What You Need!


Look Delicious & Tasteful Plus Healthy With Low Fat
 
1 HONEY MAID Honey Graham, crushed
2/3 cup  boiling water
1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Orange Flavor Sugar Free Gelatin
1 cup  BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN 2% Milkfat Low Fat Cottage Cheese
1 tub (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Fat Free Cream Cheese
2 cups  thawed COOL WHIP FREE Whipped Topping

Make It!


SPRINKLE crumbs onto bottom of 8- or 9-inch springform pan sprayed with cooking spray.
ADD boiling water to gelatin mix; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Cool 5 min.; pour into blender. Add cottage cheese and cream cheese; blend well. Pour into large bowl. Gently stir in COOL WHIP. Pour into prepared pan; smooth top.
REFRIGERATE 4 hours or until set. Remove rim of pan before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Substitute
Substitute 9-inch pie plate for the springform pan.
 
Special Extra
Garnish with fresh mint sprigs and thin orange slices just before serving.


NOTES :
 Prep Time:15 min
Total Time: 4 hr 15 min
Makes: 8 servings


Source : KraftFoods

MyTummy : Cheese Cake always has special attraction ... therefore it is very difficult to forget the taste wherever we go!

You know you are experiencing yo-yo dieting, but do not know how to stop it! It is time to get your balance back. The following easy weight loss tips will help you lose weight in a healthy way.

Tip 1: Find out how many calories you need

 BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)


BMR [kcal]
Body Weight [lb] x 15 + (moderate activity [mins/day] x 3.5)
Since you wish to lose weight, your target = BMR - 500 kcal

For instance, you weigh 140 lb and you perform 20 mins of moderate activity every day. BMR of this example = (140 x 15) + (20 x 3.5) = 2100 + 70 = 2170 kcal. BMR minus 500kcal; it would be 2170 - 500 = 1670 kcal. Therefore 1670 kcal is the target in this example to losing 1 lb per week.

Tool: Use online Calories Calculator to calculate how many calories you need every day.

 Tip 2: Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day


Fruits and vegetables are packed with beneficial fibers, vitamins and antioxidants. They fill up your stomach fast so you feel full earlier. They are also low in calories and helps to keep your calorie count low.


Tip 3: Watch for Portion Size

One serving of pasta means 1/2 cup of cooked pasta. However, most restaurants serve a pasta dish with 4 servings of pasta!!! You do not need to finish and clean off the plate every time. You can simply ask to take home the leftover.

 

 

Tip 4: Do not Skip Meals


Eating small frequent meals help to balance your calorie intake throughout the day and also keeps your blood sugar level balanced. Instead of eating 3 big meals, try to eat 5 - 6 smaller meals throughout the day.

 

Tip 5: Go for wholesome fresh foods


 

If possible, purchase fresh foods and avoid package (processed) and convenient foods such as fast food. Packaged and convenient foods are often higher in sodium and fat content. Many people we spoke to are amazed that they can easily lose weight by packing a home-cooked lunch to work instead of eating out.

Tip 6: Don't be overly-restrictive


Everyone has his or her favorite treats. Simply allow yourself a little indulgence, but watch out for the frequency and the quantity. Having a small treat once in a while can be rewarding to your weight loss experience. Cutting too much of your favorite treats usually lead to an early relapse.

 

 

Tip 7: Understand Food Claims and Labels


 

A product labelled with a fat-free claim does not mean that it is low in calories. Similarly a product labelled as low-sugar or low-carb does not mean it is low in fat or calories. Always read the nutrition label on the packaging.

Tip 8: Watch for the sugary drinks


Juices, soda, cream & sugar in your coffee or tea all add up. Opt for drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day. In addition to providing hydration to your body, it will also help you feel full.



Tip 9: Keep a food journal



Keeping a food journal helps you pin point your eating pattern and will enable you to easily modify it. If possible, have your Registered Dietitian review your journal.

 

Tip 10: Exercise, period


Most authorities recommend 30 - 60 minutes of physical activity a day to stay healthy. Also try adding weight-bearing exercises at least 2 times a week. This will help burn some of the unwanted calories.


Source : HealthCastle

 

Obesity - Surgery

Posted by Trisha Kyrill | 1:00 AM


Ashlee Kopp lost 150 pounds after her obesity surgery. ( Credit :  i.abcnews.com/Health )

Surgery may be an option if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more. It may also be an option if you have a BMI of 35 and another health problem related to your weight, such as diabetes or arthritis.

Gastric bypass surgery may help you live longer. Some studies show that people who have weight-loss surgery have a lower risk of dying from heart problems, diabetes, or cancer.12

The goal of surgery is to cause significant weight loss. This should reduce obesity-related health problems, including type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

It is important to remember that you may still be obese or overweight after the surgery. Also, surgery will require you to make extreme changes in how you eat, such as eating only a few ounces of food at a time because the surgery creates a much smaller stomach.

Getting good nutrition is also a problem. So you will probably need to take vitamins and supplements. You will also need to avoid high-calorie drinks, which add calories without nutrients.

Two types of surgery are used to treat obesity. A restrictive operation (such as stomach stapling [vertical banded gastroplasty] or adjustable gastric banding) reduces food intake, usually by decreasing the size of the stomach. A malabsorptive, irreversible operation (such as a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or a biliopancreatic diversion) makes the stomach smaller and decreases the digestion and absorption of food.

Other types of surgery (including intestinal bypass, jaw wiring, and liposuction) have been used to treat obesity. None have been found to have long-term benefit in the treatment of obesity. They are not recommended because of side effects and poor success rates.

Surgery Choices 

Restrictive operation (stomach stapling [vertical banded gastroplasty] or gastric banding)

In stomach stapling, an incision is made in the abdomen. Surgical staples and a plastic band are used to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach. With gastric banding, a small band is placed around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch. 

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (the most commonly used). Gastric bypass surgery makes the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine.

Biliopancreatic diversion (rarely used). Biliopancreatic diversion changes the normal process of digestion by making the stomach smaller and allowing food to bypass part of the small intestine so that you absorb fewer calories.

Nutrition concerns

After surgery, you will only be able to eat or drink very small amounts. For the first week or two, you will be on a liquid diet. When you are able to have solid foods, they will need to be pureed.

You will need to avoid certain foods, depending on which type of surgery you have. Right after surgery, you may not be able to have any liquids that contain sugar. And you may have to avoid milk.

You will also need to learn new ways to eat. You'll need to eat very slowly and chew your food well. If you don't make these changes, you may vomit frequently and have pain. You may also develop nutrition problems and need to take vitamins.

Low calcium and iron levels can be problems. Your bones may weaken and you may develop anemia. Your doctor may recommend calcium, iron, and vitamin supplements.

Some people develop dumping syndrome when they eat or drink simple sugars (found in candy, juices, ice cream, condiments, or soft drinks). Dumping syndrome occurs when food moves too quickly through the stomach and intestines. It can cause shaking, sweating, dizziness, rapid heart rate, and often severe diarrhea.

Foods with natural sugars found in fruits, dairy, and vegetables do not usually cause dumping syndrome.
You will not be able to drink for 30 minutes before eating, during your meal, and for 30 minutes after eating.

Should I Treat Obesity With Surgery?

All surgeries have risks. Discuss your treatment options with your doctor to decide what is best for you.
Most people who have surgery to treat obesity quickly begin to lose weight. Weight loss usually continues for about 2 years.

Risks common to all surgeries for weight loss include an infection in the incision, a leak from the stomach into the abdominal cavity or where the intestine is connected (resulting in an infection called peritonitis), and a blood clot that blocks blood flow in the lung (pulmonary embolism). About one-third of all people who have surgery for obesity develop anemia or osteoporosis.3, 13

It is important to compare the risks of being obese with the risks of surgery.

Source : WebMd


Various Fast Food Outlet In Kuwait ( Credit : q80s )



It's tempting to pig out while shopping, but with a little planning, it's easy to eat healthy foods at the mall. Here are some choices:
  • a single slice of veggie pizza
  • grilled, not fried, sandwiches (for example, a grilled chicken breast sandwich)
  • deli sandwiches on whole-grain bread
  • a small hamburger
  • a bean burrito
  • a baked potato
  • a side salad
  • frozen yogurt
Choose the smaller sizes, especially when it comes to drinks and snacks if you have a craving for something unhealthy, try sharing the food you crave with a friend.

Source : KidsHealth.Org


You find your stomach growling, but know you’re hours away from lunch time. That vending machine down the hall is very tempting and is practically calling your name. What do you do? If you plan ahead and make your own healthy snacks at home (or having things to prepare at work) you can avoid the high fat, high-calorie vending machine temptation. Healthy snacking and being prepared will help provide your body with nutrients needed, as well as not adding pounds to your waistline.


Remember, you shouldn’t feel guilty about snacking while dieting, as long as you are making healthy choices. Snacking when you’re hungry may help because you will be less likely to over eat at your next meal (i.e. getting seconds or thirds), therefore help you stay on track to losing weight. The key to incorporating snacks into your weight loss plan is to plan them with variety, moderation and balance in mind.
Try some of these springtime snacks that are great for all ages!
  • Make your own trail mix- mix ready-to eat cereal, dried fruit and nuts.
  • Frozen banana-pop- Peel a banana and dip it in yogurt then roll it in crushed cereal or granola.  Freeze and enjoy!
  • Spread peanut butter on apple slices.
  • A scoop of frozen yogurt on two graham crackers and add sliced strawberries or bananas for a yummy sandwich.
  • Make a smoothie by blending low-fat milk, yogurt, frozen berries or peaches.
  • Make mini egg or tuna sandwiches.
  • Microwave instant oatmeal, dried cranberries and chopped walnuts.
  • Sprinkle 2% cheese on a wheat tortilla, melt in microwave, and top with salsa.
  • Microwave a small potato and fill with low-fat cheese and salsa.
  • Try a whole-wheat pita filled with ricotta cheese, green apples, and a dash of cinnamon.
  • Have a bowl of fresh fruit topped with low-fat frozen yogurt, low-fat yogurt, or Cool Whip.
Source : DietReview

The suggestions for eating in a restaurant and at the mall apply to cafeteria food as well. Add vegetables and fruit whenever possible, and opt for leaner, lighter items. Choose sandwiches on whole-grain bread or a plain hamburger over fried foods or pizza. Go easy on the high-fat, low-nutrition items, such as mayonnaise and heavy salad dressings.


Credit : a.abcnews.com

You might want to consider packing your own lunch occasionally. Here are some lunch items that pack a healthy punch:
  • sandwiches with lean meats or fish, like turkey, chicken, tuna (made with low-fat mayo), lean ham, or lean roast beef. For variety, try other sources of protein, like peanut butter, hummus, or meatless chili.
  • low-fat or nonfat milk, yogurt, or cheese
  • any fruit that's in season
  • raw baby carrots, green and red pepper strips, tomatoes, or cucumbers
  • whole-grain breads, pita, bagels, or crackers
It can be easy to eat well, even on the run. If you develop the skills to make healthy choices now, your body will thank you later. And the good news is you don't have to eat perfectly all the time. It's OK to splurge every once in a while, as long as your food choices are generally good.

Source : KidsHealth.Org

15 Facts for Weight Loss Newbies!

Posted by Trisha Kyrill | 1:00 AM

1. Your weight affects you in many ways other than your appearance:
  • Your overall quality of life;
  • self-esteem;
  • health risks;
  • depression;
  • and physical abilities are also influenced.Think of all the positive changes you can experience by losing weight. 

2. You will need to see your doctor for a physical if you haven't had one recently and you really should get her approval before starting a weight loss regime. 

3. You should ask yourself these questions as you begin:
  • Why do you want to lose weight?
  • Are you truly committed? Do you have a support system set up?
  • Can you accept mistakes without giving up altogether?
4. To lose weight effectively, you will have to permanently change four aspects of your life:

    1.) what you eat 2.) how you eat 3.) your behavior and 4.) your activity level.
5. You shouldn't set your sights too high (... like losing 30 pounds in a month. Those signs advertising weight loss pills are not true!).

Small goals (e.g. 5 pounds; 10 percent of your current weight) are far more attainable and easier to stay focused on.

6. No matter which way you look at it, 3,500 calories cut is one pound lost.

Whether you take in 500 fewer or burn 500 more calories a day, by the end of the week you’ll be one pound lighter!

7. You won’t stick to a diet that is comprised of foods you do not like. Choose your plan carefully.

Do a trial period before investing a lot of money on something like pre-packaged foods.

8. You should ask yourself how long you can live this way. If you can’t imagine staying on a particular plan until you reach your goal weight, try something else.

9. You need to plan alternative strategies to cope with emotional eating. Many people with weight issues have the habit of eating in response to emotions and stress. Be ready.

10. The dangers of being overweight are real:

  • diabetes,
  • high blood pressure,
  • cancer,
  • and heart disease
... are life-threatening health risks for the obese. When your motivation wanes, keep these in mind.

11. Factors such as genetics, ethnicity, your environment, your job, physical hindrances from exercising, etc., can affect your weight management efforts. Accept that there are some things you can’t change.

12. Your ultimate goal should be a realistic one. Some of us will never fit into that wedding or prom dress again. Our bodies change with time. Settle for a weight that is healthy for you now, not 15 years ago.

13. Diets with too-severe restrictions like too few calories or entire food groups being omitted often lead to binges and uncontrollable cravings. Moderation is the key.

14. Your weight will fluctuate from day to day. Resist the urge to weigh yourself on a daily basis, as doing so will discourage you. Weigh in the same time and day once a week.

15. Bottom line: Losing weight isn't easy.

There is no magic pill or quick fix for long-term, healthy weight loss. It’s going to take a lot of discipline and hard work.

But just because something is difficult, it’s not impossible. The fact is ... You can do it!

Source :  weightloss.about.com

Recipe For Breakfast Quiche

Posted by Trisha Kyrill | 1:00 AM


 

(Reprinted courtesy of The Ram Nut Diet, by Leonard J. Ram, M.D.)

For Illustration Purposes Only ( Credit : MyOmelet )


1 cup low-fat Swiss cheese, shredded
1 cup low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded
1 heaping tablespoon low-fat plain yogurt
 2 large whole eggs, beaten
1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup zucchini, diced
 1/4 cup onions
1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced




Mix all ingredients together.  Season to taste.  Spray bottom and sides of glass baking dish with non-stick spray.  Bake at 350˚. F for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown.




*Option - other vegetables:  chopped olives, zucchini, pea pods, cauliflower florets, broccoli florets


NOTES : Serving For 4 Persons


Source : bestdietforme

A 45-year-old woman complains that she has gradually put on 12 pounds over the past year. In the last month, she's faced a stressful work deadline and added another 4 pounds to her frame.
This individual's goal is to lose the 16 pounds she has gained. Since her weight has been gradually increasing, she knows that she is consuming more calories than she is burning, especially with her sedentary job. She decides that a weight loss of 1 pound per week (equal to a deficit of about 3,500 calories, or cutting 500 calories per day) would be acceptable and would allow her to reach her goal in about four months.
She decides to make some changes that will allow her to cut back an average of 250 calories per day.
  • Skipping a large glass of sweetened iced tea will save about 200 calories.
  • Substituting mineral water for the cola she regularly drinks during meetings can save another 150 calories.
  • Foregoing her morning muffin snack (or eating only half a muffin) can also save 250 calories or more.
To reach her goal of a 500-calorie-per-day savings, she adds some exercise.
  • Getting up early for a 20-minute walk before work and adding a 10-minute walk during her lunch break add up to a half hour of walking per day, which can burn about 200 calories.
  • On weekends, she plans to walk for 60 minutes one day and spend one hour gardening the next day for even greater calorie burning. If walking for 60 minutes is too much, two 30-minute walks one day would burn the same number of calories.
  • Twice per week she plans to stop at the gym on the way home from work, even if only for a half hour of stationary cycling or swimming (each burning up to 250 calories).

Cycling Helps To  Eliminate Up To 250 Calories

By making just some of the dietary cutbacks mentioned and starting some moderate exercise, this individual can easily "save" the 3,500 calories per week needed for a 1-pound weight loss, leading to a healthy rate of weight loss without extreme denial or deprivation. Furthermore, her changes in diet and lifestyle are small and gradual, modifications that she can maintain over time.
Source : MedicineNet

MyTummy : I love cycling but can't do it often right now due to hectic schedule ...


Old Fashioned Lemonade at Skymall


The Recipe :

1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 8-10 lemons)
 1/2 cup Splenda©
2 lemons, thinly sliced
Fresh mint sprigs (for garnish)


In a large pitcher, combine the lemon juice and Splenda© until completely dissolved. Add 5 cups water and refrigerate mixture for at least 1 hour. Stir and pour over ice in tall glasses. 

NOTES :
 
Makes 6 servings


Calories:  10; 0 mg fat, 0 mg cholesterol; 1 mg sodium; 10 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 0 g; protein; 3 mg calcium

Source : bestdietforme.com


Credit : KidsHealth.Org

A slice of pizza once in a while won't do you any harm. What's important is a person's average food intake over a few days, not just in a single meal. So if you eat a less-than-healthy meal once in a while, try to balance it with healthier foods the rest of that day and week.
But if pizza (or any fast food) is all you eat, that can lead to problems. The most obvious health threat of eating too much fast food is weight gain — or even obesity.
But weight gain isn't the only problem. Too much fast food can drag a person's body down in other ways. Because the food we eat affects all aspects of how the body functions, eating the right (or wrong) foods can influence any number of things, including:

  • mental functioning
  • emotional well-being
  • energy
  • strength
  • weight
  • future health

Credit : RestaurantWidow

Eating on the Go
It's actually easier than you think to make good choices at a fast-food restaurant, the mall, or even the school cafeteria. Most cafeterias and fast-food places offer healthy choices that are also tasty, like grilled chicken or salads. Be mindful of portion sizes and high fat add-ons, like dressings, sauces or cheese.
Here are some pointers to remember that can help you make wise choices when eating out:
  • Go for balance. Choose meals that contain a balance of lean proteins (like fish, chicken, or beans if you're a vegetarian), fruits and vegetables (fries and potato chips don't qualify as veggies!), and whole-grains (like whole wheat bread and brown rice). That's why a turkey sandwich on whole wheat with lettuce and tomato is a better choice than a cheeseburger on a white bun.
  • Watch portion sizes. The portion sizes of American foods have increased over the past few decades so that we are now eating way more than we need. The average size of a hamburger in the 1950s was just 1.5 ounces, compared with today's hamburgers, which weigh in at 8 ounces or more.
  • Drink water or low-fat milk. Regular sodas, juices, and energy drinks usually contain "empty" calories that you don't need — not to mention other stuff, like caffeine.
Source : KidsHealth.Org






Daily eating habits are crucial to weight control. We don't become overweight because we have the occasional eating binge. The extra calories we eat on these occasions do less damage than we think. The truth is, we gain weight because of our daily eating habits. It is these daily high-calorie food choices that do the real damage. So one way to reduce weight is to choose lower-calorie foods for your everyday meals or snacks. Here are three examples:

(1) Lose an Easy Six Pounds of Fat

Choose:
1 cup skim milk (90 calories).

Instead of:
1 cup whole milk (150 calories).

Save
60 calories

Do this once a day and save: 21,900 calories per year.
This is equivalent to: 6.25 pounds of weight

(2) Lose Another Easy Six Pounds of Body Fat

Choose:
6 oz light, fat-free yogurt (80)

Instead of:
6 oz full-fat yogurt (190)

Save
110 calories

Do this 4 times a week and save: 22,880 calories per year.
This is equivalent to: 6.5 pounds of weight

(3) Lose An Easy Eleven Pounds of Body Fat

Choose:
3 Cups Airpopped Popcorn (90)

Instead of:
3 Cups Microwaved Caramel Popcorn (280)

Save
190 calories

Do this 4 times a week and save: 39,520 calories per year.
This is equivalent to: 11.3 pounds of weight

---------------------------------------------

Weight Loss Results

By following these four suggestions, you will reduce your calorie intake by a total of 84,300 calories a year - equivalent to 24 pounds of body fat.
Even if you follow only half these suggestions, you will save yourself 42,000 calories, or more than 12 pounds of fat.
---------------------------------------------

Choose Your Own Lower-Calorie Options

If you already eat low-fat dairy food, or if you don't usually eat popcorn, design your own swaps. Simply select a food you DO eat regularly, then look for a lower-calorie alternative. It's not rocket science, but making small changes to your daily eating habits can make a huge difference to your weight over the course of time.

Source : AnneCollins

You can never be too rich or too thin. In fact, if you're not rich, you may not be able to afford to be thin.

According to the CDC, poor diet and lack of physical activity are closing in on tobacco as leading causes of death in the U.S. Or as Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson put it in a recent news conference announcing a "Healthy Lifestyles" initiative, "We're just too darned fat."


Credit : http://lifestyle.indiainfo.com

To prove its point about the weighty problems facing our nation, the HHS, using data from the CDC, has produced a map showing a steady increase in the percentage of obese adults in all states from 1991 to 2000. In 1991, more than 20% of the adults in five different states were obese. A decade later, the problem had spread -- literally -- to 17 additional states.

But while the data show an unequivocal gain in excess poundage throughout the country, the map also reveals a surprising inverse relationship between income and waistline. In other words, the more income grows, the lower obesity goes.

"The states that are becoming obese are the states that are low income," says Adam Drenowski, PhD, director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington in Seattle. States that rank among the lowest in household incomes -- Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and West Virginia -- are those with the highest percentages of obesity. Conversely, Connecticut and Massachusetts, which are among the wealthiest states, have among the lowest obesity rates, Drenowski contends.

You Get What You Pay For
 
At a recent symposium on the science of obesity, presented at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Drenowski argued that many Americans are obese not by choice, but because they can't afford the luxury of being thin. The economics of food production, he says, are balanced heavily in favor of cheap foods that pack a big caloric wallop.

"Refined grain, added sugars, and added fats remain the cheapest elements of our diet," Drenowski says. "Just how cheap is something not many people appreciate. At global market rates, sugar -- refined sugar, sucrose -- costs nine cents per pound. In other words, sugar provides you with 20,000 calories for one dollar. If you look at fat at world market prices, you will be getting one pound of fat for 20 cents, which means another 20,000 calories for one dollar."

Fats, refined grains, and sugars are among the foods highest in what nutritionists call "energy density," which means that they contribute more calories pound-for-pound to the diet than, say, lean fish, vegetables, or fruits. But many foods with low energy density are full of nutrients, such as whole grains and vegetables.

Food Density
 
"Basically, the two variables are fat and water. If things are higher in fat, they're higher energy density generally, and fat is relatively cheap. Using corn oil, or soybean oil, or safflower oil is relatively inexpensive. The cuts of meat on an animal that are high in fat are the least desirable generally," explains Victoria H. Castellanos, PhD, RD, founding Director of the Long Term Care Institute at the National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging at Florida International University in Miami, in an interview with WebMD.

Small portions of high energy density foods such as chocolate chip cookies will have the same calorie content as a much larger serving of strawberries, and the cookies will leave you wanting more. Fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, are high in water content and in fiber, both of which are filling, meaning that you can eat a much larger portion of strawberries and still satisfy your hunger.

The catch is that the foods nutrition experts consider to be "healthy" in addition to fruits and vegetables -- lean meats, nuts, and whole grains -- are out of the financial reach of many Americans.

"It's very difficult to argue on the basis of health and variety for consumers to make different food choices, because food choices, like everything else, are determined by economics," Drenowski says.

"Bread, potatoes, rice, and pasta are relatively inexpensive; it's pretty cheap to grow a grain or a potato," says Castellanos. "It's much more expensive to grow a vegetable and get it to market in good shape. If you're growing broccoli, it takes good soil, it takes a lot of water, you have to have refrigerate it and it can spoil so you have wastage. So produce is a lot more expensive than a grain or an oil."

Times Have Changed
 
A century ago, excess poundage was considered to be a sign of prosperity and success. Railroad tycoon James "Diamond Jim" Brady, for example, was a famously voracious eater with the gut to prove it. He was renowned for packing away several dozen oysters for an appetizer, followed by as many as eight steaks at one sitting.

Source :  MEDICINENET

Belly fat, which is also referred to as stomach fat, visceral fat, pot belly, and so on, is the kind of fat that is found deeper in the body compared to subcutaneous fat, which is located just under the skin. Belly fat is particularly dangerous since it collects around the organs in the abdomen. Health practitioners are sounding the alarm increasingly as more and more Americans are being diagnosed each day with high levels of cholesterol, diabetes, heart diseases, and so on – all of them linked to belly fat. So, here are some tips on how to lose belly fat:

Lose belly fat by eating 5-6 times in a day. That does not mean 5 to 6 big meals; rather it is about eating smaller meals more frequently. Usually, when we eat the traditional way, eating 3 times a day, we tend to binge, which leads to belly fat. By eating 5-6 small meals a day regularly, it prevents you from overeating. Plus, it also helps in boosting the metabolism, since the body requires energy to digest the food. And, while following this plan, it is also a good idea to keep the heaviest meals at the start of the day and reduce the amount at the end of the day.

Lose belly fat by eating foods that burn fat. Foods that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates, sugar, and saturated fats are the best for losing belly fat. Eggs, fish, lean meats, complex carbs like vegetables, whole grains, and a variety of natural fruits which are not sweetened or canned are the way to go. Avoid simple, refined carbohydrates that contain white sugar or white flour. Include healthy fats such as fish fats, seeds and nuts, olive oil, etc. Essential fatty acids are necessary for process of burning body fat, especially belly fat.

Lose belly fat by drinking the right fluids. In order to lose belly fat, you need to drink plenty of water, particularly when you workout or sweat. Your body requires water in order to function at its optimum best. When you are dehydrated, the organs in the body work harder in order to retain the water reserve of the body. The liver, which helps in burning fat in order to produce energy, is one of the important organs that suffers the most. When the liver’s function is hampered, then the process of burning fat will not be as effective as it needs to be. Avoid drinking canned fruit juices, chocolate drinks, and soft rinks, since their sugar content is very high.

Lose belly fat by lifting weights. Working out with weights induces the abdominal muscles to work harder and thereby become tighter. Chest presses, lat pulldowns, dumbbell rows, free weight squats, and so on, will force your abdominal muscles to work, since in order to perform these exercises correctly, the core muscles have to be stabilized.

Lose belly fat by getting a cardio workout. Keep in mind that in order to lose belly fat, calories need to be burnt. Running, jogging, brisk walking, swimming, tennis, dancing, and cycling are great exercises for burning fat. Cardiovascular exercises provide oxygen to the body, and thereby help in burning calories. Plus, aerobic exercises also provide a boost to the metabolism. The ideal duration of your cardio workout should be 30 to 45 minutes, about three times a week, or more.

Lose belly fat by not overdoing the crunches. You cannot lose your belly fat by doing those endless amounts of crunches. This is because spot reduction cannot be done in any part of the body, including the abdomen. The only way is to lose overall fat in the body, which can be achieved by incorporating healthy eating habits, and stimulating the metabolism by weight training and cardiovascular exercises. This does not imply that the abs should not be worked out at all. After all, there are muscles in the abdomen, which need to be worked out with the correct intensity and then given rest. The best way to do this is incorporating a circuit style of working out the abs on three alternate days in a week.

Source : Buzzle.Com By Rita Putatunda

MyTummyMyPride says : After gave birth to my son , my belly never looks the same as before .. I do really have to watch over what to eat otherwise it will turn out to bulge in no time ... 


The Proud & Well Known Logo For The LOSER!

The new Biggest Loser Series has started, with Alison Sweeney hosting and fitness trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels getting the 16 contestants working out and getting fit.

The Contestants for the Biggest Loser

There are many great characters this season looking to change their lives, to give themselves that “second chance” to live a better, healthier life.
  • Allen Smith: a firefighter who is so overweight that both his career and health is at grace risk.
  • Tracey Yukich: military wife and mother of four, who for years has been worrying about her family, and not looking after herself.
  • Abby Rike: who lost her family, two wonderful children and her husband, in a car crash, and is now looking to rebuild her life again.
  • Daniel Wright: who was season 7’s heaviest contestant returns to try to lose more weight and finish what he set out to achieve. He lost 142 lbs last season, but still weighs in at 312lbs, so has a lot more to go.
  • Shay Sorrells: a social worker with a stressful job, makes her debut as the new heaviest contestant, weighing in at 476 pounds.
The Biggest Loser has been running since 2004, and is now a worldwide health and fitness brand, which now produces DVD’s, meal plans, books, appliances, fitness equipment, supplements and other health and wellness products.
MyTummyMyPride says : Can't wait to watch The Biggest Loser In Asia ... Since I saw it on preview hosted by Sarimah ...


Rihanna is one of the sexiest singers around at the moment. However, her figure does not come easy for her. She has to maintain a very strict fitness and weight management regime to keep her figure, and it is not always healthy. She has said that some days she will eat only once.

Rihanna’s Low Carb Approach


Rihanna recognizes that carbs are a problem for her, as the sugars in carbohydrates are quickly turned to fat. To control this she often has no-carb days, sometimes she does this for 3 or 4 days at a time to keep her fat levels down.

For breakfast she often just has hot water with lemon, pineapple and cooked egg whites. Lunch will be some potatoes for the essential muscle fuel (glycogen) with a variety of fish. She often eats fish twice a day.

Rihanna’s Fitness and Workout Regime

Rihanna does a lot of cardio to keep her weight down. She prefers running on a treadmill over anything else, although practicing dance routines is also an excellent way to workout for fitness and weight loss.

She does do some weight training, but like many women she fears that her legs will bulk up too much। The best weight training exercises for maintaining slim and sexy thighs are squats and lunges.

Source : http://www.motleyhealth.com/articles/2009/09/rihannas-workouts-and-diet.html

MyTummyMyPride says : To sustain is much more difficult ...

To figure out how many calories you should have, first start with where you are. In other words, figure out how many calories it takes to maintain your present size and then reduce from there. You can go about this in many ways. Most people simply choose an arbitrary number like 1200 calories and that's what they eat, but in nearly every case that's not nearly enough calories to ensure adequate nutrition, not to mention the deprivation that sets up.


Credit : LoseFree.Com


While losing weight and to this day, I eat over 2000 calories a day on average and I've maintained a good weight for my height for over 17 years. Remember, your body requires calories to maintain itself.
Basic Calorie Requirements Calculation Based on Activity Level:

Sedentary : 13 X Weight = Avg. cal/day
Sedentary is not exercising at all

Moderately Active: 16 X Weight = Avg. cal/day
Moderately Active is exercising approximately 3-4 times per week

Very Active: 19 X Weight = Avg. cal/day
Very Active is 5-7 strenuous exercise sessions per week.

If you weigh over 200 pound now, and you'd like to weigh closer to 150, here is a calculation you could use to get started: Assuming you are going to be adding enough exercise to quality as Moderately Active, we'll use 16 as our modifier:

150 pounds X 16 calories per pound = 2400 calories
Less 500 (Using the common 500 calories per day reduction) gives us a total of 1900 average calories per day

If you started to incorporate a plan that allowed an average of 1900 calories every day, you'd start to lose weight. The mistake most people make is to reduce calories too much, which ultimately sacrifices muscle plus sets you up for feeling deprived. It's far better in the long run to go more slowly, keeping as much muscle as possible while burning calories via exercise. Remember too, even if you don't eat quite that many calories on many days, you might eat more on the weekends for instance, so it ends up being closer to your goal of 1900 average per day. Take the total calories for the week divided by seven.

Remember, this average calorie number gives you plenty of wiggle room during the week. You can have some treats along with everyone else, or add more on weekends. Instead of constantly saying, "I can't, I'm on a diet," now you can say, "Thank you, that looks delicious," and enjoy some. It doesn't ruin your diet plan because you've got a large enough calorie allowance that if you are more careful some days than others, it will work out to the average number of calories you want. I tend to eat far less calories during the week than on weekends and my totals generally average out to 2000 to 2200 calories per day.

The 500 calorie reduction is a well accepted amount. You can reduce your calories further, but I wouldn't recommend it. It doesn't benefit anyone to try for faster weight loss, in fact, if you reduce your calories too much you end up wasting muscle in the process, which is exactly what you do not want to do. If you want faster results, it's better to add more activity, thereby burning more calories at rest.

You may be thinking I'm nuts, recommending 1900 calories per day, but I can say for a fact that if you eat too little (1000 - 1200 calories is too few, IMO) then you set yourself up for all of the following:

Deprivation. You're going to feel deprived, mentally and physically. 1000 calories isn't enough for your basic metabolic needs, much less to fuel yourself for your activity needs. Add more food! Just have a bit more than you're already having, so for instance, if you are allowed 1/2 cup of vegetables is a whole cup going to ruin all your progress? I doubt it. Eat a whole cup, or go ahead and have two oranges. Fruits and vegetables are very low calorie but provide high nutrition.

Sure, some vegis and fruits are high in sugar, but it's natural sugar. I seriously doubt our planet grows any killer foods - it is more likely the food industry which has processed those foods to become nothing more than a dried powder, then add back more sugars, and chemicals so it will resemble the original product, is more harmful than a simple apple or banana?

If you are diabetic or must watch the sugars, have a small bit of protein along with the higher glycemic food, such as an ounce of cheese with your apple. Notice I said an ounce of cheese, not a slab big enough to feed a small country.

Metabolic Slow-Down Feeding yourself too few calories sets you up for metabolic slow-down. Studies have shown time and again that a heavier person can find it difficult to lose weight, even though eating very low calories, simply because their body's metabolism is burning at such a slow rate. As you probably already know exercise helps to speed up your metabolism but so does eating. That's why they say breakfast is so important, not only to fuel yourself but because it starts the metabolic furnace burning, and it continues to burn all day. If you don't eat anything until noon, you don't stoke your furnace to start burning until then either.
Has the ultra low calorie approach worked for you so far? If not, why not try something more reasonable? Tag along with a friend who doesn't have a weight problem and you'll see how sometimes they eat more, sometimes less, but on average they eat enough to fuel their body and maintain their weight.

Adding more food gives you additional eye appeal. If you split up 1000 calories over the course of an entire day you're looking at pretty skimpy portions on your plate each time you eat. I like to feel like I'm getting enough to eat and I do this by rounding out my plate with extra vegetables.

If I'm having a frozen entree for instance, I'll cook up a cup or more of frozen vegetables to add to my plate. The extra vegis really fill me up, providing the satisfaction I need, and I often have a bit extra vegetables to throw away. Is that wasting food? No, it's smart. Far better for me mentally to have extra food to toss away than to be licking the plate because I'm still hungry. I'm also not likely to start wanting something else to eat right after dinner if I'm feeling content with the amount I've eaten.

Make an effort to learn to like your food as is. Plain mixed vegetables with nothing on them are delicious. It took me awhile to stop putting butter on them, and then even quitting the Molly McButter (just chemicals and sodium). I eat them plain and yes, they are great. Nature made our fruits and vegetables naturally sweet and all those "extras" we are used to using like butter on vegetables or potatoes certainly make things taste all yummy but they also make us larger than we need to be. Those "extra" calories add up.
Slowly Make Adjustments to What or How Much You Eat

Wean yourself off adding sugar to your cold cereal. Read the label; all processed cereals contain a ridiculous amount of added sugar. There's no need to add more. My only exception is brown sugar on oatmeal. I don't sugar my cereal at all anymore but it took me awhile to make the change. Start by adding a bit less, then next week cut back a bit more until you break the habit entirely. Tiny changes make up for big results over time.
If you feed yourself well, and focus on increasing your activity, even if only a little, then you will continue to lose fat, build muscle and get more shapely, all the while increasing your metabolism so you can eat more food!
~~ Kathryn Martyn Smith, Master NLP Practitioner, EFT counselor, author of free e-book: Changing Beliefs, Your First Step to Permanent Weight Loss, and owner of OneMoreBite-Weightloss.com
Get The Daily Bites: Inspirational Mini Lessons Using EFT and NLP for Ending the Struggle with Weight Loss.

Many people fall into a daily routine that can include skipping breakfast, wolfing down an unhealthy lunch, grabbing soda, chips, candy, donuts or coffee all day and gorging in the evening.
Following is a list of the top seven bad eating habits.



  1. Binging:
    When foods are low in fiber and high in sugar or salt and partially hydrogenated trans fats the tendency is to over-consume. When eating five to six small meals a day of high fibered fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds and nuts, the result is burning more calories and storing less fat because your body's thermal effect is raised more frequently. Binging on refined processed foods is probably the greatest cause of obesity in America. 
  2. Starving Yourself:
    Before and after binging comes starvation. Skip breakfast and your body has been "starving" for 12 to 18 hours resulting in over-eating again and causing your body to store much of the food as fat, as it can not burn it all for energy.
  3. Not Knowing What You Eat:
    Most people do not pay much attention to how many low fiber calories and how much bad fat they consume daily, especially if they eat often in restaurants. Those excess calories get stored as fat.
  4. Sugar, White Flour, Caffeine and Simple Carbohydrates:
    Sugar raises blood sugar (glucose) levels, causing your body to produce insulin and changes your metabolic rate. Those who eat a lot of white flour and sugar products, loaded with empty calories, will store more fat and have a harder time burning it. Caffeine also raises the insulin levels, slowing down the fat burning process that starts in the morning and slows down throughout the day. Eating simple sugar carbohydrates late in the day promotes fat storage and blood sugar swings. Eating high fiber whole foods as a late night snack can help maintain a steady blood sugar level to give your body deep rest.
  5. Skipping Breakfast:
    Bet you thought your stomach tells you when you are full. It is actually your brain that signals your body it has had enough food, taking about 20 minutes from the time you begin eating. By eating chewy foods in a relaxed manner, you will be much less likely to overeat.
  6. Lack of Exercise:
    Our bodies were made to move so the less you feel like going for a walk, the better you will feel after going for a walk! Exercise increases our metabolism to help burn the food we eat as energy.
  7. Not Drinking Enough Water:
    Water is crucial for your brain cells and every organ in your body (including your skin) to work properly. For your body to burn fat, it needs at least eight glasses of pure water daily. Water not only satisfies your thirst, it reduces hunger and flushes out toxins. Liquids such as soda and coffee actually deplete your body of water. Do drink your water - it makes your whole body feel good! See Why Water?
Source : http://www.bellybytes.com/articles/sevenbadeatinghabits.shtml

The Health Risks of Obesity

Posted by Trisha Kyrill | 6:45 AM

The health risks of obesity are serious and even life-threatening. Heart disease, for example, is the number one cause of death in America and can be directly linked to obesity. Let's look at the various risk factors:

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes and obesity are directly connected -- so much so that more than 85% of the people diagnosed with it also are overweight. Type 2 diabetes begins when the body does not respond correctly to insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas. 

Heart Disease

Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease and heart attack. Being at least 20% overweight or more significantly increases your risk for developing heart disease.

Stress Incontinence

Excess weight, particularly in your abdominal area, puts added pressure on your bladder which makes your bladder more likely to be incontinent, or "leak."

Gallstones

Obese individuals are more likely to develop gallstones than those who are at a healthier weight. For women, obesity is an even stronger risk factor for developing gallstones.

Hypothyroidism

Women over 50 who are obese stand an increased chance of developing hypothyroidism, an endocrine disorder that can actually result in additional weight-gain and other problems.

Other Health Consequences of Obesity

Besides these conditions listed above, there are other conditions linked to obesity, such as gout and osteoarthritis.

Source : http://weightloss.about.com/od/obesityhealth/tp/obhealthrisks.htm

Strategies For Healthy Diet

Posted by Trisha Kyrill | 8:23 AM

Eat enough calories but not too many. Maintain a balance between your calorie intake and calorie expenditure—that is, don't eat more food than your body uses. The average recommended daily allowance is 2,000 calories, but this depends on your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity.

Eat a wide variety of foods. Healthy eating is an opportunity to expand your range of choices by trying foods—especially vegetables, whole grains, or fruits—that you don't normally eat.

Keep portions moderate, especially high-calorie foods. In recent years serving sizes have ballooned, particularly in restaurants. Choose a starter instead of an entrĂ©e, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything.

Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes—foods high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, low in fat, and free of cholesterol. Try to get fresh, local produce

Drink more water.
Our bodies are about 75% water. It is a vital part of a healthy diet. Water helps flush our systems, especially the kidneys and bladder, of waste products and toxins. A majority of Americans go through life dehydrated.

Limit sugary foods, salt, and refined-grain products. Sugar is added to a vast array of foods. In a year, just one daily 12-ounce can of soda (160 calories) can increase your weight by 16 pounds. See suggestions below for limiting salt and substituting whole grains for refined grains.

Don’t be the food police. You can enjoy your favorite sweets and fried foods in moderation, as long as they are an occasional part of your overall healthy diet. Food is a great source of pleasure, and pleasure is good for the heart – even if those French fries aren’t!

Get moving. A healthy diet improves your energy and feelings of well-being while reducing your risk of many diseases. Adding regular physical activity and exercise will make any healthy eating plan work even better.

One step at a time. Establishing new food habits is much easier if you focus on and take action on one food group or food fact at a time.

Source : http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm

What Is Cholesterol?

Posted by Trisha Kyrill | 6:45 AM

Let's start with a simple question: What, exactly, is cholesterol? Well, it's a sort of fatty, waxy stuff and your own liver produces it.
It's actually necessary for good health and it's a part of every cell in your body.

There are several things that cholesterol helps our bodies to do:


  • Keep the cell wall healthy




  • Help the body produce enough vitamin D




  • Aid in digesting, by producing stomach acids to digest fat


    Credit : healthspablog.org



So far so good. We need cholesterol and we produce it ourselves. You also get some from certain foods, basically from animals, like meat or dairy. Fruit and veg contain no cholesterol at all. When the body produces too much cholesterol it sits in the blood stream and eventually it can block up your blood vessels. That increases your risk of heart diseases and the 'silent killer', stroke.
If you eat a lot of animal fats - also called saturated fats -your body can produce too much cholesterol. And a high cholesterol level should not be ignored. Now there are various types of cholesterol and they each have a different role to play in your health.
The 'bad' cholesterol is called LDL, which stands for Low Density Lipoprotein. This is the one that can increase your chances of getting heart disease by clogging up your arteries. When that happens blood flow through the artery is diminished.
The 'good' cholesterol is called HDL. This is the opposite, so it's High Density Lipoprotein. This actually 'sweeps up' the 'bad' cholesterol from your blood stream. Which means it's important to know your cholesterol ratio to know whether you have a normal cholesterol level.
If you cholesterol monitor regularly you will know when you have high cholesterol. And if you do have high cholesterol it makes sense to reduce your LDL cholesterol if you can. And if your levels are high you should do it as soon as possible.
Considering that it's been estimated that about 50% of Americans have high cholesterol levels, it's wise for everyone to get their level tested and do something about it.
Lowering cholesterol naturally is an attractive option for many. Remaining on cholesterol medication for any length of time is something a lot of people want to avoid. So start by making wise choices in the foods you eat. There are low cholesterol foods, for example an average egg has about four times the cholesterol of a piece of fish, for example, so choosing the fish would help you have a lower cholesterol level.
It's been estimated that if you reduce your cholesterol by one percent you can decrease your chances of heart disease by twice that - 2%. That's an amazing difference for small changes in your levels of cholesterol.
If you haven't had your cholesterol tested in the last five years, then you should seriously think about having it done now. Even if your levels are high, you can reduce them by paying attention to your diet. If you don't know what your normal cholesterol level is, you should speak to your doctor to find out.
Source : http://www.highcholesterolfoods.net/what-is-cholesterol-.php#

Is This For Real?

Posted by Trisha Kyrill | 6:47 AM


Everything Is Possible With A Strong Will ...

Obesity + Disease + Teeth

Posted by Trisha Kyrill | 2:55 AM

Researchers analyzed data from almost 37,000 men who were free of reported periodontal disease at the start of follow-up, and we followed them for up to 16 years (1986-2002).

The study, which controlled for age, smoking, race, dental profession, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, and diabetes status - showed a 29% increased risk of periodontal disease in those with BMI's over 30, compared to normal weight individuals.

Obese adults are at higher risk of gum disease than are normal-weight people, a new study finds.

For many years, researchers have been trying to determine the link between gum disease and cardiovascular risk, said study author Monik Jimenez, a doctoral candidate at the Harvard School of Public Health.

To explore the possible connection between excess weight and periodontal problems, Jimenez and her colleagues analyzed data from nearly 37,000 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. They were free of periodontal disease at the beginning of the study and were followed for up to 16 years, from 1986 to 2002.

Researchers gathered information on the men’s height, weight and self-reported gum disease diagnoses, as well as their waist and hip measurements.

“Obesity was associated with a 29 percent increased risk of periodontal disease over the course of the study” compared to those of normal weight, Jimenez said. She used the standard definition of obesity as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

“There was a negligibly small risk” of gum disease among those who were overweight but not obese, she said.
Waist circumference was linked to a higher risk of gum disease, too. Men with a waist of 40 inches or more — considered a risk for heart disease — had a 19 percent higher risk of getting gum disease than those with a waist under 40 inches.

In a second study, Jimenez and her colleagues at the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan found that an elevated waist-hip ratio (WHR) was linked to a greater risk of moderate gum disease in men and women age 70 and above.

Source : http://4pack.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/ideal-weight-obesity-increases-risk-of-periodontal-disease/

Dhiela says : Dentist is the most non-popular person on earth ... thinking off those pliers , machines , pain and all those things related to toothache or dentist will be able to put even the most powerful person in his company to giggling knees when its time to see dentist ...