Fitness. All about fitness » diet

Why People Are Wanting Vitamins Supplements? Discover Here

Sat, 04 Dec 2010 23:27:00 +0000

For many vitamin and herbal products, vitamin supplement ratings seem to indicate that consumers are becoming more and more concerned with their health, and increasingly keen to protect themselves against health problems. Many people now combine supplement and vitamin intake with a healthy diet to promote a more natural way of protecting their health and enhancing the body’s ability to treat illness. In today’s very fast paced world we do not ingest a appropriate diet all of the time. Whenever you conduce a engaged life and do not get adequate vitamins for your body to operate decently then you should be counterbalancing with natural vitamin supplements. Neverthless, a efficient diet based on foods with richly concentration of vitamins is always a better solution than supplements. But once a diet is not sufficient, dietary supplement vitamin can be the answer. Nutrient content claims for dietetical supplement vitamin describe the level of some type of vitamin or vitamins in that supplement. For example, according to a lot of health organizations, a dietetical supplement vitamin with at least 12 milligrams per serving of vitamin C could have the following expressed on its label: “Superb source of vitamin C.” Vitamins diet supplements are supposed to improve your physical well being by making sure you get your recommended amounts of vitamins, or even more than what is needed Whenever you are sure that you are not acquiring decent vitamins to provide what your body needs, then you should accept a vitamin supplement.Finding a vitamin supplement that can help you attain optimal health may be less laborious than you consider. There are a lot of vitamin supplements from which to decide. In order to come up with the correct vitamin product, you need to interpret labels and compare products. Vitamin supplements are accesible in a number of different forms, including capsules, tablets, liquids, and even chewable tablets. In addition, there is a big variety in the brands and the real content of the vitamin supplements.Do some research and find out what these vitamin supplements carries. Pay attention to dosages, ingredients, safety precautions, and other significant info.Purchase the right supplement for you, and when in doubt, consult a physician or your health professional before taking any vitamin supplements.

Tips and Strategies for Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits in Your Family

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 02:38:00 +0000

Most of us have a pretty good idea of what healthy eating is: lots of fruits and vegetables and not too much fat and sugar. But when it comes to kids, knowing what is healthy is only the start. And even if you shop ‘healthy’ it does not mean that your kid will willingly eat it. There is hope. Kids need some extra encouragement and guidance along with a few of these strategies your kid is sure to eat healthy. Be a gatekeeper. It’s likely that the easiest way to get your kids to eat healthy is to remove the less-healthy options. Take control over what food and snack choices are in your home. If a kid is hungry they will eat it when there isn’t an alternative. Have you ever heard of a kid starving to death because his parents would not feed him potato chips? Keep healthy food in sight. As for those less-than-good-for-you foods, keep them in high cabinets and out of your kid’s reach. Arrange your refrigerator and cabinets so that healthy foods are the first foods that you see. If you choose to have some unhealthy options in the house keep them out of sight and you and your kids will be much less likely to choose them as an option. Make healthy food convenient. Wholesome foods, particularly fruits and vegetables require little preparation which is great for your ‘starving’ kid and you. Have a fruit basket at eye level on the counter at all times or have a container with carrots and celery sticks ready to go in the refrigerator. You might be surprised at how many more fruits and vegetables your kid will eat simply by having them visible and easy to grab. Make learning about food fun. Taking some of the mystery out of where foods come from can work wonders for some selective eaters. Prepare family meals together, have your kid mix the ingredients and serve the food to the rest of the family. Plant a vegetable garden as a family project and put your kid in charge of watering and picking the ripe vegetables. Kids that are involved are more likely to be a willing participant in the eating process. Keep an eye on Portion sizes. Parents often stress over how much their kids should be eating. Whether you are trying to get a selective eater to take a bite of anything green or limit the amount of dessert your sweet-toothed kid wants watching portions is necessary. Knowing the size of a healthy portion will give you some needed perspective. You can use the USDA’s Guidelines for Healthy Eating to learn about what a healthy portion is. Set a healthy example. Keep in mind that eating meals together isn’t just a great way to catch up on your family’s day it is also the perfect time to role-model healthy eating habits. Kids learn by watching their parents…That’s food for thought!

Why Success May Be Killing You — And What To Do About It

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 23:20:00 +0000

You have probably worked long hours and many years to get where you are professionally. It took hard work and real dedication to achieve the success you enjoy now. Reaching professional goals is something to be proud of, but few stop to consider the physical tradeoffs this success often requires. Few people stop during their climb up the corporate ladder to consider what their daily lifestyle may be doing to their health. Often, achieving success means spending day after day at a desk or standing behind a counter. Americans don’t get nearly enough exercise, and with that comes health risks. Those risks include osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and a number of other related health problems. It is critically important to get proper exercise on a regular basis. Without it, you will almost certainly have pains and mobility problems down the road. But the right exercise regimen not only can decrease the risk of serious health issues, it can also help you achieve even greater goals, both personally and professionally. Many don’t realize that half-hearted trips to the gym several times a week simply won’t cut it when you’re trying to improve long-term health. A lot of people who work out regularly may not be getting the kind of exercise that prevents health problems and allows them to enjoy a full, active life. The problem with most workouts is they focus on strengthening specific muscles or areas of the body and are very time consuming. That’s great if you’re a bodybuilder, but that’s not how our bodies normally work. While this offers physical improvement in the form of tighter muscles and reduced fat, it fails to provide the bending, twisting and abrupt stops that are important to a truly effective exercise routine. These kinds of motions are common in everyday life, like bending over to pick up your keys. Failing to work them into an exercise routine means the body will never be trained for common movements, which naturally grow more difficult for us as our bodies age. So, while thousands of individuals make monthly payments on expensive exercise equipment and gym memberships that promises to make them look better, they are neglecting the type of movement that extends health benefits down the line. In the U.S., people 35 to 54 years old account for more than one million sports-related injuries each year. While that number sounds imposing, it is completely within our power to change the statistic. So how can we lessen our own risks? The solution is to combine exercise with common movements. Use exercises that approximate the kind of speed and movement you use in sports or other active tasks. Movements like lunges, squats and jumps all build muscle, improve balance and when performed quickly and repetitively, can provide an effective cardiovascular challenge. The best part about this effective workout is that it doesn’t require expensive equipment or a lot of time to pull it off. Getting back to basics with exercise balls, medicine balls and resistance bands is all you need to help prevent injury, as well as tone and shape your body into a stronger, healthier physique.

Why Do We Gain Weight?

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 08:10:00 +0000

There are many factors that cause us to increase body weight, yet three stand out from the rest. Our genetic make up: Every cell in our body has a central control panel, that is a nucleus that contains our genes and chromosomes. This is the instruction manual for your body and this is inherited from your parents. It is this instruction manual that is largely responsible for how your body, and even your mind, behaves. The environment in which we live: Our personal environment may also contribute or cue you to adopt poor eating or exercise habits. This is especially true in today’s society, which is dominated by speed and convenience. For example, escalators, elevators and remote-control appliances make us less physically active. Also, greater availability and the constant marketing of foods that are high in calories, fat and added sugars, and larger portion sizes promote unhealthy eating behaviors. There may also be personal reasons why you are consuming too many kilojoules from food and drinks, or not being physically active enough. For example, when feeling down or bored you may eat more than you need, or if you are feeling depressed it is more difficult to get active. Knowing the reason why you may be consuming excess kilojoules or not participating in physical activity, is an important first step in changing your lifestyle habits to help you reach a healthy weight. Our lifestyle: What we eat and drink and how active we are. This is the gradual gain in weight as a result of eating food and not exercising enough. The extent to which we can affect our genetic make up and our environment are limited. However, lifestyle is the area in which we can significantly manage and if need be, improve our body weight to ensure we maintain a healthy weight for our height, age and gender. This is why learning a healthy nutritious eating pattern and adopting it for life, that is, lifestyle changes has a significant impact on our ability to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Gaining and losing weight works according to some a simple biological principle. When you consume more energy in the form of food and drinks that your body uses each day you will gain weight. When you consume less energy in the form of food and drinks that your body requires each day you will lose weight. Despite what some advertisers would have use believe, weight loss does not occur as a result of any of the following: * Supplements that will melt the fat while you sleep or while you wash * Exercises that don’t take any effort and cause no sweat * Unique food combinations that will allow you to eat what you want and still lose weight In order to lose weight you will need to know approximately your Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR). Your RMR is the number of calories your body burns at rest in a 24 hour period. When your body gets about 500 less calories than it needs each day as a result of eating less or exercising more, you will lose one pound of weight per week. To illustrate how efficient the human body is in motion, the average female would need to go for a brisk walk for 1.5 to 2.0 hours in order to burn 500 calories. When you consume 500 calories a day more than your body’s requirements, you will gain approximately one pound a week! To illustrate how easy it is to gain weight, one 7oz bag of corn chips has approximately 1000 calories. If you ate a bag of corn chips every day in addition to three square meals its possible you could gain 2 pounds in a week!

Tips For Losing Weight The Healthy Way

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 05:27:00 +0000

With obesity on the rise in the United States and other countries across the globe people are constantly on the lookout for diet pills or other quick ways to lose weight quickly with minimal effort. While some of these products may work over the long term they usually aren’t safe or effective at keeping the weight off. Managing your weight is really just a matter of eating a healthy balanced diet and getting enough exercise. Here are some tips to help you get in shape and lose weight. Eat Regularly. Starving yourself is not a safe or effective solution to losing weight. If you continue to skip meals your body makes an adjustment and slows down your base metabolic rate. So you’ll have less energy, do less work and exercise and lose weight at a much slower pace. Eat Frequently. By eating frequently you keep your body from reaching the starving stage. It takes the body 15 to 20 minutes to realize it’s full, so the hungrier you are to start the more likely you are to overeat. If you eat small frequent meals or snacks you are able to manage your hunger levels more effectively. Eat on Schedule. The majority of people eat when it’s convenient and fits into their schedule. As a result people often go six or more hours without eating a meal. Try to eat on a regular schedule every three to four hours. Your body will adjust to the schedule and you will keep from becoming abnormally hungry before a big meal. Portion Control. This is one of the single most important factors in weight control. You should eat small portions and stop eating when you are no longer hungry. Do not wait until you feel full to stop eating. The most common mistake most people make is eating portions that are too large. Nutritionists say that a good rule of thumb is to eat portions that are the size of your clenched fist. Drink lots of water. Many studies recommend 8 glasses of water a day. There really isn’t much scientific basis for that number. However drinking lots of fluids will help keep you hydrated, will keep your stomach feeling full, and you will prevent build up of ammonia or other toxins in your waste system. Getting up and going to the bathroom frequently will even give you a little bit of exercise. Exercise Regularly. You should find some form of exercise you can do regularly (three or four times a week). It doesn’t matter if you are going to the gym, playing tennis, riding a bike, roller blading or swimming. As long as you are exerting yourself and increasing your heart rate. If you can find an activity you enjoy it’s the best solution. Try not to do the same thing for more than 6 weeks, your body will adjust to the exercise pattern, so try to change the pattern frequently. Medical Approval. Before you begin any diet or weight loss program see a doctor and discuss your plans with him, give him as much information as possible about what you are doing and what your goals are. Once you have the proper medical clearance, you can get started getting in shape. © Copyright.Fitness-Infomercial.com, All Rights Reserved.

Getting Around The Weight Loss Plateau

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:37:00 +0000

The typical human form is capable of achieving a number of incredible feats that seem to suspend or defy the way science tells us things work. Athletes, through sheer willpower, can end up lifting something that their bodies should not be able to without suffering anything worse than muscle spasms. People can adapt to extreme physical trauma caused by a car accident and defy predictions that they’ll never walk again. While, in general, these amazing feats are useful in a number of situations, there are physical reactions that some people look upon with quite a bit of disfavor. Among these “disfavored reactions” is something known as a “weight loss plateau.” Essentially, the “plateau” is a term used to describe a situation where the body has become incapable of losing any further weight, usually due to developing a tolerance for the weight loss pills and methods being used. Essentially, the plateau is hit when the body develops tolerance for the regimen’s limitations and practices, thus allowing the metabolic rate of the body to adjust to whatever weight loss pills or techniques were being used. Most diet books decidedly ignore the existence of the plateau, primarily because it can be seen as negating the purpose of the diet and is, therefore, bad for marketing. There are, however, ways to counteract the human body building a tolerance for training regimens and weight loss pills. The human metabolism, when presented with a pattern, will eventually adapt to that pattern. It is this natural adaptability of the human body that can cause the weight loss plateau, particularly if the person’s diet and eating habits have been altered for weight loss. As such, changing the pattern will, once a sufficient amount of time has passed, allow your diet plan or weight loss pills to become effective again. This trick essentially involves confusing the human metabolism, and is often taken as a rather drastic way to get the body back in “diet mode.” There are, of course, several ways to effectively alter that pattern without causing the body permanent harm. Adding strength and weight training and modifying one’s exercise program can also help someone get past the plateau, in most cases. The body will still burn through nutrients during physical activity, though the digestive system’s metabolic rate can adapt such that more weight is retained rather than burned during exercise. Increasing the difficulty of the exercises, or changing the movements to target less-developed muscle areas, can effectively force the body to re-adapt. While the body is busy adapting to the changes, it can also start losing weight again. This method is best used with alterations to the person’s diet, however, to maximize the effectiveness. Another trick used to circumvent the problem of the plateau is to make changes to the time frame between meals. The internal clock that the human body’s digestive system operates on can be altered to suit one’s purposes, provided one executes the proper alterations to one’s diet and eating habits. A simple action like altering the schedule of the meals, such as adding more meals but reducing the bulk of each, can have an appreciable effect on altering the metabolic rate. The key concept of this method is to fool the body into burning the food faster, thus getting one’s weight loss program and diet back on track. When considering the options, it is helpful to keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for another person. Some slower metabolisms may require combination of diet program and exercise regimen modifications, while others can get by with merely shortening the break between meals. The critical point is to find a method that works and is effective for a specific metabolism, which can be a time-consuming process.

Online Pharmacy

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:55:00 +0000

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. You should read carefully all product packaging. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Customer reviews are provided for informational purposes only. Customer reviews reflect the individual reviewer’s results and experiences only and are not verified or endorsed by drugstore.com, inc. Actual results may vary among users.

Stop the Misery: “GROW” Yourself Slim

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:47:00 +0000

Copyright 2006 Howard McGarity Losing weight is on the mind of a lot of Americans and it is a very heavy burden. By definition, losing weight is associated with loss, but the loss involves far more than the shedding of unwanted pounds. Perception has it that you must also suffer the loss of eating enjoyment, eating comfort and a certain social pleasure. The negative associations of losing weight are legion: abstinence, deprivation and torture, failure, guilt and the imagined prospect of being on a diet for the rest of your life. A heavy burden indeed! It is understandable that many people simply give up. And yet in their resignation they find neither peace nor happiness. Often when things aren’t working, it is helpful to look at them from the inside out. A different point of view usually leads to a fresh understanding which in turn can lead to a new and better approach, increased motivation and greater confidence. Shift Your Perspective. Consider that perhaps your real goal should not be weight loss but the much broader and more important objective of good health. Remember, obesity and good health cannot co-exist. Also, it is very easy to be thin, unfit and unhealthy. It is far more positive and uplifting to pursue a goal of vitality and vigor than to dwell in a mindset of lack and suffering. As contradictory as it sounds, the best approach to losing weight is to “grow” your body lean, strong and healthy. To understand this better, compare different ways of approaching the old standards of diet and exercise. Eat to Live…. Not to Lose Weight Eat to grow strong, build your immune system and increase your energy. Eating well is as essential to life as breathing. The traditional method of losing weight is to restrict calories, put yourself into starvation mode and force your body to scavenge its fat reserves. Although unpleasant, this seems to make sense until you recall the fundamental purpose behind eating. Food provides the building blocks for growth and tissue repair, supplies fuel for energy and vitamins and minerals as catalysts and to boost the immune system. Don’t forget cool, clear water, the medium in which these miracles occur. If the quality of food is good, there is nothing you can cut out if you want to live and flourish. The alternative to dieting is to embrace a style of eating that is nutrient rich but not calorie dense. Coincidentally, the foods that meet the first requirement also fill the second. Additionally, they are tasty, filling and allow eating satisfaction without putting on the weight. These include lean meats, fish, non-starchy vegetables and fruit. This is not a “low-carb diet” but grains are restricted because they pack far too many calories and, compared to non-starchy vegetables, are lightweights in the nutrient and fiber department. Unless you know you have the nutritional background, I recommend you consult a dietitian. In one or two sessions they can help you create a satisfying plan that meets the requirements above. Then get ready to thrive while you eat well, get lean and grow strong. Get Physical and Grow Lean Get moving, not to burn calories, but to “grow” your heart and lungs, build some muscle, stimulate your immune system, increase bone density, relax, improve your attitude and have more fun in life. The traditional approach to exercise and losing weight is “cardio”, often for long periods, indoors on a machine. There are gyms, classes and programs and although they get the job done if you stick with it, it’s a chore and it seems to take a lot of sweat to lose a little weight. Physical activity is natural to mankind; for our ancestors it was unavoidable; as children we called it play. Now that we are older there is no reason to be physical sloths. Because we are “civilized” doesn’t mean that our only physical activity has to be a monotonous, artificial means to lose weight faster. Walk whenever and wherever you can. Look around and enjoy your surroundings. Take the stairs…. always. Get off the sofa. Plan week-end outings, to scenic destinations, that involve walking and climbing hills. Ride a bike. Begin or revive a hobby that keeps you on your feet…. the more active the better. Shoot your TV. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, at least be very selective about what you watch. This villain wastes your body and numbs your mind. Go out and use a rake to rake leaves and a walking mower to cut the grass. Breathe deeply, feel your heart, savor the movement of your body. Know that you are growing stronger. Take a shower, rinse off the sweat and feel great. If you work at a desk, elevate it so that you can work standing up. Have a tall stool available for when you have to sit. Take a quick walk several times a day. This will clear your head and increase your productivity. You get the general idea. You are moving away from deprivation and imposed obligation to engage life fully, with vigor and vitality. If you are like most people, you will find that you are also growing character and self-mastery. You will also find that your weight is no longer an issue. “Be Strong…. Be Lean” Howard McGarity “Coach Mac”

Is A Low-Carb, High Protein Diet really Effective for Weight Loss?

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:34:00 +0000

You may have heard that to increase muscle and to lose weight you need to increase your protein intake. When I first heard that I thought…wait a minute the same thing that is going to make you bigger is supposed to make you ’smaller’…I asked the trainer this question and he looked at me dumbfounded but it left me to thinking…”besides sounding absurd, will this method actually be safe?” Although we all know we require a certain quantity of protein every day to be healthy and because of propaganda to this effect, a lot of people view the daily consumption of high-protein foods such as meat and dairy as highly beneficial. However, judging from the failure of most if not all the people I have personally known attempting to lose weight on a high-protein, low carb diet, it may be time to revise our ideas about protein. From what I have seen (upwards of six cases I have been able to observe among friends, family and co-workers) it will be safe to answer the question heading this article with a simple No! Not only is a diet high in protein NOT the best at all for weight loss, according to many naturopaths, such a diet may even be detrimental to ones overall health. Because of its complexity, excessive protein along with fatty foods are the most difficult foods to digest and tend to leave one tired all the time. Moreover the common putrefaction of protein while being digested creates many acids in the body and has been known to lay the foundation for cancer. This is not to say that proteins and fats must be avoided, quite the contrary, what should be the goal in consuming these foods should be taking in exactly what the body needs and no more. The Max Planck institute has proven that, considering that the body recycles most of its protein for its own needs, 25g of protein a day is more than enough. According to T.C. Fry, a well known Naturopath and pioneer in drugless healing, there are several cultures such as the Caribbeans, who subsist on a Manioc-based (root-vegetable) diet and get about 12 g of protein a day. Quite similarly, an aboriginal tribe living in the Mountains of Hagen was discovered to live on about 80-90% of their diet being Sweet Potatoes, the rest mostly leafy veggies, bananas and the like. While I lived in Nigeria for 17 plus years, most people hardly ever even consumed milk or cheese (they were too expensive) and families strictly rationed the consumption of animal flesh to about the size of medium size lemon per person every other day. All these groups of people, with their root vegetable diets are obviously in great health, accomplishing great physical work. Moreover, Mother’s milk, which for a time is a baby’s perfect food, has about 1-2 % protein content. (Only fruits and veggies resemble it in their composition) Any reasonable person will be able to deduce that a growing baby needs more protein than a full-grown adult, yet human babies, just like with our distant cousins: the Apes in the wild, do just fine on breast milk and on the subject of apes who share about 98% of our DNA, do you know the Gorilla, the strongest primate, has been known to bench press upwards of about 4000 pounds! What does this creature live on? According to Dr. George Schaller and Dian Fossey, two great primatologists, this powerful relative lives on mostly fruits and leaves. Now, considering all the factors above, when it comes to the right diet for weight loss, I would recommend a Mucus-less or Mucus-poor (raw and cooked fruits and veggies) over any other mere fad in the quest of attaining fitness and health. Of course, if the consumption of animal flesh must be continued, I would also advise that it be done at a minimal quantity and only one kind of animal flesh every so often. In my opinion, consumption of fresh home-made salads, mono-meals of fruits, snacks on dried fruits such as dates, a few nuts and maybe even a short juice fast, as a choice for a diet (along with some form of exercise) will be the best path to attaining safe and healthy weight loss.

Countdown To Summer Fitness Challenge! How To Get Fit And Lose Weight In 6 Weeks.

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:39:00 +0000

How about those fabulous bike rides in the park! What about grilling barbeque on the deck? Are you down for a little surfing and tanning on the beach? Summer will be upon us in less than six weeks. Not only do we want to enjoy the warm months that are rapidly approaching, we want to look like we are enjoying them. It doesn’t matter if it is ten, twenty, forty, or seventy pounds, just get started! Weight loss should be slow and steady, while focusing on cutting calories and increasing exercise. It is important to refrain from overexerting yourself. Weight loss takes time. I have never been one to acknowledge or accept the idea of dieting. The true meaning of dieting is counting and managing your calories for a specific amount of time in order to reach a target weight goal. This concerns me because it is temporary. What happens when you resume your normal eating habits? You gain weight! I believe in making a complete paradigm in the way we think about food. You can do this by establishing good eating habits. Why not establish a habit of consuming 500-600 calories for breakfast instead of 1,500? If you replace muffins, bagels, pancakes, sausage, grits and bacon with fruit, turkey bacon, cottage cheese, grain cereal, or yogurt, you will probably find yourself 10 pounds lighter on breakfast alone. Do the same for lunch and dinner and lose an additional 10-20 pounds. Wait until you add exercise into the equation. Exercise for thirty minutes per day, four to five times a week and watch additional pounds drop. Of course, this takes determination and discipline. Yet, habits are habits. Once you get used to a routine of eating certain foods, it becomes second nature. Weight management not only helps you look better, but helps you feel better. You will begin to notice an increase in energy and an improvement in health. It is important to monitor the amount of cholesterol you consume. Diets high in cholesterol can lead to heart disease, heart attacks and stroke. Be sure to get a cholesterol screening on a regular basis. Eat fish at least twice a week, preferably those with darker flesh, such as, salmon, herring mackerel, and lake trout. They are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which lower blood cholesterol. It is also important to eat foods that will not contribute to high blood pressure. Limit your alcohol intake to less than two drinks per day, limit your salt intake, and reduce the saturated fat in your diet. Saturated fat can be found in animal products like milk, cheese, and meat. Let go of the cigarettes or tobacco products! Smoking increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Try nonfat yogurt, salsa, or nonfat sour cream instead of sour cream or butter on baked potatoes. Try substituting fresh vegetables and tomatoes sauce for creamy sauces, when eating pasta. Substitute basic breads and cereal grains for bagels, muffins, and croissants. A diet high in fruits and vegetables will help you ward off cancer and other diseases because of the cancer-fighting agents contained in them. They contain a lot of fiber and a diet high in fiber decreases your risk of developing colon cancer and other types of cancer. Fruits and vegetables also contain Vitamin A (beta carotene) and C, both of which contain cartenoids and antioxidants. Cartenoids can also be found in dark leafy vegetables, carrots, cantaloupe, papaya, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes. Additional sources of Vitamin C are strawberries, oranges, broccoli, peppers, and tomatoes. It is always best to lightly steam your vegetables. The closer they are to being raw, the higher their nutritional value. People have asked me how exercise can give you energy. It seems as though it takes your energy away because you utilize so much energy when you exercise. This is the farthest thing from the truth. The more you exercise and lose weight, the more energy you get and keep because you are carrying less weight, which takes less energy. The more you exercise, the more you are able to exercise. After you get your weight to a manageable level, monitor or keep a close eye on it. Weigh yourself everyday. That way, you can take measures or do things to nip sudden weight gain. If you find yourself five or ten pounds heavier than your target weight, you should cut back immediately. It becomes a problem when we wait until we are 30, 60, or 100 pounds overweight. It can feel like you’re fighting a losing battle when your weight gain has become too extreme. It is a good idea to make a list of different ways to incorporate walking into your daily life. If you live near a metro transit station, drive there, park your car and ride the train and walk to work. If you are a new mother, get a stroller that will enable you to burn calories while you are walking your baby. Why not take the stairs, instead of the elevator? You would be surprised at how many calories you can burn by gardening, swimming, skating, hiking, and dancing. Believe it or not, you can have fun while losing weight. Exercise, along with a positive attitude, and a healthy diet will help you to manage your weight and improve your health. Exercise does not have to be rigorous to be valuable. You will probably do yourself a disservice by exercising too hard. Take it easy. Just gradually build up your resistance to a manageable level. Always remember that if you can not talk and walk at the same time, then you are walking too fast. If you have any of the following health problems, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program. • Heart trouble • Dizziness or faintness • Chest pains • Diabetes • High blood pressure • Arthritis How to prepare food for a good diet and low calories: • Eat Fish at least twice a week, preferable baked, broiled, or grilled. Reduce serving size to 2-3 ounces. • To reduce fat, use lean poultry and fish, as well as, lean cuts of meat such as top and bottom round and tenderloin. Avoid second servings. Feel free to replace some meats with beans or grains. • Eat at least three to five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. Fruit like kiwi, figs, apples, raspberries, and blueberries are high in fiber and nutrition. Vegetables such as, broccoli, brussel sprouts, beets, cauliflower, carrots, spinach, chili peppers, red bell peppers, squash, sweet potatoes and tomatoes have high nutritional value and are great anti-oxidants (contain cancer-fighting agents). • Eat whole-grain, whole-wheat bread, pasta, tortillas, and cereals daily • Eat cooked dry beans, peas, and lentils regularly • Eat popcorn with no added oil, salt, or butter. • Drink skim milk or 1% milk • You should drink at least 24 ounces of water per day, especially since you will be exercising. • Limit the oil you use for cooking • Steam your vegetables or sautй using wine or a half teaspoon of oil • Use herbs and spices for seasoning, instead of sauces and butter • Salads should be eaten with fat-free dressing or a combination of red wine vinegar and oil • Drink a glass of water in the morning when you wake • Limit your consumption of lean, red meat to no more than four times per month Copyright © 2006 by Pamela Jewell, M.Ed., Ed.S.