February 2014
02/26/2014
02/25/2014
Chocolate Strawberry and Banana Smoothie
On the weekends I tend to make a smoothie for breakfast and today when I got up I didn't feel like having the regular veggie based smoothie instead I wanted a milkshake. So a milkshake it is.
My wife makes sure we don't have ice cream in the house unless we are going to eat it all that day, way to easy a crappy snack to have around the house so why bother causing trouble we can avoid right? :) I know that those vegans use bananas to make ice cream with and we always have bananas so this is what I used
[caption id="attachment_33466" align="alignright" width="250"]
chocolate strawberry and banana smoothie[/caption]
chocolate strawberry and banana smoothie[/caption]
Chocolate Strawberry and Banana Smoothie
- 1 Frozen banana
- 1 Fresh banana
- 1 tablespoon Cocoa
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
02/24/2014
Natural Anxiety Treatment
If you are among the many people who have anxiety problems that cause you to put your life on hold at times, then you really should consider using natural anxiety treatment. These treatments can help you lead a normal life full of greatness and pleasure. One important thing that you must remember though is that not all treatments work for everyone so if one of the following natural treatments do not help you with taking care of your anxiety, then do not feel ashamed to seek some professional help.
Natural Anxiety Treatment[/caption]
Mind and Body Techniques - One of the most common natural anxiety treatment is a method of using mind and body techniques. Many folks do yoga, walking exercise and meditation which are all mind and body techniques. There are even some people who read self-help books and learn how to think positive thoughts. No matter if you exercise or read the main goal is to learn how to relax and breathe in a way that will help you control your anxiety problems.
Herbal Remedies - In addition, there are a lot of natural herbal remedies that people use for anxiety that help them really control their anxiety problems. One natural anxiety treatment herb that is very common is Valerian Root. This herb affects the neurotransmitters of a person's brain. You can use it to help you get a better night's sleep and to help you stay calm thus you will be able to take control over your anxiety problems.
Natural Anxiety Treatment
[caption id="attachment_23586" align="alignleft" width="200"] Natural Anxiety Treatment[/caption]
Mind and Body Techniques - One of the most common natural anxiety treatment is a method of using mind and body techniques. Many folks do yoga, walking exercise and meditation which are all mind and body techniques. There are even some people who read self-help books and learn how to think positive thoughts. No matter if you exercise or read the main goal is to learn how to relax and breathe in a way that will help you control your anxiety problems.
Herbal Remedies - In addition, there are a lot of natural herbal remedies that people use for anxiety that help them really control their anxiety problems. One natural anxiety treatment herb that is very common is Valerian Root. This herb affects the neurotransmitters of a person's brain. You can use it to help you get a better night's sleep and to help you stay calm thus you will be able to take control over your anxiety problems.
02/23/2014
No Carb Diet
Even with the waning popularity of Atkins there are still people out there on a no carb diet. You may remember a few years ago there was a stampede back to the Atkins diet which is one example of a no carb diet when everyone was raving about all the food that they got to eat, all the fat and protein and still lost weight. Well that all kind of made sense at the time because your body with no barbs coming in will generally use stored fat for energy and you will just poo out most of that fat and protein that you are eating.
3. Not long term effective - A no carb diet will help you lose a few pounds initially but you do plateau after a while and then you are stuck trying to find another way to lose weight.
As far as diets go the no carb diet is just another kind of fad diet in my book. They seem to work but after a while you find it is not a good lifestyle change. Now we have other diets that are somewhat the same in the first place. I know that the Zone diet will focus in the induction phase for no carbs but then after the first couple of weeks you add carbs in and it is a lot more healthy, it's that induction part that always makes me nervous.
Here is a few problems with a no carb diet
1. Expensive - The no carb diet like Atkins is expensive to buy food for. How much steak and chicken can you eat? There is no fiber to fill you and you just feel bloated from eating this expensive food all the time. 2. No Carb Diet is Boring - The no carb diet are boring as they just make you eat the same foods often and you never get the interesting foods like fruits and veggies that are high in carbs.
3. Not long term effective - A no carb diet will help you lose a few pounds initially but you do plateau after a while and then you are stuck trying to find another way to lose weight.
As far as diets go the no carb diet is just another kind of fad diet in my book. They seem to work but after a while you find it is not a good lifestyle change. Now we have other diets that are somewhat the same in the first place. I know that the Zone diet will focus in the induction phase for no carbs but then after the first couple of weeks you add carbs in and it is a lot more healthy, it's that induction part that always makes me nervous.
No Carb Diet. A Problem?
There are many ways to lose weight but the no carb diet is not a very good one in the long term Have you done Atkins or something like it? Did a no carb diet work for you?02/18/2014
12 tips for healthier eating
Healthier eating is the first step to making sure that you are getting yourself more fit. There a a lot of great advantages to eating better and these include more energy, better concentration and less stomach and digestive problems. Currently, the typical American diet is low in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and high in saturated fat, salt, and sugar. As a result, more Americans than ever are overweight, obese, and at increased risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain cancers.
Older people are most likely to improve their eating habits, but nutrition is important for people of all ages, says Walter Willet, M.D., chairman of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health. "We know that when people have health problems or their friends become ill, these are strong motivators of change," says Willet. "The more serious the health condition, the more serious the change. We'd rather people made changes early and prevent health problems in the first place."
So what if you're feeling trapped by a diet full of fast-food burgers and cookies? You can work your way out slowly but surely. Here are tips to move your eating habits in the right direction.
Make small changes[/caption]
You don't have to go cold turkey. In the end, you want to achieve a long-term healthy lifestyle. Small changes in healthier eating over time are the most likely to stick. If you want to eat more vegetables, then try to add one more serving by sneaking it in. Add bits of broccoli to something you already eat like pizza or soup. If you need more whole grains, add barley, whole wheat pasta, or brown rice to your soup."
Also, look for healthier versions of what you like to eat. If you like luncheon meat sandwiches, try a reduced-fat version. If you like the convenience of frozen dinners, look for ones with lower sodium. If you love fast-food meals, try a salad as your side dish instead of french fries.
When you think about what you need to get more of, the other things tend to fall into place, If you have some baby carrots with lunch or add a banana to your cereal in the morning, you're going to feel full longer. You won't need a food that's high in sugar or fat an hour later.
Lose weight with Fruit[/caption]
The Dietary Guidelines recommend two cups of fruit per day at the 2,000-calorie reference diet. Fruit intake and recommended amounts of other food groups vary at different calorie levels. An example of two cups of fruit includes: one small banana, one large orange, and one-fourth cup of dried apricots or peaches.
Ways to incorporate fruit in your diet include adding it to your cereal, eating it as a snack with low-fat yogurt or a low-fat dip, or making a fruit smoothie for dessert by mixing low-fat milk with fresh or frozen fruit such as strawberries or peaches. Also, your family is more likely to eat fruit if you put it out on the kitchen table.
Eat a variety of fruits--whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried--rather than fruit juice for most of your fruit choices. "The whole fruit has more fiber, it's more filling, and it's naturally sweet," says Marilyn Tanner, a pediatric dietitian at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Still, some juices, such as orange and prune, are a good source of potassium.
What are you eating now?
Write down what you eat for a few days to get a good picture of what you're taking in for healthier eating, suggests Cindy Moore, director of nutrition therapy at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. "By looking at what you eat and how much you're eating, you can figure out what adjustments you need to make," she says. Sometimes she asks patients to write down what they are feeling. Were you nervous, happy, or sad when you ate five slices of pizza in one sitting? "The very nature of writing things down in a food diary can help patients make changes," Moore says. "Someone will tell me, I didn't want to have to write that I ate nine cookies, so I ate two instead."Make small changes to lose weight
[caption id="attachment_1503" align="alignleft" width="175"] Make small changes[/caption]
You don't have to go cold turkey. In the end, you want to achieve a long-term healthy lifestyle. Small changes in healthier eating over time are the most likely to stick. If you want to eat more vegetables, then try to add one more serving by sneaking it in. Add bits of broccoli to something you already eat like pizza or soup. If you need more whole grains, add barley, whole wheat pasta, or brown rice to your soup."
Also, look for healthier versions of what you like to eat. If you like luncheon meat sandwiches, try a reduced-fat version. If you like the convenience of frozen dinners, look for ones with lower sodium. If you love fast-food meals, try a salad as your side dish instead of french fries.
When you think about what you need to get more of, the other things tend to fall into place, If you have some baby carrots with lunch or add a banana to your cereal in the morning, you're going to feel full longer. You won't need a food that's high in sugar or fat an hour later.
Lose weight with fruit for Healthier Eating
[caption id="attachment_9620" align="alignright" width="250"] Lose weight with Fruit[/caption]
The Dietary Guidelines recommend two cups of fruit per day at the 2,000-calorie reference diet. Fruit intake and recommended amounts of other food groups vary at different calorie levels. An example of two cups of fruit includes: one small banana, one large orange, and one-fourth cup of dried apricots or peaches.
Ways to incorporate fruit in your diet include adding it to your cereal, eating it as a snack with low-fat yogurt or a low-fat dip, or making a fruit smoothie for dessert by mixing low-fat milk with fresh or frozen fruit such as strawberries or peaches. Also, your family is more likely to eat fruit if you put it out on the kitchen table.
Eat a variety of fruits--whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried--rather than fruit juice for most of your fruit choices. "The whole fruit has more fiber, it's more filling, and it's naturally sweet," says Marilyn Tanner, a pediatric dietitian at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Still, some juices, such as orange and prune, are a good source of potassium.
Lose weight with whole grains
Like fruits and vegetables, whole grains are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The Dietary Guidelines recommend at least three ounces of whole grains per day. One slice of bread, one cup of breakfast cereal, or one-half cup of cooked rice or pasta are each equivalent to about one ounce. Tanner suggests baked whole-grain corn tortilla chips or whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk as good snacks. In general, at least half the grains you consume should come from whole grains. For many, but not all, whole grain products, the words "whole" or "whole grain" will appear before the grain ingredient's name. The whole grain must be the first ingredient listed in the ingredients list on the food package. The following are some whole grains: whol02/17/2014
Stop Eating Meat to Lose Weight?
Should you stop eating meat to Lose Weight? It depends on how you approach it. You can eat a healthy vegetarian diet that can help you to lose weight. However, simply giving up meat will not by itself make you lose weight. Some people, in fact, when they give up meat end up eating more carbohydrates, which can have the opposite effect.
Stop Eating Meat[/caption]
Meats are High in Fats
Meat and animal products are generally high in protein and saturated fats. Saturated fats were, for a time, considered unhealthy and a cause of many diseases. They were also blamed for obesity. Now, however, they are gradually being recognized by many nutritionists as necessary, if derived from high quality sources (such as organic or natural animal products). Eating a diet with a moderate amount of saturated fats will not make you fat. The worst things you can eat if you are trying to lose weight are foods that are high in sugar, low quality carbohydrates and trans fats. Low quality carbs are those made with processed white flour. When you buy or make foods like bread or pasta, look for whole grains, preferably organic. Avoid refined white sugar. Also avoid foods made with hydrogenated oils and trans fats. [caption id="attachment_8737" align="alignright" width="250"] Stop Eating Meat[/caption]
Stop Eating Meat - Become a Vegetarian?
The decision to eat a vegetarian diet and stop eating meat or not is a personal one. The fact is, you can lose weight as a vegetarian or as a meat-eater. Or you can gain weight on either diet. There are good arguments for becoming a vegetarian. One is ethical, which is something you have to decide for yourself. Another has to do with the unnatural way most meat is produced today. This, however, can be avoided by buying organic meats and animal products (though these are more expensive). Losing weight is probably not a good reason to become a vegetarian. If you are overweight and a meat-eater, it is probably not meat that is making you fat. It is more the overall number of calories you are consuming, the amount of sugar, carbs and unhealthy fats. There is also, of course, the amount of physical activity you are getting, which is at least as important as your diet. One reason why a vegetarian diet and stop eating meat may appear to be good for losing weight is that it is often part of a general effort at eating a healthier diet.Stop Eating Meat is Healthier Anyway
There is nothing wrong with this, and I am certainly not trying to discourage anyone from becoming a vegetarian, only saying that it is probably not a decisive factor by itself when it comes to losing weight. For example, many people start eating more fruits and vegetables when they become vegetarian, which is healthy. You can, however, eat more fruits and vegetables without becoming a vegetarian. The choice is yours. If you are trying to lose weight, the bottom line is to eat a healthy diet (whether it includes meat or not), to reduce your intake of unhealthy foods, and to increase the amount of activity you get. Stop eating meat and you can in fact get a lot healthier.02/14/2014
Breads and Vegetables evil or good?
Breads and Vegetables? What do these have in common? Not much. The reason that we want to consider these two staples of a diet is for opposite reasons.
In saying that cutting down carbs is good I am not writing about a zero carb policy like with the Atkins diet but instead just talking about cutting a quarter or half of your carbs out and not replacing them and thus you will have cut your calorie intake quite substantially. Bread as any diabetic can tell you is a very addictive food.
To most people the cutting of bread from their diet is one of the biggest sacrifices they can make and once it is out of your diet for a week or two you will feel better and will not have those cravings anymore.
I know this from experience as I have a bagel every morning (equivalent to 5 slices of bread) and for a week I went without and felt badly in the morning but by the next week I was not missing it at all.
Are All Carbohydrates bad?
Breads are a nightmare for many people trying to cut down on the carbs in their diet. There is good reason to cut the carbs as most people are taking in to many carbs in the first place.In saying that cutting down carbs is good I am not writing about a zero carb policy like with the Atkins diet but instead just talking about cutting a quarter or half of your carbs out and not replacing them and thus you will have cut your calorie intake quite substantially. Bread as any diabetic can tell you is a very addictive food.
To most people the cutting of bread from their diet is one of the biggest sacrifices they can make and once it is out of your diet for a week or two you will feel better and will not have those cravings anymore.
I know this from experience as I have a bagel every morning (equivalent to 5 slices of bread) and for a week I went without and felt badly in the morning but by the next week I was not missing it at all.
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