Avoid the Afternoon Energy Slump – Snack Ideas for 100 Calories or Less
When the afternoon slump hits, it can be tempting to reach for the office candy jar or swing by the vending machine to help you push through that sluggish feeling until dinnertime. But unfortunately, junk food’s quick sugar rush will disappear in minutes, leaving you groggier than you were before. But it’s not all bad. Studies show that regular mini meals or snacks can help regulate blood sugar, improve metabolism, and prevent overeating later. Instead, it’s time to pick your 3 p.m. poison more wisely.
Where Are You In the Process of Change?
The Stages of Change Model The Stages of Change model has proven very helpful in understanding how ready people are to change and to help create change. This model has been applied to a broad range of behaviors including weight loss, injury prevention, overcoming alcohol, and drug problems among others. The idea behind the Stages of change model is that behavior change does not happen in one step. Rather, people tend to progress through different stages on their way to successful change.
Battle Plan for the Holidays
It's that time of year when extra calories lurk around every corner -- frosted cookies at the office, eggnog at your neighbor's, jelly doughnuts for Hanukkah or chocolates in your stocking. All these extras add up, and if you're like most Americans, you'll put on a pound or two by New Year's Day. So what's the harm in a little holiday weight gain, especially if it's just a pound? Not only does it knock you off your healthy eating plan you worked so hard all year to establish and maintain. But it can make it harder to get refocused once the holidays are over and the guilt sets in. According to researchers at the National Institutes of Health, most Americans never lose the weight they gain during the winter holidays. The pounds add up year after year, making holiday weight gain an important factor that sets the tine for the rest of the year. But you don't have to fall into this trap. It is possible to enjoy the holidays without putting on a single pound if you have a battle plan.
Breaking Bad (Habits that is)
Bad Habits are hard to break. Especially if we have been living with them for a very long time. It’s not just willpower, or a lack thereof, that makes us overeat and gain weight. Sometimes, it’s that sneaky bad habit you developed without even realizing it that has now become part of your auto pilot routine. Here, are some ideas for fixes for some of the most common bad eating and lifestyle habits that can cause you to pack on pounds.
Achieve Long-Term Weight Loss
Before you get started on a weight loss program, consider the following tips. They should help you reach the goal of obtaining and maintaining a healthy weight.
Tips For Exercising When You Have Type 2 Diabetes
Starting a new exercise program can be a little daunting, plus if you are typical of those who have been diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes, then you may not have worked out in a while. But do not worry, you can start slowly and build your workout level. Follow these tips and soon you will hit upon a good workout plan that will be effective.
Kitchen Gadgets That Can Help You Lose Weight
One of the easiest ways to save calories (and a few dollars) is to cook your own meals. Yet time constraints and work and family responsibilities often make eating at home a challenge. Investing in a few kitchen gadgets can help. With the right tools, you can simplify meal preparation, shorten cooking time, and enjoy healthier meals — all while inching closer to your weight loss goals. Here are a few ideas to get you started, Read More
Holidays and the Emotional Food Trigger Connection
Just when you're finally getting your weight under control, boom! It's the holidays, and food is everywhere. From the office to the factory, from the office supply store to the drugstore (not to mention parties and family events galore), it seems as if the Thanksgiving-to-New Year's holiday season is one long, tempting food fest designed to make you gain weight. Add in the emotions of the season and experts say the holidays can deal your weight loss efforts a double whammy. here's how to overcome holiday diet temptations.
Good Reasons to adapt to a Mediterranean Diet
When you eat like the Mediterraneans do, you're not roaming the frozen food aisle or hitting a fast-food drive-thru. The focus is on fresh, seasonal food prepared in simple mouth-watering ways. With the Mediterranean diet, you won't feel the need to count calories or cut out major food groups. Instead, the focus is fresh and tasty portion control plates of food.
Surprising Reasons for Weight Gain
What's With the Weight Gain? If you started taking in more calories than usual or cutting back on exercise, you wouldn't be surprised if the numbers on the scale crept higher. But what if you're doing everything the same as you always do and your weight still goes up? It's time to delve a little deeper into what else might be going on.
What the Processed Food Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know
Processed foods are typically loaded with excess sugar, salt, unhealthful fats, preservatives and other additives. But you probably know this already. What you may not know about processed foods is the extent of the havoc they can wreak on your body, a closely guarded secret that the processed food industry doesn’t want you to know. In short, though they may taste good and be easy to prepare, when you eat processed foods you’re exchanging convenience for your health.
The Diet and Creativity Connection
brain-healthy-food Without enough calories and nutrients, your brain suffers. And with it, your ability to form and create new ideas. Your brain requires twice as much energy as the rest of your body's cells. It runs on glucose -- a form of sugar reaped from carbohydrates. Since it can’t store glucose, the brain relies on your bloodstream for a steady supply. But that doesn’t mean you should fill up on sugar-laden foods. A brain-healthy diet emphasizes whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and fish.