Lose 5 Pounds...Feel Sexier!

Everyone somewhere is complaining about the dreaded weight gain issues. So tell me, how many times have you heard someone say that they want to lose five pounds? How many times have you heard that the diet starts tomorrow? That was my typical line each and every day. There is a certain lack of will power that often, more so than not I have with the word "diet." When I say I am going to go on a diet I only want to eat more, then I gain an additional 5 pounds, so now I have 10 pounds to lose...sound familiar? That's my story and I'm sticking to it! I'm better at just curving my appetite and watching what goes in my mouth. I exercise a few times a week now also. So do you want to lose weight? Honey, it's not going to fall off you itself, so get up off that ass and get a plan! Exercise, dance, go try kick boxing...or yoga booty ballet (my personal favorite!) So when are you going to start? Today....Tomorrow? What? Why not right now? When you weight less, even if it's just a few pounds less...you are more confident and your feel sexier! It's a fact. As James Brown once sang..."Get up offa that thing!"

The truth is, losing a mere five pounds is very realistic and it can be a great kick-start to your metabolism and energy levels. Plus, it can help you fit into that little black dress or suit for that upcoming wedding, reunion, or vacation. Truth is though,...you have to make the commitment to start now, not tomorrow, not Monday, but right now!

Below is a healthy plan to help you shed 5 pounds quickly, easily and most importantly, the healthy way. As with all diets, check with your doctor before starting any weight loss or exercise plan.

1. Begin by drinking more water. Your body requires water to function properly and with the right amount of water, your digestive system will work more efficiently. Plus, by filling your stomach with water, you'll eat less and feel full faster.

• Water helps flush your body of toxins and water weight. Yes, more water actually helps your body get rid of excess water.
• The daily minimum intake of water is 64 ounces (or almost 2 liters). If you're like most people, your current intake of water is probably less than half of the recommended amount, so drink up!

2. Get off the couch and get active...Yeah YOU! When you move your body you build muscle, which burns fat. Don't you want to burn that fat away? There are so many activities that you can engage in that don't cost money or require expensive gym equipment to help you get fit and lose weight. Here are some ideas:

• Walking around your neighborhood or in a local park
• Biking
• Hiking
• Swimming
• Throwing a ball with your kids or spouse
• Frisbee
• Volleyball
• Tennis
• Dancing

3. Make healthier food choices. To effectively boost your calorie and fat burning processes, eat healthier foods like leafy green vegetables, fruits and lean meats.

• You'll also want to limit your intake of red meat, high calorie and fat dressings, gravies and sauces and avoid sugary drinks, candy or other foods with lots of sugar.
• Sugar causes you to put on weight, so when you eliminate sugar, you help eliminate weight gain. Also, try to choose natural or organic foods in order to avoid consuming chemicals that may actually cause you to retain weight.

4. Use portion control to limit the amount of food you consume. Studies show that reducing the amount of food you eat actually produces the quickest weight loss. Obviously you want to do this in a healthy manner, not obsessively or out of control.

• Eating 6 small meals a day, as opposed to the three larger meals you're probably accustomed to, has been shown to be healthier, help reduce fat stores and to increase metabolism.
• If you're wondering what a healthy portion looks like, it's all in the hands. In other words, a healthy portion or serving size is about the size of your fist, palm, or hand, depending on what food you're eating.
• Close your fist. That's a healthy portion size for a serving of rice, pasta or other side dish.
• Open your hand and look at the size of your palm. This is the perfect amount of chicken breast, pork or other types of meat. It should be about the size and thickness of a deck of cards.
• The size of your entire open hand is the perfect size for veggies.

5. Replace unhealthy snacks with nuts, raw veggies or fruit. Here are a few examples to help you choose healthier snack options:

• When you're craving chips or other salty, crunchy snacks, grab a handful of nuts instead. They are healthier for you and satisfy the craving for salt or crunchiness. Also, try to buy nuts with less salt. Natural or raw varieties will help to reduce your salt intake too.
• When you want something sweet, grab a piece of fruit like an apple, banana, orange, or melon. The natural sugar is way better for you than eating a bowl of ice cream or a handful (or two) of cookies.
• Have the munchies in general? Nibble on some raw carrots, celery or broccoli.There are foods that help stop the hunger other than a Reese's Cup or a Snicker Bar...really, there is! Find foods that are healthier!

Losing 5 pounds can be fun and make you feel so much better about yourself. Probably the best part is that it can be done quickly, in as little time as a week or two, depending on your specific circumstances.

Whether it's to kick-start your weight loss plan or to fit into that little black party dress,or that sexy lingerie from www.SimplyDeliciousLingerie.com taking off 5 pounds is a step in the right direction to a healthier, more fit you. It begins now! Let's get started shall we?

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Guilty Pleasures...

Step away from the chocolates...Watching what we eat has been a way of life for as long as I can remember...What to eat, when to eat, how many calories, how much fat...how much sodium...how much is too much? There so many things to take into account...but tell me please, how do you concentrate on these things when your body is telling you that it is HUNGRY? Everyone has experienced the occasional self-indulgent binge; it’s part of life. Is giving in to your cravings causing you to gain unwanted weight and/or preventing you from losing the weight you want to shed? This happens to me all the time. The harder you try to watch what you eat and be careful, the more difficult it is to see the pounds come off. This article will examine the nature of cravings and empower you with knowledge and tools that have an adverse effect sabotaging  on your weight.

Although our human compulsion to eat is at first purely instinctive, many of the signals we use to identify hunger we learn and develop over time, based on the influences of our circumstances and the other people around us. Some purely are just bad habits. Unlike how it was for our ancient, forest-dwelling ancestors, in modern civilization we have access to food around the clock, every day. Put that together with these misleading signals of ours and we find it dreadfully easy to succumb to the desire to eat, even though our body doesn’t require any additional calories or nutrients at that time. We eat because we think we are hungry, and in turn, we gain weight. For women, our hormones are up and down and our appetites can go nuts! For many women their menstrual cycle causes cravings. I can go from sweets to salt in a matter of minutes, whereas any other time of the month I would not think of mixing the two.

In many regards, there is very little that distinguishes compulsive overeating from other forms of substance abuse, and from addictive behavior in general. As with substance abuse and generally addictive behavior, stress, boredom, disappointment, anxiety, loneliness, insecurity, depression, and other negative emotional states all crave relief in some way. Beyond drugs and alcohol, one of the other ways many people have found to assuage those ill feeling and find the relief they crave is through the comfort of certain foods, or even simply through the comfort provided by very the act of eating.

The ruthlessness of this response to stress is that, usually, giving in to the craving results in the person feeling worse, not better, heaping guilt and shame atop whatever negative feelings they were already experiencing to begin with. As with all known forms of addictive behavior, there may often be a “trigger”, or an event that provokes the craving. Listen to your cravings closely, and not only because, in part, many times those cravings will be displaced desires for some form of mental or emotional fulfillment. Listen to them also in part because every once in a while, a craving is an honest-to-goodness cue from your body that a particular nutrient is lacking at that moment and sorely needed. When you have a craving that you may consider absurd (in other words, for something other than fats and sugars), consider that your body may be telling you that it needs some nutrient which that food contains. 

Remove temptations. That's right...get rid of those things that tease your taste buds. Go through your refrigerator and food pantry. Get rid of the cakes, ice cream, cookies, etc. When you go food shopping, make a conscious effort not to buy sweets. A good habit to get into is to take a walk instead of eating dessert. If, after 10 minutes, you still want sweets, gargle with an antiseptic mouth wash or brush your teeth. The aftertaste doesn't mix well with sweets and you'll probably lose your craving quickly. 

Increase your protein intake. Often our bodies will exhibit cravings for sweets when what they really need is more protein.

• Eat more protein and fat, both of which make you feel full and satisfied.
• Have small, frequent meals to help keep your blood sugar level stable and eliminate your body's need for a quick sugar fix. Avoid skipping meals (especially breakfast).
• Take a daily multivitamin. Some nutrients help keep blood sugar stable, so ensure you get those by supplementing your diet appropriately.
• Feed your body fruits and veggies...carrot sticks, celery, cut up an apple, make a salad.
• Eat yogurt and granola bars

 Replace sweets and sugar with healthy fruits. The sugars in fruits are digested differently than the empty calories of white sugar that are in most candy and processed foods. The fiber in fruit also slows the absorption of the sugars so you don't get as high a sugar rush (and as low a crash).

 Read labels. You might be very surprised to learn how much sugar there is in a lot of the foods that you eat. Being aware of sugar content can help you avoid high-sugar foods and kick the addiction.

Stay away from the naughty foods...and lose the guilty look, instead substitute the bad foods, you know, those guilty pleasures with healthy foods, fruits and veggies!

 It's not easy to change your appetite...so take it slow! Some advice...

• Don't set targets that you know you can't achieve. Take the process slowly and you'll see the results gradually - don't expect a quick fix.
• Consult your doctor before starting a drastic diet change - even though it's for the better, your body needs to have a thorough check-over before you start!
• Don't become obsessed with your weight
• If you give into your craving don't give up - just keep persevering and eventually you will control your cravings!

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Beauty Secrets for Everyone to Follow...

We know that there is no fountain of youth, but what if I told you that all you need to really do is to reevaluate your lifestyle and eating habits? Little do we know, or fully understand this but it can make a difference and in some cases, even save a life. Be aware of what you put into your body. It's not made with an armored shield and it does break down. We are human and we need to have a better understanding of healthy issues and limit our bodies to a certain amount of things that are bad for you, while increasing the nutrients and such that are good for you! Here's a quick note for you regarding what you need to do to gain a much more healthy "you!"

Water, you need water....lots of it! Try to add at least 4 more glasses of water to your daily diet. The rule of thumb for water is 8 glasses per day; and one extra for every ten pounds overweight you are.

Fats, you need to know about fats. There are different kinds of fats. Some fats are better for you than others. A rule of thumb on fats is, stay away from hydrogenated fats. These are fats that solidify. They are in store bought cakes, cookies, crackers, chips and even in bran muffins. Read the labels.

Choose fats that are polyunsaturated or fats such as olive oil. And, eat some fish to get some omega-3 fats. Carbohydrates - Are your immediate fuel source. An average is about 55 percent of your diet in carbohydrates. So, a rule of thumb is, figure your protein grams, get around 25% fat per day, and the rest would be in carbohydrates.

The heavier you are, the more protein you need the less carbohydrates you will need.

Fiber - work up to getting 25 grams of Fiber per day.

Protein - averages about 20 percent.

Divide weight by 2.2 and multiply that by .8 to get the kilograms.

For men it is averages as one gram per each kilogram of weight. So, a man would divide their weight in pounds 2.2 then multiply that by .10

Fats - try not to exceed more than 25 percent fat in your daily diet. 30 is fine, too. That does not mean you can't have a junk food fast food hamburger... it just means that if you do eat that 55 percent fat burger that you are going to have to cut down on other fat filled foods for the rest of the day to balance it out.

Make exchanges gradually. Suppose you drink whole milk...work down to 2 percent. Maybe replacing two of your cups per day until you can completely change over. If you are on two percent milk, work down to 1 percent.

Add bran to your cereals for extra fiber. Do add it in your baking.

You need to balance your diet with vegetables and fruits, too. Try adding different colors to your plate. Maybe an orange yam, and some green beans, to add color. The more variety of food colors, bring more variety of vitamins.

Eat more raw foods.

Remember, exchange things, add things, and do it gradually and remember, live all things in life in moderation and soon you will be bouncy and vibrant and well on your way to living BEAUTIFULLY! Get started now....isn't it about time you make a change? You'll feel better, have more energy and your skin and body will look and feel so much healthier!

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Water...Are You Drinking Enough of It?

How important is drinking water to your everyday way of life? Well, it can be crucial. Try going without air and see what happens? Your body needs water for a variety of reasons so it is a necessity to drink, drink, drink it all throughout the day! In weight loss, proper hydration is paramount to dropping off the pounds and keeping it off. And the harsh reality is that most people are not properly hydrated. Most people walk around unaware that so many of their problems – low energy, mood swings, trouble thinking, focusing, and concentrating, frequent illness, and excess weight – are caused by the fact that they’re in a perpetually dehydrated state.

Water is responsible for helping rid our body of the toxins that our metabolic processes produce. Besides helping rid our systems of waste, water is also an integral part of digestion in providing a medium for the necessary chemical and enzymatic processes to take place. Water carries oxygen and vital nutrients through our blood to all the cells in our body. Water regulates our body’s temperature. And if you’ve ever noticed a problem with stiff, or gone so far as to have been diagnosed with arthritis, water also lubricates the joints, increasing flexibility, and reducing pain and stiffness.

All this and we each lose about a pint of water each day in the mere act of breathing. How much water are we using up in all the other activities we perform throughout each day?Oftentimes we think we’re hungry when actually we’re just thirsty. The next time you feel hungry try drinking a glass or two of water first. Wait 5-20 minutes. If you’re still hungry, then eat. But there’s a good chance the water might have satisfied your body’s actual craving. Likewise, drink a glass of water before every meal. This well help you feel full faster and cause you to eat less overall. 

When the subject of drinking water and having the body adequately hydrated comes up, many people worry about water weight gain. If you’re one of them, here’s an ironic bit of information for you: drinking water steadily throughout your day, and consistently this way over time, will get your body conditioned into a new habit of storing less. Bloating is caused by the body being so used to a state of feeling dehydrated that it stores up all the extra water it can so it can get its needs met when it starts getting dehydrated again. As contradictory as it sounds, the way to reduce bloating is to drink enough water.

Now another myth regarding proper hydration is that juices and sodas and milk hydrate the body just as much as water does. This is simply not true. The body has to exert a great deal of energy to digest and process the sugars in juices and sodas and the calcium in milk; in these cases, the liquids are more transportation methods for the sugars and calcium. Even those hydrating sports drinks are packed with ingredients developed in a laboratory that the body needs to find a way to process. This takes energy. Water is the body’s only source of pure, unadulterated hydration. 

Inadequate hydration can lead to impaired neurological dysfunction (that’s: mind and emotions), digestive difficulties, deficient muscle tone and mass, problematic organ functioning, and of course the gaining of weight in the form of excess fat. Did you know that as a general rule, all people should drink a minimum of 10 8 oz. (1 cup) servings of water per day. For every 25 pounds that someone is over their ideal healthy weight range, drink an extra 8 oz. serving. I cannot tell you how many people DO NOT know this! Really?

Want my advice? (non-professional that is?)....Go to the store, buy a case of water and start drinking! Your body is your home, and my friend it is the only home that you will ever have...so take care of it!

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Why the Acai Berry Diet?

Day after day, and diet after diet we try new crazes that everyone tells you will work and we get frustrated to say the least. Have you ever looked into the acai berry diet? It is no secret that berries are good for you. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, huckleberries and all other types of berries are loaded with antioxidants and other stuff that promotes good health and some are now said to assist in the fight against cancer. But there is one berry that stands out from the rest, and that's the acai berry. The acai berry can only be found in the rainforests of the Amazon. The delicate fruit spoils quickly after harvesting, so if it is to be transported it must be frozen or otherwise preserved quickly. For these reasons, it has only recently gained widespread attention. Yet doctor after doctor has extolled the acai berry's virtues, advocating its use for everything from weight loss to fighting the signs of aging.

Acai berries have numerous nutritional benefits. They contain about ten times as many antioxidants as the same amount of red grapes. They are packed with amino acids, dietary fiber, monounsaturated fats and phytosterols. The antioxidants reduce the effects of free radicals, which contribute significantly to aging. The amino acids help build healthy muscles. And all of these nutrients are great for the heart, immune system and digestive system.

Acai berries have also been used successfully in weight loss regimens. An acai berry supplement is often used in conjunction with a colon cleansing product. Together, the acai and the colon cleansing agent rid the body of toxins and other wastes. The acai berry's high nutritional content also provides an increase in energy.

The acai berry and colon cleanser combination can cause a significant amount of weight loss quickly. The wastes removed by such a regimen could weigh several pounds, and flushing them out will reduce your weight by the same amount. The absence of these wastes can also help prevent fatigue in the long run.The high protein content of the acai berry also contributes to its effectiveness in weight loss. When consumed, acai berries make one feel fuller than the same amount of a food with less protein. Acai berries can also have a positive effect on metabolism. These are two of the reasons that acai is often used as an ingredient in weight loss supplements.

 Did you know that the acai berry is most effective in its natural state? True. Unfortunately, it's very hard to find whole acai berries outside of their native land. The rest of the world must settle for acai pulp, or supplements in the form of pills, powders or juices. Some researchers have disputed claims that the acai berry promotes weight loss. But all agree that this fruit is one of the best sources of nutrition that one could hope for. An acai berry diet is safe for almost anyone, and many dieters have reported great success with it. So if you're looking for a diet that doesn't skimp on nutritional value, the acai berry diet might well be worth a try.

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The Culprits of High Cholesterol

What if I told you that tap water and homogenized milk may be two of the biggest culprits in skyrocketing rates of high cholesterol? Is this a real shocker to you? It shouldn't be,..not with all of the harmful pesticides that we put into our environment these days...,Cholesterol is actually being produced by our own bodies all of the time as a natural mechanism to combat oxidation when our bodies are diseased. Therefore, if we are not well, our cholesterol levels are likely to be higher regardless of what we eat that contains cholesterol. Having too low of a cholesterol level is just as bad as having too high. So, what can you do? Avoiding eggs and other foods that naturally contain cholesterol may not be the best solution, nor taking cholesterol-lowering drugs with their plethora of harmful side effects. 
 
 For example; eggs are actually extremely healthy in moderation, being that they contain nutrients present at the beginning of life. Fatty meats are often harmful simply because fats store toxins, and animals not raised naturally have often been injected with antibiotics, hormones, steroids, and graze on grounds containing pesticides and fertilizer residue. 


Two of the most harmful, and most common, everyday products we are ingesting that contribute to high cholesterol, and thus plaque in the arteries, are homogenized milk and chemically-treated tap water.

The explanation is far more complicated than I will cover here, but basically homogenizing milk involves the breaking down of fat particles to such a small size that the milk looks nice and smooth with no chunks of cream, but these smaller fat particles can permeate the intestines and end up in your blood stream. On the other hand, fresh unhomogenized milk from the farm, assuming the cows have not been exposed to chemicals, with its cream floating to the top, is natural and not a harmful form of fat. The larger fat molecules pass through the digestive system and nutrients are properly absorbed without fat entering the bloodstream.

 This cream, of course, can also be skimmed off the top of the milk and used for other purposes.
Studies have shown that many of the chemicals present in tap water that were added to kill bacteria, such as chlorine, often react with and oxidize cholesterol already in the body, forming a gummy substance (plaque) that actually sticks to, and clogs, the arteries. And there are many more dangerous side effects of drinking chemically-treated water.

So you ask yourself...what can you do about it? If you want to lower your cholesterol, which is not an easy task once your body is not functioning properly regardless how much cholesterol you eliminate in your diet, first eliminate homogenized milk and stop drinking and cooking with tap water whenever possible. If you can't always get unhomogenized milk, such as from a health store or organic farm, then fat-free regular organic milk is the next best choice so you're not getting chemicals nor as much cholesterol. If you can afford it, put a good filter in your bathtub or shower and/or install a whole-house distillation system, as even bathing in chemically treated water is harmful because it absorbs through your pores, and chemicals in the steam are inhaled.

And don't think you can turn to bottled waters -- sometimes bottled waters are no better, as they can contain runoff from groundwater containing pesticides and fertilizers that are not removed and do not have to be reported. If the bottle says it has been purified by both reverse osmosis and carbon/charcoal treatments, it may be less contaminated. The healthiest water available today for purchase is probably distilled water, which most closely mimics the sun's natural way of purifying water.
The best way to bind and pull cholesterol out of your body naturally and avoid chemicals is by eating whole grains, fruits, and vegetables (preferably organic and chemical-free) that haven't been processed or "enriched" by synthetic means such as bleached white breads, white rice, white pasta, etc.

Since your body has been overoxidizing, antioxidants may help speed recovery, and hence indirectly lower cholesterol. There are natural and safe cholesterol-lowering supplements available at health stores, including plant-based polycosinol, but always check to make sure there are no supplement, herb, or drug interactions if you are, or plan to continue, taking medications concurrently. Never stop medications abruptly. And lastly, since much of our soil has been depleted of minerals from chemicals, and most processed foods lack sufficient vitamins, most people should always take a potent natural vitamin and mineral supplement to help speed healing and to maintain their health.

What is Cholesterol?