Monday, February 12, 2007

Dieting With Pleasure

Oh dear. Have you put on a few more pounds? Have the celebrations taken their toll on your body shape? Considering dieting, but can't find the right one for you?

It's an all too familiar story of gluttonous orgy. Large meals, irresistible cakes and pies all washed down with copious amounts of alcohol. Why should we blame you though eh? The packaging of foodstuff is designed to make you buy as much as you can carry.

A fat you = A fat profit for the company.

That's business.

Many people will use the old excuse of having a slow metabolism. Your brain wants more food than your body needs. It's good to know that the power of advertising works.

Then there's the countless number of diets. How many have you tried? How many lasted more than a week? Very often with a lot of commercial diets, the only weight you lose and keep off is the weight in your wallet.

The problem with most diets is that they are just not an enjoyable experience. The prospect of replacing cakes with carrots is enough to send some people into shock. You also need to be dieting for the right reason, which is for you alone - not for anyone else. If you don't want to lose weight for yourself then you shouldn't even start a diet. Perhaps you are happy being fat. If not, how could you lose weight and enjoy it? With a little bit of psychology, that's how. You continue eating all the same foods you enjoy, but you'll find that you tend to eat less. The only sacrifice with this method is that you have to say goodbye to quick meals.

We rush around so much in this world, fitting in a snack or a meal when we have a spare five minutes. This has to stop. Eating is a pleasurable experience and a very important one. The speed eating culture has resulted in us forgetting to taste our food. I'm pretty sure the tongue misses all the action from childhood and the jaw is virtually redundant. One hand doesn't seem to be quick enough so we shovel with both hands.

Very simply, you need to learn to taste your food again. Savour each mouthful. Examine the flavours. You'll be surprised at what you've been missing. Have a good long chew so that you experience the textures as well as tastes. Some flavours need to warm in the mouth before they are evident to our senses and some flavours require sustained chewing for them to be released. Does it taste as it smells? Do you want to sip a little wine and chew? Mix the flavours? Become an expert in the subtle differences in taste. You'd be surprised just how many people don't do this. What an absolute waste of the human senses.

This method has the effect of extending meal times. You are also likely to feel full up with less food. Remember that eating is what keeps us alive and it would be such a shame to pass through life without seriously enjoying all the flavours and textures that the world's food has to offer. How many top level chefs do you know who are obese?

ref:http://www.victortunggal.com

hoodia the natural way to loss weight


Why Pure Hoodia? Well, for one there is no reason to doubt the sincerity of the wonderfully lean and fit Bushmen of the Kalahari. What they say about the capability of Hoodia is clearly factual. Their long history involving the use of Hoodia spanning thousands years and many generations not only speaks volumes but serves as illustrious proof of the real benefits of Hoodia.

Then, as luck would have it, Hoodia is able to go to the heart of obesity crises. Because by comparison to the small handful of genetically related cases, the vast majority are due to overeating and food addiction.

Plus, to the delight of the skeptics pure Hoodia has shown to be a natural remedy capable of controlling caloric intake better than the dangerous artificial drugs of the past. H-oodia.com diet pill kills the appetite and attacks obesity, is organic with no synthetic or artificial appetite control agents, has no known side effects, contains a miracle molecule (up to 100,000 times more powerful than glucose) that fools the brain into believing that the stomach is full and even stops the cravings about food. But it actually does more.

Listening to the San Bushmen. Hoodia gordonii has been used for centuries by the San bushmen of South Africa .These people may have, at times, consumed Hoodia on a regular basis. The San are known to have chewed on the plant during times of food scarcity, in order to alleviate hunger and thirst. Hoodia gordonii was found by bushmen to be particularly valuable for use during arduous hunting expeditions in the Kalahari desert. The Kalahari desert is a principle home for the San bushmen and it is a prime location for the growth of the succulent plant, Hoodia gordonii.

The power of this succulent plant, known to the San as khoba (Hoodia) is going to be a continuing focus of international attention in the fight against the global pandemic of obesity. The world has finally listened to the San people. Does Hoodia have Aphrodisiac Capabilities? Some folklore observations on the effects of Hoodia gordonii have been somewhat ignored by scientists. The San Bushmen in South Africa reported that Hoodia gordonii might have aphrodisiac and even other pleasurable effects. In recent scientific studies, it has been demonstrated that the human brain produces and/or metabolizes plant compounds.

This is fascinating work, which supports many beliefs in regards to natural medicine. It seems clear that the evolution of humankind in association with the plant kingdom must have influenced our complicated body chemistry, over a period of many thousands of years. H-oodia.com has today been implemented as a diet pill supplement to help attack obesity thats becoming more and more alarming with deverstating reaults on people today. With obesity on the increase its important to for it to be delt with sooner rather then later as it so easily spirills out of control, leaving people to turn to chemically produced medicines or crazy diets with some results that can lead to problems later on. Hoodia has been around for centuries and is a natural safe alternative.

ref: http://www.victortunggal.com

Tips for setting and meeting your weight-loss goals

You've made the commitment to lose weight. But before you start, set goals that are realistic, specific and measurable.
No one can make you lose weight. In fact, increased external pressure — often from people close to you — may only make matters worse. Likewise, trying to lose weight to satisfy someone else rarely works either. You must want to make diet and exercise changes to please yourself.
Of course, this doesn't mean you must do everything alone. Your doctor, a registered dietitian or another health care professional can help you develop a plan to lose weight. And do ask for support from your family and friends — the people who know you best will likely be happy to provide encouragement.

Getting ready
It takes a lot of energy to change habits, and you want to be sure you're focused on the matter at hand. Timing is crucial, often making the difference between success and failure. Look honestly at your life and what challenges you're facing, such as work-life balance, relationship concerns or final exams.

It may be important to resolve some of these issues as a first step to achieving your weight-loss goals. If these issues require much of your attention, then set your goals for change accordingly. You can fit change into a busy and challenging life; you just need to do it in smaller steps. Choose a definite start date within the next month. Once decided, don't put off that date for anything.

Setting goals
Successful weight loss requires lifestyle changes, so set process goals — eating healthier and exercising more regularly — as opposed to outcome goals, such as losing 50 pounds. And make sure your goals are realistic, specific and measurable — I will walk 30 minutes a day at least five days a week, for example.

Once you have set a goal, ask yourself how confident you feel about being able to meet that goal. Rate your confidence on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being very confident. If your rating is less than a 7, adjust your goal to make it more likely you'll be successful.

Consider all the options when choosing a lifestyle-change goal, then focus. Look at a realistic eating plan that factors in plenty of water, fruits and vegetables. What changes can you put in place to make your diet fit the plan? Or focus on eating triggers. Are you a mood eater, a stress eater or a habit snacker? This may be the place to start.

Perhaps you want to begin by increasing your exercise. Think about the details of your exercise plan, how often, where, when and how you'll do that. Successful weight loss and weight management contain all of these lifestyle changes, but you'll be most successful if you select one area of change and work on process goals for six to 12 weeks, then follow with another area, building on each success as you go.

Write everything down in this planning phase. And go through all the details. When and where will you do it? How will it fit into your schedule? What are the potential roadblocks, and how will you deal with them?

Start small. Remember that you're in this for the long haul. You're making lifestyle changes, and these goals are your first steps in that direction. Anything you undertake too intensely or too vigorously will quickly become uncomfortable and you're more likely to give it up.

Planning and envisioning success
Your old habits may be so ingrained that you practice them without thinking. Your new habits need a chance to become as automatic as your old habits. This can be challenging in certain circumstances, but you can help yourself by knowing your triggers and anticipating them, then make a plan to help you stay on track.

For example, suppose you've been invited to a party where tables will be lavishly set with fine foods. Before leaving the house, you might decide how many treats you'll allow yourself at the party. You could eat something healthy at home, so you won't be tempted by the party food. Once you're there, instead of heaping your plate, you choose to take small portions of only a few items and leave space between them on your plate. You eat slowly and truly savor the flavors. If you're still hungry, you return for more fruit and vegetables.

You can use mental images to increase your chance of success. Envision the benefits of exercise in ways that appeal to you. As you're walking laps at the local high school track, think of yourself hiking along the trails of your favorite park, crossing the finish line of your first 5K walking event, or enjoying the feel of your toned calf muscles.

Accepting setbacks
Setbacks are a natural part of behavior change. Everyone who successfully makes changes in his or her life has experienced setbacks. When you have a setback, instead of giving up entirely, simply start afresh the next day. Remember that you're planning to change your life and that healthy weight loss comes slow and steady — 1 or 2 pounds a week. Changes won't happen all at once, but the results will be worth it.
ref: www.mayoclinic.com

Sunday, February 11, 2007

your kids happy and healthy every day


Here is some tips for you and your kids, to make you and them happy and healthy avery day...

Visit a supermarket or farm to help your child learn where foods come from.
Encourage your child to pick one food and discuss how it is packaged and the different ways the food could be prepared and served.

Hop to the car, subway or bus.

Do a taste test or a crunch test. Dip a vegetable into three different flavors of low-fat dressing or try a crunch test with three different kinds of vegetables to see which vegetable crunches the loudest.

Ask your child to move like different animals: “Jump like a kangaroo,” “Slither like a snake,” or their favorite sports stars, “move like a basketball player,” or “balance like your favorite gymnast.”

Help your child make a healthy foods alphabet book. Encourage your child to think of healthy foods that begin with different letters. Feature one letter and food on each page. For example: A is for apple. B is for broccoli. C is for carrots. When your alphabet book is finished, have fun reading it together.

Invite your child to plan the menu for one family meal. Encourage your child
to go shopping with you to buy the foods. Then, let your child help prepare and serve
the meal. After the meal, talk about what your child learned about food.

Encourage your child to brush his/her teeth for as long as it takes to sing the
ABC song!

Make up a song about a healthy food, where it comes from and how its good for
your body.

Eat your colors everyday! Encourage your child to pick five different colored fruits
and vegetables to eat each day!


resource: www.sesameworkshop.org

Saturday, February 10, 2007

eating habits for your kids


Good nutrition and a balanced diet will help your child grow up healthy. Whether your kid is a toddler or a teen, you can take steps to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits. Five of the best strategies are:


  1. Have regular family meals.
  2. Serve a variety of healthy foods and snacks.
  3. Be a role model by eating healthy yourself.
  4. Avoid battles over food.
  5. Involve kids in the process.

But it's not easy to take these steps when everyone is juggling busy schedules and convenience food, such as fast food, is so readily available. Here are some suggestions to help you incorporate all five strategies into your routine:


Family Meals


Family meals are a comforting ritual for both parents and kids. Children like the predictability of family meals and parents get a chance to catch up with their kids. Kids who take part in regular family meals are also:

  • more likely to eat fruits, vegetables, and grains
  • less likely to snack on unhealthy foods
  • less likely to smoke, use marijuana, or drink alcohol

In addition, family meals offer the chance to introduce your child to new foods and find out which foods your child likes and which ones he or she doesn't.

Teens may turn up their noses at the prospect of a family meal - not surprising because they're trying to establish independence. Yet studies find that teens still want their parents' advice and counsel, so use mealtime as a chance to reconnect. Also, consider trying these strategies:

  • Allow your teen to invite a friend to dinner.
  • Involve your teen in meal planning and preparation.
  • Keep mealtime calm and congenial - no lectures or arguing.

What counts as a family meal? Any time you and your family eat together - whether it's takeout food or a home-cooked meal with all the trimmings. Strive for nutritious food and a time when everyone can be there. This may mean eating dinner a little later to accommodate a child who's at sports practice. It can also mean setting aside time on the weekends, such as Sunday brunch, when it may be more convenient to gather as a group.

Stocking Up on Healthy Foods

Kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what's available at home. That's why it's important to control the supply lines - the foods that you serve for meals and have on hand for snacks. follow these basic guidelines:

  • Work fruits and vegetables into the daily routine, aiming for the goal of 5 servings a day.
  • Make it easy for your child to choose healthy snacks by keeping fruits and vegetables on hand and ready to eat. Other good snacks include yogurt, peanut butter and celery, or whole-grain crackers and cheese.
  • Serve lean meats and other good sources of protein, such as eggs and nuts.
  • Choose whole-grain breads and cereals so your child gets more fiber.
  • Limit fat intake by avoiding deep-fried foods and choosing healthier cooking methods, such as broiling, grilling, roasting, and steaming.
  • Limit fast food and other low-nutrient snacks, such as chips and candy. But don't completely ban favorite snacks from your home. Instead, make them "once-in-a-while" foods, so your child doesn't feel deprived.
  • Limit sugary drinks, such as soda and fruit-flavored drinks. Serve water and milk instead.

By drinking milk, kids also boost their intake of calcium, which is important for healthy bones. That means 800 milligrams (mg) a day for kids ages 6 to 8 and 1,300 mg a day after age 9. To reach the 1,300-mg goal, your child could have:

  • 1 cup (237 milliliters) of milk (300 mg of calcium)
  • 1 cup (237 milliliters) of calcium-fortified orange juice (300 mg of calcium)
  • 2 ounces (57 grams) of cheese (300 mg of calcium) 1 cup (237 milliliters) of yogurt (315 mg of calcium)
  • 1/2 cup (118 milliliters) of cooked white beans (120 mg of calcium)

How to Be a Role Model

The best way for you to encourage healthy eating is to eat well yourself. Kids will follow the lead of the adults they see every day. By eating fruits and vegetables and not overindulging in the less nutritious stuff, you'll be sending the right message.


Another way you can be a good role model is by limiting portions and not overeating. Talk about your feelings of fullness, especially with younger children. You might say, "This is delicious, but I'm full, so I'm going to stop eating." At the same time, parents who are always dieting or complaining about their bodies may foster these same negative feelings in children. Try to keep a positive approach when it comes to food.


Don't Battle Over Food

It's easy for food to become a source of conflict. Well-intentioned parents might find themselves bargaining or bribing kids so they eat the healthy food in front of them. A better strategy is to give kids some control, but to also limit the kind of foods available at home.


Kids should decide if they're hungry, what they will eat from the foods served, and when they're full. Parents control which foods are available to the child, both at mealtime and between meals. Here are some guidelines to follow:


  • Establish a predictable schedule of meals and snacks. Kids like knowing what to expect.
  • Don't force kids to clean their plates. Doing so teaches kids to override feelings of fullness.
  • Don't bribe or reward kids with food. Avoid using dessert as the prize for eating the meal.
  • Don't use food as a way of showing love. When you want to show love, give them a hug, some of your time, or praise.

Get Kids Involved

Most kids will enjoy making the decision about what to make for dinner. Talk to them about making choices and planning a balanced meal. Some children may even want to help shop for ingredients and prepare the meal. At the store, help your child look at food labels to begin understanding nutritional values.
In the kitchen, select age-appropriate tasks so your child can play a part without getting injured or feeling overwhelmed. And at the end of the meal, don't forget to praise the chef.
School lunches can be another learning lesson for kids. More importantly, if you can get them thinking about what they eat for lunch, you may be able to help them make positive changes. A good place to start may be at the grocery store, where you can shop together for healthy, packable foods.
There's another important reason why kids should be involved: It can help prepare them to make good decisions on their own about the foods they want to eat. That's not to say that your child will suddenly want a salad instead of french fries, but the mealtime habits you help create now can lead to a lifetime of healthier choices.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MDDate