waistline, drinking water is always your best option. Being properly hydrated controls your appetite and benefits your overall health. A good rule of thumb is: If you’re thirsty, stick with water!

[winfield31]

Are Diet Sodas Making You Fat?

By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified,


Is there danger lurking in your diet soda habit? Besides the highly debated health risks associated with consuming sugar substitutes, no other dangerous side effects have been associated with drinking diet sodas of any flavor or brand... until now. While switching from high-calorie regular soda to no-calorie diet soda seems to make sense when you're counting calories, research shows a darker side to this "healthy" swap. The sugar substitutes used in diet sodas may actually disable your appetite control center, making you feel hungrier than you actually are and causing you to overeat. Wait - didn't you switch to diet because you were trying to lose weight, not gain it? Before you ditch the diet swill and switch back to regular, consider this: the high-sugar content of your favorite fizzy isn't worth it either. Drinking soda causes your blood sugar levels to soar and then crash, increasing hunger levels and contributing to feelings of daytime fatigue and decreased mental clarity. If you are concerned about an out-of-control appetite and are watching your waistline, drinking water is always your best option. Being properly hydrated controls your appetite and benefits your overall health. A good rule of thumb is: If you’re thirsty, stick with water!:confused: problem with diet drinks I think is you have to read the label with regards to the "sodium" content..........high sodium equates to water retention which is weight gain also , plus just plain bad for you , bpp is right , plain water is best , but I prefer green , red , & chai teas............no calories , less caffeine , has to be better for you as you usually sit down & relax while drinking it..........

[FIRELADY]

As much as I love my Pepsi I am trying to cut back on it. I have been drinking Crystal Light Lemonade. Less than 10 calories for 16 oz and is sugar free. I can drink all I want :D

[bigpoppapuff]

As much as I love my Pepsi I am trying to cut back on it. I have been drinking Crystal Light Lemonade. Less than 10 calories for 16 oz and is sugar free. I can drink all I want :D


good job.....wylers is good,as well.....true lemon and true lime.....also very good...

[wheresthesun]

good job.....wylers is good,as well.....true lemon and true lime.....also very good...
I think I lost two pounds. I'll gain them back tomorrow, probably. I've been sticking with the cardio and weights 3X/4X per week. Hi BPP! ;) Eating less fat, drinking more wine.:p

[bigpoppapuff]

Are you a soda junkie? Do you down 3-4 sodas every day? Are you aware that sodas provide absolutely no nutritional value other than calories? For the most part, they contain nothing but sugar. Diet sodas are a better choice when watching your calories. Diet is not much better nutrition-wise than a regular pop, but it is calorie-free. If you really want something great to drink, try sparkling water with a slice of lemon or lime to offer a refreshing twist...or try true lemon or true lime.

[wheresthesun]

Are you a soda junkie? Do you down 3-4 sodas every day? Are you aware that sodas provide absolutely no nutritional value other than calories? For the most part, they contain nothing but sugar. Diet sodas are a better choice when watching your calories. Diet is not much better nutrition-wise than a regular pop, but it is calorie-free. If you really want something great to drink, try sparkling water with a slice of lemon or lime to offer a refreshing twist...or try true lemon or true lime.
I like a little vodka in my soda, every now and then. :D

[bigpoppapuff]

The beginning of a diet can feel like the end of your social life. No more margaritas and chips and guacamole with your girlfriends. No more pepperoni pizza and beer with the guys. The thought of giving up certain foods is hard enough, but missing out on the social aspect of eating is often an even bigger deal breaker. An excuse I often hear from people struggling to lose weight is “I don’t want to offend my friends by not indulging with them.” My mother used to say “If your friend jumped off a cliff, would you do it, too?” Peer pressure can be a difficult influence to overcome, even as an adult. But remember, overeating and neglecting your health hurts your body just as much as using recreational drugs. So-called “friends” who are offended by or tease you for your new healthy lifestyle aren’t really your friends at all. And those who support and encourage your new endeavor are the ones you should hold onto for a lifetime.

[wheresthesun]

So-called “friends” who are offended by or tease you for your new healthy lifestyle aren’t really your friends at all. And those who support and encourage your new endeavor are the ones you should hold onto for a lifetime.
Whatever, health freak...:p ;) :D

http://www.straighttothebar.com/images/posts/070529_glasbergencartoon.jpg

[bigpoppapuff]

How many times have you tried – and failed – at a weight-loss program because it required you to give up the foods you love, eat the same meals every day, and stay stuck in a repetitive exercise program? As you might have figured out, deprivation and a lack of new experiences are downright boring and not the key to lasting weight loss. Don’t choose ordinary when you can have extraordinary. Live life with a sense of purpose and adventure! Experiment with new foods and flavors; diet food doesn’t have to be tasteless. Try new activities that challenge your body and your mind. Meet new people by signing up for a group fitness program. Look at yourself and the world in a whole new light. A healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be accomplished in one leap. Simple, small changes add up to a whole lot more over time, so be sure to seek out one new experience every day. It could be as simple as trying a new vegetable or buying a fitness magazine for the first time. The more you learn, the more your world will expand.

[bigpoppapuff]

Many of us have a difficult time finding the motivation to lose the weight. Such was the case for Randy Learner who had tried unsuccessfully for years to shed his unwanted pounds. But one day he became very motivated and proceeded to lose more than 103 pounds within the year. Where did he find such powerful motivation? Randy had what I call a Passion Reason (PR). His 5-year-old daughter was in serious need of a kidney transplant and Randy was the only match. Unfortunately, doctors didn’t want to perform the surgery because his obesity put him at too high of a risk for complications. So without hesitation, Randy started eating properly and exercising daily. For the next 11 months, he never complained and never missed a workout. Once he lost the weight, he donated his kidney and saved his daughter’s life. And he has kept the weight off ever since. You, too, must find your own Passion Reason – but you don’t have to wait for a life or death event. Write down the three most important things in your life; for example, your spouse, your family, financial freedom. Then ask yourself what you will gain in these areas by losing weight. If your spouse is on your list, you might answer “more romance and better sex.” If it’s financial independence, you might write down “more energy to start a home business.” Identifying your motivators will help you move toward your goals, so review your Passion Reasons every day!

[keyboard150]

Many of us have a difficult time finding the motivation to lose the weight. Such was the case for Randy Learner who had tried unsuccessfully for years to shed his unwanted pounds. But one day he became very motivated and proceeded to lose more than 103 pounds within the year. Where did he find such powerful motivation? Randy had what I call a Passion Reason (PR). His 5-year-old daughter was in serious need of a kidney transplant and Randy was the only match. Unfortunately, doctors didn’t want to perform the surgery because his obesity put him at too high of a risk for complications. So without hesitation, Randy started eating properly and exercising daily. For the next 11 months, he never complained and never missed a workout. Once he lost the weight, he donated his kidney and saved his daughter’s life. And he has kept the weight off ever since. You, too, must find your own Passion Reason – but you don’t have to wait for a life or death event. Write down the three most important things in your life; for example, your spouse, your family, financial freedom. Then ask yourself what you will gain in these areas by losing weight. If your spouse is on your list, you might answer “more romance and better sex.” If it’s financial independence, you might write down “more energy to start a home business.” Identifying your motivators will help you move toward your goals, so review your Passion Reasons every day!

I've found the best diets are those that let you eat what you want. I've learned breakfast really IS the most important meal of the day. If eaten fairly quickly after waking up, it will get your metabolism going.
Then a few small snacks throughout the day, a small lunch, and then a decent dinner with a snack later on.

I've been steadily losing weight, and I know it's also because I'm not miserable from giving up the things I love. Obviously you should cut down on the starches and fats and stuff, but you don't have to cut them out.
Part of losing weight is staying positive!

[bigpoppapuff]

I've found the best diets are those that let you eat what you want. I've learned breakfast really IS the most important meal of the day. If eaten fairly quickly after waking up, it will get your metabolism going.
Then a few small snacks throughout the day, a small lunch, and then a decent dinner with a snack later on.

I've been steadily losing weight, and I know it's also because I'm not miserable from giving up the things I love. Obviously you should cut down on the starches and fats and stuff, but you don't have to cut them out.
Part of losing weight is staying positive!


try drinking a glass of water (8oz) as soon as you get up....eat after that.....not neccessarily right away...and,you're right....small meals through the day...and lots of water...

[bigpoppapuff]

If you’re frustrated with your diet and ready to throw in the towel, try visualizing your ultimate success. Picture yourself at your goal weight and bask in the glory of having achieved a new, better you. While dreaming about your victory may seem like you’re ignoring reality, it can actually produce a powerful feeling of excitement and motivation that can fuel your success. In fact, staying in the reality of weight loss may actually have you running back to your old lifestyle in no time. The fact is that reaching a healthy weight takes a lot of small, difficult steps. In order to achieve a better body and a higher level of fitness, you’ll need to work hard over an extended period of time before you see any noticeable changes. Reality bites. While you can’t change the fact that it’s going to take a lot of work to reach your goals, you definitely can have more fun getting there. When the going gets tough, take a moment to imagine what you’ll look like, how you’ll feel and what you’ll be able to do when you finally reach your goals. Do you like what you see? Good! Now go for it.

[bigpoppapuff]

When it comes to losing weight, how many pounds you lose isn’t as important as what those pounds are made of. For example, if you lose 10 pounds, but half the weight is muscle, your metabolism is going to suffer. That’s because, pound for pound, muscle burns more calories than fat. Surprisingly, the frequency at which you eat when dieting affects the type of weight you lose. In a British Journal of Nutrition study, weight-loss participants who ate frequent meals preserved considerably more lean muscle tissue than those who ate fewer daily meals but consumed the same number of calories. A separate Scandinavian study found similar results when testing two different weight-loss diets on a group of athletes. Although all of them lost equal amounts of weight, those who ate fewer meals lost mostly lean muscle tissue. The participants who ate more frequent meals lost almost all fat tissue, preserving their precious calorie-burning muscle. The lesson here is: To keep your metabolism revved and blast pounds, eat regularly.

[wheresthesun]

I had a ballet teacher who said (with very strong Russian accent), "If you vant to loose veight; don't eat!" And she was serious. :(

[bigpoppapuff]

Have you ever wondered which is better — butter or margarine — when it comes to your health?

First, it's important to know that both are high in fat and calories. Both butter and regular margarine weigh in at around 35 to 45 calories per teaspoon. (If you use reduced-fat margarine, a whole tablespoon gives you the same number of calories.) Butter also contains both cholesterol and saturated fat, and diets high in these substances have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Too much cholesterol can clog the arteries, while saturated fat has been shown to increase levels of LDL, or "bad," cholesterol.

Margarine, which is made from vegetable oils, doesn't contain cholesterol. But that doesn't mean it's good for your heart. To render the oils solid at room temperature, hydrogen is added during processing, creating trans fats. These fats are thought to be even more harmful to the heart than saturated fats because they not only raise LDL cholesterol but also lower HDL, or "good," cholesterol. Some stick margarines contain relatively high amounts of trans fats, while softer margarines (tub and squeeze versions) usually contain less (if any). However, even some stick margarines are free of trans fats, so be sure to check labels.

So what's a person to do? Cut down on both butter and margarine! Try replacing them with healthier options whenever you can. Butter sprays, for example, add buttery flavor to potatoes, vegetables, and other foods without adding many calories. Butter-flavored sprinkles and trans fat–free spreads can also add flavor with fewer calories and less fat. When sautéing foods, use a cooking spray or a heart-healthy oil like olive or canola, and when baking, try cutting the butter or margarine called for in the recipe by a third. You can also try replacing some or all of the butter or margarine in your baked goods with applesauce, crushed pineapple, mashed bananas, or yogurt.

In short, rather than getting caught up in the butter-versus-margarine debate? Opt to reduce your use of both fats whenever you can. Every tablespoon you cut will also cut out calories and fat you don't need.

[Dumbfounded]

Have you ever wondered which is better — butter or margarine — when it comes to your health?

First, it's important to know that both are high in fat and calories. Both butter and regular margarine weigh in at around 35 to 45 calories per teaspoon. (If you use reduced-fat margarine, a whole tablespoon gives you the same number of calories.) Butter also contains both cholesterol and saturated fat, and diets high in these substances have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Too much cholesterol can clog the arteries, while saturated fat has been shown to increase levels of LDL, or "bad," cholesterol.

Margarine, which is made from vegetable oils, doesn't contain cholesterol. But that doesn't mean it's good for your heart. To render the oils solid at room temperature, hydrogen is added during processing, creating trans fats. These fats are thought to be even more harmful to the heart than saturated fats because they not only raise LDL cholesterol but also lower HDL, or "good," cholesterol. Some stick margarines contain relatively high amounts of trans fats, while softer margarines (tub and squeeze versions) usually contain less (if any). However, even some stick margarines are free of trans fats, so be sure to check labels.

So what's a person to do? Cut down on both butter and margarine! Try replacing them with healthier options whenever you can. Butter sprays, for example, add buttery flavor to potatoes, vegetables, and other foods without adding many calories. Butter-flavored sprinkles and trans fat–free spreads can also add flavor with fewer calories and less fat. When sautéing foods, use a cooking spray or a heart-healthy oil like olive or canola, and when baking, try cutting the butter or margarine called for in the recipe by a third. You can also try replacing some or all of the butter or margarine in your baked goods with applesauce, crushed pineapple, mashed bananas, or yogurt.

In short, rather than getting caught up in the butter-versus-margarine debate? Opt to reduce your use of both fats whenever you can. Every tablespoon you cut will also cut out calories and fat you don't need.

I Can't Believe Its Not Butter SPRAY has ZERO calories and as far as I know, is not toxic to the body

And it tastes fantastic, for $2.39 or so at Wegmans

BPP, have you mentioned that craving fat is just another food addiction and that it takes up to three months to lose the taste for foods high in fat (the bad kind)?


Plenty of salt in food so I used Mrs. Dash which tastes GREAT once you get used to it!

Spray salad dressings with 1 to 2 calories per spray are also great

You get used to "going without" most foods, condiments and addictions we've always "assumed" are "normal" ways of eating.

[bigpoppapuff]

Enjoy apple butter. Apple butter makes a delicious spread on a piece of whole-wheat toast or a whole-wheat English muffin. Replace regular butter with this healthy alternative. Apple butter can also be used a shortening substitute in baking to replace up to 3/4 of high-fat shortenings. A tablespoon of has just 33 calories and is bursting with flavor.

[bigpoppapuff]

Food Combining...


Food combining is a principle which suggests that when certain foods are eaten together it makes for better digestion. In contrast, when other foods are consumed in tandem it makes for a lethal combination that’s detrimental to the digestive process. There are a host of diets that integrate food combining -- including Marilu Henner’s Total Health Makeover and Suzanne Somers’ Somersizing.

The rationalization behind food combining is that different food groups require different digestion times. Making the proper combinations enables the body to digest and utilize the nutrients found in food to the fullest extent. The theory of food combining is extremely confusing and unless you have a thorough knowledge of the body’s inner working the science behind the process can be difficult to stomach. Among the factors that must be taken into account are the pH levels and their involvement in digestion.

Proteins need a highly acidic environment for digestion. Carbohydrates and fats on the other hand require an alkaline medium. When a protein and a carb are consumed at the same time, yet necessitate different conditions, this interferes with the digestion process. Unfortunately, the clash causes indigestion, bloating, gas, poor absorption of essential nutrients and most importantly weight gain.

Here are the basic rules of the thumb for food combining.

1. Carbs and acid foods shouldn’t be eaten together. Don’t eat bread, rice or potatoes with lemons, limes, tomatoes, oranges or other sour fruits.
2. Don’t consume concentrated proteins and concentrated carbohydrates at the same meal. Nuts, meat, eggs, cheese, or other proteins shouldn’t be eaten with bread, cereals, potatoes and sweet fruits.
3. Don’t eat more than one protein at a meal. Eggs and meat, cheese and eggs, eggs and milk, and cheese and nuts are all major no no’s. Milk should be consumed by itself.
4. Avoid eating fats with protein. Don’t use cream, butter and oil with meat, eggs, cheese or nuts.
5. Don’t eat acid fruits with proteins. Swear off oranges, tomatoes and lemons with meat, eggs, cheese or nuts.
6. Starch and sugars shouldn’t be eaten together. That means no jelly on your toast and no butter on your potato.
7. Eat only one starch per meal.
8. Melons should be eaten alone.

When following a food combining program, a typical day’s menu will look like this. Breakfast is a fruit by itself. Lunch should consist of a vegetable salad with no tomatoes, one cooked green veggie and a starch. Dinner is a large salad, two cooked non-starch veggies and a starch.

Time consuming and difficult to follow, there is still much debate about whether food combining actually accomplishes anything including weight loss. Some opponents of the concept suggest that food combining actually is self-defeating because the suggested combinations hinder proper digestion.

[mikewrona]

Tried something different today. I found it very tasty.

1 Pkg. Jamaican Fish Tea Soup Mix (Tops)
1 lb Whiting (actually should have used Cod, but I only had Whiting)
1 Can Sylvia's Collard Greens
1 Can Carrots
1 tbsp Ground Crushed Peppers
2 cups of water (16oz)
Oyster Crackers for prepared soup.
Follow instructions on Soup mix.

Hot and tasty if you like fish. Enough for 4 meals

[wheresthesun]

Anyone ever try "dieter's tea?" It's great if you want to drop a few, very quickly. :cool:

[mikewrona]

Anyone ever try "dieter's tea?" It's great if you want to drop a few, very quickly. :cool:

I've never heard of it. Don't recall having seen it either. Well, actually with all the different teas, it is probably easy to miss.

Tops - Wegman's carries it?

[bigpoppapuff]

I've never heard of it. Don't recall having seen it either. Well, actually with all the different teas, it is probably easy to miss.

Tops - Wegman's carries it?


take a look at these,mike....i assure you,you'll be happy with vitacost's prices and service...

http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?.x=8&ss=1&Ntk=products&.y=8&Ntt=weight%20loss%20tea

[wheresthesun]

http://a1468.g.akamai.net/f/1468/580/1d/pics.Drugstore.com/prodimg/72843/200.jpgI think this is what I have at home...I'll check later. Bought mine at Feel-me-rite.

[mikewrona]

http://a1468.g.akamai.net/f/1468/580/1d/pics.Drugstore.com/prodimg/72843/200.jpgI think this is what I have at home...I'll check later. Bought mine at Feel-me-rite.

I'll look there. I get my whole grain pasta from Feel-you Rite. :eek:

II am self-conscious when I go into the store on Maple near NF Blvd. All the women that work in there are toned and then I walk in. It's like ruining the atmosphere.

[mikewrona]

take a look at these,mike....i assure you,you'll be happy with vitacost's prices and service...

http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?.x=8&ss=1&Ntk=products&.y=8&Ntt=weight%20loss%20tea

I'll have to check this out.

[wheresthesun]

I'll look there. I get my whole grain pasta from Feel-you Rite. :eek:

II am self-conscious when I go into the store on Maple near NF Blvd. All the women that work in there are toned and then I walk in. It's like ruining the atmosphere.
Try the one on Delaware near Amherst Street; trust me, it ain't pretty.

[mikewrona]

Try the one on Delaware near Amherst Street; trust me, it ain't pretty.

I may have to for the confidence building therapeutic value.

[wheresthesun]

I may have to for the confidence building therapeutic value.
I just feel I should say one thing before you run off and buy this tea. It works to speed up the digestive process if you get what I am saying. In other words, you have to use it cautiously or you may find yourself in the bathroom for a large portion of your day.:)

[bigpoppapuff]

Make protein a side. There's no need to load up your plate with a giant hunk of meat and two small sides. Try a different approach to dining by treating your portion of poultry, beef, fish or pork as a side. In addition, add heaping helpings of fresh vegetables to your plate. It's even okay to adopt an all-you-can-eat mentality in this case. Couple the small portion of protein and large amount of fresh vegetables with an appropriate side of whole grains and you have a balanced, delicious meal on your plate.

[mikewrona]

I just feel I should say one thing before you run off and buy this tea. It works to speed up the digestive process if you get what I am saying. In other words, you have to use it cautiously or you may find yourself in the bathroom for a large portion of your day.:)

OK, you just turned me off. I'm losing weight on what my cardiologist says is a Mediterranean type diet. It doesn't require additional bathroom time.

[bigpoppapuff]

OK, you just turned me off. I'm losing weight on what my cardiologist says is a Mediterranean type diet. It doesn't require additional bathroom time.


look into the green tea extract 500mg tabs from vitacost....good info and not a colon blow...a cup or two of green tea will help....and is actually good for you.....and it also,is not a colon blow...

[wheresthesun]

look into the green tea extract 500mg tabs from vitacost....good info and not a colon blow...a cup or two of green tea will help....and is actually good for you.....and it also,is not a colon blow...
However, you may want to stress the fact that it's NOT a colon blow!!!:D :p P.S. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeew

[bigpoppapuff]

You’ve probably been advised to avoid many salad toppings in order to lose weight. But who really wants to chomp on a bunch of leaves? Luckily, there are many toppings that are both low in calories and high in taste. Try these satisfying swaps for a diet-friendly salad you’ll actually look forward to eating:

- Ditch the deli meat cubes, which can add up to 100 calories and six grams of fat for just eight to 10 little pieces. Instead, dig into the beans, which are virtually fat-free, loaded with vitamins such as folate, and packed with hunger-quelling fiber. From garbanzo beans to kidney and black beans, the possibilities are endless!


- Bag the bacon bits, and sprinkle on sunflower seeds instead. They’re a great source of magnesium, not to mention heart-healthy unsaturated fats.


- If you love the crunch of croutons, crumble on some flavored rice cakes instead. They’ll add the texture you crave, without all the unnecessary oil.


- When it comes time to dress your masterpiece, drizzle, don’t drench. In general, stay away from creamy varieties such as ranch and thousand island; these are loaded with calories and unhealthy fats. Opt instead for a tablespoon of oil-based vinaigrette. Or better yet, try this : a tablespoon of flaxseed oil on your salad will deliver a nutty flavor rich in omega-3s that you and your body will love.

[winfield31]

You’ve probably been advised to avoid many salad toppings in order to lose weight. But who really wants to chomp on a bunch of leaves? Luckily, there are many toppings that are both low in calories and high in taste. Try these satisfying swaps for a diet-friendly salad you’ll actually look forward to eating:

- Ditch the deli meat cubes, which can add up to 100 calories and six grams of fat for just eight to 10 little pieces. Instead, dig into the beans, which are virtually fat-free, loaded with vitamins such as folate, and packed with hunger-quelling fiber. From garbanzo beans to kidney and black beans, the possibilities are endless!


- Bag the bacon bits, and sprinkle on sunflower seeds instead. They’re a great source of magnesium, not to mention heart-healthy unsaturated fats.


- If you love the crunch of croutons, crumble on some flavored rice cakes instead. They’ll add the texture you crave, without all the unnecessary oil.


- When it comes time to dress your masterpiece, drizzle, don’t drench. In general, stay away from creamy varieties such as ranch and thousand island; these are loaded with calories and unhealthy fats. Opt instead for a tablespoon of oil-based vinaigrette. Or better yet, try this : a tablespoon of flaxseed oil on your salad will deliver a nutty flavor rich in omega-3s that you and your body will love. :( bpp , I love your weight loss tips , etc. , but I'm DYING for a Big Mac w/fries !!! I'm settling on my wife's talapia , with aspragus & mushrooms............yum , yum.........:rolleyes: Keep up the good work , your tips do help...........

[bigpoppapuff]

Watch what you eat 90% of the time. Nobody's perfect, especially when it comes to what they eat. If you try to do things exactly by the book and consume every meal on plan, you're setting yourself up for failure. The time will come when you want to enjoy a small piece of cake to celebrate your son's birthday. Maybe you just want to feast on a bowl of lobster bisque at your favorite restaurant that you only go to once a year. A good rule of thumb is to try and stay on track 90% of the time and feel comfortable straying no more than 10% of the time. No weight loss program will succeed if you feel like you're being deprived.

[winfield31]

Watch what you eat 90% of the time. Nobody's perfect, especially when it comes to what they eat. If you try to do things exactly by the book and consume every meal on plan, you're setting yourself up for failure. The time will come when you want to enjoy a small piece of cake to celebrate your son's birthday. Maybe you just want to feast on a bowl of lobster bisque at your favorite restaurant that you only go to once a year. A good rule of thumb is to try and stay on track 90% of the time and feel comfortable straying no more than 10% of the time. No weight loss program will succeed if you feel like you're being deprived.:( I'm depraved , I'm depraved , oh , wait I'm deprived , I want a Big Mac !!!!!:( SBD Salmon earlier , with a horseradish/dijon mustard "crusted" topping for dinner , with asparagus & mushrooms , was VERY good actually !:) If I could only sneak out for some fries..........

[bigpoppapuff]

Beware of full-fat dairy. High in fat and calories, milk, sour cream and other dairy products can be a danger to your diet. Thankfully, there are a slew of low-fat and non-fat alternatives that won't seriously affect your bottom line. Most of the time you won't be able to taste the difference and if you do, your tastebuds will likely adapt to the transition over time. Some food for thought. one cup of whole milk contains 160 calories, while a cup of low-fat milk has 90 calories.

[Sylvan]

Beware of full-fat dairy. High in fat and calories, milk, sour cream and other dairy products can be a danger to your diet. Thankfully, there are a slew of low-fat and non-fat alternatives that won't seriously affect your bottom line. Most of the time you won't be able to taste the difference and if you do, your tastebuds will likely adapt to the transition over time. Some food for thought. one cup of whole milk contains 160 calories, while a cup of low-fat milk has 90 calories.

Im screwed in that deptartment. I love whole milk and real butter. :)

[bigpoppapuff]

The trick to eating healthy is to plan ahead, plain and simple. A good trick is to have a rotating menu system that you use either weekly or monthly. For example, you would sit down and plan out 30 days worth of meals, snacks and treats at one time and then just reuse the same plan each month. This is also a great way to ensure you’re eating a balanced diet. Start by planning out one week of dinners, and be sure to include a variety of healthful foods. On Sunday you might have barbecued chicken, on Monday a veggie casserole, on Tuesday grilled fish, on Wednesday lean pork or beef, etc. If you have more than seven meal ideas, keep planning out the weeks until you run out of ideas. If you have enough recipes for a full month, rotate your plan monthly. For example, you’ll eat the same meals on August 15 as you did on July 15. Post your menu calendar on your fridge, and refer to it before you go grocery shopping. And don’t forget to make sure your pantry is packed with the basics. You’ll save hours trying to brainstorm new meal combinations.

[Dumbfounded]

Kelp tablets (Iodine).

Seriously.

Some people have an underactive Thyroid and not enough Iodine in their bodies so supplementation with kelp (not excessive) sometimes speeds up the metabolism and helps weight loss

If your insurance covers it, get a decent hormone profile (with your primary's permission slip) and find out if all of your glands are working at optimal capacity

Sometimes sluggish or overactive endo and exocrine glands or a simple imbalance of sodium or lack of iodine can keep both men and women much heavier than they should be.

[FIRELADY]

I just think the extra pounds like where they are and refuse to move. Salads are getting BORING. I want my pasta back :D :D :D

[bigpoppapuff]

from jeanjitomir.com

. No/Minimal Processing!

Foods that are processed: Crackers, bread, deli meat, sausage, veggie burgers, frozen meals, protein bars, RTE, meal replacements, boxed cereals, many cheeses

Foods that are minimally processed: roasted nuts, low-fat dairy, frozen meats, frozen fruits and vegetables, canned beans, dried fruit, old-fashioned oats

Foods that are not processed: brown rice, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, herbs, spices, fresh meat/fish, dried beans, raw nuts

2. High in Fresh Produce, Especially Vegetables!

Piles of fresh vegetables should be included, particularly non-starchy vegetables. Examples include peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, collards, kale, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, cabbage, green beans, etc. Eat vegetables in bulk and before eating other meal items.

3. High in Very Lean Protein
Very lean protein sources should be included in all meals and snacks. Shoot for at least 1g-1.5g protein per pound of body weight per day. For instance, a 180lb man should consume 180g to 270g/day. This equates to 22-33 oz chicken breast per day (nearly two pounds on the higher end)

Extra lean protein sources include, but are not limited to: chicken breast, tilapia, low-fat cottage cheese, 96% lean ground beef, whey protein, soy protein, defatted soy grits, fat-free cheese, egg whites

Other acceptable protein sources to eat in moderation are whole eggs, edamame, low-fat cheese, tofu, top round steak/roast, flank steak/roast, skinless dark chicken, center-cut pork loin, beans

4. Restricted in Fat
This does not mean that all fat should be freakishly eradicated from the diet; it means that most high-fat foods should be avoided most of the time, while select high-fat foods should be included regularly and in moderation.

Include small portions of flax (1-2 Tbsp ground), nuts (6-10 nuts), fatty fish (3-6 oz fish), and oil (1tsp to 1Tbsp)

Limit/avoid dairy fats, animal fats, and, most of all, trans fats. If you avoid processed foods, you will automatically eliminate nearly all trans fats from your diet!

5. Contains carbs most of the time

This point will vary based on what kind of exercise/events you participate in. If you are an endurance athlete, you will need more carbohydrates. However, power athletes do not have nearly the same need for daily carb use or carb supplementation around workouts. For myself (not relying on science here) I find that the protein rule of thumb works well for carbs too, so I get about 115-170g of carbs on most days, not including carbs from fiber. Occasionally, I will have kind-of a carb spurge day and eat closer to 250-300g carbs.

A carb serving at a meal for me may come from ½ cup of beans combined with vegetables in a meal (about 25 grams) and I always save about 20 grams of carb for pre-workout and about 30g for recovery. Remember these values will be higher if you are a large male!

Good, unprocessed carb sources include old-fashioned or steel-cut oats, quinoa, vegetables (including potatoes— whole food!), fruits, beans, brown rice

If you follow the guidelines above, you'll realize that you're automatically getting enough fiber, vitamins, minerals, vegetable and fruits servings, and ample energy once you figure out the amount of protein/carbs/fat you require. Stick with it and watch your body love you for it!

[bigpoppapuff]

Stress is often to blame for weight gain. And it’s not the resulting emotional eating that’s the problem. When you feel stressed, you actually trigger your fight-or-flight response. Your body then releases a number of stress hormones, notably cortisol. These hormones are designed to help you better handle your stressor by speeding up your heart rate, dilating your blood vessels and shunting blood away from your digestive track so it can go where you need it: your muscles. Your liver also makes fuel in the form of sugar (from stored glycogen), so you have enough energy to “fight” or “flee” the stressor. However, today’s stressors aren’t dinosaurs or club-wielding cavemen – they’re more intangible, such as meeting work deadlines and paying speeding tickets. Your body doesn’t use the sugar your liver produces because you didn’t actually fight or flee. But your liver doesn’t know that and continues to trigger your brain to make you feel hungry. The extra calories you end up eating – all in response to that stress – get stored in fat cells. If you trigger your fight-or-flight response chronically, your body will try to store up as much fat as possible, and you’ll gain unnecessary weight.

[bigpoppapuff]

P
By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified, LifeScript Staff Writer

There’s nothing quite like a warm, "fresh out of the oven" muffin. But if you’re regularly picking up baked goods for breakfast, it’s time to rethink your strategy. While eating a fresh blueberry muffin might seem like a healthy way to start your day (it’s fruit, right?), there are loads of calories and fat lurking within. Depending on the brand, a single muffin can set you back 600-700 calories and more than 10 grams of fat. And don’t even think about biting into one of those oversized Costco/Sam’s Club brand monstrosities; each of these gargantuan pastries can easily pack up to 900 calories and more than 40 grams of fat. Even low-fat muffins can deliver a substantial caloric wallop with an average of 400 calories each. Why? Because they're made with more sugar than regular muffins to improve the taste. And don’t be fooled by muffins that claim to be low-fat or reduced-fat or by those that contain healthy-sounding ingredients, such as apples, bananas, blueberries, carrots, or wheat germ. One healthy ingredient doesn’t make the whole food diet-friendly. For a guilt-free, delicious breakfast muffin that won’t break the calorie bank, whip up a batch of our low-calorie oatmeal muffins and eat one straight out of the oven. If you do want to treat yourself to a once-in-awhile store-bought muffin, then go ahead and enjoy yourself. But don't go grabbing one of these fat-fests every morning, or you’ll just make it that much more difficult for yourself to lose weight. So, if the muffin man comes knocking, tell him you’re minding your muffins.

[bigpoppapuff]

Does "Fat Free" Mean "Calorie Free"?
When fat-free and reduced-fat snack foods like cookies and chips flooded the market a few years back, they were heralded as a major advance in the battle against obesity. Not to miss the bandwagon, makers of foods that never contained fats to begin with — like pretzels and gummy bears — proudly added the words "fat free" to their labels.

But soon people began to see that fat-free foods weren't the answer they had been hoping for. Instead, they found that even though they were eating less fat by choosing these foods, they were still eating far too many calories and gaining weight.

One problem was that many people took "fat free" to mean "calorie free." In fact, fat-free foods can contain nearly the same number of calories as the original versions. For example, one brand of reduced-fat sandwich cookies contains 150 calories per serving, while the original version contains 160 calories per serving. That isn't a very significant difference.

Another problem was that many fat-free snacks aren't very filling for their calorie count, so it's easier to eat a lot of calories and still not feel full. Compare how satisfied you'd feel after eating a few fat-free cookies to how you might feel after eating 5 cups of air-popped popcorn or 3 cups of watermelon chunks, for example. All of these portions have the same number of calories — about 150 — but there's a big difference in how "full" you'd feel when you were done.

The bottom line is that there's more to losing weight and keeping it off than just cutting out fat. Remember, fat free is only one part of the story. Don't be deceived. Remember to read labels, count calories, and compare fat-free options with other healthy choices.

[bigpoppapuff]

Fill up on frozen entrées. Lean Cuisine, Kashi, and Healthy Choice are a dream to busy dieters who are constantly on the go. With plenty of varieties to choose from - ranging from Beef Stroganoff to Shrimp Stir-Fry - there's something to please just about any palate. There are even food lines of frozen entrees made specifically for vegetarians. Most workplaces have microwaves readily available and these dishes can be prepared in less than five minutes. With all meals it's important to read the nutritional labels and keep a close eye on sodium levels.

[bigpoppapuff]

Late-night French fry consumption may be good for Burger King’s bottom line, but it’s terrible for yours! Starchy carbs, such as potatoes, rice and pasta, are designed to give you high energy. But most of us are less active in the evening than we are during the day. Since our bodies won’t need the energy, the carbs will be stored as fat instead. A good rule of thumb is to avoid carbs high in starch after your afternoon snack. But, if you really must have starchy carbs with dinner, be sure to keep an eye on your portion sizes. Eat the protein on your plate first to help you fill up, and keep your meal balanced and your hunger in check by starting with a salad or a broth-based soup. If you’re still hungry later, do your body good: nosh on a piece of fruit or indulge in a piece of antioxidant-rich dark chocolate.

[bigpoppapuff]

Set goals! Do you have a big event this summer that you want to get ready for? Maybe you just want to feel better in shorts? Start thinking about you’re your motivation is to get back into a healthy routine. Why do you want to lose weight? Do you want to make a change in your appearance or do you want to feel better? Make a list of what is important to you and then create a realistic plan to achieve those goals.

[bigpoppapuff]

Want to lose weight,tone up,and get in shape?
If it's in your head,it's a dream.....put it on paper and make it a GOAL!!!

[bigpoppapuff]

You know what they say: Timing is everything. Well, your daily meal agenda is no different. It is suggested that you eat a nutritious, satisfying breakfast within one hour of rising, and three hours later eat your first snack. Lunch comes about three hours after your morning snack, and three hours after lunch, eat your afternoon snack, followed by dinner – you guessed it – three hours later. Before you go to bed, eat your last snack. It is recommended that you drink whey protein shakes for your thrice-daily snacks and eating 3-5 ounces of protein and 2-4 cups of veggies or fruit during mealtimes.

Why is eating every three hours so powerful in helping you restore lean muscle tissue? In a nutshell, it will help you do three vital things: reduce your cortisol hormone levels, which contribute to belly bulge; keep your metabolism elevated so you stay energized and continue to burn fat; and help control your appetite so you don’t overeat. This is such a vital secret; You will see dramatic results!

[bigpoppapuff]

Make fish a staple in your diet. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish (fatty fish to be specific) twice a week. In addition to being low in saturated fat and high in protein, fatty fishes such as albacore tune, mackerel, salmon, trout and herring are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These omega-3 fatty acids decrease the risk of arryhythmias, decrease triglyceride levels, decrease growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque and lower blood pressure

[bigpoppapuff]

The word “fat” often sends people running from seemingly offending food dishes that are actually quite good for you. Fat is feared, in part, because it has nine calories per gram while carbohydrates and proteins each have only four calories per gram. While many deprivation diets shun fats, you need them as much you need carbohydrates and proteins! Fat is essential for many bodily processes. You must consume fat to remain healthy; just make sure your source is a nutritious option. Certain fats contain substances called essential fatty acids that cannot be manufactured inside the human body. These fatty substances, found both in animal products and some vegetables, help your body properly metabolize food. To give your cells the fatty substances they need, It is recommended that you eat nuts and seeds, avocados, olives and coconuts. Flaxseed oil is also a great source for essential fatty acids!

[bigpoppapuff]

Giving your body a break from rigorous exercise is essential for boosting your calorie- and fat-burning powers. But did you know that every week you should also take a day-long vacation from your meal regimen – and eat more? Studies have shown if you eat double the amount of calories you usually eat in one day, you will actually speed up your metabolism by 9% for the following 24 hours. That doesn’t mean you should double the amount of calories you’re eating every day; it just gives you complete freedom with your food choices once a week. It is believed that deprivation will only lead to bingeing, so this practice will allow you a small break and ensure that you're not deprived of your favorite foods.

[bigpoppapuff]

Even though we can buy fresh produce year-round, spring brings a greater variety of fruits and vegetables to grocery stores. Be sure to take advantage of seasonal products and fit them into you meal plan. Fruits that are in season during May are apricots, berries, cherries, melons and peaches. Vegetables that are in season are green beans, corn on the cob, squash, zucchini, Vidalia onions and pea pods. Check out your local farmers market to see what fresh produce they offer

[bigpoppapuff]

Do you sometimes lust after bowls of ice cream while lying in bed at night? As pleasurable as answering that craving may seem, chances are you’ll soon forget about your object of yearning. Most food cravings last only 10 minutes and then subside. Cravings often are your body’s cries for water and oxygen. So during those 10 minutes, drink a glass of water with lemon and take a few deep breaths. By giving your body these essentials, you can get through a craving without committing a diet slip-up. You might want to change activities to clear your mind and distract yourself. Go for a walk, or call a friend. By the time you’re done, chances are that fleeting craving will be behind you.

[Sylvan]

I drink water with lemon all the time!
But I like that icecream too. :D

[bigpoppapuff]

I drink water with lemon all the time!
But I like that icecream too. :D


one good....one bad!!!;)

[wheresthesun]

So, how are all those diets going?; how about an update, a progress report?

[buffy]

Even though we can buy fresh produce year-round, spring brings a greater variety of fruits and vegetables to grocery stores. Be sure to take advantage of seasonal products and fit them into you meal plan. Fruits that are in season during May are apricots, berries, cherries, melons and peaches. Vegetables that are in season are green beans, corn on the cob, squash, zucchini, Vidalia onions and pea pods. Check out your local farmers market to see what fresh produce they offer
is it just me or does BPP seem to be sounding a lot like Mr. Food?

oh, AND I HATE MR. FOOD! :p

[wheresthesun]

is it just me or does BPP seem to be sounding a lot like Mr. Food?

oh, AND I HATE MR. FOOD! :p
Mr. Fraud, hadn't thought of him in a long time. Here is an excerpt from one of his healthier recipes:
1 cup sour cream
3 cups sugar
2 lb. margarine
1/2 gallon chocolate sauce
3 c. real whipped cream
1 c. reduced fat peanut butter
Wonder how many WNY arteries he clogged; ooh he was so bad!:)

[Daisy H]

Mr. Fraud, hadn't thought of him in a long time. Here is an excerpt from one of his healthier recipes:
1 cup sour cream
3 cups sugar
2 lb. margarine
1/2 gallon chocolate sauce
3 c. real whipped cream
1 c. reduced fat peanut butter
Wonder how many WNY arteries he clogged; ooh he was so bad!:)

Mr. Food is horrible and should be locked up for trying to "off" so many people. He's the Culinary Kevorkian. No one ever alerted this man that Miracle Whip and Fluffernutter stopped being staples in the 70's.

[bigpoppapuff]

Mom always told you not to play with food. But I’d like to teach you a grown-up food game that will help you control your portion size every time you eat. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, place your food on a standard 9-inch dinner plate. Fill half the plate with vegetables (or fruit at breakfast) and the other half with equal portions of carbohydrate and protein foods, along with a teaspoon of food containing fat. If you are still hungry, you can have another plate of vegetables. It’s that easy! I know it sounds too simple to be true, but it really works. When you follow this system of plate partitioning, you will eat the right balance of carbohydrates, fat and protein. This is so important for your bottom line, particularly to building lean muscle tissue. Your muscles are made of protein, and they repair and rebuild themselves with the protein from the food you eat. In addition, eating some protein at every meal will help to turn down hunger, as protein takes longer to digest than carbohydrates. So police your dinner plate for portion control, and watch those pounds fall off.

[bigpoppapuff]

Read labels. It's important to know exactly what you're eating. Before you toss that can of soup or box of frozen vegetables in your shopping cart, check out the nutritional values. While it may 'seem' healthy, you may discover the food is high in sodium or loaded with fat. Get informed and figure out which products fit in best with your healthy eating plan.

[bigpoppapuff]

Little Miss Muffet must’ve been trying to lose a few pounds when she famously ate her whey. Whey has been around for ages, and as it so happens, whey protein is a weight-loss all-star. Whey is the best supplemental form of protein to maximize your retention of fat-burning lean muscle tissue. It also has the highest bio-absorption levels. This means your body’s muscles will stay more structurally supported and your metabolism revved. But the advantages of whey don’t stop there. You’ll also benefit from a strengthened immune system, increased satiety and reduced cortisol levels (a stress hormone). Whey protein should not take the place of regular meals, but it can be consumed as a snack up to two to three times a day. Try a scoop of chocolate whey protein powder blended in water with ice as a delicious 100-calorie snack drink.

[bigpoppapuff]

Keep the Weight Off with the Magic Number ‘5'

By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified, LifeScript Staff Writer


You exercised every day, watched your calories, ate more fiber, stopped being lazy and you lost the weight – congratulations! Now comes the hard part – keeping it off for good. While it may seem that you’ve achieved your goal and can relax now, you’ve really only won half the battle. Maintaining your weight loss is the next step in living lean forever. You probably don’t need to exercise as hard or cut as many calories out as you did in your weight-loss phase, but you can’t go back to eating chips and hot dogs and watching countless hours of TV every day. Experts say that if you want to keep the weight off for good, pay close attention to any weight gain and don’t let it go above the “critical” five pound mark. Studies show that those who keep their weight fluctuations under the five-pound benchmark are more likely to prevent a large weight-gain relapse, as compared to those who let their weight slip past five pounds. If you’re creeping closer to being five pounds over your goal weight, get back on track by increasing your exercise sessions (either by intensity, duration or frequency) and watch those calories.

[bigpoppapuff]

Breakfast may be considered the most important meal of the day, but it doesn’t have to be the most time-consuming. If you’re skipping breakfast because you don’t have time to prepare it, get back to the basics and keep it simple. You can save a lot of time and energy by keeping this meal relatively simple. There are many quick, healthful breakfast foods you can stock in your pantry. Stick with high-fiber cereal, whole-grain toast, oatmeal, and fresh fruit – foods you can throw together in just a few minutes. Then concentrate harder on making your lunches and dinners balanced. Still don’t feel like you have time to throw together a bowl of milk and bran flakes? If you’re constantly rushing out the door in the morning, plan ahead. Keep trail mix and dried fruit stashed in your car’s glove box, granola bars in your purse or bag, and packets of oatmeal in your desk at work. Remember, breakfast doesn’t have to be a chore!

[bigpoppapuff]

Beware of the fat-free trap. Just because a food is low-fat or fat-free doesn't mean that you can adopt the all-you-can-eat mentality. Although a product may be low in fat, it is also supplemented with excess sugar and calories to maintain that satisfying taste. Therefore, you're doing your diet more harm than good by bingeing on those fat-free cakes, candies and cookies. If you want a true fat-free or low-fat snack, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables.

[bigpoppapuff]

Most people who struggle with late-night binges are those who don't eat balanced meals during the day. Don't skip breakfast, lunch or dinner. And when you eat your evening meal, do it sitting down at the table. The good news for those of you with hectic schedules is that eating late at night doesn't cause weight gain by itself - it's how many total calories that counts. But eating them all at one sitting isn't a good idea, either.

[Sylvan]

Most people who struggle with late-night binges are those who don't eat balanced meals during the day. Don't skip breakfast, lunch or dinner. And when you eat your evening meal, do it sitting down at the table. The good news for those of you with hectic schedules is that eating late at night doesn't cause weight gain by itself - it's how many total calories that counts. But eating them all at one sitting isn't a good idea, either.

The digestive system is similar to a wood burning furnace. Not enough wood and the furnace doesnt get hot and the fire goes out. Too much wood and the fire gets smothered and goes out or doesnt burn hot and cloggs everything up.

Eat like you're maintaining a wood furnace. Portions can be based on the size of your fist [which is the same size as your stomach] and you can eat that amount 8+ times a day.

[bigpoppapuff]

Be label savvy. Just because a label states a food is reduced fat, does not mean that it is reduced calorie. If a label says that a product is “reduced fat” it means that a food manufacturer has reduced the fat content of the product by 25%, which doesn’t even mean that the product is necessarily low in fat or calories. When food manufactures reduce the fat content of a food they usually add back sweeteners, which can add back the same amount of calories or even more.

[bigpoppapuff]

Eat the low-cal items on your plate first, then graduate. Start with salads, veggies, and broth soups, and eat meats and starches last. By the time you get to them, you'll be full enough to be content with smaller portions of the high-calorie choices.

[bigpoppapuff]

Water and weight loss go hand-in-hand. Good old H2O is probably the most overlooked weight-loss strategy there is. A well-hydrated body enables all functions within the body to occur quickly and efficiently. Some studies have shown that thirst and hunger sensations are triggered together. In other words, you may think your stomach is growling for that Twinkie, when in reality, all it really needs is a refreshing glass of water. The next time you have a junk-food craving, down a glass of water immediately. You'll feel full quickly and probably avoid eating a whole bunch of extra calories.

[bigpoppapuff]

Research does show that you can lose unwanted weight by starving yourself. The problem is that up to 50% of that weight loss comes from muscle tissue, not from fat. And that sets you up for pure disaster. Muscles are your body’s metabolic furnace; each pound burns about 50 calories a day. Therefore, every pound of muscle you lose on a starvation diet slows your metabolism down by 50 calories a day. So while you may be proud of the 10 pounds you lost by eating only celery and carrot sticks, five of those pounds are likely from muscle loss. And five pounds of muscle that used to burn 50 calories each equals a 250-calorie reduction in your metabolism. To make matters worse, as your metabolism slows down, you’ll have to eat less and less food to compensate. The moral of the story is this: If you lose weight slowly and healthfully, you’ll lose pure fat and keep your metabolism revved up.

[bigpoppapuff]

Lean protein should be a core part of your meal plan and there's a good reason why: Lean protein allows you to maintain muscle mass while losing weight, which keeps your metabolism running at full speed. Cutting back on protein during weight loss, on the other hand, contributes to a loss of muscle mass and a slower metabolism. Lean protein is also an excellent choice when it comes to satisfying hunger and keeping blood sugar levels steady.

[bigpoppapuff]

The McSubway Project - A Rude Awakening

By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified, LifeScript Staff Writer


You go to Subway because you want to “Eat Fresh.” But are you taking their status as a healthy fast-food chain for granted? Probably so says a study dubbed “The McSubway Project,” which was conducted by researchers at Cornell University and the University of Illinois. According to the study, diners could pretty closely guesstimate the amount of calories in their McDonald’s fast-food meal, but grossly underestimated the calories in their “healthy” Subway sandwich meal. McDonald’s diners estimated their meal clocked in around 670 calories, which was only 40 calories less than the actual 710 calories in their meal. Subway customers, on the other hand, guessed their meal contained only 335 calories, when in reality it had 560 – a 225 calorie difference! Overall, McDonald’s diners still ate more calories... but at least they knew they were doing it. You might have good intentions when you choose Subway over McDonald’s, but if you’re choosing the meal deal that includes chips, soda and a cookie, your good intentions have gone out the door. Stick to Subway’s signature “6 grams of fat or less” sandwiches, and don’t slather on the mayo or special sauces. Mustard has fewer than five calories and zero grams of fat. Steer clear of meal extras, like chips, cookies, pastries, and soda. Instead, pile on the extra veggies. A six-inch turkey sub stacked with veggies and sans cheese has only 280 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. And that, my friends, is certainly a delicious way to diet.

[wheresthesun]

The McSubway Project - A Rude Awakening

By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified, LifeScript Staff Writer


You go to Subway because you want to “Eat Fresh.” But are you taking their status as a healthy fast-food chain for granted? Probably so says a study dubbed “The McSubway Project,” which was conducted by researchers at Cornell University and the University of Illinois. According to the study, diners could pretty closely guesstimate the amount of calories in their McDonald’s fast-food meal, but grossly underestimated the calories in their “healthy” Subway sandwich meal. McDonald’s diners estimated their meal clocked in around 670 calories, which was only 40 calories less than the actual 710 calories in their meal. Subway customers, on the other hand, guessed their meal contained only 335 calories, when in reality it had 560 – a 225 calorie difference! Overall, McDonald’s diners still ate more calories... but at least they knew they were doing it. You might have good intentions when you choose Subway over McDonald’s, but if you’re choosing the meal deal that includes chips, soda and a cookie, your good intentions have gone out the door. Stick to Subway’s signature “6 grams of fat or less” sandwiches, and don’t slather on the mayo or special sauces. Mustard has fewer than five calories and zero grams of fat. Steer clear of meal extras, like chips, cookies, pastries, and soda. Instead, pile on the extra veggies. A six-inch turkey sub stacked with veggies and sans cheese has only 280 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. And that, my friends, is certainly a delicious way to diet.
Subway sucks.

[bigpoppapuff]

Go Ahead, Cut the Cheese

By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified, LifeScript Staff Writer


Who doesn't love cheese? It’s creamy, it’s gooey, it’s 100% delicious! Unfortunately, it’s also nearly 75% fat, most of which is saturated. And honey, that ain’t the good kind. Just one cubic inch of cheddar (think party tray cube) has 110 calories, 9 grams of fat (81 calories from fat) and 6 grams of saturated fat (54 calories). Sure, it's easy to keep popping those cute little cubes... but after just five cubes down the gullet, you're out a quick 550 calories. Make it a low-fat version, and you’ll rack up 47 calories and 2 grams of fat (one gram saturated) per cube (or 235 calories for five cubes). Don't just leave this trick at the party; take it to your sandwiches, omelettes, dips, and toppings, too. Or, if you’re a cheese purist and wouldn’t dare dream of substituting anything for your rich, creamy cheese, you can still keep things on the skinny by making a conscious effort to cut back on how much cheese you eat each day. If cheese is one of your main sources of calcium, make sure you’re still getting calcium somewhere else in your diet. Low-fat or fat-free yogurt is an excellent source of calcium, supplying up to half the recommended daily allowance for this slimming, bone-building mineral.

[bigpoppapuff]

There are 1,440 minutes in a 24-hour period, but it only takes five to ensure your success for the entire day. In this short amount of time you can write a daily to-do list that schedules your weight-loss goals into your calendar. Each night, pencil in your morning exercise session, write down what you plan to eat and make note of any other goal-oriented plans you have for the day. If you wear special exercise clothing, lay out the next day’s clothes near the bed so you don’t have to scramble to find them in the morning. Make your lunch, and check to make sure you have the food you need for a healthy dinner. The whole process can take as little as five minutes, especially once you get into a routine of doing this each evening. Writing down your goals serves as an incentive and a well-laid plan to make them a reality.

[BuffalosFinest]

Giving your body a break from rigorous exercise is essential for boosting your calorie- .


Is this the only mention of exercise on the entire thread?
How about burning more calories than you ingest?
Just a thought.

..and about the PAM:

The primary ingredient of the PAM Cooking spray illustrated here is canola oil, which is marked with a note 'ADDS A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF FAT' and the Nutrition Facts proclaim: Total Fat 0g. Why? Because the serving size has been defined to be a 1/3 second spray containing 0.266g of product. Since this is less than half a gram (0.5g) per serving, it can be rounded to zero. The line above the Nutrition Facts, states that 'A 1 SECOND SPRAY COVERS A 10" SKILLET'. A one-second spray would contain approximately 0.8g of fat with 7 calories and would have to be reported on the Nutrition Facts. The manufacturer has chosen to reduce the serving size in order to avoid reporting the fat in the Nutrition Facts and to be able to add the slogan "for Fat Free Cooking" in the front of the can. Technically, this complies with the FDA requirements.

PAM, meet Olive Oil.
She is more of a beauty than you can ever hope to be.

[bigpoppapuff]

Recent research has uncovered some "eggs-traordinary" findings about eggs. The once frowned upon breakfast food is actually quite nutritious. In the past, eggs got a bad rap for being a cholesterol-rich food. However, the latest research suggests eating whole eggs may actually result in significant improvement in one's blood lipids. Eggs contain a wide array of essential vitamins and minerals and supply high-quality protein, carbohydrates and fat. A single egg provides approximately 5.5 grams of protein. In addition to their wonderful nutritional content, eggs have been shown to aid in weight loss.

[BuffalosFinest]

..or just ignore the exercise Big Poppa.

Tell us more.

[bigpoppapuff]

..or just ignore the exercise Big Poppa.

Tell us more.

or you could look at this thread.....

http://www.speakupwny.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18631

[BuffalosFinest]

okay....it just seemed that exercise was neglected.
It is more important than diet in my opinion regarding weight loss.
I am more than just a shill you know.

[Enough]

....I am more than just a shill you know.
Tell us more.....

[bigpoppapuff]

Do you pay attention to food labels? Nutrition labels empower you to make informed decisions to help with weight loss. Knowing what to look for on a label can provide an abundance of information. Look for serving size and calories per serving . With this information you can compare two similar food items and choose the lower calorie one.

[winfield31]

Weight loss tip #101 , don't do what I did tonight , don't EAT Mexican Sundaes , it's OK to look at them , just don't eat them !!! I'm so ashamed :o :o

[bigpoppapuff]

Losing 5-10% of your weight is an ideal target, according to research. This can be broken down into smaller manageable steps, for example, 4-5lbs at a time. Remember too that just keeping your weight stable is a great achievement in itself these days. Losing modest amounts of weight are not just easier to keep off but bring big health benefits. For example, if you are overweight, losing 5-10% of your weight can halve your risk of type 2 diabetes.

[bigpoppapuff]

If unwanted food cravings do strike, acknowledge them –
have a chat to them even – then distract yourself, for example, with a chore, a more involving task, go out for a
walk, call a friend or colleague, play with the kids, or paint your nails. Like a wave, cravings rise then ebb away. By waiting 15 minutes and ‘surfing’ the craving, you should find they pass away – and your conscious choice becomes simple.

[Ragin]

9. Coping with cravings
If unwanted food cravings (http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/logout/news_features/cravings.htm) do strike, acknowledge them – have a chat to them even – then distract yourself, for example, with a chore, a more involving task, go out for a walk, call a friend or colleague, play with the kids, or paint your nails. Like a wave, cravings rise then ebb away. By waiting 15 minutes and ‘surfing’ the craving, you should find they pass away – and your conscious choice becomes simple.Coping with cravings


http://my.88db.com/my/Knowledge/Knowledge_Detail.page/Beauty/?kid=10798

[Ragin]

10. Eat regular mealsRegular meals, starting with breakfast (http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/diet/healthy_eating/breakfast.htm), help you to regulate how much you eat by stabilising blood sugar levels and allowing you to recognise natural feelings of hunger and fullness. They also stop you worrying about hunger as you will know your next meal or snack is not far away! And a healthy breakfast, is not only linked to long term weight control success, but a healthier, more nutritious diet overall.


http://my.88db.com/my/Knowledge/Knowledge_Detail.page/Beauty/?kid=10798

[Ragin]

Recent research has uncovered some "eggs-traordinary" findings about eggs. The once frowned upon breakfast food is actually quite nutritious. In the past, eggs got a bad rap for being a cholesterol-rich food. However, the latest research suggests eating whole eggs may actually result in significant improvement in one's blood lipids. Eggs contain a wide array of essential vitamins and minerals and supply high-quality protein, carbohydrates and fat. A single egg provides approximately 5.5 grams of protein. In addition to their wonderful nutritional content, eggs have been shown to aid in weight loss.

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:VaHOXomeDL8J:weblog.xanga.com/dietmeskinny/667184727/item.html+Recent+research+has+uncovered+some+%22eg gs-traordinary%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us

[bigpoppapuff]

All in moderation. Are you depriving yourself of your favorite foods because you are trying to lose weight? Denying yourself your favorite foods can really preoccupy your mind. Let yourself have the high calorie foods you love in small portions and be happier in the end.

[Sylvan]

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[bigpoppapuff]

50 Easy Ways to Cut 100 Calories
Lose Weight Without Deprivation
-- By Emily Vale, Staff Writer

Cutting calories may seem like a daunting task, especially when you're trying to cut hundreds of calories each day to lose the recommended 1-2 pounds per week. Will you go hungry? Will your meals taste like cardboard? Will you have to give up your favorite foods?

Don't worry. When you make small changes, the only difference you'll notice is a drop in the scale! Keep in mind that cutting calories can involve smart substitutions or changes in portion sizes, too. Just remember, start small and work your way up to a new—and healthier—way of eating.

Beverages
1. Split a 20 oz. bottle of regular soda with a friend. Save 120 calories!
2. Drink 1 cup of diet soda instead of 1 cup of regular soda. Save 97 calories!
3. Swap a 12-oz. glass of skim milk for whole milk. Save 96 calories!
4. Drink two 12-oz. light beers this weekend instead of two regular beers. Save 100 calories!
5. Instead of 1 cup of prepared lemonade, try 1 cup of a sugar free variety. Save 103 calories!
6. Eat a medium orange instead of drinking 12 oz. of fresh orange juice. Save 106 calories!
7. Prepare your coffee with 4 oz. of fat-free half and half instead of regular half and half. Save 88 calories!
8. Enjoy 5 oz. of chocolate milk instead of 5 oz. of a chocolate milkshake Save 110 calories!
Breakfast
9. Spread your whole grain waffles with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup instead of 1 tablespoon of margarine or butter. Save 110 calories!
10. Top your whole grain bagel with 1.5 oz of fat-free cream cheese in lieu of regular. Save 108 calories!
11. Try 1 oz. of maple turkey bacon instead of maple (pork) bacon. Save 118 calories!
12. Ditch the glazed donut and eat a bagel instead. Save 93 calories!
13. Eat 3/4 cup oatmeal instead of a 1-1/2 cups of oatmeal. Save 97 calories!
14. Substitute 3 oz. of turkey sausage for a serving of pork sausage. Save 120 calories!
15. Grab a small bagel instead of a medium bagel. Save 99 calories!
Snacks and Sides
16. Dip 1 cup celery into your favorite salsa or hummus instead of 1 oz. of tortilla chips. Save 125 calories!
17. Eat an entire medium apple instead of a small (5 oz.) candy apple. Save 118 calories!
18. Snack on 1 oz. of baked potato chips instead of regular chips. Save 90 calories!
19. Better yet, eat 2 oz. pretzels instead of the same size portion of potato chips. Save 94 calories!
20. Bake 2 oz of oven fries in lieu of 2 oz. of fast food fries. Save 88 calories!
21. Forgo a 6-oz portion of potato chips and nosh on 6 oz. of tortilla chips instead. Save 96 calories!
22. Say no to 1 oz of deep-fried onion rings and instead enjoy 1 oz. of grilled onions with your meal. Save 92 calories!
23. Try 1.5 oz. of fresh grapes instead of 1.5 oz. of raisins. Save 98 calories!
24. Enjoy a healthy 8-oz. baked potato instead of 8 oz. of French fries. Save 104 calories!
25. Choose 3 oz. of mozzarella cheese for your sandwich instead of Swiss cheese. Save 108 calories!
26. Swap 1 cup of canned pineapple in heavy syrup for crushed pineapple in water. Save 119 calories!
Lunch and Dinner
27. Cut a 6 oz. steak in half and take the other portion home for another meal. Save 111 calories!
28. Order a skinless chicken breast instead of chicken with skin. Save 102 calories!
29. Substitute a fat-free beef hot dog for a regular beef hot dog. Save 104 calories!
30. Build a sandwich with1.5 oz. of deli turkey breast instead of an equivalent of hard salami. Save 119 calories!
31. Instead of 6 oz. of crispy fried chicken with skin, eat 6 oz. baked chicken with skin. Save 102 calories!
32. Choose a slice of thin crust pizza over thick crust pizza. Save 106 calories!
33. Add vegetable toppings to your pizza order and say no to pepperoni. Save 100 calories!
34. Forget broccoli cheddar soup. A 7-oz portion of vegetable soup is better. Save 119 calories!
35. Enjoy 12 oz of steamed rice (choose brown rice when possible) as an alternative to fried rice. Save 96 calories!
36. Unwrap your 13-inch tortilla wrap and make a sandwich on a 3-oz. whole grain bagel instead. Save 96 calories!
37. Eat only half of your hamburger or sandwich bun. Save 100 calories!
Condiments and Sauces
38. Dip your salad in a side of ranch dressing (2 tsp.) instead of pouring 2 Tbsp of dressing on the salad. Save 97 calories!
39. Skip the 5 oz. of Alfredo sauce and eat a whopping 7 oz. of marinara sauce. Save 129 calories!
40. Add flavor to vegetables with 3 oz. of hot sauce—not 1 oz of bleu cheese dressing. Save 117 calories!
41. Top your salad with 1.5 oz. reduced-fat Italian dressing instead of regular. Save 96 calories!
42. Try either cheese or croutons on your salad—not both Save 72-116 calories!
43. Instead of 3 oz. of regular sour cream, use a fat-free variety. Save 120 calories!
44. Use 2 Tbsp reduced-fat light mayonnaise instead of regular mayonnaise. Save 102 calories!
Sweets and Desserts
45. Serve ice cream in a dish instead of a waffle cone. Save 121 calories!
46. Try a healthier peanut granola bar instead of a peanut candy bar. Save 94 calories!
47. Finish dinner with 1 cup of low-fat frozen yogurt instead of regular ice cream. Save 121 calories!
48. Substitute 5 oz. of apple pie, with 5 oz. of baked apple crisp. Save 85 calories!
49. Instead of 4 oz. of regular chocolate pudding, enjoy a sugar-free portion. Save 92 calories!
50. Leave that 1/2 cup of strawberry ice cream in the freezer. Enjoy 1/2 cup of fresh strawberries topped with 2 Tbsp of fat-free whipped cream as an alternative. Save 102 calories!
Cutting 100 calories here and there is an easy way to form healthier eating habits without feeling deprived or hungry. With just a few of these tricks up your sleeve, you'll be on your way to reaching your goals in no time!

[bigpoppapuff]

Don't Blame Your Metabolism

By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified, LifeScript Staff Writer


Your metabolism probably gets blamed for a lot of things – your most recent weight gain and your struggle to get the extra pounds off. Unfortunately, unless you suffer from hypothyroidism or some other metabolic disease, you don’t get to blame it for your weight problems. Before you start making assumptions about your metabolism, you need to know what it really is. Your metabolism is basically a system of biochemical reactions by which your body turns the food you eat into energy. Everyone has a basal (or base) metabolic rate, which covers your body’s basic needs, like breathing, blood circulation and cell growth and repair. These metabolic needs account for about two-thirds of your total calorie needs each day. In addition to this “base” metabolism, your body burns energy when you eat so you can digest and break down your food. Digestion only accounts for about 10% of your total daily calorie needs. Finally, after your basic energy requirements and digestive needs are accounted for, your metabolism also takes care of any physical activity you do, like sitting up, walking, running, and playing sports. This is where you get to play a part in how many calories you burn each day. If you lead a fairly sedentary lifestyle and still eat as much as you did when you used to be active, you are to blame for your weight gain – not your metabolism. If only you’d do more exercise, your metabolism would step up to the plate and help you burn those calories. If your “slow metabolism” has been the scapegoat for your weight problems, here’s your wake-up call. Exercise, eat right and you will lose weight.