Think Twice Before You Pick Up That Donut...Too Much Sugar is BAD For You!!!

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/DiabetesOverview/story?id=3843485

Rapid Weight Loss Diet

Here are the Best Rapid Weight Loss Diet Techniques that will surely trim down those fats and get a super slim sexy head turner body

First thing you should do if you're over-weight is to seek a doctor to recommend the best weight loss diet. This will be done after a full physical examination, which leads to your determination of proper weight loss technique. And to lose weight fast and effectively, 4 aspects of your life should be changed: what to eat, how to eat, your behavior and the activity level.

Here are Extreme Weight Loss Diet Tips that can change your life:

1. Rapid weight loss composes of a multi-faceted technique that consists mindset, exercise, and in other cases, diet supplements. Begin by learning a diet food plan that you can easily get familiarized with. Include an exercise plan that allows even at least 15 minutes a day like brisk walking, running, swimming, and dancing.

2. Set realistic goals. The ability to focus and have proper mindset enables someone on a diet to quickly lose those unwanted pounds. With discipline and proper mind set, you will never be discouraged and you'll stay focused.

3. Listen to your body. Each and everyone's body metabolism reacts differently to different rapid weight loss diets, programs and plans. Try substituting one program for another to compensate the body's reaction. Exercise program must be suitable to your body, as you may not be able to exercise as rigorously as others can. If walking is all that can be done, then walk for this is proven the best exercise. Muscles burn more calories than fats so it is also best to put on a little muscle and look good too.

4. Eat more fibers because it makes you feel full sooner and longer, slowing down the rate of your body's digestion. A single serving of whole grain bread moves fat through the digestive system faster. Grains turn into blood sugar that spikes the body's insulin level. Thus, making the body more energized and ready to tell the body when it should stop burning fats or start storing.

5. Avoid fried foods especially deep-fried; this contains a great amount of fat. Although fish and chicken appear leaner than beef, this white meat can contain more fat than when a beef is fried. It is recommended, if you're on a strict diet to opt for grilled food because this doesn't have or contain less amount of fat after the food is cooked.

6. Drink lots of fluid. Drinking at least six to eight glasses of water a day keeps the body refreshed and hydrated. Since weight loss depends on how the body eliminates body wastes, the body must stay hydrated.

Overall, discipline and consistency is still the best practice and the key to a rapid weight loss success. By following this Rapid Weight Loss Diet Techniques: Light dieting, workout, and right amount of supplementation in a regular way everyday; will result in faster weight loss than having a crash diet only to go back to old habits. This would only lead to gaining more weight than when the weight loss plan has started.

10 Foods to Avoid On A Weight Loss Diet

While it is true that losing weight is all about burning off more calories than you consume, there are definitely foods that help your weight loss and those that hinder it.

Take a look at these foods to avoid for weight loss to help you get the most, and the fastest, benefit from your diet.

10 Foods to Avoid On A Weight Loss Diet

3 Extreme Weight Loss Diets

There are plenty of extreme weight loss diets out there. Many of them will work in the short term, but all are bad for our bodies over the long haul.

3 Extreme Diets

Better childhood nutrition needed, military officials say

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/21/better-childhood-nutrition-needed-retired-military-officials-say/

Read this article provided by CNN Health. It's basically talking about the dangers and sources of childhood obesity- School lunches. Well the overall problem is the overprocessed food in America, but thats another story....I read the article, but one quote stood out to me in particular

“Obesity is now the leading medical reason why young Americans today are unable to qualify for the armed forces. At least 9 million young adults, or 27 percent of all young Americans ages 17 to 24, are too overweight to enlist,” their letter read.

So that means because of the overprocessed food manufactured in America, it has created obesity at a high percentage which basically lowers the chances of people fighting in the military. ARE YOU SERIOUS!!! This is A REAL PROBLEM. Sometimes I want to burn Papa Johns, Baskin Robbins and Burger King and put up a bunch of Whole Food Stores and Markets everywhere. I'm not knockin' anyone who eats there but my goodness, this is a problem when there aren't enough physically fit Americans to fight in war!!

REMEMBER: FOOD WILL EITHER KILL YOU OR SAVE YOU. Also FOOD IS AN ADDICTION THAT YOU CAN OVERCOME!

What Keeps Me Going

When I started my journey to a healthy lifestyle I would go to the gym and see other females who seemed so small and little. I would say to myself, "why are they at the gym, their so small." Now I am one of those girls that people look at or say, "why are you here?" People do not realize that STAYING and BEING healthy takes maintanence. The journey began as something to loose the fat around my belly, my inner thighs and so forth. But suddenly I became a happier, more dedicated go getter by becoming disciplined with my eating and exercising habbits.

BUT when I wake up and look in the mirror I cant help but feel perfect (at least according to myself). It's like, why do I need to do this anymore? Some people may feel. #1 It's a habbit, I don't know anything else, #2 Health or Weight Loss is not a ONE TIME THING. Its continual, like the seasons or birds flying south.

Anyways...

Heres a list of things that personally keep ME motivated. I hope I inspire you...

1. Before Pictures

When I look at where I came from I think, I remember the feeling of trying on that pair of jeans, bikini, it felt different. There was a lot more searching, looking for one that "fit right". Today I don't have that problem. Feeling "guilty" for eating something I didn't think I would. Today I have a created a personalized system which springs from the old food pyramid. Today I've found a solution that works so why would I want to go back.

2. Pictures of other fit women

Although I feel perfect in my eyes, I'm happy with my accomplishment, there are always other little muscles I may see in other women, that next cut in the upper or lower abdominal, that extra line in the shoulders, that extra dent in the mid latisamus dorsi upper back (or however you spell that lol). You should never stop working toward something. NEVER get comfortable.

3. Shopping for clothes

Its that simple. Shopping for clothes, seeing the new crop tops or low risers that are in style, gives me a sense of motivation to "stay in it".

4. Being around other motivated people

When I hear success stories it motivates me because I don't feel as "strange" or "out of place" for my habbits. It's simply motivating to continue going.

5. Health Benefits

The health benefits of eating and exercising properly are sooo plentiful- happiness, less stress, healthy skin, nails, longer life, less wrinkles, energy, higher metabolism, looking youthful, ect ect ect. the list goes on. YOU CANT GET THOSE TRUE BENEFITS ANYWHERE ELSE!!

6. When other people slack off

FOR SOME ODD REASON, When I overhear someone saying they've been slacking off or been eating the wrong stuff, or missed 3 weeks of exercising, It makes me feel proud that I have continued and haven't broke the vow that I made to myself 1 year ago, to incorporate pure food and exercise into my entire life! It puts things in perspective and brings me to this realization. I feel sooo much better overall.

7. When people are impressed with your habbits

Sometimes I bust out my Kashi granola bar, strawberries or sunflower seeds, I sometimes feel weird or slightly left out, especially if the people next to me look at me strange, or bust out their Taco Bell [omg have they heard of homemade tacos- a very healthy meal actually!] BUT sometimes I'm in a situation where someone will say, "Ooo that looks healthy, I should've packed that as a snack!"

Its almost like an indirect congratulation. REMEMBER YOU MAY FEEL UNUSUAL SOMETIMES FOR DRIVING TO THE GYM IN THE SNOW OR WARMING UP A CUP OF TEA IN THE WORK MICROWAVE, BUT REMEMBER, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING. KEEP THIS IN MIND ALWAYS!!

8. Doing a new activity

I was cycling, swimming, doing core moves on the floor (as always), and body flow during the summer. For this winter I've decided to concentrate on pilates, zumba and body pump (a golds gym 1hr weight lifting class) and It's nice to be taking a new combination of classes (REMEMBER YOUR BODY NEEDS 3 THINGS TO BE FIT AND STRONG STRENGTH CARDIO AND CONDITIONING). I'm going to get into some 5k and 10k races this fall/winter. Meanwhile save up for a bike, and do some trails during the spring/summer. (go to Trailnet.com).

When you give yourself a new activity, you give your body new challenges and you'll be stronger overall. Trust me you want that. Its nice to go to the new cardio class and be able to do every move!

Celeb Diet Secrets: Celebrity Diets that Work

Here are some of Celeb Diet Secrets that Work

Celebrities always look great and fabulous. Whether appearing in movies, or television or strutting down the red carpet during movie premiers and awards, they never cease to amaze us.

Truth is, it takes a lot of effort to look the way they do, and being the public figures that they are, they cannot afford to slack off when it comes to taking care of their physical appearances. Aside from the clothes, the hair and the makeup, celebrities have to take good care of their bodies.

Here are some of the diet secrets of seven women celebs:

1. Jennifer Aniston
The star of the phenomenal television show Friends not only mesmerized audiences with her adorable comic sense and her famous hairstyle, she was also known for having one of the sexiest bodies in Hollywood, as she appeared in countless magazine covers. To stay slim, Jennifer follows the 40:30:30 diet method. The diet consists of:
40% Low glycemic carbohydrates
-Foods such as beans, fruits and vegetables, legumes
30% lean proteins
-Tofu, fish, chicken, turkey, beef and low fat dairy products
30% essential fats
-nuts and seeds, fish and olive oils
It is essential that every meal should contain macronutrients to attain the balance of hormones and maximum weight loss.

2. Kate Hudson
The gorgeous daughter of actress Goldie Hawn gained 60 pounds during her pregnancy, which she needed to shed quickly before commencing on her next film. From her previous eating plan, she switched to a higher protein diet. She consumed high protein meals in smaller portions, and she combined this diet with an exercise program that includes weight training and cardiovascular workouts. After getting a lot of flak because of her post-pregnancy figure, Kate removed all that baby weight in only four months and has gained abdominal muscles that gained the envy of many in Hollywood.

3. Oprah Winfrey
As one of the most successful talk-show hosts in the world, there is no question that Oprah needs to maintain her physical appearance for her millions of fans and audiences. Known as one of those celebs who are constantly battling weight gain, she has recently toned up her figure and has never looked figure in age 50 by combining a regular exercise regime and diet plan. Oprah works out 5 days a week, spending 30 minutes on the treadmill and doing free weights. Her eating plan consists of fruits and vegetables, legumes, fish, nuts, chicken and dairy products that are low-fat. She limits her intake of white sugar and flour. Oprah also credits her slim figure to her habit of not eating anything after seven in the evening.

4. Gwyneth Paltrow
A lot of people may find it hard to believe that the perpetually slim Academy award-winning actress actually needs to diet. Gwyneth actually follows a healthy eating plan that resembles Oprah's, avoiding sugar and white flour. She usually follows a macrobiotic diet, eating foods like vegetables, lean meat and brown rice. She does yoga everyday and also eliminated dairy from her diet.

5. Madonna
The pop star known as the Material Girl has always flaunted a body that is to die for, and has become a true fitness paragon over the years. She keeps herself in tip-top shape by having Ashtanga Yoga, and follows a strict diet that mostly shuns junk foods. She adopted a macrobiotic eating plan that includes organic foods rich in lean protein.

6. Claudia Schiffer
The bodacious German supermodel eats salad and steamed vegetables for dinner and eats only fruits before the afternoon. While on locations, she prefers to eat black grapes and drinks tomato juice and herbal tea.

7. Christie Brinkley
Long-time supermodel maintains her all-American good looks by being a vegetarian. She does not keep junk foods of any kind inside her home to make sure that she does not eat them when cravings occur. She snacks on sweet potatoes in place of candy bars, and she adopts a liquid juice diet when she needs to slim down fast.

Celebs are just like ordinary people. They need to maintain their figures just like anyone else, and there is more pressure on their part since they are constantly in the public eye.

It's no surprise that these celebs have their own diet secrets when it comes to staying fit and gorgeous. Who doesn't want to know their secrets in staying absolutely sexy and gorgeous?

Ordinary folks can have celebrity-like bodies, too, and by following these celeb diet secrets and fitness plans, they can also look like red-carpet worthy.

Which Chocolate is Best for Weight Loss?

Dark Chocolate vs Milk Chocolate: Which one's best for weight loss?

There’s evidence that the body responds differently to the calories in dark chocolate versus milk chocolate.

Milk chocolate contains more sugar and, as such, is more likely to trigger cravings and be stored as fat. Dark chocolate contains less sugar and is more satiating: A study at Denmark’s University of Copenhagen found that compared with milk chocolate eaters, women who enjoyed 3.5 oz. of dark chocolate reported fewer cravings and ate 15 percent fewer calories over the next five hours.

That’s likely thanks to the healthy monounsaturated fatty acids in dark chocolate , but not in milk chocolate.

Tip: Did you know that having goodies in the house limits munching?
Stocking pantry shelves with tempting treats can actually reduce the urge to indulge, according to a study at Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.

The researchers concluded that, while being exposed to pictures of a treat (such as a chocolate) on TV can lead to overeating of any available food, weight-conscious women who had a stock of the temptation in their homes felt more in control and were less likely to cave in to cravings.

Quinoa for Weight Loss

What makes Quinoa a Super Weight Loss Food?

Swapping whole grains for refined carbs is a smart way to add extra nutrition- and waist-whittling perks- to comfort foods. But instead of reaching for the same-old brown rice, consider Quinoa.

This hearty seed (a relative of spinach and Swiss chard) contains plenty of stomach-satisfying insoluble fiber. But here’s the difference: One cup of cooked quinoa also packs 9 grams of protein (nearly twice as much as brown rice), which was shown in British studies to trigger the release of the hunger-reducing hormone peptide YY.

This potent combo of fiber and protein means you’ll feel full and enjoy a steady stream of energy that lasts up to 12 hours, according to research in The New England Journal of Medicine. What’s more, quinoa is a rich source of energizing magnesium and immunity-boosting riboflavin. This grain may seem like an unusual pantry staple, but quinoa has been enjoyed in its native South America for years.

You can find it in supermarkets, or order Now Organic Quinoa Grain. For the best deal, look for it in bulk bins at health-food stores. Cook quinoa like rice on the stove or in a rice cooker for 15 to 20 minutes.

Tip: rinse with cold water to remove saponin, a natural compound that can make it bitter.

List of High Fiber Foods and Fiber Content

Here are typical High Fiber Foods along with the approximate number of grams of fiber they contain.

A list of high fiber foods helps you know which foods to include in daily meal planning. Obtaining adequate fiber is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

The recommended daily fiber consumption should be about 25-30 grams for an adult. The walls of plant cells are the sources of dietary fiber.

Fiber contents shown below on the list of high fiber foods are for a food quantity of 1/2 cup unless otherwise noted:

• Bananas, 3 grams - medium 8" long
• Beans, 6-10 grams - baked beans, black beans , great northern beans, kidney beans, garbanzos, pinto beans, white beans
• Berries, 4-5 grams - blackberries, raspberries
• Bran Cereals, 5-10 grams - All-Bran, Bran Buds, 100% Bran, Raisin Bran
• Bread, 4-7 grams - 2 slices whole wheat, pumpernickel, seven-grain
• Broccoli, 4-5 grams
• Brussels Sprouts, 2 grams
• Carrots, 3-4 grams
• Dried Figs, 10 grams - 3 figs
• Fruit, 4 grams - medium apple, medium pear
. Green Beans, 2 grams - broad beans, pole beans, snap beans
• Greens, 4-6 grams - beet greens, collards, kale, spinach, turnip greens
• Lentils, 6 grams
• Lima beans - 4-6 grams
• Peas, 7-9 grams - black-eyed peas, green peas
• Potatoes, 4-5 grams - medium baked Idaho or sweet potato
• Sweet Corn, 5 grams

The best fiber supplements are rice bran or psyllium made from ground-up psyllium seeds.

Be sure to have a print out of High Fiber Foods list so you can always have the best choice which healthy fiber foods to include in your daily diet.

Beware the False "Healthy" Titles READ NUTRITION FACTS!!

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/beware-misleading-ingredient-names-explained-2391770/

A HANDY GUIDE FOR BETTER PORTION CONTROL

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/a-handy-guide-for-better-portion-control-2392537/

Cooking For The Week

I feel like when I get to telling people about my eating habbits- fruits, veggies, fish, rice, turkey ect... sometimes people get the misconception that its difficult to live like this. Actually its quite easy if you cook for the week. You don't have to be a master chef, or even take cooking classes (I did not take one cooking class. Just taught myself how to cook.

BUT TIERRA HOW LONG DOES THAT TAKE??

Well...I started end of May 2010, school was out, and I was home, access to tools, stove ect. So since end of May I've been cooking up my own little veggie, meat & rice dishes. (End of May is when I also started officially started eating clean).

But somewhere in the mix I came up with the idea of cooking for the week. I've been doing that for about a month now. Its so easier throughout the week to do it that way! (I scramble up my own eggs for breakfast, but other than that, Its easy, and you should consider it...heres why....

WHY COOK FOR THE WEEK TIERRA??

1. It's Convenient

When your in a hurry. Got 45min to shower, change, touchup hair and makeup, before you get to work. It sure is nice when all you've got to do it microwave food and go

2. You'll make healthier choices

If food is already layed out for you, you'll make healthier choices about balancing what you eat

WHAT IF I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO AN OVEN, AND ON A BUDGET???

When I stayed in a dorm I didn't have access to an oven consistently and quite frankly wasn't at the point where I was "eating clean" persay..BUT i still managed to eat healthy and keep weight off by eating these microwaveable foods....

1. Giant Green

(Shnucks- frozen veggie aisle)

*Some blends have rice and patatoes mixed with them

2. Frozen Veggies in general

(Go to Shnucks frozen veggie aisle)

3. Baked Patatoe

(Look in produce aisle, where they sell fruits and raw veggies. Buy a bag. Slice it in the middle, microwave for 7-8min. Sprinkle salt, pepper, add cheese, pasta sauce, black beans).

Maybe pair this with a serving of veggies.

HOW TO PREPARE

*Pour desired serving in bowl

*Use backside directions for heating instructions

*Add salt & seasoning

The Naturopathic Weight Loss Diet Plan

Though dieting has been around forever, it seems that recently several new diets, among them the Naturopathic diet, have really become popular.

The Naturopathic diet has been in the news quite a bit recently, though many people still have not heard of it, and many more do not understand it.


The Naturopathic Diet

Getting Rid of Cellulite: Goodbye Cellulite

How to get rid of cellulite on thighs without exercising:

"Cellulite treatments can indeed make a difference in reducing the appearance of dimply fat"

That's the word from expert dermatologist Jeannette graf, M.D. To get rid of cellulite, she recommends a combo of Endermologie, a massage treatment that thickens connective tissue to give skin a firmer appearance, plus stimulates the lymph system, and VelaShape, which combines radio waves, infrared light, massage and suction to boost lymph drainage and shrink fat cells.

Three hitches: It generally takes four weeks to see real results, cellulite treatments must be continued or dimples will return and each treatment costs about $100.

For a low-tech solution to getting rid of cellulite, take a cue from Brazil's bikini-beautiful women, who rub sand on problem spots as they lounge on the beach. The massage helps stimulate the lymphatic system to release trapped toxins, while the rough sand helps smooth the skin's surface.

Pre-beach season, try a body bar that features sand-like granules such as Buffy Body Butter by LUSH. It contains ground almonds, rice and aduki beans, and you'll say goodbye cellulite just in time for the beach season.

AMERICA MADE PIZZA UNHEALTHY!

Read this yahoo article I saw. Can you believe pizza is really supposed to just be wheat bread, tomatoe sauce, mozerella cheese, a veggie and meat?? WHAT HAPPEND!! Reading things like this just make me mad!

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/7-worst-pizzas-america

Drink Water to Lose Weight

Does drinking water help you lose weight? Yes! Here’s how:

Recent research in hydration science reveals that both the temperature of water and when it’s consumed trigger astonishing weight loss.

Although you’ve likely heard the advice to drink more water to lose weight, it’s crucial to employ this little-known approach: “The secret is to alternate drinking water of different temperatures- hot, lukewarm and cold- throughout the day since each of these temperatures plays a different role in weight regulation,” explains Barbara Hendel, M.D., coauthor of Water & Salt (Natural Resources, 2003).

In fact, alternating three water temperatures to capitalize on the unique benefits of each could make your body’s weight loss systems up to 50 percent more effective, allowing you to easily lose up to 10 pounds per week, according to research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. That’s a total loss of 30 pounds or more in a month.

“Water’s importance is often overlooked, yet it is the key to fast, hassle-free, lasting weight loss”, says Christopher Vasey, N.D., author of The Water Prescription (Healing Arts Press, 2006).

How drinking water in different-temperatures speeds up weight loss in unique ways:

1. Hot water triggers a body-wide detox. When cellular levels of toxins rise, your body concentrates them in the liver, lymph system, intestines and skin in an effort to speed their excretion, according to researchers at the University of Stirling in Scotland. Problem is, the stored toxins end up slowing down metabolism.

To the rescue: hot water. By flooding the GI tract with heat, it promotes peristalsis- muscle contractions that encourage the movement of toxins from the liver and lymph system into the digestive tract, stimulating their elimination from the body, suggests research at the Preventive Medical Center of Marin in San Rafael, California. “Hot water also makes your pores open slightly,” adds Dr. Hendel. “This allows extra toxins stored in skin tissue to evaporate into the air”.

2. Lukewarm water suppresses appetite. When lukewarm water enters the stomach, the organ registers fullness more quickly than with hot or cold water. “Lukewarm water doesn’t set off the drastic hot/cold alarm signals in the brain, so it’s easier to gulp down a full glass at once,” says Dr. Hendel.

This action causes the stomach to expand rapidly, stimulating the brain’s vagus nerve to turn off hunger pangs, she explains. Room-temperature water is also more rapidly absorbed by the stomach lining, so it doesn’t stall the digestive process the way liquids of other temperatures can.

The result: a quicker stabilization of blood sugar- which shuts down food cravings, adds Dr. Hendel.

3. Cold water gives your body a work out. Your metabolic rate jumps as much as 3 percent within 10 minutes of finishing a glass of cold water, and it stays elevated for 30 minutes thereafter, say experts at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

The reason: Your digestive tract has to work harder to heat cold water before the water can be absorbed and used by cells, explains Dr. Vasey. “This process takes an enormous amount of energy, which your body derives by breaking down food and fat to release their stored calories.”

Hydration produces amazing benefits:

- mental clarity increases by 20% in 30 minutes
- Late night hunger pangs disappear
- Energy levels increase by 89% in 24 hours
- Blue moods lift and sleep improves in 72 hours
- Exercise endurance increases in 4 days
- Chronic back pain end in 1 week
- Joint pain eases in 2 weeks
- Peptic ulcers heal in 3 weeks

Next>>

How to lose weight by drinking water, the tricks that will help you lose 30 pounds in less than a month

How to lose weight by drinking water: Tricks that will help you lose 30 pounds in less than a month

The Drinking Water Strategies proven to help lose up to 10 pounds a week.

Even slight dehydration slows all of the body’s function by up to 50 percent, including the actions of the weight-regulating thyroid and adrenal glands, note experts at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. And since the brain is 80 percent water, dehydration offsets appetite-regulating functions, as well. This means drinking 4 oz. of water every hour is essential for preventing weight gain.

But for amazing results, try these strategies proven to melt weight at the pace of up to 10 pounds a week.

The temperature tricks that turn Drinking Water into a miracle slimmer:

1. Start the day with 8 oz. of hot lemon water. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon, plus 1 tsp. of freshly grated lemon zest, into a mug, then add 8 oz. of water that’s been boiled and left to cool for several minutes. Sip slowly. “Lemon and hot water promote peristalsis- intestinal contractions that speed the elimination of fat-storing toxins,” explains Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., author of The Fast Track Detox Diet (Broadway, 2006).

2. Alternate steamy and icy sips throughout the day. Switching between hot and cold water acts as a form of internal hydrotherapy that cleanses the body, says Christopher Vasey, N.D., a naturopathic physician in Switzerland. “Hot water helps your intestines flush toxins all day, while cold water keeps calorie burn high”. To do: An hour after drinking 8 oz. of hot lemon water, drink 8 oz. of ice-cold water. Repeat this cycle twice (at nonmeal times).

3. Drink lukewarm water before meals and snacks. Drinking 8 oz. of room-temperature water 15 minutes before a meal quickly signals satiation, Penn State research suggests. This easy strategy can lead to the consumption of 104 fewer calories per sitting- enough to help you shed 31 pounds every year. “To maximize the effect, down a glass of water all at once,” suggests Dr. Vasey. “This makes your stomach lining stretch rapidly, which stimulates the vagus nerve to shut down food cravings fast”. Water is absorbed when it’s at room temperature, and that means these premeal sips flood metabolically active tissue with water, raising its ability to convert food into energy.

Another sweet way to stay hydrated:
Fruit and veggies are typically 85 percent water, so enjoying 3 cups of them daily will provide up to 20 oz. of fluid. More good news: “Many of them are rich in detoxifying nutrients that speed the breakdown of fat-storing toxins in the liver, triggering a one-to-two pound weekly weight loss”, says Gittleman. Try pineapples, kiwis, watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers and spinach.

More Healthy Water Options:

If you drink mostly bottled water: In a test of 1,000 bottled water brands, 22 percent had chemical amounts above state health limits. “Your liver has to filter these chemicals, and that stalls its ability to burn body fat for weight loss,” notes Dr. Hendel. Two chemical-free picks: Poland Spring and Evian Natural Spring Water. For a list of other safe brands, log on to nsf.org/certified/bwpi.

If you drink mostly tap water: Consider a filter to get rid of lead, mercury, herbicides, industrial chemicals and other metabolism-slowing toxins. Two that ranked tops in Consumer Reports studies: Countertop Superior Water Filter System and the Brita® Faucet Filter System.

How Being Disciplined With Eating and Exercise Has Transformed My Thinking!

Yes its true. The same discipline I have used in keeping tabs of calories, cooking for the week, and making a schedule of workout days has overflowed into other areas of my life!

1) "One more"

I say this to myself sometimes when I'm exercising. This "one more" mentality has helped me to go the extra mile in school, in work. My overall attitude now is one more.

2) Energy & Stamina

Exercise gives you an undeniable adrenaline rush. As a matter of fact my favorite days is when I don't feel like exercising, then I do, and afterwards feel great. This energy has helped me to focus on pushing through any day regardless of my emotions.

3) Smiling Through The Pain

When I exercise, sometimes I'm really feelin the burn, but when I get that smile from the instructor, I smile and keep going. Likewise in my life outside the gym, pool, or track, I do the same, smile when things are rough.

4) Alertness

Exercises such as step, zumba, pilates, kickboxing, things that require coordination help enforce alertness in all areas of life- driving, paying attention in class there is a dramatic difference.

5) Happiness

Exercise makes you happy! After a great morning workout I smile walking to the car, and the whole day long!

6) Confidence!

Something about just being able to pump out 10-12 pushups, hold a plank for 1-1.5minutes, and do 1hr of cycling really gives you some confidence. Don't really know how to explain it, but you just feel strong and sexy!

How Long Does It Take To Convert to A Healthy Lifestyle...

...I'd say this is the number one question and concern I get from people asking questions about eating healthy ect. People think they will be giving up the foods they love. This is a misconception. In reality you will be eating a new genre of food and eventually fall in love with that genre of food. ....BUT HOW LONG DOES THAT TAKE...It depends on

1) What your used to..

I grew up eating candy, Rally's, McDonalds, the works, but somewhere around 10 I began figure skating and being active inspired me to eat healthy. So since 10 (I am now 20) I've been relatively health conscious. So for me getting back to being health conscious (after freshman yr and too much cafeteria food) it was not as hard as someone who may have been eating junk and fast food their whole life.

2) What your willing to accomplish...

The idea of converting to a healthy lifestyle, having great health, skin, nails, and loosing weight sounds great on paper right? But how many people will actually take steps toward doing this after hearing someone talk about it. The more willing you are to accomplish, the better of the start of your journey will be!

3) Your Faith!

It's that simple, have faith. Believe that no matter what your size and health, if you make steps toward a better you, eventually you will HAVE to see results...

4) Your Patience

Retaining or maintaining health and that dream body takes patience. (Remember you will see and feel a change every 6 wks). Expect and work towards that. Take things one day at a time, one week at a time. And something will break forth

5) Your Mindset

I hear it all the time, "I don't have time to exercise" "Healthy food is too expensive" "I hate gyms" "I don't feel like working out" Excuses get you nowhere (Something thats internalized in my soul through making myself work through temptations and excuses. You can, you can, you can. Plan, make goals, write it down. Things will feel robotic at first, but in the end you will be happy! :)

THE ANSWER: YOU WILL SEE AND FEEL A CHANGE EVERY 6 WKS. START TODAY. MY BEST GUESS IS IN ABOUT 3 MONTHS YOU"LL BE FALLIN IN LOVE WITH FRUITS AND VEGGIES!!

Why Too Much Sugar Is Bad For Your Health

Once again I'm no expert, but I love doing research on the health and body benefits and food and such. Here are some reasons I have researched and experienced. Reasons to not over indulge in sugar.

1. Sugar...makes you crave more sugar

Its a domino effect. The more sugar you crave, the more sugar you eat, the worse your health, throws your healthy lifestyle out of wack!

2. Sugar...raises your blood sugar levels...

This causes many diseases, diabetes, heart disease, obesity. Long term effects are dangerous. Eat sparingly.

3. Sugar...adds belly fat

4. Sugar....makes you crave food

Another domino effect, if you crave more food, you'll eat more, which means you'll gain more and maybe start reaching for things you didn't know you would eat.

5. Sugar...makes you feel icky

Remember the days of stuffing your mouth with sweat treats all day everyday. Remember how icky you felt compared to now?

When you start eating more natural sweet foods such as fruit, sweet patatos, and honey you won't like the taste of that other sugar. It won't be appealing anymore. It's like an alcoholic going back to drinking again. Or if you haven't had liquor in a while then you dabble in a little. It will feel weird. This is a good thing, this means you have overcome that temptation!

Slimming Tea: Lose 10 pounds every week!

Research reveals an approach that turns Tea into a slimming agent so effective, women are losing 10 pounds every week.

With a few strategic adjustments to the normal routine of most tea drinkers, tea can seriously fast-track weight loss, helping millions of women losing 10 pounds every week.

Here are the benefits you’ll enjoy just by following these smart –sipping strategies that will make slimming a cinch.

1. Drinking tea calms cravings. Savoring a strong cup of tea when you feel the urge to eat shuts down food cravings in as little as two minutes. In fact, the slimming magic of tea sets in before you even take the first sip. “When inhaled, tea’s odor molecules travel from the olfactory bulb to the limbic lobe of the brain, where they activate the brain’s satiety center”, explains Alan Hirsch, M.D., neurological director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago.

2. Drinking tea soothes stress eating. Ingesting L-theanine, an amino acid in tea, stimulates the production of alpha brain waves, UCLA scientists report. This includes a calm state that inhibits stress eating in as little as 10 minutes.

3. Drinking tea speeds metabolism. Research suggests that within 24 hours of starting a tea-drinking habit, your resting metabolic rate rises. “This helps the body burn 100 additional calories daily,” says Jeffrey B. Blumberg, Ph.D., senior scientist at Tufts University at Boston. That alone can shed 10 pounds a year. Thanks to tea’s catechins, they block the breakdown of noradrenaline, a hormone that stimulates the release of trapped fat so it can be rapidly burned for energy.

4. Drinking tea steadies blood sugar. Drinking 8 oz. of tea 15 minutes before meals helps dieters lose four times more fat than women who count calories without adding slimming tea, according to research in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. “The credit goes to tea’s theaflavins, tannins and other polyphenols,” says Steven Pratt, M.D., assistant clinical professor at the University of California at San Diego and coauthor of The SuperFoods Rx Diet (Rodale, 2008). “These antioxidants nourish the body’s insulin-regulating system and optimize the burning of carbs and fat.”

5. Drinking tea targets belly fat. Women who switched from coffee to green tea reduced visceral fat (the kind that accumulates in tissue surrounding the abdominal area) by 76 percent in four months, according to research in the journal In Vivo. “Tea’s L-theanine reduces production of the stress hormone cortisol by as much as 47 percent,” explains Mark Ukra, author of The Ultimate Tea Diet (Collins Living, 2008). “Cortisol increases belly-fat deposits and prevents fat breakdown, so as cortisol levels drop, belly fat is lost, slimming your waist line.”

6. Drinking tea keeps weight off. “On most diets, at least half of the weight lost is calorie-hungry muscle, which is a recipe for disaster because less muscle means a sluggish metabolism and a higher risk of regaining pounds,” says Harry Preuss, M.D., professor of physiology and biophysics at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. “But on a tea-rich diet, up to 90 percent of weight lost is fat, and many women actually gain three to four pounds of metabolism-boosting muscle. This makes it easier to stay slim since metabolic rate hasn’t slowed down”. What’s more, preliminary research reveals that the powerful tea antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) helps block the formation of new fat cells. In one study, taking EGCG helped women keep off 60 percent more weight than those taking a placebo.

Look at what Tea can do:
Tea’s health benefits extend beyond slimming. It’s a proven remedy for bad breath and dry mouth, it lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and it doubles the effectiveness of antibiotics.

Drinking five cups a day can also reduce:
1. Breast and colon cancer risk by 30%.
2. Ovarian cancer risk by 46%
3. Rheumatoid arthritis risk by 50%
4. Stroke risk by 69%

Drink five-plus servings of tea a day, including one cup before each meal. For best results, eat three balanced meals that contain at least 50 percent veggies, fruit and whole grains, plus a serving of lean protein and a bit of fat.

Cook with Tea to Slim even faster.
Seasoning dishes with tea (pulverize loose tea in a coffee grinder for one minute) will significantly up your antioxidant intake. "Fruity teas can eliminate the need for sweeteners in breakfasts or desserts", says Ukra. "Or use tea as a seasoning, which enhances flavor and seals the juices into meat so less fat, sugar and salt are needed. This simple step can help you shed an additional two pounds weekly."

For a healthy spice rub: In bowl, mix 2 tsp. ground black pepper, 1 tsp. dried thyme, 1 tsp. kosher salt and 1 tsp. finely ground oolong tea. Sprinkle on chicken before baking for a full-bodied smoky flavor. Slimming benefit: Blending black pepper with tea leaves enhances absorption of pound-paring catechins by 60 percent.

Enjoying these tea-packed products can deliver similar slimming benefits as drinking the brew:

Overwhelmed by Stress? Each packet of Kashi Heart To Heart Instant Oatmeal contains a hefty dose of green tea (100 mg) and white tea (50 mg). For a sweet start to the day, try the apple cinnamon flavor.

Craving Fizz? A 12 oz. bottle of fruity pomegranate or raspberry Steaz Organic Sparkling Green Tea fills in for an afternoon soda while delivering the health benefits of a cup of green tea.

Need a Chocolate fix? Smile Chocolatiers Choclatea bars (at Whole Foods Market stores)are an infusion of crushed tea leaves and chocolate. Coconut-Green Tea dark chocolate is truly tasty.

Health Benefits of Eating Clean

There are so many benefits from eating fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grain, tea ect. After exploring my curiosity through much research, I've found a plethora of benefits from eating food from the earth! Its amazing how food has all the minerals and nutrition we need. Here are some changes in my body I recognized just by switching my eating habbits and incorporating daily exercise into my life! :)

1. Brighter Skin

2. No Facial or Body Acne

3. Lighter Periods

4. Less Stressed

5. Less Tired and Exhaustion

6. Healthier Nails

7. Less Symptoms If Sick

8. Fewer Cavities

9. More Alert

10. More Productive Throughout the Day

11. Visible Veins in Feet and Hands

12. Tighter Smoother Skin

Tips to help speed up your metabolism and help you lose weight.

Here are the best weight loss tips that works to help speed up your metabolism plus help you lose weight.

Easiest way to lose weight fast and safely is to cut your calorie intake by eating more on fiber, fruits and vegetables. You'll feel full with fewer calories on them. Fruits, vegetables and fibers are packed with nutrients but less on calories.

1. Fill up on Fiber and Lose Weight Fast

Foods rich in fiber will make you feel satisfied and help curb your appetite, helping you to lose weight fast and safely - so make sure to pack your diet with fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

2. Boost fat-burning metabolic rate by 50% by sipping coffee

Sipping coffee before a meal can suppress appetite by 35%, plus boost fat-burning metabolic rate by 50%, according to extensive research at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. The study-proven dose: 250 mg of caffeine daily, taken either in supplement form or by sipping to cups of coffee or 4 cups of tea.

3. Lose Weight just by eating Yogurt

Yogurt is a calcium-rich food. Research links calcium with lower cortisol production, and it has been proven that women who increase their intake lose up to 40% more weight than calcium avoiders.

Plus Yogurt has live microorganisms which helps proper digestion and absorption of nutrients we take. Make sure to get yogurts that say "with live microorganisms in labels/packages".

4. Try this Hunger-Taming Trick

Cut fat and you'll cut cravings. Consuming a high-fat diet may suppress your body's natural satiety signals, according to a new study from Pennsylvania State University. Animals who'd been consuming a diet rich in fat ended up eating 40% more of a high-calorie snack than those on average diets. Keep your fat intake to less than 30% of total calories.

5. Feel full on less food.

Apples are rich in pectin, a soluble fiber that slows the digestive process, so you'll feel full on less food. The result: You'll eat just enough food to make you happy, reducing calorie intake.

6. Studies suggest people pursuing a healthy weight could lose more weight and burn more fat by including 24 ounces a day of low fat or fat-free milk in their reduced-calorie diet, instead of 8 ounces or less.

7. Speed fat burn with Cranberries.

The ascorbic acid in cranberries helps thin liver bile, making it easier for the organ to emulsify fat so so it can be quickly flushed out of the system rather than stored in cells.

8. Boost your protein intake and lose almost a pound a week without hunger.

Boost your Protein intake- You can try protein smoothies. Packed with nutrients and low in calories, smoothies are a fast, easy and great tasting way to achieve good health.

You can find a wide collection of Healthy Fruit Smoothies here.

By boosting your protein intake from the typical 15% of total calories to 30%, you may be able to cut your daily calorie intake by 440-enough to lose almost a pound a week without hunger, according to a recent University of Washington study. "A high-protein diet appears to fool the brain into thinking you've eaten more than you have," says the study's lead author, Scott Weigle, M.D., a professor of endocrinology at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine. Stick with lean protein rather than high-fat, artery clogging meat and dairy products. For breakfast, use low-fat milk instead of water in your oatmeal and sprinkle nuts on top. Eat plenty of beans, fish and skinless chicken breast.

9. To counteract a binge, keep your body's fat-burning furnace running on full blast by drinking Green Tea.

Green Tea contains caffeine and the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) , which is proven to boost metabolic rate. In fact, in a recent 3 month study, participants who took Green Tea extract lost 4.6% of their body weight without changing their diet. To get the benefit, drink at least 3 cups a day.

Whenever I eat too much, I just drink green tea and I don't have to worry gaining weight.

10. Speed weight loss and double energy levels by eating Coconuts.

This tropical treats contain medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), a unique fat that is shuttled straight to the liver and immediately burned for fuel. Research shows this little detour revs metabolic rate by up to 50%, speeding weight loss and doubling energy levels.

A Favorite Tip: Before you eat, drink a glass of water. This will help you feel fuller without additional calories.

Negative Calorie Foods: The more you eat, the more you lose weight!

Eat negative calorie foods as much as you want without worrying about weight gain.

Just by eating negative calorie foods, you burn more calories than what you actually consume without worrying about weight gain.

You don't need to count calories, eat less or skip meals to lose weight. You need to know that skipping meals is not good, resulting to a slower metabolism and you'll end up overeating on your next meal as well. Eating less, just as counting calories will make you feel deprived, which may lead you to emotional eating. Just by eating negative calorie foods, you burn additional more calories without worrying about weight gain.

Truth is, there is no "negative calorie foods". The reason why certain foods are referred to as "negative calorie foods" is because the body requires more calories to digest these foods than the calories they contain. The body needs to work harder to breakdown and process these negative calorie foods.

For example, eating a food that requires 200 calories to digest but only contains 100 calories will get your body to use an extra 100 calories to digest it. In other words, you only consumed 100 calories but burnt 200 calories just by eating that food, resulting in a net loss of 100 calories. This way your body is burning up stored body fat.

Negative calorie foods are high in fiber and carbohydrates with very less fat. You already know that eating foods high in fiber makes you feel full longer. Foods high in fiber are very filling and are good for the body; carbohydrates are difficult to break down (the body works harder on carbohydrates so it can use the calories as usable energy), while fats are easily added to our body. So the more you eat negative calorie foods, the more you lose weight!

Some Negative calorie foods include:

1. Spinach
2. Cucumber
3. Beet
4. Berries
5. Lettuce
6. Broccoli
7. Grapefruit
8. Lemon
9. Orange
10. Papaya
11. Turnip
12. pineapple
13. Celery
14. Cauliflower
15. Garlic
16. Carrot
17. Apple
18. Cabbage
19. Zucchini
20. Asparagus

You can add these negative calorie foods in your every day meals and snacks without worrying about calories, to lose weight. So instead of skipping meals, eating less or counting calories, just eat these negative calorie foods and you're on your way to a slim healthy body.

5 Easy Smart and Simple Strategies to Lose Weight

Easy Tweaks In The Morning So You Lose Weight And Feel Better Than Ever

1. Get Moving Early. Kansas State University researchers found that exercising on an empty stomach burns 12 percent more fat than exercising after lunch. And Dr. Smith assures it doesn't have to be strenuous to be effective.

Simply going for a stroll, climbing the stairs in your house or trying a beginner's-level workout DVD will do.

2. Snack every 3 hours. People are so programmed to think that dieting means eating less and going hungry, says Dr. Smith.

The advantage to eating every three hours: According to UCLA researchers, doing so shuts down your brain's starvation protection mechanism (SPM), a biochemical system designed to shield you from famine by slowing metabolism and triggering a 27 percent increase in appetite.

In fact, studies at Queen's Medical Center in the United Kingdom suggest that people who deactivate their SPM with frequent mini meals are slimmer, stronger and more muscular and energetic than people who eat three square meals daily- plus, they have the highest metabolic rate and the lowest percentage of body fat of all study subjects, even if they're eating the same number of calories.

3. Keep meals light. Studies at the Harvard School of Public Health and elsewhere suggest that simply opting for smaller meals can cut blood sugar and insulin by up to 66 percent. This reduces food cravings by as much as 81 percent and doubles energy levels and fat burn in as little as 48 hours.

4. Eat 90 minutes before bed. This advice turned out to be so much more successful when applied to real life than I thought it would be, reveals Dr. Smith. And that's because the tip isn't as stringent as it sounds: While your dinner should be a mini meal 90 minutes before sleep, you are allowed to have one or even two small healthy snacks up to 15 minutes before going to bed.

Keep it light so that your body will be able to properly spend sleeping time building and repairing calorie-hungry lean muscle tissue, cautions Dr. Smith.

5. Sip herbal tea. While herbal teas don't contain any appetite-stimulating caffeine, the real reason that drinking them helps keep food cravings at bay is that the heat of the brew forces you to take slow sips, explains Dr. Smith, which provides satisfaction for quite a while.

Reduce Caloric Intake with Pear Smoothies: Enough to Lose 5 Pounds Monthly

Lose 5 lbs monthly with Pears

Studies at the Smell n Taste Treatment Research Foundation in Chicago reveal that inhaling sweet scents like the aroma of prickly Pear activates the brain's satiety center, reducing caloric intake enough to lose 5 pounds monthly.

One more reason: Savoring the refreshing flavor of prickly Pear is a delicious way to put a smile on your face. Researchers at the University of Vienna Austria discovered that the Pectin in this plant slows carbohydrate absorption so glucose enters the bloodstream more slowly. The result: Blood sugar levels remain steady, preventing the mood swings that come with spikes n dips. - First Magazine

Here are 2 great Pear Smoothies:

PEAR AVOCADO SMOOTHIE

1 large pear, chopped
1/2 cups green grapes
1/4 avocado
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Blend and top with chopped pecans

PEAR RASPBERRY SMOOTHIE

2/3 cups soy milk
1/4 cups dole country raspberry concentrate
3 ripe pears, cored
12 ice cubes

Place soy milk (or your choice of any other milk or non-dairy substitute) and all remaining ingredients in blender in order given.

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Can you really Lose Weight Just from Soup?

Can you really slim just from soup? You've probably heard that if you have soup before a meal, you end up eating less.

The soup rumor is true: Women in one study who started their meals with soup consumed 20 percent fewer calories overall - enough to lose five pounds every week.

But it's key to opt for a variety with 150 calories or fewer per serving. This usually means sticking to soups with a chicken or veggie broth and avoiding high-cal ingredients like noodles. Also, many ready-to-eat soups are too processed to deliver any slimming perks.

One brand: Kitchen Basics, Stock Chicken or vegetable stock, is free of additives that can sabotage weight loss. And since it contains just 20 calories per cup, even a big bowl with a cup chopped veggies is in the healthy range.

Hollywood's Rx for a Mushy Middle

How did Tori Spelling tighten her loose belly skin after having her second baby? She rubbed Mama Mio Tummy Toner on her belly twice a day.

Mama Mio Tummy Toner contains a soy protein complex (to tighten), hyaluronic acid (to speed skin-cell renewal) and papaya enzymes (to exfoliate). The result: fewer jiggles in two weeks.

Tummy-Trimming Strategies at the Salad Bar

1. Start with a generous base of mixed greens and baby spinach.
2. Add a layer of bell pepper slices.
3. Top with cherry tomatoes and broccoli florets.
4. Sprinkle with slivered almonds.
5. Drizzle with oil and vinegar.
6. Enjoy a whole-grain bun on the side.

High Protein Diet Plan: A Meal Plan that Helps You Lose Weight Fast and For Good

High Protein Diet : A Meal Plan to Get You Started to Lose Weight

3 Power Protein Foods for Weight Loss

When there's no time to diet, enjoying just one of these high protein foods per day can jumps-start weight loss, helping you lose weight fast and for good.

EGGS

Eating two eggs a day helps women lose 65 percent more weight and 83 percent more belly fat than eating a bagel of equal calories, a study at Baton Rouge's Louisiana State University reveals. Each egg has 6 grams of protein to promote satiety. And amino acids (like leucine) in the yolk stimulate muscle cells, resulting in a 25 percent spike in metabolism.

SOY

Snacking on protein-rich soy foods like edamame activates lipolysis (the burning of fat for energy), initiating weight loss in as little as three days, say researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Soy is rich in branched-chain amino acids that stimulate fat-burning mitochondria, which can reduce the production of new fat by 57 percent. An easy soy snack: Genisoy Soy Crisps (comes in different flavors: Deep Sea Salted, Roasted Garlic & Onion, Tangy Salt and Vinegar, Creamy Ranch).

CHEESE

A daily serving of low-fat dairy increases fat oxidation (the breakdown of fatty acids for fuel) as much as twenty fold, according to research in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Studies suggest this can help women lose 60 percent more body fat than if they'd shunned dairy. The credit goes to dairy's protein and calcium, which inhibit the production of parathyroid hormone, a compound that spurs fat storage.

Quick Overview of the High Protein Diet Plan:

Studies indicate that 75 percent of women are currently protein-deficient. According to researchers at Stanford University, a deficiency becomes more pronounced once women reach 40, due to the declining production of enzymes that are needed to break down and absorb protein's amino acids.

Compounding the Problem: "Many weight-conscious women are consuming as little as 13 percent of their total calories as protein", notes nutrition researcher Tom Venuto. "Yet for optimal health, permanent weight loss and easy maintenance of strong, trimmed, slimming muscle tissue, that number should be 30 percent."

For amazing results, aim to eat approximately half your body weight in protein grams daily. So if you weigh 6 pounds, enjoy about grams of protein each day. And to ensure weight loss is both fast and permanent, follow these study-proven strategies:

Eat your first protein meal within an hour of awakening:

An early-morning dose of protein stimulates the brain's hypothalamus to send out powerful fullness signals, resulting in more reliable appetite control throughout the day, according to research in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Indeed, extensive studies at Tufts University and elsewhere indicate that women who begin their day with a protein-rich mini meal eat 55 percent fewer calories overall- than those who shun protein until the afternoon. The early eaters are also 75 percent less likely to struggle with stress, blue moods and fatigue since eating protein soon after awakening stabilizes blood sugar and dampens cortisol production, explains weight loss expert David Heber, M.D., Ph.D.

Snack on at least two types of fruit a day:
Fruit provides hundreds of slimming phytonutrients, like grape's resveratrol (which promotes belly-fat loss), apple's pectin (which increases satiety) and banana's magnesium (which helps inhibit muscle breakdown).

"But more importantly, eating fruit is a great way to quickly satisfy your sweet tooth, which makes sticking to a healthy weight-loss plan significantly easier," says Venuto.

And studies at the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine suggest that fruit is an essential component of this mini-meal plan since it does what protein alone can't do: It quickly stabilizes blood sugar, cutting the risk of binge-triggering blood sugar swings by 31 percent or more.

Sneak in 10 minutes of Muscle Motion:

To double fat loss, consider spending at least 10 minutes each day weight training. "You can get the same results you would get using fancy equipment at a gym by lifting your own body weight at home, doing exercises like sit-ups, push-ups, lunges and squats," says Venuto.

Research at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta shows that women who pair a protein-rich meal plan with such exercises lose up to twice as much as those who simply diet. That's because muscle motion increases the pituitary gland's production of human growth hormone, a compound that encourages the formation of calorie-hungry lean muscle mass and helps keep resting metabolic rate at its peak.

A Sample Day to Get You Started to Lose Weight:

Breakfast: 2-egg omelet with 1 slice low-fat Swiss cheese, 1/2 cup spinach and 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes, seasoned to taste. Total protein: 24 grams.

Mid-morning meal: 1 oz. low-fat Cheddar cheese with 1 medium Granny Smith apple, sliced. Total protein: 8 grams.

Lunch: 3 cups salad greens mixed with 2 slices turkey, 1 slice cheese, 1/2 cup shredded carrots, 1 Tbs. chopped red onions, 5 cherry tomatoes and low-fat dressing. Total grams: 20 grams.

Mid-afternoon meal: 1 cup red-pepper slices with 1/4 cup prepared hummus. Total protein: 5 grams.

Dinner: 4 oz. grilled salmon (with lemon, if desired), 1/2 cup brown rice and 10 large asparagus spears, roasted. Total protein: 38 grams.

Dessert: 3/4 cup frozen cherries, micro waved 1 min., or until bubbly, topped with 3 Tbs. part-skim ricotta cheese and 1 Tbs. slivered almonds. Total protein: 5 grams.

Source: First

Stop Cravings for 4 hours and Lose Weight with Berries

Outsmart Snack Attacks for 4 hours and Lose Weight with Berries

Savoring Berries can outsmart snack attacks for 4 hours and help you shed 5% of your body weight in 6 months.

The credit goes to dozens of blood sugar stabilizing antioxidants. Blueberries are so packed with them, just a half cup daily can boost your blood levels by 100%.

More on Berries:

Enjoying 1 cup each day can boost insulin sensitivity by 7%, And that translates into a 42% drop in erratic blood sugar, binge eating and weight concerns, USDA studies suggest. The credit goes to cyanidin, kaempferol and phenolics.

"This phytochemicals activate the brain's satiety center, so you feel full on far less food," says Guttersen.

Quickest Ways to Lose Weight

Here are the Easiest Ways to Lose Weight Fast

1. Two cups of Green Tea a day jump starts the metabolism. So does a morning glass of unsweetened cranberry juice.

2. Drink a Glass of Water before meals to fake a full feeling. And make sure to have a total of at least 2 liters of water throughout the day.

3. Cut-out High-Starch Foods like potatoes.

4. Catch Z's : Getting 8 hours of sleep each night boosts metabolism by cutting down on cortisol production, which causes weight gain.

5. Weight Training: Weight Training 3 times a week for 30-60 minutes will speed a slim-down, since muscle burns fat fast.

6. Walk it Off: Hoof it whenever possible - 30-60 minutes of extra walking each day adds up to around 4 miles ( calories burned: 300).

Keep your Metabolism Fast by drinking Green Tea.

To counteract a binge, keep your body's fat-burning furnace running on full blast by drinking Green Tea

Green Tea contains caffeine and the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is proven to boost metabolic rate.

In fact, in a recent 3 month study, participants who took Green Tea extract lost 4.6% of their body weight without changing their diet.

To get the benefit, drink Green Tea at least 3 cups a day.

Next >>

Boost Fat-burning Metabolic Rate by 50% by Drinking Coffee

Boost Fat-burning Metabolic Rate by 50% by Drinking Coffee

Drinking coffee before a meal can suppress appetite by 35%, plus boost fat-burning metabolic rate by 50%

That's according to extensive research at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

A nice cup of coffee or tea can help you get over any snack cravings. Green or herbal teas are a great choice because of the extra health benefits.

The study-proven dose : 250 mg of caffeine daily, taken either in supplement form or by drinking two cups of coffee or 4 cups of tea.

Bonus: Caffeine acts as a diuretic, which means it increases the amount of urine you excrete. This water loss may temporarily decrease your body weight.

Next >>

To counteract a binge, keep your body's fat-burning furnace running on full blast by drinking Green Tea