Weight Loss & Diet Plans

This article compliments the video posting  Look Up!  Reconnect With Family And Friends The importance of dinnertime or mealtime as a family cannot be emphasized enough.  Through much required planning and preparation it is possible.Small changes throughout time can make a big difference in your family’s health and well-being. Begin by adding one meal at a time and see what your family thinks! from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8135872 http://ift.tt/21rpLJb

With the holidays quickly approaching, it is important to plan and prepare.  Below is a reference guide full of great tips for you and your family to consider.  Looking for dish ideas?  Included below are 10 modified dishes which include calorie, carbohydrate, and protein count per serving.  Thank you to our Registered Dietitian, Arica Fratarcangeli for these wonderful meal creations.   from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8135872 http://ift.tt/21rpLsM

Today I want to share with you some common reasons you may not be losing weight: You may be losing it without knowing   It's not just about the scales it could be down to your body composition changing.  A 63 year old did the  3 Week diet  but didn't lose as much weight as she had hoped, but she was pleasantly surprised when all her friends were desperate to know what she had done. What happened was that her body shape had changed, and so much of her fat had turned to muscle meaning she was looking very trim ! You're not keeping track of what you're eating Sometimes we get on the scales but don't really understand why we've put on weight. "I've hardly eaten anything".  Then a family member reminds you of the little snacks which you've been constantly eating which you forgot about.   If this is you then keeping a food journal even if just for a week would make a difference. You're not eating enough protein ...

How old are you? Did the number you just stated scare you? Do you feel as if life is passing you by? I have some optimistic advice if you're willing to accept it. Although you may think time is dwindling or maybe you aren't that old and you feel as if you're drowning in the redundancy that seems to be every day life, there is hope to greatly change and improve your life. The best part is it is not that difficult. Sure, it seems as if though I am blatantly stating how easy something so seemingly difficult is to accomplish. Well that is because I personally think most people overthink things when it comes to actively improving your life. Key word actively. It is a never-ending battle yet you get to say you are improving your life, that's the loophole if you will. It is a continuous struggle, however the reward is present each and every day if you allow it to be. Lets start with the internal workings of your body and how starting your improvement there is...

Omega-3 fatty acids are incredibly important. They can have all sorts of powerful health benefits for your body and brain. In fact, few nutrients have been studied as thoroughly as omega-3 fatty acids. Here are 17 health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids that are supported by science. 1. Omega-3s Can Fight Depression and Anxiety Depression  is one of the most common mental disorders in the world. Symptoms include sadness, lethargy and a general loss of interest in life ( 1 ,  2 ). Anxiety is also a very common disorder, and is characterized by constant worry and nervousness ( 3 ). Interestingly, studies have found that people who consume omega-3s regularly are less likely to be depressed ( 4 ,  5 ). What’s more, when people with depression or anxiety start taking omega-3 supplements, their symptoms get better ( 6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ). There are  three types of omega-3  fatty acids: ALA, EPA and DHA....

Eggs  are among the healthiest foods you can eat. They are rich in high-quality protein, healthy fats and many essential vitamins and minerals. Eggs also have a few unique properties that make them egg-ceptionally  weight loss friendly . This article explains why whole eggs are a killer weight loss food. Eggs Are Low in Calories The simplest way to lose weight is to reduce your daily  calorie intake . One large egg contains only about 78 calories, yet is very high in nutrients. Egg yolks are especially nutritious ( 1 ). An egg meal commonly consists of about 2–4 eggs. Three large boiled eggs contain less than 240 calories. By adding a generous serving of vegetables, you’re able to have a complete meal for only about 300 calories. Just keep in mind that if you fry your eggs in  oil  or  butter , you add about 50 calories for each teaspoon used. Bottom Line:  One large egg contains about 78 calories. A meal consisting of 3 bo...

If I had to choose just one weight training exercise that builds overall lean muscle mass and increases strength, it would have to be squats. But it's important to learn how to squat correctly. Having good form and technique is crucial to get the maximum benefit and to avoid injury. It's not a difficult exercise to perform, and I recommend it to anybody. Originally, I had planned to make a list of "10 reasons why you should squat", but I ended up expanding the list as I went on. Some of these I have researched and some are from my experience of squatting over the years. People still have a misconception about squatting and think they are meant only for pro athletes and bodybuilders. That's not true; squatting is suitable for anybody, both male and female, who are interested in building lean muscle and burning fat as well as improving their health. Why Every Woman Should Squat It is especially great for the ladies that want a great set of legs and a sexy...

Do you think  that lifting heavy barbells and dumbbells is the only way to build muscle mass? Then think again. In this article you will find 3 weight training options that are proven to build muscle mass. Add these weight training options to your bodybuilding repertoire and maximise your muscle gains. So heavy barbells and dumbbells are taking the fun out of your muscle building workouts. You have enough motivation but weights seem to be going nowhere. What is happening you think! The solution might be simpler than you think. No. It does not require any $200 per hour coach to figure it out. You need a change in your bodybuilding option. Why change works in the bodybuilding world In one word.  Homeostasis . Homeostasis, also called adaptation or your body's ability to adjust to any new stimulus is the biggest enemy of your muscle building gains. When you constantly lift heavy barbells and dumbbells, the stress on the muscles, joints and nervous system compounds. Eve...

Do you feel bloated after every meal or even when you wake up in the morning? Do you constantly go back and forth between constipation and diarrhea? If so, you are not alone. According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 63 million people have chronic constipation and more than 15 million people have been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The cause of these symptoms is often overlooked, but rather symptoms are managed with chronic medication use, leading to side effects and additional health challenges. There are many lifestyle and dietary factors impacting digestive challenges including stress, food allergies and sensitivities, and medication usage. Each individual is different and there is no one size fits all approach to a healthy body and healthy gut. We do know that the food choices we make can have a significant impact, of course, on these symptoms. And there are foods that are particularly healing for the gut. Foods to heal your gut Fermen...

Looking to take a jump towards better health? If so, you need to stop and consider adding the power of super-seeds to your meal plan. Many people completely overlook what seeds have to offer and instead, choose to get their healthy fats from nuts or oils instead. But, seeds present a wealth of nutrients that will do your body well all while livening up any stale diet plan. Let's take a look at some of the tastiest seeds for you to consider... 1. Flaxseed.  Flaxseed is important for not only providing healthy fats but in that fat, omega fatty acids. These fatty acids will... increase insulin sensitivity, help combat depression, and can help prevent diseases like heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Flaxseed is also going to provide a great dose of fiber per serving and will also offer a good dose of protein as well. 2. Chia Seeds.  The next seed to start considering more often is chia seeds. Chia seeds are an excellent source of dietary fiber, packing almost five gr...

Back in the day most of the questions on coconut were all about using the pulp to shred or shave as an ingredient in a list of tempting desserts. Today clients are talking about coconut oil, coconut water, beverages, and their perceived health benefits. Now I'm always open to new news, but my mantra continues to be "all things in moderation and there is no one food that is the answer to all ills. " Coconut oil is made from the fruit of the coconut palm tree. It is a saturated fat and like other fats and oils contains nine calories per gram. Most saturated fats such as those found in animal sources i.e. meat, dairy, and poultry are solid at room temperature and contain cholesterol. Coconut oil is one of the tropical oils. It is saturated yet its' consistency can be solid, semi-solid or liquid and it does not contain cholesterol. Coconut oil like other fats contains fatty acids; however this tropical oil has a unique combination of fatty acids ranging from short t...

75 percent of our immune system is in our digestive track, and that includes your stomach. This makes the popular phrase "You are what you eat" more important than it has ever been. In general, our immune system does a miraculous job of guarding our bodies against microorganisms that can make us sick and or kill us. Unfortunately, perfection does not exist, not even in our immune system, and pathogens can be very intelligent. In addition to intelligent pathogens, which is anything that can cause disease and make us sick, our behavioral habits such as diets low in nutritional value, and lack of exercise, weakens our immune system. A weaken immune system makes self-healing difficult if not impossible. Furthermore, activities such as cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol in access create an ideal environment for pathogens to thrive. Much of immune systems self-healing properties can be enhanced, with a proper diet and moderate exercise. Moreover, diseases such as cancer,...

Today, more and more people are finding out about the medical-uses-of-honey. Why does honey offer you so many health benefits? Simply put, it's mainly because of its super healthy ingredients. Honey is jam-packed with all kinds of vitamins, minerals and other healthy contents that are beneficial to your overall health. Antibacterial Agents When harmful bacteria enter your body they can often cause so many different kinds of illnesses and health issues, like an ear infection or an urinary tract infection. Antibacterial agents can fight off all kinds of harmful bacteria. Honey also works very well for treating skin abrasions and burns too. Antioxidants Many people associate antioxidants with fruits and vegetables, but honey also has these beneficial compounds. Antioxidants offer several healing functions for your body. Antioxidants can actually neutralize free radicals. Free radicals have been linked to some cancers. Antioxidants help to heal cells that have been harmed by fre...

Having excess body fat is a very common and potentially dangerous medical condition in human beings today. It is potentially dangerous because it predisposes the affected person to diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, polycystic ovarian syndrome, non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis and even cirrhosis of the liver! These are just to mention a few of the medical hazards that can be caused by excessive fat in the body. Between the genders, women have to be even more careful with weight gain because they have a greater percentage of fat in the body than men. That's just the way nature made it. If you want to know whether you are overweight or obese, you should calculate your BODY MASS INDEX; also known as BMI. It is really simple to do using this formula: Your WEIGHT in Kilograms divided by your HEIGHT in centimeters (squared) i.e. WEIGHT (kg)/HEIGHT(cm)2. The normal range of BMI is 18-24.9. If you are above 24.9, you are overweight and greater than 29.9 is ...

Most health experts these days are encouraging consumers to eat more fiber. This is due to the evidence that insufficient levels of fiber in the diet can lead to several diseases. Common among these diseases are diabetes, constipation, obesity and colon cancer. These diseases are life threatening diseases you wouldn't want to associate with. Eating high animal fat is liked to increase risk of colon cancer. High intake of fiber however protects against colon cancer. This is done by the speeding up the passage of food through the digestive tract, thus shortening the time of exposure of the tissues to agents in food that might possibly cause colon cancer. So, how does fiber help prevent constipation and hemorrhoids? Insoluble fibers hold much water in the colon (large intestine), thus providing bulk which stimulate the muscles of the digestive tract so that they can retain their health and tone. By so doing, the toned muscles can more easily move waste products through the colon...

You probably don't always think about your health, or the effects certain factors can have on your body. You tend to roll through life, taking care of day-to-day issues, and enjoy as much of life as you can. But if you're not careful, you can end up facing consequences to your health that could have been avoided. To prevent this, avoid these top four health mistakes teens make. 1. Most teens stay up late studying or hanging out with friends and don't get enough sleep. By not having a regular sleep pattern, you could be doing your body damage. You may think you're sleeping enough, but your body may not be getting the amount of rest it really needs. Teens need eight to ten hours of sleep a night to function best. 2. When you munch on a lot of junk food while studying, hanging out with friends, watching TV, and at the movies, you're causing serious damage to your health. Eating too much junk food can cause serious weight issues, heart disease, diabetes, and other...

I've put off writing this post for many years because I know it will be controversial.  But we're a few days from Christmas, and I also know this post will be a wonderful gift for some people. Chronic or intermittent pain, often located in the back, neck, and/or buttocks, is a major driver of personal suffering and reduced productivity in the US and other affluent nations.  While pain can obviously have a variety of structural causes, such as sprained ankles or bruising, garden-variety back pain usually doesn't.  I've come to believe that such pain is usually psychosomatic in nature-- in other words, caused by the brain but resulting in physical signs and symptoms in the body.  It's widely accepted that a person's mental state can affect pain perception, but this idea goes further.  Pain isn't just exacerbated by a person's mental state; it's often entirely caused by it. Read more » This post was written by Stephan Guyenet for Whole Health Sour...

So every morning we see people drinking these massive cans of energy drinks in the gym, and we just don't get it... why spend hours working out to look and feel great only to drink a load of rubbish?! Remember muscles are made in the kitchen so make sure you choose a pre workout energy drink that is 100% natural and has positive effect on your body... 70% Diet + 30% Gym = 100% Beast! There's no better pre workout drink than an ethically produced, toxin free, high caffeine coffee! Burn More Calories Many studies have proven that drinking coffee prior to working out is likely to result in more calories being burned and greater fat loss. When caffeine is consumed it speeds up the metabolism and makes you burn more calories. In addition, caffeine can result in fat cells being used as an energy source rather than glycogen. Another benefit is that caffeine acts as a hunger suppressant meaning that you consume less and so burn fat stores. Improved Circulation Scientific rese...

Your nails say a lot about you, such as your favorite polish color or even how meticulous you are with your hygiene. However, they also say a lot about your general health. From signaling that you may be suffering from a respiratory condition to suggesting that you may be suffering from thyroid disease, here are five things your nails can say about your health. 1. Blue Fingernails: Referred to as cyanosis in the medical community, this indicates that there is too little oxygen circulating in your blood. It can also signal that your extremities are not getting enough oxygen. If you massage or warm up your hands and they return to their normal color, this is usually the case. However, if they remain blue, there is an underlying cause. In many cases, this is the result of a respiratory condition, such as emphysema, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). It can also be a sign of Raynaud's Disease, which is due to a vessel abnormality and can be treated. 2. Yell...

Surviving vs. Thriving - Where are you and where do you want to be? Many of us go through life day by day not even really thinking about if we are surviving or thriving. We have things to do, people to see, work to be done and plans to make. We go through the motions and don't even stop to think if we are where we want to be in life. Or know that when we do stop to think about it, we won't like what we see. Living day by day is a safe way to approach life. Living day by day is not easy to do. Many of us live in the past while criticizing our mistakes and dwelling on what could have been. Some of us live in the future wishing things were different, we were different, had something better to look forward to. Very few live in the present, day by day. Living in the present is the difference between surviving and thriving! You know you are surviving when: · you are coping with your life the way it is. · you settle for nothing better than the passing of time. The slower, the ...

Have you ever woke up in the morning with your body feeling heavy as lead, and a thousand needles seem pricking every joint of your body? Then you try to get up, only to plop down on bed, with a dozen reasons why you should go back to bed and have a few more minutes of sleep. We all have mornings like this - especially if the years are piling up on us. But if they come too often, watch out. You are set up for an unhealthy life. They become a siren's song that lulls you into lethargy. Even a single day is bad because it will be followed by another and another, until it becomes a habit. And habits are always looked at unfavorably and are darn difficult to break.. No matter how strong the temptation is to laze in bed a few minutes more, get up, with all your power; get up and shake those lazy bones and start getting physical. Why? Because physical activity, at any age, contributes to overall feelings of wellness. It becomes very vital I if you are at the prime of your life,...