Celebrity diet tricks that work (and two that you should avoid)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Health
When you see photos of Cameron Diaz's slim silhouette or Jessica Alba's flat post-pregnancy tummy, you probably wonder just how Hollywood stars stay so lean or snap back into shape so quickly. While many swear their svelte bods come from eating right and exercising round the clock, the truth is that some celebs may go to strange and interesting lengths to get or stay pin thin. Here, the skinny on exactly what the big names do to get red-carpet ready -- from the healthy strategies you'll want to steal to the just plain wacky ideas you'll want to avoid.
1. They eat breakfast
Celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson (whose clients include Jennifer Lopez, Leah Remini, and Penelope Cruz) recommends popping something into your mouth within 30 minutes of waking. "You want to send your body a sign that you're not starving so it starts burning fat," Peterson says. His suggestion: a cup of oatmeal with some sliced fruit and several scrambled egg whites. The oatmeal and fruit pack a huge punch of filling fiber, and the egg whites are rich in protein, which is satiating.
Verdict: Try it.
Research shows breakfast eaters are more successful at long-term weight loss than those who skip this meal. "It jump-starts your metabolism and prevents you from getting so ravenous you overeat later in the day," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D., a New York City-based spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
2. They cut out white foods
Trainer Teddy Bass, whose celebrity clients include Cameron Diaz, suggests ditching any carb that is white -- bread, pasta, cookies, rice -- when a star is trying to lose weight for a movie or a big event. "These foods are high in sugar, which means your body burns off the sugar first rather than the stored fat," he says. So is Diaz entirely carbophobic? No -- she gets them instead in the form of fruits and veggies.
Verdict: Try it.
It's true that white, processed carbs are high in calories and sugar, so limiting them is a healthy strategy. But don't just sub in a boatload of nonwhite foods. "I see clients who shun these foods but end up eating just as many calories by having a field day with whole-wheat products," Taub-Dix says. "Even if it's a cake made with whole-wheat flour, it's still loaded with calories."
3. They're picky about veggies
A few days before a be-seen event, some Los Angeles nutritionists and trainers tell clients to put gas-producing produce like cauliflower and broccoli on the black list. Nutritionist Carrie Wiatt has Denise Richards and Fergie stock up instead on watery veggies and fruits like lettuce, celery, cucumbers, watermelon, melon, oranges, and grapes, which help banish bloat by flushing out your system. And L.A. nutritionist Jackie Keller tells clients like Charlize Theron to pile their plates high with asparagus and green beans. "They're high in filling fiber, but less likely to expand in your stomach," Keller says.
Verdict: Try it.
Produce like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, onions, beans, apples, pears, and prunes do lead to gas and bloating, says Jennifer Crum, M.S., R.D., a nutritionist at New York University Langone Medical Center. Crum also suggests cutting out diet drinks before a big event, since carbonation and artificial sweeteners can lead to bloat. Dandelion tea, a diuretic, is a safe drink option, Taub-Dix says. Don't like the bitter taste? Try peppermint or chamomile, which have a similar effect. Health.com: Survive the holidays (without gaining weight)
4. They eat spicy
Supermodel trainer David Kirsch helps clients like Anne Hathaway and Liv Tyler stay in great shape by pushing them to add red pepper flakes, chopped jalapeños, and hot pepper sauce to their meals. "It makes food taste delicious and turns down hunger, so you eat less," he says.
Verdict: Try it.
A study out of Laval University in Quebec found that people who consumed hot red pepper ate less food and burned more calories (probably because the pepper increased their metabolism) than those who didn't. Just remember, more isn't necessarily better -- and may leave you with steam coming out of your ears. A quarter teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a dash or hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco) should do the trick. Other spices may help, too: "Anything that makes food more interesting, like paprika or garlic, will make you feel more satisfied so you're less likely to overeat," Crum says.
5. They snack
Trainer Valerie Waters has clients, including Jennifer Garner and Elizabeth Berkley, who tote 150-calorie snacks in coolers wherever they go. Favorite snack combos include apple slices and low-fat string cheese, a few crackers (like Wasa Crispbread) topped with chicken salad, or a few slices of rolled-up turkey and a handful of grapes. "It's really important to eat something, even if it's just 150 to 200 calories, every three to four hours," Waters says. "Your blood sugar can drop quickly, making you go from feeling kind of hungry to thinking, 'Omigod, if I don't eat now I will kill somebody.'"
Verdict: Try it.
"It's great to have snacks with you, so if you do suddenly become ravenous you're not tempted to grab the first high-cal thing you see," Taub-Dix says. Your best bet is a snack that contains a little bit of carbohydrate, to give you an energy boost, with some protein to make you feel satiated. And if you've got to have a sweet, trainer Rob Parr, whose clients have included Madonna and Naomi Watts, recommends this trick: Mix four ounces of fruit juice with four ounces of water, and blend it with a handful of berries or a banana. It's a 200-calorie smoothie. Health.com: More great convenience-food choices
6. They eat organic
Organic is all the rage in Hollywood. "The hormones in dairy, meat, and poultry raise estrogen levels, which can cause you to hold onto body fat," nutritionist Wiatt says. The pesticides on nonorganic fruits and veggies also inhibit hormonal activity in the body, leading to weight gain, claims trainer Kirsch, who has also worked with Heidi Klum. Another no-no: Anything that's processed or packaged, since it's often laden with preservatives and salt. "I encourage clients to eat as simply as possible -- for example, have just a plain chicken breast sautéed in a little lemon juice to add some flavor," says trainer Patrick Murphy, who works with Eva Longoria.
Verdict: Not going to hurt you, but ...
While it's definitely wise to avoid exposure to potentially harmful pesticides and eating organic can be healthy, there's no research to show that organic foods actually help with weight loss.
"Studies that look at the levels of hormones in people consuming conventional dairy products show pesticide levels are negligible," Crum says. Plus, "It's impossible to cut all sodium and refined sugars out of your diet even a plain chicken breast has some salt!" Taub-Dix says. "You shouldn't assume, either, that all packaged food is bad for you. There are some products, like the Kashi line, that are high in fiber and low in calories, fat, and salt."
7. They count backward
The 3-2-1 Baby Bulge Be Gone plan from Hollywood trainer Ramona Braganza helped both Jessica Alba and Halle Berry get back in prepregnancy shape. They ate three meals, had two snacks, and drank a minimum of 1 liter of water a day.
"Their meals were as lean and clean as possible they ate about 1,700 calories a day and completely avoided refined sugar, sauces, and sodium," Braganza says. Here's a sample of a day's menu: a breakfast of egg whites, strawberries, and whole-wheat toast; a snack of low-fat string cheese and almonds; a lunch of green salad topped with salmon; another snack of low-fat yogurt and fruit; and a dinner of baked chicken breast drizzled with lemon juice and mustard, paired with helping of vegetables. Alba met her H2O quotient with vitamin-enriched flavored water.
Verdict: Yes, but ...
"The only thing I would neg in this plan is the flavored water with vitamins -- it adds an extra 50 calories per bottle -- and if you're already taking a multivitamin, you may run the risk of overdoing it," Taub-Dix says. You can sub in a zero-calorie flavored water instead. Health.com: Seven under 75 holiday treats
8. They take ADD meds
Paris Hilton and a number of hot Hollywood actresses are reportedly using Adderall, the attention-deficit disorder (ADD) medication. In Paris' case, she says she takes it for ADD, which she has suffered from since she was 12. But the drug may have an added attraction: Adderall, a stimulant, was first marketed in the 1960s and 1970s as a diet pill because it decreases appetite and ramps up metabolism.
"Unfortunately, this drug is all too easy to get," says Scott Isaacs, M.D., an endocrinologist and obesity specialist at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. "Anyone can walk into an unscrupulous doctor's office claiming she has ADD symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating and forgetfulness, and walk out with a prescription."
Verdict: Don't do it.
You shouldn't be taking this drug unless you're under a doctor's supervision, Isaacs says. Side effects include potentially dangerous increased blood pressure and heart rate. It's also been linked to problems such as hearing voices and maniacal behavior. If you're seriously overweight or obese, talk to your doctor about legitimate weight-loss drugs like Alli or phentermine.
Health Library
* MayoClinic.com: Fitness and nutrition
9. They cleanse
Ever since Beyoncé admitted to losing 20 pounds on the Master Cleanse -- a fast that usually involves at least 10 days of sipping nothing but an elixir of maple syrup, lemon juice, water, and cayenne pepper -- Hollywood has been buzzing about the weight-loss technique (also called the lemonade diet). The lemon supposedly acts as a purifier and provides bloat-reducing potassium, the cayenne pepper adds metabolism-boosting B vitamins, and the maple syrup provides the energy needed to get through such a grueling ordeal. "While I wouldn't recommend doing something so drastic for more than a few days, I can say it works if you want to quickly shed three to five pounds," Peterson says.
Read more!
When you see photos of Cameron Diaz's slim silhouette or Jessica Alba's flat post-pregnancy tummy, you probably wonder just how Hollywood stars stay so lean or snap back into shape so quickly. While many swear their svelte bods come from eating right and exercising round the clock, the truth is that some celebs may go to strange and interesting lengths to get or stay pin thin. Here, the skinny on exactly what the big names do to get red-carpet ready -- from the healthy strategies you'll want to steal to the just plain wacky ideas you'll want to avoid.
1. They eat breakfast
Celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson (whose clients include Jennifer Lopez, Leah Remini, and Penelope Cruz) recommends popping something into your mouth within 30 minutes of waking. "You want to send your body a sign that you're not starving so it starts burning fat," Peterson says. His suggestion: a cup of oatmeal with some sliced fruit and several scrambled egg whites. The oatmeal and fruit pack a huge punch of filling fiber, and the egg whites are rich in protein, which is satiating.
Verdict: Try it.
Research shows breakfast eaters are more successful at long-term weight loss than those who skip this meal. "It jump-starts your metabolism and prevents you from getting so ravenous you overeat later in the day," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D., a New York City-based spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
2. They cut out white foods
Trainer Teddy Bass, whose celebrity clients include Cameron Diaz, suggests ditching any carb that is white -- bread, pasta, cookies, rice -- when a star is trying to lose weight for a movie or a big event. "These foods are high in sugar, which means your body burns off the sugar first rather than the stored fat," he says. So is Diaz entirely carbophobic? No -- she gets them instead in the form of fruits and veggies.
Verdict: Try it.
It's true that white, processed carbs are high in calories and sugar, so limiting them is a healthy strategy. But don't just sub in a boatload of nonwhite foods. "I see clients who shun these foods but end up eating just as many calories by having a field day with whole-wheat products," Taub-Dix says. "Even if it's a cake made with whole-wheat flour, it's still loaded with calories."
3. They're picky about veggies
A few days before a be-seen event, some Los Angeles nutritionists and trainers tell clients to put gas-producing produce like cauliflower and broccoli on the black list. Nutritionist Carrie Wiatt has Denise Richards and Fergie stock up instead on watery veggies and fruits like lettuce, celery, cucumbers, watermelon, melon, oranges, and grapes, which help banish bloat by flushing out your system. And L.A. nutritionist Jackie Keller tells clients like Charlize Theron to pile their plates high with asparagus and green beans. "They're high in filling fiber, but less likely to expand in your stomach," Keller says.
Verdict: Try it.
Produce like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, onions, beans, apples, pears, and prunes do lead to gas and bloating, says Jennifer Crum, M.S., R.D., a nutritionist at New York University Langone Medical Center. Crum also suggests cutting out diet drinks before a big event, since carbonation and artificial sweeteners can lead to bloat. Dandelion tea, a diuretic, is a safe drink option, Taub-Dix says. Don't like the bitter taste? Try peppermint or chamomile, which have a similar effect. Health.com: Survive the holidays (without gaining weight)
4. They eat spicy
Supermodel trainer David Kirsch helps clients like Anne Hathaway and Liv Tyler stay in great shape by pushing them to add red pepper flakes, chopped jalapeños, and hot pepper sauce to their meals. "It makes food taste delicious and turns down hunger, so you eat less," he says.
Verdict: Try it.
A study out of Laval University in Quebec found that people who consumed hot red pepper ate less food and burned more calories (probably because the pepper increased their metabolism) than those who didn't. Just remember, more isn't necessarily better -- and may leave you with steam coming out of your ears. A quarter teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a dash or hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco) should do the trick. Other spices may help, too: "Anything that makes food more interesting, like paprika or garlic, will make you feel more satisfied so you're less likely to overeat," Crum says.
5. They snack
Trainer Valerie Waters has clients, including Jennifer Garner and Elizabeth Berkley, who tote 150-calorie snacks in coolers wherever they go. Favorite snack combos include apple slices and low-fat string cheese, a few crackers (like Wasa Crispbread) topped with chicken salad, or a few slices of rolled-up turkey and a handful of grapes. "It's really important to eat something, even if it's just 150 to 200 calories, every three to four hours," Waters says. "Your blood sugar can drop quickly, making you go from feeling kind of hungry to thinking, 'Omigod, if I don't eat now I will kill somebody.'"
Verdict: Try it.
"It's great to have snacks with you, so if you do suddenly become ravenous you're not tempted to grab the first high-cal thing you see," Taub-Dix says. Your best bet is a snack that contains a little bit of carbohydrate, to give you an energy boost, with some protein to make you feel satiated. And if you've got to have a sweet, trainer Rob Parr, whose clients have included Madonna and Naomi Watts, recommends this trick: Mix four ounces of fruit juice with four ounces of water, and blend it with a handful of berries or a banana. It's a 200-calorie smoothie. Health.com: More great convenience-food choices
6. They eat organic
Organic is all the rage in Hollywood. "The hormones in dairy, meat, and poultry raise estrogen levels, which can cause you to hold onto body fat," nutritionist Wiatt says. The pesticides on nonorganic fruits and veggies also inhibit hormonal activity in the body, leading to weight gain, claims trainer Kirsch, who has also worked with Heidi Klum. Another no-no: Anything that's processed or packaged, since it's often laden with preservatives and salt. "I encourage clients to eat as simply as possible -- for example, have just a plain chicken breast sautéed in a little lemon juice to add some flavor," says trainer Patrick Murphy, who works with Eva Longoria.
Verdict: Not going to hurt you, but ...
While it's definitely wise to avoid exposure to potentially harmful pesticides and eating organic can be healthy, there's no research to show that organic foods actually help with weight loss.
"Studies that look at the levels of hormones in people consuming conventional dairy products show pesticide levels are negligible," Crum says. Plus, "It's impossible to cut all sodium and refined sugars out of your diet even a plain chicken breast has some salt!" Taub-Dix says. "You shouldn't assume, either, that all packaged food is bad for you. There are some products, like the Kashi line, that are high in fiber and low in calories, fat, and salt."
7. They count backward
The 3-2-1 Baby Bulge Be Gone plan from Hollywood trainer Ramona Braganza helped both Jessica Alba and Halle Berry get back in prepregnancy shape. They ate three meals, had two snacks, and drank a minimum of 1 liter of water a day.
"Their meals were as lean and clean as possible they ate about 1,700 calories a day and completely avoided refined sugar, sauces, and sodium," Braganza says. Here's a sample of a day's menu: a breakfast of egg whites, strawberries, and whole-wheat toast; a snack of low-fat string cheese and almonds; a lunch of green salad topped with salmon; another snack of low-fat yogurt and fruit; and a dinner of baked chicken breast drizzled with lemon juice and mustard, paired with helping of vegetables. Alba met her H2O quotient with vitamin-enriched flavored water.
Verdict: Yes, but ...
"The only thing I would neg in this plan is the flavored water with vitamins -- it adds an extra 50 calories per bottle -- and if you're already taking a multivitamin, you may run the risk of overdoing it," Taub-Dix says. You can sub in a zero-calorie flavored water instead. Health.com: Seven under 75 holiday treats
8. They take ADD meds
Paris Hilton and a number of hot Hollywood actresses are reportedly using Adderall, the attention-deficit disorder (ADD) medication. In Paris' case, she says she takes it for ADD, which she has suffered from since she was 12. But the drug may have an added attraction: Adderall, a stimulant, was first marketed in the 1960s and 1970s as a diet pill because it decreases appetite and ramps up metabolism.
"Unfortunately, this drug is all too easy to get," says Scott Isaacs, M.D., an endocrinologist and obesity specialist at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. "Anyone can walk into an unscrupulous doctor's office claiming she has ADD symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating and forgetfulness, and walk out with a prescription."
Verdict: Don't do it.
You shouldn't be taking this drug unless you're under a doctor's supervision, Isaacs says. Side effects include potentially dangerous increased blood pressure and heart rate. It's also been linked to problems such as hearing voices and maniacal behavior. If you're seriously overweight or obese, talk to your doctor about legitimate weight-loss drugs like Alli or phentermine.
Health Library
* MayoClinic.com: Fitness and nutrition
9. They cleanse
Ever since Beyoncé admitted to losing 20 pounds on the Master Cleanse -- a fast that usually involves at least 10 days of sipping nothing but an elixir of maple syrup, lemon juice, water, and cayenne pepper -- Hollywood has been buzzing about the weight-loss technique (also called the lemonade diet). The lemon supposedly acts as a purifier and provides bloat-reducing potassium, the cayenne pepper adds metabolism-boosting B vitamins, and the maple syrup provides the energy needed to get through such a grueling ordeal. "While I wouldn't recommend doing something so drastic for more than a few days, I can say it works if you want to quickly shed three to five pounds," Peterson says.
Read more!
Diet Tips
Here is a selection of diet tips and tricks that I've used to help myself stay on a diet...some of these things are very simple and very commonsense, but I've found that some people just don't realize the little tricks of the dieting trade. So here is a few tips that you can use in your dieting:
1. Eight, 8 oz. glasses of water everyday...this is a common diet tip and most people know this, yet they still don't drink enough water during the day. There are some very important reasons for drinking water, first off, its zero calorie, zero chemical, zero caffeine, and the ideal thing to curb your appetite. Drinking water will flush out the bad toxins in your body, will get your kidney's working, and even help your metabolism speed up a little. Drinking water also takes up space in your stomach, it reduces the cravings just a bit, and will make you feel a little more full when you do eat your calories for the day. If you want an added benefit from water, make sure you drink cold water, this will speed up your metabolism a bit and make you burn up a few extra calories. Remember that when you are losing weight, the fat that you are losing sometimes has stored toxins in it, drinking water will help flush out those toxins.
2. Keep track of your progress. Its very easy to break your diet if you don't monitor what you eat during the day. Get yourself a little journal that you write down what you've eaten, the calories you've eaten, and what type of workout you've done for the day. By keeping track of the calories, you'll make sure that you don't go over a certain caloric amount during the day. Also tracking your workout will also show you the areas that you've improved in...trust me, its great inspiration to see how far you've come. Keeping a journal of your progress is very important, because it shows you in some tangible way that you are making progress.
3. Variety may be the spice of life, but it also can be the downfall of a good diet. When doing your grocery shopping, if you don't buy junk food or foods that are bad for you, it makes it that much harder for you to break your diet on the spur of the moment. Its much harder to resist the temptation of a chocolate bar if its sitting right in front of you. Remove unnecessary temptations...if you only have healthy foods in the house and low cal foods, then it would be that much harder to break your diet.
4. Smaller meals throughout the day rather then larger meals. If you eat smaller meals throughout the day, your metabolism will stay at a higher rate and you won't feel as hungry throughout the day. Just having all your calories at one sitting will doom you to that hungry feeling and if you have that hungry feeling you'll be a little more apt to break your diet. If you have a series of smaller meals, you'll be able to feel slightly full at different moments of the day...there will be less time you have to "do without" and you'll feel better for it. Your body will also process smaller meals better and subsequently burn off the calories quicker.
5. Eat negative calorie foods, you can see the list in the Negative Food Section of this website. These are foods that you can eat in any quantity and not feel guilty about eating them. They work in a negative calorie way and are allowed to be consumed whenever you want.
6. Fat burning foods, yes, some foods will speed up your metabolism, for a list of those foods visit my other website: Fat Burning Foods
7. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Yes, I've always hated when someone said that statement to me, but in truth, its an important lesson to learn. The reasons we eat certain foods or indulge in certain junk foods is often far from being hungry. Some people eat to comfort themselves, some people eat for the pleasure of eating, the taste, texture, etc, but you really have to ask yourself, what should be the function of food in my life. You want to shift the focus of food as entertainment to food being what fuels your body...too much is bad and your body won't function properly. Changing your attitude towards food is important if you want to succeed in any diet.
8. Exercise, as I said in the exercise section, its important to add muscle to your body,why? Because muscle burns up calories 18 times faster then fat does on your body. So, add more muscle, your metabolism is increased, and you can burn off more calories per day.
9. Plan ahead - the fast food industry banks on people's need for food on the go...if you take the time to prepare your breakfast, lunch and dinner, you become a little more in control of your daily caloric intake. While you can eat at fast food places, most of the menu is off limits to you...if you are going to a fast food place, know what foods are okay for you to eat, know how many calories are in the food, how many grams of fat, etc. Don't just assume that this sandwich that you get will be a certain number of calories...its important that you know the exact amount of calories. Also, if you are going to a restaurant, think ahead of what you want to eat there...remove that temptation and stick to exactly what you planned on eating before going to the restaurant.
10. Soups, YAY for soups, this is one of my favorite things to eat while dieting. It takes a long time to eat, its filling, its low calorie, and its good for you. There was a study a few years ago that stated soup added to a diet will speed up your metabolism and reduce the hunger cravings. There are two things to look out for, creamy soups (higher in calorie) and the salt level in soups. Unfortunately, most canned soups are also high in salt, so take that into consideration when eating soup.
11. Reducing the fats that you eat during the day, but also being aware of the myth of no-fat foods. Lowering the amount of fats in your diet just makes good sense. Fat is denser and less likely to fill you for a sustained period of time, also, fat and cholesterol is not a heart healthy solution (there are some healthy fats...see the fat burning food site). Be aware of the "no-fat" "low-fat" products they have in the store. The way they usually make these items low-fat yet tasty is by adding more sugar. Just because something says low-fat doesn't mean that you can't gain weight from it. Another thing, if you substitute fatty foods with vegetables, you'll find that you feel fuller because of the fiber levels in fruits and vegetables.
12. Eat slowly. I know that sometimes you have to rush your food down because you're late for work or late for an appointment, but if you eat slowly you will enjoy the food more, you will feel a little more satisfied, and your body can honestly tell you, "Hey, I'm full, no need to finish that whole plate of food" if you eat to quickly your body doesn't have time to send you the message that you're full and you end up eating more.
13. Most of all, if you do break your diet one day, get right back on the diet...Do not go on a weak of breaking or longer. It just makes it that much harder to get motivated to start up again. We are only human, people will break their diets from time to time, but its okay to break it one day as long as you get back on your diet the next day.
These are just a few tips for dieting...I'll be adding more as this website grows a bit and I get more responses from people on the topic of dieting and diet tips. Please check back soon, I'll be adding more to this section regularly.
Read more!
1. Eight, 8 oz. glasses of water everyday...this is a common diet tip and most people know this, yet they still don't drink enough water during the day. There are some very important reasons for drinking water, first off, its zero calorie, zero chemical, zero caffeine, and the ideal thing to curb your appetite. Drinking water will flush out the bad toxins in your body, will get your kidney's working, and even help your metabolism speed up a little. Drinking water also takes up space in your stomach, it reduces the cravings just a bit, and will make you feel a little more full when you do eat your calories for the day. If you want an added benefit from water, make sure you drink cold water, this will speed up your metabolism a bit and make you burn up a few extra calories. Remember that when you are losing weight, the fat that you are losing sometimes has stored toxins in it, drinking water will help flush out those toxins.
2. Keep track of your progress. Its very easy to break your diet if you don't monitor what you eat during the day. Get yourself a little journal that you write down what you've eaten, the calories you've eaten, and what type of workout you've done for the day. By keeping track of the calories, you'll make sure that you don't go over a certain caloric amount during the day. Also tracking your workout will also show you the areas that you've improved in...trust me, its great inspiration to see how far you've come. Keeping a journal of your progress is very important, because it shows you in some tangible way that you are making progress.
3. Variety may be the spice of life, but it also can be the downfall of a good diet. When doing your grocery shopping, if you don't buy junk food or foods that are bad for you, it makes it that much harder for you to break your diet on the spur of the moment. Its much harder to resist the temptation of a chocolate bar if its sitting right in front of you. Remove unnecessary temptations...if you only have healthy foods in the house and low cal foods, then it would be that much harder to break your diet.
4. Smaller meals throughout the day rather then larger meals. If you eat smaller meals throughout the day, your metabolism will stay at a higher rate and you won't feel as hungry throughout the day. Just having all your calories at one sitting will doom you to that hungry feeling and if you have that hungry feeling you'll be a little more apt to break your diet. If you have a series of smaller meals, you'll be able to feel slightly full at different moments of the day...there will be less time you have to "do without" and you'll feel better for it. Your body will also process smaller meals better and subsequently burn off the calories quicker.
5. Eat negative calorie foods, you can see the list in the Negative Food Section of this website. These are foods that you can eat in any quantity and not feel guilty about eating them. They work in a negative calorie way and are allowed to be consumed whenever you want.
6. Fat burning foods, yes, some foods will speed up your metabolism, for a list of those foods visit my other website: Fat Burning Foods
7. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Yes, I've always hated when someone said that statement to me, but in truth, its an important lesson to learn. The reasons we eat certain foods or indulge in certain junk foods is often far from being hungry. Some people eat to comfort themselves, some people eat for the pleasure of eating, the taste, texture, etc, but you really have to ask yourself, what should be the function of food in my life. You want to shift the focus of food as entertainment to food being what fuels your body...too much is bad and your body won't function properly. Changing your attitude towards food is important if you want to succeed in any diet.
8. Exercise, as I said in the exercise section, its important to add muscle to your body,why? Because muscle burns up calories 18 times faster then fat does on your body. So, add more muscle, your metabolism is increased, and you can burn off more calories per day.
9. Plan ahead - the fast food industry banks on people's need for food on the go...if you take the time to prepare your breakfast, lunch and dinner, you become a little more in control of your daily caloric intake. While you can eat at fast food places, most of the menu is off limits to you...if you are going to a fast food place, know what foods are okay for you to eat, know how many calories are in the food, how many grams of fat, etc. Don't just assume that this sandwich that you get will be a certain number of calories...its important that you know the exact amount of calories. Also, if you are going to a restaurant, think ahead of what you want to eat there...remove that temptation and stick to exactly what you planned on eating before going to the restaurant.
10. Soups, YAY for soups, this is one of my favorite things to eat while dieting. It takes a long time to eat, its filling, its low calorie, and its good for you. There was a study a few years ago that stated soup added to a diet will speed up your metabolism and reduce the hunger cravings. There are two things to look out for, creamy soups (higher in calorie) and the salt level in soups. Unfortunately, most canned soups are also high in salt, so take that into consideration when eating soup.
11. Reducing the fats that you eat during the day, but also being aware of the myth of no-fat foods. Lowering the amount of fats in your diet just makes good sense. Fat is denser and less likely to fill you for a sustained period of time, also, fat and cholesterol is not a heart healthy solution (there are some healthy fats...see the fat burning food site). Be aware of the "no-fat" "low-fat" products they have in the store. The way they usually make these items low-fat yet tasty is by adding more sugar. Just because something says low-fat doesn't mean that you can't gain weight from it. Another thing, if you substitute fatty foods with vegetables, you'll find that you feel fuller because of the fiber levels in fruits and vegetables.
12. Eat slowly. I know that sometimes you have to rush your food down because you're late for work or late for an appointment, but if you eat slowly you will enjoy the food more, you will feel a little more satisfied, and your body can honestly tell you, "Hey, I'm full, no need to finish that whole plate of food" if you eat to quickly your body doesn't have time to send you the message that you're full and you end up eating more.
13. Most of all, if you do break your diet one day, get right back on the diet...Do not go on a weak of breaking or longer. It just makes it that much harder to get motivated to start up again. We are only human, people will break their diets from time to time, but its okay to break it one day as long as you get back on your diet the next day.
These are just a few tips for dieting...I'll be adding more as this website grows a bit and I get more responses from people on the topic of dieting and diet tips. Please check back soon, I'll be adding more to this section regularly.
Read more!
Diet Tips
Monday, December 29, 2008
Here is a selection of diet tips and tricks that I've used to help myself stay on a diet...some of these things are very simple and very commonsense, but I've found that some people just don't realize the little tricks of the dieting trade. So here is a few tips that you can use in your dieting:
1. Eight, 8 oz. glasses of water everyday...this is a common diet tip and most people know this, yet they still don't drink enough water during the day. There are some very important reasons for drinking water, first off, its zero calorie, zero chemical, zero caffeine, and the ideal thing to curb your appetite. Drinking water will flush out the bad toxins in your body, will get your kidney's working, and even help your metabolism speed up a little. Drinking water also takes up space in your stomach, it reduces the cravings just a bit, and will make you feel a little more full when you do eat your calories for the day. If you want an added benefit from water, make sure you drink cold water, this will speed up your metabolism a bit and make you burn up a few extra calories. Remember that when you are losing weight, the fat that you are losing sometimes has stored toxins in it, drinking water will help flush out those toxins.
2. Keep track of your progress. Its very easy to break your diet if you don't monitor what you eat during the day. Get yourself a little journal that you write down what you've eaten, the calories you've eaten, and what type of workout you've done for the day. By keeping track of the calories, you'll make sure that you don't go over a certain caloric amount during the day. Also tracking your workout will also show you the areas that you've improved in...trust me, its great inspiration to see how far you've come. Keeping a journal of your progress is very important, because it shows you in some tangible way that you are making progress.
3. Variety may be the spice of life, but it also can be the downfall of a good diet. When doing your grocery shopping, if you don't buy junk food or foods that are bad for you, it makes it that much harder for you to break your diet on the spur of the moment. Its much harder to resist the temptation of a chocolate bar if its sitting right in front of you. Remove unnecessary temptations...if you only have healthy foods in the house and low cal foods, then it would be that much harder to break your diet.
4. Smaller meals throughout the day rather then larger meals. If you eat smaller meals throughout the day, your metabolism will stay at a higher rate and you won't feel as hungry throughout the day. Just having all your calories at one sitting will doom you to that hungry feeling and if you have that hungry feeling you'll be a little more apt to break your diet. If you have a series of smaller meals, you'll be able to feel slightly full at different moments of the day...there will be less time you have to "do without" and you'll feel better for it. Your body will also process smaller meals better and subsequently burn off the calories quicker.
5. Eat negative calorie foods, you can see the list in the Negative Food Section of this website. These are foods that you can eat in any quantity and not feel guilty about eating them. They work in a negative calorie way and are allowed to be consumed whenever you want.
6. Fat burning foods, yes, some foods will speed up your metabolism, for a list of those foods visit my other website: Fat Burning Foods
7. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Yes, I've always hated when someone said that statement to me, but in truth, its an important lesson to learn. The reasons we eat certain foods or indulge in certain junk foods is often far from being hungry. Some people eat to comfort themselves, some people eat for the pleasure of eating, the taste, texture, etc, but you really have to ask yourself, what should be the function of food in my life. You want to shift the focus of food as entertainment to food being what fuels your body...too much is bad and your body won't function properly. Changing your attitude towards food is important if you want to succeed in any diet.
8. Exercise, as I said in the exercise section, its important to add muscle to your body,why? Because muscle burns up calories 18 times faster then fat does on your body. So, add more muscle, your metabolism is increased, and you can burn off more calories per day.
9. Plan ahead - the fast food industry banks on people's need for food on the go...if you take the time to prepare your breakfast, lunch and dinner, you become a little more in control of your daily caloric intake. While you can eat at fast food places, most of the menu is off limits to you...if you are going to a fast food place, know what foods are okay for you to eat, know how many calories are in the food, how many grams of fat, etc. Don't just assume that this sandwich that you get will be a certain number of calories...its important that you know the exact amount of calories. Also, if you are going to a restaurant, think ahead of what you want to eat there...remove that temptation and stick to exactly what you planned on eating before going to the restaurant.
10. Soups, YAY for soups, this is one of my favorite things to eat while dieting. It takes a long time to eat, its filling, its low calorie, and its good for you. There was a study a few years ago that stated soup added to a diet will speed up your metabolism and reduce the hunger cravings. There are two things to look out for, creamy soups (higher in calorie) and the salt level in soups. Unfortunately, most canned soups are also high in salt, so take that into consideration when eating soup.
11. Reducing the fats that you eat during the day, but also being aware of the myth of no-fat foods. Lowering the amount of fats in your diet just makes good sense. Fat is denser and less likely to fill you for a sustained period of time, also, fat and cholesterol is not a heart healthy solution (there are some healthy fats...see the fat burning food site). Be aware of the "no-fat" "low-fat" products they have in the store. The way they usually make these items low-fat yet tasty is by adding more sugar. Just because something says low-fat doesn't mean that you can't gain weight from it. Another thing, if you substitute fatty foods with vegetables, you'll find that you feel fuller because of the fiber levels in fruits and vegetables.
12. Eat slowly. I know that sometimes you have to rush your food down because you're late for work or late for an appointment, but if you eat slowly you will enjoy the food more, you will feel a little more satisfied, and your body can honestly tell you, "Hey, I'm full, no need to finish that whole plate of food" if you eat to quickly your body doesn't have time to send you the message that you're full and you end up eating more.
13. Most of all, if you do break your diet one day, get right back on the diet...Do not go on a weak of breaking or longer. It just makes it that much harder to get motivated to start up again. We are only human, people will break their diets from time to time, but its okay to break it one day as long as you get back on your diet the next day.
These are just a few tips for dieting...I'll be adding more as this website grows a bit and I get more responses from people on the topic of dieting and diet tips. Please check back soon, I'll be adding more to this section regularly.
Read more!
1. Eight, 8 oz. glasses of water everyday...this is a common diet tip and most people know this, yet they still don't drink enough water during the day. There are some very important reasons for drinking water, first off, its zero calorie, zero chemical, zero caffeine, and the ideal thing to curb your appetite. Drinking water will flush out the bad toxins in your body, will get your kidney's working, and even help your metabolism speed up a little. Drinking water also takes up space in your stomach, it reduces the cravings just a bit, and will make you feel a little more full when you do eat your calories for the day. If you want an added benefit from water, make sure you drink cold water, this will speed up your metabolism a bit and make you burn up a few extra calories. Remember that when you are losing weight, the fat that you are losing sometimes has stored toxins in it, drinking water will help flush out those toxins.
2. Keep track of your progress. Its very easy to break your diet if you don't monitor what you eat during the day. Get yourself a little journal that you write down what you've eaten, the calories you've eaten, and what type of workout you've done for the day. By keeping track of the calories, you'll make sure that you don't go over a certain caloric amount during the day. Also tracking your workout will also show you the areas that you've improved in...trust me, its great inspiration to see how far you've come. Keeping a journal of your progress is very important, because it shows you in some tangible way that you are making progress.
3. Variety may be the spice of life, but it also can be the downfall of a good diet. When doing your grocery shopping, if you don't buy junk food or foods that are bad for you, it makes it that much harder for you to break your diet on the spur of the moment. Its much harder to resist the temptation of a chocolate bar if its sitting right in front of you. Remove unnecessary temptations...if you only have healthy foods in the house and low cal foods, then it would be that much harder to break your diet.
4. Smaller meals throughout the day rather then larger meals. If you eat smaller meals throughout the day, your metabolism will stay at a higher rate and you won't feel as hungry throughout the day. Just having all your calories at one sitting will doom you to that hungry feeling and if you have that hungry feeling you'll be a little more apt to break your diet. If you have a series of smaller meals, you'll be able to feel slightly full at different moments of the day...there will be less time you have to "do without" and you'll feel better for it. Your body will also process smaller meals better and subsequently burn off the calories quicker.
5. Eat negative calorie foods, you can see the list in the Negative Food Section of this website. These are foods that you can eat in any quantity and not feel guilty about eating them. They work in a negative calorie way and are allowed to be consumed whenever you want.
6. Fat burning foods, yes, some foods will speed up your metabolism, for a list of those foods visit my other website: Fat Burning Foods
7. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Yes, I've always hated when someone said that statement to me, but in truth, its an important lesson to learn. The reasons we eat certain foods or indulge in certain junk foods is often far from being hungry. Some people eat to comfort themselves, some people eat for the pleasure of eating, the taste, texture, etc, but you really have to ask yourself, what should be the function of food in my life. You want to shift the focus of food as entertainment to food being what fuels your body...too much is bad and your body won't function properly. Changing your attitude towards food is important if you want to succeed in any diet.
8. Exercise, as I said in the exercise section, its important to add muscle to your body,why? Because muscle burns up calories 18 times faster then fat does on your body. So, add more muscle, your metabolism is increased, and you can burn off more calories per day.
9. Plan ahead - the fast food industry banks on people's need for food on the go...if you take the time to prepare your breakfast, lunch and dinner, you become a little more in control of your daily caloric intake. While you can eat at fast food places, most of the menu is off limits to you...if you are going to a fast food place, know what foods are okay for you to eat, know how many calories are in the food, how many grams of fat, etc. Don't just assume that this sandwich that you get will be a certain number of calories...its important that you know the exact amount of calories. Also, if you are going to a restaurant, think ahead of what you want to eat there...remove that temptation and stick to exactly what you planned on eating before going to the restaurant.
10. Soups, YAY for soups, this is one of my favorite things to eat while dieting. It takes a long time to eat, its filling, its low calorie, and its good for you. There was a study a few years ago that stated soup added to a diet will speed up your metabolism and reduce the hunger cravings. There are two things to look out for, creamy soups (higher in calorie) and the salt level in soups. Unfortunately, most canned soups are also high in salt, so take that into consideration when eating soup.
11. Reducing the fats that you eat during the day, but also being aware of the myth of no-fat foods. Lowering the amount of fats in your diet just makes good sense. Fat is denser and less likely to fill you for a sustained period of time, also, fat and cholesterol is not a heart healthy solution (there are some healthy fats...see the fat burning food site). Be aware of the "no-fat" "low-fat" products they have in the store. The way they usually make these items low-fat yet tasty is by adding more sugar. Just because something says low-fat doesn't mean that you can't gain weight from it. Another thing, if you substitute fatty foods with vegetables, you'll find that you feel fuller because of the fiber levels in fruits and vegetables.
12. Eat slowly. I know that sometimes you have to rush your food down because you're late for work or late for an appointment, but if you eat slowly you will enjoy the food more, you will feel a little more satisfied, and your body can honestly tell you, "Hey, I'm full, no need to finish that whole plate of food" if you eat to quickly your body doesn't have time to send you the message that you're full and you end up eating more.
13. Most of all, if you do break your diet one day, get right back on the diet...Do not go on a weak of breaking or longer. It just makes it that much harder to get motivated to start up again. We are only human, people will break their diets from time to time, but its okay to break it one day as long as you get back on your diet the next day.
These are just a few tips for dieting...I'll be adding more as this website grows a bit and I get more responses from people on the topic of dieting and diet tips. Please check back soon, I'll be adding more to this section regularly.
Read more!
Cholesterol Diet
Monday, March 19, 2007
The Path to Succeed in Diet and Weight Loss
Almost all individuals would like to be healthy and feel fit. For a large number the first step is about dropping some weight. Nonetheless, successful dieting can produce benefits in addition to weight loss.
If you have the right type of diet you can slim down, increase your energy and vigour, ward off sickness, enhance your appearance, and even have a longer life. What could be of greater significance?
Below are several straightforward, helpful steps to ensure success with your diet:
Read Diet Assessments and Details
Use your time to investigate which diet programs, both new and old, really produce results. With a small amount of energy, you will discover a dieting approach that is made for you. Finding dieting information couldn't be easier due to the pervasiveness of the web.
Get Started with Your Diet Program
As soon as you've decided on the diet program you wish to use, do not put it off. Mark down a beginning date on your schedule and begin your dieting program that same day.
The two weeks at the start will be the biggest struggle and the most vital. But then the new discipline you've been forming and the initial success you'll have will push you toward reaching your dieting goals.
Find Inspiration
The internet is packed full of inspiring stories by regular people, like you, reaching their objectives of shedding weight and becoming healthy. These stories can fuel your confidence and determination.
Locate Diet Suggestions
Being bored with dieting is a sure way to blow it. Be certain to browse the internet to gather delectable recipes and meal ideas that will satisfy you. Design your diet meals with a creative mix, delicious tastes and a little adventure.
Seek Out Support and Encouragement
It's vital that you include others in your quest for health and connect with others who are going through the same thing. Link-up with like-minded people for discussion, encouragement and support. If you need to, this too can be done via the web as there are a lot of support groups, chat rooms and forums.
Take Your First Move
As a first step, press on the links presented on this site to help you on your journey in these vital stages.
Read more!
Almost all individuals would like to be healthy and feel fit. For a large number the first step is about dropping some weight. Nonetheless, successful dieting can produce benefits in addition to weight loss.
If you have the right type of diet you can slim down, increase your energy and vigour, ward off sickness, enhance your appearance, and even have a longer life. What could be of greater significance?
Below are several straightforward, helpful steps to ensure success with your diet:
Read Diet Assessments and Details
Use your time to investigate which diet programs, both new and old, really produce results. With a small amount of energy, you will discover a dieting approach that is made for you. Finding dieting information couldn't be easier due to the pervasiveness of the web.
Get Started with Your Diet Program
As soon as you've decided on the diet program you wish to use, do not put it off. Mark down a beginning date on your schedule and begin your dieting program that same day.
The two weeks at the start will be the biggest struggle and the most vital. But then the new discipline you've been forming and the initial success you'll have will push you toward reaching your dieting goals.
Find Inspiration
The internet is packed full of inspiring stories by regular people, like you, reaching their objectives of shedding weight and becoming healthy. These stories can fuel your confidence and determination.
Locate Diet Suggestions
Being bored with dieting is a sure way to blow it. Be certain to browse the internet to gather delectable recipes and meal ideas that will satisfy you. Design your diet meals with a creative mix, delicious tastes and a little adventure.
Seek Out Support and Encouragement
It's vital that you include others in your quest for health and connect with others who are going through the same thing. Link-up with like-minded people for discussion, encouragement and support. If you need to, this too can be done via the web as there are a lot of support groups, chat rooms and forums.
Take Your First Move
As a first step, press on the links presented on this site to help you on your journey in these vital stages.
Read more!
Olive Oil in Diet Better Than Whole Grain Bread
For those who want to live a healthy lifestyle, new research has shown that the daily use of Olive Oil in your meal is especially beneficial. In fact the use of Olive Oil seems to be even more beneficial then eating an extra slice of whole wheat bread. This is the outcome of research by members of the John Hopkins University on a comparison between three “health diets”.
An Olive Oil rich diet lowers the blood pressure and the Cholesterol level much more then a carbohydrate rich diet. Compared to a protein rich food an olive oil rich diet is easier to digest.
Scientists from the John Hopkins University have researched the DASH-diet. (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension). This diet has been developed a few years ago to aid people with high blood pressure problems. The researchers have compared DASH to two alternative diets and have published their conclusion in the Journal of the American Medical Association
The DASH diet contains a lot of carbohydrates. You eat muesli for breakfast, whole grain bread for lunch and pasta for dinner. This is combined with fish, chicken and nuts and olive oil
The other two diets tested are a protein rich and a carbohydrate rich variation of the DASH diet, but with no olive oil.
All three diets did lower blood pressure and cholesterol significantly but the diet that contained the olive oil stood out as the most effective. It lowered blood pressure and cholesterol just a bit more. And these factors are an important determinant of the long-term onset of cardiovascular disease.
All participants in the research reported that it was fairly easy to comply with each of these diets. But the participants in the protein rich variety complained more often about digestive problems and as a result of that they tended to be less physically active then the control group.
So this is an outcome that supports the Mediterranean Diets with their high Fish (Omega 3 fatty acids) and Olive Oil content even more.
Read more!
An Olive Oil rich diet lowers the blood pressure and the Cholesterol level much more then a carbohydrate rich diet. Compared to a protein rich food an olive oil rich diet is easier to digest.
Scientists from the John Hopkins University have researched the DASH-diet. (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension). This diet has been developed a few years ago to aid people with high blood pressure problems. The researchers have compared DASH to two alternative diets and have published their conclusion in the Journal of the American Medical Association
The DASH diet contains a lot of carbohydrates. You eat muesli for breakfast, whole grain bread for lunch and pasta for dinner. This is combined with fish, chicken and nuts and olive oil
The other two diets tested are a protein rich and a carbohydrate rich variation of the DASH diet, but with no olive oil.
All three diets did lower blood pressure and cholesterol significantly but the diet that contained the olive oil stood out as the most effective. It lowered blood pressure and cholesterol just a bit more. And these factors are an important determinant of the long-term onset of cardiovascular disease.
All participants in the research reported that it was fairly easy to comply with each of these diets. But the participants in the protein rich variety complained more often about digestive problems and as a result of that they tended to be less physically active then the control group.
So this is an outcome that supports the Mediterranean Diets with their high Fish (Omega 3 fatty acids) and Olive Oil content even more.
Read more!
wellcome
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
wellcome
Read more!
Read more!
