DO BLUEBERRIES HELP YOU TO LOSE WEIGHT?

I have been making a concerted effort to lose weight since mid-June and feel that I have been fairly successful since I have lost 34#. I have been in a bit of a stall for a couple of weeks, but made an observation this morning after I weighed myself and found that I had lost two more pounds. The observation was that last night I had some blueberries in a slushy, and that this summer when I was losing weight so fast, I was eating blueberries on a regular basis.

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon? I would be interested to know.

BEWARE OF LIQUID CALORIES

From Yahoo today

Are Beverages Making You Fat?

Sixty-six percent of Americans are overweight - and liquid calories are part of the problem. Guzzle a 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi and it will cost you 250 calories...order that Starbucks Venti Caramel Macchiato and you're looking at 340 calories. Although loaded beverages can be a delicious occasional splurge (I admit it!), when it comes to managing your weight, remember to account for those calories - and moderate you intake.

Follow these three tips to avoid packing on the pounds:
1. Think before you drink
Be mindful of beverages loaded with caloric ingredients like sugar, corn syrup, fructose, milk, cream, syrup, special flavoring, and even fruit juice. When it comes to managing your weight, calorie-free water will always be your best bet.

2. Calculate the "total calories" you'll be drinking - not just one
serving.
Many beverages list calories per serving but pack 2 or more servings into each bottle. Make sure you look at the serving size...and calculate how many servings (and total calories) are included in one container.

3. Healthy drinks can also pack on the pounds
Just because a product claims to be "all natural" or contains "no refined/added sugars" doesn't mean it's calorie-free. For example, 100% fruit juice and fruit smoothies are filled with nutrition, but also often high in calories. If you're watching your weight, you are better off eating fruit versus drinking it.

Consider this: Trim 500 liquid calories from your daily diet and you'll save 3,500 calories a week. That's potentially one pound of fat lost per week and more than 50 pounds lost at the end of the year!


Total calories in popular beverages:

Soda

* Soda (20-oz. bottle) = 250 calories
* 7-Eleven Big Gulp (32 oz.) = 400 calories
* Large movie theatre soda (44 oz.) = 550 calories
* 7-Eleven Double Big Gulp (64 oz.) = 800 calories



Tea and Coffee Drinks

* Snapple Peach Iced Tea (16-oz. bottle) = 200 calories
* Arizona Lemon Iced Tea (20 oz.) = 225 calories
* Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino:
+ Tall (12 oz.) = 200 calories
+ Grande (16 oz.) = 260 calories
+ Venti (24 oz.) = 380 calories

* Starbucks Caramel Macchiato Grande (16 oz.) = 270 calories
* Starbucks Chai Iced Tea Latte Grande (16 oz.) 260 calories
* Dunkin' Donuts, Coffee Coolatta (16 oz. w/2% milk) = 190 calories



Fruit Beverages

* Jamba Juice: Banana Berry (classic smoothie):
+ 16 oz. = 280 calories
+ 24 oz. Original = 450 calories
+ 30 oz. Power = 600 calories

* POM Pomegranate Juice (16 oz.) = 320 calories
* Orange Juice (pint container, 16 oz.) = 220 calories
* Orange Juice (one cup) = 110 calories
* Naked Juice, Orange Mango Motion (16-oz. container) = 240 calories
* Odwalla Citrus C Monster (16-oz. container) = 300 calories
* Country Time lemonade (12-oz. can) = 130 calories
* Minute Maid lemonade (20-oz. bottle) = 260 calories



Flavored Waters and Sports Drinks

* Vitamin Water (20-oz bottle) = 125 calories
* Life Water (20 oz.) = 125 calories
* Gatorade (20 oz.) = 125 calories

SOCIALLY CONTAGIOUS OBESITY

If your friends and family are fat or get fat, odds are you will be also says the results of a federally funded study published in recently in the New England Journal of Medicine and funded by the National Institute on Aging. Oddly enough this appears to be true even if they live far away. In addition to poor eating and exercise habits, there is also the perception of what is an acceptable weight. Personally, I find this is also true when it comes to acceptable behavior.

Is the solution to obesity to get rid of your friends and family? Of course not! That would be the last thing that you would want to do because having more friends makes you healthier.

Some of the findings of the study were:

- When an obsese person gained weight, their friend also gained at least a portion of that amount of weight.

- Gender also played a role in that in the cases of same sex friendships, a person's obesity riskincreased by 71 percent if a friend gained weight. Between brothers, the risk was up by 44 percent and 67 percent between sisters.

Some other experts fault the study because of the small sample group and limited vicinity in which they lived. They tend to agree with my observation that people tend to go with the flow of the people around them.

Burn Fat feed Muscle

This manual will reveal to you all the secrets of permanent fat loss. It is written by a man who has discovered these secrets the hard way - through long years of trial and error. Using the information in this manual will allow you master the art and science of losing body fat by a shorter and less costly route; by "modeling" those who have gone before you and learning from an expert. The primary goals of this manual are to help you lose fat permanently without drugs, supplements or gimmicks and to educate you in the process of losing fat. In other words, my goal is to turn you into a "fat loss expert"… to teach you the reasons why and help you to understand the process…and to do so without bias or ulterior motive.

Want this book? Contact dottye789@earthlink.net

SUGGESTION FOR MAINTAINING THE FITNESS ROUTINE

To stay physically active, I think of my time like a bank account. When deadlines keep me at work late, I might borrow time from my designated fitness quota, but I have to pay that time back before the week is done. (I go spinning on Saturday morning to signal to my body that the workweek is over!)

ALLI - NEW OTC DIET DRUG HAS AN UNCOMFORTABLE SIDE EFFECT

There is a new OTC Weight Loss drug out there that has just been released. It's called Alli. The producers of this drug, GlaxoSmithKline, recommend having an extra pair of pants with you at all times. Read more about this drug and its side effects here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19263093/site/newsweek/?from=rss

TIPS TO MAINTAIN YOUR WEIGHT WHILE ON VACATION

There is an old adage that "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail". This certainly holds true for maintaining you weight while on vacation. Consider some of the following tips before you head out on your next trip.

- Try to remain on your regular eating schedule.
- Pack some healthy snacks like fruit or a turkey sandwich that you can eat if your schedule gets disrupted.
- Eat a good breakfast. One that is high in protein will carry you far into the day.
- When eating in a restaurant opt for foods that are prepared baked, broiled or grilled as
opposed to fried or creamy.
- Many hotels now have refrigerators in the rooms. One technique of not eating too much at
one time is when you order, ask your waiter to put half of your food in a take out container
and bring it to you when he/she brings the check. That way you won't be tempted to eat
too much at one time.
- Schedule in some time for fitness on your vacation. Walk, swim; if you golf, walk the course
instead of using a cart.

Consider some of these tips and you will arrive back home relaxed, refreshed and more likely to be at the same weight as when you left.

Weight Loss ... God\'s Way?

I’m really not that much into weight loss products (even though I do have much weight to lose) - I guess I’ve tried them all at one point or another and have been discouraged with the results.

But, the other day, I had to go looking through some weight loss products that were offered by Clickbank (it was for some research that I had to do) and one definitely caught my eye.

It’s called: ‘Weight Loss God’s Way’.  I guess the title interested me, because I thought, why in the world would God be interested in how much we weigh?

Then, I found myself reading the sales page and thinking ‘this makes sense’.  It talks about how most weight loss products deal with the symptoms of weight gain, rather than the root of the problem.

I could definitely relate to that because I had tried so many things out, only to fail (and gain back the weight that I had lost).

Well, I knew I wasn’t interested in purchasing the program, so I clicked on to the next.  However, I actually kept thinking about ‘Weight Loss God’s Weigh’ and if this is something that would finally work for me.

Guess what - yep, I actually purchased the program.  It did take me about a week before I took the plunge.  And, I really like it so far (I’m only through the first week of information).  The philosophy behind it (change your thinking to change your behavior, change your behavior to change your body) makes sense.

It’s interesting, intriguing and very thoughtful - I’m finding out about what makes me tick!

If you’re looking for something really different and ready for a change in your life:

‘Stop Dieting and Renew Your Mind Instead’

Horrors of Eating Disorders

You can’t seem to make up your mind, you eat and eat and then you hide a purge or you starve yourself for weeks until you are at the lowest weight that you have ever been in your life. Anorexia and bulimia used to be considered the health problems of some confused young girls with troubled lives real or perceived. Lately doctors have found that more and more women are being diagnosed with an eating disorder of some kind. Other misconceptions about eating disorders are that people think that they are psychological problems that can be treated with medication easily and then the person is cured for life. Neither is true. In fact, this disorder is not easily treated and the person is left to deal with it affects throughout their lives. Doctor’s believe that hormonal variations occurring near the menopause of a woman may be the reason the eating disorder developed such late in life.

These women see themselves as being overweight despite the fact that they are extremely thin. These women developing strange eating rituals or eat and regurgitating over and over again. Body dissatisfaction is the main focus of these women. Find out more at Easy Health Weight Loss and Fitness

ADD VARIETY TO YOUR SALADS

During those hot, hazy days of summer many of us prefer not to cook but opt instead to make salads. Sometimes I feel as though I am just making the same salad over and over again and recently have started experimenting with ingredients.

First of all I try to avoid iceberg lettuce as it has limited nutritional value. I look for a mixed greens blend or spinach. Now that summer has arrived it is easier to purchase these items fresh from the farmers markets.

Frequently I will just put a dash of extra virgin olive oil and some vinegar. Not too much, just a taste is enough. Perhaps a handful of walnuts and some dried cranberries. And voila, you have a tasty salad full of heart healthy ingredients. Sometimes I substitute yogurt for the oil and vinegar. Some people combine the yogurt with the oil and vinegar.

Stress Plays a Role

A lot of people don't realize the effect stress has on their body, including issues with weight. Stress actually releases a hormone into your body called Cortisol, which tells your body that more food is needed, even if you are full. So, if you ever wondered why you tend to eat when you're under stress, that's the reason.

What is the absolute best way to relieve stress? Simply, go take a walk! Walking helps slow cortisol production, but also releases a helpful hormone called Serotonin, which actually helps curb your appetite for up to six hours!

Get walkin' y'all!

Garry

LARRY KING INTERVIEW WITH HEALTH GURUS

Last night I came across the Larry King show on television. He was interviewing several well-known health gurus: Sanjay Gupta, Bob Greene (Oprah's trainer), Deepak Chopra, and Lance Armstrong. As you know, Lance Armstrong gained his fame by overcoming testicular cancer at age 25 to become a six time Tour de France winner.

I only caught part of the interview which apparently encompassed a variety of topics. One question that was addressed was exercise; how it fits into the total life picture, the best types to lose weight, as well as the importance of using weights or resistance training to help build muscle mass since muscle mass burns calories much more efficiently.

To read a transcript of this show go to: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0704/14/lkl.01.html

FIVE SIMPLE WAYS TO SHAVE CALORIES

Losing weight, or just trying to maintain a healthy weight need not always be about major changes. You will most likely stick to the plan if you don’t really feel that you are being deprived. Try some of these suggestions.

• Do you like bagels? Did you know that some of the larger bagels that you can buy in the specialty shops are the equivalent of six slices of bread? That’s a lot of carbohydrates. Consider eating half for breakfast and half later or even the next morning. You might also consider scooping out some of the bread in the middle to reduce the calorie content.
• Muffins sound healthy. Not always. Many commercial muffins are essentially glorified cupcakes. Eat only half at a time. You will satisfy your craving and save on calories too.
• Pizza. Sopping up the grease off the top with a paper towel before you eat it might save you from ingesting a couple of teaspoons of oil. 1tsp oil = 45 calories.
• Salads. Not the calorie saver you might think if you drizzle even some blue cheese dressing on it. Substitute a teaspoon of oil and unlimited vinegar. Besides the calorie savings the vinegar is good for your heart.
• Watch what you drink. A typical serving size is 8 oz. Most commercial drinks are at least 16 oz. Consuming the entire bottle doubles your caloric intake. Consider water instead or just drink half. Avoid carbonated beverages if at all possible.

EATING TO MAINTAIN OPTIMAL HEALTH

When it comes to diseases, that is because one or more of our body systems are in distress. By giving your body nourishment you are giving it what it needs to resist, repair and overcome disease, and to achieve optimal health. While challenges to our health (virus, parasites, bacteria, toxins) are at an all-time high, our nutritional intake to protect ourselves from these challenges is at its lowest level ever.

When we do not eat properly our our organs and body systems begin a slow process of degeneration. Degeneration disease is the leading cause of death and growing dramatically every day. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis -- these are degenerative processes that cause immeasurable human suffering. In addition, emotional stress in the 20th Century is at an all time high and directly impacts our well-being. Herbs replace the nutrients that our foods lack, and Tonic herbs help the body to adjust to the effects of stress and to adapt in a more positive way and maintain its equilibrium.

People of the Amazon for thousands of years to maintain and optimize health, strength and stamina. They are the result of a powerful blend of tribal wisdom and scientific verification that documents and supports the beneficial properties of these botanicals. Their wild botanicals are sustainably harvested in the lush, virgin terrain of the Amazon Rainforest.

There are so much more I can post on this topic but for now I have given you some good info. Till tomorrow

Health Nut

DON'T HIBERNATE THIS WINTER

For those of us who do not live in the sun belt the months of Nov-March are usually spent indoors. How can you possibly lose weight if you are not moving? There are a myriad of Winter activities to participate in if you just plan ahead a bit and dress properly. Keep these tips in mind and you can enjoy the great outdoors all winter long.

1. Don't forget to stretch. Stretching is always important before exercise in order to prevent injury, but perhaps even more critical in the winter months because it takes longer for your muscles to warm up.

2. Make sure that your equipment is in good working order.

3. Dress properly. Dress in layers. Avoid cotton as it absorbs your perspiration instead of wicking it away from your body. I prefer silk, but have been told by some people who actually camp out in a tent during the winter that wool as a base layer actually works better. I have also seen wool/silk blends. Perhaps this is the best of both worlds. Cover your head to keep from loosing heat, and don't forget to wear gloves or mittens.

4. It is always good to protect your skin with a lotion that has a SPF factor, but many people only associate that with the summer months. The burning rays of the sun are present year round.

5. Protect your eyes. Sunglasses or goggles will help protect your eyes from glare.

6. If appropriate to the activity you are doing, wear a helmet to protect your head.

7. Hydrate. You might be surprised at the amount of fluid you really do lose when exercising in the winter.

See you on the slopes!
Elaine Flanigan