Blog on weight, How to Lose Fat on the Cheap

The FDA announced new rules that require chain restaurants and vending machine operators to post calories for food and drinks on their menus. The rules, which have been in the works since the  Affordable Care Act  was signed into law in 2010, apply to restaurants that have more than 20 locations nationwide. Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home, and people today expect clear information about the products they consume. Making calorie information available on chain restaurant menus and vending machines is an important step for public health that will help consumers make informed choices for themselves and their families. The rules will also include labeling requirements for restaurant-style food in grocery stores, big-box stores, coffee shops, ice cream stores, movie theaters, and amusement parks. Restaurant-style foods include foods generally eaten on the premises, or while walking away, or soon after arriving at another location. ...

At parties we need to eat smart. Anytime we eat-out, parties or just dinner with friends, we can easily load up on calories without realizing it. Forget the chips and go for the vegetable tray. Try not to drink calories or at least keep it to a minimum. I avoid big meals and I don't eat late. I try to eat something small every 3 hours to prevent getting hungry. There are plenty of famous-name diets for weight loss, but none stands out from the pack when it comes to lasting results, a new review suggests. Looking at a dozen clinical trials, researchers found that three big-name diets -- Atkins, Weight Watchers and the Zone -- were all "modestly" effective over the course of a year. In studies that compared the plans head-to-head, people lost anywhere from 4 to 10 pounds, on average. Meanwhile, a fourth commercial diet -- South Beach -- was no better than traditional advice to eat a low-fat diet, the study authors said. And in the few trials that lasted two years -- a...

Get active. It's one of the best things you can do for yourself. "Exercise is an antidote to aging," says Barry A. Franklin, PhD, director of the cardiac rehabilitation and exercise labs at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI. A well-rounded routine, as part of a healthy lifestyle, may help you avoid things like falls, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Experts say many of the conditions people think are due to getting older have more to do with not moving enough. At any age, these are the types of exercise you want to get: Aerobic: good for your heart and lungs Strength training: good for your muscles and bones Flexibility and balance: helps prevent falls Don't avoid exercise because you're afraid of getting hurt or think it's too late to start. It's a good idea to talk to your doctor for advice before starting a new exercise program. If you have a condition like heart disease, osteoporosis, or arthritis, you may need to tweak your exercise...

This is an article from WEBMD, I made a few comments. I posted this because exercise is a big part of losing weight and it's the part most of us don't want to do. You can diet forever and not lose weight, if you aren't burning more calories then you eat. The gym isn't right for everyone but if you're a beginner exercising a gym membership even for a short time can put you in contact with trainers that can workout a plan tailored for you. Want to hit the gym, but can't quite seem to make it there? Your schedule might not be the only reason. If you're feeling bored or self-conscious, afraid of injury, or just plain uncomfortable, there are solutions for all of those. 1. “I’m too heavy for the gym.” Maybe you think that people who go to the gym are already in shape. Not so! The first time I went it was late morning and I thought it was a hangout for Seniors. If you're afraid that people will judge your appearance, “remember that everyone is t...

I’ve wrote about The Mediterranean Diet several times and I still think it’s the best way to eat. Yesterday I wrote about saturated fats and that minds are changing and that in moderation saturated fats aren’t harmful. Of course, everyone doesn’t go along with that, but most all research shows that the diet or the way people eat in the Mediterranean region of the world could be the healthiest diet. Inspite of body fat, these people have managed to avoid heart disease and any other types of coronary diseases. When your eating a Mediterranean style diet you won’t be counting calories. You’ll be swapping bad fats for good ones like olive oil instead of butter. Fish and poultry instead of red meat. Fresh fruit instead sweet desserts. You’ll be filling up on veggies and beans. You can snack on nuts instead of candy or chips.  The idea is to eat thinks that are nutritious, thinks that add value to your diet.  Stay away from processed foods. Eat real food and not manufactured...

If you think you can't lose weight, then read about this women who knew she had to change her life. I think everyone has come to that point were they know they have to do something. Before:  268 After:  135 The Lifestyle Andie Mitchell, 29, doesn't remember a time before she lost weight that she wasn't the biggest girl she knew. Growing up, Andie had a bit of a tumultuous childhood. Her father was an alcoholic, and when she was just 12-years-old, he passed away. In times of stress or just boredom, she turned to sugary packaged snacks. In addition to munching when she needed emotional support or something to do, her family didn't emphasize the importance of portion sizes or eating fruits and veggies—and they didn't discourage eating when you're not hungry. "I pretty much ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted," she says. When it came to exercise, Andie attempted to play soccer and lacrosse before heading to college but never stuck with them...

It’s almost Christmas and maybe your thinking about gifts. The best thing that’s going to be big this Christmas is a “fitness tracker”. More companies are making these devices this year. To name a few NIKE, TOMTOM, GARMIN and several companies I never heard of. I saw some for $59 that just track your heart-rate in real-time and are water-proof for swimmers to $229 for a do-everything model. I got the one that just does blood pressure for my neighbor. Getting and staying in shape is never an easy task, and a number of companies are hoping that technology will be the solution to customers looking to increase their fitness. While the device can’t do your exercising for you, it can collect data on your activities which may just provide you with the motivation you need to do more. Most people fail at trying to lose weight because they give up. Most people just want to lose weight, they don’t want to do all the work it takes to keep the weight off. That’s where fitness trackers come in. M...

This is a frequently asked question. "How long will it take to see results". The answer is different for everyone. If you are only 20 pounds or so over your goal weight then a 200 pound man can expect to loss about 2 pounds a week. If you're a woman who weighs about 140 and wants to lose 20 pounds then 2 pounds every week might be too much to expect. And it also depends on your age. For instance, a young woman who has had a baby recently will loss her 20 pounds faster than a woman in her late 40's who has carried the extra weight for a few years. If you have been over weight for sometime, it will take longer to lose it. So several things being considered, 20 pounds may take 2 months for a new mom to lose, or it might take a man 200 pounds age 65, one years to drop the weight. This is what you need to consider; your weight and your age, what kind of physical shape am I in? The better the condition the more exercise you'll be able to do. How motivated am I? You h...

So many of us give up on losing weight because we just aren't getting anywhere. We diet but we don't stick to it. We exercise but we don't lose any weight. Maybe you need to get serious about weight loss. You can exercise hours a day and still not lose any weight. You can cut your diet to the bone and still not lose a pound. What's your problem? I understand you just want to lose weight and you don’t care about the “How and Why”. But if you have been wondering why your having so much trouble losing weight, then maybe you need to read this.  What Is Your Pulse? And why is the important? Your pulse is your  heart  rate, or the number of times your heart beats in one minute. Heart rates vary from person to person. Your pulse is lower when you are at rest and increases when you  exercise  (because more oxygen-rich blood is needed by the body during exercise).  Knowing how to take your pulse can help you evaluate your exercise program. That's imp...

Although there is mounting evidence that muscle-strength training provides key health benefits, most middle-aged and older adults in the United States don't engage in this type of exercise, according to new research. Less than one-quarter of adults over 45 meet the muscle-strengthening recommendations set by the Department of Health and Human Services, the study found. Strength is essential for promoting health and fitness and staying independent. Muscle-strengthening activities include yoga, sit-ups, push-ups, weights, elastic bands and weight machines. In many cases, people use their own body weight for resistance during strength training. For the study, the researchers analyzed data from the 2011 U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a telephone health survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Participants answered questions about the type of physical activities they engage in and how often. They were also asked if they exerci...