The Weight-Starch Connection

Anyone who’s tried to lose weight within the past decade has asked themselves one common question: “Can I eat bread?”

Well, guess what? Yes, there’s certainly room for bread in your weight loss plan – there’s a simple rule you can use to help you wisely choose a loaf.

So, what’s the connection? Starches, such as breads and baked goods, usually contain a standard amount of calories by weight, about 80 calories per ounce, whereas heavier breads are going to contain a higher calorie count.

One nutrition expert explained that most slices of regular bread weigh about an ounce, around 80 calories, while a slice of dense, all-natural bread, might weigh 2 or even 3 ounces, between 160 to even 240 calories. Those heavier loaves of bread may look and sound like they’re healthy, but their density signals that they probably contain more calories than most other loaves. Plus, they’re typically made with simple sugars like high-fructose corn syrup, dextrose and maltose that will add even more calories.

You may be wondering about where other baked good weigh in? Well, similarly, treats like banana breads and plain cakes contain roughly 125 calories per ounce. If you pick up a “healthy,” “all-natural” bran muffin and it feels like a brick, consider the caloric consequences: A standard 4-ounce muffin weighs in at around 500 calories, almost the equivalent of 7 slices of standard bread.

So remember to check out whether those breads and starches tip the scales before you buy them – it’s easy, free and could save you a ton (of calories) in the long run!

The 7-Day Cleansing Diet

If the holiday season left you with a jelly-belly, feeling heavy, bloated, and ready to make a change, try this seven-day cleansing diet plan to purify your body, melt away fat, banish bloat, crush cravings and leave you feeling refreshed and energized!

Get ready!

Do Not:-

• Add sugar, other natural sweeteners or artificial sweeteners to anything.
• Add salt to anything. Eating foods with a lot of added salt causes you to retain water, which drives up the number on the scale and makes you feel uncomfortable.
• Eat starches with dinner (including bread, rice, pasta, peas, beans, corn and potatoes
• Drink alcohol. Alcohol adds a lot of empty calories to your diet, plus it lowers your inhibitions so you’re more likely to veer off plan and make unhealthy food choices.

Do:-

• Eat on a schedule. Enjoy three meals and at least one snack each day.
• Drink lots of water throughout the day.
• Enjoy water alternatives in unlimited quantities at any point during the day.
• Begin dinner with a healthy appetizer.
• Eat fruits and veggies at any time throughout the day, particularly when you get hungry between designated meal and snack times.
• Exercise. Engage in 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise everyday (walking is fine).

Diet Myths Busted

It’s one of the biggest weight loss myths ever: the idea that it’s “not safe” to lose more than two pounds a week.

It all boils down to simple mathematics. There are 3,500 calories in one pound of fat. Thus, in order to lose one pound of fat, you must create a caloric deficit of 3,500 calories. This can occur over a week’s time by cutting back 500 calories per day (7 days X 500 = 3,500).

Or, to put it another way, you can increase your physical activity such that you burn 500 more calories per day than what you’ve been burning. This can be accomplished by an inactive person committing to one hour a day of rigorous exercise.

If you’re eating 2,000 calories a day and especially if you’re not exercising, your body has no reason to start feeding off its own muscle. It gets plenty of protein from your broiled chicken and fish, beans and whole grains.

You will lose on average six pounds a week, for a number of weeks. And it will be safe. However…this doesn’t mean that this weight loss will persist until you get down to 130 pounds. In fact, if you don’t exercise, this weight loss will come to a halt at some point, leaving you with still extra fat to lose. You may end up losing only 40 pounds off a 250-pound body if you don’t exercise (or only 20 pounds off a 190-pound body). And you’ll still look flabby. This is why exercise is so important.

Do You Burn More Fat in Winter?

So, does weather help control how many calories you burn?

Yes and no. Both warmer and colder climates have positive and negative aspects when it comes to weight loss, particularly when it comes to certain seasonal behaviors that are crucial to maintaining an ideal body weight. Consider the fact that in warmer weather, people tend to be a little more active, and are more conscious of their bodies since they’re wearing less.

But that’s not even the whole story.

Most of the frustration regarding fat loss is caused by the fact that we’re actually battling with our body’s innate ability to protect itself. This is because one of the primary protective functions of our body is to maintain a temperature close to or equal to 98.6. The body has an extraordinarily complex set of procedures to accomplish this goal, particularly by controlling the body’s metabolism.

Fat plays three major roles in regards to the metabolism:

• Fat is the preferred fuel source used for body temperature regulation.

• Fat is an insulator that helps retain heat in cold environments.

• Fat provides the whole body with a long term fuel source, which during extended cold spells, allowed our ancestors to survive and forage for food.

The metabolism slows down when it’s hot. The slower our metabolism gets, the less we use fat as a fuel source. But, as stated before, this is balanced by the idea that we tend to eat less and exercise more in warmer months.

On the flip side, the body’s ability to generate heat during cold times is done by increasing the metabolism. The metabolism requires a tremendous amount of fuel during this time and burns more fat.

So, yes, technically, colder weather does indeed help burn more fat!

Just Why is Soda So Bad?

Of all the possible drinks out there, soda probably has one of the worst reputations, next to alcohol, for those trying to lose weight. Unlike alcohol however, there’s been no attempt to create a constitutional amendment banning it.

But what exactly is so very unhealthy about this favorite beverage? We should start with a basic rundown of the common soda suspects:

A standard soda contains caffeine, phosphoric acid, high-fructose corn syrup, sodium benzoate, carbonated water and added colors and flavors.

Caffeine:- Thanks to caffeine, soda acts as a dehydrating diuretic, particularly when combined with sugar and mixed with the carbonation that provides those bubbles.

Phosphoric Acid:- Soda, whether it’s caffeinated or not, is the most acidic beverage you can buy, about equal to vinegar, thanks to phosphoric acid.

Refined Sugar:- Sugar refining is the process of extracting out the sugar (sucrose) from plant materials and then removing other unwanted materials from the extracted raw sugar. Completely refined white sugar contains no nutritional value, meaning no vitamins, no minerals, no proteins and no fiber.

Preservatives:- A new health scare erupted over soft drinks recently amid evidence that sodium benzoate and other common soda preservatives may cause serious cell damage.

We know, soda tastes great. And as a society, we’ve been drinking it for so long that the idea of going without is almost painful. But, know that there are some tasty alternatives out there; including pure water flavored with anything from basil and mint to lemon and orange slices, even with a little honey.

The Secret to Fast Weight Loss

Ever heard of super weight loss foods?  Probably not, as most diet plans don’t show you how to use foods to lose weight fast.  They only have you count calories, carbs or fat grams.  Some foods actually cause your body to burn fat and calories.  Let me tell you how eating certain foods can cause weight loss.

Foods like apples, which contain pectin, are extremely effective at raising your metabolism, which in turn burns calories.  Other foods like nuts, avocados, whole grains and dairy foods also burn fat.  Olive oil, cayenne pepper, ginger, and cinnamon are great for seasoning foods, as they are also super weight loss foods.

Another factor that is very important for fast weight loss is how often you eat, and when.  Most people are used to the basic concept of breakfast, lunch and dinner.  However, you will find that it is much more effective to eat smaller portions and eat more often to lose weight.

If this knowledge had existed a decade ago, there wouldn’t be nearly so many obese people in the world as there are now.  This routine is easy, you will never suffer hunger pangs, and you will keep the weight off for good.

The Best Diets to Lose Weight

No doubt you’ve seen dozens of diets to lose weight that claim to be the best.  Have you tried any of them?  If so, you probably know that on these plans you can’t eat much food, and eventually the weight comes back.  Some of the best diets to lose weight are plans you have more than likely never heard of.

You’ve seen endless commercials for diets to lose weight on television.  Some of these plans are Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, and Slim Fast.  These programs are surely all good, but they also have you eat special meals that are expensive and not very filling.

Healthy, everyday foods are the best way to lose weight quickly.  You don’t need special foods or diet supplements. You just need to learn:-

1. How to use REAL foods in a way that increase metabolism and calorie burn.
2. What you should eat at meals, and how to combine them to burn fat efficiently.
3. Why the number of times per day that you eat makes a huge difference
4. How to exercise WITHOUT spending hours per day in a gym.  You don’t need excessive exercise to lose weight quickly.

By learning the proper way to experience quick weight loss, you will never have to try other diets again.  You also don’t have to worry about the weight coming back!

With some methods like fasting or starvation diets, you lose weight quickly in the first few days.  Why?  It’s water weight.  After that point, your weight loss stops.  This is because you need calories in order for your metabolism to work properly.

Ways to Increase Metabolism – Simple and Effective

Looking for ways to increase your metabolism? You already know that having a high or fast metabolism helps speed weight loss.  There are many methods you can use to do this, but simple diet and exercise work best.  Diet pills are dangerous and can cause many unwanted side effects.  Here is some information that will interest you if you need to shed some pounds and want to do it easily.

One of the most effective ways there are to increase your metabolism is by eating fat burning foods.  Exercise is great as well.  By combining both, your fat burning ability will go through the roof!  So, what are some of the best foods and exercise to accomplish this?  Here are some examples.

Fat Burning Foods:- Fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, beans, whole wheat products and dairy foods.  Calcium is a super fat burner! By eating the right foods in the correct manner, your metabolism will work at its peak constantly.

Exercise:-The best type of exercise to raise your fat burning ability is weight bearing exercise. Building muscle replaces fat, and boosts your metabolism tremendously.

These are just a couple of effective ways to increase metabolism.  They are the most effective, and you can lose weight quicker than you ever will with fad diets and special diet foods.

Detoxing: A New Year, A New You

It was quite the happy holiday, and you rang in that New Year just right: you’re stuffed with appetizers and saturated with alcohol. Now what? You probably have new health resolutions to kick start. One great way is by renewing the body with an internal body cleanse.

Your digestive function is made up of numerous organs all working together to break down, absorb, and process all of the nutrients in the food you eat. Without healthy digestion, you can become malnourished and toxins will build up in your body, leading to degenerative diseases and rapid aging down the road.

The following remedies will get your digestion on the right track:

Walk:- After a large meal, take a 10- to 20-minute stroll.

Herbal Tea:- Drink after each meal to soothe and prevent bloating.

Apple Cider Vinegar:- This is traditionally used to remedy digestive distress, support liver detoxification, normalize digestive juices and reduce intestinal bloating.

Alcohol Overload:- The liver has the ability to regenerate itself, but the effects of alcohol eventually wear down the liver.

Ginger Tea:- Ginger has been found to soothe the digestive lining and balance gastric juices, making it a great remedy for overeating, too.

Drink up:- Alcohol dehydrates your system, so drinking plenty of water will help combat some of your unpleasant hangover symptoms, rehydrate your body and flush out toxins.

Lemon Water:- Lemon activates your liver to release toxins and helps to cleanse and move the roughage that stays behind in your intestines. Throughout the day, drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water to flush your system.

Detoxify With Tea:- Try various herbs in teas to cleanse and prevent a buildup of toxins and wastes in your body.

Are You Real Hungry or Fake Hungry?

Our appetites can be quite the pranksters. They often fool us into thinking we’re hungry, when often, we may be suffering from something completely different. Knowing when your body really needs food and when it needs something else will help you avoid unwanted belly fat, and even improve the quality of your emotional life.

1. Hunger Due to Eating the Wrong Food. Symptoms include craving high sugar foods or feeling hungry soon after eating a meal.

2. Emotional Hunger. Sometimes, our appetites can go haywire when we are experiencing boredom, fear, anxiety, stress or loneliness.

3. Hunger Due to Sleepiness. Daytime fatigue may lead people to overeat (often, high-sugar, nutrient-poor foods) in an attempt to get an extra surge of energy. This is equivalent to placing a Band-Aid on the true problem. It provides only temporary relief, which is soon followed by a crash in energy levels and a resurgence of “hunger” leading to more snacking.

4. Hunger Due to Thirst. We often mistake thirst for hunger. Try drinking a glass or two of water to identify whether you are truly hungry or just slightly dehydrated, in which case water is the perfect antidote!

When you’re truly hungry however, it’s pretty clear to identify. For instance, a growling stomach will cause us to be cranky and unfocused…until we get some food, that is! If it’s been four hours since your last meal or snack, you may very well be hungry. Never ignore true hunger, as doing so may exacerbate it and cause you to overeat to compensate for the missed calories.