A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle: 8/1/08

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Meme: Quirks!

A little over a week ago, Mike at livelife365, tagged me with the Six Unspectacular Quirks meme. I enjoy reading his blog and watching his videos. Check out this video about him missing his hair. It's funny!

All right! Let's get started.

Following are the rules:

1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules.
3. Tell six unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag six bloggers by linking.
5. Leave a comment on each blogger's blog to let them know they've been tagged.

My 6 Unspectacular Quirks

1. SKILLS. I can write in cursive backwards so that when you hold it up to a mirror you can read it. I discovered I could do this when I was in 7th grade.

2. LABELS. I always turn things around so the label is facing me, everything from canned goods to my mouthwash. Did you watch the movie Sleeping With The Enemy? It freaked me out when I saw how her psycho husband did the same thing. Rotten Tomatoes only gave it a 23%. I disagree though, I thought it was a good.

3. LAUGHTER. I have a very loud laugh. People have often told me that I make them laugh just by them hearing me laugh. My husband, Paul, likes to tease me sometimes by mocking my laugh. Sometimes I break into laughter at inappropriate times. One of those times, was at my son's third grade spelling bee. All the other parents were quietly watching their kids with pride. But when a little boy was asked how to spell "auto" as in automobile and he said, "O - T - T - O"... I just about died trying to stifle a laugh. I looked at the other parents but no one else was amused. It just got worse from there. With each kid that misspelled a word, I got more and more tickled. Then when my son misspelled the word he was given, I just about couldn't hold my laughter any longer. I had my hands over my mouth and face and my eyes kept watering. When I realized I wasn't going to be able to pull myself together, I left and went back to work.

4. CARMEX. I can't exercise or go to sleep at night without my Carmex. Cherry-flavored is my favorite.

5. SCARY. My family makes fun of me because I watch scary scenes with my hands over my eyes and my thumbs in my ears. The last movie I watched was The Dark Knight. That was a great movie. Of course my fifteen-year-old son asked me, "How can you say that when you missed half the movie?" :)

6. GROSS. I get grossed out easily. I'm freaky about bugs and I don't like to hear details of medical procedures or a person's injury etc. I could never work in the medical field in any capacity because I couldn't make it through the required college courses. In 8th grade Biology, I gladly took a zero because I refused to dissect a frog. I barely handled the dissection of a cricket!

And now for the tagging...

Following are seven blogs I love to visit. Go check 'em out!

1. The Junk Drawer

2. Monkey Fables and Tales

3. Hot Child in the Suburbs

4. Confessions of a Fitness Diva

5. Making Mommy Hot

6. Health Nut Wannabee Mom

7. The Natural State Hawg

I was only supposed to list six but I couldn't resist adding an extra one. I'm such a rebel.

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Friday, August 29, 2008

8 Finalists Vying for 'Best of Fried Food' Title

State fairs and festivals all over our great country are known for offering just about every food you can think of on a stick.

And if you like things battered and deep fried, you've definitely come to the right place.

I am always amazed at what you find to eat at fairs and festivals. But when I read this article, I almost fell out of my chair. These fried food fanatics just keep upping the ante.

The first food on a stick came about in 1942, when the Fletcher Brothers invented the corn dog. My how things have changed!

Following are the eight items vying for Monday’s fourth annual Big Tex Choice Awards, when the best new foods of the upcoming State Fair of Texas are judged.

(1.) Maybe it will be a cook who whips up something sweet, like the Fried Banana Split or (2.) Texas Fried Jelly Bellys or (3.) Fire & Ice, a deep-fried pineapple ring. Or something chocolate, like the (4.) Fried Chocolate Truffles or (5.) Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Balls or (6.) Deep Fried S’mores. Then again, it could be something savory, like (7.) Chicken Fried Bacon or (8.) Fernie’s All-American Fried Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

All eyes will likely be on Abel Gonzales Jr., who created Fire & Ice. He’s the reigning fried food champ, having won three previous Big Tex awards for his Texas Fried Cookie Dough, Fried Coke and Fried Peanut Butter, Jelly and Banana Sandwich, a tribute to Elvis Presley.

He hopes his latest creation is a winner.

“It would be great,” Mr. Gonzales said Wednesday. “I’m not going to lie and say, ‘Oh, I don’t really care.’ Of course I care. ... Whoever tries it, I hope they like it. If it’s a hit, whoa, that’s even better.”

Mr. Gonzales’ deep-fried pineapple — the fire — is topped with banana-flavored whipped cream that’s been frozen in liquid nitrogen — the ice. The concoction is then covered with syrupy strawberries. (Check out the video of Gonzales making Fire & Ice here.)

It’s safe to eat, and Mr. Gonzales said kids will enjoy a fun side effect: After placing the frozen whipped cream in your mouth, you can blow smoke out of your nose and mouth when you exhale. It’s half tasty treat, half science experiment.

Gonzales will be selling Fire & Ice at this year’s fair, along with its fried friends — cookie dough, coke, and peanut butter-jelly-and-banana sandwich.

The State Fair of Texas starts Sept. 26 and runs through Oct. 19. Attendance figures for the fair aren't released, but officials reported selling $29 million in food coupons last year.

Source: here

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Thursday, August 28, 2008

April Wood Lost 105 Pounds!

Wow! This lady inspires me so much. I'm sure her story will fire you up as well.

April Wood weighed 250 pounds at her heaviest but now weighs in at a slim and trim 145 pounds, and she's maintained that weight for five years.

“For as long as I can remember, I was overweight,” recalls April Wood, 40, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who since childhood, was held back by her self-perception: fat, fearful and insecure.

As a child, April was expected to finish every morsel of food on her plate. As April got older, she lived by the motto, and ultimately developed an inability to curb her eating habits. She gorged on homemade dinners, sugary snacks and fast-food.

During her childhood, she was often teased by her peers and ridiculed about her size. It wasn’t until years later she realized the impact such an experience had on her self-esteem.

“As a child I didn’t realize that being overweight affected me,” April said. “I was quiet, shy, withdrawn and had very few friends, but I didn’t know that anything was wrong with that. I didn’t want to be noticed. I just wanted to disappear. I was afraid to try anything or reach for what I wanted out of life.”

Socially, April suffered. Mortified by her appearance, she feared strangers’ reactions and often automatically assumed she was undesirable or a burden because of her large size.

It took nearly three decades for April to finally feel comfortable in her own skin, to pursue relationships without indulging in self-loathing or social anxiety. Looking back, she realizes she alone was responsible for the many emotional and physical hardships she endured.

“I finally came to the conclusion, on my weight-loss journey, that people may have put me in that box, but I was the one holding the lid down tight.”

At 19, April married and soon thereafter had a child. Like her own parents, she passed down the lesson of not wasting food to her own kids. It wasn’t until years later that she became aware of the cycle, and finally understood that she didn’t need to finish an entire plate to feel full — it was simply a psychological hurdle. Emotionally, she was a wreck; she knew her attitude toward food veiled deep-rooted insecurities and issues: “I hated myself and what my life had not become, but I felt helpless to change things. I was fat and that was who I was, period.”

Physically, April’s body was a mess: She ached in all her joints, suffered from stomach pain and headaches, constantly felt out of breath and her hands often went numb during sleep. Such discomfort left her with little motivation to exercise or pursue any physical activity, and it took an emotional toll on her. “I was very unhappy with my life,” April said. “I felt worthless. I hated my weight and felt out of control.”

By adulthood, April had given up any hope of losing weight; she tried “every diet out there,” and none seemed to stick or have any profound impact on her size. She was only 35 years old, but physically, she felt 60.

One day, and at 250 pounds, April felt fed up. She went to the public library and began educating herself about proper eating habits and nutrition. The next day, she woke up at 7 a.m. and ate a small, relatively healthy breakfast. A minimal gesture, but it was the first step forward in a new, positive direction. “I looked at ways to slowly change my diet. I then started walking, maybe a tenth of a mile a day.”

Initially, she didn’t tell anyone of her new plans. Still fearful of others, she decided to keep mum on the subject until she actually saw results. April had no support system because she refused to divulge her plan to anyone: “I didn’t want my family and friends to witness yet another failure by the fat lady.”

Little by little April incorporated new, healthy foods and habits. By focusing on health, rather than weight loss, she slowly introduced new healthy foods into her diet and began building on her exercise routine.

“I lived two houses from the stop sign, and I started just walking to that stop sign and back home. Then I got to where I could go to the next stop sign and back, until eventually I made it the three miles around my neighborhood.”

Even though the initial months proved difficult — as exercise irritated her joints and limbs — she was determined to pursue an active, healthy lifestyle. She would often even have to talk herself into exercising, spending 30 minutes to an hour trying to convince herself that it was worth the inconvenience and pain.

“It was not an easy process,” April said of her struggle, “but eventually I started feeling so much better that I couldn’t imagine not doing the exercise.”

With weights and heavy cardio, April pushed herself to try harder - to give her body a new opportunity to perform at a level she’d never experienced. She constantly repeated the same motto whenever she felt the urge to quit: “Failure is not an option, so choose something else.” That something was another chance at life. In 11 months she lost 105 pounds and, at just 145 pounds, she now works as a group fitness instructor and regularly runs marathons. “I am as healthy as they come now,” she said proudly.

April’s life now differs completely from that of five years ago: Whereas she once struggled to take her children to the ballpark, April now enjoys a successful career as a certified trainer and aerobics instructor. Having once feared social functions and new relationships, today she thrives on new friendships and helping others.

“The weight loss turned my entire life around. I became an instructor because I want to help release others from their box. I feel that they will trust me more to because they know that I was in their shoes only a short time ago... If you have never been overweight, you can never understand the emotional and social implications it can have.”

Armed with her new exercise and diet habits, April hasn’t suffered from any aches or pains — or even a cold — in more than four years. And to curb any uncontrollable cravings, she eats five times a day (but only when hungry and not at designated meal times). Careful not to backtrack, April considers everything that goes in her mouth, from drinks to snacks. With portion control, she knows she can indulge in her favorite foods without guilt or worry.

“I eat a little of everything, but always in moderation. My new lifestyle has changed me because I understand that I can do anything that I set my mind to. The only limitations are the ones that we put on ourselves.”

Although she realizes most people easily get caught up in the positive physical changes, April constantly reminds herself that looks come second to the health benefits of weight

loss. First and foremost, she wanted to feel good about herself, not starve her body or attain society’s vision of what constitutes thin or attractive.

“I have curves. I am not a size two, but I am healthy, happy and free; I feel free to live my life to its fullest. I love myself and who I have become.” For those looking to pursue weight loss or change their eating habits, April says, “Look to your health; the weight loss will follow.”

Check out the video of April Wood's amazing story here.

Click here to read some great diet tips from women who have lost over 100 pounds. I watched the video and it's great (the video features April Wood, Vivian Dimmel, and Jodi Davis). Enjoy!

Source: here

Related Articles:

Jenn Barton Lost 114 Pounds!

Adina Stewart Lost Over 120 Pounds!

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

6 Ways To Make Fast Food Healthier

Eating healthy can be a challenge - especially with the busy lives we lead.

Fortunately, many fast food restaurants offer healthy food items. The key is to choose wisely. Following are six ways to make fast food healthier:

1. Keep portion sizes small. If the fast-food restaurant offers several sandwich sizes, pick the smallest or order half a sandwich, if available. If you want a burger, choose the kid-sized hamburger, which has about 250 to 300 calories.

2. Choose a healthier side dish. For example, instead of french fries choose a side salad with low-fat dressing or a baked potato. Or add a fruit bowl or a fruit and yogurt option to your meal. Other healthy choices include apple or orange slices, corn on the cob, steamed rice, or baked potato chips.

3. Go for the greens. Choose a large entree salad with grilled chicken, shrimp or garden vegetables with fat-free or low-fat dressing on the side, rather than regular salad dressing, which can have 100 to 200 calories per packet. Watch out for high-calorie salads, such as those with deep-fried shells or those topped with breaded chicken or other fried toppings. Also skip salad extras, such as cheese, bacon bits, croutons and fried chips, which quickly increase your calorie count.

4. Opt for grilled items. Fried and breaded foods, such as crispy chicken sandwiches and breaded fish fillets, are high in fat and calories. Select grilled or roasted lean meats - such as turkey or chicken breast, lean ham, or lean roast beef.

5. Have it your way. Don't settle for what comes with your sandwich or meal. Ask for healthier options and substitutions. For example, ask for reduced-fat mayonnaise or mustard on your sandwich. Or at a fast-food Mexican restaurant, request salsa with your meal instead of shredded cheese and nacho cheese sauce. Try to avoid special dressings, tartar sauce, sour cream and other high-calorie condiments.

6. Watch what you drink. Many beverages are high in calories. For example, a large regular soda (32 ounces) has about 300 calories.

You can eat healthy away from home, even at fast-food restaurants. The bottom line: Be choosy. Make wise menu choices and focus on portion control.

Source: here

Related Articles:

Fast-Food Dilemma: Order the Small Fries or Splurge on the Large?

I'm Lovin' It: Man Loses 80 Pounds Eating McDonald's

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Monday, August 25, 2008

Memorable Moments From The Olympic Games

Michael Phelps' Great 8. Team USA redeeming the dream. U.S. softball's upsetting finale. Those are a few memorable moments from the Games.

Michael Phelps broke Mark Spitz's record by winning eight golds in a single Olympics, and he did it sometimes in dramatic fashion. Jason Lezak helped the 4x100 relay win in the last second, while Phelps later won the 100 fly by one-hundredth of a second.

With Michael Phelps swimming into the history books, it was easy to overlook other strong performances by other U.S. swimmers. Case in point: Natalie Coughlin. She won six medals in Beijing, the most by a U.S. woman in one Olympics.

The face of the women's soccer team was goalkeeper Hope Solo. She had the back story -- her public blasting of her former coach and goalie at last year's Women's World Cup, goalkeeper Hope Solo helped lead the U.S. women's soccer team to a gold medal in Beijing. She also had the front story -- her shutout of the powerful Brazilians cinched the gold medal. But it was Olympic rookie Carli Lloyd who scored the only goal in a key Olympic match against Japan, and it was Lloyd who scored the goal that won it against Brazil.

Nastia Liukin's father just fell short of winning an all-around gold for Russia in the 1970's, but he lived vicariously through his daughter as Nastia edged out U.S. teammate Shawn Johnson to win the all-around.

David Neville's headfirst dive to the finish line for bronze in the 400-meter track final was the living symbol of how badly someone can want a medal. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy, and it completed an American sweep of the event -- a rare triumphant moment for the U.S. at the track venue.

Olympic Softball Teams U.S. Australia and Japan

Olympic Softball Teams U.S. Australia and Japan

With the way the U.S. softball team breezed through the Olympics, you would have thought a title was a foregone conclusion. Not for Japan, which upset the Americans in the gold-medal game. Softball will not return to the Olympics program in 2012.

Jessica Mendoza led players from the U.S., Japan, and Australia in an unusual ceremony after Thursday's gold-medal game to send a message to the IOC. They laid softballs in the shape of "2016" on the field.

After taking silver in the all-around, floor exercise and the team event, American Shawn Johnson finally got the gold by edging teammate Nastia Liukin in the balance beam.

The U.S. women's eight team finally got the best of rowing power Romania, denying the country a fourth straight gold medal with a winning time of 6:05.34.

Bryan Clay won the decathlon and was the first American man to win the 10-discipline event at the Olympics since 1996. What was his post-event wish? He jokingly said, "I just want the Wheaties box. Put me on the Wheaties box."

John Wooden once won 88 straight basketball games. Sounds impressive until you compare it to the beach volleyball tandem, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, which leaves Beijing with a 108-match winning streak. Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser completed the American sweep of the beach volleyball gold medals, beating Brazil in three sets.

With the thought of his in-laws on his mind (his father-in-law died and mother-in-law was seriously injured after being stabbed in Beijing), coach Hugh McCutcheon and the U.S. men's volleyball team made an improbable run to the gold medal.

The U.S. track team was determined to go out on a high note, and that it did. Sanya Richards and Jeremy Wariner anchored both 4x400 relay teams to gold medals after the U.S. fumbled out of the 4x100 relay earlier in the Games.

U.S. Redeemed Team

Both U.S. basketball teams won the gold medal in Beijing with Kobe Bryant leading the men to their first Olympic title since 2000 and Lisa Leslie winning her fourth straight gold.

My family enjoyed watching many of the Beijing events live on prime-time. Unfortunately, the time difference will make things more difficult for the London Games in 2012. For NBC to show something live in prime-time then, an event would have to be scheduled after midnight — hardly an ideal time for athletes or live spectators.

Click here to watch ESPN's Jeremy Schaap reflect on the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Source: here

Related Articles:

Girl Power

So Tell Me... What Exactly Does Michael Phelps Eat?

Dara Torres - A 41-Year Old Olympic Champion, Poised To Make History

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Computers... For Me, It's a Love/Hate Relationship

Yeah, computers have made life easier for us in many ways, but they're also a pain in the butt too.

Thursday night, my PC got infected with some bad-a$$ spyware and adware.

I stayed up until 1:00 a.m. trying to clean my PC, but though I put up a good fight, in the end I lost the battle.

So I took the PC into work with me Friday morning and had it wiped clean.

I have spent the last two days downloading software and setting everything back up. What a pain!

Anyway, as Frank Sinatra sang, "That's life." Sho nuff, Frank. I couldn't have said it any better.

I hope you're weekend is going great!

Laura

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Zumba Anyone?

With the popularity of Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance (my personal favorite), it's easy to see why dancing classes are so popular.

In Spanish, Zumba means 'buzzing like a bee' or 'going fast'.

I had never heard of Zumba before reading this article, but apparently, it's been around for over five years.

Not only is Zumba being taught in gym and dance studios, it is also expanding into schools and senior citizen centers.

A session of Zumba, a cardio-dance routine, can feel like a trip to the nightclub of a cruise ship, where a well-toned crew member teaches you to wiggle your hips and do the fast footwork for a mix of dance styles to the thump of loud music. While Zumba crowds are not plied with alcohol, people often throw away inhibitions — they pump their arms, applaud, let out “yeahs” — as they work out.

More than 3.5 million Zumba DVDs have sold through infomercials and about 20,000 instructors in 40 countries now teach Zumba, 15,000 of those in the United States.

Over the course of an hour, a Zumba class will span a variety of dance rhythms, like mambo, cha-cha, cumbia, and merengue, with the occasional hip-hop or belly dancing move thrown in.

Amy Wetzel, 24, said she has lost 28 pounds since January with Zumba, but she has taken five to six classes a week.

Fitness experts say Zumba is likely to endure. “People want to do something that’s a lot of fun,” Ms. Lowell said. “Where time flies by, and it’s not that complicated. They don’t want to think too much.”

Source: here

Related Article: "Hoopnotica - The Latest Fitness Craze"

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Girl Power!

I'm proud of the guys too, but I wanted to take a moment and give the girls a hearty round of applause - they're awesome!

Basketball - U.S. women beat South Korea 104-60 and will advance to the Olympic semifinals Thursday night to play either Russia or Spain. (Note: Sylvia Fowles scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds)

US Womens Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball - Defending U.S. Olympic champions Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor will play for another gold medal after advancing to the beach volleyball championship game with a straight-sets victory over Brazil.

Discus - Stephanie Brown Trafton became America's first women's Olympic discus champion since Lillian Copeland triumphed in 1932. Trafton's toss of 212 feet, 5 inches was more than 4 feet shorter than her season best.

Gymnastics - Nastia Liukin tied the record for most medals won by a U.S. women's gymnast at a single Olympic Games. Shawn Johnson won gold on the Balance Beam.

US Womens Rowing

Rowing - U.S. women won their first Olympic championship since 1984.

Sailing - In a race that was marked by lead changes and a nail biting finish, Laser Radial sailor Anna Tunnicliffe showed her true grit after a slight wind shift propelled her from the back of the fleet to a gold medal.

US Womens Soccer

Soccer - U.S. women are preparing to play Brazil in the gold medal game Thursday.

Softball - U.S. women are expected to beat either Canada or Australia for a fifth consecutive gold medal. The U.S. has outscored its opponents 53-1.

Swimming - Rebecca Soni set a world record in the 200m breaststroke.

Tennis - Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the U.S. celebrate winning the gold medal over Virginia Ruano Pascual and Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain in the Women's Doubles gold medal match.
US Womens Volleyball

Volleyball - U.S. women continue to dominate and is in the quarterfinal match against Italy, who they've upset once before this Olympics.

Water Polo - US women beat their arch-nemesis, Australia, in the Olympic semifinals and will play for gold against the Netherlands Thursday.

Related Articles:

"So Tell Me... What Exactly Does Michael Phelps Eat?"

"Dara Torres - A 41 Year-Old Olympic Champion Poised To Make History"

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Monday, August 18, 2008

So Tell Me... What Exactly Does Michael Phelps Eat?

The grandest of Olympic champions, Michael Phelps, churned his way to immortality on Sunday, nailing an unprecedented eight consecutive gold after powering the United States to victory in the 4x100-meter medley relay.

I knew training as a competitive swimmer took a lot of work but what I didn't know is that it takes a whole lot of food too.

Here's what Phelps said about his eating habits: "I was told I was supposed to eat between 8,000 and 10,000 calories a day. I just sort of try to cram whatever I can into my body."

Following is a typical breakfast for Michael Phelps:

* 3 fried egg sandwiches
* 3 slices of french toast
* a bowl of grits
* a five egg omelet
* 3 chocolate chip pancakes

The diet sounds deadly but trainers say consuming that many calories isn't all that unusual for a competitive swimmer.

Listen to Sports dietician Caroline Mandel explain why it's necessary for an athlete to eat so much food.

Source: here

Related Article: Dara Torres, A 41-Year-Old Olympic Champion, Poised To Make History

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Dara Torres, a 41 Year-Old Olympic Champion, Poised To Make History

Dara Torres was known as one of the best swimmers in the world.

At her first Olympics in 1984, she won gold. She's earned eight more medals at three more Olympics.

And though Dara retired after the Sydney games in 2000, she decided to make a comeback after the birth of her daughter, Tessa.

Dara Torres is doubling up her duties in her run at history tonight (9:03 p.m. CT)

In addition to seeking her 11th Olympic medal in the finals of the 50-meter freestyle, the 41-year-old mom confirmed she will swim the anchor leg of the women's 4x100 medley relay about 40 minutes later.

Torres, 41, became the oldest Olympic swimming medalist Sunday when she anchored the U.S. women's 4x100-meter freestyle relay to a silver medal finish. She has now won 10 Olympic medals and will go for an 11th when she competes in the 50-meter freestyle.

But her presence alone was enough to make history.

Eight years after retiring and two years after giving birth, Torres is the first U.S. swimmer to compete at five Olympic Games and oldest woman ever to make the U.S. Olympic swim team. She has become a testament of dedication, passion and willpower.

While most women her age lack her carved-from-stone body and ripped abs, many are feeling inspired by her remarkable comeback, and her "age is just a number" mantra.

And Torres herself has said that she has been contacted by a lot of middle-aged women and men who told her she was inspiration to them.

Torres appears in photos with her daughter, Tessa, on her hip. She is open about her age, joking that she had trouble reading the scoreboard with her middle-aged eyes at the Olympic swimming trials.

"There are times when I feel 40 and I feel like there's a piano on my back and I can't lift my arms up out of the pool and there are times when I feel like I'm 20 and just flying through the water," she told ABC.

Source: here

Check out this video of Dara Torres, where she was named ABC News' Person of the Week.

Related Article: How The Elite Eat: Dara Torres

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Testing the Limits of What Humans Will Eat

From the Onion News Network...

Check out the video here.

Domino's Scientists Test Limits Of What Humans Will Eat

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Runners Age More Slowly, According To Study

According to this article, runners have a 'leg up' on nonrunners.

Researchers studied 500 older runners for more than 20 years and found they had fewer disabilities, were active later in life, and were half as likely to die early than other people.

Dr. James Fries started his research to disprove theories that older runners would suffer more injuries that would limit the benefits of exercise.

His team started annual tracking of 538 runners older than 50 and a similar group of nonrunners in 1984.

After 19 years, 34 percent of the nonrunners had died, compared to only 15 percent of the runners, even though the time spent running each week has declined as people reached their 70s and 80s.

The new findings were published in the Aug. 11 issue of the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.

Source: here

Related Article: The Smart Way To Beat The Heat

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

6 Healthy-Sounding Foods That Really Aren’t

Most of these foods can fit into a healthy diet if you know your limits. But do a reality check and read the labels first.

1. Energy Bars

Energy bars usually contain protein and fiber but also may be loaded with calories. That’s fine if you occasionally make one a meal, but most of us eat them as snacks. You might as well enjoy a Snickers, which at 280 calories is in the same range as many energy bars.

Lesson learned: If you need something to tide you over until dinner, look for a calorie-controlled bar with about 5 grams of protein (e.g., Balance 100-calorie bar, Promax 70-calorie bar).

2. Granola

Granola sounds healthy but it’s often high in fat, sugar and calories. Don’t be fooled by a seemingly reasonable calorie count; portion sizes are usually a skimpy 1⁄4 or 1⁄2 cup. Lowfat versions often just swap sugar for fat and pack as many calories as regular versions.

Lesson learned: Read granola labels carefully and stick with recommended portion sizes or use as a topping on fruit or yogurt.

salad

3. Salads

Most of us could use more vegetables, so what’s not to love? In a word, toppings. The pecans and Gorgonzola cheese on Panera Bread’s Fuji Apple Chicken Salad (580 calories, 30 grams fat, 7 grams saturated fat) propel it into double-cheeseburger territory. A McDonald’s double cheeseburger has 440 calories, 23 grams fat, 11 grams saturated fat.

Lesson learned: Before ordering a salad, check its nutrition information plus that of the dressing and all add-ons (often, they’re listed separately).

4. Smoothies

Smoothies may seem like a tasty way to help get your recommended fruit servings—but studies show that beverages are less filling per calorie than solid foods. And added sugars can make some the equivalent of drinking a fruit pie filling: the smallest (16-ounce) serving of Jamba Juice’s Orange Dream Machine weighs in at 340 calories, with 69 grams of sugars that don’t all come from orange juice. You’re better off with orange juice (110 calories per cup).

Lesson learned: Some smoothies pack as many calories as a milkshake. Look for those made with whole fruit, lowfat yogurt and no added sugars.

yogurt

5. Yogurts

Yogurt is a great way to meet your calcium needs, but not all are created equally. Some premium whole-milk yogurts can give you a hefty dose of saturated fat. Shop around: many lowfat versions of these products are every bit as creamy. Enjoy a fruit-flavored lowfat yogurt, but understand that the “fruit” is really jam (i.e., mostly sugar). Or opt for lowfat plain and stir in fresh fruit or other sweetener to suit your taste; you’ll probably use less. Try sweetening lowfat plain yogurt with a tablespoon of maple syrup (52 calories).

Lesson learned: Although yogurt is a good source of calcium, some yogurts can be more of a dessert than a healthy snack. Don’t let fat and added sugars spoil a good thing.

6. Sushi Rolls

There is a wide variety of sushi rolls out there and in some, the fried tidbits and mayonnaise can really pack in the calories. The Southern Tsunami sushi bar company, which supplies sushi to supermarkets and restaurants, reports its 12-piece Dragon Roll (eel, crunchy cucumbers, avocado and special eel sauce) has almost 500 calories and 16 grams of fat.

Lesson learned: Signature sushi rolls often come with a creamy “special sauce”. You should ask what’s in it or just order something simple like a 12-piece California roll (imitation crabmeat, avocado and cucumber) or a vegetarian roll with cucumbers, carrots and avocado (supplies around 350 calories and 6 or 7 grams of fat).

Source: here

Related Article: Warning: So-Called Health Drinks May Sabotage Your Diet

My Other Websites: Are Your Vitamins Safe? Whole Food Nation Affiliate Link

Monday, August 11, 2008

6 Guilt-Free Reasons To Love Carbs

This is something you don't hear too much about. In fact, you hear the opposite - if you want to lose weight, eat low-carb. But according to this article, carbohydrates can be the most nutritious and slimming foods on your plate.

1. Calming comfort

Have you ever noticed that your favorite comfort foods are carbohydrate foods? When we don’t feel well, we usually reach for comforting starches such as pasta and rice we were given as kids.

oats

Complex carbohydrates, such as whole grain breads and cereals stimulate the brain to produce a neurotransmitter called serotonin. Serotonin is the feel-good hormone that helps regulate our mood, sleep and appetite. It also helps fight pain. Other serotonin-inducing carbs include whole wheat pastas, brown rice, bulgur and sweet potatoes.

bell pepper

2. Satisfyingly slimming

Most foods naturally high in complex carbohydrates (broccoli, red, green and yellow peppers, beans, corn and brown rice) are not only low in calories, they are filling and satisfying. That’s why cutting carbs from your diet when you’re trying to lose weight can be counter-productive.

A recommended serving is either one slice of bread, 1/3 cup of rice or 1/2 cup of cooked cereal such as oatmeal.

3. Fiber-rific

apples

Many carbs are low in sugar and rich in fiber. In addition to helping you feel full, fiber gives you lots of other important health benefits.

Insoluble fiber aids in digestion and can help prevent constipation. Wheat bran and whole wheat products, which are complex carbohydrates, are sources of insoluble fiber.

Soluble fiber, found in oats, carrots, and apples, forms a viscous gel which helps to decrease the absorption of cholesterol, which can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Soluble fiber may also help stabilize blood glucose levels and help control diabetes.

4. Beat hunger

If you want to fight hunger pangs, make room for resistant starch in your diet. Resistant starch is a kind of dietary fiber found in many carbohydrates like potatoes, barley and beans. Resistant starches are formed when these foods are cooked and cooled, such as cooked-and-chilled potatoes. This nutrient may play a significant role in promoting weight loss by helping stave off cravings.

Although it’s not clear how much resistant starch we need each day, it can improve blood sugar levels and may even protect against certain cancers.

5. Energy booster

Complex carbohydrates provide a powerhouse of easily-obtained energy. In fact, they are the body’s main source of fuel for your muscles. It’s not only your muscles that benefit — your brain, bones, glands, hormones, heart and all of your body’s systems depend on a regular flow of carb energy to function optimally. Whether you’re a fitness fan or would simply like to be more active, the intake of the right carbohydrates can give you a competitive edge.

6. Natural healing

sweet potatoes

Many people don’t realize that “good” carbs — including brown rice, celery, whole grains and strawberries — supply a wealth of vitamins, such as B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), and C, in addition to minerals, such as chromium, manganese and zinc. Enriched grains are also a good source of folic acid and iron. Since carbohydrates tend to be of plant origin, many provide a host of phytonutrients (chemicals in plants that boost health).

Examples of some of these super-charged foods and their disease-fighting chemicals include spinach (lutein targets eye-related ailments), tomatoes (lycopene fights prostate cancer) and sweet potatoes (carotenoids have been linked to longer life).

Source: here

Related Article: Can This Weight Gadget Work For You?

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Saturday, August 9, 2008

Jenn Barton lost 114 Pounds!

This young lady is simply amazing. Jenn Barton shed 114 pounds and she did it her way.

“My weight was something I was always aware of,” confessed Jenn Barton, 25, a social worker from Gorham, Maine, who spent her adolescence painfully shy and ashamed of her weight.

From an early age, Jenn avoided anything that brought attention to her weight – posing for photos, shopping for clothes or participating in sports activities - to the point where she shunned normal social activities, outings, and even the dating scene.

Growing up, Jennifer watched as her mother lost nearly 100 pounds. During this time, her mom made many attempts to introduce a healthy lifestyle and nutritious diet into the household but Jenn (along with her dad and brother) rebelled by sneaking junk food into the house.

Eventually, Jenn’s out-of-control eating affected her family relationships and chipped away at her already fragile self-esteem. She felt like a “disappointment” to her mother and family members, which only made her eat even more – a vicious cycle that took nearly a decade to mend.

Throughout that time, Jenn suffered numerous setbacks and humiliating incidents. She recalls one particularly hard moment: At 257 pounds, she ran in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure with her mother, a breast cancer survivor. At one point during the three-and-a-half mile race, which Jenn found painful and exhausting, a child pointed at Jenn and exclaimed, “Look, Mommy! The lady's so fat!” The child’s mother was so embarrassed that she swooped up the child and moved to the other side of the walking path.

“I pretended not to hear and continued walking, but it's a moment I'll never forget,” said Jen.

Jen was an emotional eater. She used food to calm her during difficult times and celebrated with food for special occasions.

Although food was her “constant companion,” it was also her consistent enemy. “I felt out of control and as though I had no choice but to eat.” Jenn was well aware of her growing size and the negative effects it had on her body, but she felt helpless to change.

Jenn thoughts revolved around her next meal or snack and she often consumed proportions meant for an entire family.

When Jenn started college, she ate cheap foods like macaroni and cheese. On a regular basis, she would eat an entire box of macaroni and cheese or a half of loaf of bread for morning toast.

Whenever Jenn tried to diet, she went to extreme measures that always backfired. She would either starve herself or take diet pills, both which ended up with her eventually gorging on her favorite foods.

With little self control, Jenn soon outgrew her clothes. “Each time I had to buy a new size of pants, I felt ashamed and horrible about myself, though I pretended that I simply enjoyed going out and getting new clothes,” she said. “I would cut the sizes out of my clothing, so that if my friends saw my clothes they wouldn't know my size.

At 257 pounds, she felt helpless and painfully alone in a constant struggle to contain her eating habits. Tired of pretending she was content, she knew she’d have to take action: “I have always been the type of person who always acts happy, even when life is painful and hard on the inside. Very few people knew how much my weight affected my self-esteem.”

"In my heart, I didn't believe I could change and some part of me truly believed that I wasn't even worth the effort of trying."

Jenn finally decided to make a lifestyle change when faced with a difficult family issue. In 2006, while her mother waited in a hospital for a lifesaving transplant, a nurse approached Jenn with harsh news:

“The nurse told me straight out I was too overweight to be considered as a kidney donor for my mother,” recalled Jenn. “As tears sprung into my eyes, I walked out of that room feeling the greatest disappointment I have ever experienced. For the first time, it hit me that my weight was not only hurting me, but also the people I cared about most.”

"I vowed to change and over the course of two years, changed my eating habits and started exercising."

For her eating plan, Jenn researched online and came up with a plan designed around low fat, low carbohydrate foods.

For exercise, Jenn joined a gym and started out with 5 minutes on an elliptical machine. She went back to the gym every day and with the support of the gym staff and other members, continued building on her progress.

Where she once feared the gym, Jenn now views physical activities as a challenge waiting to be conquered. She regularly pursues high-impact sports, such as snowboarding, hiking, marathon running and swimming. Apart from how it’s helped her appearance, it’s also provided a significant amount of energy and self-confidence.

“I can sincerely say that for the first time in my life, I am proud of myself and my accomplishments,” she said of her new lifestyle. “I enjoy feeling confident in my appearance, and not hiding from the rest of the world any longer. I continue to set goals and challenges for myself, and every day I have to make choices around my food.”

"When I donated my size 20 pants to Goodwill in favor of wearing my new size 8 pants, I cried because I couldn't believe I was wearing a single digit size. I am determined to go forward and never backwards with my weight loss. I am thankful to have the opportunity to make each day the best it can possibly be."

“I feel blessed to have come this far, and I only hope that my story can inspire one person to take the first step toward the rest of their life.”

Check out this video from NBC's Today Show!

Source: here

Related Articles:

Adina Stewart Lost Over 120 Pounds!

Sissy Lusk Lost an Amazing 215 Pounds!

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Thursday, August 7, 2008

Why Exercise When You Can Just Pop a Pill?

That's right! Scientists have now put exercise in a pill. It's a couch potato's dream.

The new exercise pill works by fooling your body into thinking it's doing exercise.

Scientists from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California tested out the new exercise pill on young adult mice, and found it to be effective.

Sedentary mice given the drug for four weeks burned more calories and had less fat than untreated mice. When tested on a treadmill, the treated mice could run about 44 percent farther and 23 percent longer than the untreated mice.

The no-exercise drug is called AICAR. Previous experiments suggest that it might protect against gaining weight on a high-fat diet.

Experts who study muscle agreed that a drug like AICAR may prove useful someday in treating obesity and diabetes. Many drug companies are working on such drugs in diabetes because in animals, AICAR stimulates muscles to remove sugar from the blood, noted Laurie Goodyear of the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

People who can't exercise because of a medical condition like joint pain or heart failure might also benefit from such a drug, experts said.

But Eric Hoffman of the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., noted that AICAR mimics only aerobic exercise, not the strength training that might be more useful to bedridden people or the elderly, for example. He also cautioned that it's not clear whether the new mouse results can be reproduced in people.

Goodyear said exercise has such widespread benefits in the body that she doubts any one pill will ever be able to supply all of them. "For the majority of people," she said, "it would be better to do exercise than to take a pill."

Sounds like good advice to me.

Source: here

Related Article: "Can A Pill Make You Thin? Fat Chance."

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Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Starting Something New!

McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss

This week has really gone by quick for me. Part of it is because for the last two nights, I've fallen asleep around 8 o'clock putting my baby down for the night. I'm usually a night owl so it's been weird getting so much sleep. Of course, I need the sleep with Brady waking four to five times every night for the last two months! Our little man used to sleep through the night - oh, but those were the good ole' days!

I started The McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss a couple of days ago. Dr. McDougall claims I can lose a half pound per day eating as much as I want, as often as I want, and never feel hungry again. Sounds good doesn't it?

My husband, Paul, has had the book for a long time and we've decided to do it as a family. It's a healthy program consisting of a starch-centered diet, coupled with moderate exercise, and one that we can follow for the rest of our lives.

The information in this book is all new to me because I've never heard you could lose weight eating a diet centered around starches (rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and legumes). In fact, I've always been told and believed the opposite. Read McDougall's Newsletter explaining why worldwide, trim people eat carbohydrates.

A study of 574 people who have attended McDougall's live-in program at St. Helena Hospital in Napa Valley, California, shows that in just eleven days overweight men (weighing more than 200 pounds) lose on the average of 8.3 pounds - that's almost a pound a day! Overweight women (who weigh more than 150 pounds) lose, on average, 4.4 pounds in those eleven days. The people who follow the program lose between 6 and 15 pounds a month, until they approach trim body weight. Most important, these results are attained by eating to the full satisfaction of their hunger drive. Everyone is encouraged to return for seconds, and thirds, if they like. They are cautioned not to remain hungry.

The book contains over 100 recipes and there are many more recipes available through his website. There are quite a few that I want to try.

I'm excited about this program! I will, of course, keep you posted.
Laura

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Kids' Meals: Contributing to the Obesity Epidemic

I certainly wasn't surprised to read how most of the kids' meals offered by restaurants exceed 430 calories - an amount that is one-third of what the National Institute of Medicine recommends that children ages four through eight should consume in a day.

The report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest looked into the nutritional quality of kids’ meals at 13 top restaurant chains (McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy’s, Sonic, Jack in the Box, Dairy Queen, Arby’s, Chili's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, Denny’s, and Subway).

Chili's has 700 possible kids' meal combinations, including one comprised of country-fried chicken crispers, cinnamon apples and chocolate milk (1,020 calories), while another comprised of cheese pizza, homestyle fries, and lemonade (1,000 calories). Burger King has a “Big Kids” meal with a double cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate milk (910 calories), and KFC has a "Laptop Meal" with 940 calories worth of popcorn chicken, baked beans, biscuit, Teddy Grahams, and fruit punch.

Subway’s kids’ meals came out the best among the chains examined in the report. Only 6 of 18 “Fresh Fit for Kids” meals — which include a mini-sub, juice box, and one of several healthful side items such as apple slices, raisins or yogurt — exceed the 430-calorie threshold. But Subway is the only chain that doesn’t offer soft drinks with kids’ meals, which helped lower the calorie count.

Six restaurant chains — Applebee’s, TGIFriday’s, Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Red Lobster and IHOP (International House of Pancakes) — weren’t included in the report because they do not disclose nutrition information about their meals even when asked, the center said.

Source: here

Related Article: Fast Food Dilemma: Order the Small Fries or Splurge on the Large?

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Sunday, August 3, 2008

Our Summer Vacation is Over

When I saw this picture, I cracked up. It pretty much sums up how I felt about the whole beach trip.

The surf was rough and the wind too strong. And for some reason, I didn't feel well. But all-in-all, we still had a good time.

Brady, of course, had fun playing on the beach. He also ate some sand and got a taste of the salt water.

After leaving the beach, we headed nearby into Morehead City to eat some fresh seafood.

We decided to go to Sanitary Fish Market, which is a restaurant

that my husband, Paul, and his family frequented when he was a kid. The food was great and the scenery was nice too. We sat at a table with a waterfront view.

Brady doesn't do well sitting in a highchair. So it was nice sitting in a corner, on a unique wooden bench, where he could stand up and look out the window while he ate.

The next day, Thursday, we drove back to Arkansas. Seventeen hours later, we finally pulled in the driveway. Oh my gosh.

It's so good to be home!

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