Wendy's Introduce "Gourmet" Fries

In an attempt to capture a new segment of the market, Wendy's has introduced a new take on fast-food: "natural-cut fries with sea salt."

You can imagine the same wording on a fancy restaurant menu. The fries even sound healthy. But are they?

Sadly, no. Wendy's new fries contain considerably more sodium and slightly more calories than the standard ones.

As NPR reports:
Wendy's confirmed to us that the new medium sized fry goes from 350 milligrams to 500 milligrams.

The recommended daily limit on sodium is 2,400 milligrams, the equivalent of one teaspoon of salt. These fries would account for over a fifth of that.

The word "natural" in the fries' name isn't regulated by the government. It sounds healthy, but is essentially meaningless. Other words like "pure" and "fresh" are often used in a similar way. And even legitimate claims like "fat-free" are often misapplied to products which are unhealthy in other ways.

What's the upshot for dieters?

Well, if you're going to eat fries, you may find that you prefer the new gourmet ones (which cost the same as standard fries), and perhaps you'll be satisfied with a medium portion rather than a large one. But don't kid yourself that these fries are a healthy option.

Fast Food fries salt and sodium Wendy's 14 Comments RickInMiami on 22 Nov 2010

Who do you trust? The fries are still put into oil frozen that cools the oil that needs to be reheated to fry temperature. This cooling and reheating breaks down the oil releasing free radicals. Gourmet or natural they are still processed. Too bad it's another empty example of business trying to pander to the trend.

Reply ArrowSmith on 22 Nov 2010

My arteries are screaming for free radicals. Ok, I just want any excuse to gorge myself on burgers and fries!

Reply O. on 22 Nov 2010

As far as I can remember, Wendy's was the first fast food burger restaurant to offer alternatives to fried sides.

First it was the chili, baked potatoes, and salad bar which were all pretty unheard of in that industry.

Later on, I think they were the first to have large and small prepackaged salads. They also added fruit platers at one time and followed McDonalds putting yogurt on the menu.

Most recently, it was offering these sides as an alternative to fries on the value menu without an additional charge.

I went to them alot when I first started to try to "cut back" and change my fast food habits.

Reply Spectra on 22 Nov 2010

It's just like the people who go out and buy "organic" cookies and cakes and stuff because they are organic, so they must be somehow "healthier" than any other kind of cookie. Fries are fries...they're deep fried potatoes; they shouldn't be masquerading as a health food.

Reply Suds on 22 Nov 2010

I think the "natural" word on there is supposed to fool people into thinking "healthy" even though it refers to the cut of the fries and that's it.
And the Campbell's low sodium soup advertises that it's made with sea salt so people are going to now associate sea salt with low sodium.
Spectra- organic cookies must be the new Snackwells. Everyone gorged themselves on Snackwells years ago because they were "low fat" and who cares how many calories were in them, right?

Reply ArrowSmith on 22 Nov 2010

Oh god I'm stuffed.

Reply Bonnie on 22 Nov 2010

I think this is a way of cashing in on the 'foodie' craze. You're not just eating french fries - you're going the luxury route by eating gourmet fries with sea salt!

Reply O. on 22 Nov 2010

Oh I love that comment Bonnie! I hate foodies. It's like they (American ones) hate their own heritage.

Eating sea horses in China is "trendy" but eating mac and cheese is seen as "common". How do we know sea horses isn't the "common" snack in China and not gourmet?

I like gourmet, I like Kraft mac and cheese, I can make my own homemade mac and cheese. It's all good on different occasions.

Reply O. on 22 Nov 2010

I liked Wendy's original fries. They were pretty much the only other fast food fries that tasted anything close to McDonald"s awsome fries.

I mean how many places do you see people ordering ONLY fries? Mickey D's.

Reply ArrowSmith on 22 Nov 2010

Dude there's something wondrously chemical in Mickey D's fries. It's made in New Jersey.

Reply O. on 23 Nov 2010

You are so right! McDonald's fries have magical powers I swear.

Reply rupertgr10 on 22 Nov 2010

I am dying to taste them

Reply Jim F. on 23 Nov 2010

They look tasty enough...

Reply blob on 25 Nov 2010

Hooray for salt Mr Bloomberg! Seasoned, sea salt, it's all so good. Sometimes I enjoy a salt tablet before ingesting to ensure water retention. I also installed a salt lick at the dinner table to make sure I get enough.

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Diabetes to Triple in the U.S. by 2050

America, "land of the free" - yeah, free to eat whatever we want, which isn't exactly doing us any favors. Obesity epidemic, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes... lots of diabetes.

And if we don't kick our unhealthy habits, it's going to get a lot worse.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn if we continue to eat poorly and avoid exercise, one third of Americans will have diabetes by 2050.

Officials at the CDC studied census numbers and data on current diabetes trends, and made models to project future spikes in diabetes. Researchers say unless Americans change their lifestyles, diabetes could become even more common in the United States over the next 40 years.

The new report claims over the next 40 years the prevalence of total diabetes, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, could jump from 1 in 10 adults to between 1 in 5 adults, and 1 in 3 adults by 2050.

A spokesperson for the CDC said, "These are alarming numbers that show how critical it is to change the course of type-2 diabetes."

It's only 2010 and the U.S. is already mired in diabetes. In 2007, the American Diabetes Association estimated 17.9 million people were diagnosed with diabetes, with potentially another 5.7 million undiagnosed cases.

The CDC's current figures are no better. They estimate 24 million U.S. adults have diabetes, with type-2 diabetes being the most common. Poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity are major risk factors for type-2 diabetes.

But hey, the rest of the world is in bad shape, too. The World Health Organization reports 220 million people have diabetes worldwide. World fail.

Image credit: Bektvel

Health diabetes obesity 7 Comments NEMO on 23 Nov 2010

Worldwide - 5.9% of adults have diabetes

Highest Prevalence (% of population):

Island of Nauru - 30% of population has diabetes
UAE - 18.7% of population has diabetes
Bahrain & Qatar - 17% of population has diabetes
Saudi Arabia - 16.7% of population has diabetes

Highest incidence of diabetes (number in population):

#1 - India
#2 - China
#3 - USA
#4 - Japan
#5 - Pakistan
#6 - Germany
#7 - Russia
#8 - Brazil
#9 - Mexico
#10 - Egypt

Reply Berzerker on 23 Nov 2010

Highest incidence of diabetes (number in population):
#1 - India
#2 - China

So...Not percentage wise? Maybe I misread, Because any idiot can tell you that India and China each have a population of over one billion people, so saying there are more diabetics in India or China than in the US is kind of a big fat "Duh" - More people! Aren't you glad this idiot told you that?

Reply NEMO on 23 Nov 2010

You didn't misread - I specifically noted the two methods of measure of population with diabetes currently in the world. What I find interesting is the percentage of population stats - the middle east has a very high percentage in their populations!

Reply Ryan on 23 Nov 2010

Hah, the FDA/USDA have taken great measures to make sure we haven't been free to eat what we want.

Reply Spectra on 23 Nov 2010

It's not surprising to me at all. Diabetes-related problems account for about 25-30% of our lab's business. Our company's president actually said that he expects an increase in business for us as diabetes becomes more prevalent. My mother-in-law is a type 2 diabetic and is starting to experience kidney failure related to her condition. Her doctor has told her to at least try to exercise, but she refuses to do it. I don't get it--many type 2 diabetics can be almost symptom-free if they alter their diet and get exercise. You'd think that would be the slap in the face they needed to get themselves in gear, but apparently that isn't the case.

Reply ps on 23 Nov 2010

NYC today has a type 2 diabetes epidemic. Over 12% of the population. Of that 12% over 75% are on the lower socio-economic strata. We have porkers yelling for their right to eat like pigs and then have them ask for handouts to treat their self induced illnesses. Then the FDA is under assault by the "American Beverage Council" and industrial food processors. Tax processed crap the liquor and tobacco is taxed while actually apllying the cash to treatment. And by the way to the factoid posters above, islands such as Tonga and others in the Pacific have the highest obesity rates. Type 2 diabetes is close behind.

Reply kitekrazy on 23 Nov 2010

The up side is that sugar free products will be more affordable.

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What Are You Doing to Get Through the 2010 Holidays Unscathed? [Forum]

What Are You Doing to Get Through the 2010 Holidays Unscathed? By RickInMiami on Nov 23, 2010 4

It's that time of the year. Starting off this week with a BIG meal for Thanksgiving. What plans have you in place to make sure that your first New Year's resolution doesn't involve weight loss? Now's the time to be thinking about it. How about you?

RICK

Exercise & Fitness   4 Comments

Poll: Are You Blind To Your True Weight?

The mystery of why some obese people think that they look good in Lycra has been solved.

Usually a distorted body image is discussed in regards to skinny people who think they are fat.

However, a new study reveals that this works the other way too, as many obese women see themselves as not overweight.

The University of Texas Medical Branch surveyed 2200 women between the ages of 18 and 25 about their lifestyle, self-perception and dieting habits. About 25% of the women, who based on BMI were classified as obese, perceived themselves as normal.

Researchers say that this is alarming because if women don't see themselves as having a problem they are unlikely to eat healthy and exercise. Women aren't alone in this area as other recent studies noted that obese men often see themselves as normal also.

Do you struggle with a distorted body image or know someone that does? Participate in the poll and comments below.

Source: Fox News

Do you have an accurate perception of your body?

Yes No I do now, but didn't in the past. View results

Body Image Psychology polls 8 Comments Spectra on 23 Nov 2010

Oooh, I love the new format!

Anyways, on to the subject--Yes, I have an accurate perception of my body, but society does not. I get told all the time that I am "WAY too skinny", even though I am at a NORMAL body weight and have a normal body fat % (it's on the lower end of normal, but it's normal). I know of several people that are obese that think that they are just overweight and plenty of overweight people that think they are just normal. Vanity sizing has something to do with it, I think--after all, if you aren't in "plus sized" clothes, you aren't obese, right? Yet most women that wear a size 14 are pretty overweight in my opinion.

Reply O. on 23 Nov 2010

I like to say that vanity sizing is like paper money... it only means something if enough people get together to agree to give it a certain meaning... otherwise it's worthless.

The people who got together to give it a meaning are the same industry that has been selling and sizing clothing for often at least 1 decade prior to the vanity sizing craze.

It's like this, the more people you can sell to the more money you can make.

I think this term "vanity sizing" is the industry that praises skinny models way of getting revenge on the fact that they are at the mercy of thicker people with money to spend.

Reply O. on 23 Nov 2010

I was at the website of a woman that makes medieval costumes the other day. She said on her website that any potential client of hers must be a size 18 or smaller otherwise she cant't make a costume for them.

Why? I don't know exactly. I doubt she is making the cut off at 18 just for folly and at a loss of pontential business.

There is "bigger" and then there is someone who needs two airplane seats.

And that is what I think it is about. When you are too big to get the outfit you want or sit on a plane like a normal person.

I'm not going to make an issue out of someone who could loose what weight they need to in 2-3 months!

Do you really want to put someone 90 days aways from being treated with dignity?

Reply Berzerker on 23 Nov 2010

I was anorexic as a teen, and considered myself fat if I dared got into triple digits as far as weight ('m 5'5"). These days, if I measure over 35/25/35 I consider myself fat. (Sad as it sounds, that's a step up from my ana years.) So, in a way I can't help but envy people who are okay with themselves although they need to lose a few. It sure beats the hell I've put myself through.

Reply ralphfie89 on 24 Nov 2010

that's too much fat

Reply bijou on 24 Nov 2010

I'm disappointed when the scale shows 100 lbs and thrilled when it shows 99 lbs. I'm 5'1"-5'2".

Reply Pater Rolf Hermann Lingen on 24 Nov 2010

I have similar experiences as Spectra:

3 Ways to Avoid Overdoing it This Holiday Season

Can a single meal trigger a heart attack?

According to researchers, a huge meal similar to what many eat at Thanksgiving or Christmas, can actually set the stage for a heart attack, in those at risk for heart disease.

The study of 1,986 heart attack patients in 2000, suggested that an unusually large meal quadrupled the chance of having a heart attack within the next two hours.

Dr. Lopez-Jimenez said this,
Overeating should be considered as a heart attack trigger, much in the same way as extreme physical activities and severe anger episodes may cause an MI... People at risk for a heart attack should be careful not only about the total caloric intake they eat every day, but the size of individual meals as well.

So, if you tend to eat way to much at this time of year, here are 3 ways avoid overdoing it this holiday season:

1. Downsize Your Serveware
Most people will eat everything that is pilled onto their plates, regardless of whether it's more than they need to feel satisfied. So, eating from a salad plate is a good way to control this.

Studies have also shown that people eat as much as 56 percent more when they serve themselves from a one-gallon bowl, rather than a half-gallon one. So, if you plan to serve your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner from large bowls in the centre of the table, try using smaller serving dishes, as a way to encourage everyone to eat a little less.

This idea works with glassware, too. Large gobblet-shaped glasses can hold up to one third of a bottle of wine. However, people fail to realize just how much alcohol they are consuming from these supersized glasses.

If you drink alcohol, limit your intake to just one small glass of wine. As for juices and soft drinks, they are simply empty calories -- you would be better sticking with water, and saving up the calories for something tastier later on.

2. Portion Control
As an extra way to check that your food portions aren't too big, here are some guidelines: fill half your dinner plate with non-starchy vegetables, then one quarter with starchy carbs, and one quarter with lean meat, or alternatives.

3. Indulge -- but just a little!
Personally, I enjoy dessert way too much to avoid it. If you are the same, pass on the drinks pre-dinner, the bread roll and butter with your entree, and also that extra scoop of potatoes at dinner. Then you can easily enjoy a small piece of cheesecake, guilt-free and without too much sacrifice.

If all else fails, and you end up eating enough to feed a tiny country, get back on the healthy eating handwagon right away, and then get some exercise. There's no point slacking off just because it's the holidays. When you do that, you set yourself up for a long slippery road back to where you were pre-vacation. It's not worth it!

So, what are your tips for surviving the holiday season without gaining those dreaded extra pounds?

Image source: falconreid

Food 14 Comments Berzerker on 24 Nov 2010

Could always try fasting for Thanksgiving - By giving up food for the day (Or at least most of), it makes you realize what you take for granted, and thus feel truly thankful. I've told several people this and they either ignore me or think I'm crazy - Figures.

Reply Melanie Thomassian R.D. on 25 Nov 2010

That would certainly be a unique way to approach the holiday. I don't fancy it personally, though!

Reply Spectra on 24 Nov 2010

I don't plan on overdoing it at all this year. I usually do what I normally do--fill about half the plate with salad and take a tiny serving of all of my absolute favorites (green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, turkey, and a little bit of cranberry sauce). I share a piece of pie with my husband and drink a cup of coffee with cream and sugar for dessert. It's a nice meal, but I don't pig out or anything.

Reply Dennis Blair Fort Collins Personal Trainer on 24 Nov 2010

You know, why is it that every year these common sense tips are always offered but never followed? We always hear about portion control, but since it is the holidays, we just tell ourselves it will be okay!

Reply Melanie Thomassian R.D. on 25 Nov 2010

Yes, and then wonder where all the extra fat came from!

Reply ArrowSmith on 25 Nov 2010

Yeah tell it our poor, overstressed bodies that it's a holiday.

Reply Bethany on 24 Nov 2010

Love the site's new look!

Reply Melanie Thomassian R.D. on 25 Nov 2010

Me too!! :)

Reply Auden C on 24 Nov 2010

Is it really that terrible to indulge for one day, especially if it is a cherished holiday? If you do not want to, more power to you. But for those dieters who love partaking in a family meal, or specifically enjoy Thanksgiving, why not have one day where you can have both cocktails and a slice of cheesecake? Think of it as your 'free' day. Checking the anxiety at the door will go a long way towards your mental health, and towards finding a balanced approach to eating, as opposed to cycles of binging and restriction. Maybe reduce calories in the days leading up if you are that concerned. For me, what has always worked is allowing myself to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas but showing restraint at the endless procession of holiday parties. 6 weeks of fudge trays, rhubarb pies, mashed potatoes, egg nog, etc. is what kills most people's waistlines, I think, not a slice of pumpkin pie and an extra scoop of mashed potatoes one day a year.

Reply Melanie Thomassian R.D. on 25 Nov 2010

No I don't think it is. But, overdoing it can send some people off on a downward spiral. And, the reality is that for many people the overeating is constant from Thanksgiving right through to New Year, with so many parties and family get togethers.

These tips can be applied all over the holiday season, not just on one day of the year.

Reply Larry Scott on 25 Nov 2010

Thanks for the nice article. I think that weight gain is the major concern of most people during this festive season. One simple way to avoid overeating during the holiday season is to firstly opt for veggies and healthy salads. It will ensure that you will eat less of high calorie foods on your second trip to the kitchen. Also, try to exercise a bit more to burn off the extra calories that you consumed during the holidays.

Reply ArrowSmith on 25 Nov 2010

So what are the details of the study? 2000 perfectly healthy people had heart attacks after having an "unusually large meal"? Or were it high-risk people who had this meal and that's what triggered it? Really if you're gonna have sensationalist articles like this, please back it up with more concrete facts.

Reply Melanie Thomassian R.D. on 25 Nov 2010

Hi ArrowSmith,
I've added a bit more detail to the article. The findings were reported at one of the American Heart Association's Scientific meetings. I've linked to the Medscape Medical News coverage of it in the article now. They reported that people at risk for heart disease were 4 times more likely than others to suffer a MI after eating a large meal.

Reply ArrowSmith on 25 Nov 2010

You would think those people would be extra careful with portion control.

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Aerobic and Strength Training Good for Diabetes Control

Diabetes is a pretty big deal -- with rising obesity it has become the epidemic of this century. 23.6 million children and adults in the United States alone are affected (7.8% of the population). Add another 57 million (give or take) who have pre-diabetes, and we have a crisis on our hands that is projected to triple by 2050, and cost over 3.3 trillion (with a "T") by 2020.

It's now pretty common sense that exercise does improve blood sugar control in type II diabetics, however most studies focus on singular exercise interventions.

But, a study from the Journal of the American Medical Association examined the effectiveness of both aerobic, strength training, and combined aerobics and strength training protocols when it comes to haemoglobin A1c levels (a measure of how much sugar is sticking to cells and hence a good predictor of long term elevated blood glucose). Here are the details.

Study Parameters262 men and women with type II diabetesAverage age 56 years9 month exercise programAverage Hemoglobin A1c levels 7.7% (normal levels are 4-5.9%)41 participants were assigned to the non-exercise control group; 73 to resistance training sessions; 72 to aerobic exercise sessions; and 76 to combined aerobic and resistance training.Study Results

Hba1c Levels

- 0.34% combo group- 0.16% strength training only- 0.24% aerobic training only

The control group actually increased its use of diabetes medications, while the combination training group decreased its diabetes medication use.

Weight Loss

All exercise groups reduced waist circumference (.75-1.1 inches)The resistance training group lost an average of 3.1 lbs of fat massThe combo group lost an average of 3.7 lbs of fat massFor Best Results: Diversify

If I could describe your diabetes action plan in the most basic of terms it would be clean up your diet, move, and lift. In other words, do a combo and stop ordering combos!

Make better nutritional choices by drastically reducing refined/liquid carbs and overall calories, strength train at least two times per week, and get your heart rate going through cardio activity and/or metabolic strength training. Also, keep yourself moving when you aren't doing the above.

Image credit: stevendepolo

Science cardio diabetes strength training 2 Comments xenastar on 25 Nov 2010

maintaining your weight into healthy range will help also help you to control your diabetes

Reply Spectra on 25 Nov 2010

This is very true--my MIL is diabetic and never exercises. But I know another woman who also has type 2 diabetes and is off all her meds because she walks/jogs and lifts weights regularly. It can make a huge difference. That's part of why I stay active--diabetes runs in my family and I plan to avoid it at all costs.

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People Who Handle Your Food Work Sick

Have you ever actually found a fly in your soup? I haven't. I've seen it in cartoons, but in real life? No, never.

Unless you're eating at an outdoor café in Calcutta, you're probably safe from rabid winged pests.

But apparently food service workers are a bigger threat to your dinner than Musca domestica Linnaeus; a new study says many food restaurant employees go to work sick, and don't get sick days.

The survey, conducted by Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, a national organization representing restaurant workers, found two-thirds of restaurant workers go to work when they're sick. Oh fantastic!

It gets worse. Nearly 90% of these brave souls serving our food do not get paid sick days and 60% do not receive any health insurance.

Sorry folks, that's just wrong. But, in the United States we have a bizarre dynamic. If you button up your white collar and don't have health benefits it's a travesty, but if you punch a clock. Oh well, get a real job loser!

In the report, a lady working in the food service for 30 years talks about being really sick one day. She had a bad cold with all the trimmings: runny nose, sneezing, cough, and a fever. But she couldn't call out, she needed the money.

However, later on she asked her manager if she could leave. She was too sick to carry on and was coughing up a storm and didn't want to make the customers sick. So her compassionate manager said, "Try not to cough, then."

Now that's classy! Listen, that can't happen. People who handle your food or who take care of sick people need special allowances, for the sake of public health. And if it requires a doctor's note, fine, so be it.

If I go out to eat and someone on death's door serves me my food, I'm going to be ticked off, so any self-respecting restaurant owner should be on high-alert for that sort of thing...same goes for doctors and nurses too.

Image credit: TheEmoSurfer

Fast Food Weird food preparation food safety healthcare 11 Comments O. on 14 Nov 2010

My dad went to an old coworkers house for lunch a few months ago. I guess he had never been to the guys house. Well anyway my dad politely ( naw, probably not!) declined to eat because the guy pet his dog then went back to cooking without washing his hands.

Reply O. on 14 Nov 2010

By the way, as a former retail worker I know that that going out in public sick thing works for customers as well as employees. I'm having flashbacks of all the Christmases I caught someones cold.

Reply Bonnie on 14 Nov 2010

A friend of mine worked in a buffet style restaurant where if you came in sick they would put you at the register. The idea was that at least you weren't handling the food, just breathing (& coughing & sneezing) into customers' faces.

The restaurant industry really needs to give sick time for employees, since they don't pay enough for them to be able to miss work.

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How Much Do Fast Food Companies Spend on Advertising?

Never underestimate the power of screaming child. It's like nails on a chalkboard, only a gabillion times worse.

Most parents can barely stand their kids, especially if they're throwing a tantrum. Make them stop, make them stop!

That's why advertising to kids is so successful. It taps into the nag-factor. Why argue with a 5-year old, when you can just give them what they want and be done with it.

Fast food companies know this all too well, so they've stepped up advertising to children.

The report, from the Yale University Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, found the fast food industry spent over $4.2 billion on marketing and advertising on television, Internet, social media sites, and mobile applications in 2009.

Researchers say despite pledges by fast food companies to improve their marketing practices, advertising to kids is on the up tick. Ha! Ask businesses to act responsibly? Oh that's rich!

Additionally, the experts claim preschoolers see 21% more fast food ads on television than they did in 2003. Older kids see 34% more. Figures show McDonald's has thirteen websites, attracting 365,000 unique child visitors under 12 every month, like Ronald.com.

In Europe, they've tightened restrictions on marketing to children, which is a good thing. Kids are way too naïve and impressionable. They don't know that McDonald's is unhealthy, loaded with salt and fat. It's not fair.

Then again, to be totally honest, I haven't seen too many TV commercials hawking fast food to kids anymore, more web ads than anything else. Maybe they're on kids' channels. I'm not a Sponge Bob fan so I wouldn't know.

Image credit: DBessolo

Big Business Teens and Kids advertising childhood obesity fast food 5 Comments Ninja Techniques on 14 Nov 2010

Totally not surprised, though. Companies love marketing to kids because of all the $ involved, but I wish they would show some restraint.

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Huge Chocolate Christmas Tree Created in France

Christmas: traditionally a time for festive decorations, and festive gluttony. Both have been combined by Patrick Roger, a French chocolatier, who has created a ten-meter (32-foot) Christmas tree... made out of chocolate.

The tree took a month to create and weighs four tons.

Mr Roger spoke of the difficulties involved, and said:
To achieve this kind of architecture - because this really is a piece of architecture - we used a sort of cavity inside to make the chocolate solid enough, because there is very strong vertical pressure.

The tree will be dismantled and given away in return for donations during France's Telethon (a charity event supporting neuromuscular disease research), which runs on December 3rd and 4th.

With four thousand kilos of chocolate, the giant tree contains over 20 million calories - that's over 25 years' worth of calories for an average person.

Image: The Telegraph's video

Weird chocolate Christmas 2 Comments Anya on 29 Nov 2010

Yes. And? I guess this must be a slow news day on the diet front. It's a piece of chocolate art made to raise money... it is not a statement of health or diet for petes sake.

Reply Spectra on 29 Nov 2010

I think it's awesome. Most definitely a fantastic exhibition of chocolate art and engineering.

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Weight Watchers Points Plus

Weight Watchers have overhauled their points system and come up with a completely new program - called Points Plus (or Pro Points in the UK).

The previous Points formula (started in 1997) took into account Calories, Fiber grams and Fat grams. The PointsPlus formula uses Protein, Carbohydrate, Fiber, and Fat grams.

Weight Watchers have spent a number of years testing the new program (at the Medical University of South Carolina among other places). According to Weight Watchers the trials resulted in "an improvement in behaviors that help people maintain weight loss and a reduction in the desire to eat when there's no physical hunger or need for food." (src).

Critics of the previous Points formula claimed that it did not accurately differentiate between more nutritionally dense foods, and "empty calories". This is due to the heavy weighting of Calories over other nutrient measures.

When we have a 100-calorie apple in one hand and a 100-calorie pack of cookies in the other, and we view them as being "the same" because the calories are the same, it says everything that needs to be said about the limitations of just using calories in guiding food choices.

Google Street View For Weight Loss Motivation?

I love a good weight loss success story. And, here's one a little different from the norm....

When Bob Mewse, aged 56, saw an image of himself side-on via Google Street View last November, he was stunned at just how out of shape he looked. He commented,

I'd been thinking about losing weight for some time but after seeing that picture, I knew that I actually had to do something about it. I was in such bad condition that I was unable to walk and talk at the same time.

So, after viewing the image, he drastically changed his diet of cakes, potato chips, biscuits and takeaway foods, for healthier foods like salads, fruits, fibrous vegetables, and protein-rich foods. He also started working out three days per week.

The Result?

15 Smart Tips You Can Try Now

Some of what's been swimming around in my head lately;

Moderation: It's probably less than you think it is. In general, I advise against buying into the extremes of nutritional philosophy. The answer is usually somewhere in the middle. Kick yourself in the comfort zone - try things you haven't before - attack your weaknesses in the gym and in regards to what you put down your pie-hole. If the world of dietary claims and opinions needs one thing, it's context. It is hasty to label things as "good" or "evil" without the proper context. There is a fine line between skepticism and closed-mindedness but there is an equally fine line between open-minded and gullibility. 2 things I could do without: Celebrity gyms and single-food diet experiments.Don't forget your D's! My hemisphere is approaching winter. There's a 95

Poll: Paleo Diet - Cult, Fad or Solution?

This past decade the paleo dieting trend hit the mainstream teaching it's followers to reject our modern diet and embrace one from 10,000 years ago.

Since Loren Cordain's popular book many other versions of the paleolithic or ancestral diet have emerged, but is this old way of eating really necessary to our survival as humans or is the paleolithic diet becoming more like a religion?

Leigh Peele recently wrote a very extensive article exploring the Paleo Diet phenomena. In this article she looks at the diet of the paleothic era, the lifestyle of that era, and discusses whether or not it's truly beneficial for us to try to return to that way of eating.

She also discusses how the paleolithic diet has even begun to form somewhat of a cult or religious philosophy among it's followers.

Peele brings up some good points that I tend to agree with. Why would we want to follow a diet that our "relatively stupid" ancestors followed? Surely our bodies have evolved along with our minds.

What do you think? Is the paleo diet a solution to obesity or is it a fad or even a new cult? Participate in the poll and comments below.

What is your opinion of the paleolithic type diet?

It's a solution. It's a fad. It's a cult. View results

Diets paleolithic diet polls 32 Comments

Alcohol and High-Energy Drinks Don't Mix

After a college freshman ended up in hospital, Washington has become the fourth state in America to restrict the sale of Four Loko - a canned drink with high levels of alcohol and caffeine.

Experts say that the combination can be deadly. The high caffeine levels can make drinkers feel less intoxicated than they really are, often leading to excessive drinking.

Some students mix high-energy drinks with hard liquor, creating their own concoctions; others buy pre-packaged products.The Independent reported on the contents of one of these, Four Loko:
One can has about the same caffeine as a six-pack of Diet Coke. Four Loko's drinks contain 12% alcohol and are packaged in 23.5-ounce cans - that is reportedly equivalent to drinking almost an entire bottle of wine.

Sure, alcohol and caffeine isn't a brand new combination, rum and coke has always been popular. But excessive levels of caffeine and alcohol can lead to tragedy. New York are considering banning these drinks after a girl died.

If you enjoy drinks with mixers:

Avoid high-caffeine mixers, like Jolt and MonsterIf you're dieting, remember that liquids contain calories too. Alcohol contains seven calories per gram, and energy drinks tend to be packed with sugar (around four calories per gram).Keep an eye on your alcohol intake. Some mixed drinks taste deceptively un-alcoholic.

Image Credit: jameskm03

Health Alcohol Caffeine 9 Comments Ann on 17 Nov 2010

This is kind of ridiculous. One of these drinks alone won't hurt you, the problem is binge drinking kids. Are they planning to ban red bull and vodka? How about Irish coffee?

Reply

Sida Cordifolia

is a weight loss herb which is considered as a weaker alternative to the more effective yet dangerous Ephedra

Posted by Jane   on August 12, 2009
Under Weight Loss Herbs

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Proactol

is a popular natural fat binder that prevents the digestion of up to 28% of fat in your food

Posted by Jane   on August 14, 2009
Under Fat Binder Reviews, Product Reviews, Slimming Pills

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Baloney and Marshmallows For Lunch

Supermarkets are scary. Just stand in line and watch what people buy, it's startling. Blue yogurts, canned meat, and "fruit" flavored breakfast cereals.

Nasty stuff, right? Now, most people don't pay attention to other shoppers, but I'm a jerk. I take mental notes so I can pass judgment. Try it. It's a lot of fun!

Last week, I was at the store, minding my own business - not really - and watched some lady buy quite the lunch for her kids.

So this lady gets in line behind me and she's yammering on her cell phone, not even a regular one, it was one of those pseudo Secret Service ear pieces, for people who are wildly self-important. "Red team go! Red team go!"

I was ignoring her until she said, "I'm just picking up lunch for the kids." There's nothing wrong with that, until I noticed what she was piling onto the conveyor belt: sliced white bread, packaged baloney - not even the fresh stuff - and a bag of marshmallows. Wow, major parenting fail!

Listen, I'm not a parent. I don't want kids. I don't even like children. They're annoying and they smell. But how can you slap a piece of baloney between white bread and call that a meal fit for a child? The answer is, you can't.

I don't even want to know what the marshmallows were for. If she puts them on the sandwich, Child Protective Services need to be notified.

Her kids will probably grow up and be some of those annoying people who, at 35 years old, still only eat three things and pout about trying new foods.

Image credit: Warner Video

Teens and Kids Weird parenting sandwiches 22 Comments Karen on 6 Nov 2010

ahahahahah My boyfriend and I do the same thing when we go to the grocery store! lol We look at people and their purchases and makes wild guesses. For example "no wonder she is the size of an elephant..." or "they are obviously having taco night..." or "...she must be having a bunch of people over for dinner..." etc We don't always make negative comments, we just like to people watch and try to guess things about people. It is amazing what you can learn about a person by looking at what they buy at the grocery store.
My brother works in a grocery store and sometimes I shop at his store. He is not allowed to ring me through the till but his coworkers can. He has told me that his fellow employees always comment to him about my purchases. "That was the most vegetables I ever rang through the till.." its pretty funny.

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Sprinkle Crystals on Your Food and Lose Weight

Is it just me, or are diet aids getting more and more weird?

We've had "Le Whiff" - chocolate you inhale. And now, the latest upcoming craze is crystals.

Tiny crystals that you sprinkle on your food. Doesn't sound too appetising, does it?

The crystals, called Sensa granules, enhance the smell of food, meaning that it tastes better (smell can count for up to 90% of what we experience as the "taste" of a food). They were developed by the neurologist Dr Alan Hirsch (from the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago) back in 2008.

The Sensa website claims that:
By enhancing smell, Sensa Tastants were designed to help speed up the process and trigger your "I feel full" signal, so you eat less and feel more satisfied.

Sensa is currently on sale in America, costing $59 for a month's supply of the crystals. Other countries are expected to start selling them soon. Dieters are enticed by the promise they can carry on eating exactly what they already eat, without counting calories or exercising: the only change is that they sprinkle Sensa crystals on every meal and snack.

Some experts, however, are sceptical about the use of Sensa as a diet aid. Dominic Dwyer (a neuropsychologist at Cardiff University in the UK) said the idea behind Sensa was sound, but warned:
A mouthwatering smell from food can simply make us eat more. This stuff would have to be very carefully used.

What do you think? Would you pay $59 a month to sprinkle tiny crystals on your food? Would you be satisfied with less food if it tasted really good?

Weird dieting sensa 3 Comments

What's the Best Diet to Retain Muscle? [Forum]

What's the Best Diet to Retain Muscle? By asahlieh on Nov 9, 2010 5

I am 22. I am 6' tall and weigh 320lbs. I am out of shape (obviously) but i have a decent amount of muscle from my lifting days. Im trying to get down to 220 as soon as possible (approx. 11-12 months). What is the best diet to burn fat, and retain muscle? I run 20 min a day and lift. my BMR is 2824.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!

Food & Recipes   5 Comments Dan S. on 11/09/10

I have lost about 110 pounds and have 70 or so to go, what you are asking is highly individual, what works for me might not work for you. Over the last year I have played around with diet and this seems to be the balance that works for me:

Paying With Cash Means Less Junk Food

Who pays with cash anymore? Today it's all about plastic. Heck, even gentlemen's clubs have ATMs. Not that I know first hand. I've just heard they do.

But maybe we should break out the dead presidents again, because a new study says when you pay with cash, you're less likely to buy junk food.

I bet the vending machine industry has known this for years. Their dirty little secret, "If you build it, they will buy."

Published in the Journal of Consumer Research, scientists found people are less likely to buy unhealthy foods when they go grocery shopping if they pay with cash, instead of those evil plastic credit or debit cards.

When analyzing the shopping carts of 1,000 United States households over six months, researchers observed shopping carts contained more impulse buys or junk food when people paid with credit or debit cards, and not cash.

The researchers called cash payments "more painful than card payments." Painful is the perfect word for it. Buying junk food with plastic is easier to swallow, so encouraging people to shop with cash could help them develop better shopping and eating habits.

Its really tempting to over-shop when you're not paying with cash. When you put your toilet paper, generic vodka, and orange juice on the register, it's easy to grab a Snickers bar. You're money seems limitless. Just deal with it when the bill comes.

I haven't gone grocery shopping with cash in years. If I went to pay and ran out of cash, I'd have a stroke and drop dead on the spot.

Image credit: South Park Studios

Health junk food vending machines 5 Comments Maggie on 9 Nov 2010

Husband and I made a decision about six months ago to use cash for groceries because it seemed our grocery budget was creeping upward and we have goals to meet - namely paying off our mortgage in the next five years (20 years ahead of schedule). To do that means we live on a tight budget and groceries are a generous column item (we buy almost all organic), but it was creeping up.

When he gets paid, I take the grocery budget, put it in an envelope and that's what I use - I know exactly how much I have and guess what? We stay within budget!

It has nothing to do with junk food versus healthy food - we already eat healthy and did before - junk just doesn't come into our house. For us it's that I am much more conscious about sticking to the list and picking up things on sale over buying stuff whatever the price. I now look at the price and if, say, red peppers are outrageously priced, I'll sub green peppers or change menu plans for something else that is within the budget.

We do the same thing for eating out - we don't have a defined number of nights in a month we'll eat out, we have a defined eating out budget we work with and since we eat healthy, eating out with cash, within the budget means just once or twice a month - but it's incredible food and we savor the treat to eat out!

Reply blob on 9 Nov 2010

Using actually cash instead of atm's or credit makes you keenly aware of what you are spending. Add to that a monthly food budget and you will be amazed at how frugile you will become.

I highly recommend looking into Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover." It will not only change your financial fitness, but you will become prudently aware of what you are spending on food. You may even drop a few pounds while incorporating Dave's tenets into your lifestyle.

Maggie is right, the envelope system is simple and genius.

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Poll: What's Your Worst Diet Excuse?

It seems that it's part of the human condition to make excuses for things.

Excuses why we were speeding, why we didn't have our homework, why we're broke, and of course, why we're fat or unhealthy.

The Mirror.co.uk recently published The World's Worst Diet Excuses. They list the excuse, why it is just an excuse, and what can be done to "beat it".

I think this list is good food for thought because it challenges the thinking and the excuses people have told themselves for so long that they believe they are true.

Which of the 10 dieting excuses have you been guilty of making now or in the past? Participate in the poll and comments below.

Image Credit: FreakingFitness

What's your worst diet excuse?

1. Diets don't work for me. 2. Regular meals are impossible. 3. I have wheat intolerance. 4. It's my hormones. 5. I've got a slow metabolism. 6. It's my medication. 7. It's in my genes. 8. I'm big boned. 9. It's water retention. 10. I suffer from insomnia. View results

Diets diet myths polls weight loss 11 Comments

Is Medifast Suitable For Someone With PCOS? [Forum]

Is Medifast Suitable For Someone With PCOS? By Dana on Nov 11, 2010 1

In addition to a new healthy lifestyle and eating habits, my doctor suggested that I try medi fast, which I'm willing to try. I have PCOS, which among other issues, causes me to have a problem with insulin resistance. I was able to achieve a healthier lifestyle and the motivation in need to continue it by taking the prescription drug Meridia. In 15 weeks I lost 33 pounds.

My question is, I've been educating myself about what my body needs to maintain a healthy weight. With PCOS, the body sometimes has trouble using insulin properly and converting it to energy. The GI diet is the best for people with PCOS and it discourages consumption of any artificial sweeteners, which I no longer eat.

The only Medi Fast foods that don't contain something lab created or artificial is the soups. I looked at nutritional facts, and the products have maltodextrin, acesulfame potassium, corn solids, hydrolized chemicals..... There have been medical studies showing that artificial sweeteners may actually cause insulin resistance. Is this "diet" ok for me to try?

Weight Loss   1 Comment Bonnie on 11/11/10

I have PCOS too, and it sounds like you're eating right for it: stay away from simple carbs like sugar and refined flour. I wouldn't use Medi Fast products, though. The very best thing you can do to improve insulin resistance and help stabilize your blood sugar levels is incorporate exercise into your life. You didn't mention what exercise you're doing, and I think your doctor would have done better by you to recommend that first.

Try looking up books written by Dr Elizabeth Vliet, such as 'The Savvy Woman's Guide to PCOS.' She has good information about PCOS and lifestyle changes we can make to improve our health.

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How Veg-Friendly is That Subway Knife?

I like Subway. It's the only fast food I eat. I haven't stepped foot in a McDonald's for over five years. It's nasty.

Subway's "eat fresh" works on me. You can see right in front of you what's going into your food - not too many secrets. Who knows what animal parts lurk in a McRib?

But one thing about Subway creeps me out, the knives they use to cut the sandwiches. They use the same knife to cut every sandwich. I think that's weird.

Here's why. I don't eat meat - yeah, I know some of you get annoyed when I say that, blah, blah, blah - so I only order a Veggie Delight; no cheese, no cold cuts, only vegetables, oil, and salt and pepper.

I don't have any religious or ethical reasons for not eating meat. I just think its healthier, period. But let's say you're not like me - lucky you - and you have strong moral objections to eating meat. Wouldn't you be upset if someone halved your veggie sandwich with the very same knife they just used to cleave through a half-pound of roast beef and melted cheese?

Listen, I know vegans. And they'd sooner cut your throat then let you touch their food with a knife that got within a 50-foot radius of any animal. Okay, before I get slammed, that's an obvious exaggeration. Calm down.

But you get the idea. Personally, I've never made a stink about the knife, mostly because I haven't seen my knife used on anything gross, like mayonnaise or bacon, but who knows what happened before I got there. Ugh, I don't want to think about it.

I don't know if Subway has an official knife cleaning policy, and I've never seen an employee balk at using any particular knife - or wash them for that matter - but as trivial as it may sound, isn't that dangerous?

Whether or not you consider an enraged vegan dangerous is one thing, but what if someone is allergic to stuff left on the knife?

Image credit: New York Post

Food Weird fast food Subway vegan vegetarian 24 Comments Lana on 30 Oct 2010

That is a health hazard. Imagine that tuna salad sandwich they just made was rotten and nobody noticed, next they move on to make your sandwich with the same knife, then you get sick. You should get the health inspector in there. There are all kinds of proper food handling policies about when to change utensils,how often to wash them etc. They are obviously violating those rules and procedures that are in place for a reason.

Reply Cupsi on 31 Oct 2010

I don't know how it is in the USA but in Australia here they use the samge gloves to make everything, and they've touched meat! I avoid ALL fast food because of cross contamination. I only eat something that wasn't packed on a restaurant premises!! Tgat way I can be a true vegetarian!

Reply pretty on 1 Nov 2010

you can always ask them to change the gloves and wash the knife. they always do it for me. and it should'nt be problem for u either.

Reply Cupsi on 1 Nov 2010

But all the lettuce, tomato etc in the buckets have already been touched by gloves (that have already touched meat)

Reply LOL on 2 Nov 2010

Get over it....your veggies have also been walked on by bugs, pissed on by animals and splattered with blood with the harvesting combines.

Reply

McDonald's Employee Sues And Wins

We've all seen (and raised an eyebrow at) news stories of customers suing fast food manufacturers for making them fat.

But here's a new one: an employee of McDonald's has successfully sued the company because he gained weight while working there.

The unnamed employee of a McDonald's branch in Brazil, blamed the company for his weight gain on the grounds that:
His job requirements included taste-testing food (due to frequent "mystery customer" inspections).
He was provided with free lunches - but no healthy options.

He started working for McDonald's at the age of 18, weighing a healthy 154 pounds. After twelve years, he'd gained 65lbs.

Judge Joao Filho ruled that the company should pay $17,500 to the employee. They have the right to appeal, and are reported to be considering their options.

Frankly, I'm amazed he won. A gain of 65lbs in 12 years is around 5.5lbs per year, which isn't an excessively rapid gain. If the employee had previously had a fairly active lifestyle in school, he might well have gained just as much weight by taking up a sedentary desk job.

Whether you think it's a crazy example of litigation gone mad, or a story about McDonald's getting what they deserve, this opens up debate about how much responsibility employers have for their employee's health.

If you work in a company with limited, or unhealthy food options, are they to blame if you end up overweight? If your job involves sampling foods, what measures should your employer take to ensure that this does not affect your health?

Weird fast food mcdonald's 15 Comments LOL on 2 Nov 2010

From the linked article:

The plaintiff said that because McDonald's hired undercover customers to randomly visit restaurants and report back on quality, he felt forced to taste everything on the menu to ensure the food was up to par. He said he was also given free lunches of burgers, fries and ice cream, which contributed to his excessive weight gain during the course of employment.

A) he wasn't required to taste food, but felt compelled to?

B) he was provided free lunch, which includes all menu items, so his choice to eat just the crap is McD's fault?

Given the very tiny award (less than $1500 a year) I think it speaks volumes that the judge felt sorry for the dude and wasn't really all that harsh with McD's

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New Law Basically Outlaws Happy Meals

San Francisco is usually a laid back kind of town; hipsters, peaceniks, folk singers, stoners, and whackos, all living together in perfect harmony.

But on Tuesday, San Francisco passed new legislation that isn't so lovey-dovey, at least not for local fast food restaurants.

"Kid's meals" can no longer be sold with toys unless they meet specific nutritional standards; standards that may threaten McDonald's Happy Meals.

On Tuesday, with a veto-proof vote of 8 to 3, San Francisco officials passed a law that would allow restaurants to give away toys with kid's meals only if the meals have less than 600 calories, contain fruits and vegetables, and include drinks with no excessive fat or sugar. The law takes effect December 1, 2011.

The first thing that comes to mind is McDonald's Happy Meals. Since 1979, when Happy Meals were first introduced, McDonald's has used the kids' meal, specifically the free toy, to directly market to kids.

McDonald's might not state it that frankly, but come on, we all know what those cheap plastic "made in China" toys are really for - "Mommy I want McDonald's!"

Here's a Happy Meal commercial from 1979, in Klingon:

San Francisco officials say the law is designed to help combat childhood obesity; hard to argue against that. But McDonald's isn't happy about it. A spokesperson for the company said they are disappointed with the new law, and called getting the free toy in a Happy Meal "part of a fun, family experience."

No doubt, a law like this is one of those evil "progressive" initiatives so many Americans are scared of. And yes, it is very big brother-ish. And yes, it is the government putting the screws to private industry. But, are there any other solutions out there? We have a lot of fat kids! Just look!

Would You Work Out At Madonna's Gym?

I guess we shouldn't be too surprised, but the ageless (except for her hands) superstar has announced the opening of her new line of fitness centers - "Hard Candy Fitness" (Seriously?! - better than Sweet and Sticky I suppose?)

It makes sense that someone who keep as fit as Madonna would have an interest in a fitness venture. At 52, Madonna is FIT - and has always taken her health very seriously.

The new chain will open its first location in Mexico City on November 29th, and there are plans to expand to Brazil, Argentina, Russia and other locations in Europe and Asia.

So besides the fact that it's "Madonna's gym", what does "Hard Candy Fitness" (cringes again) have to offer?

The venture is a partnership with the 24 Hour Fitness people, which means we will likely see a cookie-cutter gym with Madonna's name and a few higher-end frills. (Trying not to be harsh, but the very same thing happened in my city with a high profile Canadian hoops star).

The 30,000-square-foot club will have a children's book center, a fashion line, a spa called La Isla Bonita, and a day care center (Like a Virgin).

Back up a second...

...I'll get over "Hard Candy Fitness" eventually, but I can't even begin to explain how wrong it is to call your daycare center "Like a Virgin". What's next? A children's clothing line called "Material Girl"? Oh wait...

The gym will also include a fruit bar center, a bike studio, cardio equipment with individual viewing screens and various types of dance fitness programs in the form of Zumba, Latin Moves and Cardio Kickboxing. These types of classes are popular at the moment and I suspect they will stay on top of the hottest group exercise trends.

How much will this set you back? "Not as much as you might think" - according to the managing director (source). I guess that's code for, "yup, it's going to be overpriced but not as ridiculously exorbitant as you might have expected".

I should be thankful Madonna doesn't train with Tracy Anderson anymore and isn't going into business with her. I can just imagine touring that gym; "This is the weight room... here are the 1 lb dumbbells, the 2lb dumbbells and over there are the heavy one's - the 3 pounders - careful with those ones!"

The gym will be equipped with some of the more well-known cardio and strength training brands such as; Hammer Strength, PreCor, Nautilus, Hoist, StarTrac, Free Motion, AbCoaster, and TRX suspension training. I'm more interested in how many squat racks, benches and free weights they have, but they are appealing to the higher-end masses presumably - those who like the bells and whistles.

Things I would hope NOT to see in Madonna's GymA woman's only sections called "No "Guy's" The fruit bar featuring "Vanilla Ice" smoothies. The snack bar selling a terrible version of American PieTrainers that have fathered Madonna's children.TV's featuring any of Madonna's movies.

In all seriousness, it will probably be a neat experience and have some "flare", which most clubs don't have. I prefer the bare-bones iron-heavy set-ups, with lots of floor space, but I'm usually in the minority there.

With Madonna's international appeal, it could be a recipe for runaway success. As Mark Mastrov, Madonna's business partner in the venture says; "Madonna's touch will be everywhere".... I'll leave that one alone!

Would you workout at a "Hard Candy" center?

Celebrities Exercise celebrities gym 5 Comments Alex on 31 Oct 2010

Every Madonna intitiative i hot.

Reply David on 31 Oct 2010

I think that Madonna gets a huge return on whatever she tries to do. This gym idea is something that would intrigue people because it is something that worked for her, and we are talking about someone who has stayed ahead of the trends since the 80's. I loved your list of things you would NOT want to see in here gym though classic!

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Weight Loss: A Very Cool Solution

Take a curious ex-NASA scientist and a forward-thinking pop culture author, and the result may be a revolutionary (and perhaps a bit uncomfortable) weight loss method.

Using the laws of thermodynamics, Ray Cronise has hypothesised that strategic exposure to cold will accelerate weight loss. He credits this method for his 30lbs weight loss in 6 weeks.

Says Cronise; Our body temperature remains constant and it takes a lot of energy to keep it that way, no different than heating your house... I treated my body like a thermostat... to see if I could run up the utility bill and get the furnace (my metabolism) running at full blast. Source

A seed of curiosity was planted in Cronise upon hearing of Michael Phelp's prolific caloric intake. It dawned on him that it was the cold water forcing Phelps to fight to keep its temperature.

Using swimming and something called thermal loading, where the body is exposed to cold in various ways, Cronise applied some old military research and found that he could lose up to four pounds a week. Techniques include ice baths and chugging ice water.

Therein lies a paradigm shift - while traditionally we think of heating the body up to induce a metabolic boost - Cronise suggests focusing on cooling it down.

The theory will come to fruition in the form of a book by "The 4-Day Work Week" author Tim Ferris, where Cronise is a case-study and contributor. Among Ferris' extensive research, he discovered a technique that uses temperature manipulation to improve fat loss by 300 percent.

Bring on the Skepticism Dr. David Katz, founder of the Integrative Medicine Center and professor at Yale University, had this to say about the concept; Being cold is uncomfortable. Frankly, if people are willing to be that miserable to lose weight they might as well try eating well and exercising.

A valid point and one of the best quotes I've heard in a long time. And while the old military research offers some reason to be optimistic, most of it focused on keeping weight on soldiers and not weight loss, per se. I haven't seen a clinical trial with a control group to support the anecdotal experiences of Cronise.

Moreover, I live in Canada - I'm cold here 8 months of the year. The last thing I want to do after coming home from a cold rainy day is soak in a cold tub, or crush glasses of ice water.

So while the theory makes complete sense, I still recommend guarded optimism - sounds like a potentially moderately helpful adjunct strategy, to the standard eating better/less and exercising more. At best I would say this strategy is evolutionary, rather than revolutionary.

Would you try this out as a fat loss method?

Image Credit: horiavarlan

Science Weird weight loss 9 Comments Lana on 1 Nov 2010

It makes sense. I know a few of bodybuilder that will keep their house colder than normal just to get that extra calorie burning before a competition. It coul dbe dangerous though I can imagine some idiot getting hypothermia because he/she decided to try doing it improperly.

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Dad's Fatty Diet May Give Daughters Diabetes

Your old man can give you a lot of things: his hot temper, his big hairy feet, his old broken down Buick - but diabetes?

Apparently so, if you're a girl.

New research found male lab rats eating a fatty diet increases the risk of their female offspring developing diabetes.

Sounds like a bizarre form of mousy nepotism.

For the study, published in the journal Nature, scientists fed one group of male lab rats a fatty diet, and another group a normal diet. No surprise, the rats on the fatty diet became obese and diabetic.

Then they gave the rats a booty call, hooking the boys up with girl rats of normal weight. After 13 weeks, the female offspring of the obese and diabetic rats began showing symptoms of diabetes. Eek! I mean, squeak!

The researchers say the obese dad's sperm may be affected by their metabolic change, and is somehow being transferred into their offspring.

I bet it happens to humans too, but it's probably more nurture than nature.

Odds are if your dad sits down to a big breakfast of steak, eggs, bacon, and sausage every morning, and you grow up thinking there's nothing wrong with that, and regularly nosh your own lumberjack breakfast, you're probably going to run into some health problems later in life too.

My old man eats Cherrios with chocolate milk, sprinkled with sugar, luckily I missed that habit. Then again, I'm not a chick!.

Image credit: USA Today

Food Weird diabetes fat 8 Comments musajen on 3 Nov 2010

The conclusions here are laughable. Mice are herbivores first and foremost. Fat is a miniscule component of their natural diet. What do you expect when you jack them full of something not typical in their diet? It's going to impact their health and infuence factors in their offspring.

Let's feed a mouse a diet contrary to what it is naturally adapted to eating but blame it on the FAT. Fat is not the problem here. A diet unnatural to the subject is the problem.

We see plenty of evidence of this in society today with humans eating a grossly unnatural diet. We can't even name half of the stuff going into processed foods and, anthropologically speaking, we're adapted for a whole foods, hunter/gatherer type of diet.

Reply Zoran on 3 Nov 2010

Hi Musajen, I think you missed and you hit the point at the same time. I guess the thing is that high fat diet is not natural to us, just as it's not natural to mices, but to a different degree ofcourse.
Today we are eating food more than enough to preserve our bodies. We often eat some food only cause it tastes good. Now, I don't say it's wrong, only some of us overdo it and get different response from their bodies then others.

Reply

Backyard Chicken Coops: Good Idea or Not?

The issue of whether or not urban centers should allow backyard chicken coops has sparked an ongoing debate in my neck of the woods (insert "crying foul" joke here).

Vancouver city council recently amended an animal control bylaw, making it legal to keep chickens on many more residential properties. Residents who own land of less than an acre are allowed up to 4 hens in their backyards.

Other urban areas in the US have already approved such a by-law including New York, Seattle and Portland.

Here are some of the stipulations that come with owning chickens;

Coops must be between four square feet and ten square feet in size, and cannot be kept in front yards or on apartment or condominium balconies.Other fowl such as roosters, ducks and turkeys are not allowed, and eggs produced by the hens cannot be sold commercially.When hens reach the end of their lifespan of up to six years, they cannot be killed by the owner, but must be taken to a slaughterhouse or veterinarian for slaughter or euthanasia.Backyard Coops: The ProsUrban sustainability: fresh, locally grown eggs can reduce carbon footprint.Good for communities and families as an educational tool.Instil discipline in children.Backyard Coops: The ConNoise: backyard chickens can produce noise and in smaller quarters neighbors may not appreciate it.Odour: (yes I'm going to use another "foul" joke).Disease: we had a run of avian flu a few years back and the little critters can spread disease.Urban predators: chickens may attract coyotes, foxes and other geographically-specific predators.

Where do you come out on backyard chicken coops?

Image source: laura_zz

Food Media Watch backyard chicken coops free range chickens 15 Comments Robert on 4 Nov 2010

And this is their idea of progress.

Please, proceed to disguise the descent into mediocrity, poverty, and socialism... as increased "sustainability." It's clearly fooling us all.

Reply

Grasp This Painful Truth to Improve Your Health

You want to be healthier, fitter, happier -- that's why you're here, right?

Recognizing the importance of good health has a lot to do with seeing the "bigger picture." So, what is the real secret to improving your wellbeing long-term?

I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all way to do things, but here is one very simple fact you definitely need to understand...

Nobody is responsible for your health, but you!

The sooner you realize that, the better.

There are many things in life, which you simply cannot entrust to others. And, although you may try to delegate the responsibility of your health to diet gurus, health professionals, even your employer, or the government, ultimately you are the only person who can take care of that problem, and do it right.

So, next time you go to make an unhealthy lifestyle choice, remember that your actions will always have a consequence -- the choice to do/ or not do something is made by you alone.

Rather than viewing this responsibility as a heavy burden, though, see it as something that you can do, change, and accomplish. It's a gift -- feel empowered by it!

Image source: nkzs

Health health 4 Comments Cupsi on 5 Nov 2010

"So, next time you go to make an unhealthy lifestyle choice, remember that your actions will always have a consequence"

Just vomit the food up

No bad consequence necessary

Reply Nicole

Does Progesterone Cause Weight Gain? [Forum]

Does Progesterone Cause Weight Gain? By Emma123 on Nov 5, 2010 3

I visited my doctor last week for an annual check up and she said my hormones were out of balance. She decided to give me a prescription for progesterone. I have heard about his drug causing weight gain and anxiety but i don't really know what to believe, as my doctor assures me I will have no side effects. When i was on a similar drug earlier this year, I gained a substantial amount of weight (but I was also not exercising regularly either).

Should I be wary about weight gain with a new drug, and if so how can I combat it (if that is even possible)?

Weight Loss   3 Comments

How Can I Separate Emotions From Eating? [Forum]

How Can I Separate Emotions From Eating? By doctordaffodil on Oct 26, 2010 13

So I realized that I take out many of my emotions such as stress and anxiety out on food. I want to lose 10 pounds but it is very difficult because I am an emotional eater who tends to resort to restriction that is followed by a binge.

I am looking for ways to separate my emotions from my eating habits and lose weight in a healthy way. Does anyone have suggestions? Thanks!

Weight Loss   13 Comments carolyn on 10/26/10

pray to GOD

Reply

5 Ways to Overcome Gym Shyness

Are you shy when it comes to working out at the gym?

Deep down you may even know there's no reason to feel like that, because making positive changes in your life is commendable, and you're doing it for you, and you only!

It can, however, be difficult to overcome this shyness, if you're the type of person who worries about what others think of you.

Self-esteem and confidence issues can really eat away at you, and even stop you achieving your fitness goals.

On the Diet Blog Forum we recently had a sharepost from someone who simply cannot stand working out in a gym, because they feel everyone is judging them.

Our Forum users have given some really great advice, and I thought it would be good to share...

Here are some of their suggestions for overcoming gym shyness:

1. Start At Home
"I suggest you just buy weights... lift them everyday, then once you don't feel below everyone else, go to a gym. The other way, I would suggest working out at home. If you have a treadmill, run on the treadmill for a decent amount of time everyday." Subjectdc

"I started walking in the evenings when less people would see me. I'd add more and more each day. I also bought all the Biggest Loser DVDs and did them at home, until I got to a place where I felt more comfortable going to the gym." April

2. Enjoy The Journey
"The keys to physical success are this: 1. Get there! 2. Find a good workout and someone to show you how to do the exercises correctly. 3. Believe in the workout you are doing... so far there is no one way to get there. Enjoy the journey and make it fun and as exciting as possible. Stimulate, recover and grow stronger and better everyday. Be proud of who you are. You could be at Denny's or sucking on a cigarette. If you are at the gym, you are already respected by the gym goers!" Jim

3. Exercise At Non-Peak Times
"Pick a gym that caters to an older crowd... and exercise in the early a.m. hours, when the people working out are there to exercise, not to find a date for Friday night." newscctv

4. Get A Personal Trainer
"I also got a personal trainer and still have a personal trainer. People say "that must be expense", I say maybe, but I am worth it. Having the trainer kept me coming back, still does. Get back to the gym and keep it up. Good luck to you. Walk in that door with a smile and positive attitude that you are there for you, your health, your energy, your well being. If the others do not like this, they can go jump!" Les

5. Stop Thinking People Are Judging
"I was fat at one time in my life, now I am fit. I like seeing people in the gym trying to better them selves. A lot of people you see that are fit in the gym started off were you were. Don't think people are judging you." Scotty123

"No one is judging you at the gym. As a avid gym goer of normal weight, I find it encouraging when someone takes the step to improve there health. 99% of people in the gym either don't notice others, or will think, "I'm glad you are here." Sally

Do you have something to add to these tips -- how can someone overcome gym shyness?

Image credit: mrsmas

Exercise exercise tips gym 4 Comments

What the Right Foods Can Do For You

This may seem rudimentary to the point of ridiculousness, but good food does good things to the body.... I know, I know, and water is wet.

This study caught my attention for the fact that it's a unique "tweener" as far as studies go - not looking at specific nutrients of foods and yet not a tremendously large and convoluted mess, like the Nurses Health Study.

Instead, this study - headed by Inger Björck, professor of food-related nutrition at Lund University - looked at the health effects of a diet with multiple foods that are thought to reduce inflammation. Here are the study's details;

Study ParticularsForty-four healthy, overweight people between the ages of 50 and 75 took part in the diet study.For four weeks they ate foods which are presumed to reduce low-grade inflammation in the body, a condition which in turn triggers metabolic syndrome and thus obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The test diet was high in antioxidants, low-GI foods (i.e. slow release carbohydrates), omega fatty acids, wholegrain products, probiotics and viscous dietary fibre.Examples of foods eaten were oily fish, barley, soy protein, blueberries, almonds, cinnamon, vinegar and a certain type of wholegrain bread.Study ResultsLDL cholesterol was reduced by 33 percent.Blood lipids reduced by 14 percent.Blood pressure reduced by 8 percent.A risk marker for blood clots by 26 percent. A marker of inflammation in the body was also greatly reduced, while memory and cognitive function were improved. Some ThoughtsThe study results make sense as these are healthy, largely unprocessed foods that have been shown to possess health benefits individually.It would be hasty to conclude, however that this group of foods is the optimal way to eat as any dietary change is usually a vast improvement to the average persons dietary habits.I would be willing to bet that other dietary patterns may be equally (or at least competitively) as effective as the pattern they chose - so long as calorie consumption was kept in check. A control group of some sort would be warranted to give this study a bit more credibility. One of the highlights of studying clusters of different foods is that it helps take the emphasis away from single food "cures" that runs rampant in "superfood" products.I'm curious to see what kind of weight loss the participants experienced.

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Diets Science healthy eating 4 Comments

How Can I Convince My Friend Not to Diet? [Forum]

How Can I Convince My Friend Not to Diet? By Pano Halvah on Oct 25, 2010 2

I visited a friend today for a beer. Unfortunately he just started a very strict diet. I tried to explain to him the bad things about it (e.g Metabolism).

He agrees with me, but still will continue what he does. Any ideas to convince him otherwise?

Weight Loss   2 Comments

Who Else Has Stopped Buying Diet Books?

Recently I carried two large bags full of diet books to the local secondhand store. The walk alone must have burned off at least 12 Calories. I had everything from low-budget self-published stories, right through to bestsellers like the South Beach Diet and other imitators.

I could not help thinking about how little difference these books have really made. Some are well-intentioned self-help guides, while other books are little more than money-grabbing fluff.

How many diet books grace your shelves (or Kindle, or iPad...)?

Over the past 6 years publishers have been sending me books to review. At first it was interesting - but after a few years I hit a fatigue point. The temptation to fall into cynicism was difficult to resist - there was very little new insight being written.

Most publishers would time their release date to a few days after Christmas - the "diet season". About 6 weeks later most of the books would be gathering dust on bookshelves nationwide. Despite this every year a plethora of books hit the market, and, to be brutally honest, most are the same information rehashed over and over.

The age of the "in" diet seems to be over - either that or what is "hot" falls into an increasingly shorter and quicker cycle.

To be fair there are many very interesting books that come out that offer a useful or passionate angle on diet and weight loss - but these are a minority.

There is a season for everything

I've noticed that what's popular in dieting is almost cyclical. Older diets can come back into vogue as if they were a new thing. Or older diets simply keep bringing out new editions every few years.

What the bestseller list tells us...
A perusal of Amazon's diet bestsellers shows us:

Paleo Diets are currently on the menu (Paleo Solution, the Paleo Diet, the Primal Blueprint). Props go to Mark Sisson author of the Primal Blueprint - he keeps an excellent and passionate blog.Rehashed versions of old favorites keep coming - the New Atkins, and South Beach Diet Supercharged.And... (yes the cynicism is back) - slim blond women are good at selling books...

Do You Still Buy Diet Books?

Books Diets 9 Comments Anya on 26 Oct 2010

None. I've never subscribed to them or their view of healthy living.

Reply

Chris Voigt's Potato Only Diet

In what's been dubbed "a bizarre PR campaign," Chris Voigt, director of the Potato Commission, has been eating only potatoes for 25 days (and aims to reach 60).

Chris's aim is to prove that potatoes can be part of a healthy lifestyle. But is such a limited diet going to make him ill?

Chris is highlighting the nutritional content of potatoes, although counted as a "starch" not a "vegetable", they are rich in several vitamins and minerals:
Voigt hopes his pro-spud stunt will educate the public about many healthy aspects of the maligned potato: an inexpensive source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, and with the skin left on, dietary fiber.

The monotony of a potato-only diet would leave most of us feeling incredibly bored with our food, even with seasonings allowed. Chris claims to be enjoying himself though, with some innovative recipes like "potato ice-cream" and "potato lasagne".

Twenty days in, however, he posted about some of the psychological difficulties of the diet on his blog:
It was just one of those days where you really wonder what the heck you're doing. While I know I love potatoes, it was hard to keep eating them. I hung in there but I was the star of my own little pity party yesterday.

Chris has lost some weight on the diet (he's a few pounds overweight), finding his daily 6.5 pounds of potatoes so filling that he can't always finish them. He insists that he won't suffer any ill-effects from living off potatoes alone for two months.

What do you think - is this a crazy diet, or a genius PR stunt? And, if you could only eat one food item for sixty days, what would you pick?

Weird diet potatoes 12 Comments Ann on 26 Oct 2010

I wonder if he's including a multivitamin in this? And it sounds from this post like he must be including SOME other foods - how is it potato lasagna if there is only potatoes in it? There must be cheese and a sauce? Otherwise it's a stack of potatoe slices. Or mashed potatoes?

Reply Ann on 26 Oct 2010

I apologize for the Quayle-reminiscent moment ... I think I was originally going to say "stack of potatoes" but then opted for "potato slices" without fixing my spelling.

Reply Ryan on 26 Oct 2010

It's actually not so crazy. Potatoes, though not generally thought of as nutritious because of their association with French fries, are actually quite so.

I would gladly go on a pure grass-fed raw milk diet. The Mayo Foundation actually used to do this as a sort of cure-all. Whether it works is up for debate, but it is abundantly clear that a pure raw milk diet will at least keep you alive perfectly well by itself.

Reply

What Exercise Can I Do With Shin Splints? [Forum]

What Exercise Can I Do With Shin Splints? By Lizardlip18 on Oct 28, 2010 2

Im almost 18 and im 5'8" and I weigh 191lbs. I run at least twice a week and walk almost every evening and do ab workouts. But I've gained weight. I used to weigh 150lbs until I was taken off of my A.D.D. medicine which helped control my hunger as well as help me pay attention. I've gained 41lbs in a year and I just keep gaining more weight.

I want to lose weight before college but im having trouble finding ways to help suppress my hunger and when i find something that will possibly help me lose weight I have trouble sticking to it, especially since my scheduel is so screwed up.

Can anyone please give me advice on how to handle my hunger and lose weight. Also Ive just recently gotten shin splints in both legs and so whenever I run or do too much with my legs they feel llike they are about to explode. My boyfriend says I should just ignore the pain, but I dont want to mess up my legs forever.

So if anyone has any way I could get cardio without running I would appreciate you sharing that, and if you think i should ignore the pain then tell me that too. Thanks.

Weight Loss   2 Comments Caroline on 10/28/10

I've struggled with shin splints since high school and used that as an excuse as to why I didn't jog or run. Like you, I gained some weight over the years and am currently working to get it off. But with shin splints, what are you supposed to do?

1) STRETCH. Stretch your legs a lot. Here are the stretches I do:
-sit on the floor with your legs out in front. Point your toes and lean forward reaching for your toes. Then, one leg a time, flex your foot and reach again. If you can, grab your toe and GENTLY (VERY GENTLY) pull back a little bit. Sometimes, just grabbing the toe will apply enough pressure to create a good stretch.
-Stand facing a wall, about a foot away. Standing on one leg, prop your toe of the other leg against the wall, heel against the floor. Lean towards the wall. You should feel this stretch in your calves and shins. Switch legs and do this again.

Also, I've found that your speed will affect your shins. You have to build up the muscles in your legs that support the area of your shins in order to get rid of the shin splints (this was told to me by a trainer and has worked for me). I use a leg press machine twice a week at a gym and I use one leg at a time on the machine. But I only put my toe on the press and push off with the ball of my foot. Obviously, only 5 pounds of weight are used. Going back to speed, if you use a treadmill, the fastest I walk is at 3.7. The fastest I jog is at 4.8. Any faster and I can feel my shins tighten up.

I've also found that ignoring the pain and "pushing through it" is dangerous. This has caused me to have such bad shin splints that I had to be carried home. Don't do that.

Also, ICE YOUR SHINS DOWN EVERY TIME YOU WALK OR JOG. Even if they don't hurt, apply ice afterwards for at least 20 minutes. This has helped me out tremendously.

Two months ago, I couldn't walk two miles wihtout my shins acting up. Yesterday, for the first time in my entire life, I jogged for half a mile straight. And my shins felt fine.

Good luck!

Reply Doug on 10/28/10

I've had problems with shin splints in the past, usually after a long break of not running. For me, they go away after one or two days of getting back into it, but if you continue to have the problem, there are tons of great alternatives.

- Swimming
- Biking
- Rowing
- Any low weight/bodyweight workout circuit (ie 50 pushups and 50 pullups for time)
- Barefoot running may also help

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Moving Unhealthy Food Is Better Than Banning It

An intriguing study from Cornell University found that strategically re-positioning food in school cafeterias is a formidable strategy for encouraging healthier choices.
Healthier, more visible and more "cool" was the idea behind the strategy, which aimed to improve the eating habits of school-aged children.
These findings are the result of six different studies with more than 11,000 middle and high school students. (Source)http://sixpacktrainingmethods.blogspot.com/
Here are some examples of how the changes made a difference;In one set of schools, the study found sales of fruit increased by 100 percent, when it was moved to a colorful bowl.Salad bar sales tripled when the cart was placed in front of cash registers.In other schools, creating a speedy "healthy express" checkout line for students not buying calorie-dense foods, like desserts and chips, doubled the sales of healthy sandwiches.Ice cream kept in a freezer with a closed, opaque top, significantly reduced the amount of ice cream taken.Moving chocolate milk behind plain milk increased sales of plain milk.CommentaryI have to say I really like this idea - not only for schools, but in homes and offices as well. The out-of sight, out-of-mind, out-of-mouth strategy is certainly universally applicable.This study echo's the results of Brian Wansink's 2006 study, which found that office workers ate fewer candies when they were in opaque rather than clear candy jars on their desks. And, even fewer when the opaque jars were six feet away from their desks.This kind of strategy is also far more appealing than the idea of "banning" foods. People still have options, they just have to look for them.
I hope they implement this kind of strategy in schools across the nation. It's certainly a very economical way to guide youth towards making healthier choices. To quote Chris Wallace, food service director for the Corning, N.Y. School District, It's not nutrition until someone eats it. You need to have foods that kids will eat, or they won't eat -- or they'll eat worse".

Image credit: packedlunch
Psychology Teens and Kids healthy eating school lunches 1 Comments John on 28 Oct 2010
In Junior High we had a choice of either going through a salad bar, or going though the main lunch line - many people chose the salad bar (it was easier to get through).
When I went to the high school, if you wanted a salad you had to write your name down on a sheet of paper before school started, and it would be made for you; I asked why they didn't have a salad bar, the only response was "Not enough interest, we only get two names on the signup sheet as it is".
If the high school had a salad bar, like the junior high school did, then they would have had a large turnout for it - but instead they chose to make it difficult for the students to eat healthy.
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I Need Help Losing 130 Pounds [Forum]

I Need Help Losing 130 Pounds By bri323 on Oct 28, 2010 4

i'm only 15 years old and i'm in desperate need of help losing weight. at first i didnt feel fat because i dont look it, cause im mixed with black & white. i have a huge butt (i wear like a 18 i think). but i have other things too like a stomach and some thighs. but i want to be rid of them. i weigh 224. thats too huge. and im very self concious. i dont take being mean to me well so please be nice.

i need tips on losing like 130 pounds as quick as humanly possible. i want to be at the very least 100 pounds and at the very most 129. i hate being huge. the only reason my weight caught my attention is because only two and a half years ago at this time i was 180. i'm only 5'6.5. so i know that i'm really huge. people at school have even brought it to my attention that i'm getting bigger, even my boyfriend, but he said it in a nice way. please help me out.

i thought about vomiting and the whole laxative thing but i dont know the outcome. different people say different things. i dont feel the whole exercise thing going on in my life cause i never have time for anything. and i dont eat that much. oh and i'm on the birth control depo shot if that helps anything.

Any suggestions???

Weight Loss   4 Comments whattyathink on 10/28/10

... first check with a doctor for a complete physical, ask for his/her advice on weight loss and whether there are any underlying issue to consider. If you get any advice other than consult with a physicial first don't follow that advice because whoever is giving it to you is just blowing smoke.

... at 12 years of age I weighed 212 lbs. I was basically lazy and my parents ran a small store. I loaded up on chips and icecream and that's all she wrote.

... at 16 I had enough and started to increase my exercise, I cut out the sweets but continued to eat regular food. I cut all my servings in half.

... at 25 I was healthy enough to join a police force where I stayed for the next 37 years. I am now 62.

... I'm still heavy but according to my doctor will likely make it to 90. Blood pressure is excellent but I recently decided to cut out all extra salt. Took it off the table and never put it on food.

... I am still healthy enough to enjoy my four grand-daughters.

Good luck

Reply Stephanie on 10/28/10

First, like 'whatyathink' said, you need to check with your doctor and get a physical.

Second, you do not need to lose 130 lb. For a 5'-6" person, the recommended weight range is 120-159 based on frame size. Trying to get to 100 lb is unrealistic and will just make you unhappy in the long run.

Third, please don't try to lose the weight "as fast as humanly possible". Everyone I know who has lost weight quickly always ended up gaining it back because they didn't change the way they were eating and working out on a permanent basis.

I lost over 50lbs (from 190 to 135), but I took nearly two years to do so because I wanted to do it in a way I could maintain. I have now been at this weight for over two years and am still maintaining.

Please talk with your doctor and set up some realistic goals for yourself. I think aiming to lose 10% of your bodyweight (approx. 22lbs) is a good starting point. It may seem daunting, but every little step helps and you will eventually get there.

Just remember you are beautiful no matter your size and losing weight will never solve all your problems.

Good luck!

Reply Bonnie on 10/28/10

I'm going to agree with the others and say see your doctor. If you don't have access to a doctor can you make an appointment with your school nurse? Wanting to weigh only 100 pounds for a 5'6" person is unhealthy, as Stephanie says. A nurse or doctor can help you formulate a realistic plan. Try focusing on shorter term goals. I lost 100 pounds, and I did it by focusing on 5 pound increments. When I was at my heaviest, even 10 percent seemed like a long ways to go, but 5 pounds felt manageable. Good luck.

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Poll: Is a 2 Year Old Too Young to Diet?

It was recently reported in Parentdish.co.uk that a mother started her daughter on a Calorie restricted diet at the ripe old age of two.

She explained that she didn't want her daughter to grow up and look like her, weighing 238 pounds. This story is sure to create some controversy as it beckons the questions of how young is too young to diet and how much Calorie restriction should be considered child abuse.

Aly Gilardoni started her now 8 year old daughter on a Calorie restricted diet when she was just a toddler. She continues to only allow her daughter to have 700 Calories a day which is well below what is recommended for a growing 8 year old.

The daughter says she doesn't want to be a fat child and grow up to look like her mother. The mother still eats whatever she wants snacking on junk food after the daughter goes to bed. Gilardoni was even quoted saying,
"I feel some guilt about having treats, but Corleigh's not bothered. I'm glad I've trained her. I want her to grow up happy and do things I never did. When I look in the mirror I still see a huge, monstrous woman. Corleigh's not so under

Super Slim Pomegranate

A Chinese herbal slimming supplement that claims to suppress hunger and burn fat. So what are its ingredients? Does it work? and What are the side effects?http://slimmingpillsreview.blogspot.com/

Yerba Mate

is a weight loss herb similar to tea and coffee but without the unwanted side effects associated with caffeine

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The Diet Rule Experiment

How do you know which diet regime is right for you!

Posted by Jane   on August 15, 2009
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Garcinia Cambogia

extract HCA is a herbal weight loss ingredient found in many popular herbal weight loss products
Posted by sean  on August 16, 2010 Under Weight Loss Herbs
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Damiana

is a herb that can aid weight loss when mixed with other weight loss herbs

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Lipozap

What is ? is a non-invasive procedure developed by MedAesthetica Medical Group inc. that claims to reduce fat in specific fatty area of the body without any surgical procedures involved. is said to have minimal side effects and needs barely any recuperation time. But, there are sceptics who feel that may not be a long term solution for people with obesity problem.

Procedure Overview can be used on any part of the body. procedure involves the use of the VelaSmooth anti-cellulite machine, infrared heat and radio frequency (RF) waves. The VelaSmooth device massages the skin and the heat and RF waves break down the fat cells under the skin. This procedure is followed by administering a fat-dissolving drug called Phosphatidylcholine is to the patients.

Does work? claims that four sessions are usually enough to deliver results. However, some users who tried reported little or no change after the procedure.

Side Effects

Many people who tried said that they felt slight discomfort during the procedure but no pain. However, most of them reported soreness, intolerable pain and some disfigurement for many days after the operation.

Is worth trying? may work to temporarily get rid of some bulges. However, negative customers’ reviews and the fact that does not improve your health or provide a healthy approach to long-term weight loss make lower the value of .

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Mothers Underestimate Influence On Their Kids' Weight

A survey of 1,037 women has uncovered a knowledge gap when it comes to certain weight issues - including their influence on their children's weight.

Here are some of the findings of the survey - conducted by HealthyWomen.

Not surprisingly, most respondents know that obesity leads to an increased risk for health problems, such as high blood pressure (93%), type 2 diabetes (89%), and heart disease (88%).Less than one-third of the women, however, know that obesity is associated with increased risk of colon cancer (26%), gallstones (30%), and breast cancer (23%).While 87% of women believe a parent's obesity affects a child's risk of becoming obese, only 28% assign that responsibility to themselves.Only 11% of respondents know that a child's risk of becoming obese more than doubles if the mother is obese during her first trimester of pregnancy.

Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, Executive Director of HealthyWomen says this:From an early age, children tend to eat the same foods as their parents, especially mothers, so exposure to nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables is not only setting a good example, but also positioning your child on a lifelong course of good health. Source

What we can learn from thisEducation is central to change, but knowledge is only power if you choose to use it. To be sure, prevention of childhood obesity and healthy children begins at home - with BOTH parents (if there are 2 parents involved).

It goes without saying that mom and dad need to change their ways to become the healthy role-models for children.

While growing healthy habits in children starts at home, it would be folly to put 100% of the responsibility on parents. I firmly believe in the idea that it takes a village to raise a child, and in this case to raise a healthy, active child. The culture and environment children are exposed to nowadays may be one that sets them up for failure. Change needs to take place in communities, schools and various levels of government, especially for higher risk children.

Battaglino Cahill sums it up nicely when she says; Empowering and educating women is the best way we know to break the cycle of obesity and promote healthy habits for the life of any woman and her loved ones.
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Teens and Kids childhood obesity motherhood women 14 Comments

Some Obese People Don't See Themselves as Fat

Many obese people don't see themselves as fat and in fact, they think they're healthy - or so says a new study.

Talk about being a "glass is half full" type of person. I wish I was like that!

The problem is this positive attitude doesn't dispel the fact that obese people are at a heightened risk of death, i.e. heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, etc.

Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, scientists gauged body awareness of 2,056 men and women already participating in a study, surveying the individuals on their body perception.

Researchers asked participants to look at pictures and choose their ideal body size. People who picked figures that were the same or larger than their actual body size were classified as "misperceiving" their body size, but these people were also more likely to be happier.

However, worry warts who acknowledge they're fat and out of shape tend to be less happy. I'm willing to guess that only exacerbates the problem. For you Shaun of the Dead fans, that means "to make things worse."

Important factors were considered. Scientists found people with higher incomes and better education were no more likely to perceive their body weight accurately, than less educated people, or those with lower incomes.

And here's the problem with that. Those who misperceived their size, saw their health risks as the same as people who more accurately identified their body size; which is a problem. Obese people are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes, hypertension, and the list goes on and on.

All this reminds me of the scene in Four Weddings and a Funeral - no I don't like girly movies, I saw it in a film class in college - where the overweight, smoking, drinking, jovial guy drops dead from a heart attack after boozing, eating, and dancing at the wedding reception.

I think this is a personality thing. If you're happy go lucky and have a fun social network, you spend less time being introspective and worrying about all the nitty-gritty. I'm a miserable, cynical, depressed mess, so I spend a ton of time worrying about my health, but one of my happier and - as coincidence may have it - overweight friends enjoys life more and doesn't sweat the small stuff. Well, the not so small stuff.

Image credit: The Sneeze

Body Image Weird body image body shape obesity 14 Comments O. on 16 Oct 2010

Even worse are people who "overblow" a slight weight weight gain in other people. I'm going to be candid here....it's usually guys against their girlfriends/wives.

When I was in college I was dating a guy then he moved to another college so I only saw him in the summer. I had gained 1 dress size( from 10 to 12) the exact pounds I don't know but he was not pleased.

The funny thing was I was working at Macy's during that time in a misses(that's regular size womens clothing) department. But my department was next to the womens ( that's plus size) department and sometimes I cleaned that department if no one else was around.

One day I picked up a size 1x shirt to put it on a rack and I stoped and held it in front of me and looked in a mirror. It was huge on me. But I thought "WHY AM I LETTING THIS GUY MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I AM 300 POUNDS!"

But back then (late 90's) there wasn't any internet dating, or I would have droped him like a hot potato!

Reply O. on 16 Oct 2010

Nowadays I could wear a 1x shirt. But last month I bought 3 different shirts at 2 different stores all from the misses department.

I know how big I am, and I know how big I am NOT.

I can't speak for all people who need to loose weight. But that's what it comes down to, is knowing where you are and what you need to work on and not let somebody else ( who's likely got a boat load of issues themselves) dictate the status of your body.

And men seem to use the word "fat" anytime they can't crush a woman with their bare hands.

I remember someone on this site literally said that Serena Williams was "fat" even though her body is all muscle! Huh?

I heard someone call Khloe Kardashian "fat". Huh?

She may be somewhere around 6 feet tall. She may not have as "classic" a face as Kim and Kourtney. But fat??????

Reply