You are here: Home / Archives for Weight Loss

How To Keep Your Diet On Track!

February 29, 2012 by 137 Comments

I’ll spare you the grim statistics on America’s obesity epidemic. We should realize by now, many of us are overweight. The saddest fact is that many of us are getting “fatter” each year.

I understand many people suffer through “yo-yo” dieting, losing weight and then gaining it back. Which leads to frustration, and does nothing to improve their health.

I found a interesting video, of Ann Curry interviewing Dr. Oz. Although the video was meant to cover how to keep your New Years resolution to lose weight, I believe the tips provided are good year round.

This video is provided courtesy of msnbc.com and the Mother Nature Network.

Now, this is great information for you to follow.  As a well known shoe company says…”Just do it”.

The Bottom Line:  You are the master of your health and future.  You don’t have do everything to be healthier, you just need to do something NOW!  It took me 8 years to go from weighing 240 pounds, to my current weight of 185.  Was it easy…NO!  But, I kept at it and I’m glad I did.  I suggest you put Dr. Oz’s tips to use immediately.  It’s all up to you.

It’s your life, live well.

 

twitt How To Keep Your Diet On Track!

Related posts:

  1. The Last Diet You Will Ever Need!
  2. How To Reduce Your Calorie Intake And Lose Weight!
  3. The Perfect Food For Weight Gain!
  4. Are You Powerless To Change Your Health?
Filed Under: Mens Health, Weight Loss, Weight Management, Womens Health Tagged With: , , ,

Does Metabolic Syndrome Have You In Its Grasp? (Part 1)

November 17, 2011 by 295 Comments

There’s a silent tsunami in our midst.  Most people are unaware they have it.  Yet, you dare not ignore it because the end results can be extremely devastating.

I’m talking about Metabolic Syndrome.  Also, known as pre-diabetes or insulin resistance.  There’s an estimate that 79 million Americans have it, another estimate claims 60% of us are affected.  Either way you slice it, a staggering number of people are at its mercy.

The following criteria for Metabolic Syndrome was obtained from MayoClinic.com.  If you meet just 3 out of the 5 listed, you have Metabolic Syndrome:

  1. Excess body fat around your waist.  This means, men with a waist size of 40 inches or more, and women with a waist size of 35 inches or more.
  2. A triglycerides level greater than 150.
  3. HDL cholesterol levels of less than 40 for men, and less than 50 for women.
  4. Elevated blood sugar, as indicated by a fasting blood glucose level greater than 100.
  5. Elevated blood pressure over 130/85.

Metabolic Syndrome, or insulin resistance, occurs when your diet and lifestyle collide to overwork your pancreas.  Instead of the insulin released from the pancreas converting your food into glucose for energy, your body’s cells fail to respond normally to insulin.  The glucose (sugars) don’t enter the cells.  So, your blood sugars increase, causing you to gain more weight.

Eventually, your insulin production becomes so ineffective, that your blood sugars increase to the point where you have the risk of becoming a Type 2 diabetic.

Check out the following interview with Dr. Kevin Weiland, an internal medicine specialist and author of the book, The Dakota Diet.

Health Videos – 5 Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome

The Bottom Line:  You control your exposure to Metabolic Syndrome.  If being overweight and physically inactive are acceptable to you, I wish you well.  However, just a few lifestyle changes can help you prevent or even overcome this precursor to diabetes.

In my next post, I’ll cover some action steps you can take right now to control this beast.  See ya next time!

It’s your life, live well.

twitt Does Metabolic Syndrome Have You In Its Grasp? (Part 1)

Related posts:

  1. Does Metabolic Syndrome Have You In Its Grasp? (Part 2)
  2. Can You Build Muscles To Prevent Diabetes?
  3. Men, Save Your Sex Appeal!
  4. Top 10 Reasons Why You Don’t Want Diabetes!
Filed Under: Exercise/Fitness, Mens Health, Weight Loss, Womens Health Tagged With: ,

How To Eat Fish!

August 15, 2011 by 4 Comments

Sometimes, it’s better to present information in a simple way.  You know, without spin and complicated words.  So, what do you really know about eating fish?

I sure you’ve heard how good fish is for your health.  But, what types of fish are best for heart health?  Is fried fish,  just as beneficial to your health as broiled fish?  Are there any dangers lurking at your local sushi bar?

There’s a great “fish I.Q.” quiz I found on the Webmd site.  It’ll test your knowledge, or lack thereof, about facts and fiction surrounding the role of eating fish for better health.  I suggest you invest about 10 minutes of your time, to get the “real deal” about fish in your diet.  You can find the slide show on Webmd.com at the link here.

The Bottom Line:  A little knowledge can indeed be a dangerous thing, when it comes to eating right.  You need to have clear ideas about what’s good to eat and why.  I found the explanations provided after each question, to be very beneficial for increasing my understanding of fish for health.

Are you eating sushi today?

It’s your life, live well.

 

twitt How To Eat Fish!

Related posts:

  1. Neglecting Your Health Will Cost You Plenty!
  2. Eat Right For More Energy!
  3. Do You Make These Mistakes with Food?
  4. How To Deal With Stress!
Filed Under: Mens Health, Omega 3s, Quality & Safety, Weight Loss, Weight Management, Womens Health Tagged With: , , ,

How Women Can Prevent Heath Disease!

August 4, 2011 by 16 Comments

48711o2fvemh8lt 300x300 How Women Can Prevent Heath Disease!Do you know a woman suffering from heart disease?  Probably so, because the numbers of women affected by heart disease are staggering.  A prior post on this blog, took a look at the issue of  women’s heart disease in America.

Now for the first time, the American Heart Association (AHA) has published heart health guidelines specifically targeting women.   This is especially important, because women face many different factors increasing their chances for developing heart disease as they age.  Unfortunately, these factors are often different from the risk factors affecting men.

The 2011 Women’s Guidelines focuses a lot on lifestyle factors, such as:

  • Strength-training for muscle health;
  • Quit smoking;
  • Moderate exercise of 150 minutes and vigorous exercise of 75 minutes each week;
  • Diet rich in vegetables, fruits, high fiber foods, and whole grains;
  • Eating 2 servings of fish each week; and
  • Consider taking omega-3/fish oil supplements when indicated.

Also, the guidelines cover major risk factors, such as:

  • A body mass index (BMI) greater than 25; and
  • Waist size greater than 35 inches.

There’s a great 2-page pdf from the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA), which I highly recommend you print off for your use as a referrence.

Additionally, you can read the original news release from the AHA, at the link here.  It contains a wealth of heart disease prevention information for women.  Make sure you look at the podcast, featuring Dr Lori Mosca.

The Bottom Line:  It’s imperative that you arm yourself with good information, if you want to successfully fight heart disease.  The information provided well help you discuss with your doctor, a health plan tailored for you based on your medical history and risk factors.  Don’t delay your talk with the doctor, your life may depend on it.

Are you going to make your doctor appointment today?

It’s your life, live well.

Image:  digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

twitt How Women Can Prevent Heath Disease!

Related posts:

  1. Women, Love Your Hearts!
  2. Can 20 Minutes Of Exercise Save Your Heart?
  3. Women, Protect Your Bones! (Part 1)
  4. Women, Protect Your Bones! (Part 2)
Filed Under: Dietary Supplements, Exercise/Fitness, Weight Loss, Weight Management, Womens Health Tagged With: , , ,

Can 20 Minutes Of Exercise Save Your Heart?

August 3, 2011 by 2 Comments

27187y5gb7bvohx 300x225 Can 20 Minutes Of Exercise Save Your Heart?Can 20 minutes of exercise daily, really benefit your health?  A recent study shows that even a “little bit” of exercise, goes a long way in helping to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Jacob Sattelmair, ScD., of the Harvard School of Public Health, completed a project involving all studies published between 1995 – 2009, which assessed associations between Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and physical activity.  The studies he reviewed, were those written in the English language only.   The researchers wanted to see if the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, published in 2008 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), were sufficient to provide healthy heart benefits.

The study found the following associations, between moderate intensity exercise and incidence of CHD:

  • 150 minutes per week, led to a 14% lower risk;
  • 300 minutes per week, led to a 20% lower risk; and
  • 750 minutes per week, led to a 25% lower risk of CHD.

However, the researchers found that even people who didn’t achieve the 150 minute standard, but did some exercise, still had a significantly lower risk of CHD compared to people doing nothing at all.

Mr. Sattelmair explained the study’s findings with this statement:

“The biggest health benefits we saw were for those who went from doing nothing to those doing something small…even a little bit of activity makes a significant difference.”

You can read a good summary of the article on the NaturalSociety.com site.  The study was originally published in Circulation, the Journal of the American Heart Association.

The Bottom Line:  You can rid yourself of any further excuses, of doing even the smallest amount of exercise.  Considering the fact that physical activity works wonders in helping prevent cancer, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, it’s time to get busy.  Just do something, and do it now!

Can you spare 20 minutes for exercise today?

It’s your life, live well.

Image: Idea go/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

twitt Can 20 Minutes Of Exercise Save Your Heart?

Related posts:

  1. Can Exercise Protect Your Brain?
  2. Can The Mediterranean Diet Save Your Mind?
  3. Can You Save Your Life in 5 Minutes?
  4. How Women Can Prevent Heath Disease!
Filed Under: Exercise/Fitness, Mens Health, New Research, Weight Loss, Weight Management, Womens Health Tagged With: , ,
«Older Posts