Archive for March, 2009
Grapefuit Diets – What is it all about?
The 12-day grapefruit diet has been one of the most popular diet plans in the past ten years. Its popularity and staying power may have got to do with the simple fact that it works. This program spans over 12 days where you will have to stick to a meal plan that has been specifically formulated for you to loose fat quickly and healthily. You can take a short 2-days break after 12 days before starting the cycle all over again. This is a wonderful diet plan as it gives you many options when it comes to portions and food choice. Unlike many diet plans, the grapefruit diet does not limit you to any specific types of food and measly food portions. I have been on this diet plan for almost 2 years now and I have never once felt the urge to binge or gorge. Here is a quick rundown of the 12-day plan.
*Breakfast 2 eggs cooked in anyway you want. Half a grapefruit or 110ml of 100% grapefruit juice (approximately one glass) 2 slices of bacon
*Lunch One whole grapefruit or a big glass of grapefruit juice A healthy serving of salad with whichever dressing that you prefer A serving of meat (any type and amount that you wish to have)
*Dinner One whole grapefruit or a big glass of grapefruit juice A serving of meat (any type and amount that you wish to have) A big serving of cooked vegetables or salad with your preferred seasoning Coffee or tea
Besides the meal formulation above, there are also some addition rules that you have to abide with in this meal plan:
You would need to drink at least 1.8 liters of water everyday, thats approximately 8 glasses of water. Water will help maintain a healthy level of metabolism in your body and will assist in burning excessive fat and losing weight.
Although the meal plan is very flexible when it comes to the amount of vegetables and meat that you should consume, try not to leave out any specific foods in the plan. The combination of foods in the meal plan is designed to help you loose weight fast and the omission of any components may disrupt the diet plan.
The consumption of caffeine has been linked to many healthy problems and one of its side effects is an increase in food cravings. As much as possible, try to avoid caffeine during this 12-day period. Deserts, white carbohydrates (bread, potatoes and white vegetables) and sweet potatoes are out of bounds in this diet plan. If you are to fry or use oil in some of your foods, use butter as it makes you feel full after a meal.
Tags: diet, diet meal plans, Health, Healthy Food, lose weight, low calorie diet, low carbohydrate diet, meal plans, protein diet meal plan, sugar buster diet, weight loss, zone diet meal plan
Slim Fast Diet: Pros and Cons
If you’d like to lose a few pounds, hopefully you’re only considering healthy weight loss programs and not fad diets. Perhaps you’ve been considering the Slim Fast program, but don’t know if it’s healthy or not. Here’s a look at the features of this diet plan that might help you make a decision.
The original Slim Fast diet was pretty basic. You replaced two meals a day with a special shake that you made up by adding the Slim Fast powder to some low-fat milk. It came in three flavors: strawberry, vanilla and chocolate. You would have one of these shakes at breakfast and another at lunch, and then have a “sensible” dinner of about 600 calories.
Since then, Slim Fast has introduced new flavors and products to its line. There are ready-made canned shakes, a wide variety of snack bars and soup mixes, which you can have a few times per day. As well, you are now required to drink eight glasses of water each day.
That’s the Slim Fast diet in a nutshell. Now let’s look at the pros and cons.
Pros: First and foremost, you can lose a lot of weight on the Slim Fast program if you combine it with exercise. The plan is easy to follow. You can take the shakes with you to work, to the gym, on the road, and just about anywhere else. There’s no calorie counting or public weigh-ins.
Cons: The Slim Fast shakes don’t fill you up, and you might find yourself craving some actual food at mealtimes. For this reason, it’s hard to stick with this diet. Vegetables and fruits aren’t plentiful on this plan, so you’ll be missing fiber and some important nutrients (although the shakes contain vitamins and minerals).
It’s certainly possible to lose weight on this plan, but given the downsides, it might be easier to use the Slim Fast products for snacks instead of meals, along with a healthy food plan. The shakes are tasty, but you won’t experience the enjoyment you get from eating actual food.
Finally, it’s not unusual for people on this diet to put back on all the weight they lost. One woman followed the Slim Fast program for a year along with moderate exercise. She lost 60 pounds. And then she gained it all back the next year. The problem is, if you haven’t changed your eating habits, and then you stop using the shakes, you’re likely to go back to your unhealthy ways.
Recommendation: Because it’s not easy to stay with this diet for the long term, the Slim Fast plan is most suited to people who only have a few pounds to lose. Someone who wanted to lose a considerable number of pounds could start with this diet to shed some weight quickly, and then switch to a healthy food plan and continue to lose a pound or two a week.
With all the weight loss plans being promoted these days, it’s difficult to pick just the right one. When you’re considering the various diets, keep in mind that some quick-loss diets will work in the short run, but are not necessarily sustainable or as healthy as changing your eating habits for the better.
Tags: diets, Nutrition, weight loss
How To Lower Cholesterol Naturally
If you need to lower your cholesterol you can always take the medication route. Doctors are usually reluctant to go down this route unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as an abnormally high or critical cholesterol reading. There is no doubt that medication works to lower cholesterol in the body but doctors prefer the individual to take more responsibility for their own well being.
Many people are encouraged to take a more active approach to lowering their cholesterol. In the long run it is better for the body to naturally lower it’s cholesterol than rely on medicine to do the job. Taking a more active role in solving the problem requires improving your diet and getting the right amount of exercise. This is obviously a bit more work than slugging back a pill each day but it can also have other benefits to the body and general health that make it a worthwhile approach to follow.
Forewarned is forearmed and knowing about cholesterol and how you can lower its levels in your bloodstream will help you to win the battle against it. You can find lots of information on foods that help in naturally lowering cholesterol levels by seeking out cookbooks that focus on this subject. Changing your diet is a natural and effective way to lower your cholesterol level. When you find good cookbooks with recipes for delicious, cholesterol lowering meals, you will be well on your way to your optimum, low cholesterol health!
Once you master the cooking methods of healthy meals that result in naturally lowering cholesterol levels and also preventing heart diseases, you will start feeling that the foods are much tastier and don’t make you feel full and bloated. The best part of eating a healthy diet is this. When you take foods containing excess fat and cholesterol, you will tend to feel unhealthy and the foods won’t taste any good as they used to.
The healthcare news media might lead you to think that naturally lowering cholesterol means cutting out all your family favorites. This is not true. You do not need to completely deprive yourself from the foods you love. Simple changes such as taking the skin off your chicken, not using cream sauces, or changing to ground turkey instead of ground beef can be extremely helpful in naturally lowering your family’s cholesterol levels.
Dieting is a wonderful method to use for naturally lowering cholesterol, but exercising just as important too. You don’t have to work out like a professional runner in a cross country race. Just include some basic exercise in your life everyday such as something easy like taking a stroll. Any kind of exercise can benefit you if you did not exercise before, but remember to check with your doctor first. Gradually build up the amount or intensity over time.
The way you feel and your appearance will improve in a short time if you have a daily exercise program that you stick to. It may be a struggle to begin but with time you will question how you could have spent all this time without exercising. Exercise gives you such a wonderful feeling and as an added benefit, you?re naturally lowering cholesterol at the same time.
Naturally lowering cholesterol involves taking control of your health on your own by ensuring that your body is provided with the best nourishment. It also means toning up your body to its full potential. Healthy diet and exercise benefits are not limited to just bringing down your cholesterol levels. You will also get an overall sense of well-being and you will feel less tired.
Tags: cholesterol, dieting, diseases and conditions, health and fitness, healthy eating, heart disease, Nutrition, Reducing Cholesterol
Why You Should Take Supplements For A Healthier Lifestyle
Many people have problems with their digestive systems that make it hard to absorb nutrients and break down the food they eat. This is a common problem, usually caused by a poor level of acid in the stomach, toxicity, or a lack of production enzymes that assist with the breaking down process. There are other causes as well.
Problems with the digestive tract can be improved quite a bit if you slowly increase your intake of nutrients. A diet that is high in fruits and vegetables is the preferred way to improve your digestion, but you may find that you need supplements as well.
The best time to take supplements is with your meals. During this time, your body can absorb the nutrients better, as your digestive system will be stimulated with food. If you are using time released supplements, you should take them with food to ensure that they move through your body at the right pace and release the proper amount of nutrients and vitamins your body needs at the right time.
Be sure to read all directions carefully, and always follow dosing instructions. This is the best way to make sure that you are getting the most from your supplements, and also the best way to avoid any harmful side affects that might occur as a result of taking too many or too few in one day.
Vitamins that are water soluble are the easiest to use, as they will pass through the body easily and quickly, and should be taken three times a day. Vitamins that are fat soluble are best absorbed if they are taken with food that contains fat. You should always take vitamins with meals, as the minerals and nutrients found in food will work with the vitamin supplements.
Supplements can be a healthy, natural way to improve and regulate your health, and do not require a doctors prescription. You should always advise your doctor as to which supplements you are taking however, and make sure that they will not interfere with any medication that you may be on.
Tags: fitness, Health, healthy, lifestyle, memory, Supplements, vitamins, weight loss
Get Creative with Personalized Easter Baskets for Your Kids
Personalized Easter baskets for kids are an exciting way to lift your child’s spirits this Easter. There’s no doubt that children and parents alike will no doubt relish in the task as they conspire together to construct a great looking personalized Easter basket for kids.
There are few concerns that you need to be aware of while making your Easter basket for kids and then personalizing it; concerns including the safety of your little one, the durability of the basket and your budget for making your Easter baskets for kids.
Number 1: The Safety of Your Children
For obvious reasons, this one’s paramount when buying the basic basket that you will in turn create your personalized Easter baskets for kids from.
The Easter egg basket is to be implemented for carrying the eggs across your garden or back yard that will be found during the Easter egg hunt and other Easter goodies that your kids might find or win.
A personalized Easter basket for your kids should not be fragile that they break when a lot of things or eggs are loaded unto them.
The capacity of the basket should not exceed the structure of the basket. Put simply, a big basket that will hold a lot of easter eggs is useless if when filled to its max will break.
Handles of most Easter baskets for kids should be able to withstand the cargo they bear since handles are typically the first to go. An additional item that should be analysed regarding child protection and personalized Easter baskets for kids are the outer rims of the basket materials.
Baskets made with bamboo, wicker or any other similar materials should be checked for splinters, cracks and breaks in the wood. These can be dangerous for children who might grip the basket too tightly and sustain injuries from them.
Sturdiness Of The Basket
Although this aspect is mentioned above, it is best to mention again how important the hardiness of the personalized Easter basket for your kids should be. How strong or sturdy a basket is, is very important as it can be reused for the next Easter or any other time that you might need a basket.
If you’ve been careful as to how much you’ve decorated your personalized easter basket for kids then you can just strip the Easter stuff off and use the basket for Mother’s Day or Valentines Day.
Number 2: What Will My Easter Basket Cost To Make
This factor plays a huge role because some baskets are more expensive than others. Choosing the personalized Easter basket for your kid can be dependent on just how much you are willing to spend.
If looking for a temporary basket that your little one can use for this one time event, go for the cheaper one and throw it away at the end of Easter.
However, if you do plan on keeping your easter basket for 2 to 3 years, and you know your little ones will be careful with it – then it is worth spending 20 bucks or so on a decent one that will be in the family for generations.
Tags: children, easter, entertainment, family, Food, friends, holiday, kids, vacation
Big Texas Steak Ranch
Somehow, that particular Ripley’s episode brings me some sort of deja vu. I had seen this place where you have to eat the whole slab in under an hour or you pay for it. The steak I mean.
Well, look no further than the Big Texan, a not-so-trendy and Western restaurant off in Amarillo, Texas. Just like me, we know it exists; we just somehow forget the name or where it’s found. Well, try and memorize, Big Texan, Amarillo.
The restaurant is a Texan icon which is hard to miss. It’s a highly prolific place, often frequented by meat lovers from different places. But this restaurant is often missed, often taken in as a legend. After all, the offer of a free meal if you finish it in under an hour is highly unlikely.
Stuffed animals litter the walls, with people eating their usual fares. A shooting gallery, a gift shop, and a photo-op outside. Looks highly normal for a western-style restaurant until you see the stage. A raised platform with a table, some salt shakers and nothing more.
Up for the challenge? You eat a 72 ounce steak in under an hour. Along with the trimmings, a salad, a potato and a bread roll. You get what you need to drink, but you have to finish it all in one hour. Finish it, and you get into the roster of the four thousand six hundred who had successfully finished the quest. Fail and you lose fifty dollars, along with the twenty seven thousand who have tried.
Do they even think about profit? Well, if you consider the figures above, it seems like they gain more than when they lose for the free meals. And let me tell you, a big slab of meat ain’t no joke. You have to be very hungry to finish the entire thing. Good luck if you take the challenge up.
Tags: directory, events, exhibits, Fairs, Festivals, Food, hobby, leisure, listings, shows, trade markets, travel
Herb Gardening at Home
Think you don?t have time to grow and maintain a garden, think again. Try herb gardening. It might not be as beautiful as a flower garden or offer up as big of a harvest as a vegetable garden, but an herb garden can add so much to your home.
There is such a huge selection of the types of herbs you can grow that it can be overwhelming to decide what to plant. My suggestion is to take a look at the herbs you regularly buy for your kitchen, take a look in your cabinet or spice rack and familiarize yourself with the favorites. Growing your own herbs can save you money at the grocery store and add so much rich flavor to the foods you cook. Some of the more popular herbs to grow included Rosemary, Basil, Chives and Parsley, but there are so many more.
One of the tricks to growing a healthy herb garden is to have good draining soil. If the soil gets too wet and stays that way for extended periods you will be dealing with unhealthy plants. If your garden is in the ground you can use crushed rock about a foot down into the soil under your garden bed, then just cover with the top soil, this will allow the moisture to drain down.
Once you?ve decided what plants you want to grow you need to decide if you will buy seeds or seedlings. Herbs are relatively easy to grow from seeds and it?s a less expensive way to garden. Some herb species are fast growing. A good example of this is the Mint plant. It can grow dangerously fast if planted in an open area. It will soon take over all the land it can. You can avoid this by planting fast growing herbs such as Mint in containers. Once your herbs have started growing it is tempting to pull some leaves, but it can be fatal to the plant if you take off too much or do it too soon. In fact it isn?t healthy for your plants at all if they are not yet well established. This can take several months of growing time. However, the wait is worth it, as your plant will be healthier and produce fragrant herbs for years.
Once the plants are well established and you have harvested the leaves you?ll want to cook with them right? After all isn?t that why you started an herb garden. You first must dry the leaves out by baking them for 2 to 4 hours at 170 degrees Fahrenheit. After the leaves are completely dried you are free to use them in your cooking. Try experimenting with the different flavors and recipes.
Herbs, once they are dried, can be stored in plastic or glass containers. Avoid using containers made of paper or cardboard as they will absorb the flavor right out of your herbs. Make sure that you store your herbs in a dry place and check them often for moisture. If they get damp it will cause mildew and you don?t want that.
Growing herbs can be a cooks dream. But even if you don?t grow herbs primarily for your own cooking, they make wonderful gifts for friends and family.
