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1. When doing squats only go half way down, do not let your buttocks go below your knees.
2. Cross Knee Crunches are done laying on the floor. Put your hands behind your head. Raise your feet off of the floor. Draw your left knee up across your body to your right elbow. Then return to the starting position. Next draw your right knee to your left elbow. That completes one repetition. Do not pull your head with your hands.
3. You can adjust your hand spacing for different effects when doing the push-ups.
4. Remember to keep your body straight from head to toe, suck in your stomach and squeeze your glutes for more intensity. If you need to you can do them from your knees.

Body weight exercise circuits are one of the most versatile and effective methods available to burn off love handles and build an athletic body. There are many different body weight exercises which can be combined for your specific needs and ability.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 6:48 AM :: 0 comments

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How About Joining A Weight Loss Forum?

Any person trying to lose weight can benefit from a weight loss forum for encouragement and support. The weight loss forum is a place where you can share ideas, tips, success stories, and issues to advise or inspire other dieters like you.

Losing weight does not mean you have to do it alone. Everybody knows how hard it is to lose weight. Fortunately, we have the Internet to provide us with solutions to communicate our concerns or show our support to other people who share the same issues as yours. By joining weight loss forums, you can continue in your journey through weight loss with the right amount of support and encouragement from others like you.

Just like any other Internet forum, the weight loss forum is an Internet application where you can hold discussions and post user-generated contents that are relevant to its topic of interest. Forums are also known as discussion groups, message boards, or discussion boards. The term may also refer to an entire community or a distinct topic within it.

A weight loss forum is a good way to keep in touch with fellow dieters. Registration is usually free but requires an email address where a verification email is going to be sent. The verification email is important because it serves as your official ticket to finally becoming a member. Furthermore, it is an assurance to the forum administrators and moderators that you are not there to spam.

When you join a weight loss forum, you are going to realize that there are a lot of other people like you who are trying to lose weight. You will find that some of them are having a hard time making decisions on their own when it comes to losing weight. One of the benefits of joining a forum is that you can be guided by other individuals on how you can make the right choices when it comes to weight loss.

Even weight loss support groups have their own weight loss forum and help lines. The forum can also serve as a support group on its own where you can instantly offer and receive instant support, tips, helpful advice, and other information regarding procedures on weight loss. You can also contribute exercise tips and recipes to other members or discuss, read, and comment on specific problems and issues being encountered by obese people with them. Together with the other members, you can come up with effective solutions on how you can deal with those problems and issues.

The forum members can also provide you with a boost for your self-esteem when you feel that you are hitting your lowest point when it comes to losing weight. This is because they understand what you are going through since all of you share the same common goal: to lose weight safely and effectively.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 6:05 AM :: 0 comments

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Recipe of The Day

Beef and Bean Taco Salad

Looking for a surefire way to herd your family to the dinner table on time? Simply announce this yummy Beef and Bean Taco Salad is on the table!

Taco seasoning and salsa give lean ground round its zesty, mouthwatering flavor. For added flair and mouth appeal, kidney beans are added while the beef is simmering. Top this yummy mixture with lettuce, tomato and dressing and you're all set for a super tasty meal.

Ingredients
4 oz. of lean, ground round beef
1 tsp. taco seasoning mix
1/4 cup low-sodium salsa
3 Tbsp. canned kidney beans
2 cups lettuce, romaine or lettuce of choice
1 Italian plum tomato
2 Tbsp. olive oil and vinegar dressing

Directions
1. Heat a nonstick skillet to medium; crumble ground beef and saute six to eight minutes until meat is no longer pink. Stir in taco seasoning and salsa; add drained beans and mix thoroughly. Cook beef mixture for three to four more minutes; remove from heat and set aside.

2. Rinse, dry and tear lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Rinse and chop tomato. Serve lettuce topped with beef mixture, tomatoes and dressing.

Makes one serving. Nutritional values per serving: 280 calories, 10g fat (2.0g sat), 30g protein, 24g carbohydrate, 7g fiber, 60mg cholesterol, 610mg sodium and 8g sugar.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 5:34 AM :: 0 comments

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Wednesday, September 26, 2007 5 Important Do's For Your Health

Our society is full of over weight people with early onset diabetes and heart diseases. Why? The answer is larger because we do not take our own health seriously. Whether we are healthy and stay that way is largely up to us. Yes, we can be in control of our health. Sure there are those inherited factors that can put us at a higher risk of eventually getting some diseases, but they do not have to take first place in the fight for life.

Nearly 80% of people in America have high cholesterol as they age and over 90% develop high blood pressure. This is directly related to the fact that 60% of people are over weight and 25% of those are classed as obese, meaning they are more than 60 pounds over their ideal body weight.

If you are over weight or obese, you are not in the shape you need to be in if you want to live a long and healthy life. The good news is you can do something about it. It is not out of the question for you to get control over your health and weight. Doctors now know that most people who develop diabetes and heart disease can change their health through proper diet and exercise.

Here are the 5 most important things you need to do to get fit and stay healthy:

1) Exercise regularly and intensely, if you haven’t been exercising or need to lose excess weight start slowly and increase the duration and intensity later. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

2) Stop smoking, sure it is hard to stop, but with will power and support many do stop this life threatening addiction. Starting an exercise program can help.

3) Reduce your intake of saturated fats (animal fats), trans fats (partially hydrogenated processed foods), and refined carbohydrates (white flour and sugar)

4) Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds and nuts to strengthen your immune system and give you the high nutrient value that your body requires for optimum functioning

5) Limit the amount of alcohol you consume to 1 or 2 drinks a day.

Physical activities that can help you to exercise continuously for longer periods of time and increase intensity levels as you get more fit are walking, running, cycling, swimming, aerobic exercise and even dancing. Which exercise is better is not so important, but rather which one you enjoy doing. If you enjoy an exercise, you’ll be more likely to stick with it longer and make it a regular part of your lifestyle. It has been found that 85% of people stop exercising after the first 6 weeks and return to their old sedentary life. Staying active is easier when you have someone else to do it with, so involve your spouse, a friend or join a health and fitness club. Getting started and making those initial behavioral changes in your life seem to be the toughest part. Once you become regular and consistent in your exercising and eating habits, you’ll begin to enjoy the health benefits and rewards of living a fitness lifestyle.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 5:05 AM :: 0 comments

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Tips To Losing Weight Naturally

Losing weight will increase your chances for a longer, healthier life. It will also give you a much more attractive, sexier body. But, quality of life is also important: nobody wants to starve themselves just to lose a few pounds. Many studies have shown that people who go on harsh diets just start craving the food they have been missing and end up overeating again.

If your goal is to eat all you want and still lose weight, try these 6 tips.

Tip #1: Eat enough food: The biggest mistake that dieters make is that they try to eat too little food. This ends up backfiring because all they do is end up slowing down their metabolism. If it is not getting enough nutrients, your body will try to conserve its own nutrient stores by putting on the metabolism brakes.

Tip #2: Eat the right kinds of foods: Go ahead and eat that pizza or burger, but try filling up first on as many high fiber and high water content foods as you can. This way, when you are eating that hot dog or bag of chips later on you will be less likely to reach for more than you need to feel full. Great examples of filler foods are whole grain breads, veggies, fruit, yogurt, soup, meats, and poultry's. And for dessert, try a rich sweet like a piece of chocolate. The chocolate will satisfy your sweet tooth without filling you up. Also, try cutting out the diet soda and substitute it for water with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Tip #3: Eat more slowly: Your body tells you to stop eating whenever sugars and other nutrients reach certain levels in your blood. The trouble is that your body must first digest your food and get those nutrients into your blood stream, and this takes time. By slowly down your eating, you will feel full before eating more than you really need.

Tip #4: Get up and move around about once per hour: Most of us are not able to work out at the gym more than a couple of times a week, if at all. The good news is that your body can benefit just as much from less intense but regular exercise. If you spend your time during the day in a sedentary way, try taking extra walks to the water cooler, up the stairs, or around the neighborhood. Take 5 or 6 "mini-walks" during your day and keep your body burning those calories. Hint: buy a pedometer to count your steps. They start at about $1.

Tip #5: Have less food around: Recent studies are revealing that we humans tend to eat whatever happens to be around or in front of us - eventually. By buying less food and by serving smaller portions, you will reduce your "want" and thereby still end up eating until you are satisfied.

Tip #6: Get enough sleep: Science tells us that we burn calories when we sleep and that sleep deprivation actually slows down our metabolism. In other words: getting more sleep increases your chances of weight loss. So, get the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night and watch the pounds drop off.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 4:30 AM :: 0 comments

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Recipe of The Day

Tangy Dill Potato Salad

A tangy potato salad using Italian dressing and fresh dill is just as good as a regular higher fat potato salad. It can be made using all low-fat or fat-free product and taste just as good!

PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 10 Min
READY IN 2 Hrs 25 Min
SERVINGS & SCALING
Original recipe yield: 12 servings

INGREDIENTS
3 pounds new potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
1/2 cup Italian-style salad dressing
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped green onions
2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon pepper

DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add potatoes, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until tender. Drain, and set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together the salad dressing, mayonnaise, green onions, dill, mustard, lemon juice, and pepper. When the potatoes are cooled, stir into the bowl until coated. Refrigerate for a couple of hours to blend flavors before serving.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 4:02 AM :: 0 comments

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Tuesday, September 25, 2007 Using Small Plates To Lose Weight

As portion sizes have grown over the last 20 years so have our waistlines. We get used to a certain visual idea of what a plate of food should look like. When shown appropriate portion sizes, many people immediately think the smaller sizes won't fill them up. This just shows that we are no longer used to seeing reasonable portion sizes. They look too small to our conditioned eyes. We have become a country that is conditioned to eat the amount that we see as regular portions instead of paying attention to our actual fullness cues.

A 2003 study from the American Dietetic Association showed that the participants took 20% more cornflakes, 20% more milk, and 40% more orange juice at breakfast compared to the same study conducted in 1984. The lunch servings went up by 50%.

Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that participants ate 30% more food when presented with larger portions sizes. When they were presented with smaller plates of food they ate less and did not report feeling a difference in their fullness level. This just goes to show that we eat with our eyes and what feels like a normal amount of food.

One answer is to start to use smaller plates. Along with our portion sizes, our plate sizes have also increased over the last 20 years. A traditional plate size has grown from 10 inches to 12 inches which equates to 25% more food. These jumbo sized plates don't even fit in standard cupboards or dishwashers - this should really tell us something.

As a little experiment, try using the smaller size plates for 2 weeks and see if you notice a difference in the amount of food you eat, your fullness level, and your weight. If you don't own smaller plates use the next size down. This is even a better test! These plates are usually about 8 inches. This step alone can help you control your portion sizes in a way that makes sense to our visual perception.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 6:54 AM :: 0 comments

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Food Additives and Your Body

Food additives are any substances that are found in food items that are not part of the food itself, including chemicals, colorings, preservatives, even traces of packaging materials. Food additives are found mostly in packaged, processed foods, and are a result of the packaging process.

Examples of food additives include salt, yeast, baking soda, pepper and citric acid. In addition to these food additives there are some very dangerous chemicals that are considered food additives. These chemicals are counterproductive to weight loss, and should never be eaten.

The food additive referred to as aspartame is an extremely dangerous substance. Aspartame promotes weight gain by making a person feel hungry all the time. Consuming this substance will likely make it nearly impossible for you to lose weight. People who eat aspartame usually crave lots of carbohydrates. Aspartame causes dizziness, seizures, mental retardation, cancer, dry eyes, skin problems, and colitis. Stay away from this poison.

Next is a food additive named MSG. MSG is a very nasty food additive that causes headache, nausea, loss of circulation, seizures, irregular heartbeat, hypertension, blindness, and difficulty breathing. It is believed that MSG is a root cause of obesity. MSG causes foods to taste better by stimulating the taste buds. When food tastes better, people eat more of it.

All food additives are harmful to your body, and should never be eaten. In addition to aspartame and MSG, the most deadly of the food additives are partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, saccharin, sodium nitrate, stevia, cyclamate, olestra, potassium bromate, and all food colorings.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 6:22 AM :: 0 comments

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There's No Such Thing As Cheating

There's no right or wrong way to eat. Healthy eating is all about motivation, balance, and flexibility. There will be times when you eat a high-fat meal or eat beyond fullness, or when your schedule gets so busy that you miss a work- out. This happens. It's normal. But it's very important that you don't get down on yourself and abandon your new healthy lifestyle when this happens.

If you're like most people, your reaction to these diet and fitness obstacles is guilt. You feel as if all your hard work has been for nothing. "I blew it; I was doing so well. Oh well, I might as well enjoy this weekend and start over on Monday." Or even worse: "I just don't have the motiva- tion or will power to start over and be successful. I quit." Feeling defeated, many people discontinue the healthy living and return to their old routine until some mythical time in the future: "Maybe this spring will be a better time to start over again." This kind of scenario is a perfect example of the diet mentality at work.

An all-or-nothing attitude is why so many people have so little success; we choose structured programs because they relieve us from making choices for ourselves. A properly designed program makes sense, but expecting to stick to a structured eating and exercise plan for an extended period of time without ever deviating makes no sense at all. In fact, this is so unrealistic as to be a set-up for failure. If you begin to change your habits with the assumption that any deviation from your plan will ruin it, you might as well not even begin. Life is full of unplanned obstacles, distractions, and temptations. Your best approach is to prepare for them, keeping an open mind and maintaining a positive attitude.

It's very important that you begin your healthier lifestyle with an understanding that there will be days when you will stray from healthy eating and exercising. Before you begin, tell yourself that no matter what happens, rather than abandoning your new lifestyle, you'll resume your healthy habits as soon as you can; it is equally important that you feel confident, not guilty, about doing so. What- ever the temptation or obstacle is, keep in mind that it's not wrong or bad to eat fattening foods once in a while or to miss a workout. Just remember to resume your healthy lifestyle. If you keep moving forward and you don't let guilt and discouragement stop your program all together, you'll eventually have improved eating and exercise habits.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 5:59 AM :: 0 comments

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Recipe of The Day

Black Beans con Jalapeno

This salad is a cool combination of hominy, black beans, sweet and hot peppers, picante and spices that is perfect to take to work or to eat at home with the family. Low in calories, it adds many essential nutrients and minerals to your diet.

Serves 12
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 75 minutes
Calories: 185.12
Calories from Fat: N/A
Total Fat: 1.08 g
Saturated Fat: N/A
Cholesterol: N/A
Sodium: N/A
Total Carbohydrate: 35.41 g
Dietary Fiber: N/A
Sugars: N/A
Protein: 8.43 g
Vitamin A: N/A
Vitamin C: N/A

Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can white hominy, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup diced white onion
1 cup diced green bell pepper
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup diced green onions with tops
0.25 cup seeded and chopped jalapeno pepper
1 (24 ounce) jar picante sauce
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
0.5 cup finely chopped cilantro

Directions
1. In a large bowl, gently stir together the hominy, black beans, onion, green and red peppers, green onion, jalapeno, picante sauce, cumin, salt, sugar and cilantro. Refrigerate at least an hour before serving. Serve with tortilla chips on a bed of lettuce.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 4:44 AM :: 0 comments

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Monday, September 24, 2007 Exercise Can Heal Emotiona Pain

Perhaps the greatest discovery of my life is that exercise heals emotional pain. When people workout, the endorphins kick in and this creates a calm state that allows them to bravely face issues that are troubling. Dealing with this trauma doesn't seem possible while sedentary. This discovery for some people has been crucial. Most people find this process extremely helpful in healing the emotional pain that can seemingly surround you at times.

Steps for using exercise to heal emotional pain:

1. Prepare an emotional pain question before you work out. This question can be one of the following: "Why am I feeling so sad?" "How do I feel about my divorce?" "How do I feel about being abused as a child?" This process works best during an aerobic exercise. You will notice a calmness in your body and mind shortly after you begin your workout. You can capture the confidence in order to take a direct look at your personal pain. If you can face your emotional pain, there is a high possibility you can work through it. During your workouts, you may begin to feel sadness, anger, grief or disappointment that had been deeply buried for years. It's not unusual to achieve progress during the first workout.

2. Journal your thoughts and feelings immediately after exercising. It is important to write down your thoughts, feelings and memories while they are fresh in your mind. Journaling will also allow you to advance the new insights that you gained from the workout. It will also help you increase your understanding the origins of your emotional pain.

3. Use a voice recorder to express your thoughts and feelings while exercising. Oftentimes the thoughts and feelings come so fast and furious that it is difficult to remember all that transpires. The voice recorder takes away the burden of remembering. When it is time to journal, you can listen to your own words that took place in real time.

4. Listen to music that will evoke strong feelings while working out. You may decide to choose music that brings up memories that create an internal visual image. These images may be of traumatic child hood memories or they may be of lovers who left abruptly. Listening to music, with the purpose of healing emotional pain while exercising, may speed up the grieving process. This occurs because the music makes the memories and feelings more immediate. A previously hazy memory may be replaced with a clear one that enhances healing.

5. Reread your journal immediately before your next work out in order to prepare an emotional pain question. This will reinforce your working through process and it will also provide you with information about how to formulate your next question.
Utilizing these techniques will enable you to heal emotional pain through exercise. This process is helpful for those who have recent trauma as well as those who have been "stuck" for many years. It is known as The Body-Mind-Soul Solution, and it can set you free.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 6:46 AM :: 0 comments

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Give Your Kids A Healthy Role Model

As parents, sometimes we forget how closely our kids watch and learn from us. Case in point, it was recently discovered that girls can incur their mother's unhealthy dieting obsession. Studies have showed that, unintentionally, mothers may pass their preoccupation with size, weight and body image on to their kids, and more likely to their daughters.

Learning how to live a healthier lifestyle definitely begins at home. From the time they are able to feed themselves, parents should provide a healthy selection of foods along with opportunities for physical activity.

Here are some suggestions:

• Keep high-sugar drinks out of the house. Encourage more water!
• Don't talk about feeling fat or looking fat in front of your kids.
• Limit portion sizes for the whole family.
• Don't constantly talk about losing weight -- it will simply encourage your kids to follow suit versus teaching them about healthier ways to eat.
• If your child is overweight, speak to your pediatrician about healthy alternatives or perhaps a reputable dietitian in the area.
• Be active with your children!
• Talk to your children about healthy body image.
• Talk about unrealistic expectations and help them separate fantasy from reality. Many girls look to movie stars and runway models as role models. They need to know that’s not realistic and often times not healthy.

The bottom line is to be a good role model for your children. Support your actions by keeping healthy foods in the home and encouraging activity as a family.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 5:35 AM :: 0 comments

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Recipe of The Day

Broccoli Beef

Round steak and broccoli are quickly cooked in a soy ginger sauce that will make your dinner absolutely perfect. Serve over hot over rice or noodles for a great meal!

Serves 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Calories: 176.53
Calories from Fat: N/A
Total Fat: 3.15 g
Saturated Fat: N/A
Cholesterol: N/A
Sodium: N/A
Total Carbohydrate: 17.79 g
Dietary Fiber: N/A
Sugars: N/A
Protein: 19.25 g
Vitamin A: N/A
Vitamin C: N/A

Ingredients
0.25 cup all-purpose flour
1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 pound boneless round steak, cut into bite size pieces
0.25 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger root
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups chopped fresh broccoli

Directions
1. In a small bowl, combine flour, broth, sugar, and soy sauce. Stir until sugar and flour are dissolved.
2. In a large skillet or wok over high heat, cook and stir beef 2 to 4 minutes, or until browned. Stir in broth mixture, ginger, garlic, and broccoli. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer 5 to 10 minutes, or until sauce thickens.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 5:02 AM :: 0 comments

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Friday, September 21, 2007 When To Consider Medical Help For Obesity

Not everyone needs to see a doctor in order to lose weight, but some people might want to consider this route for two reasons. The first is to get professional guidance. If you haven't been able to lose weight on your own by dieting and exercising, your doctor may be able to help by making specific recommendations. The second reason to see a doctor is to be evaluated for health complications that might be associated with your excess weight. It's important to have a medical evaluation if you are over 40, or if you are younger and have any health problems. Such an assessment can provide you with added motivation to lose weight — to help lower your blood pressure; to reduce your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, or cancer; or to live a longer, healthier life.

Chances are, your primary care physician can perform this evaluation. Depending on what the doctor finds, he or she may refer you to a nutritionist or dietitian to assess your eating habits, or to a therapist to address any psychological issues that may be interfering with your ability to attain a healthy weight. If you have obesity — or if you are overweight and have obesity-related conditions — your doctor may refer you to a medical group that specializes in weight loss or to a hospital-based weight-loss center.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 9:00 AM :: 0 comments

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Beating The Bulge

We're in the middle of a national health epidemic: According to the latest statistics, one in three American adults is considered clinically obese! So what's behind our battle with the bulge? Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say these four bad habits are largely to blame:

Eating out: Americans today are eating out more often than ever before. While it may save time, it's not good for the waistline. Cut fat and calories by eating more quick-to-fix meals at home. If you must eat on the run, opt for the healthy choices on the menu.

Super-sizing: We want the best deal for our dollar, but getting oversize portions for a few cents more is no bargain. Stick to small orders, and even then be sure to watch your portion sizes — today's "small" size can exceed a single recommended serving! The same goes for eating at home, too.

Liquid sugar: Health experts say Americans are literally drinking on the pounds. Reach for water or iced tea rather than soda or other sugary drinks. If you absolutely cannot give up soda, switch to sugar-free — but remember, even these drinks are full of artificial chemicals, so don't overdo it!

Too much TV: Experts say our couch potato lifestyle is just as much to blame for our bulging bellies as what we eat. Instead of turning on the tube when you want to unwind, do something active! Go for a walk, head to the park, or get the family involved in a game of catch. Do anything but sit!

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 8:40 AM :: 0 comments

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The Eating Zone

Have you ever found yourself elbow-deep in a carton of ice cream, surprised to be scraping the cardboard on the bottom after zoning out to your favorite TV show or a really great movie? It’s a no-brainer that mindless eating leads to overeating; you’re just not paying attention to what’s actually being shoveled in your mouth. Too often, weight loss wannabes are confused about why the pounds are adding on instead of coming off. The key to this bewildering phenomenon lies in the problem of zoning out while you’re eating, causing you to overeat and pack on the pounds.

If one of your favorite pastimes is to snack while you read, watch TV or chat on the phone, you’re probably eating two, three or even four times as much as you actually intended to. Luckily, with a little more vigilance, you don’t have to let this problem get out of hand again. Instead of taking out the whole bag of chips or the entire carton of ice cream, put one serving in a small bowl and go from there. Maybe you’ll fill up the bowl a second time, but at least you’ll know you’re doing it. You won’t be able to blame the scale for the pounds that just aren’t budging. You’ll have to blame the mindless eating.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 8:10 AM :: 0 comments

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Recipe of The Day

Sweet and Sour Veggies

This dish is so versatile, you can pick and choose your favorite veggies. Just chop them perfectly and refrigerate overnight in this terrific celery seed vinegar marinade.

Serves 6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 2 minutes
Total time: 12 minutes
Calories: 192.03
Calories from Fat: N/A
Total Fat: 0.72 g
Saturated Fat: N/A
Cholesterol: N/A
Sodium: N/A
Total Carbohydrate: 44.64 g
Dietary Fiber: N/A
Sugars: N/A
Protein: 1.74 g
Vitamin A: N/A
Vitamin C: N/A

Ingredients
0.5 cup water
1 cup white sugar
0.5 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon celery seed
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 large cucumbers, chopped
6 roma (plum) tomatoes, sliced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced

Directions
1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, sugar, vinegar and celery seed. Stir until dissolved.
2. In a medium-size mixing bowl, layer the red onion, cucumber, tomatoes, green bell pepper and red bell pepper. Pour sugar mixture over vegetables, cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve chilled.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 5:49 AM :: 0 comments

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Thursday, September 20, 2007 The Wrong Way of Thinking

Americans are highly motivated to lose weight — as a growing list of best-selling books and highly trafficked dieting Web sites attest. We're just not approaching it the right way. The pressure we put on ourselves to succeed — and the self-criticism we indulge in when we fall short of the mark — can have dire emotional and dietary repercussions.

Consider that pair of jeans hanging reproachfully in the closet. You realize they don't fit, and you feel unattractive and worthless. This tendency to evaluate yourself too harshly will only make you give up altogether. You want to head to the fridge for solace.

You need to identify the things you're telling yourself that cause you to feel discouraged and to throw in the towel. Don't beat yourself up when you overeat. Accept that you acted in a self-defeating way, then establish better methods to meet your goal. Review what you'd like to do and work toward that goal.

Perhaps you're not (yet) berating yourself for failures, but putting inordinate pressure on yourself to succeed. When you tell yourself, "I must lose 25 pounds by Valentine's Day, or I'll never get a date," you're setting yourself up for emotional turmoil, as well as weight-loss failure. Losing weight in a prescribed amount of time is a worthy goal, but the perfectionist premise that sneaks into your thinking may well interfere with sensible eating and exercise.

In a perfect universe, the sight of those jeans, or the knowledge that Valentine's Day is around the corner, would elicit rational thoughts like, "I'm going to look great soon, and I'm going to enjoy the challenge of eating sensibly and exercising along the way." But few of us think that.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 12:42 PM :: 0 comments

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Is It Physical or Emotional Hunger?

Before you eat, try to figure out if you are eating because you are physically hungry, or emotionally hungry...

Physical hunger

• Builds gradually
• Strikes below the neck (e.g., growling stomach)
• Isn't accompanied by a sense of compulsion
• Occurs several hours after a meal
• Goes away when full
• Leads to feeling of satisfaction after eating
  

Emotional hunger

• Develops suddenly
• Hits above the neck (e.g., a "taste" for ice cream)
• Results in an urgent need to eat
• Is unrelated to time since last meal
• Is specific, often for a particular food or brand
• Persists despite fullness
• Leads to guilt and shame after eating

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 12:33 PM :: 0 comments

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Recipe of The Day

Easy Breakfast Burrito Recipe

This recipe serves: 1

Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste
1 98% fat free flour tortilla
1 ounce shredded, reduced fat Cheddar cheese (or other cheese such as Monterey Jack or Mozzarella)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat 2 non-stick skillets over a medium heat on the stove (one for the tortilla and one for the egg).
2. In a small bowl whisk the egg with salt and pepper until the yolk and white are evenly mixed.
3. Place the tortilla in one skillet to warm it, about 1 minute per side.
4. Pour the egg mixture into the other skillet and stir until cooked through and the egg is light and fluffy.
5. Lay the warmed tortilla on a board and place the cooked egg in the middle, sprinkle with the cheese, roll up tightly and serve.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 burrito
Calories 269
Total Fat 10 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Cholesterol mg
Sodium 456 mg
Total Carbohydrate 28 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Protein 15 g
Percent Calories from Fat 37%
Percent Calories from Protein 22%
Percent Calories from Carbohydrate 41%

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 6:18 AM :: 0 comments

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Wednesday, September 19, 2007 Adopting Healthier Habits

Calorie restriction and exercise help many people lose weight, but only for as long as they keep up the effort. The same environmental and psychological factors that accounted for the weight gain in the first place can play a role in causing someone to stop exercising or start consuming too many calories. The difficulty in sustaining a diet and exercise routine is one of the main reasons that people who lose weight fail to keep it off. But the difference between long-term success and failure is the ability to make the changes in your diet and activity level permanent.

Certain strategies are useful for everyone who wants to lose weight, regardless of the main causes or severity of their obesity. Many of the following strategies seem like common sense, but they are easily overlooked. You're most likely to follow them if you plan for them in advance.

Eat slowly. Chewing and swallowing your food at a leisurely pace can help you keep from overeating. Here's why: It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to "tell" you when you feel full. Until then, you continue to feel hungry and want to eat. If you eat quickly, you'll end up consuming more than you need to feel full. But eating slowly gives your brain the time it needs to signal that you've had enough.

Make changes gradually. Don't expect to change your diet and activity level overnight. Instead of switching all at once to a low-calorie eating plan, try gradually decreasing the calories of your meals and snacks. For example, start by cutting out snacking or limiting yourself to certain snacks at certain times of day (such as a mid-morning banana or a late-afternoon apple). Also, gradually reduce the calorie content of particular foods. For example, if you're used to drinking whole milk, first switch to milk with 2% fat; then, as you get used to the taste of less fat, go on to milk with 1% fat and finally to skim milk. Another strategy is to lower the calorie content of one meal at a time. In the first week, you might want to eat a low-calorie breakfast, but keep lunch and dinner the same as before. During the second week, you might reduce the calorie content of your lunch. Finally, you can begin eating low-calorie dinners.

Keep a record. Keeping a daily log of what you eat and what physical activities you engage in can help keep you motivated to stay with your diet and exercise plan. Looking over a week's worth of entries can tell you how successful you've been and can help you identify areas where you need to improve.

Seek social support. You'll find it easier to maintain behavioral changes if you have the support and encouragement of others. Social support can come in many forms and from various people. For starters, ask your family members to keep high-calorie foods out of the house, or at least to refrain from eating them in front of you. You might even try to enlist your family to eat the same meals you do. Exercise with someone else, or join a support group. The camaraderie can help keep your spirits up during the inevitable periods when you become discouraged with your progress.

Use a list when buying food. Stick to your grocery list, and steer clear of those aisles or areas with the kinds of calorie-dense foods that you need to avoid.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 7:30 AM :: 0 comments

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E.N.E.R.G.Y.

E is for Exercise!
It is a MUST. Make daily exercise as a non-negotiable part of your day. Schedule it in as you would any other important event.

N is for Nutrition!
Food is fuel for your body - not a friend, a comfort, or a stress buster. It is fuel. Period.

E is for Eating!
Imagine that, you actually get to eat AND lose weight! For optimal energy, eat five to six times a day - meals and healthful snacks. Space your calories evenly throughout the day to avoid sugar spikes and fatigue.

R is for Rest!
Recent research shows that sleep deprivation affects how we lose weight; so for goodness' sake sleep (but you can't sleep the weight off unfortunately!)

G is for Guessing!
Keep your body AND mind guessing! It is important as you go through this self-improvement journey that you don't fall into a rut. You will never get bored of exercising or eating healthy foods if you open yourself to different kinds of exercises or recipes.

Y is for YOU!
This journey isn't about the scale's measure; it is about your life! We all want to look and feel more energized; more "youthful." Well, what is youthful? YOU! full of life! Youth starts in the mind and then the body reflects it.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 6:48 AM :: 0 comments

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Fall Back Into A Great Workout

As summer turns to fall, certain seasonal changes may put a crimp in your calorie-burning opportunities. While it may seem too early to be worrying about such matters, cooler temperatures are right around the corner so having a plan to keep your workout on track is essential to your success. After all, when it comes to exercise, preparation is half the battle.

Here are four strategies for transforming summer’s steamier workout into a regimen fit for fall:

1. Get out of the water. As nice as it may have been to burn all of those calories in the pool with swimming or water aerobics, unless you belong to an indoor swim club, your days of aquatic exercise are sadly numbered. And if you don’t choose an alternative soon, you may find yourself at a loss for a workout when the first few cooler days hit. First, find out whether your gym has a pool. If not, explore options such as regular aerobics classes, treadmill running, dance classes or tennis lessons.

2. Change clothes. A pair of shorts and a T-shirt were fine for summer exercise, but you’ll need to stock up on warmer duds if you plan to keep at it. The American Council on Exercise advises wearing layers, so you’ll have one dry layer of clothes to trap heat near the skin, which helps to prevent the loss of heat when you sweat in cold weather. Avoid fabrics like cotton, which holds in moisture and opt for those like Dri-Fit, or Hydro-move. Both fabrics help to “wick away” sweat to keep the skin dry. Check your local yellow pages for a sporting goods store near you.

3. Time it right. If you’ve been exercising in the evenings, you may soon find yourself walking in the dark - which isn’t always the safest time to be outdoors alone. Before we have to turn those clocks back and lose an hour of daylight, find an alternate plan. Consider switching to mornings or locate a more secure place to walk, such as inside a mall or around a well-lit track where there are plenty of other people around. Or, if you get an hour for lunch at work, make a trip to the gym a part of your mid-day routine.

4. Fit it into fall activities. If you live in certain regions of the country, there may be seasonal activities you want to partake in, such as taking a drive to see the leaves, attending your kids’ football or soccer practice or visiting a pumpkin patch. But instead of letting these things take up the time you’d normally use to exercise, combine the two. Don’t get in the car - bring a bike to a nearby park and enjoy the foliage while you ride.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 6:22 AM :: 0 comments

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Recipe of The Day

Marmalade Pork Chops

This is great for those hurried evenings when you don't have much time for preparations! Only three ingredients so it is quick and easy to prepare, and tastes so good.

Serves 4

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 60 minutes
Total time: 65 minutes
Calories: 263.52
Calories from Fat: N/A
Total Fat: 7.86 g
Saturated Fat: N/A
Cholesterol: N/A
Sodium: N/A
Total Carbohydrate: 29.23 g
Dietary Fiber: N/A
Sugars: N/A
Protein: 18.96 g
Vitamin A: N/A
Vitamin C: N/A

Ingredients

5 pork chops
0.5 cup orange marmalade
0.5 cup soy sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place pork chops in a 9x13 baking dish. In a small bowl stir together the marmalade and soy sauce. Pour over the chops. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 5:16 AM :: 0 comments

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Tuesday, September 18, 2007 Living With Diabetes

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are different diseases with similar symptoms. Type 1 diabetes is a disease of pancreatic failure, where the pancreas stops releasing insulin in response to eating carbohydrates. Type 2 diabetes is a disease of insulin resistance, or insulin insufficiency.

Both diseases result in chronic high blood sugar, and both diseases cause medical complications because of high blood sugar. With Type 1 diabetes, you always need injected insulin for treatment; people with Type 2 diabetes can often control their blood sugar with a combination of diet and exercise and sometimes oral medications.

Diet is very important for both types. Approximately 80 percent or more of people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight, and health experts associate excess weight with the development of Type 2 diabetes. Eating the right amount of food is crucial for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. For those who must take injections, insulin has to be monitored with food eaten.

All people with diabetes need to stay at a healthy weight, include whole grains, fruits and vegetables daily and balance meals with healthy protein and fat. Our Living With Diabetes Program is ideal for people with diabetes, because it allows each member to select the foods they enjoy, but will still give them the correct portion sizes and balance they need for good health.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 4:59 AM :: 0 comments

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Get The Most From Training

Here are a few tips for those of you who want to get the most from your training time:

1. Get A Personal Trainer: Sometimes to get the most out of your training program you need objective advice from a professional. We get very set in our ways. That can be a good thing for consistency. However, it's hard to make upward progress when you do the same thing week after week and year after year. Following a program written by someone else can take the pressure off and give you new ideas.

2. Eat Well: Proper nutrition and effective training go hand in hand. It is an essential component to all athletic activities. Eating well is the best way to be sure you get the most from your training and from your performance. What you eat before, during, and after exercise has a major impact on how well you perform and how well you feel. Good nutrition also allows you to maintain high quality training, good recovery and good race day performance.

3. Rest and Recover: This is an often overlooked part of effective training. If you don’t plan rest or schedule recovery days in your training you limit your ability to train. Your body actually gets stronger after exercise stress so you need to allow down time for rebuilding muscle tissue. An effective training program will have regular periods of rest and recovery. This also allows adaptation to the exercise and you return bigger, stronger and faster. Rest also allows you to recover mentally and emotionally and avoid exercise burn-out.

4. Get Support: It's extremely helpful to have support for your training program whether it's from training partners or friends and family. But it's also important to be sure that you follow your own training plan and needs. If you workout with others, be careful that you don't get sucked into training at their intensity or duration. If you scheduled an easy day, but your buddy decides to hammer, you need to let go and follow your plan. All too often training partners can encourage us to over- or under-train. Do what you need to do from your program.

5. Listen to Your Body: Effective training requires you to follow a game plan, but have enough flexibility to alter the plan based upon how you feel. If you are tired, ill, stressed, injured or notice your heart rate is elevated, you need to be able to pay attention to the message these signs are sending. Slowing down, resting, or changing the activity are all appropriate compromises

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 4:34 AM :: 0 comments

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Recipe of The Day

Taco Pasta Salad

For a tasty and unique way to serve pasta, try this dish with Mexican flair the whole family will love!

A short pasta such as penne, bow tie or rotini works best as your base, but feel free to use your favorite noodle. The zesty combination of lean ground beef, taco seasoning, onion, green pepper and salsa is poured over the pasta, then topped with low-fat cheese and sour cream.

Be sure to increase your ingredients for the appropriate number of servings.

Ingredients

3 1/2 oz. of lean, ground round beef
1 tsp. taco seasoning mix
1 Tbsp. water
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
2 Tbsp. low-sodium salsa
1/2 oz. low-fat or nonfat shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp. low-fat or nonfat sour cream

Directions

1. Cook pasta per recipe directions.

2. While pasta cooks, brown ground meat in a nonstick skillet over medium heat; drain off any excess fat.

3. Add seasoning mix with water, onions, pepper and salsa. Lower heat to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.

4. Serve ground meat mixture over pasta and top with shredded cheese and sour cream.

Makes one serving. Nutritional values per serving: 200 calories, 5.0g fat (2.0g sat), 26g protein, 12g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, 55mg cholesterol and 340mg sodium.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 4:02 AM :: 0 comments

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Monday, September 17, 2007

You've been told over and over again how important drinking water is to your health. But sometimes water is just plain boring and frankly, difficult to swallow. Here are a number of new bottled waters that you can try that have flavors that may invigorate your taste buds.


HINT is aptly named because the flavor is simple, subtle and stimulating. Currently the flavors include mango-grapefruit, pomegranate-tangerine, lime, raspberry-lime, peppermint, pear, tropical punch, strawberry-kiwi and cucumber. HINT, which contains no sweeteners, preservatives or calories, retails for around $1.69 per bottle and is available at specialty markets, grocery stores and at drinkhint.com.

Metromint
This water's distinctive bottle design and taste are both bold and cool. The peppermint, spearmint, lemonmint and orangemint varieties get their flavor from fresh mint grown in Washington state. Metromint retails for around $1.39 to $1.69 per bottle and is available at Whole Foods and other specialty stores.

Pure Cool
With its refreshing flavors—Triple Chill and Tropical Tiki in still water, Mojo Cool and Pear Ginger-Ice is quite a change from your everyday water. Pure Cool water contains zero calories, preservatives, sugar, fructose, corn syrup or artificial flavors. The company suggests using these beverages to make cocktails like mojitos, martinis and piña coladas. Pure Cool retails for around $1.99 per bottle and is available at Acme stores in the Northeast and at drinkpurecool.com.

Glaceau fruitwater
While this flavored water comes in at 20 calories per 8-ounce serving, it's free of non-caloric sweeteners and chemical preservatives. The lightly sweetened fruit flavors in lime, raspberry, peach and grape come from crystalline fructose, a high-quality sweetener found in fruit. Fruitwater retails for around $1.49 nationwide.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 7:42 AM :: 0 comments

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Why You May Be Feeling Hungry

Feeling hungry is usually a sign that you are not getting enough calories in the day. You should keep a record of your food intake to make sure you are getting enough calories and that you are following your weight loss plan.

You should be eating many meals per day, including breakfast, lunch, one piece of fruit daily, along with a 500-700 calorie sensible dinner, plus three snacks in the range of 60-150 calories per snack, to complete daily calorie intake of at least 1200 calories. You should also drink plenty of water and exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

Many weight loss experts recommend that you snack during the day, as this will help you not get too hungry and want to grab something you hadn't planned on eating. Eating high fiber snacks such as low-fat popcorn, fresh veggies, fresh fruit, or low-fat vegetable soup will help you feel full without providing a lot of calories.

If you are having three snacks a day and eating enough at your sensible meal, and are still hungry, feel free to have a piece of fruit with your shake or blend some fresh or frozen fruit in a blender with your shake to add some fiber for fullness without adding too many calories. You can also have some fresh vegetables or a side salad with light dressing with your shake to help with hunger.

Another factor that will increase your calorie needs is if you are more than 30 pounds beyond a healthy weight for height. Essentially, if you have more than 30 pounds to lose, it is important to check with your doctor. With more than 30 pounds to lose, weight loss goals will differ for each individual, and your personal physician or registered dietitian is qualified to set reasonable goals for you regarding the calorie level to lose weight and recommend a rate of weight loss on an individual basis based on your current health status.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 7:14 AM :: 0 comments

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Not Losing The Weight Fast Enough?

So many times while you are dieting you look at the weight you did lose and wonder why it is taking so long. This is very common, but at the same time, it is not the way to look at weight loss in general. Many people even compare their weight loss to people they know or even see on television shows such as "The Biggest Loser".

Don't compare yourself to others and become overly concerned with short-term results. Certain medications, activity level, hormonal status and age can cause differences in weight loss. Also, make sure your expectations are realistic. For instance, you aren't working out 4-6 hours a day like they are on The Biggest Loser. In fact, you may not be working out like your neighbor next door. That doesn't mean he or she is doing it better, they are just doing it differently.

Second, remember that success with weight loss should always be measured by more than just the scale. Consider the following questions and think about how they apply to your experience losing weight:

Are you experiencing more energy and vitality throughout the day?

Are your clothes fitting you better?

Are you experiencing less between-meal cravings and hunger?

Have your blood lipid tests improved?

Are you losing weight, but at a slow pace?

Have you lost inches?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above, then you have the right plan for the rest of your life. Continue to stick with it, modifying as you go, and you will continue to see suitable health enhancing results.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 6:46 AM :: 0 comments

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Recipe of The Day

Salmon Fillets with Creamy Wasabi Sauce

Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake/Cook time: 15 minutes

1 cup water
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
3 Tbsp. green onion, sliced thinly (about 1/3 green onion)
4 three-inch wide center-cut salmon fillets (about 2 lb.)
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 Tbsp. wasabi sauce with ginger (such as Gold’s)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine water, soy sauce, green onion, ginger and garlic in a 2-quart baking dish. Add fillets skin side up and bake 15 minutes, until just cooked through.

2. Meanwhile, whisk mayonnaise with wasabi sauce. Set aside.

3. Remove fish from oven and let stand five minutes. Measure 2 tablespoons of the cooking liquid and whisk into mayonnaise mixture.

4. To serve, peel skin from fish and drizzle sauce on top.

Makes 4 servings. Nutritional values per serving: 567 calories, 41g fat, 46g protein, 2g carbohydrate, 1g fiber and 1g net carbs.

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 6:25 AM :: 0 comments

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Friday, September 14, 2007 A Family That Eats Together Is More Healthy

There's no more precious time than mealtime, when the entire family is actually sitting down together. Historically, dinner has been a sacred time when family comes together to spend uninterrupted, quality time. Unfortunately, with the pace of life rapidly increasing, family meals are on the decline.

Family meals are really the only opportunity we have as parents to learn and listen to our children. Much can be discovered around the table. In addition, we can also pretty much bet that the food we're providing is far better nutritionally than any fast-food meal.

Some suggestions on getting the family together at mealtime:

Start having family dinners when your kids are young. If they’re not, no better time to start than the present.

Include your children in meal planning.

Turn off the television. There’s no reason to listen to the TV when you have an opportunity to listen to your children.

Try to keep mealtime consistent. I know with school activities and jobs, it’s tough; do the best you can.

Make sure to engage the whole family in conversation, it’s a great way to keep up with your kids and find out what’s going on in their lives. Besides, they want to share!

If you’re on the run with sports and school activities, and you MUST pick up fast food, see if you can create a picnic atmosphere somewhere and use that opportunity to create a meaningful family meal.

It has been proven over and over again that when families eat together they eat not only healthier meals, but they eat slower, causing less weight gain then the family that is running around every night. Do something for your family and start eating meals together!

Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway :: 9:02 AM :: 0 comments

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Healthy School Lunches

In preparing for "back to school" season, you surely hit more than your fair share of stores in search of new clothes for your ever-growing child, along with a litany of school supplies too numerous to name.
Don't forget healthy school lunches and after-school snacks as you plan for the school year.

With this in mind, here are a few dietary suggestions on how to assure a happy school day is also a healthy school day:

Lean meat, such as shaved ham or turkey, on whole-grain bread or in a wheat wrap with some lettuce, low- or fat-free cheese and a touch of low-fat or fat-free mayo