Month: December 2014

The best way to find the healthy eating diet that’s best for you is to pay careful attention to what you eat, and how it makes you feel. It might seem like a time consuming process, but you should write down everything you eat for at least a few days. Don’t eat differently than you normally do. If you usually have fast food pizza twice a week for supper, for instance, go ahead and do what you normally do. Then write it down, as well as how you felt that evening.

After a few days, you should have a log of everything you’ve eaten over the last few days (a week or more is ideal, though) as well as notes about how you felt after eating, and your general sense of wellness. Did you wake up feeling puffy? Were you cranky a couple of hours after dinner for no reason, or was your mood fine?

Now, choose a healthy eating diet that interests you. Whether it’s low-fat, vegetarian, or low-carb doesn’t matter right now. Just choose the one that appeals the most to you. If you’re trying to lose weight, obviously choose one designed for weight loss. But if you’re looking to simply follow a healthy eating plan, then just choose one that seems nutritionally sound to you and that you can follow without feeling deprived and miserable.

Continue to record what you eat and how you feel once you’re following your healthy eating diet. You might be surprised that the way of eating you thought would be good for you really isn’t. If you’ve been eating a very unhealthy diet, you can expect to feel a little different on the first few days of any healthy diet. You might feel a little deprived at first if you allowed yourself lots of indulgences before. Give it more than a few days so you can really see how you feel eating those kinds of foods.

If you choose a low-fat, high-carbohydrate plan, for instance, and after a week you realize that two hours after every meal you feel sleepy and irritable, it might be time to try a lower-carbohydrate way of eating. So you can change from a high-carbohydrate healthy eating diet to a lower-carbohydrate plan. Then keep track just as you have been doing and see how you feel on the new plan.

If you choose a healthy eating diet that’s pretty low in carbohydrates and stresses protein and fat and you find that you feel nauseous a lot or just out of sorts, then it’s clear that you don’t want to spend the rest of your life eating that way. Try a higher-carbohydrate plan and monitor how you feel. You’ll also want to keep track of your weight during this time and see how each different way of eating affects the scales. By keeping track this way, you can even pinpoint individual foods that might make you feel bad or cause cravings, so you can avoid them in your healthy eating diet.

How long should you stay on the Atkins diet and remain helthy?

Before that question is answered it’s important to understand a little bit more about the Atkins diet. The Atkins diet is probably one of the most controversial diets. This diet was developed by a man named Dr. Robert Atkins.

He believed that the reason for major obesity in Western cultures was because we ate too many carbs and refined sugars. The way our bodies work was working against us for our modern lifestyles. We have to force our body to instead of store fat for future use, to use it now for fuel.

Many people believe that someone on the Atkins eats all the greasy, fried, meat they want and brick after brick of cheese to lose weight. There is only a small grain of truth to this. Dr. Atkins himself numerous times has explained that his diet doesn’t give you permission to gorge yourself. You are limited to how much cheese per day you eat as well. The only true part about it is that in the first phase your diet consists mainly of protein.

The initial part of the Atkins diet, referred to as the induction phase, is when the dieter eats nothing but protein. In fact, while on the induction phase of the Atkins diet you are only limited to 20 grams of carbs per day. It is suggested that you only stay on this part of the diet for two weeks. You may think that answers the question to “how long should you stay on the Atkins diet?” but it does not.

After the induction phase, healthy carbs are slowly added back into the diet. This part of the Atkins diet is called OWL, or Ongoing Weight Loss. This phase of the diet lasts until you are within 10 pounds of your goal weight.

The next phase of the Atkins diet is the Pre-maintenance phase. In this phase of the diet carbs are again slowly increased. This part of the diet is designed for you to find out what your maximum daily carb intake can be without gaining any weight. You increase carbs while hoping to still lose those last 10 pounds. If you start gaining, then you have to cut back on the carbs a little bit.

The last phase of the diet is referred to as lifetime maintenance. This is achieved when you reach your ideal weight and you know what your maximum carb intake can be without gaining weight. You are supposed to maintain this phase for the rest of your life, so that you don’t gain any weight. If you happen to slip and gain weight, then it is suggested that you move back to a previous phase to lose it.

The answer to “How long should you stay on the Atkins diet” has two parts. First of all, you can stay on the Atkins diet as long as your doctor tells you can be on it. It is highly suggested that you be regularly monitored while on the Atkins diet. So long as you’re okay medically to be on the Atkins diet, you should stay on it for as long as you want to maintain the weight you achieved while being on the diet.

There is no doubt that the market place is filled with countless programs that claim to be the last word in healthy eating diets. One plan may allow you to eat all of the whole grains and vegetables you want, while the next may all but eliminate them. The problem is that there is no way they can all be right, and not all of them can be wrong; this leads to confusion, and this confusion is often all the excuse people need to not try any healthy diet at all. How are you supposed to tell which ones are good or bad; and which ones should be avoided versus which ones are worth trying?

What may surprise you is that some of the most popular diets are not necessarily the most healthy. The truth is that a lot of them are based around a gimmick of some kind, and the rest of the diet relies on some basic principles found in all healthy eating diets. This creates the illusion that the gimmick makes it work, but the harsh reality is that the gimmick is often the least healthy aspect of such diets.

Still, it’s hard to convince people that a certain diet doesn’t work. There is a lot of psychology that goes along with it, but the simple explanation is that these people are invested in believing their diet of choice works, and that the gimmicky portion is the secret. However, there are many people who don’t resort to fad diets to get healthy. Instead, they develop a well-balanced plan of their own by taking the best elements from several healthy eating diets.

One of the fad diets to make a big splash recently was the low-carb diet. These diets really did work for a good number of people. How they worked, and whether they’re a good long-term option remains debatable, but they did work. The catch is that there are very few people that should b restricting carbohydrate intake to this degree. Sure, it’s a good idea to get rid of the “bad” carbs found in white flour, white rice and sugar, but it’s not a good idea to give up the “good” carbs which are high in fiber and loaded with nutrients that can’t be found anywhere else.

So, a low-carb diet may help somebody to lose weight, but it can’t really be counted among healthy eating diets because it falls short on fiber as well as various important nutrients. But, somebody can take a part of the typical low-carb diet and use it to create some of their own specific plan.

Of course there are tons of other diets that say you should do this or do that, or not to do it at all. But healthy eating plans don’t have to rely on gimmicks, they simply rely on common sense. Instead, it’s just a matter of eating a variety of wholesome foods and keeping them on balance, and in this day and age, that may be the biggest gimmick of all.

There are certain healthy eating facts that don’t change no matter what kind of a diet you follow, or what kind of lifestyle you have. Whether you’re sedentary or active, too much saturated fat isn’t good for you. Whether you eat 1600 calories a day or 2500, depending on your activity level, trans fats are unhealthy, for example. And whether you’re trying to lose weight quickly or jump start a long-term weight loss program, fasting isn’t a good choice for your body.

One of the healthy eating facts that we didn’t have to worry about years ago is that trans fats are unhealthy. Some trans fats occur naturally in food, but those aren’t the same as the man-made trans fats that make up margarine and shortening, and are found in almost every commercially produced baked good you can find. Trans fats are also often included in boxed mixes that you prepare at home, and things like instant cocoa, because of its long shelf-life.

Hydrogenated fats like margarine and shortening became available in 1911. Before then trans fats weren’t something the average consumer had to worry about. Now, though, hydrogenated oils or trans fats are present in almost every type of food you can think of. The hydrogenation process keeps fats from going rancid for a longer period of time. But the link between hydrogenated oils and heart health is clear—it’s worse for you than saturated fat.

This is one of the healthy eating facts that has prompted the government to step in. They’ve insisted that fast-food restaurants reduce the amount of trans fats in their food. Food manufacturers also have to include the amount of trans fats on their food labels, too. Carefully read food labels so that you’re at least aware of what you’re eating. Anything that says hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated is a trans fat, and something you want to avoid as much as possible. Eliminate these trans fats from your diet completely if you can.

Another one of the healthy eating facts that not too many people think about is how bad regular soft drinks are for your health. A can of regular soft drink contains about 9 teaspoons of sugar. And how often do you drink more than one soda in a day? Some people drink several sodas per day, preferring soda to beverages like water or tea.

Everyone’s going to eat sugar in some form, but moderation is called for. And when one soda provides you with 9 teaspoons of sugar, that’s pretty much the sugar limit for the day—that we don’t need refined sugar at all is one of the most ignored healthy eating facts. But most people have sugar in other forms, too, raising their daily total of sugar intake much higher.
Considering the rising rates of obesity, diabetes and other diet-related illnesses, cutting back on trans fat and soda in our diets is important. These healthy eating facts can make a huge difference in our weight and overall health if we don’t ignore them

Many people feel they need help losing weight. If you’re one of them, you’re not alone, and you can find that help if you know where to look. The first and most obvious place is at your doctor’s office. Ask him or her about the best, safest way to lose weight. Your physician should give you a healthy diet plan to follow, or one for you to use an example to start eating better so you can shed some pounds. Your physician will probably be thrilled to hear that you’re ready to take your health in hand and lose some weight.

You might be tempted to ask for help losing weight in the form of diet pills and weight loss medications. This is a valid way that some people lose weight when they can’t seem to do it alone. Ask your doctor if this is a good option for you. Your doctor will know your medical history and your current health and be able to advise you in which medications might be an option, or explain why you shouldn’t bother taking the medicine. Don’t be discouraged if your doctor is against the idea of prescribing weight loss medicine. Millions of people have lost weight without taking pills or using other aids, and so can you.

Other professional help losing weight that you can find besides your doctor could be a counselor or psychologist. While this isn’t an often recommended step in losing weight, for some people it can be an important one. Some people have trouble losing weight because they eat compulsively, and very often this has roots in an emotional or psychological cause. It’s very difficult to eat healthy or even just stop overeating if you have emotional triggers that cause this compulsive behavior. Talking to a counselor or a psychologist can help you get to the root of what’s causing your eating problems, and put one step further down the road to healing yourself emotionally while you’re getting healthier.

Your local health department or hospital might offer you help losing weight through various programs about nutrition and exercise. Ask about their different programs. Most people who run such programs are happy to talk to you about them and help you get started on the right track. If you can afford it, a visit to a nutritionist or dietician can really offer you help losing weight. These experts on food, eating and nutrition can put together an eating plan that’s designed to be right for you and the foods you eat.

Never more will you have to worry about finding those exotic ingredients in that popular diet plan. They’ll use your food choices and modify them into a healthy diet that will let you lose weight. You’ll know it’s safe and healthy if it comes directly from an expert, rather than a “guru” who wants to sell a diet plan. A few visits with a personal trainer can also offer you help losing weight by ensuring you’re exercising correctly.

There are certain healthy eating facts that don’t change no matter what kind of a diet you follow, or what kind of lifestyle you have. Whether you’re sedentary or active, too much saturated fat isn’t good for you. Whether you eat 1600 calories a day or 2500, depending on your activity level, trans fats are unhealthy, for example. And whether you’re trying to lose weight quickly or jump start a long-term weight loss program, fasting isn’t a good choice for your body.

One of the healthy eating facts that we didn’t have to worry about years ago is that trans fats are unhealthy. Some trans fats occur naturally in food, but those aren’t the same as the man-made trans fats that make up margarine and shortening, and are found in almost every commercially produced baked good you can find. Trans fats are also often included in boxed mixes that you prepare at home, and things like instant cocoa, because of its long shelf-life.

Hydrogenated fats like margarine and shortening became available in 1911. Before then trans fats weren’t something the average consumer had to worry about. Now, though, hydrogenated oils or trans fats are present in almost every type of food you can think of. The hydrogenation process keeps fats from going rancid for a longer period of time. But the link between hydrogenated oils and heart health is clear—it’s worse for you than saturated fat.

This is one of the healthy eating facts that has prompted the government to step in. They’ve insisted that fast-food restaurants reduce the amount of trans fats in their food. Food manufacturers also have to include the amount of trans fats on their food labels, too. Carefully read food labels so that you’re at least aware of what you’re eating. Anything that says hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated is a trans fat, and something you want to avoid as much as possible. Eliminate these trans fats from your diet completely if you can.

Another one of the healthy eating facts that not too many people think about is how bad regular soft drinks are for your health. A can of regular soft drink contains about 9 teaspoons of sugar. And how often do you drink more than one soda in a day? Some people drink several sodas per day, preferring soda to beverages like water or tea.

Everyone’s going to eat sugar in some form, but moderation is called for. And when one soda provides you with 9 teaspoons of sugar, that’s pretty much the sugar limit for the day—that we don’t need refined sugar at all is one of the most ignored healthy eating facts. But most people have sugar in other forms, too, raising their daily total of sugar intake much higher.
Considering the rising rates of obesity, diabetes and other diet-related illnesses, cutting back on trans fat and soda in our diets is important. These healthy eating facts can make a huge difference in our weight and overall health if we don’t ignore them

It often seems as though you can’t turn around without seeing new diet pill of magic weight loss formula that promises to make it easier than ever to lose weight. No matter what their wild claims may suggest, it is possible (not to mention practical) to shed those excess pounds with a common sense approach. Every weight loss program covers at least a few of the basics. The only difference is in how they package those basics. Here are five basic steps to help you lose weight quickly and easily.

1. Calories Count – This is a critical part of any weight loss program. The only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you take in. Furthermore, you can potentially consume more calories in five minutes than you can burn off in the same amount of time. A simple formula to remember is that 3,500 calories equals one pound. That means if you can reduce how many calories you take in by 500 per day, you will lose one pound per week. By keeping track of your calories you will be more aware of how much you are eating, and be able to control your intake more easily.

2. Portion Control – While counting calories has its benefits, there are times when it simply isn’t practical. But that should never be an excuse to pig out and put your weight loss plan on hold. So, what should you do? The answer is to take smaller helpings of food. Slow down, and your brain will get the signal you are full, so you won’t ever feel like you’re depriving yourself. And no matter how you were brought up, it’s okay to leave some food on your plate.

3. Eat Healthy Foods – Counting calories and watching portions are only part of the bigger picture. to lose weight, you need to choose foods that are healthier for you. As long as you are limiting your calories, it’s smart to make sure those calories are of a higher quality. Junk food that’s laden with fat and sugar are empty calories, they don’t offer any nutrition. Your best bet is to stick to fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, low fat dairy and healthy fats (in moderation).

4. Stay Hydrated – Even though recent studies show that drinking eight glasses of water a day doesn’t help you lose weight, you still need to drink plenty of water. There are other beverages you can drink, but water is the best choice; it has no calories, is necessary to good health, and helps to flush out your system.

5. Maintain Good Health – Most people try to lose weight to get healthy, but you also need to stay healthy as you are losing weight. We sometimes have a tendency to overdo things. You could lose weight quicker if you are obsessed with it, but then other aspects of your health will suffer. The best way to go about weight loss is to do so with a balanced approach.

It wasn’t all that long ago that the Atkins Diet was making the news. People were excited about the idea of being able to eat all the meat they wanted and still lose a lot of weight. The interest in the diet was staggering, and enough people saw impressive results to keep the diet at the forefront for quite some time. It seemed to be more than just a regular fad diet. However, it didn’t take long for people to start questioning the potential bad effects of the Atkins Diet.

Well, the Atkins Diet is still around. It may not get nearly as much attention as it used to, but there are plenty of people who start the program on a daily basis. This is a mark in its favor as it shows it is more than just a fad diet. In fact, a lot of other diets have come and gone since Atkins made its initial splash. But what about the supposed bad effects of the Atkins diet?

Let’s clear one thing up right away: there is no consensus in the medical community as to the long term effects–good or bad–of the Atkins program. They are still worthy of debate and further research, and you should at least be aware of them before deciding to try the Atkins Diet.

On the one side, you have people who have lost a lot of weight on the diet. They are happy with how much weight they have lost, and how quickly (a loss of 5 to 10 pounds in the first week is not unheard of). They also enjoy being able to eat high protein foods, regardless of how much fat they contain. This means eating things like steak, bacon, fish, pork, chicken, beef and eggs. As long as people on the Atkins Diet take supplements and exercise while on the program, they continue to lose weight. One thing is for sure, it’s hard to argue with results.

Results are one thing, and how those results are achieved is another. Critics state that one of the bad effects of the Atkins Diet is that the weight loss comes from not only a loss of fat, but also a loss of water and muscle. So, while they’re not necessarily questioning whether or not people are losing weight, they are asking if the type of weight loss is good or not. There is also evidence that any diet that is high in saturated fat can lead to an increased risk of heart disease. If this is the case, then you need to decide if the higher risk of getting heart disease is better than risk of developing other diseases associated with obesity. Or, to put it another way, the more overweight you are, the more you may want to try the Atkins Diet.

As of now, there is no final word as to all of the effects of the Atkins Diet. The best advice is to talk to your personal doctor so you can discuss your options and see if Atkins is a good choice for you.

A calorie burning counter is a device or computer program that allows you to see how your exercise program is working for you. Knowing how many calories you are burning is a key factor in designing an exercise program that will allow you to get the lean, fit body that you’re working for.

There are two kinds of calorie burning counter available for you to use, and while bo0th are useful, you may find that one type or the other is going to be more conductive to your goals. They both allow you to track how much activity you’re getting and how many calories you’re burning.

There are two basic varieties of calorie burning counter available to you; one that monitors your calories directly, and those that you use to calculate the calories burned. Both of these use calculations based on your size, age and gender. What differs is how you use the calorie burning counter.

The direct type is a small device that is usually strapped to your upper arm. You program this device with your vital statistics, and it uses a variety of sensors to keep track of how many calories you’re burning. This includes monitoring your temperature, your heart rate, and your perspiration to get a picture of how hard you are working.

This type generally works very well, and you can see it in use on the television show The Biggest Loser, but it’s not for every person and every situation. For one thing, these devices tend to be expense, and you may not be willing or able to purchase one.

Another problem with this type of calorie burning counter is that wearing a device like this may simply be uncomfortable. Not every one likes to have a small device strapped to their arm, and many people may not like the kind of looks and questions they will get while wearing them.

The other type of calorie burning counter is actually two types, but since they work more or less the same, there’s no reason to separate them out. The basic idea of this kind is that you can manually look up how many calories you’ve burned for every activity you.

The two types of this kind are either electronic or a good old fashioned book. Either one will have lists and charts that will allow you to figure out exactly how many calories you are burning when you are doing whatever you’re doing.

The downside to using this kind of calorie burning counter is that it requires more work on your part. You have to actually look up or enter the activities that you do, and this makes it surprisingly easy to just not bother. On the other hand, you can do it at your own convenience, which is a plus.

Regardless of which kind of calorie burning counter you choose, the key is to actually use it, and use it effectively. You need to use it to make sure you’re burning enough calories, and you need to make sure to adjust your eating. Do both of these and a calorie burning counter may be your secret to weight loss.