Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
7:12 AM ::
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The Dangers of YoYo Dieting
Yoyo dieting causes serious health risks. But there are alternative strategies you can use to get you through stressful times without turning to food. Yoyo dieting has become a way of life for some people. It is easy for dieters to get caught up in a cycle of healthy eating and binge eating, causing them to lose and gain weight repeatedly.
You find a new diet that makes perfect sense. You stock up on special foods and clean out your kitchen. You hit the gym two hours a day. Then you have a stressful day. You notice your food cravings growing strong. Eventually you give into your cravings and overeat to push down the uncomfortable emotions. The food tastes so good and it does the trick for a little while, easing your stress and calming you down. It is a slippery slope from there and it can easily turn into binge eating, making it difficult to get back on track with the diet.
Does this sound familiar? If so, you are in danger of yoyo dieting. You lose weight, you gain weight, you lose the weight all over again and you gain it back again (and then some.) There is a real danger in yoyo dieting. You put yourself at risk for many serious health problems by losing and regaining the weight rapidly and repeatedly.
Dangers of yoyo dieting:
- Liver problems
- Loss of muscle
- Lower metabolism
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Shortened life span
If you are a yoyo dieter that is lucky enough not to develop any major health risks, the loss of muscle and lower metabolism alone will make it nearly impossible for you to lose weight. Muscle burns fat, so the less muscle you have the harder it is going to be to lose weight.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:40 AM ::
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The Benefits of Salmon
All fish are great sources of protein and low in saturated fat. But cold-water fish, like salmon, mackerel and herring, are premiere sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids. These are fats our bodies can’t produce, so it’s essential we include them in our diet. Omega-3s offer many benefits such as:
- They reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
- They minimize the symptoms of arthritis and inflammatory diseases.
- They contribute to healthy skin and hair.
- They may help with depression.
Don’t love fish? You can get your omega-3s from flaxseed, walnuts, almonds and grass-fed beef, although the oils are of a lesser nutritional quality than the those found in seafood.
Salmon is an easy fish to obtain. Most grocery stores and many restaurants carry it. It's also easy to cook. The high fat level makes salmon perfect for grilling, roasting or sautéing without sticking or drying out. Although wild salmon can be pricey, it has an amazing flavor and higher levels of omega-3s than farm-raised fish. Look for fresh wild salmon in spring and summer, and farm-raised salmon year-round.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:50 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
Avocado and Orange Salad with Honey and Ginger Dressing
This is an incredibly healthy recipe that is full of Vitamin C. Shop for your avocados a couple of days in advance of making this salad; it seems you can never find a ripe avocado at the store on the same day you need one!
4 oranges, preferably seedless
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons honey
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 medium shallots, finely chopped
1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 avocados
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves, plus whole leaves for garnish
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves, plus whole leaves for garnish
4 whole leaves Boston lettuce, washed and dried well
4 while leaves red leaf lettuce, washed and dried well
Sliced pickled ginger, optional
Segment and juice 3 of the oranges in the following way: Cut both ends off 1 of the oranges and place it, cut side up, on a cutting board. Using a sharp, flexible knife, cut the skin and white membrane from the orange. Use a sawing motion and cut from top to bottom following the contours of the orange. Free the orange segments but cutting along the seams that separate them from each other. Do this over a bowl to collect any juices. Reserve the segments separately and squeeze what's left of the orange over the bowl to collect the juice. Do the same with the remaining 2 oranges. Strain the juice into a measuring cup: You should have about 3/4 cup; if not, juice the remaining orange and add as much as needed.
Combine the ginger, mayonnaise, mustard, and honey with 1/2 cup of the orange juice in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
In a small bowl, combine half of the chopped shallots with 3 tablespoons of the remaining orange juice. Whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Cut the avocados lengthwise up to the large pit in the middle. Gently twist apart the 2 halves and remove the pit. Wedge a teaspoon between the skin and the flesh and remove the flesh in 1 piece. Cut the avocados into 1-inch pieces and put them into the bowl with the honey-and-ginger dressing. Add the remaining shallots, the chopped mint and the chopped cilantro, and mix together lightly so as not to break up the avocado.
When ready to serve, set aside 8 orange segments. Toss the rest with the whole lettuce leaves and just enough of the orange-and-olive oil vinaigrette to coat. Divide the lettuce and oranges among 4 plates. Spoon some avocado onto each plate (there will be some dressing left in the bowl). Top with the reserved orange segments and drizzle any remaining honey-and-ginger dressing over the salad. Garnish with whole mint and cilantro leaves, and, if you like, some pickled ginger.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:07 AM ::
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Tuesday, October 16, 2007
The Truth About Detox Diets
Are detox diets safe? The harmful side effects of fad diets can outweigh the risks associated with toxic chemicals in the body.
Overweight people often turn to potentially harmful detox diets to boost their initial weight loss to cope with a weight loss plateau. Wanting to lose weight fast, an overweight person is vulnerable and wants to believe that one or more fad diets will be the one to work for them to help them lose weight once and for all.
Detox diets are used to cleanse toxic chemicals from the body. While some detox diets include the use of special drinks, most of these fad diets require that you give up sweets, carbs and protein for a defined length of time, usually between 1 and 10 days. Once your body is cleansed you can gradually add back these foods in limited quantities.
The focus of detox diets is to drink a lot and eat very little to cleanse the body and rid toxins to lose weight more quickly. Toxic chemicals can be harmful to your health and detrimental to weight loss efforts. Toxins are unnatural elements in the body. Though some toxins enter the body through pollutants in the environment, most chemicals are ingested. The things we choose to eat, drink and inhale are toxic chemicals that make people sick and prevent them from losing weight.
Smoking, drinking alcohol, drinking caffeine and eating too many prepackaged and over-processed foods all have a toxic effect on the body. Avoiding these items and eating naturally is the first step in riding your body of these harmful toxins to allow yourself to lose weight.
Fad diets are never a good idea for long-term health and well-being. Detox diets are no exception. There is no scientific proof that detox diets work to help you lose weight over a long period of time. Typically what happens is you lose water weight while on a detox diet. The initial weight loss is encouraging for some dieters and it is a good way to kick start their diet and motivates them to continue to lose weight.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:38 AM ::
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Don't Fear Losing Weight
Challenge fears to lose weight and create a healthy lifestyle. Do the things you are afraid of and take pride in breaking free from the barriers you place on yourself.
Fear prevents action. It holds you back. Fear of weight loss is not uncommon, especially for those who’ve been overweight since childhood. Wearing a fat suit has become part of their identity, and taking off that mask would reveal what they are truly like underneath. Obese people fear being exposed if the fat were gone and they had nothing left to hide behind. The fear of losing weight is based on low self esteem.
At first, it seems strange to think that you would fear the very thing you want the most. You want to lose weight so badly that it hurts, yet you self-sabotage your weight loss progress for fear of the person you will find under the layers of fat. The reality is there is a payoff for staying fat.
Overweight and obese people use their extra weight as a shield. The fat shield protects them from unwanted sexual advances, the pressure to succeed in a career, the embarrassment of not being able to play sports, and so on. Obesity becomes the scapegoat and can be blamed for all of your insecurities. Take away the weight and you only have yourself to blame.
Losing weight is scary since it means stepping up your game plan. Losing weight strips away the barrier that stands between you and the world. Without fat acting as the buffer, the world closes in on you and requires more out of you. Expectations are raised and you may or may not measure up.
Hiding in a fat suit, paralyzed by fear is no way of living. To get more out of your life there are some changes you’ll need to make that can seem scary at first, but they will improve your health and change your life for the better.
- Accept yourself for who you are and love your body at whatever size you are.
- Work to change unhealthy habits and form new, healthier ones.
- Break out of your comfort zone and try new things on a regular basis.
- Reward yourself for making progress.
- Act like a thin person, even if you aren’t there yet.
- Seek support from friends and family.
- Work out regularly, including resistance training to improve your body and your mood.
- Adopt a positive attitude and create positive affirmations to reinforce the messages you want to send yourself.
- Identify your fears and tackle them one at a time to improve self-esteem.
- Identify your reason for losing weight and take the focus off of your body shape.
- Consider the health improvements you will benefit from by losing weight.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:56 AM ::
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Rice 101
In much of the world, rice forms the basis of most meals-in some Asian languages, to eat literally translates as "to eat rice". Brown rice is much more nutritious than processed white rice-and it's chewy texture and nutty flavor is something many people come to prefer. You can also find whole grain rice in other forms such as Black Japonica or Himalayan Red and it's becoming easier to find brown rice versions of favorites such as basmati and jasmine. Long-grain brown rice will be the closest in texture to long-grain white rice, as short rice tends to get stickier-great for sushi or risotto! Quick-cooking brown rice has been precooked, so it can be a good choice if you're in a hurry.
Brown rice can be used in nearly any recipes where white rice is called for or served on its own. It makes a great basis for stir-fries, curries, or other saucy main courses and it's wonderful in pilafs, salads, and even rice pudding because of its unique texture and flavor.
When stored in a cool, dry place in an airtight container, brown rice will stay fresh for about five to six months, although you can also store it in the refrigerator to avoid any chance that it will turn rancid.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:22 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
Pork Tenderloin with Chipotle-Maple Mop
Courtesy of The Food Network
Pork:
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 pork tenderloins, each about 12 ounces, silver skin removed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Sauce:
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 teaspoons chipotle chile hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Position a rack closest to the broiler and preheat to high. Combine the coriander, garlic powder, and ginger. Brush the tenderloins with the oil and rub all over with spices. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Lay the pork on a small shallow pan and broil until golden, turning once, about 5 minutes per side. (An instant-read thermometer should register 130 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the meat.)
Meanwhile, for the sauce: Whisk the syrup, vinegar, hot sauce, and salt together in a small bowl. Set about half the sauce aside. Generously brush the tenderloins all over with the remaining sauce. Return to the broiler and cook, turning once, until a deep rich brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Set meat aside for 5 minutes to rest before slicing. Serve with reserved sauce for drizzling over the meat.
Cook's Note: Be sure to remove the silver skin before cooking the tenderloin; otherwise, the meat will curl.
1. Lay the tenderloin on your work surface and slip a sharp knife under the surface of the silver skin. Keeping your knife flat against the meat, make your first cut by slicing away from you and toward the end of the tenderloin.
2. Lift the unattached portion of the silver skin up and place your knife at the point where the skin meets the tenderloin. Slice to separate.
3. Continue moving down the length of the tenderloin, pulling and slicing until the silver skin is completely removed.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:18 AM ::
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Monday, October 15, 2007
The Slim Fast Review
Slim Fast is the most common diet shake. The Slim Fast plan calls for a shake at breakfast and lunch, and then a sensible dinner. You are also allowed two additional pieces of fruit and a Slim Fast nutrition bar as needed during the day. The sensible dinner may be used for any meal, as long as the two other meals are the diet shakes. Any diet that is lower in calories than your body needs to maintain its current weight should promote weight loss. The Slim Fast diet, which averages about 1,200 calories a day, will cause weight loss for most people, as it is at least 500 calories less than the average female is consuming and at least 1,000 calories less than the average male is consuming.
According to nutritional experts, there are healthful aspects to the Slim Fast meal plan, however, there are also several pitfalls. The good news is that the Slim Fast plan includes exercise and promotes drinking 6-8 cups of water daily, which are both important features in any weight loss plan. The Slim Fast regimen is easy to follow. However, when you are following a calorie- restricted diet, it is very difficult to get all of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are necessary for good health, so it is important to concentrate on consuming wholesome and nutritious foods during your sensible meal. The shakes contain only added vitamins and minerals.
But be aware, the main problem with diet shakes is that many people follow them too aggressively with drastic decreases in caloric intake which often leads to an eventual crash. The biggest problem for most people is that the Slim Fast plan is entirely self-directed, with no outside structure or support. This can be good, as self-reliance is essential to long-term success, but intimidating nonetheless.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:13 AM ::
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Lose the Apples - Look for Pears!
Apples often hog the autumn spotlight when it comes to seasonal fruit, but they don't upstage pears when it comes to taste or nutritional value. Delicate and elegant, their buttery flesh make it worth the extra effort to enjoy them when they're perfectly ripe.
Do it for your health.
If you eat them with the skin on, pears are a good source of dietary fiber. They contain some potassium and come in at about 100 calories per average-sized pear. Pears also contain vitamin C in their skin, but like most other fruits, when heated they lose much of it.
Selecting and Storing
Pears are a plan-ahead fruit. They don't ripen well on the tree—becoming mealy and brown at the core. Instead, pears are best picked when they're mature, but still under-ripe, and allowed to ripen at the market or at home. Look for fruits with smooth skin and an intact stem. Ripen them at home at room temperature in a plastic bag poked with holes or in a loosely closed brown paper bag. Refrigerate them once they're ripe.
Some markets will sell ready-to-eat pears, but before you buy these, make sure they're carefully, individually wrapped and aren't stacked up more than two levels high. The pressure from the other fruits will likely bruise the flesh of a ripe pear. For the same reason, when you pack them up to take home from the market, make sure they're on top of the bag.
What to Do with Pears
Pears are near perfect on their own, but you can also enjoy them:
With cheese.
Slice a ripe pear and eat it with slivers of blue cheese. (You don't need much cheese to appreciate that these two foods are a perfect match.)
As a snack.
Cut a pear in half, remove the core and stem, and fill with light cream cheese. Top with a drizzle of honey.
In a salad.
Use pears instead of apples for a twist on a Waldorf salad. Sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent cut pears from browning.
As an ice cream topper.
Sauté sliced pears in apple juice until soft and use to top frozen yogurt or low-calorie ice cream.
As a warm dessert.
Pears and almonds complement one another well. Make a simple syrup from equal parts water and sugar and cook gently until sugar has dissolved. Cut pears in half the long way, core and cook both halves in syrup until softened. Drain, and serve topped with low-fat Cool Whip and toasted almonds.
In an elegant tart.
For a simple pear tart, cut small, 4-inch diameter rounds from store-bought frozen puff pastry. Thinly slice pears and fan around puff pastry, overlapping slightly. Cook at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes. Melt a little apple jelly in the microwave and brush over tart top for a shiny finish.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:28 AM ::
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Tea For Losing Weight?
Tea is the second most popular drink in the world (water is the top choice). Although most people think of tea as a soothing and delicious beverage, it possesses a remarkable wealth of antioxidants and weight loss abilities. All teas, whether black, green, oolong or white, are harvested from the leaves of a variety of plant known as the camellia sinensis. The primary distinction between the different teas is the amount of fermentation they undergo. Black teas are the most fermented, white teas the least. Herbal teas are not technically teas since they do not include camellia sinensis leaves.
All true teas contain polyphenols, powerful antioxidants believed to protect against heart disease, certain cancers and stroke. The various levels of fermentation affect teas in different ways. Recent studies have shown drinking green tea might boost metabolism, oolong teas can lower blood sugar, and black teas can promote oral health. Also, tea contains half the caffeine of coffee so you won't feel jittery when you drink it either. Tea is not just for drinking as it has been used for centuries in marinades and as a flavoring agent in dishes, so if you can't seem to swallow your cup of tea, try basting with it!
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
4:58 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
West Texas-Style Buffalo Chili
Spicy chili made with buffalo meat, black beans and kidney beans. Serve with lots of water.
Serves 8
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 210 minutes
Total time: 240 minutes
Calories: 418.17
Calories from Fat: N/A
Total Fat: 6.77 g
Saturated Fat: N/A
Cholesterol: N/A
Sodium: N/A
Total Carbohydrate: 49.55 g
Dietary Fiber: N/A
Sugars: N/A
Protein: 39.76 g
Vitamin A: N/A
Vitamin C: N/A
Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package dry black beans
1 (8 ounce) package dry kidney beans
1 tablespoon chili powder
0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large sweet onion, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 zucchini, diced
3 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
1 (10 ounce) can tomato sauce
0.5 (16 ounce) jar hot chunky salsa
2 tablespoons chili sauce
2 pounds ground buffalo
Directions
1. Soak beans in water overnight. Drain and rinse.
2. In a large pot, combine beans with water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 1 to 2 hours, until tender. Once the beans have absorbed most of the water, and are starting to soften, season with chile powder, red pepper flakes, jalapeno, salt and pepper. Reserve the seeds.
3. Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium low heat. Saute the onion and bell peppers for 3 minutes. Stir in diced zucchini, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and salsa. Season with jalapeno seeds and chili sauce, stir well, and leave on medium-low heat.
4. Place ground buffalo meat in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain excess fat. Stir buffalo and vegetable mixture into beans. Continue to simmer for 1 hour.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
4:25 AM ::
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Friday, October 12, 2007
Setting Goals For Weight Loss
Once you have set your lifetime weight loss goals, the best thing that you can do is narrow it down into a plan of smaller weight loss goals that you need to complete if you are to reach your lifetime goals.
From there you can just shorten your overall goal spans for example, you set a 5 year plan, 1 year plan, 6 month plan, and 1 month plan of progressively smaller goals that you should reach to achieve your lifetime goals. Each of these should be based on the previous plan. It is the best way to begin to achieve a lifetime that is filled with and results in a life without any failed wishes. It results in a life without regret and a bunch of "If onlys".
By starting out slowly with the smaller workout goals, you are giving yourself the chance to realize and work on achieving the goals that you set out to.
You also have to realize that some things simply take time. Trying to skip steps or rush through processes that need to be done usually ends up in failure. From that failure, you either get discouraged or have to start all over again doing it right. In rushing through and trying to achieve your weight loss goals quickly you will likely miss a few key aspects that can really change the outcome.
To desire something without being willing to be burdened by the trouble of acquiring it is as a common weakness in all things that are fitness related. This is where the snake oil salesmen still make their money today. Promising whatever weight loss or physical goals you want with no effort. Heck, in truth, even leisure can't be enjoyed unless it is won by effort. Anyone that has spent a month on vacation doing nothing knows that eventually, you feel like you want to do something! If it hasn't been earned by work, the price has not been paid for it.
Finally set a daily "to do" list of the things that you should do today to work towards your smaller weekly weight loss goals. This is the kind of action that will eventually add up to the final positive result of a successful ultimate goal. The body you want.
In the early stages these smaller daily goals may be to read books and gather information on the technical side of weight loss. The actual "how to" of it all. This will help you to improve the quality and realism of your goal setting and in effect; make it easier to achieve them. You also have to review your plans, and make sure that they fit the way in which you want to live your life.
Once you have decided what your first set of smaller plans will be, keep the process going by reviewing and updating your to-do list on a daily basis. Plans will change as your knowledge of the subject increases. This is especially true for weight loss and fitness. You have to periodically review the longer-term plans, and change them to reflect your changing priorities, knowledge and experiences in your life.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:51 AM ::
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Weight Loss After Pregnancy
When you are trying to lose the weight that you gained during pregnancy, you will come across all sorts of weight loss tips. Some tips will work for you, while others will not. The important thing is to remember that no matter which tip or tips you follow, losing all your pregnancy weight gain is going to take some time. You have to understand that it took you nine months to put on that weight and it will atleast take you nine months to get rid of it.
If you want to lose all that weight that you gained during pregnancy, you have to first heal yourself. Your body must be exhausted after giving birth. Therefore, for the first three months after your delivery you should focus on regaining your health. This means that you should be eating healthy and nutritious diet. You can start with very light exercises, like walking around your neighborhood. Do small household chores.
If you are not sure about what to eat and what to avoid, you can always depend on your doctor for sound advice. Then there are lots of books and websites to help you out. Once you are physically fit, you can earnestly start your weight loss after pregnancy program. Along with your exercise program you also have to ensure that you are eating a balanced diet. No point in exercising when you are eating junk food or unhealthy food.
Start with light exercises and as your body gets used to it, you can later on take up strenuous exercises. However, you should always listen to your body and never overstretch yourself. Remember that your body has just gone through pregnancy. During your pregnancy period, your body would have gone through a lot and by overexerting yourself after delivery, you can harm yourself.
Losing all that weight that you gained during pregnancy is a good thing; however, you should not lose it by skipping meals and starving yourself. This is dangerous and harmful for your baby and you. Eat several small meals everyday. Make sure that you are eating lots of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Many women lose significant amount of their pregnancy weight by breastfeeding their child. You might have already heard about this from your friend or relative. This is even true and might work for you. So while you are getting used to a new wonderful life after pregnancy, you can have fun trying some weight loss tips for yourself.
Weight loss tips can really help you in losing all the weight that you gained during pregnancy. You should have patience and remember that losing your pregnancy weight gain is going to take time. There are no shortcuts for losing weight after pregnancy. It is very important that you seek proper diet advice from your doctor and lactation consultant because its good to yearn for weight loss after pregnancy but at the same time you have to be careful about your diet while breastfeeding in the interest of your baby. Pregnancy provides more information and related articles on these and other aspects related to pregnancy and women’s health.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:16 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
Wild Rice Spaghetti Chicken
The chewy nuttiness of wild rice gives this chicken and pasta dish a distinctive taste and texture. Chicken broth, onion and red pepper round out the flavors.
Serves 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Calories: 365.38
Calories from Fat: N/A
Total Fat: 6.55 g
Saturated Fat: N/A
Cholesterol: N/A
Sodium: N/A
Total Carbohydrate: 51.97 g
Dietary Fiber: N/A
Sugars: N/A
Protein: 24.64 g
Vitamin A: N/A
Vitamin C: N/A
Ingredients
2 whole boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup wild rice
3 green onions, chopped
0.25 cup red bell pepper, chopped
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups spaghetti, cooked and drained
Directions
1. Saute chicken pieces in olive oil and set aside. In the same pan saute wild rice, green onions and red pepper pieces (about 3 minutes). Add chicken broth, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Add the chicken and cooked spaghetti. Cook another 10 to 12 minutes covered (stir at least once to prevent spaghetti from sticking). When ready, chicken should be very tender and have a nice creamy sauce to dish onto the plate.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:27 AM ::
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Thursday, October 11, 2007
The Inner Thigh Workout
What part of your body seems to carry excessive flab and makes you totally uncomfortable in jeans or pants? It may be your butt, belly or hips, but I think a few hands may rise in the air with the answer - inner thighs!
The workout is designed as a specialty workout. It’s not designed to be the "be all and end all" for tightening and reducing flab on the inner thighs. Let’s dispel one big myth. Always remember that spot reduction is not possible, so losing flab only on your inner thighs is not going to happen. The human body just doesn’t work that way.
For inner thighs to become leaner and tighter, overall body fat must be reduced through a combination of proper nutrition, exercise and consistency. Your nutrition plan must have you eating frequent healthy meals and snacks to control blood sugar levels, but it must also place you in a slight calorie deficit (less than maintenance). This is the only way to shed the flab. This process does take time, but with some persistence and perspiration you can make your inner thighs leaner and tighter.
This inner thigh specialty workout only needs to be done once or twice per week on alternate days. The specialty routine also assumes that you work out with weights and perform cardiovascular exercise approximately three days per week.
Fitness Band Standing Leg Adduction
Attach a fitness band to a door at ankle height (the band should come with a door attachment)
Attach the fitness band to your left ankle.
Stand with your left side facing the door with your weight on the right leg and your right hand on a chair or table balancing your body.
Place your left hand on your hip.
Maintain a slight bend in the knees throughout the exercise.
Movement:
Contracting the inner thigh muscles, move the left leg passed the right leg stopping when you feel a contraction on the inner thigh.
Slowly return to the starting position.
After the set, perform the movement with the other leg.
Key Points:
Exhale while moving the leg across the body.
Inhale while returning to the starting position.
Perform 15 slow and controlled repetitions for each leg and then immediately go to the next exercise.
Lying Leg Adduction
Starting Position:
Lie on your right side with your right arm supporting your upper body.
Your right leg should be straight and your left leg should be bent.
Support your weight on your right arm and left leg.
Movement:
Contracting the inner thigh muscles, lift your right leg up until you feel a contraction of the inner thigh muscles.
After completing the set on the right side, perform the exercise on the left side.
Key Points:
Exhale while lifting your leg up.
Inhale while returning to the starting position.
You may use ankle weights to increase the level of difficulty.
If you are an intermediate exerciser, you can add resistance to the inner thigh as you are lifting. You can resist your inner thigh with your hand or use a weighted object.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
7:35 AM ::
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An Alternative To Soda
The average American drinks about 56 gallons of soda every year! When you consume even just one soda, you’re ingesting approximately 10 teaspoons of refined sugar and 50 milligrams of caffeine, along with artificial food colors and other chemicals. What you’re not getting is any nutritional value.
There’s a strong link between soda consumption and many health problems including obesity, tooth decay, behavioral disorders, diabetes and bone loss. And the connection between soda consumption and childhood obesity is so strong that a few schools are now beginning to remove the vending machines from school grounds.
Diet sodas may be even more dangerous to your health: The artificial sweetener most contain, aspartame, may be linked to more than 92 negative health problems including seizures, brain tumors and birth and vision defects. Furthermore, when these diet sodas are stored for long periods or kept in a warm environment, the aspartame changes to methanol and then formaldehyde.
The newer sweetener, Splenda, a chlorinated sucrose derivative, has no long-term safety research for humans. However, animal studies may link it to shrunken thymus glands, enlarged liver and kidneys, reduced growth rate, decreased red blood cell counts, aborted pregnancy and other health problems. And the most ironic thing of all is that, according to some studies, diet sodas may actually increase your appetite and contribute to obesity!
Here’s an extremely simple and tasty recipe that provides a tasty alternative to soda:
Blend sparkling mineral water (buy the type that’s naturally sparkling and hasn’t had carbon dioxide added to it) with your favorite no-sugar-added fruit juice. Voila! A delicious soda that tastes good, won’t break the bank and won’t break your body!
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:32 AM ::
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Two Exercises To Get Rid of Back Flab
Cable Two-Arm Lat Pulldown
Starting Position
Extend your arms up and reach for a straight bar with an overhand grip.
Sit tall with your knees supported under the leg pad with the knees and hips at a 90-degree angle.
Arms should be wider than shoulder-width apart with a slight bend in the elbows.
Relax your shoulders and keep your chest lifted.
Movement
Contracting the upper back muscles, pull the bar down leading with the elbows stopping when the bar is just above your chest.
Slowly return to the starting position stopping just short of the weight stack touching.
Key Points
Exhale while lifting the weight.
Inhale while returning to the starting position.
Do not allow your upper back to round or your chest to cave in.
Other exercises that target the lats: Close Grip Pulldowns; Wide Grip Pulldowns; Chin Ups; One Arm Dumbbell Row; Seated Cable Row; Stiff Arm Cable Pushdowns.
Dumbbell Bent Over Row
Starting Position
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and a slight bend in the knees.
Hold a dumbbell in each hand and bend forward from the hips until the upper body is at about 45 degrees.
Extend the arms down keeping your shoulder blades together.
Movement
Contracting the upper back muscles, pull the dumbbells up toward your sides, stopping when your upper arm is parallel to the floor. Remember to slightly squeeze the shoulder blades together as you pull-up to the contracted position.
Slowly return to the starting position stopping just short of the arms fully extending.
Key Points
Exhale as you lift the weights.
Inhale while returning to the starting position.
If you have any discomfort or weakness in your lower back, avoid this exercise.
Start out with light weights to make sure your lower back can tolerate this position.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:03 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Capers Recipe
This recipe serves: 4
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 8 minutes
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 4 to 6 ounces each
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper
flour for dredging
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated and chopped
2 tablespoons capers
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Cooking Instructions
1. Lay the chicken between two pieces of waxed paper and flatten each cutlet with the flat end of a mallet until thin.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large, non-stick skillet until hot. While the oil is heating, season the chicken with salt and pepper and dredge it in flour.
3. Sauté the chicken over high heat, about 3 minute on each side. Remove to a warm platter and keep warm.
4. Quickly add the chicken broth to the pan and stir with a wooden spoon to release any caramelized bits that may be stuck to the pan.
5. Add the tomatoes and cook until the broth has reduced by half. Add the lemon juice and capers.
6. Pour the sauce over the chicken, sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 chicken breast
Calories 231
Total Fat 7 g
Saturated Fat 1 g
Protein 34 g
Total Carbohydrate 7 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sodium 271 mg
Percent Calories from Fat 27%
Percent Calories from Protein 61%
Percent Calories from Carbohydrate 12%
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:24 AM ::
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Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Vegetarian Weight Loss Diet
A vegetarian weight loss diet can help you to see the changes that you can make to the way that you eat and live. While you are looking at the different vegetables and fruits which can be used in a vegetarian diet you should look to the best ways of preparing these items.
You will find that planning a vegetarian weight loss diet is not one that will be boring. There are a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, spices and condiments that you can use in your diet to make them more interesting. Also if you are serious about losing weight by going through with a vegetarian weight loss diet then you should see if there is any way that you can reduce or change the way that certain dressings and fillings are made.
You will find there are various types of vegetables and fruits that can be placed on a vegetarian weight loss diet. These different vegetables all contribute to the way that your health and metabolism can change for the better.
While being on a vegetarian diet does mean that you will be eating more green vegetables and leafy greens you don’t have to worry about losing sight of some of your favorite meats. By looking at the various ideas about what is considered as the right quantities of vegetables you can control the way that these foods interact in your meal. This is one of the main aspects that you should look into with a vegetarian weight loss diet.
Your best source of cooking and preparing information can be found in various recipe books. These recipe books can be ones that you find in book stores and also online. From all of these you will be able to look at vegetarian foods from lots of different countries.
You may want to see good, healthy vegetarian weight loss diets which you can get from various countries. With all of this information and that of the nutritional value that you can get from different vegetables you will have the foundations for building good eating habits that can last you through your lifetime.
In your vegetarian weight loss diet you can see about changing various foods that are added to make your meal. For instance you can see how sautéed foods taste with a minimum of oils. The addition of raw and blanched vegetables will provide an interesting contrast to your meals.
By looking at all of these different ways to have good food you maximize your health status. A vegetarian weight loss diet coupled with vigorous exercise will provide you with the energy and new lease on life that you have been craving.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:34 AM ::
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The Effects of Weight Loss On Your Health
Weight loss and health are terms that are definitely intertwined and discussed quite often nowadays. It seems as though every time you turn on the television, there is someone talking about how to live a happy and healthy life, or, how to maintain a proper weight to keep yourself healthy.
True to human nature, after we hear something enough times, we just start to ignore it; the reality is, we should be doing just the opposite. Maintaining a healthy weight is truly vital to keeping yourself in tip-top shape, and not just so you can get in to that little black dress for the holiday parties.
Keeping your weight at a healthy level is a huge step toward the prevention a of a large number of diseases that you don't want to find yourself burdened with. These can include: diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, and cancer, just to name a few.
If you maintain a healthy weight, it can also help you manage diseases that you may already have such as Diabetes, Osteoarthritis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In addition to disease prevention, when you maintain a healthy weight, you will set an excellent example for your children which in turn will make it easier for them to make appropriate choices in the future.
With all the temptation out there though, maintaining that healthy weight and weight loss can be challenging for many people. And really, is there one specific thing that will keep you in perfect shape? The short answer is no; however, moderate exercise and eating right are absolutely vital to any healthy weight loss-maintenance plan.
By instituting even small changes, you will be well on your way. It is amazing what even a short walk after dinner can do for weight loss, not only for the way your body metabolizes the food you just ate, but also for your mood in general.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:02 AM ::
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5 Tips For Weekly Weight Loss
Whether you are following a rapid weight loss diet plan or trying to lose weight slowly, you are facing a life style change that is totally based on how your work week goes. Usually most work weeks are filled with long commutes, long hours and perhaps social outings that seem to deliberately throw us off from our plans.
If you need to loose weight quickly, then you need to be near perfect in executing your weight loss plan. Here are five tips you help you be most effective in losing weight. These should be part of your weekly routine.
Create your weekly menu
On a rapid weight loss diet plan, your success or failure is solely based on what you eat and what you don't eat. So, you should create a menu. The menu should serve as a guide to every meal you will eat during the week.
I suggest you buy a spiral note book or composition book and date the menus you create. This way you can take notes and review past menus. Keep the menu with you during the week and mark down if you ate what you planned. Also make notes of when you cheated.
Create your shopping list and go shopping
After you create your menu, you need to look at the meals you have planned and make a shopping list. Your shopping list should be very simple with only the items that support your menu.
Identify Possible Cheat Days for the upcoming week
No matter how hard you try to lose weight you will always be in a situation where you may be tempted to over eat. This includes social outings with co-workers or friends. Identifying these days will help you over come them.
Prepare your meals ahead of time.
Preparing your meals ahead of time provides the following: you are making a commitment to eat that meal and you are ensuring yourself you are going to eat a meal that is helping you reach your weight loss goals.
Review your week
Always review the week to see how successful you where with your weekly menu. You'll be able to see what you worked and didn't work. Simply, take a look at your menu and then review the meals you ate. If you took good notes, then you'll be able to use the review process as a learning experience to fine tune your rapid weight loss diet.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:30 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
Strawberry Pie
2 egg whites, at room temperature
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup superfine sugar
2 tsp. lemon juice
2 Tbs. potato starch
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. water
4 cups fresh strawberries
1 Tbs. margarine
3/4 cup sugar
Preheat oven to 250°F. Beat egg whites and salt with an electric mixer until foamy. Slowly add sugar one tablespoon at a time while beating on high speed. Add 1 tsp. lemon juice and beat until very stiff and glossy. Spread meringue into a lightly greased 9 inch pie shell and bake 1 hour. Cool. While pie shell is cooling, combine potato starch, 2 Tbs. water and 1 tsp. lemon juice in a bowl. Stir until potato starch is dissolved. Place 1 cup strawberries and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add potato starch mixture, margarine and 3/4 cup sugar. Stir until mixture is thick and clear. Place remaining berries into baked, cooled meringue shell and pour glaze over. Refrigerate until set.
This recipe serves 8 people. Per serving: calories 167, fat 1.4g, 7% calories from fat, cholesterol 0mg, protein 1.6g, carbohydrates 38.8g, fiber 2.0g, sodium 67mg.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:05 AM ::
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Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Yo-Yo Effects After Cutting Carbs
It's not unusual for someone to experience a yo-yo effect following a low-carb diet. The body loses water, muscle and fat during weight loss, especially on a low-carb diet. A very low-carb diet is not recommended for the long haul. A modest low-carb diet, such as the diet followed by many diabetics, is more healthful, cuts carbs to a reasonable level and focuses on carbs that are high in fiber.
Increase carbs after following a low-carb diet gradually. Focus on adding low glycemic, high-fiber carbs, such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread and pasta, beans and legumes, sweet potatoes and vegetables.
Eating more vegetables and fruit means you can eat more food and lose weight. Because vegetables and fruit have a high water content, the calorie level is lower. You can eat more, yet take in fewer calories, and feel more full.
In addition, examine your total calorie intake each day. About how many calories are you consuming per day? Are you cutting them too low so that your body is actually in starvation mode? Or consuming too many calories, so that even with exercise, the weight doesn't come off?
Here's a very simple tool that anyone can use to calculate your calorie goal:
Your current weight multiplied by 12 equals calories needed to maintain your current weight.
To lose 1 pound per week, cut 500 calories per day.
To lose 2 pounds per week, cut 1,000 calories per day or cut 500 or so and burn the rest through exercise.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:46 AM ::
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How Fad Diets Can Hurt You
There is no question that obesity leads to death from diabetes, heart disease, strokes, cancer, osteoarthritis and physical injuries from the very fact that a fat person has more trouble getting around than a skinny or normally thin person does.
Obesity has indeed reached epidemic proportions. Americans are growing larger according to a simple index which measures actual weight versus percentage of body fat. Scientists use a Body Mass Index, or BMI, to take lean body as well as fat body mass into account. A BMI of 25 or more is considered overweight and one of 30 or more reflects obesity. Having a BMI of 40 or greater is equivalent to having approximately 100 extra pounds of fat. Are you that overweight, or headed there? If so, it’s time to make that serious commitment to either stop getting larger and to actually lose some of that body fat. Not overnight, but slowly.
Why slowly? It has been shown time and time again that going on a “fad” diet, or looking for “overnight success” is like weekend warrior syndrome. There is a tendency for trying too hard too fast to either put excess weight on you, causing you to lose lean body fat and other needed body tissues, and/or leading you right back to the major health problems you are trying to avoid. So you don’t want to use any quickie methods at all. Not unless what you’re really planning on doing is giving up.
There is no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to obesity. You’re only handing out money to people to pretend to fix your problem, when there are real solutions that can be found through proper diet and exercise, namely maintenance programs that involve a gradual loss of weight combined with a gentle and building exercise program that will cause you to become thinner and more healthy through slow, scientifically researched and progressively easier exercise. You don’t need to show off - you need to win the battle of the bulge!
Fad dieting results in the "yo-yo" syndrome. When patients have gained their weight back, doctors have seen that they gained it as fat, and not muscle. The best plan to follow is one that targets the change in body composition and preferentially enhances the lost of body fat rather than muscle mass. To some, this means low-carbohydrate diets, but unfortunately there is a tendency to start to treat carbs as something evil and think that you must avoid them at all cost. This is similar to the idea that fat in foods is evil and must be avoided at all costs. Neither case is true at all. Either way, you need to take the weight off in a way that makes you feel comfortable and in a way that will help you keep it off for good.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:17 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
Fresh Vegetable Crisp
Open-face quesadilla filled with savory cream cheese and piled high with crisp-tender vegetables
Cooking Method: Bake
Prep Time: 20
Cooking Time: Up to 10 minutes
Makes: 6 servings (1/6 crisp each)
Ingredients
2 flour tortillas (8 inch)
Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 package (3 ounces) fat-free cream cheese, softened
6 tablespoons shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 quart (4 cups) water
1 cup small broccoli florets
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
3 red bell pepper rings
Directions
Preheat medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Lightly spray both sides of 1 of the tortillas with cooking spray. Place in skillet; cook 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned on both sides. Remove from skillet. Repeat with remaining tortilla.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine cream cheese, 2 tablespoons Cheddar cheese, basil and garlic powder. Spread mixture evenly over one of the tortillas; top with remaining tortilla. Place on baking sheet; set aside.
Pour water into medium saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat . Add broccoli; cook 1 minute, or until color brightens. Remove broccoli with slotted spoon; plunge immediately into ice water. Drain.
Top tortillas with broccoli, mushrooms and bell peppers; sprinkle evenly with remaining 4 tablespoons Cheddar cheese.
Bake 8 minutes, or until cheese is melted and vegetables are crisp-tender. Cut into 6 wedges to serve.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:44 AM ::
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Monday, October 8, 2007
10 Tips For Healthy Eating
1. Invest nonstick cookware.
This will enable you to prepare foods with little or no added fat. And always keep a can of cooking spray handy—it enhances the effectiveness of nonstick pans, and the butter and olive-oil varieties add flavor but not fat.
2. Use low-fat cooking methods.
Prepare meat, poultry and fish using low-fat cooking techniques such as broiling, grilling and stir-frying. And remember that both fresh and frozen vegetables taste great either steamed or cooked in a microwave oven.
3. Make low-fat marinades.
Marinating meat, poultry and fish in low-fat marinades such as salsa, teriyaki sauce, orange juice or Dijon mustard is an easy, healthy way to add tons of flavor.
4. Substitute herbs for oil.
Fresh or dried herbs are excellent stand-ins for butter or oil; their addition only adds flavor to your recipes. Try adding dill to steamed carrots, saffron to brown rice, cilantro to baked fish and ginger to stir-fried chicken.
5. Remove the skin.
Remove skin from chicken, turkey and Cornish hens before you eat it. This is a great way to ensure your choice of meat is lean and healthy.
6. Skim the fat.
Skim and discard fat from hot soups, stews or chilies. To make it even easier, chill them first, then skim off the solid fat that forms on top.
7. Trim the fat.
For most recipes, you can trim the amount of fat called for by 25 to 50 percent without affecting taste or quality. For example, substituting fat-free milk for whole milk in mashed potatoes still makes for creamy comfort food. You'd be surprised how delicious soups can be without cream, or how good your vegetable casserole tastes made with fat-free cheese.
8. Spice up fruit.
Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg instead of sugar to fruit cups or beverages to help increase the sweetness.
9. Add rice and beans.
Replace one quarter to one half of the ground meat or poultry in a casserole with cooked brown rice, or cooked and chopped dried beans. You'll cut back on fat and boost fiber.
10. Use a 'thinner' thickener.
Instead of flour, cornstarch or cream, try thickening sauces, gravy and stews with pureed potatoes.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
8:20 AM ::
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Stress Relievers That Will Help With Overall Wellness
With vacation season all but over and the holidays still a few months away, you might need some workday stress-relief ideas to stay balanced and focused.
Everyone needs to develop methods for invoking the relaxation response. Relaxation lowers blood pressure, respiration, and pulse rates, releases muscle tension, and eases emotional strains. This response is highly individualized, but there are certain approaches that seem to work.
It sounds simple, but it works: Take a few minutes to simply relax. Find an unoccupied room, sit down, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Let your breathing become rhythmic. One single session of meditation could change the way your body responds to stress by making you naturally calmer, and the effects can last throughout the day.
Driving to and from work presents a perfect opportunity to attack stress: by listening to music. Sound can have transforming effects on the mind and emotions and helps your mind protect itself from stress hormones. When the rhythm of music is slowed, it helps calm the body. Play soft and slow music to feel calm on your commute.
Laughter has been shown to significantly reduce stress by releasing pain-killing endorphins that make you feel happier and less stressed. Try to find the humor in various situations throughout the day or find a funny coworker and stop by his or her office a few times a day to share laughs.
Studies have found that people who exercise regularly are less stressed and happier. So take a quick walk on your lunch break or stretch your legs at your desk—the movement of your body will decrease stress levels. An extra bonus? Exercise could dull the harmful effects of stress on your blood pressure and heart.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
7:42 AM ::
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Exercising For Your Cold or Flu??
Cold and flu season is coming; it's time to stock up on hand sanitizer, healthy foods, and… workout gear? Yes! Studies have shown that moderate exercise can reduce your risk of getting sick. So lace up those athletic shoes, but use caution: Exercising too much could cause you to become run-down and more susceptible to illness. Your best bet is to strike a healthy balance. Here's how.
Most experts say a half-hour of physical activity on a regular basis is enough to make a difference in your overall health. The general consensus is that 30 minutes, three or four times a week, is generally considered to have positive effects. Aerobic exercises—such as cycling, jogging, and brisk walking—are some of the best ways to boost the body's defenses against viruses and bacteria. That's because they cause the heart to pump antibodies and white blood cells more quickly through the body, they help flush out waste, and they speed up your breathing, which transfers more oxygen into your blood. All of these are thought to help your body make more natural bug-killing cells. Plus, exercise slows down the release of stress-related hormones, which can help to fortify your immune system.
If a cold or flu bug does catch up with you, it doesn't necessarily have to interrupt your fitness routine. Experts say a good rule of thumb is that if your symptoms are contained above the neck—such as runny nose, headache, or sore throat—then you usually can continue to exercise safely. Just go easy and let up if you become overly tired.
If your symptoms are below the neck, such as coughing—which indicates a lung issue—diarrhea, or vomiting, you should refrain from exercising. Also take a break if you're experiencing fever, body aches, or chills. Give yourself three days to a week of rest before starting up again, and ease back into your routine with shorter, less strenuous workout sessions.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
7:09 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
Jambalaya
This jambalaya may have been a few places since the bayou, but it's a thick, rich dish that everyone will love! You can experiment with many types of seafood in this recipe, but the flavor and consistency of snapper works the best. Serve with French bread and hot red pepper sauce for an overall fantastic taste.
Serves 8 servings
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 90 minutes
Total time: 115 minutes
Calories: 305.05
Calories from Fat: N/A
Total Fat: 6.79 g
Saturated Fat: N/A
Cholesterol: N/A
Sodium: N/A
Total Carbohydrate: 43.45 g
Dietary Fiber: N/A
Sugars: N/A
Protein: 17.53 g
Vitamin A: N/A
Vitamin C: N/A
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons file powder
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 green onions, chopped
2 large sweet onions, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
3 large tomatoes, peeled and chopped
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
0.25 teaspoon ground allspice
0.25 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
2 cups mushroom broth
1.5 cups uncooked brown rice
1 pound red snapper fillets, cut into 2 inch pieces
Directions
1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Mix in flour, and whisk constantly 2 to 3 minutes, until a thick paste-like roux has formed.
2. Stir file powder, garlic, green onions, onions and green bell pepper into the roux. Cook and stir until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir tomatoes into the mixture. Season mixture with black pepper, cayenne pepper, allspice, cloves, salt and bay leaf. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is well blended, 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Pour in mushroom broth, and mix in rice. Increase amount of broth to cover all ingredients, if necessary. Bring to a boil, and mix in snapper. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour, or until rice is tender.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:37 AM ::
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Friday, October 5, 2007
What Is Your Ideal Weight?
I believe there is no such thing as an "ideal weight." I think our weight and shape are intensely personal issues, that we should decide for ourselves, using common sense and personal choice.
Common sense dictates that we should try to maintain our weight within a healthy range, and avoid the discomfort and potential health risks of being overweight or obese. After all, if our weight prevents us from playing with our children, or keeping active, or if it causes us low self-esteem, it's not ideal. However, the human race is multi-cultural. So conventional Western ideas of what constitutes a healthy weight (based on body mass index) may not apply to all races and cultures.
Once you are inside the healthy weight range, it's a matter of personal choice as to what is an ideal weight for you. If you prefer an ultra-lean, toned shape, go for it! Watch your calories, go to the gym, work your abs and glutes, and enjoy reducing your body fat percentage to an absolute minimum. However, if you don't have any interest in sculpting the "perfect" shape for yourself, and are happy to be in the upper healthy weight range for your height, then that's fine too.
The most important thing is to find a weight that makes you happy. So ignore the absurd thin shapes in women's glossy magazines - models average only about 75 percent of a 'normal' person's weight - ignore what your mother-in-law says about the body shape you 'ought to have', and choose the weight level that makes you feel good. In other words, have confidence in your ability to decide on the best weight.
Be tolerant of others and allow them to decide on an ideal weight for themselves. For example, if you have children or younger sisters, don't inflict your ideas of what constitutes an ideal weight, on them. I know many children who have grown into obese adults because of pressure in their teens from a thin mom. Similarly, if your best friend (who is the same weight as yourself) decides to lose weight, don't feel threatened or resentful.
In the real world, not everyone can be an ideal weight. Difficult pregnancies, stress, worry about family and jobs, plus a million other things often prevent us from maintaining a normal - let alone an ideal - weight. In such cases, the best approach is not to worry - worrying simply makes us gain even more weight. Instead, focus on the things you can achieve and enjoy the ride!
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
8:23 AM ::
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What To Choose When You Eat Out
For most of us, our calories and fat grams are mostly eaten when we eat out. Here are some of the best choices when you go out to eat.
What to choose at Restaurants that serve International Foods:
Chinese: Choose wanton or hot & sour soup, boiled, broiled, steamed, or lightly stir-fried entrees; dishes with steamed rice, water chestnuts, Chinese vegetables, broccoli instead of egg drop soup, fried entrees, fried rice and eggs rolls.
French: Choose steamed mussels, mixed green salads with vinaigrette dressings, French bread, bordelaise or wine based sauces instead of croissants, pate, hollandaise, mornay, béchamel or béarnaise sauces and creme caramel.
Indian: Choose papadum or papad (lentil wafers), curries with a vegetable or lentil (dal) base, shish kabob, tandoori chicken or fish, steamed vegetarian fare instead of fried and stuffed vegetable turnovers, curries made with coconut milk, and deep fried foods.
Mexican: Choose grilled fish or chicken breasts, ceviche, pico de gallo, jalapeno peppers, chicken fajitas, chicken or vegetable enchiladas with red sauce or salsa instead of nachos, carnitas or chorizo, sour cream, cheese, guacamole, quesadillas, flautas, chimichangas or beef burritos and flan.
Italian: Choose pasta primavera with red clam sauce, marinara sauce, Italian ices, roasted peppers or minestrone soup instead of fried calamari, tortellini, ravioli or lasagna, alfredo and pesto sauces and gelato.
Japanese: Choose fish or vegetable sushi, steamed vegetables, tofu dishes and broiled chicken instead of deep fried pork dishes, shrimp or vegetable tempuras.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
7:50 AM ::
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If you want to lose weight, start by feeding your brain.
Achieving high energy, mental alertness and an optimistic outlook is the best way to gain control over your eating. A diet that makes you feel naturally high also raises your fat-burning metabolism. It also contributes to high self-esteem as you begin to feel and eat better!
Statistics show that most of us are exhausted, stressed and depressed. To combat this, we turn to a variety of boosters to get us through the day (and night). We gobble a muffin with coffee in the morning to get a rush, sip a soda or have a cookie to overcome the afternoon slump and wind down at night with a cocktail. This often adds up to excess calories, weight gain and feelings of hopelessness.
What we are unknowingly doing is attempting to regulate our moods and energy with substances that work only in the short term - but lead to caffeine lag, blood sugar drops, tiredness and an unhealthy cycle of bad foods.
Here is a highly effective weight-loss diet the experts recommend:
Eat a serving of high-quality protein three times a day. Higher quality protein is better absorbed and more efficiently utilized, so you will need to eat less of it. Adequate protein promotes good moods. However, too much protein encourages fat storage, so use moderation. Good examples of high-quality protein foods are seafood, poultry, lean red meat, soy, low-fat yogurt, rice with beans and rice with lentils.
Eat cold-water fish three times a week. This is one of the best sources of omega-3, an essential fatty acid crucial to optimal brain function. Omega-3s are found in salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines and cod.
Eat two eggs a week, or sprinkle lecithin granules on your cereal, salads or vegetables. These are the best sources of phospholipids, which help you metabolize fat and enhance your mood and mental performance.
Eat one serving of low-Glycemic Index (low-GI) complex carbohydrates at every meal. Complex carbohydrates are long chains of sugar molecules strung together that are digested slowly and help prevent fluctuations in blood sugar levels that can cause depression as well as cravings for sugar and alcohol. Complex carbohydrates also help raise serotonin levels, which calm you down and lift your mood. Good examples of low-GI foods are whole grains, bran, beans, apples, cherries, dried apricots, plums and pears.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
7:17 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
Turkey Wrap
Servings: 4
• 1/2 red onion, sliced very thin
• 1/3 cup fat-free mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chipped chipotle peppers, in adobo, include some sauce
• 4 - 8 inch low fat flour tortillas
• 1/2 pound shredded or sliced roast turkey or chicken
• 3/4 cup shredded romaine lettuce
Blend chipotles and mayonnaise in blender until smooth.
Warm tortillas between plastic wrap in microwave for 30 to 40 seconds on high.
Spread 1 tablespoon chile mayonnaise mixture on each warm tortilla. Place one fourth of the turkey, onion and lettuce across the middle of each tortilla, season with salt and pepper to taste and roll up.
If you prefer cilantro to chipotle peppers, you can substitute 1 1/2 tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro for the pepper.
Per Serving: 333 Calories
6g Fat (16.5% calories from fat)
20g Protein
50g Carbohydrate
3g Dietary Fiber
23mg Cholesterol
1686mg Sodium
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:59 AM ::
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Thursday, October 4, 2007
Goals You Need Other Than Weight Loss
Knowing the best type of weight loss goals to aim for is crucial in maintaining your motivation to reduce weight. It's great to step on your bathroom scales and discover you've lost weight, but weight reduction isn't the only target to aim for. The most successful dieters are those people who have a variety of different goals.
For example, "take regular exercise" is a great objective, but it's not specific enough. Better is "Walk four miles every day." Then again, this may not be realistic if you are unfit or if you can't gauge distance. In such cases "walk for 30 minutes every day" is more realistic. But if your work schedule or the weather is too erratic to permit a daily walk, be more forgiving and aim for "30 minutes of walking for 5 days a week". This is specific, realistic and allows you two days off.
Before you start a weight loss program, take a few body-measurements. Measure your bust, waist, hips, thighs and upper arms. Keep a note and re-check your measurements every couple of weeks. Being able to see improvements in body shape, as well as weight, can be a useful extra boost if weight loss slows. Olympic athletes are among the world's most motivated people. They typically measure their progress in incremental stages, rather than big leaps. Apply this principle to your weight reduction campaign.
You don't have to start a totally new calorie-plan overnight. You can start by eating 2000 calories, then lower this by 100 calories a week until you reach 1400 calories. Keeping a food journal, in which you record foods/drink consumed, is a great way to monitor (and be inspired by) progress.
Investing in a pedometer (step-counter) and counting steps is a great way to improve your fitness level, especially if you are very overweight. Aim to walk a certain number of steps per day, (eg. 8-10,000 steps) then increase this number gradually. If you are fitter, you might aim to use a treadmill for 30 minutes at (say) a speed of 5 mph, on an incline of 1 percent. Then increase the speed and incline gradually. Keeping an exercise journal is a great way to monitor progress.
Despite what you may think, losing 2 pounds of weight in one week is a significant achievement. Impatient or unrealistic dieters typically feel very deflated when they only lose 2 pounds, but these people are unlikely ever to achieve long term weight loss. The truth is, 2 pounds is a significant reduction, and should be your maximum weekly goal. For many people, 1.5 pounds is more realistic. Remember, the slower the weight loss, the less chance of weight regain.
Give yourself regular small rewards for achieving your diet, exercise and weight loss goals. Earning several small rewards is typically more motivating than earning one big reward which might require more effort.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
10:01 AM ::
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How Fast Can You Really Lose Weight?
When we lose weight we don't just lose fat. We lose a combination of body fat, and muscle tissue. For example, studies show that when we diet, the weight we lose is on average 75 percent fat and 25 percent muscle. Furthermore, a relatively high percentage of this weight loss is likely to be water loss. Remember, water accounts for about 70 percent of the total body weight of an average person, with muscle tissue containing roughly 75 percent water (plus 20 percent protein and 5 percent minerals), and body fat containing roughly 50 percent water.
The human body does not lose weight at a regular or uniform speed. Different people reduce weight at different speeds. This is because weight reduction is dependent on various factors, including: weight, diet and lifestyle, level of physical activity, health and genes (inc. metabolic rate), the level of stress experienced.
As you can see, not only does weight loss include other things besides fat-tissue, the actual speed of weight reduction is determined by a variety of individual factors. So it's difficult, if not impossible, to give a precise answer to the question "how fast can I lose weight?" However, as a rough guide, here are some basic guidelines for maximum weight loss.
It is possible to lose anything up to about 20 pounds of weight per week, but most of this is likely to be water. It will therefore be regained as soon as normal eating resumes. The maximum amount of body fat a healthy person can lose is about 3-4 pounds per week. Typically, only obese people are likely to be able to lose this amount of fat. By comparison, a woman of average weight (about 140 pounds) is likely to lose a maximum of about 1-1.5 pounds per week.
The human body is not designed to shed weight. It is designed to survive! Our basic body chemistry endures from prehistoric times, when famine, rather than obesity, was the biggest threat. This is why it won't lose excessive amounts of fat in a short period of time. In fact, if you drastically reduce your calorie-intake, your brain takes active steps to slow down your metabolism, in order to conserve calories. This is one reason why we encounter a weight loss plateau.
Too rapid weight loss (such as after gastric bypass) can lead to unpleasant side effects. If you reduce weight too quickly, your skin does not have time to shrink to your leaner body shape. The only effective treatment for this is surgical intervention, such as a tummy tuck. It is much safer and better for you if you lose weight slowly but consistently.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
9:37 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
Pan Sauce Chicken
Brown lightly seasoned chicken breasts, then make a simple pan sauce with white wine, chicken broth and herbs. Simmer all together and you have Pan Sauce Chicken!
Serves 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Calories: 199.64
Calories from Fat: N/A
Total Fat: 2.12 g
Saturated Fat: N/A
Cholesterol: N/A
Sodium: N/A
Total Carbohydrate: 6.38 g
Dietary Fiber: N/A
Sugars: N/A
Protein: 28.60 g
Vitamin A: N/A
Vitamin C: N/A
Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
0.5 teaspoon seasoning salt
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons water
1 cup white wine
1 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons chopped Italian herbs
Directions
1. Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper and seasoning salt. In a small bowl, combine flour and water and mix until no lumps remain and the mixture is completely smooth.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add chicken and brown for 3 to 4 minutes each side. Remove chicken to a plate or platter.
3. Deglaze skillet with wine and broth and bring to simmer over medium low heat. When simmering, add herbs; whisk in flour mixture. Return to simmer, reduce heat to low and return chicken to skillet with juices.
4. Cover skillet and simmer gently for 20 to 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through (no longer pink inside), turning frequently.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
8:21 AM ::
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Wednesday, October 3, 2007
The Link Between Obesity and Breast Cancer
There is a growing connection between breast cancer and obesity - especially abdominal and upper-body obesity. For example, almost half of all breast cancer cases occur in obese women. Also, cancerous breast tumors are notoriously hard to find in young women with more than 15-20 percent excess body fat. Exactly how severe overweight leads to breast cancers is not yet known. The link between body mass index and breast cancer is mostly statistical. We can see it, but we don't understand exactly why it exists.
A possible explanation for the association between obesity and breast cancer is that obese women store xenestrogens in their extra fat cells. Xenestrogens are harmful estrogen-like compounds resulting from environmental pollution.
Because of the link between obesity and breast cancer, it is important for all women to maintain control over their weight, especially as they enter menopause. Cancer Research in the United Kingdom say that post-menopausal women who are overweight have higher levels of estrogen and testosterone and this may double the risks of breast cancer. They urge post-menopausal women to consider losing weight.
A recently published finding from the Nurses' Health Study in Boston found that post-menopausal women just 44 pounds overweight double their risk of breast cancer. Further, "There seems to be even a stronger association with greater degrees of obesity," according to Harvard University endocrinologist JoAnn Manson, M.D., one of the heads of the study.
Other studies have found similar results. The probable explanation is that after menopause fat becomes the primary source of estrogen in a woman's body swamping outside sources of estrogen (like DDT) that environmentalists have tried to link to the disease.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
9:35 AM ::
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Visualizing Your New Slim Body
According to many psycho-babble weight loss experts, we find it easier to lose weight when we can 'see' it, or visualize it.
Actually, it is true! Losing weight is definitely easier when you have a clear view of how you look when you have achieved your long term weight loss goal.
1. Close your eyes. Forget about your fat thighs, your excess weight, and your overweight body.
2. Try to imagine how you are going to feel when you reach your perfect weight and shape.
Imagine looking in the mirror and seeing a really shapely figure.
Imagine other people admiring your slim thighs.
Imagine walking around in a pair of skimpy jeans and sneakers.
Imagine your partner slipping his arms around your slim waist
on the dance floor.
Imagine joining an aerobics class and exercising to music while showing off your slim figure. And so on...
3. Visualize your new SLIM self in as much detail as possible.
See it
Feel it
Taste it
4. Repeat this exercise each day, until you can really SEE your weight loss and really SEE these new situations.
Your mind is a very powerful instrument. By visualizing yourself as a new slim person who does not have a weight problem, you will make this dream seem much more REAL. Result? It becomes easier to achieve and your motivation to lose weight will get stronger.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
8:33 AM ::
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3 Great Exercises For Fab Abs
Machine Hanging Knee Raise (for the lower ab area)
Starting Position:
Grasp a chinning bar with hands shoulder-width apart and palms facing forward. Keep your upper body motionless throughout the exercise.
Movement:
Contracting the abdominal muscles, raise your legs with bent knees while gently rolling your hips under, stopping when you feel a full contraction of the abdominal and can no longer lift your hips. You may get your knees to 90 degrees or higher depending on your strength and flexibility. Slowly return to the starting position.
Key Points:
Exhale while lifting your legs.
Inhale while returning to the starting position.
Cable Kneeling Rope Crunch (for the upper and lower ab area)
Starting Position:
Kneel in front of the cable machine with your body facing the machine. Hold a rope attached to the upper cable attachment. Keep your elbows by the sides of your head.
Movement:
Contracting the abdominals, curl your body downward toward your legs stopping when you have reached a full contraction of your abdominals.
Slowly return to the starting position, stopping just short of the weight stack touching.
Key Points:
Exhale while lifting the weight and curling down.
Inhale while returning to the starting position.
Decline Bench Sit-Ups (for the upper ab area)
Starting Position:
Lie on your back on a decline bench and place your feet under the pads and your hands behind your head.
Movement:
Contracting the abdominals, curl your upper body up until it is at an angle slightly less than 90 degrees to the floor.
Slowly return to the starting position, stopping just short of your head touching the bench to keep the abdominals contracted throughout the set.
Key Points:
Exhale while curling up.
Inhale while returning to the starting position.
To increase the difficulty, cross your arms over your chest.
Point your chin toward the ceiling to avoid using your upper body.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
7:55 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
Buffalo Chicken Fingers
These garlic-and-cayenne-stoked chicken breast morsels are baked instead of fried for a low fat version of Buffalo Wings. These are by far one of my favorite low fat recipes that I think you will enjoy as well!
Serves 8
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Calories: 120.40
Calories from Fat: N/A
Total Fat: 1.36 g
Saturated Fat: N/A
Cholesterol: N/A
Sodium: N/A
Total Carbohydrate: 10.79 g
Dietary Fiber: N/A
Sugars: N/A
Protein: 16.26 g
Vitamin A: N/A
Vitamin C: N/A
Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
0.25 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.75 cup bread crumbs
2 egg whites, beaten
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Coat a baking sheet with a nonstick spray.
2. Cut chicken into finger-sized pieces.
3. In a bag, mix together flour, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. On a plate, mix the bread crumbs with the rest of the garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and salt.
4. Shake the chicken pieces with the seasoned flour. Beat egg whites with 1 tablespoon water, and place egg mixture in a shallow dish or bowl. Dip seasoned chicken in egg mixture, then roll in the seasoned bread crumb mixture. Place on prepared baking sheet
5. Bake for about 8 minutes. Use tongs to turn pieces over. Bake 8 minutes longer, or until chicken is tender.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
7:29 AM ::
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Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Eat More Fruit!
When it comes to snack choices, it's hard to beat a good melon. Each one-cup serving not only helps meet your five-a-day fruit and vegetable serving quota, their high water content really satisfies.
Try:
Watermelon: At just 46 calories per cup, you'll pack in 21 percent of your daily vitamin C requirements, plus 17 percent of your daily vitamin A.
Honeydew: Just 61 calories per cup provide 51 percent of your daily vitamin C.
Cantaloupe: This super fruit packs in 98 percent of your daily vitamin C and 108 percent of your daily vitamin A into a scant 54 calories
You add this fruit to your breakfast, or your lunch. In fact, you can easily make a great breakfast out of cantaloupe and cottage cheese. Both low in fat, and great in taste, it'll get your day off to a great start!
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:18 AM ::
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Holiday Weight Gain
Keep in mind that cooler temperatures are again on the way and soon, the holidays will be upon us - a whole new Diet Nightmare. Losing weight isn't an easy thing to accomplish in today's world because we have one solid line of Diet Temptation.
Let's take a quick review to discover just how deadly holidays are to the waistline:
New Year's Celebration: Bring on the ham, black-eyed peas, cakes and pies - more pounds to pack onto my once-little thighs.
Valentine's Day: Sweet Cupid's here with boxes of candy - but those extra pounds aren't going to look dandy.
Spring time is now here in full array - my gut's hanging over my belt like a ship's bay.
Easter: The candy-packing-bunny brings many treats - but those added pounds ain't gonna look sweet.
July 4th: Celebrate the day with hot dog wienies and apple pies - more weight to add to my once-little thighs.
Summer Grilling: Drag out the bar-b-que ribs, drag out the grill - those pounds in hiding won't be a thrill.
Labor Day: Off work to celebrate you say? Let's add a few more pounds on today!
Halloween: Scary suits and lots of candy - but my Birthday Suit won't look so dandy.
Thanksgiving: Thank you, God, for the food we're about to eat - Anyone on a diet right now can have a seat.
Christmas: Turkey, stuffing, and buckets of cheer, I'll go on a diet right after New Year's.
Mother's Day, Father's Day and all the other holidays in between -
If anyone mentions dieting, I think that I'll scream.
Keeping all of the above in mind, no wonder we're locked in Weight Gain Hell. Food is everywhere - most of it is extremely unhealthy and most of it, irresistible! And yes, we continue to eat it, regardless of what it costs us.
It never ends and unfortunately, if an overweight individual is unable to get a reign on their still-climbing weight, they are in huge diet trouble.
So what's a wanna-be dieter to do? Put your best effort forward and be determined to lose the unwanted weight before you gain more. And if losing weight makes you want to cry right now, then simply promise yourself that you won't GAIN anymore weight. It's a start, and we all have to start somewhere.
(poem from dietbites.com)
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
6:07 AM ::
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3 Steps To Loving Your Body
The truth is you probably don’t love your body right now. You look in the mirror and see something that you dislike or even despise. You have a thousand observations that are really judgments about just about every single aspect of your body and you can’t imagine changing your perceptions even the slightest. But it doesn't have to be that way forever. To really learn to love your body, even how it is right now, here are some tips:
1. Stop hating your body.
It is almost impossible to change or care for something we hate. If we are going to take better care of our bodies, we need to change our attitudes about them. We have to learn to love them.
Loving your body does not mean that you have to like your body. Many weight-challenged individuals resist this because they think they have to like it before they lose all that nasty weight. But that is not really necessary. Loving your body is different from liking it and anyone can develop the ability to have body love.
Body love means that you have to learn to care for your body, have some compassion for your body, relate to your body as if it was an abused child that showed up on your door step and asked for your help. If you begin to see your body as an object worthy of your love (not like) then the entire process of caring for it will change.
2. Listen to your body.
Most people who are overweight stopped listening to their bodies long ago. We weight-challenged people learned that food would help us manage our unpleasant feelings. Once we discovered this, we stopped listening to our bodies and paid attention only to our emotions.
Every situation we face we look towards food. Then that sadness, loneliness and hurt all combined to force us to eat tons of ice cream and cake and candy bars and anything that would fill that terrible empty space that those feelings cause. Pretty soon we lost awareness of our body’s messages of being full or satisfied and eating became almost always about feeling better. Then we got fatter.
The truth is, your body is actually your friend and can tell you exactly what you need and want to eat and when you are full and satisfied. You don’t have to like your body to listen to it. But if you do listen, you will discover that it will be the best weight-loss friend you ever had.
3. Stop your body-criticizing monologues.
You know exactly what I mean here. I am talking about your constant mental attacks on your body every time you happen to look in a mirror. You would not tolerate that kind of abuse from anyone on this planet. So decide to stop doing it to your own body. It never helps and it usually makes you feel so bad that you want to eat to make yourself feel better.
Ending your body-criticizing monologues will create a space in which you can listen to and care for your body whether you like that body or not. Soon you may even notice that your body thoughts are becoming a bit more compassionate and then you will be on the way to really loving yourself and your body.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:31 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
Hearty Vegetable Soup
A delicious, low-fat soup full of beans, rice, and vegetables. Ideal for folks watching calorie intake, or for those of us trying to eat more vegetables. Not to mention that it is completely vegetarian.
Serves 7
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Calories: 400.18
Calories from Fat: N/A
Total Fat: 2.45 g
Saturated Fat: N/A
Cholesterol: N/A
Sodium: N/A
Total Carbohydrate: 80.88 g
Dietary Fiber: N/A
Sugars: N/A
Protein: 13.64 g
Vitamin A: N/A
Vitamin C: N/A
Ingredients
0.75 cup chopped celery
0.75 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrots
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
3 cups tomato-vegetable juice cocktail
2 cups water
1 leek, chopped
1 potato, peeled and cubed
1 (15 ounce) can peas, drained
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 (15 ounce) cans garbanzo beans, drained
1 cup long-grain white rice
1 tablespoon soy sauce
0.25 teaspoon dried thyme
0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
0.25 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
Directions
1. In a large pot over high heat, combine the celery, onion, carrots, tomatoes, tomato-vegetable juice, water, leek, potato, peas, corn, beans, rice, soy sauce, thyme, ground black pepper, garlic powder and dill weed.
2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:03 AM ::
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Monday, October 1, 2007
The 10 Healthiest Jobs
Is your career healthy? High stress, low physical activity, little motivation and depleted morale levels are signs that your daily work environment is suffering and in need of some serious adjustments. Why don't you take a look at this list of the 10 healthiest jobs? Perhaps you are in need a change of employment!
Given that you spend more than half your weekday waking hours on the job, your work surroundings can have an immense impact on your health. When you are engulfed in an stress day in and day out, it can take a major toll on your emotional and intellectual well-being.
Chances are, your work will suffer and affect your ability to cope and be productive in the workplace. While you may not be able to throw away your computer and put a stair master in its place, you can transform your individual work conditions by making minor modifications.
Workplace stress is one of the biggest problems you cannot afford to ignore. Stress can lead to absenteeism, high health care costs and loss of performance, all of which can impact your company's bottom line. One way to help reduce stress is through breathing exercises. If you're feeling overwhelmed, take a few seconds to breathe deeply through your nose. Do this several times before getting back to work.
If that doesn't work then change your job! Here's a list of the top 10 healthiest jobs, according to Monster.com. The jobs don't include professional athletic sports, but they do include athletics-related careers and jobs that promote a balanced, wholesome workplace environment.
1. Activity Specialist
2. Chiropractor
3. Choreographer
4. Florist
5. Massage Therapist
6. Nutritionist
7. Personal Trainer
8. Professor
9. Running Coach
10. Yoga Instructor
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
5:23 AM ::
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Does Where You Live Make You Fat?
Do you live or work in a neighborhood with sidewalks lined with stores and businesses you can get to on foot? If not, you are more likely to struggle with your weight at least according to what the experts say.
Researchers compared average BMIs of people who lived in different types of areas. The people with the lowest BMIs lived in mixed use, so-called walkable neighborhoods - usually older, urban areas rather than suburbs or rural areas - and relied less on their cars to get around. The walkable neighborhood residents drove just 26 miles a day versus people who lived in less walkable areas and drove an average of 43 miles a day. The result? Their seemingly small steps around town running errands every day added up, burning more calories and keeping them fit in the process.
Unfortunately not all of us can live in such a walkable area such as a metropolitan city. Many of us live in the suburbs, but that doesn't mean you can't get out and walk at a park around your home, or even through the subdivision in which you live. You can get the same results as the urban walkers by squeezing in more steps every chance you can. Park a block or two away from your destination, take the stairs, or go for a stroll after meals, for example. It doesn't matter why you walk, or where you walk, as long as you actually walk!
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
4:45 AM ::
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Recipe of The Day
Easy Bean Salad
An easy, delicious, cold bean salad that is big hit at barbeque's and football parties! Use any 3-bean combination. Red beans are also really nice in this salad!
Serves 12
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
Calories: 120.51
Calories from Fat: N/A
Total Fat: 0.86 g
Saturated Fat: N/A
Cholesterol: N/A
Sodium: N/A
Total Carbohydrate: 22.82 g
Dietary Fiber: N/A
Sugars: N/A
Protein: 5.38 g
Vitamin A: N/A
Vitamin C: N/A
Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
0.75 cup salsa
0.25 cup fat free French dressing
0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
Directions
1. In a large bowl, toss together the black beans, garbanzo beans, cannellini beans, water chestnuts, salsa, and dressing. Season with garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Cover, and chill until serving.
Posted by HoodiaPharm HungerAway ::
4:31 AM ::
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